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Biomedical subjects

G Iatrakis

Publications and source records attributed to G Iatrakis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, insulin resistance and thickness of the endometrium.

INTRODUCTION: Disorders possibly associated with insulin resistance (IR) are hyperandrogenemia, hirsutism, irregular menstrual cycles, central obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is known that PCOS is related to a high risk of endometrial hyperplasia after many years of estrogen stimulation from anovulation. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to estimate the thickness of the endometrium in women with IR without a diagnosis of PCOS and in women with PCOS without IR. STUDY DESIGN: Three groups of women included in the study: 15 women diagnosed as IR without PCOS, 16 women diagnosed as PCOS without IR and 20 women used as controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI) with the previous patients. Thickness of the endometrium was estimated in all cases with a transvaginal ultrasound in three consecutive measures during a cycle. RESULTS: The mean thickness of the endometrium was statistically higher in the PCOS group (11.1mm), and in the IR group (9.6mm), compared with the control group (6.2mm) (F=13.1, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that both in women diagnosed as having insulin resistance without PCOS, and in women with PCOS without insulin resistance, the ultrasonographically estimated thickness of the endometrium is relatively high and a closer follow-up of these women is required in order to detect those in risk to develop hyperplasia and/or atypia.

Adult↗

Is dosage of hormone replacement therapy related with endometrial polyp formation?

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate the effect of different doses of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on endometrial polyp formation. METHODS: 398 menopausal women were initially evaluated through transvaginal ultrasound and patients who already had endometrial polyps were excluded from the study. One hundred and six (26.6%) eligible patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups of 53 patients to receive two different doses of HRT. RESULTS: Six patients with endometrial polyps were detected in the first group and one patient in the second one (p = 0.0502 for total chi-square and p = .1172 for chi-square with continuity correction) after a mean duration of treatment of 26 months and 28,5 months, respectively. There was no difference in the mean number or the mean volume of the polyps between the two subgroups with positive results. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that endometrial polyp formation may be related with HRT dosage.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

Women younger than 50 years with endometrial cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The purpose of the study was to evaluate if known risk factors for endometrial cancer in menopausal women are also related to endometrial cancer in younger ages. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with a mean age of 46.3 years diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC) (histologically confirmed) from January of 1992 to December of 2004 were included in the study. The EC group of patients was compared with 100 patients (control group) randomly selected from the gynecologic clinic (inclusion criteria: age 43-48 years) without any endometrial cancer diagnoses that were evaluated for the same factors. RESULTS: Mean BMI was 34.4 kg/m2 (SD = 8.8) in the first group and 28.3 (SD = 7.6) in the second one (p < 0.001). None of the women in the EC group reported any history of oral contraception. With the exception of hypertension and ovarian cancer (probably related to small numbers) all other comparisons were statistically significant (although some only marginally). DISCUSSION: From the results of our study, it seems that body mass index (BMI), parity, type of menstrual cycles, history of polycystic ovarian (PCO) syndrome and diabetes are possibly related to endometrial cancer in women younger than 50 years of age, and the strongest relation was found with increased BMI. Also, there was no increased incidence of hypertensive disease in the EC group. CONCLUSION: Prospective studies are needed for final conclusions.

Adult↗

Factors associated with initiation and duration of breastfeeding in Greece.

AIM: Our aim was to study factors affecting the initiation, progress and duration of breastfeeding in Greece. METHODS: We studied 938 infants born in 2001 in 17 maternity hospitals in Greece. RESULTS: The percentage of breastfeeding infants was 85.5%. The actual progress of breastfeeding was different from the one that the mothers intended to follow. Although the majority of women claimed in the beginning that they would breastfeed mainly for four to six months (23.2%) and 12-14 months (23.1%), the majority had discontinued breastfeeding by the fourth month (58.5%) and only 7.3% breastfed for more than one year. The initiation time of breastfeeding was positively influenced by natural delivery (p = 0) and pleasant delivery (p = 0.397). Smoking was negatively associated with the duration of breastfeeding (p = 0) and the infants of smokers breastfed mainly for one to two months (38.7%). Exclusive breastfeeding in the maternity hospital was positively associated with the mother's intention to refuse to use a mixed diet after being discharged (p = 0). CONCLUSION: Greater support is needed so that women can implement their original intentions concerning the progress of breastfeeding.

Breast Feeding↗

Factors influencing the initiation and progress of breastfeeding in Greece.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate and assess the factors associated with the initiation, progress, and duration of breastfeeding in Greece. METHODS: We studied 1,010 infants born from 862 women from 1996 to 2000 in 17 hospitals. We followed the mothers for the period January-October 2001, while they were at the maternity hospitals to give birth to their next child. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the data showed that factors positively associated with the duration of breast-feeding were the application of rooming-in (p = 0.0001), the initiation time of breast-feeding--mainly one to six hours after delivery (p = 0.0004), natural delivery (p = 0), pleasant delivery (p = 0.0142), the time the decision about breastfeeding was taken (p = 0), the fact that it was mainly a maternal decision and the mothers were not influenced by a specific person (p = 0.0272) and the fact that no mixed diet was administered (p = 0). Smoking was negatively associated with the duration of breastfeeding (p = 0.0036). Factors not associated with the duration of breastfeeding were: number of the mother's family members (p = 0.1231), whether the women themselves were breastfed as babies (p = 0.03924), some elements of their personality (p = 0.3871) as well as their beliefs concerning maternal milk (p = 0.1922). CONCLUSIONS: From our results we have indications as to which factors are related or unrelated to the initiation and progress of breastfeeding in Greece.

Breast Feeding↗

Effect on endometrium of combined oestrogen-progestogen replacement therapy of 1 mg 17beta-estradiol and 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of low-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on ultrasound thickness of the endometrium and on endometrial histology in postmenopausal women. Two hundred and fifty-four postmenopausal women were included in the study; 124 completed three years of treatment with continuous HRT containing 1 mg oestradiol and 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate daily, and 130 women did not take HRT during the same time (control group). Ultrasound scan showed that the mean thickness of the endometrium was similar between the groups under investigation at the end of the study. Ninety-one percent of the women in the HRT group and 78% in the control group had an atrophic or unassessable endometrium and no cases of endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy were detected in either group at endometrial biopsy at the end of the study. It seems that low-dose continuous HRT of moderate duration is not associated with either endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy.

Endometrium↗

Treatment delay and pathology results in women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. A preliminary study.

Regression rate of CIN 1 (LSIL) can reach 85%. The purpose of this study was to investigate retrospectively pathology specimens in CIN 1 cases who delayed treatment > 2 years despite the persistence of the lesion. One hundred and fifteen women diagnosed with CIN 1 were separated in two groups as follows: A) 92 women who underwent ablative treatment within three months after the completion of two years; B) 23 women who delayed ablative treatment for a mean interval of > 1 year after the completion of two years. Exclusion criteria were normal cytology and colposcopy results within the completion of two years. The chi-square, t-test and Kaplan-Meier method were used for analysis. Persistence of LSIL lesions was observed in 84% of the first group and persistence or regression of the lesion in 78% of the second one. The study suggests the possibility of prolongation of the observation period after LSIL diagnosis. Prospective studies with close follow-up are needed for final conclusions.

Adult↗

The use of erythropoietin in gynecologic cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible benefits of erythroproietin ingestion in patients with various gynecological cancers with proven severe iron deficiency anemia. METHOD: Seven patients with gynecological cancer were included in the study. Nadir hematocrit values were found to be 20-24% before the initiation of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment. Initial therapy started at 50 units/kg/dose, three times weekly for a month. The dose was modified according to the rise of hemoglobin after a month's period. The dose was modified according to the rise of hemoglobin after a month's period. If the rise was greater than 2 g/dl the dose was changed to 25 units/kg two times weekly and if it was less than 2 g/dl it was changed to 25 units/kg three times weekly per month. Five patients were simultaneously given erythropoietin therapy and iron supplementation. RESULTS: We confirmed a rise in the hematocrit values which averaged 0.5-1.5% weekly till the upper limit. Reticulocyte and hematocrit values were higher in the erythropoietin plus iron group (five cases). CONCLUSION: In this small series, erythropoietin appeared to be effective in treating severe iron deficiency in gynecologic cancer patients. Further investigation is needed to confirm these results.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗

Clinical course and treatment results of breast cancer patients with ten or more positive axillary nodes.

Two-hundred and fifty-nine women with operable breast cancer, having more than 10 involved nodes without a distant metastasis, were treated with radical, modified radical or partial mastectomy with complete axillary dissection. Survival at 5 years was 63% and at 7 years 54%. Fifty-six per cent and 52% were disease free 5 and 7 years after initial therapy. Postmenopausal women had an overall survival rate of 64% and disease free survival rate of 61% while premenopausal women had an overall survival of 58% and disease free survival of 52%. Survival and disease free survival rate for those with 10-20 positive nodes were 65% and 69% respectively, while for those with more than 20 positive nodes the rates were 49% and 52% respectively; a statistically better survival in the 2nd group. Although the observational time of patients having adjuvant CEF is short, a better survival rate and disease free survival rate is possible in women treated with CEF.

Journal Article↗

The role of antibiotics after dilatation and curettage in women with metrorrhagia in the prevention of pelvic inflammatory disease.

A follow-up study was carried out in 67 healthy women with negative vaginal-cervical cultures after an endometrial curettage for metrorrhagia. The women were separated into two treatment groups and clinically followed for one month after the operation. The first group included 33 women (aged 23-67, mean 43) who received doxycycline 200 mg daily for a period of one week after the procedure. The second group included 34 women (aged 28-70, mean 43.5) who did not receive any antibiotic regimen after the dilatation and curettage. Four and three women from the 1st and 2nd group, respectively, developed PID during follow-up; a difference not statistically significant.

Adult↗

Sonographic parameters and hormonal status in lean and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

A total of 34 patients with the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were recruited for this study. Weight distribution in lean PCOS women (n = 17) was 93.5% to 110.5% of normal weight for height and age. In obese women (n = 17) this distribution was 119.5 to 146.5%. Serum testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), delta 4-androstendione (delta 4-A), sex hormone binding globulin, (SHBG), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH PRG), 17b oestradiol (17b-E2), cortisol (CORT), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and insulin (INS) were measured. Serum SHBG levels were lower in obese PCOS women (72.9 +/- 16.2 nmol/l) than in lean PCOS women (99.6 +/- 10.5) (p < 0.001). Fasting insulin levels were higher in obese PCOS women (30.4 +/- 4.5 mUI/ml) than in lean PCOS women (14.2 +/- 7.6 mUI/ml) (p < 0.001). Mean ovarian volume did not differ significantly between lean and obese PCOS women (12.5 +/- 3.7 ml vs 16.1 +/- 5.3, p > 0.5). Endometrial thickness was roughly similar between the two groups. Endometrial surface area in lean PCOS women (7.6 +/- 2.2 cm2) was lower than in obese PCOS women (10.1 +/- 1.9 cm2) and the difference was significant (p < 0.01).

Adolescent↗

Hormonal reproductive status of women at menopausal transition compared to that observed in a group of midreproductive-aged women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in perimenopausal women to the levels of the same reproductive hormones in younger women. METHODS: This was a case control study which compared the hormonal status (circulating levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T, E2, DHEA-S) between women at menopausal transition and younger mid-reproductive-aged controls. The t-test for independent samples was used. RESULTS: FSH, LH and E2 were higher, and T and DHEA-S were lower in perimenopausal women. CONCLUSION: The reproductive hormonal patterns in perimenopausal women favor a relatively hypergonadotropic hyper-estrogenic milieu.

Adult↗

Treatment results of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on selected pathologic changes of the uterine cervix.

One hundred and eighty-two women treated with cryotherapy were included in the study. In cases of chronic cervical inflammation full recovery was observed in 86% of subjects. In cases of Naboth cysts full recovery was observed within 6 to 8 weeks in 89% of women. In cases of cervical erosions full recovery was observed within 6 to 9 weeks in 84.9% of women. In women, with cervical epithelium dysplasia full recovery was observed within 7 to 11 weeks in treated subjects. Renewal of the pathology was observed in 15% of the women with treated cervicitis and in one of the women with cervical dysplasia within 2 to 5 years of follow-up.

Colposcopy↗

Anogenital intraepithelial lesions in HIV positive patients. Report of 3 cases with 3-year follow-up.

Three cases of HIV-positive immunocompromised women, complicated by anogenital intraepithelial lesions are presented in the present paper. Two patients, aged 42 and 33, had a combination of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3) and anal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (AIN 2). The other one, aged 26, presented an association of CIN 2 and AIN 1. All lesions were HPV-associated and proved by colposcopically-guided biopsies.

Adult↗

Gynecologic cancer and surgical infectious morbidity.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the surgical infectious morbidity in gynecologic cancer. We examined 1,180 gynecologic oncology patients: 608 women had carcinoma of the endometrium, 510 cancer of the cervix, 48 ovarian cancer and 14 vulvar cancer. Thirty-five (6%), 92 (18%), 7 (15%) and 2 (14%) were complicated by infection in carcinoma of the endometrium, cancer of the cervix, ovarian cancer and vulvar cancer, respectively. Our conclusion is that the highest surgical infectious morbidity occurs in patients with cervical cancer and the lowest in patients with carcinoma of the endometrium.

Adult↗

Postmenopausal uterine bleeding.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of the etiologic factors of postmenopausal uterine bleeding and the recurrence rate of uterine bleeding before total hysterectomy. Six hundred and twenty-eight patients (mean age 52.2) with postmenopausal uterine bleeding were studied. Atrophic endometrium was found in 522 cases (83.1%), carcinoma of the endometrium in 70 cases (11.1%), proliferative endometrium in 29 cases (4.6%) and secretory endometrium in 7 cases (1.1%). The recurrence rate of uterine bleeding was very high in carcinoma of the endometrium, moderate in proliferative endometrium and low in secretory and atrophic endometrium.

Atrophy↗

Tibolone in the treatment of psychosomatic symptoms in menopause.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of tibolone in the treatment of psychosomatic symptoms in menopause. Forty-two menopausal women (aged 46-63, mean 53.9) with nightly perspiration, vasomotor flushes, disturbance of libido, dyspnea and other psychosomatic symptoms were assigned to one of two treatment groups for three months: 1st group) 21 users of tibolone; 2nd group) 21 users of placebo. At the end of the trial disturbance of libido was observed in 4 (19.0%) cases tin the 1st group and 11 (52.4%) cases in the 2nd (p < 0.05) and nightly perspiration was observed in 3 cases (14.3%) in the 1st group and 9 cases (42.9%) in the 2nd (p < 0.05). Although vasomotor flushes were observed in only 3 (14.3%) cases in the 1st group and 7 cases (33.3%) in the 2nd group, this difference was not significant (p > 0.05). There was no significant effect of tibolone or placebo in dyspnea, vertigo and headache. From the results it can be concluded that tibolone can have a beneficial effect on some psychosomatic symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Anabolic Agents↗

Reduction of hospital cost and administration of prophylactic antibiotherapy in gynecological surgery.

The present study attempts to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three of the most popular third-generation cephalosporins, and demonstrates the reduction in cost resulting from their use. Our study included 223 women admitted for abdominal hysterectomy (mean age 54), 200 of whom were assigned randomly to one of four groups. The first group did not use an antibiotic prophylaxis. The second group used ceftriaxone, the third cefotaxime and the fourth ceftazidime. In the three treatment groups one 2-g dose of the antibiotic was provided 60 min before the operation. Additional doses were given only if post-operative infection was established. Our results indicated that one dose of antibiotic prophylaxis with third-generation cephalosporins reduces the morbidity in gynecological surgery. Cefotaxime proved to be the most cost-effective of these three cephalosporins, with low morbidity and a low rate of hospitalization.

Adult↗