CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Serological testing for CA125 has been widely used to detect endometriosis and to monitor its progression. However, controversy still exists regarding the usefulness of the plasma CA125 assay for diagnosing endometriosis. Furthermore, some authors have described superficial endometriosis as a cyclical and normal phenomenon in women's lives, and have indicated that development and progression of this disease would only occur in some women as a result of immunological changes. This study aimed to determine the frequency of endometriosis and the correlation between serum CA125 levels and the presence of endometriotic lesions in the peritoneum of asymptomatic fertile patients. DESIGN AND SETTING:Cross-sectional study at the Family Planning outpatient clinic of Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. METHODS:Eighty asymptomatic fertile patients who underwent tubal sterilization surgery were studied. Blood and peritoneum samples were collected. CA125 levels were measured from blood samples, and peritoneum biopsies were studied using histopathological tests. RESULTS:Histopathological evaluation of the peritoneum revealed that 16.25% of the patients had minimal or mild endometriosis. There was no statistically significant difference in CA125 levels between patients with and without endometriosis. CONCLUSION:The presence of endometriotic lesions in the peritoneum of fertile patients supports the hypothesis that incidental findings of minimal or mild endometriosis may not be of clinical significance, and that the progression of the disease probably occurs as a result of immunological and genetic abnormalities. Serum CA125 levels did not show any diagnostic significance with regard to detecting the disease.RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O teste sorológico para CA125 tem sido largamente usado para detectar e monitorar a progressão da endometriose, entretanto, a utilidade do ensaio do CA125 plasmático para o diagnóstico da endometriose ainda é controversa. Além disso, alguns autores descreveram a endometriose superficial como sendo um fenômeno cíclico e normal na vida de uma mulher, e que o desenvolvimento e progressão desta doença ocorreriam apenas em algumas mulheres como resultado de alterações imunológicas. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a freqüência de endometriose e a correlação entre os níveis séricos de CA125 e a presença de lesões endometrióticas em peritônio de pacientes férteis assintomáticas. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal realizado no Ambulatório de Planejamento Familiar da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC.MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 80 pacientes férteis assintomáticas submetidas à cirurgia de esterilização tubária. Amostras de sangue e peritônio foram coletadas. Os níveis de CA125 foram medidos a partir das amostras de sangue e as biópsias de peritônio foram estudadas por ensaio histopatológico. RESULTADOS:O estudo histopatológico do peritônio revelou que 16,25% das pacientes apresentavam endometriose mínima e leve. Os níveis de CA125 não demonstraram diferença estatística sign...

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Considering the existing conflicts about how an elevated body mass index (BMI) affects fertility, this study had the objective of evaluating the impact of overweight and obesity on the results of IVF/ICSI (in-vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmatic sperm injection) performed at the Human Reproduction Centre of Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. Retrospective data from 208 IVF cycles of 191 women, performed at our laboratory from February through June, 2008, were used to calculate their BMI. On the basis of the results, the patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: BMI <25 kg/m(2) and Group 2: BMI  ≥ 25 kg/m(2). Of the 208 cycles, 137 were from patients with BMI <25 kg/m(2) and 71 cycles from patients with BMI  ≥ 25 kg/m(2). Patients' ages and the number of cycles with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist and antagonist were similar in both groups. The doses of follicle-stimulating hormone used for ovarian induction per cycle, the number of retrieved oocytes, fertilisation rate, embryo quality and number of transferred and frozen embryos, the hyperstimulation, pregnancy rates, miscarriage rate and live birth rates showed no statistically significant differences. BMI does not appear to be a good parameter for the definition of IVF success. The association with other methodologies may produce more consistent data about body composition and its impact on fertility.

The data suggest that the OC-125 antibody is probably related to endometriosis activity and, consequently, to the progression and severity of the illness.

objectIve. To evaluate the risk factors related to occurrence of female urinary incontinence. Methods. This was a case-control study recruiting 253 women (102 continent and 151 incontinent) who were invited to respond to an epidemiological questionnaire on possible risk factors for urinary incontinence. The factors analyzed were age, hormone status, race, body mass index, parity, types of delivery (normal, forceps or caesarean), weight of largest child at birth, use of episiotomy and/or analgesia during labor, history of hysterectomy, physical activity, smoking, diabetes mellitus status, constipation, history of bronchial asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, use of diuretics and/or antidepressants. conclusIon. Independent risk factors for urinary incontinence included age, vaginal delivery, forceps delivery and birth weight of largest infant, while delivery by caesarean section was a protective factor.

Intra-abdominal pressure increased 8-iso PGF(2alpha) in the parietal peritoneum in a graded fashion, whilst gasless laparoscopy had no impact. It also influenced the frequency and severity of adhesion formation, but no causal link was found between 8-iso PGF(2alpha) and post-operative adhesion formation.

The data suggest that in Brazilian women polymorphism PTPN22 (C1858T) may be an important genetic predisposing factor for endometriosis, especially, in advanced disease.

A caracterização das hemorragias periventriculares-intraventriculares (HPIV) no período neonatal em recém-nascidos pré-termo constitui um evento importante para a prevenção de seqüelas em curto e longo prazo. Foi objetivo deste estudo avaliar a freqüência da hemorragia peri-intraventricular (HPIV) em recém-nascidos pré-termo e correlacioná-la com o peso ao nascer, num estudo observacional e transversal realizado em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal, do Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual (HSPE), na cidade de São Paulo no período de janeiro de 1996 a dezembro de 1997. Foram incluídos no estudo 70 de 102 recém-nascidos com peso menor de 2000g, sendo utilizada a classificação de Papille, que classifica HPIV em quatro graus, conforme a extensão da mesma. As ecografias foram realizadas nos 4º, 8º, 15º e 28º dias de vida, desde que os recém-nascidos permanecessem internados na unidade de cuidados intensivos do HSPE. Foram diagnosticados 32 casos de HPIV. Houve correlação estatisticamente significante (pd"0,001) do peso com a ocorrência da HPIV, sendo que o grupo acometido foi o que apresentou menor média de peso. Assim, a HPIV é um evento freqüente em recém-nascidos pré-termo e está relacionada com peso ao nascer inferior a 1500g. O exame ultra-sonográfico mostrou-se eficaz no diagnóstico, devendo a partir do diagnóstico da HPIV, haver o encaminhamento do recém-nascido para ao acompanhamento ambulatorial com equipe multidisciplinar.