Pelvic Ultrasound Examination Research Articles

Type 1 diabetes mellitus; ovarian reserve; anti-Müllerian hormone; ovarian function

BACKGROUND: Prolonged course of diabetes mellitus often leads to the development of vascular complications, insufficiency of ovarian function. The occurrence of diabetes mellitus in women before pregnancy (pregestational diabetes mellitus) it can have various adverse consequences for the mother, fetus, child and the course of pregnancy. Pregnancy planning in women with pregestational diabetes significantly improves the outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze gonadotropic and ovarian function parameters in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus depending on the age of onset, duration and compensation level of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients included into this clinical prospective study were divided into two groups. The main group consisted of 216 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus aged 18 to 39 years (mean age: 27.1 ± 3.1 years). The control group consisted of 30 healthy women of reproductive age. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to determine blood serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol, testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin from day 2 to day 5 of the menstrual cycle. Serum progesterone levels were measured on days 20–23 of the menstrual cycle for three consecutive cycles. Glycated hemoglobin levels were also studied in the blood serum of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. All the patients underwent pelvic ultrasound examination to assess the cohort of antral follicles and ovarian volume. RESULTS: The average age of menarche in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who developed the disease at the age of under 10 years was 14.2 ± 1.2 years. This was higher than in the group of girls with the onset of the disease over the age of 10 years (13.5 ± 1.2 years) and in women of the control group (11.9 ± 1.1 years). When assessing the ovarian reserve in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, we found a decrease in anti-Müllerian hormone level and antral follicle count in the group of women with disease onset at the age of under 10 years. We did not find differences in the ovarian reserve parameters in patients depending on disease duration. Normogonadotropic normoprolactinemic ovarian insufficiency was detected in 154 (71.3%) of 216 patients, while the rest 62 (28.7%) women had an ovulatory menstrual cycle. In patients with anovulation, luteal phase deficiency and ovulatory menstrual cycle, we found no differences between the age of development of type 1 diabetes mellitus, its duration, glycated hemoglobin levels, total daily insulin dose and insulin dose per kilogram of body mass. In patients receiving intensive insulin therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, glycated hemoglobin level was lower than in those receiving multiple dose insulin injection therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The average age of menarche in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus is higher than in healthy women. The ovarian reserve parameters in patients with early onset of the disease, before 10 years of age, are lower than in patients who developed type 1 diabetes mellitus after 10 years of age. Duration of pregnancy planning period depends on compensation level of the disease and lasts from six to 12 months. This requires the doctor and patient to prepare for the implementation of reproductive tasks as early as possible, especially in patients whose disease onset occurred in pre-pubertal period.

Could ultrasound alone substitute MR imaging in evaluation of Crohn’s disease complications?

BackgroundCrohn’s disease is a chronic disease that causes remitting and relapsing inflammatory episodes in the transmural part of the gastrointestinal system. It usually affects young people. The study sought to establish whether ultrasound can visualize important/useful diagnostic features and complications of the disease in the same way that MR enterography (MRE) can. The study is a prospective cohort of 133 patients of various disease stages (active and in remission) who had previously been seen by a gastroenterologist. All patients underwent abdominal and pelvic ultrasound examinations, with each of the five intestine segments checked independently for thickening and active inflammation. Complications of fistulas, abscesses, and stenosis were evaluated. Findings at MRE together with ileocolonoscopic results were deemed the standard reference.ResultsUltrasound showed wall stenosis ranging from 5 to 12 mm, with a mean ± SD of 7.73 ± 2.30. A single loop was present in 69.2% of cases. The ileum was the most heavily involved loop portion (66.7%). In 72.9% of patients, stenosis and dilatation were present, whereas 69.7% showed active inflammation. Complications such as fistulas and abscess formation (21.2%) were identified. Ultrasound was found to be an effective tool for detecting stenosis and dilatation in the examined patients, with sensitivity of 84% and 87%, and specificity of 91% and 97%, respectively. A high accuracy of 90.9% was demonstrated for abscess formation.ConclusionsUltrasound is a noninvasive method that is comparable to MRI for detecting damaged bowel segments and transmural complications such as bowel strictures, fistulas, and abscesses in Crohn’s disease patients. However, MR imaging is more comprehensive in providing detailed information about the disease's extent and activity.

Ultrasound study of natural progression of ovarian endometrioma.

To determine the natural progression of ovarian endometrioma in women who are managed expectantly. This was a retrospective cohort study of 83 women with evidence of ovarian endometrioma who were managed expectantly between April 2007 and May 2022. The study was conducted in the Department of Women's Health, University College London Hospitals and The Gynecology Ultrasound Centre, London, UK. We searched our ultrasound clinic databases to identify women aged 18 years or older with evidence of ovarian endometrioma who were managed expectantly for ≥ 6 months. All women attended for a minimum of two ultrasound scans performed by a single expert ultrasound operator. In addition to patient demographics, we recorded the number, mean diameter and location of each cyst. The cyst growth rate was expressed as annual change in the mean diameter. A total of 1922 women who attended our gynecology clinic during the study period were found to have evidence of moderate or severe endometriosis on pelvic ultrasound examination. Of those, 83 women had evidence of ovarian endometrioma and were managed expectantly. The median age of women was 39 (range, 26-51) years at the initial visit. Each woman had at least two ultrasound scans performed by a single expert operator at a minimum interval of ≥ 6 months. Of 83 women diagnosed with endometrioma, 50 (60% (95% CI, 49-71%)) had a single cyst and the remainder had multiple cysts. The median number of endometriomas per patient was 1 (range, 1-5) and the median follow-up time was 634 (range, 187-2984) days. A total of 39/83 (47% (95% CI, 36-58%)) women experienced an overall reduction in size of cysts, in 18/83 (22% (95% CI, 13-32%)) the cysts increased in size and in 26/83 (31% (95% CI, 22-42%)) women, no meaningful change in size was observed. The median change in mean cyst diameter per woman during the study period was -2.7 (range, -57.7 to 39.3) mm, with a median annual regression rate of -1.7 (range, -24.6 to 42.0) mm/year/woman. Overall, when compared with the initial visit, cysts were significantly smaller at follow-up (median diameter, 22.3 (range, 6.7-77.0) mm vs 18.5 (range, 5.0-72.0) mm; P = 0.009). We did not identify any clinical characteristics that could reliably predict the chance of endometrioma progression. In the majority of women with an ultrasound diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma, the cysts do not increase in size significantly over time and they could be managed expectantly. This evidence may help clinicians when counseling asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic women about management of ovarian endometrioma. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Combined Treatment with Intravaginal Diazepam and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in Patients with Vulvodynia by Ultrasound Monitoring of Biometric Parameters of Pelvic Muscles: A Pilot Study.

(1) Background: Vulvodynia is characterized by vulvar pain for at least three months and may have related variables, one of these being pelvic floor hypertonus. The purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of two weekly sessions of pelvic floor rehabilitation and 5 mg of vaginal diazepam daily vs. pelvic floor rehabilitation alone in individuals with vulvodynia. (2) Methods: A single-center, not-blind, randomized study enrolled 20 vulvodynic patients: A total of 10 were treated with dual therapy (intravaginal diazepam and pelvic floor rehabilitation), and 10 were treated with only pelvic floor rehabilitation. All of them underwent a pelvic floor ultrasound examination and VAS pain and Marinoff scale assessments before the beginning of therapy as well as three and six months later. (3) Results: The elevator plate angle ranged from 8.2 to 9.55 (p = 0.0005), hiatal area diameter ranged from 1.277 to 1.482 (p = 0.0002), levator symphysis distance ranged from 3.88 to 4.098 (p = 0.006), anorectal angle ranged from 121.9 to 125.49 (p = 0.006), Marinoff scale ranged from 2.3 to 1.4 (p = 0.009), and VAS scale ranged from 5.8 to 2.8 (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that the suggested treatment improves the hypertonicity of the pelvic floor, as measured by ultrasound parameters, correlating with a reduction in symptomatology.

Gene expression of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in menstrual blood as noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis

ObjectiveEndometriosis diagnostic delays are still encountered due to the lack of a reliable, noninvasive diagnostic test. Besides, menstrual blood is a relatively untapped field for diagnostics, yet it provides a readily accessible source for investigating common gynecological conditions. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the expression levels of menstrual blood aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 from women with and without endometriosis and their diagnostic performance. MethodsA total of 40 subjects participated in this study, including 20 patients from each endometriosis and non-endometriosis group. The endometriosis group comprised patients with proven endometriosis confirmed by pathological diagnosis and pelvic ultrasound examination, then requiring endometrial biopsy determined by the clinicians. The non-endometriosis group consisted of women who had primary and secondary infertility and underwent endometrial examination without any visible endometriosis lesion. The menstrual blood and eutopic endometrial tissue of enrolled subjects were collected, and the relative expression of the genes was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2. ResultsWe found significantly higher expressions of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in the menstrual blood of the endometriosis group compared to non-endometriosis (P < 0.05). In contrast, examination of eutopic endometrial tissue of both groups only found significant in HSD17B2 (P < 0.05), while aromatase and SF-1 showed no statistically significant variance. The Area Under Curve (AUC) of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in the menstrual blood was 0.977, 0.862, and 0.807, respectively. The optimal cutoff value was determined to be >1.63 (sensitivity = 95 % and specificity = 90 %) for aromatase, >1.71 (sensitivity = 90 % and specificity = 80 %) for SF-1, and >1.83 (sensitivity = 80 % and specificity = 75 %) for HSD17B2. ConclusionOur study showed that aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in the menstrual blood solidly discriminate between endometriosis and non-endometriosis patients with high diagnostic accuracy. However, further confirmation in larger cohorts is required to validate the reliability of these biomarkers to endometriosis.

An in-vivo study of the safety of copper-containing intrauterine devices in 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.

The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate whether women with copper-containing intrauterine devices (Cu-IUD), currently listed as MR conditional, can safely undergo 3.0 Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 73 women, age 18-54years old, with a Cu-IUD who were undergoing MRI for any reason were included consecutively. Pre- and post-MRI standard pelvic ultrasound examinations were completed to determine the appropriate pre- and post-MRI positioning of the Cu-IUD. Displaced IUDs were defined by IUD crossbars not in the fundal portion of the endometrial cavity, a visualized tip in the mid or lower uterus, any part of the device located in the cervical canal or outside of the endometrial canal, a fractured device, or a non-visualized IUD. Additionally, a questionnaire was completed by participants to determine the level of pre- and post-MRI pelvic pain. There were zero observed displaced Cu-IUDs on post-MRI pelvic ultrasounds (p = 0/70, 95% CI 0, .043). Three participants were dropped from the study due to malpositioned IUDs on pre-MRI pelvic ultrasound. Six patients reported new or worsening pelvic pain/discomfort during or after their MRI examination. Our results suggest that performing 3T MRI using a low SAR setting does not cause displacement of Cu-IUDs, with zero out of 70 patients demonstrating IUD displacement.

Obstetric outcomes in women with pelvic endometriosis: a prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo determine whether obstetric outcomes differ between women with endometriosis and those without, where all women undergo first trimester screening for endometriosis DesignA prospective observational cohort study SettingThe Early Pregnancy Unit at University College London Hospital, United Kingdom SubjectsWomen with a live pregnancy progressing beyond 12 weeks’ gestation and concurrent endometriosis (n=110) or no endometriosis (n=393). ExposureAll women underwent a pelvic ultrasound examination in early pregnancy to examine for the presence of endometriosis and uterine abnormalities. Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome of interest was preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks’ gestation. Secondary outcomes included late miscarriage, antepartum haemorrhage, placental site disorders, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, neonate small for gestational age, mode of delivery, intrapartum sepsis, postpartum haemorrhage and admission to the neonatal unit. ResultsWomen with a diagnosis of endometriosis did not have statistically significantly higher odds of preterm delivery (aOR 1.85 (95% CI 0.50-6.90)), but they did have higher odds of postpartum haemorrhage during Caesarean section (aOR 3.64 (95% CI 2.07-6.35);) and admission of their newborn baby to the neonatal unit (aOR 3.24 (95% CI 1.08-9.73);). Women with persistent or recurrent deep endometriosis after surgery, also had higher odds of placental site disorders (aOR 8.65 (95% CI 1.17-63.71);) and intrapartum sepsis (aOR 3.47 (95% CI 1.02-11.75);). ConclusionWe observed that women with endometriosis do not have higher odds of preterm delivery, irrespective of their disease subtype. However, they do have higher odds of postpartum haemorrhage during Caearean section and newborn admission to the neonatal unit.

Fertility history and intentions of married women, China.

To estimate the proportion of married women in China who intend to become pregnant given the country's pronatalist population policy and to investigate fecundity, with an emphasis on the influence of socioeconomic factors. A nationally representative survey of 12 815 married women aged 20 to 49years (mean: 36.8years) was conducted during 2019 and 2020. All completed questionnaires, 10 115 gave blood samples and 11 710 underwent pelvic ultrasound examination. Fertility intention was the desire or intent to become pregnant combined with engagement in unprotected sexual intercourse. We defined infertility as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12months or more of unprotected intercourse. We considered an anti-Müllerian hormone level < 1.1ng/mL and an antral follicular count < 7 as indicating an abnormal ovarian reserve. Fertility intentions were reported by 11.9% of women overall but by only 6.1% of current mothers (weighted percentages). Fertility intention was significantly less likely among women in metropolises (odds ratio, OR: 0.38; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.31-0.45) and those with a higher educational level (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.62-0.88). Overall, 18.0% had experienced infertility at any time and almost 30% had an abnormal ovarian reserve on assessment. An abnormal ovarian reserve and infertility were less likely in women in metropolises (P < 0.05) but more likely in obese women (P < 0.05). The willingness of Chinese married women to give birth remained low, even with relaxation of the one-child policy.

Correlation of pelvic ultrasonography with pubertal development in girls.

This study aims to correlate pelvic ultrasound with female puberty and evaluate the usual ultrasound parameters as diagnostic tests for the onset of puberty and, in particular, a less studied parameter: the Doppler evaluation of the uterine arteries. Cross-sectional study with girls aged from one to less than eighteen years old, with normal pubertal development, who underwent pelvic ultrasound examination from November 2020 to December 2021. The presence of thelarche was the clinical criterion to distinguish pubescent from non-pubescent girls. The sonographic parameters were evaluated using the ROC curve and the cutoff point defined through the Youden index (J). 60 girls were included in the study. Uterine volume ≥ 2.45mL had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 90%, PPV of 90%, NPV of 93% and accuracy of 91% (AUC 0.972) for predicting the onset of puberty. Mean ovarian volume ≥ 1.48mL had a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 90%, PPV of 90%, NPV of 97% and accuracy of 93% (AUC 0.966). Mean PI ≤ 2.75 had 100% sensitivity, 48% specificity, 62% PPV, 100% NPV and 72% accuracy (AUC 0.756) for predicting the onset of puberty. Pelvic ultrasound proved to be an excellent tool for female pubertal assessment and uterine and ovarian volume, the best ultrasound parameters for detecting the onset of puberty. The PI of the uterine arteries, in this study, although useful in the pubertal evaluation, showed lower accuracy in relation to the uterine and ovarian volume.

Study on the Consistency Between Automatic Measurement Based on Convolutional Neural Network Technology and Manual Visual Evaluation in Intracavitary Ultrasonic Cine of Anterior Pelvic.

This study was to evaluate the application of automatic measurement based on convolutional neural network (CNN) technology in intracavitary ultrasound cine of anterior pelvic. A total of 500 patients who underwent pelvic floor ultrasound examination at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital from July 2021 to February 2022 were retrospectively retrieved by the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) system, and 300 cases were used as a training set. The training set was labeled by three experienced ultrasound physicians to train CNN models and develop an automatic measurement software. The remaining 200 cases were used as a test set. Automatic measurement software identified relevant anatomical structures frame by frame and determined the two frames with the greatest difference, calculated the bladder neck descent (BND), urethral rotation angle (URA), and retrovesical angle (RA). Meanwhile, two experienced ultrasound physicians evaluated the resting frame and the maximum Valsalva frame on the cines by manual visual evaluation, labeled the anatomical structures in the corresponding frame, such as the inferoposterior margin of pubic symphysis, the mid-axis of pubic symphysis, bladder contour, and urethra in the front, and calculated BND, URA, and RA. Considering that the residual urine volume (RUV) in the bladder may affect the results, enrolled patients were grouped according to the RUV (10-50 mL, 50-100 mL, and >100 mL). The consistency of the results by automatic measurement and manual visual evaluation was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman graph. Of the 200 cases in the test set, 120 cases were successfully identified by the CNN automatic software with a 60% recognition rate. In the case of successful identification, the ICC of manual visual evaluation measurement and automatic measurement was 0.936 (BND), 0.911 (URA), 0.756 (RA in rest), and 0.877 (RA at maximum Valsalva), respectively. In addition, the RUV had a negligible effect on the consistency. The Bland-Altman plot shows the proportion of samples outside the limit was below 5%. CNN-based automatic measurement software exhibited high reliability in anterior pelvic measurement, which results in a significantly enhanced measurement efficiency.

Natural history of endometriosis in pregnancy: ultrasound study of morphology of deep endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma.

To assess the morphological appearance of deep endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma in pregnancy using pelvic ultrasound examination. This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted over 3 years at University College London Hospital, which is a tertiary level referral unit for early pregnancy complications and an accredited endometriosis center. All women who participated provided written consent and were invited for surveillance ultrasound examination at the time of their routine scans in pregnancy. All scans were performed by a single operator to eliminate interobserver variability. The change in size of ovarian endometrioma and nodules was reported as change in their mean diameter. Ovarian endometrioma with irregular thick inner walls, hyperechoic papillary projections and/or high vascularity and hyperechoic nodules with moderate to high vascularity were reported as decidualized. Sixty-five women with a live, normally sited pregnancy and concomitant ultrasound features of deep and/or ovarian endometriosis were included in the study. The median age of the study population was 34 (range, 23-44) years, and the median gestational age at presentation was 7 + 6 (range, 3 + 6 to 18 + 0) weeks. From the cohort, 47/65 (72%) were nulliparous, 48/65 (74%) had a previous diagnosis of endometriosis and 19/65 (29%) conceived via in-vitro fertilization. There were 10/65 (15% (95% CI, 7-24%)) women with ovarian endometrioma alone, 28/65 (43% (95% CI, 31-55%)) with endometriotic nodules alone and the remaining 27/65 (42% (95% CI, 30-54%)) had both. Of the women with ovarian endometrioma who underwent follow-up, 29/34 (85% (95% CI, 73-97%)) experienced cyst regression, 2/34 (6% (95% CI, 0-14%)) experienced cyst growth, and in 3/34 (9% (95% CI, 0.0-18%)) women, cyst size was unchanged. In 10/34 (29% (95% CI, 14-45%)), there was complete resolution of all cysts. Of the women with nodules who underwent follow-up, 43/51 (84% (95% CI, 74-94%)) experienced nodule regression, 2/51 (4% (95% CI, 0-9%)) experienced nodule growth and, in 6/51 (12% (95% CI, 3-21%)) women, nodule size was unchanged. In 4/51 (8% (95% CI, 0-15%)) women, there was complete resolution of all nodules. In 5/37(14% (95% CI, 3-25%)) women who attended postnatal follow-up, complete resolution of all endometriotic lesions occurred during pregnancy. In 10/34 (29% (95% CI, 14-45%)) women with ovarian endometrioma and 27/51 (53% (95% CI, 39-67%)) women with nodules, a pattern of growth was observed in the first and second trimesters, followed by regression later in pregnancy. Features of decidualization were observed in 17/34 (50% (95% CI, 33-67%)) women with ovarian endometrioma, most commonly in the first trimester, and in 25/51 (49% (95% CI, 35-63%)) women with nodules, most commonly in the second trimester. For the majority of women, despite features of decidualization being common in the first and second trimesters, ovarian endometrioma and deep nodules regress during pregnancy. Morphological changes of endometriosis in pregnancy are difficult to differentiate from characteristics of malignant lesions. Better understanding of the appearance of endometriosis in pregnancy is vital to minimize intervention and help counsel women regarding their condition. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Analysis of serum insulin-like growth factor-1, fibroblast growth factor 23, and Klotho levels in girls with rapidly progressive central precocious puberty

To study the levels of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and Klotho, and to study their relationship with girls with rapidly progressive central precocious puberty (RP-CPP). This is a cross-sectional study on the progression rate of central precocious puberty in girls, who complained of breast development before the age of 8 years and were followed between June 2021 and June 2022. At the same time, 28 healthy girls less than 8 years old who had not started puberty were recruited as the control group. The physical examination and laboratory evaluation of each group was completed. Only patients with CPP received pelvic ultrasound examination and bone age test. Bone age index (BAI), basal LH levels (BLH), basal LH levels/basal FSH levels (BFSH), peak LH (PLH)/peak FSH (PFSH), IGF-1, Klotho, FGF23, and ovarian volume in the RP-CPP group were higher than those in slowly progressive CPP (SP-CPP) group. In the RP-CPP group, IGF-1 was correlated with Klotho, FGF23, and BLH; Klotho was correlated with FGF23 and BLH; FGF23 was correlated with BLH.Conclusion: The BLH, FGF23, Klotho, and IGF-1 have a certain correlation with RP-CPP, which may play an important role in the speed of girls’ sexual development.What is Known:• The association between IGF-1 and RP-CPP.What is New:• We found the association between FGF23, Klotho and RP-CPP.

Sensory threshold for defecation and its correlation with pelvic organ prolapse: An exploration of related factors

ObjectivesThis research aimed to investigate changes in defecation sensory threshold and related factors in patients with posterior vaginal wall prolapse. MethodsA total of 214 patients with pelvic organ prolapse were recruited between October 2019 to January 2021. All patients underwent a defecation sensory threshold examination, physical examination, and pelvic floor ultrasound examination. Factors related to the defecation sensory threshold were analyzed. Results(1) Among the participants, 57 patients (26.6%) had a defecation sensory threshold of more than 90 ​ml. Patients with a threshold > 90 ​ml showed higher scores of defecation dysfunction in the Constipation Scoring System (CSS) score (p=0.003) and higher scores of constipation in the Colorectal-anal Distress Inventory 8 (CRADI-8) score (p=0.002). (2) The defecation sensation threshold positively correlated with the Ap point (r=0.448, p＜0.001), the Bp point (r=0.345, p=0.009), the area of the levator-ani hiatus measured by transvaginal ultrasound (r=0.403, p=0.002), and parity (r=0.355, p=0.007). ConclusionsPatients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse commonly experience an increased threshold of defecation sensation. Elevated thresholds were associated with more frequent constipation symptoms. Additionally, the severity of posterior pelvic prolapse positively correlated with the defecation sensory threshold.

Prevalence and characteristics of polycystic ovarian syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder

BackgroundBipolar disorder (BD) is frequently accompanied by endocrine disturbances. We compared the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and related reproductive disorders between drug-naïve BD patients and matched healthy controls (HCs) and between drug-naïve BD patients and BD patients with long-term medication, as well as the clinical metabolic correlates among BD patients. Methods72 drug-naïve BD patients, 98 HCs, and 72 BD patients with long-term medication were recruited in the study. Menstruation was recorded, reproductive hormone levels and metabolic indicators were measured, and a pelvic ultrasound examination was performed via transvaginal sensor for each participant. PCOS was defined using the Rotterdam criteria. ResultsAfter controlling for demographic variables, drug-naïve BD patients presented higher rates of PCOS than the HCs (OR: 3.02, 95 % CI: 1.09–8.36). Regression analysis showed that long-term treatment with valproate (OR: 3.89, 95 % CI: 1.13–13.37), age (OR: 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.95), and insulin resistance index (OR: 1.73, 95 % CI: 1.10–12.71) were correlated with PCOS in BD patients. ConclusionsDrug-naïve BD patients are susceptible to developing PCOS, and valproate is correlated with increased occurrence and development of PCOS. Therefore, PCOS in BD patients, especially those who use valproate, needs to be investigated and monitored closely by medical personnel.

Efficacy of Pelvic Floor Ultrasound for Assessing Transobturator Tape Sling Procedure.

Complications after midurethral sling, which require a high degree of clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis, accurate evaluation, and proper intervention, are closely associated with surgical success or failure. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and complications of tension-free midurethral sling for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) using pelvic floor ultrasound. This retrospective study included 152 female patients with SUI admitted to the Jinhua Central Hospital between January 2020 and December 2021 who were selected. All patients underwent midurethral transobturator tape sling procedures and were divided into success, voiding dysfunction, overactive bladder, and failure groups according to postoperative efficacy and complications. The pelvic floor ultrasound examination was performed before and after the surgery. The posterior vesicourethral angle difference ( P < 0.01) was significantly lower after the surgery than before the surgery. The rate of bladder neck funneling ( P < 0.01) and the area of bladder neck funneling ( P < 0.01) were smaller after the surgery than before the surgery. The tape-longitudinal smooth muscle distance, the tape-symphysis pubis distance, the sling angle, and the tape-bladder neck/urethra increased successively in the voiding dysfunction, overactive bladder, success, and failure groups. Pelvic floor ultrasound can accurately evaluate the postoperative efficacy and complications of transobturator tape sling procedures for SUI and can reasonably guide the management of complications. Therefore, it is an effective imaging method for postoperative follow-up after tension-free midurethral tape suspension.

Natural progression of deep pelvic endometriosis in women who opt for expectant management.

The natural history of endometriosis is poorly understood, and despite numerous studies, the rate of the disease progression and optimal treatment planning in women who are asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms not requiring treatment are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the behavior of deep endometriosis in women who are managed expectantly without any medical or surgical intervention. A retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed with deep endometriosis on transvaginal ultrasound scan at the Department of Gynecology, University College London Hospitals and The Gynecology Ultrasound Centre, London, UK, from April 2007 to April 2022. All women attended for at least two ultrasound scans which were carried out by a single expert ultrasound examiner and at least 6 months apart. The number and position of endometriotic nodules were recorded, and the mean diameter of each nodule was calculated from measurements taken in three orthogonal planes. During the study period, 1922 women were found to have moderate or severe deep endometriosis on pelvic ultrasound examination. A total of 135 premenopausal women who were managed expectantly fitted the inclusion criteria. The median number of endometriotic nodules per woman at the initial visit was 2 (range: 0-7), and the median follow-up time was 666 days (181-2984). In the follow-up period, 50/135 women (37%, 95% CI: 29-46) developed additional nodules or experienced an increase in nodule size, and 17/135 women (13%, 95% CI: 8-19) had a regression in the number or size of the nodules. In the remaining 68/135 women (50%, 95% CI: 42-59) the disease remained static during the follow-up. The median change in mean diameter of nodules during the study period per woman was +0.13 mm (-11.67 - +5.83), with an annual growth rate of +0.09 mm/year (-6.65 - +6.45). In our study we found evidence of deep endometriosis progression in just over a third of women. In view of this, asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic women diagnosed with deep endometriosis could be reassured that their disease is unlikely to worsen with time.

Transperineal pelvic floor ultrasound in male.

The pelvic floor (PF) is a highly complex structure which may be affected by various stimulating factors like decreased PF support. As ultrasound can dynamically observe the position and mobility of anatomical structures, However, there are very few studies on PF ultrasound in males. Twenty-one male patients with normal conditions underwent transperineal pelvic floor ultrasound (TPFU) examination. Ultrasound was performed in a supine lithotomy position. The probe was pressed on the sagittal plane of the perineum and adjusted till the anorectal angle, as well as bladder, were located and the median prostate and pubic symphysis were visible on the sagittal plane. TPFU was carried out to observe the patterns of pelvic floor movement during different phases, measure ultrasound parameters of the PF in men, and assess the potential applications and prospects of the male PF. Two-dimensional male PF ultrasound can detect the bladder, prostate, male urethra, anus, rectum. Resting, Valsalva, and contraction phases of the PF are clearly shown, the pelvic organs in the Valsalva phase shift to the dorsal foot side, and shift to the cephalic ventral side when the levator ani muscle (LAM) contracts. Three-dimensional male PF ultrasound can visually show the shape and structure of the levator ani muscle hiatus. It is a feasible examination tool for detecting PF disorders. However, there are still many fields to explore in the future.

Echinococcosis of the detrusor: report of the first pediatric case

BackgroundThe parasitic disease known as the cystic echinococcosis (CE) is brought on by cysts made up of the larval forms (metacestodes) of Echinococcus tapeworms. In North Africa, it is greater in rural regions. This is unusual for a primary supravesical position.Case presentationWe report a case of a 6-year-old boy who had a palpable abdominal mass with hypogastric abdominal pain.A pelvic ultrasound examination demonstrated a voluminous intra-abdominal supravesical cystic formation with clear limits and regular contours of heterogeneous anechogenic echostructure and the presence of multiple hyperechoic septa separating the cubicles (daughter vesicles) in a honeycomb pattern. Computed tomography confirmed a cystic echinococcosis stage III of the pelvis.After a laparotomy surgery with total cystectomy, the patient was discharged with prescribed albendazole 10 mg/kg/day. Cystic echinococcosis was established by histological analysis.The aim is to demonstrate that from a literature search, we think this is the first case of cystic echinococcosis of the detrusor in children.ConclusionPrimary pelvic cystic echinococcosis is uncommon and even less common among children. Cystic echinococcosis must be taken into account in the differential diagnosis when there is an abdominal mass, particularly in locations where it is prevalent.

Short- and long-term results of organ-sparing surgery in patients with severe diffuse adenomyosis at perimenopausal transition

Aim. To study the short- and long-term results of organ-sparing surgery in patients with severe diffuse adenomyosis who are in the perimenopausal age.Materials and Methods. The study included 18 patients with severe diffuse adenomyosis who underwent fertility-sparing excision of diffuse adenomyosis by means of Osada procedure. Efficiency of surgical treatment and subsequent drug therapy was evaluated at 12 and 24 months of follow-up by pelvic ultrasound examination. The frequency of adenomyosis symptoms and quality of life were assessed using the standard SF-36 questionnaire.Results. Recovery of the menstrual cycle, freedom from pain and anemia, and improved quality of life were documented in all cases (18/18), whereas onset of menopause occurred in half of the cases (9/18). In particular, all scales of the Physical Component Summary from SF-36 questionnaire were significantly improved at both follow-up time points.Conclusion. Organ-sparing excision of diffuse adenomyosis using Osada procedure is the option of choice and might represent an alternative to hysterectomy in women with perimenopausal age, in addition to those of earlier reproductive age.

Ceruloplasmin and complement C3 are markers of diminished ovarian reserve in premenopausal women

Aim. To establish cut-off values for the concentrations of complement C3 and ceruloplasmin, diagnostic markers of reduced antral follicle count (AFC) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) which both indicate diminished ovarian reserve, in women of reproductive age.Materials and Methods. Here we enrolled 864 women (18-40 years of age, average age 31.70 ± 5.14 years) who underwent an annual medical examination in 2017–2019 in the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia. Reduced AFC was defined as ≤ 5 antral follicles in each ovary at pelvic ultrasound examination whilst reduced AMH was defined as &lt; 1.2 ng/mL. In total, 112 women had reduced ovarian reserve and 752 were included into the control group. In addition to AMH, we also measured serum prolactin, gonadotropins, inhibin B, estradiol, complement C3, and ceruloplasmin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cut-off values were determined by plotting a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC).Results. The cut-off level of complement C3 was 894 (867; 1355.5) mg/mL [AUC: 0.769 (0.635; 0.904)] in women with reduced AFC (≤ 5) and 981.5 (916.5; 1467.5) mg/mL [AUC: 0.62 (0.493; 0.746)] in women with reduced AMH (&lt; 1.2 ng/mL). The cut-off level of ceruloplasmin was 1.745 (1.625; 1.975) mg/mL [AUC: 0.859 (0.759; 0.96)] in women with reduced AFC (≤ 5) and 1.975 (1.665; 2.15) mg/mL, [AUC: 0.662 (0.542; 0.782)] in women with reduced AMH (&lt; 1.2 ng/mL).Conclusion. We have established the cut-off values for the serum complement C3 and ceruloplasmin in women with reduced AFC and AMH, indicators defining diminished ovarian reserve in women of reproductive age.