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Birds, especially the chick and hen, have been important biomedical research models for centuries due to the accessibility of the avian embryo and the early discovery of avian viruses. Comprehension of avian tumor virology was a milestone in basic cancer research, as was that of non-viral genesis, as it enabled the discovery of oncogenes. Furthermore, studies on avian viruses provided initial insights into Kaposi's sarcoma and EBV-induced diseases. However, the role of birds in human carcinogenesis extends beyond the realm of virology research. Utilization of CAM, the chorioallantoic membrane, an easily accessible extraembryonic tissue with rich vasculature, has enabled studies on tumor-induced angiogenesis and metastasis and the efficient screening of potential anti-cancer compounds. Also, the chick embryo alone is an effective preclinical in vivo patient-derived xenograft model, which is important for the development of personalized therapies. Furthermore, adult birds may also closely resemble human oncogenesis, as evidenced by the laying hen, which is the only animal model of a spontaneous form of ovarian cancer. Avian models may create an interesting alternative compared with mammalian models, enabling the creation of a relatively cost-effective and easy-to-maintain platform to address key questions in cancer biology.

Lepidium peruvianum -an edible herbaceous biennial plant distributed in the Andes-has been used for centuries as food and as a natural medicine in treating hormonal disorders, as an antidepressant, and as an anti-osteoporotic agent. The presented study aims to prove its beneficial cosmetic and chemopreventive properties by testing the antiradical, whitening, cytotoxic, and anticancer properties of differently colored phenotypes that were extracted using three solvents: methanol, water, and chloroform, with the help of the chemometric approach to provide evidence on the impact of single glucosinolanes (seven identified compounds in the HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis) on the biological activity of the total extracts. The tested extracts exhibited moderate antiradical activity, with the methanolic extract from yellow and grey maca phenotypes scavenging 49.9 ± 8.96% and 48.8% ± 0.44% of DPPH radical solution at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, respectively. Grey maca was the most active tyrosinase inhibitor, with 72.86 ± 3.42% of the enzyme activity calculated for the water extract and 75.66 ± 6.21% for the chloroform extract. The studies in cells showed no cytotoxicity towards the human keratinocyte line HaCaT in all studied extracts and a marked inhibition of cell viability towards the G361 melanoma cell line, which the presence of pent-4-enylglucosinolate, glucotropaeolin, and glucoalyssin in the samples could have caused. Given all biological activity tests combined, the three mentioned compounds were shown to be the most significant positive contributors to the results obtained, and the grey maca water extract was found to be the best source of the former compound among the tested samples.

Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic benign tumours occurring in women of reproductive age. Current treatment options include surgical procedures, pharmacological therapies, and minimally invasive procedures. The most commonly applied and accepted minimally invasive procedure used in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroid is uterine artery embolisation (UAE). Uterine artery embolisation is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used either as an auxiliary method or the main treatment method of symptomatic uterine fibroids. We would like to present the application of pre-operative UAE before hysterectomy in anaemic women with giant uterine fibroid (21.9 × 14.9 × 10.4 cm) and HIV-associated nephropathy. Among the possible treatment options for uterine fibroids in cases like the one presented in our manuscript, hysterectomy is the treatment of choice. However, surgical treatment in a patient with severe comorbid conditions and giant uterine fibroid carries serious risk of perioperative complications. Pre-operative UAE decreases such risk by reducing blood loss during hysterectomy and shortening operation/anaesthesia time. Although the benefits of pre-operative UAE before planned myomectomy or hysterectomy in high surgical risk patients with large fibroids has yet to be confirmed in a well-designed clinical trial, this procedure seems to be a promising tool to reduce the risk of perioperative complications in such patients., Competing Interests: None., (Copyright © 2024 Termedia.)

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecologic cancers. In recent years, research has focused on the genetic characteristics of the tumors to detail their prognosis and tailor therapy. In the case of EC, genetic mutations have been shown to underlie their formation. It is very important to know the mechanisms of EC formation related to mutations induced by estrogen, among other things. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), composed of nucleotide transcripts with very low protein-coding capacity, are proving to be important. Their expression patterns in many malignancies can inhibit tumor formation and progression. They also regulate protein coding at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), several varieties of which are associated with normal endometrium as well as its tumor, also play a particularly important role in gene expression. MiRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) affect many pathways in EC tissues and play important roles in cancer development, invasion, and metastasis, as well as resistance to anticancer drugs through mechanisms such as suppression of apoptosis and progression of cancer stem cells. It is also worth noting that miRNAs are highly precise, sensitive, and robust, making them potential markers for diagnosing gynecologic cancers and their progression. Unfortunately, as the incidence of EC increases, treatment becomes challenging and is limited to invasive tools. The prospect of using microRNAs as potential candidates for diagnostic and therapeutic use in EC seems promising. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are released from many types of cells, including cancer cells. They contain proteins, DNA, and various types of RNA, such as miRNAs. The noncoding RNA components of exosomes vary widely, depending on the physiology of the tumor tissue and the cells from which they originate. Exosomes contain both DNA and RNA and have communication functions between cells. Exosomal miRNAs mediate communication between EC cells, tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and play a key role in tumor cell proliferation and tumor microenvironment formation. Oncogenes carried by tumor exosomes induce malignant transformation of target cells. During the synthesis of exosomes, various factors, such as genetic and proteomic data are upregulated. Thus, they are considered an interesting therapeutic target for the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer by analyzing biomarkers contained in exosomes. Expression of miRNAs, particularly miR-15a-5p, was elevated in exosomes derived from the plasma of EC patients. This may suggest the important utility of this biomarker in the diagnosis of EC. In recent years, researchers have become interested in the topic of prognostic markers for EC, as there are still too few identified markers to support the limited treatment of endometrial cancer. Further research into the effects of ncRNAs and exosomes on EC may allow for cancer treatment breakthroughs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Niebora, Woźniak, Domagała, Data, Farzaneh, Zehtabi, Dari, Pour, Bryja, Kulus, Mozdziak, Dzięgiel and Kempisty.)

Communication by rare, binary spikes is a key factor for the energy efficiency of biological brains. However, it is harder to train biologically-inspired spiking neural networks than artificial neural networks. This is puzzling given that theoretical results provide exact mapping algorithms from artificial to spiking neural networks with time-to-first-spike coding. In this paper we analyze in theory and simulation the learning dynamics of time-to-first-spike-networks and identify a specific instance of the vanishing-or-exploding gradient problem. While two choices of spiking neural network mappings solve this problem at initialization, only the one with a constant slope of the neuron membrane potential at threshold guarantees the equivalence of the training trajectory between spiking and artificial neural networks with rectified linear units. For specific image classification architectures comprising feed-forward dense or convolutional layers, we demonstrate that deep spiking neural network models can be effectively trained from scratch on MNIST and Fashion-MNIST datasets, or fine-tuned on large-scale datasets, such as CIFAR10, CIFAR100 and PLACES365, to achieve the exact same performance as that of artificial neural networks, surpassing previous spiking neural networks. Our approach accomplishes high-performance classification with less than 0.3 spikes per neuron, lending itself for an energy-efficient implementation. We also show that fine-tuning spiking neural networks with our robust gradient descent algorithm enables their optimization for hardware implementations with low latency and resilience to noise and quantization., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Human anatomy is a fundamental aspect of a physician's knowledge. While novel technologies offer innovative ways to teach anatomy, cadavers remain an essential component of anatomical education. The quality of specimens begins with well-preserved cadavers, and the chosen vascular access for injection plays a crucial role. Unfortunately, there is a lack of literature regarding embalming procedures, as discourse on such practices could enhance the quality, safety, and effectiveness of anatomical instruction. In this study, a femoral artery approach is described for embalming, which entails a meticulous process of cutting through the skin, navigating through fascias and adipose tissue by means of blunt dissection, ultimately reaching the artery for embalming injection. Tips and techniques pertaining to this technique are provided, including vital details for convenient accessibility and minimal impairment of tissue. The objective of this study is to facilitate anatomists and technicians in the adoption of the femoral artery approach, and to encourage further exploration of alternative embalming methods, thus contributing to the continuous advancement of anatomical sciences.

Uterine fibroids, benign tumors originating from uterine smooth muscle cells, vary in prevalence depending on patient ethnicity, hormonal exposure, and genetics. Due to their high incidence, these neoplasms pose a significant burden on healthcare systems. Current treatment strategies range from routine monitoring in asymptomatic cases to surgical procedures such as myomectomy or hysterectomy in symptomatic patients, with an increasing trend toward uterus-preserving or non-surgical alternatives. This review examines the existing medical treatments for uterine fibroids and delves into the potential of emerging therapies. A scoping review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Medical therapies are divided into hormonal and non-hormonal treatments; however, long-term, safe, and effective treatments in the treatment of uterine fibroids are limited. In addition to established therapies, there is an increasing number of studies investigating the effect of substances such as vitamin D or green tea extract on uterine fibroids. Some studies investigate acupuncture as a possible alternative therapy. While existing treatments offer symptomatic relief and preparation for surgery, our findings point to a significant need for further research into long-term solutions, especially owing to recent limitations in the use of ulipristal acetate due to risk of liver damage. Initial studies involving vitamin D and epigallocatechin gallate are encouraging; however, additional research is required to establish definitive therapeutic roles.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present our experience with minimally-invasive treatment for nulliparous patients with pelvic venous congestion syndrome (PVCS) with special attention to anatomical considerations, procedural and clinical outcome., Materials and Methods: In this retrospective, monocentric study, 21 patients with PVCS treated from January 2014 to June 2023 were included. The preprocedural imaging evaluation of PVCS was based on color Doppler ultrasound, contrast-enhanced CT and/or MRI. In all cases insufficient ovarian veins and/or internal iliac branches were occluded with coils and sclerosant. Procedural and clinical outcomes were measured 30 and 90 days after the procedure., Results: Average duration of pelvic pain was 44.8 ± 54.2 months (from 6 to 200) with the mean VAS-recorded pain intensity of 8.5 ± 1.1 (range from 7 to 10 where 0 was "no pain" and 10 "worst pain possible"). Most common symptoms included dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and dysuria. Complete embolization was observed in in all cases. Targeted vessels included left ovarian vein (13/21, 62%), both ovarian veins (7/21, 33%) and left pudendal with left ovarian (1/21, 5%). Residual PVCS was noted in 1 patient. Mean VAS at 90-days after the procedure was 2.4 ± 1.4 (range from 0 to 6, p < 0.001). Nineteen patients (90%) were satisfied with the clinical outcome (13 "very satisfied", 6 "satisfied") and reported improvement in quality of life. Two patients (9.5%) reported to be "neutral" as the VAS reduction was less than 50%., Conclusion: Our study confirms that endovascular coil embolization is safe and effective in treatment of nulliparous patients with PVCS that provides very high rate of clinical success and overall satisfaction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant tumour that originates from the adrenal cortex. It is a highly aggressive cancer characterised by a poor prognosis with an annual incidence estimated to be up to 2 cases per million. In the adult population, ACC is diagnosed typically between 40 and 50 years of age, more often in women. Complete surgical resection of the tumour is the primary treatment method for ACC. Unfortunately, despite properly performed adrenalectomy, regional recurrences or distant metastases are detected in up to 90% of the patients. For that reason, adjuvant therapy is recommended. Mitotane is the most effective adrenal-specific agent used in adjuvant and palliative therapy. Two menstruating patients, after adrenalectomy due to ACC, during adjuvant mitotane therapy, have been included in the study. The study aimed to assess the effect of mitotane therapy on the endometrium and its clinical consequences, based on the analysis of these two cases and a review of the literature. It seems that menorrhagia may be expected during adjuvant mitotane therapy of ACC in menstruating women. Heavy uterine bleeding during menstruation may appear several months after the beginning of therapy. The likely mechanism for heavy menstrual bleeding is complex. Menorrhagia can occur due to the toxic effect of mitotane in the form of a haemorrhagic diathesis, while long-term treatment (over ten months) can lead to relative hypoestrogenism resulting in endometrial hyperplasia. Clinical signs of hypoestrogenism during mitotane treatment, have been described (including pre-puberty girls) and should be considered as a side-effect of the therapy. Menorrhagia may lead to severe anaemia, so this should be considered when planning mitotane treatment. Continuous gestagen therapy is helpful in the treatment of the above disorders. After over 60 years of experience with mitotane usage, knowledge about it is still insufficient, and further studies are required., Competing Interests: None., (AJCR Copyright © 2024.)

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare but potentially dangerous condition that occurs when an embryo implants and develops within the scar tissue from a previous cesarean section. Treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy depends on several factors, including the gestational age of the pregnancy, the presence of complications, and the individual patient's circumstances. We performed a systematic review of the published literature on management of cesarean scar pregnancy and the outcomes, complications, and effects on fertility. A systematic review of recent scientific literature published up to April 2023 in the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. We used the search keywords "cesarean scar pregnancy," "methotrexate," "systemic," "chemoembolization," and "uterine artery embolization." The baseline search resulted in 413 articles. After the exclusion of 342 irrelevant articles, the abstracts and titles of the remaining 71 articles were read for potential inclusion, resulting in exclusion of a further 16 articles. Therefore, the full texts of 55 articles were investigated. Finally, 42 papers were included in the study. The main finding was that chemoembolization is more successful than systemic methotrexate therapy, and is associated with less blood loss and shorter hospital stay. Transarterial chemoembolization appears to be safe and effective method of treatment in patients with CSP and should thus be considered during multidisciplinary evaluation of these patients.

Purpose: To provide an up-to-date review of the agreement in automated white-to-white (WTW) measurement between the latest topographic and biometric devices., Methods: In this systematic review, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for articles published between 2017 and 2023, focusing on WTW agreement studies on adult, virgin eyes, with or without cataract and no other ocular comorbidities. Studies evaluating WTW measurements performed with autokeratometers, manual calipers, or manual image analysis were excluded. When available, the following metrics for the agreement of WTW measurements between pairs of devices were included: mean difference ± standard deviation, 95% limits of agreement (LoA), LoA width, 95% confidence interval (95 CI%), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)., Results: Forty-one studies, covering comparisons for 19 devices, were included. Altogether, 81 paired comparisons were performed for 4,595 eyes of 4,002 individuals. The mean difference in WTW measurements between devices ranged from 0.01 mm up to 0.96 mm, with varying CI. The 95% LoA width ranged from 0.31 to 2.45 mm (median: 0.65 mm). The majority of pairwise comparisons reported LoA wider than 0.5 mm, a clinically significant value for phakic intraocular lens sizing., Conclusions: Nearly all analyzed studies demonstrated the lack of interchangeability of the WTW parameter. The corneal diameter, assessed by means of grayscale en-face image analysis, tended to demonstrate the lowest agreement among devices compared to other measured biometric parameters. [ J Refract Surg . 2024;40(3):e182-e194.] .

Optical identification is often done with spatial or temporal visual pattern recognition and localization. Temporal pattern recognition, depending on the technology, involves a trade-off between communication frequency, range, and accurate tracking. We propose a solution with light-emitting beacons that improves this trade-off by exploiting fast event-based cameras and, for tracking, sparse neuromorphic optical flow computed with spiking neurons. The system is embedded in a simulated drone and evaluated in an asset monitoring use case. It is robust to relative movements and enables simultaneous communication with, and tracking of, multiple moving beacons. Finally, in a hardware lab prototype, we demonstrate for the first time beacon tracking performed simultaneously with state-of-the-art frequency communication in the kHz range., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 von Arnim, Lecomte, Borras, Woźniak and Pantazi.)

A disturbance of the structure of the aortic wall results in the formation of aortic aneurysm, which is characterized by a significant bulge on the vessel surface that may have consequences, such as distention and finally rupture. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a major pathological condition because it affects approximately 8% of elderly men and 1.5% of elderly women. The pathogenesis of AAA involves multiple interlocking mechanisms, including inflammation, immune cell activation, protein degradation and cellular malalignments. The expression of inflammatory factors, such as cytokines and chemokines, induce the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the wall of the aorta, including macrophages, natural killer cells (NK cells) and T and B lymphocytes. Protein degradation occurs with a high expression not only of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) but also of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and chymases. The loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) due to cell apoptosis and phenotype switching reduces tissue density and may contribute to AAA. It is important to consider the key mechanisms of initiating and promoting AAA to achieve better preventative and therapeutic outcomes.

μ-opioid receptor ligands such as morphine and fentanyl are the most known and potent painkillers. However, the severe side effects seen with their use significantly limit their widespread use. The continuous broadening of knowledge about the properties of the interactions of the MOP receptor (human mu opioid receptor, OP3) with ligands and specific intracellular signaling pathways allows for the designation of new directions of research with respect to compounds with analgesic effects in a mechanism different from classical ligands. Allosteric modulation is an extremely promising line of research. Compounds with modulator properties may provide a safer alternative to the currently used opioids. The aim of our research was to obtain a series of urea derivatives of 1-aryl-2-aminoimidazoline and to determine their activity, mechanism of biological action and selectivity toward the MOP receptor. The obtained compounds were subjected to functional tests (cAMP accumulation and β-arrestin recruitment) in vitro. One of the obtained compounds, when administered alone, did not show any biological activity, while when co-administered with DAMGO, it inhibited β-arrestin recruitment. These results indicate that this compound is a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of the human MOP receptor.

Background: The teaching of anatomy is a key component in the training of physicians, and the foundation of this teaching is the human body, which must be properly prepared to be used as a teaching aid. Due to a lack of modern literature on this topic, we decided to write a technical note discussing access to the carotid artery., Materials and Methods: We pre-qualified 43 donor bodies for the study. The bodies had to meet standards such as no signs of post-mortem decomposition, preservation of body integrity, and the absence of known infections. Carotid artery access was performed based on descriptions of the types of vascular access performed in surgery and our own observations., Results: We consider carotid artery access to be a convenient option due to its ease of location. When performed correctly and with attention to the surrounding structures, it is relatively low in tissue trauma, which translates into a higher quality of preparation. Data analysis has revealed several factors that can have a significant impact on the success of the embalming procedure., Conclusions: Proper execution of minimally invasive access to the common carotid artery minimizes tissue damage and ensures a high success rate of the procedure. Knowledge of the types of vascular access is essential for preparing the highest quality specimens.

The network of distributed microphone arrays is usually established in an ad hoc manner; hence, network parameters such as the mutual positioning and rotation of the arrays, positions of sources, and synchronization of their recording onset times are initially unknown. In this article, we consider the problem of passively jointly self-calibrating and synchronizing distributed arrays in reverberant rooms. We use a typical two-step approach where, initially, the relative geometry of the network is estimated using Direction of Arrival (DoA) measurements. Subsequently, the absolute scale and synchronization parameters are estimated using Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) measurements. This article presents methods to improve the robustness and accuracy of estimation of the absolute geometric scaling and synchronization parameters in reverberant conditions, in which TDoA measurements do not follow a normal distribution; furthermore, outliers often occur. To remedy these issues, we propose a Weighted Least Squares (WLS) estimator and schema for weighting the TDoA measurements to increase the estimation accuracy from heteroscedastic TDoA measurements. In addition, we propose an iterative reweighing algorithm with a binary weight to detect and reject TDoA outliers, which exploits the residuals of the parametric model in the least absolute value minimization. A numerical evaluation shows significant improvements in the proposed method over the state of the art in terms of the relative scaling error and mean absolute value of the synchronization parameters.

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that arise from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus and are the most common tumors in women. Due to their high prevalence, costs for the health care system and the substantial impact on women's quality of life, they are a significant public health concern. Previous literature on the impact of diet on the occurrence, growth and symptoms of fibroids is limited. Recently, many papers have been written on this topic. A scoping review of PubMed and Cochrane databases was performed using the following keywords: uterine fibroids, antioxidants, diet, diet, vegetarian, vegetables, fruits, meat and soy foods, dairy products, tea, vitamin D, vitamin C, ascorbic acid. Preliminary research has shown a beneficial effect of vegetable and fruit consumption on the occurrence of fibroids. A relationship between hypovitaminosis D and an increased risk of fibroids has also been demonstrated. Studies on epigallocatechin gallate showed its apoptosis-promoting and antifibrinolytic effect in fibroid cells. Initial results are promising, but further randomized trials are needed to draw firm conclusions about the effects of diet and nutrients on uterine fibroids.

Deep spiking neural networks (SNNs) offer the promise of low-power artificial intelligence. However, training deep SNNs from scratch or converting deep artificial neural networks to SNNs without loss of performance has been a challenge. Here we propose an exact mapping from a network with Rectified Linear Units (ReLUs) to an SNN that fires exactly one spike per neuron. For our constructive proof, we assume that an arbitrary multi-layer ReLU network with or without convolutional layers, batch normalization and max pooling layers was trained to high performance on some training set. Furthermore, we assume that we have access to a representative example of input data used during training and to the exact parameters (weights and biases) of the trained ReLU network. The mapping from deep ReLU networks to SNNs causes zero percent drop in accuracy on CIFAR10, CIFAR100 and the ImageNet-like data sets Places365 and PASS. More generally our work shows that an arbitrary deep ReLU network can be replaced by an energy-efficient single-spike neural network without any loss of performance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Visual oddity task was conceived to study universal ethnic-independent analytic intelligence of humans from a perspective of comprehension of spatial concepts. Advancements in artificial intelligence led to important breakthroughs, yet excelling at such abstract tasks remains challenging. Current approaches typically resort to non-biologically-plausible architectures with ever-growing models consuming substantially more energy than the brain. Motivated by the brain's efficiency and reasoning capabilities, we present a biologically inspired system that receives inputs from synthetic eye movements - reminiscent of saccades, and processes them with neuronal units incorporating dynamics of neocortical neurons. We introduce a procedurally generated visual oddity dataset to train an architecture extending conventional relational networks and our proposed system. We demonstrate that both approaches are capable of abstract problem-solving at high accuracy, and we uncover that both share the same essential underlying mechanism of reasoning in seemingly unrelated aspects of their architectures. Finally, we show that the biologically inspired network achieves superior accuracy, learns faster and requires fewer parameters than the conventional network., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The postmenopausal state covers 40% of modern women's lives and 50-70% of postmenopausal women report GSM symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, frequent inflammations, lack of elasticity, or dyspareunia. Consequently, a safe and effective method of treatment is crucial. In a group of 125 patients, a prospective observational study was performed. The aim was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of fractional CO 2 laser in the treatment of GSM symptoms using a protocol of three procedures in 6-week intervals. The vaginal pH, VHIS, VMI, FSFI, and treatment satisfaction questionnaire were used. The fractional CO 2 laser treatment was effective in improving all the objective forms of evaluation: vaginal pH (from 5.61 ± 0.50 at the baseline up to 4.69 ± 0.21 in the 6-week follow-up after the third procedure); VHIS (12.02 ± 1.89 at the baseline vs. 21.50 ± 1.76); VMI (21.5 ± 5.66 vs. 48.4 ± 4.46). Similar results were obtained for FSFI: 12.79 ± 5.351 vs. 24.39 ± 2.733, where 79.77% of patients were highly satisfied. Fractional CO 2 laser therapy increases the quality of life by having a beneficial effect on the sexual function of women with GSM symptoms. This effect is obtained by restoring the correct structure and proportions of the cellular composition of the vaginal epithelium. This positive effect was confirmed by both objective and subjective forms of evaluating GSM symptom severity.

Cosmetic products contain preservatives to prevent microbial growth. The various types of preservatives present in skincare products applied on the skin induce many side effects. We tested several types of preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, imidazolidinyl urea (IU), the composition of gluconolactone and sodium benzoate (GSB), diazolidinyl urea (DU), and two grapefruit essential oils, one of which was industrially produced and a second which was freshly distilled from fresh grapefruit peels. This study aimed to find the relationship between preservative concentration, cell growth, collagen secretion, and cell viability. We hypothesized that these products induced a decrease in collagen secretion from human dermal fibroblasts. Our research, for the first time, addressed the overall effect of other preservatives on skin extracellular matrix (ECM) by studying their effect on metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity. Except for cytotoxicity and contact sensitivity tests, there are no studies of their effect on skin ECM in the available literature. These studies show potential antimicrobial activity, especially from the compounds IU and DU towards reference bacteria and the compounds methyl paraben and propyl paraben against reference fungi. The MTS test showed that fibroblasts are more sensitive to the tested group of preservatives than keratinocytes, which could be caused by the differences between the cells' structures. The grapefruit oils exhibited the most cytotoxicity to both tested cell lines compared to all considered preservatives. The most destructive influence of preservatives on collagen synthesis was observed in the case of IU and DU. In this case, the homemade grapefruit oil turned out to be the mildest one. The results from a diverse group of preservatives show that whether they are natural or synthesized compounds, they require controlled use. Appropriate dosages and evaluation of preservative efficacy should not be the only aspects considered. The complex effect of preservatives on skin processes and cytotoxicity is an important topic for modern people.

Purpose: To evaluate corneo-scleral junction (CSJ) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and describe the pattern of cornea and sclera interfusion based on tissue reflectivity., Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled candidates for vision correction. Eyes with previous ocular surgery or irregular corneas were excluded. Temporal and nasal CSJ width and reflectivity patterns were assessed with AS-OCT horizontal scans. Correlations between manual and automated variables and multivariate linear regression analyses with age and spherical equivalent were performed., Results: 101 right eyes were analysed. Temporal CSJ was wider (median 1.62; 1.13 to 2.22 mm) compared to the nasal side (median 1.18; 0.73 to 1.80 mm) (p<.0001). The temporal CSJ width showed negative correlation with ipsilateral anterior chamber angle measurements and positive correlation with horizontal visible iris diameter (HVID). These relationships were not statistically significant for the nasal CSJ width. No significant correlations with age or refractive error were observed at both sides. The pattern of temporal CSJ reflectivity was mostly V- or U-shaped. The eyes with V-shaped temporal CSJ had significantly larger HVID than the eyes with irregular temporal CSJ. The nasal CSJ presented irregular reflectivity in 47% of cases., Conclusions: The temporal CSJ was wider and had regular (V or U-shaped) reflectivity patterns, while nasal CSJ was narrower and more irregular. The CSJ width was independent of age and refractive error and could not be predicted from other parameters. The HVID measurement accuracy may benefit from CSJ analysis based on AS-OCT., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Muzyka-Woźniak et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background and Objectives: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) has become an accepted and widely performed therapy for patients with symptomatic (reporting at least two of the following symptoms: severe or prolonged menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain, tension in abdomen, problems with urination, constipation or anemia) uterine fibroids. Although in the majority of cases, bilateral occlusion is required to obtain a successful clinical outcome, there are patients in whom treatment of only one uterine artery could be attempted. There are several reasons for unilateral UAE: hemodynamic conditions, technical difficulties, anatomical variants and unilateral dominancy of blood supply to the fibroid. Our aim is to present our 10-year experience with unilateral UAE and evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Records of 369 patients with fibroids who underwent UAE from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed. We identified 26 patients treated with unilateral uterine artery embolization and analyzed the data of these patients. All patients attended medical consultation, were assessed using a five-grade symptom scale and underwent MRI examination. Clinical response was evaluated at least 6 months after the procedure and was categorized to one of the following groups: complete improvement, partial improvement, no change and a worsening in symptoms. Results: Twenty-two patients (85%) reported at least partial improvement 6 months following the procedure. One patient required secondary embolization due to recanalization. The secondary procedure was successful, and complete improvement was achieved. One patient did not observe any clinical improvement, and in two cases, symptom recurrence was observed. All three patients were referred for surgical treatment. No major complications were noted. Overall, the success rate was 88%. Conclusions: The results of our study support the statement that elective unilateral embolization is an appropriate treatment in patients with a dominant uterine artery.

Plasticity circuits in the brain are known to be influenced by the distribution of the synaptic weights through the mechanisms of synaptic integration and local regulation of synaptic strength. However, the complex interplay of stimulation-dependent plasticity with local learning signals is disregarded by most of the artificial neural network training algorithms devised so far. Here, we propose a novel biologically inspired optimizer for artificial and spiking neural networks that incorporates key principles of synaptic plasticity observed in cortical dendrites: GRAPES (Group Responsibility for Adjusting the Propagation of Error Signals). GRAPES implements a weight-distribution-dependent modulation of the error signal at each node of the network. We show that this biologically inspired mechanism leads to a substantial improvement of the performance of artificial and spiking networks with feedforward, convolutional, and recurrent architectures, it mitigates catastrophic forgetting, and it is optimally suited for dedicated hardware implementations. Overall, our work indicates that reconciling neurophysiology insights with machine intelligence is key to boosting the performance of neural networks., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Mobile posturography is based on wearable inertial sensors; it allows to test static stability (static posturography) and gait disturbances. &lt;/br&gt; &lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Aim:&lt;/b&gt; The aim of this work was to present the results of research on the innovative MEDIPOST system used for diagnosis and rehabilitation of balance disorders. &lt;/br&gt; &lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material and methods:&lt;/b&gt; Fourteen articles published in influenced foreign journals were presented and discussed. The deve-lopment and construction of the device was preceded by a literature review and methodological work. The Dizziness Handi-cap Inventory (DHI) questionnaire was translated and validated. The methodology of posturography with head movements with a frequency of 0.3 Hz was also developed in the group with chronic vestibular disorders. Simultaneous measurements were performed (static posturogrphy vs. MEDIPOST) in the CTSIB-M (Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance) test in healthy subjects and patients with unilateral peripheral dysfunction.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; In the posturography with head movements the improvement of sensitivity (67 to 74%) and specificity (65 to 71%) was noted. In the CTSIB-M test the intraclass correlation coefficients for both methods were 0.9. The greatest differences between examinations were observed for the mean angular velocity in the tests on the foam (trials no. 3 and 4), in particular on the foam with eyes closed (trial no. 4 - sensitivity 86.4%, specificity 87.7%). Two functional tests were analyzed: the Swap Seats test and the 360 degree turn test. In the former, the results are studied from 6 sensors - 86% of the true positives and 73% of the true negatives for the fall/ no-fall group classification. The second test differentiates people with vestibular impairment and healthy people. It can be analyzed with 1 (sensitivity 80%) and 6 sensors (sensitivity 86%, specificity 84%). Currently, the MEDIPOST device is in the development and certification phase.

Introduction: Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a relatively rare yet life-threatening condition in which the embryo is implanted in the scar after caesarean section. Recent studies have reported that uterine artery chemoembolisation (UAC) can be safe and effective method in treating CSP., Aim: To present the clinical outcome of UAC with a mixture of methotrexate and gelatine sponge for the treatment of CSP and analysis of procedural failure., Material and Methods: Forty-one patients diagnosed with CSP were treated with selective endovascular chemoembolisation of uterine arteries. Short- and long-term results, reasons for procedural failure, and clinical outcome were analysed., Results: Primary procedure failed in 7 out of 41 (17%) cases. In 4 cases additional blood supply to the CSP was disclosed; 3 out of 4 from an ovarian artery and one from a superior vesical artery. In other 3 patients, reperfusion of uterine arteries was observed. All these 7 patients underwent successful secondary embolisation. The majority of the followed-up patients reported regular menses after the intervention. Four women suffered from amenorrhoea and 2 from hypomenorrhoea that continued after 90 days. Twelve patients expressed the desire for subsequent pregnancy. From this group, 5 conceived within a year of the procedure. The rest did not achieve a pregnancy., Conclusions: UAC proved to be a safe and effective method and should be considered as an option for CSP treatment, especially for women hoping to preserve their fertility. However, the presence of collateral blood supply should always be considered., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Fundacja Videochirurgii.)

This paper presents a fall risk assessment approach based on a fast mobility test, automatically evaluated using a low-cost, scalable system for the recording and analysis of body movement. This mobility test has never before been investigated as a sole source of data for fall risk assessment. It can be performed in a very limited space and needs only minimal additional equipment, yet provides large amounts of information, as the presented system can obtain much more data than traditional observation by capturing minute details regarding body movement. The readings are provided wirelessly by one to seven low-cost micro-electro-mechanical inertial measurement units attached to the subject's body segments. Combined with a body model, these allow segment rotations and translations to be computed and for body movements to be recreated in software. The subject can then be automatically classified by an artificial neural network based on selected values in the test, and those with an elevated risk of falls can be identified. Results obtained from a group of 40 subjects of various ages, both healthy volunteers and patients with vestibular system impairment, are presented to demonstrate the combined capabilities of the test and system. Labelling of subjects as fallers and non-fallers was performed using an objective and precise sensory organization test; it is an important novelty as this approach to subject labelling has never before been used in the design and evaluation of fall risk assessment systems. The findings show a true-positive ratio of 85% and true-negative ratio of 63% for classifying subjects as fallers or non-fallers using the introduced fast mobility test, which are noticeably better than those obtained for the long-established Timed Up and Go test.

The treatment of memory impairments associated with the central nervous system diseases remains an unmet medical need with social and economic implications. Here we show, that a multi-target ligand of aminergic G protein-coupled receptors with antipsychotic activity in vivo (D2AAK1) stimulates neuron growth and survival and promotes neuron integrity. We focused on the multilevel evaluation of the D2AAK1-related effects on neurons in terms of behavioral, cellular, molecular, and biochemical features in vivo and in vitro, such as memory-related responses, locomotor activity, tissue sections analysis, metabolic activity, proliferation level, neurons morphology, and proteins level involved in intracellular signaling pathways. In silico studies indicate that activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMKI) may underline some of the observed activities of the compound. Furthermore, the compound increases hippocampal neuron proliferation via the activation of neurotrophic factors and cooperating signals responsible for cell growth and proliferation. D2AAK1 improves memory and learning processes in mice after both acute and chronic administration. D2AAK1 also causes an increase in the number of hippocampal pyramidal neurons after chronic administration. Because of its neuroprotective properties and pro-cognitive activity in behavioral studies D2AAK1 has the potential for the treatment of memory disturbances in neurodegenerative and mental diseases.

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors originating from smooth muscle tissue, constituting uterine muscle stroma. Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors found in women. In 20%-50% of women, fibroids are asymptomatic and do not require any treatment. The main symptoms of uterine fibroids are profuse menstrual bleeding, abnormal uterine bleeding, and pressure symptoms. Pressure symptoms can cause pelvic pain syndrome, urination disorders, and constipation. The treatment methods that are currently used include surgical treatment, pharmacological therapy, and minimally invasive procedures. The most commonly applied minimally invasive method is the embolization of uterine arteries. This procedure is currently a widely accepted method of treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids and has been recognized as such by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the guidelines for heavy menstrual bleeding. This is a complicated procedure and requires close cooperation between gynecologists and interventional radiologists. We present a protocol applicable to uterine artery embolization in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. The protocol is divided into five section. The first two section are intended for gynecologists and interventional radiologists, explaining how to qualify and prepare a patient for embolization in a step-by-step manner. Section three, which is directed at interventional radiologists, explains how embolization should be done. Section four is directed at gynecologists or hospital ward doctors who look after the patients after embolization. This section of the protocol offers a method for treating post-embolization pain using the Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump. Section five completes the procedure with an assessment of the effects and late complications of uterine artery embolization. All five section create a uniform protocol directed at clinicians, experts, and researchers new to the field.

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of heterogeneous congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS). Acrania is a non-NTD congenital disorder related to the CNS. It can transform into anencephaly through the acrania-exencephaly-anencephaly sequence (AEAS). In AEAS, the cerebral tissue is not protected and is gradually destroyed due to exposure to the harmful effect of amniotic fluid and mechanical injuries. These lead to exencephaly and then into anencephaly. In contrast to primary anencephaly (NTDs), this type of anencephaly authors suggests calling secondary anencephaly., Objective: Analysis of the known prenatal ultrasonography (US) signs associated with AEAS. Simultaneously, the authors propose a new sign in the differentiation of acrania from exencephaly and anencephaly, called the "beret" sign., Methods: It is a two-centre retrospective observational study. As part of the study, 4060 US scans were analyzed., Results: In 10 cases, the absence of calvarium was diagnosed, allowing recognition of either AEAS stages or primary anencephaly. In 5 cases, cerebral structures were enclosed by an inertial rippled thin membrane, with a smooth outer contour. Between the described membrane and the brain structures, a thin anechoic space corresponding to cerebrospinal fluid was observed. This sign was defined as the "beret" sign. In these cases, acrania was diagnosed. In three cases calvarium was missing. The brain structures had an irregular appearance, did not wave and remained motionless. The outer contour was unequal as if divided into lobes. Amniotic fluid was anechoic. Exencephaly was diagnosed in these cases. In two cases calvarium, brain structures, and meninges were missing. The "frog eyes" sign and slightly echogenic amniotic fluid were visible. In this case, anencephaly was diagnosed., Conclusions: The "beret" sign seems to be a promising tool in the diagnosis of acrania. Furthermore, echogenicity of amniotic fluid could be useful during differentiation between primary and secondary anencephaly.

Tubal diseases are responsible for 25% to 35% of female infertility. Laparoscopic chromopertubation is the gold standard for assessing tubal patency when female infertility is suspected. Intravasation is a complication of intrauterine procedures involving the passage of fluid filling the uterine cavity into the bloodstream through endometrial vessels (from the myometrial veins to the uterine venous plexuses). This complication has been described during hysterosalpingography and sonohysterosalpingography. We herein present a report of three cases in which severe intravasation occurred during laparoscopic chromopertubation using methylene blue as a contrast agent. The intravasation manifested as green urine (i.e., the "green urine sign"). The presence of methylene blue in the urine and blood was confirmed by laboratory tests. All three patients had risk factors for intravasation as described in the literature (unilateral or bilateral tubal obstruction, endometriosis, and previous intrauterine procedures for Mullerian duct anomalies and Asherman's syndrome). The green urine sign appeared a few hours after laparoscopic chromopertubation and spontaneously resolved after 24 hours. Cystoscopy was performed to rule out bladder injury. All three patients required only clinical observation.

Background: Screening colonoscopy is one of the most popular modalities for screening and surveillance of colorectal cancer and other colon disorders., Objectives: To introduce new ratios to predict the colonoscopy course in patients with similar characteristics., Material and Methods: Five hundred screening colonoscopies (252 females and 248 males) were performed by an experienced endoscopist. Incomplete colonoscopies (without pathologic findings, i.e., disease-unrelated) were included in the study. Collected data was used to determine new ratios., Results: An examination was completed in 231 (91.7%) females (F) and 239 (96.4%) males (M). The majority of incomplete colonoscopies were discontinued in the sigmoid colon: 8 F (38.1%) and 4 M (44.4%) or in the descendosigmoid flexure: 4 F (19%) and 2 M (22.2%). We found statistically significant higher risk of incompleteness in females (p = 0.03), patients after 2 or more surgical treatments (p = 0.007) and in males with lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.01) (χ2 tests). Moreover, we discovered a statistically significant correlation with 2 or more previous surgical treatments in the female group (p = 0.02) (χ2 test). We calculated the incomplete colonoscopy anatomy-related (ICAR) and modified ICAR (MICAR) ratios. The range of ICAR and MICAR was 0-0.17; the number of incomplete examinations ranged from 0 to 1 failed out of 6 attempts (calculation: 100:17 = 5.88)., Conclusions: The ICAR and MICAR ratios reflect the various risk of colonoscopy incompleteness (i.e., disease-unrelated) and highlight the differences between patients in similar examination condition.

There are several reports indicating that the roots of the Carlina acaulis L. used to be commonly applied as a treatment measure in skin diseases and as an antiparasitic agent, starting from antiquity to the 19th century; however, nowadays, it has lost its importance. Currently, numerous studies are being conducted assessing the possibility of reintroducing C. acaulis -derived extracts to phytotherapy. Determining the safety profile of the main constituents of the plant material is crucial for achieving this goal. Here, we aimed to determine the toxicity profile of carlina oxide, one of the most abundant components of the C. acaulis root extract. We obtained the carlina oxide by distillation of C. acaulis roots in the Deryng apparatus. The purity of the standard was evaluated using GC-MS, and the identity was confirmed by IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy. In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using a panel of human cell lines of skin origin, including BJ normal fibroblasts and UACC-903, UACC-647, and C32 melanoma cells. This was accompanied by an in vivo zebrafish acute toxicity test (ZFET). In vitro studies showed a toxic effect of carlina oxide, as demonstrated by an induction of apoptosis and necrosis in both normal and melanoma cells. Decreased expression of AKT kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was noted in the UACC-647 melanoma cell line. It was also observed that carlina oxide modified the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in tested cell lines. Carlina oxide exhibited high in vivo toxicity, with LC 50 = 10.13 µg/mL upon the 96 h of exposure in the ZFET test. Here, we demonstrate that carlina oxide displays toxic effects to cells in culture and to living organisms. The data indicate that C. acaulis -based extracts considered for therapeutic use should be completely deprived of carlina oxide.

Background: In children, colonoscopy is a safe procedure, although it is more difficult to perform in patients whose body mass index (BMI) is under 25., Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between children's age, body mass and height and incomplete colonoscopies due to colon anatomy., Material and Methods: A retrospective evaluation of diagnostic endoscopies in 403 children aged 3-18 years (192 girls and 211 boys) was performed. New ratios were introduced: the incomplete colonoscopy anatomy-related ratio (ICAR) and the modified incomplete colonoscopy anatomy-related ratio (MICAR)., Results: The terminal ilium was not reached in 59 children: 27 girls and 32 boys (14.6% of patients). In 13 girls and 18 boys (comprising 7.69% of the study population) no pathological causes were found for the incomplete colonoscopy. There were statistically significant differences concerning colon anatomy-related incomplete colonoscopies in relation to the children's weight. No significance was found in relation to height or age. Incomplete examinations were more frequent in patients weighing less than 30 kg (p = 0.0006), both in boys (p = 0.0090) and girls (p = 0.048). The risk of incomplete colonoscopy (odds ratio - OR) in boys and girls weighing less than 30 kg was 3.995 (95% CI = 1.489-10.720) and 3.373 (95% CI = 1.078-10.560), respectively. For this group of patients, the ICAR ranged between 0.0309 and 0.1889, while the MICAR range was 0.0-0.1889., Conclusions: Body mass is a statistically significant factor for evaluating the risk of incomplete colonoscopies in children. The lower the ICAR and MICAR values, the lower the risk of non-completion of a colonoscopy due to anatomical (i.e., disease-unrelated) causes.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are dysregulated in many cancer types. Abnormal baseline levels of these lncRNAs display diagnostic and prognostic potential in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of plasma lncRNAs in BRAF -mutant advanced melanoma patients treated with a BRAF inhibitor. Total RNA was isolated from plasma samples collected from 58 advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma patients and 15 healthy donors. The expression levels of 90 lncRNAs were estimated using the LncProfiler qPCR Array Kit (SBI) and LightCycler 96 (Roche). LncRNA expression levels correlated with responses to the BRAF inhibitor (vemurafenib) treatment. The patients were stratified into three groups based on their lncRNA levels with various lncRNA expressions (low, medium, and high). A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine the lncRNAs that were significantly associated with both progression-free and overall survivals (PFS and OS, respectively) in patients receiving vemurafenib. The expression level of 12 lncRNAs was down-regulated, while five lncRNAs were up-regulated in melanoma patients compared to healthy donors. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that upregulation or downregulation of 11 and 16 different lncRNAs were associated with longer median PFS and OS, respectively. Further analysis demonstrated that the baseline lncRNAs for IGF2AS, anti-Peg11, MEG3, Zeb2NAT are independent prognostic factors in BRAF -mutant advanced melanoma patients treated with vemurafenib. Evaluation of plasma lncRNAs expression level for advanced melanoma diagnosis and prognosis evaluation appears to be a safe and valuable method; however, this method requires further validation in larger cohorts and randomized trials., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Rates of caesarean section have increased over recent years and so too have associated complications, one of which is a caesarean scar defect (CSD). The defect may cause gynaecological symptoms, such as menometrorrhagia, infertility, chronic abdominal/pelvic pain or it may be asymptomatic. The presence of CSD may lead to obstetrical sequalae such as preterm delivery, uterine rupture, caesarean scar pregnancy or abnormal placenta implantation. Three cases of CSD are described here. In one case, surgical correction of the CSD was performed before a subsequent pregnancy with an uncomplicated obstetric outcome. In the other two cases, surgical correction of the CSD was not performed and the pregnancies were complicated by caesarean scar dehiscence and caesarean scar pregnancy. We suggest that women with a CSD may benefit from surgical correction of the defect before becoming pregnant to reduce the likelihood of serious complications.

Background: Persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV) is usually an isolated finding but it may be accompanied by other fetal malformations., Aims: We aimed to determine the incidence of prenatally diagnosed PRUV in a referral population, assess the neonatal outcome and discuss the findings together with those from previous publications., Materials and Methods: A total of 2360 women with low-risk singleton pregnancies were examined in the second and third trimesters. A transabdominal convex volume transducer was used. B-mode was applied in each patient. Scanning of the venous system included imaging of the target vessels with two-dimensional colour Doppler mapping. The diagnosis of PRUV was made in a transverse section of the fetal abdomen. Three-dimensional ultrasounds were performed as necessary, when anomalous cases were encountered., Results: The incidence of PRUV in our population was 12/2360 = 0.5%, and it was higher than in other retrospective studies. In 75% (n = 9), PRUV was an isolated finding where delivery was uneventful and the postnatal outcome was favourable. In two cases PRUV was accompanied by omphalocele, and in one case by tetralogy of Fallot and single umbilical artery., Conclusions: PRUV is an uncommon prenatal finding. Screening for this anomaly can be easily performed in all pregnant patients. A diagnosis of PRUV should be followed by a thorough fetal morphology scan in order to exclude any other malformations, especially those of the cardiovascular system., (© 2018 The Authors. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Perimenopausal changes caused by oestrogen deficiency are accompanied by a decrease in the content of collagen and elastin in the tissues, leading to thinning of the epithelium and the resultant disappearance of the superficial layer, which leads to smooth muscle dysfunction as well as connective tissue degradation. This aetiopathogenetic chain results in a set of symptoms experienced by approximately 50% of women in the peri- and postmenopausal period. Symptoms of dryness, burning, dyspareunia and urgency contribute to a significant reduction in the quality of sexual function and general comfort of life due to recurrent infections of the vagina, vulva and urinary tract. Different therapeutic methods may benefit genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), while innovative methods such as lasers or radiofrequency deserve further study in this area.

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Background: Replacement of severely stenotic aortic valve may influence cognitive and physical functioning. The aim of this study was to compare cognitive and functional status after surgical (SAVR) vs. transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR) in the elderly with severe aortic stenosis (AS)., Methods: It was a prospective observational study with over 6 months of follow-up. Eighty ≥70-year-old patients with AS underwent TAVR (N.=40) or SAVR (N.=40). Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), activities daily living (ADL) score and instrumental activities daily living (IADL) score were used to assess the cognitive status, fundamental functioning and complex independent living skills, respectively. The tests were conducted at baseline and 6 months after the procedure. Additionally, MMSE was carried out at discharge., Results: Baseline MMSE score was lower in the TAVR vs. SAVR group (P=0.001). In the SAVR group, there was a transient in-hospital decline in mean MMSE score (P=0.020), absent in the TAVR group. Baseline ADL and IADL scores were lower in TAVR patients. Both groups experienced mild improvement. The average increase among those with improved IADL score was larger after TAVR (2.37 vs. 1.37 after SAVR; P=0.029). A systolic blood pressure (SBP) decrease <60 mmHg as well as larger periprocedural shift in SBP (expressed by a difference between maximum and minimum SBP) during TAVR were associated with the decline in the ADL (P=0.001) and IADL scores (P=0.043)., Conclusions: Cognitive patterns differed between the TAVR and SAVR patients. A transient MMSE decline did not alter the 6-month status. TAVR might improve functionality. Periprocedural SBP decrease and larger changes in SBP are risk factors for functionality deterioration after TAVR.

Cesarean sections account for approximately 20% of all deliveries worldwide. In Poland, the percentage of women delivering by cesarean section amounts to over 43%. According to studies, the prevalence of cesarean scar defects ranges from 24-70%. Due to the overall cesarean section rate, this is a medical problem affecting a large population of women. In such cases, ultrasonographic evaluation of a cesarean scar reveals a hypoechoic space filled with postmenstrual blood, representing a myometrial tear at the wound site. Such an ultrasound appearance is referred to as a niche, and it forms after a cesarean section at the site of the hysterotomy of the anterior uterine wall, most commonly within the uterine isthmus. Currently, the exact cause of niche formation remains unexplained, yet the risk factors for its development are universally acknowledged. They include the site of hysterotomy, multiple previous cesarean section deliveries, suturing technique and maternal diabetes or smoking. Ultrasound evaluation of the cesarean section scar is an important element of obstetric and gynecologic practice, especially in the case of further pregnancies. It facilitates an early diagnosis of a cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy, and the prediction of the risk for perinatal dehiscence in the case of a vaginal birth after a cesarean section., (© Polish Ultrasound Society.)

Introduction: Ascites is observed in cancer patients as well as in other non-neoplastic processes. In some patients, it may cause severe symptoms that can become directly life-threatening. The assessment of the degree of ascites seems useful in the determination of treatment effects as well as in the monitoring of fluid accumulation and early planning of decompression procedures., Aim: Determination of the clinical usefulness of a quantitative method of determining the degree of ascites, so-called Ascites Index., Material and Methods: The Ascites Index is an ultrasonographic way of assessing the grade of ascites. The examination result is an index which is analogous to the amniotic fluid index determined in pregnant patients. The Ascites Index was determined in patients with ascites in the course of stage III-IV ovarian carcinoma (7 patients) and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (12 patients)., Results: The patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome required decompressive paracentesis at the median Ascites Index above 290 mm (range: 216-386 mm). In the patients with ovarian carcinoma, the median value of the Ascites Index at which paracentesis was required was 310 mm (range: 273-389 mm). To avoid complications associated with excessive protein loss, 2000 mL of fluid was evacuated at a single occasion. Following the procedure, the median value of the Ascites Index was 129 mm (range: 121-145 mm) in the patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and 146 cm (119-220 mm) in cancer patients., Conclusions: The proposed index is simple and rapid to determine. It makes evaluation of the degree of ascites considerably easier. Moreover, it only minimally burdens patients and enables assessment of the effect of decompression or treatment. It seems that this method might be useful also in the assessment of ascites caused by other factors, but this requires further clinical studies., (© Polish Ultrasound Society.)

Objectives: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is an important step in infertility treatment. In some cases, however, ovar-ian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) can occur. In its severe forms, ascites is likely to develop, associated with dyspnea. The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of Ascites Index (AsI), a new tool for quantitative determination of ascites in patients with OHSS, to obtain data for planning further trials., Material and Methods: Twelve patients with OHSS and ascites were included in the study. All patients were admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain and dyspnea due to increasing ascites. Ultrasound measurements of ascites extent were performed in four external quadrants of the abdomen. Pockets of free fluid were measured. The obtained values were totaled, forming the Ascites Index (AsI), similarly to the amniotic fluid index. Because of dyspnea, paracentesis was performed in all cases., Results: Median AsI at which patients reported dyspnea was 29.0 cm (range 21.6-38.6 cm). At AsI values less than 21.6 cm, no dyspnea was observed in any of the 12 studied patients. To avoid complications, 2000 mL of ascitic fluid was collected in each patient. After paracentesis, range of AsI decreased to 12.1-14.5 cm., Conclusions: The proposed AsI seems to be a promising tool for estimating and monitoring the ascites extent in OHSS. It can be estimated using basic ultrasound equipment. AsI requires further studies for standardization and transferability to other causes of ascites.

Background: Structural valve deterioration (SVD) is a major obstacle to lifetime durability for bioprosthetic heart valves. A bio-prosthetic valve created with RESILIA™ tissue was designed to produce long-term resistance to SVD., Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and performance of this new class of RESILIA™ tissue aortic bio-prosthesis., Methods: A nonrandomised, prospective, multi-centre, single-arm, observational study was performed in 133 patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement between July 2011 and February 2013. Patients were assessed at 3-6 months and one year for haemodynamic performance, clinical outcomes, and functional improvement., Results: The mean age was 65.3 ± 13.5 years, with 34 (25.6%) of patients < 60 years of age. Early (≤ 30 day) and late (> 30 day) all-cause mortality rates were 2.3% (n = 3) and 4.5% (n = 6), respectively. Early events included thromboembolism in three (2.3%) patients and major bleeding events requiring transfusion in six (4.5%) patients. Late events included one endocarditis leading to explant. Mean gradients were reduced across all valve sizes and were maintained at one year of follow-up. The mean effective orifice area and effective orifice area index increased across all valve sizes postoperatively and were maintained at one year. The rates of paravalvular leak (> 2+) at 3-6 months and one-year follow-up were 0.7% and 0.7%, respectively., Conclusions: The new generation RESILIA™ tissue aortic valve bioprosthesis demonstrated excellent haemodynamic per-formance and safety outcomes at one year of follow-up. Longer follow-up of these patients will provide further insight on long-term durability.

Uterine fibroids (also known as leiomyomas or myomas) are the most common benign tumors affecting reproductive organs in women. They are monoclonal tumors of the uterine smooth muscle, which spring from myometrium. It is estimated that they occur in 50-60% of the female population and rise to 70% by the age of 50. While mostly asymptomatic, myomas can be connected with several conditions, including abnormal bleeding with subsequent anemia, pelvic masses, pelvic pain, bulk symptoms, unfavorable impact on fertility and obstetric complications. Factors, which predispose the emergence of fibroids are: hormones, Afro-American ethnicity, age, obesity, adverse pregnancy outcome history, early menarche, genetic factors, alcohol, caffeine or eating too much red meat. On the other hand, there are factors, which can decrease this risk: pregnancy, early menopause and tobacco smoking. There are several mechanisms of fertility impairment in females with fibroids: alternations in uterus function (flawed blood supply, increased contractility), changes in the normal uterus anatomy, local hormonal changes induced by fibroids. In this review the connection between fibroids and infertility is analyzed.

Uterine leiomyomas or uterine fibroids are the most common gynaecological tumours and occur in about 20-50% of women around the world. Ultrasonography (USG) is the first-line imaging examination in suspected fibroids and shows high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing this condition. Ultrasound scans can be performed transvaginally (transvaginal scan - TVS) or transabdominally (transabdominal scan - TAS); both scans have advantages and limitations, but, in general, transvaginal sonography is superior to transabdominal sonography in most cases of pelvic pathology. Whether a leiomyoma is symptomatic or not depends primarily on its size and location. During ultrasound examination, leiomyomas usually appear as well-defined, solid, concentric, hypoechoic masses that cause a variable amount of acoustic shadowing. During the examination of leiomyomas differential diagnosis is important. Some of the most common misdiagnosed pathologies are adenomyosis, solid tumours of adnexa, and endometrial polyps. Misdiagnosis of a leiomyosarcoma has the most negative consequences, presenting symptoms are very similar to benign leiomyoma, and there is no pelvic imaging technique that can reliably differentiate between those pathologies. Magnetic resonance and computer tomography might be helpful in the diagnostics of uterine leiomyoma; however, ultrasound examination is the basic imaging test confirming the existence of leiomyomas, allowing the differentiation of myomas with adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, ovarian tumours, and pregnant uterus.

Background: Due to a growing interest in developmental disorders, and in the long-term skin appendage diseases, both in the cosmetic industry and among specialists in dermatology (broadly defined), there is an increasing number of papers on hair development. The publications by the present team of authors are part of this trend., Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the topography and typology of skin pilosity patterns in human fetuses., Material and Methods: A total of 278 fetuses (141 male and 137 female) were qualified for the study. The gestational age ranged from 69 to 226 days after conception. All fetuses were taken from a local collection., Results: The study revealed that the first single hairs occur on the posterior wall of the trunk in the 17th week of fetal life, and on the anterior wall between the 18th and 19th week. It was found that in human fetuses lanugo appears statistically significantly later on the skin of the anterior of the trunk than on its posterior. The difference in absolute time is almost 2 weeks of fetal life. No other differences were found in the development cycle of lanugo on the anterior and posterior walls of the trunk. A full pattern was first observed on the posterior wall of the trunk in a fetus in the 19th week, and on the anterior wall in the 21st week. It was found that the process of lanugo development was completed on the posterior wall in the 23rd week, and on the surface of the abdomen in the 26th week., Conclusions: The lanugo developmental cycle, consisting in the appearance of the first single hairs, then partial hair and subsequently the formation of final patterns, is the same on both walls of the trunk.

Phytoestrogens are polyphenol, non-steroidal substances of plant origin, resembling 17β-estradiol in structure. These substances can act as either agonists or antagonists of oestrogen receptors α and β. Phytoestrogens are widely used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats. Most of the currently available products of plant origin registered to soften climacteric symptoms consist of extracts obtained from soy, red clover, or black cohosh. Non-hormonal phytotherapy is a new alternative for patients suffering from menopausal symptoms. Active ingredients such as PI 82-GC FEM extract do not show any direct hormonal mechanisms of action typical for oestrogens and phytoestrogens. There are concerns about the safety and tolerability of phytoestrogens. In this review we summarise the current literature regarding the clinical aspect of safety and tolerance of different phytotherapies used to relieve menopausal symptoms.