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Case Reports in Women's Health Jun 2024A tubo-ovarian abscess is a potential life-threatening condition. In postmenopausal women, it is rarely seen and it has fewer typical symptoms, making it difficult to...
A tubo-ovarian abscess is a potential life-threatening condition. In postmenopausal women, it is rarely seen and it has fewer typical symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. This report concerns a postmenopausal patient who was admitted with general health decline, weight loss and ascites. At first, a malignancy of the right ovary was suspected because of the sonographic and laboratory findings. On diagnostic laparoscopy, the diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease was made, most likely caused by a Mirena intrauterine device that had been in place for 20 years. In a postmenopausal woman a tubo-ovarian abscess should be included in differential diagnoses especially if she has an intrauterine device. Conservative treatment with antibiotics is preferred. If surgery is required, diagnostic laparoscopy is advised.
PubMed: 38873434
DOI: 10.1016/j.crwh.2024.e00618 -
PloS One 2024Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) is one of the most reported bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) worldwide. Chlamydia can cause long term complications such...
OBJECTIVES
Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) is one of the most reported bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) worldwide. Chlamydia can cause long term complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy (EP) and tubal factor infertility (TFI). Changing testing strategies, for example reduced asymptomatic testing, influence chlamydia surveillance, highlighting the need for exploring alternative ways of monitoring chlamydia. We investigated the possibility of introducing routine surveillance of chlamydia related long term complications.
METHODS
A qualitative study including 15 in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of gynaecologists, general practitioners (GP), sexual health and emergency doctors was conducted in the Netherlands in 2021-2022. A semi-structured interview guide focused on experiences with diagnosis and registration of PID, EP and TFI and how a change in asymptomatic chlamydia testing strategy might influence this. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a thematic approach.
RESULTS
Analysis showed that gynaecologists most frequently reported diagnosing PID, EP and TFI. Other professions rarely diagnose these complications, with emergency doctors only diagnosing EP. Most respondents reported unique registration codes for PID and EP, but the coding for TFI is more ambiguous. They reflected that diagnosis and registration of PID, EP and TFI are handled differently within their professions. Most respondents acknowledged registration in diagnostic codes as a useful surveillance tool. They expressed concerns in representativeness (e.g. differences in interpretation of diagnosis criteria) and data quality for surveillance.
CONCLUSIONS
Patient files of gynaecologists are likely to be most complete for monitoring trends of diagnosed chlamydia related long term complications in the Netherlands. However, when establishing a chlamydia complication surveillance system, professionals should be engaged in further standardizing diagnosis and registration practices. This will improve the quality and interpretability of complication surveillance and facilitate comparison between countries.
Topics: Humans; Netherlands; Female; Chlamydia Infections; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Chlamydia trachomatis; Male; Qualitative Research; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Ectopic; Adult; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38861585
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305279 -
Cureus May 2024Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) or benign intracranial hypertension affects the neuro-ophthalmological system and leads to elevated intracranial pressure....
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) or benign intracranial hypertension affects the neuro-ophthalmological system and leads to elevated intracranial pressure. Elevated opening pressure during lumbar puncture is diagnostic of IIH. Here in, we present an interesting case of a 15-year-old girl, recently immigrated and with a high BMI, presenting with recurrent fever, abdominal issues, weight loss, and other symptoms, leading to a diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and HIV infection. After treatment with antibiotics (doxycycline) and antiretroviral therapy, she developed IIH, manifesting as sudden-onset headache and vision problems. MRI and lumbar puncture confirmed the diagnosis. She responded well to acetazolamide and was discharged with continued medication and follow-up appointments. This case underscores the complexity of IIH development, especially in the setting of acute HIV infection and antibiotic treatment, highlighting the need for a comprehensive diagnostic approach and multidisciplinary management.
PubMed: 38854218
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60001 -
Cureus May 2024Ascites can manifest as a result of many conditions, with cirrhosis being the most common cause in the United States. Here, we present a case of lymphocytic ascites, a...
Ascites can manifest as a result of many conditions, with cirrhosis being the most common cause in the United States. Here, we present a case of lymphocytic ascites, a less common variant that occurred due to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. This was a 37-year-old female with a history of substance and sexual abuse who presented with the chief complaints of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and weight gain. She was febrile on admission with a distended, tender abdomen. The more common cardiac, renal, and hepatic causes were ruled out with extensive workup. Diagnosis and therapeutic paracentesis were done with fluid analysis significant for lymphocyte predominance and absence of malignant cells. Multi-modal imaging had ruled out suspicious malignant masses but CT abdomen/pelvis did show complex large volume ascites. Urine chlamydia and gonorrhea polymerase chain reaction (PCR) had resulted positive for chlamydia, leading us to start Doxycycline. Other infectious workups were negative, but ascitic fluid chlamydia NAAT was positive. Though initially worsening, the patient started showing significant clinical improvement after starting doxycycline, with the resolution of ascites and associated symptoms. This case report intends to bring to attention the importance of testing for chlamydia infection in cases of lymphocytic ascites, especially in sexually active females.
PubMed: 38846180
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59760 -
Medecine Tropicale Et Sante... Mar 2024Accidental ingestion of a foreign body into the gastrointestinal tract is not uncommon, however the development of hepatic abscesses secondary to digestive perforation...
Accidental ingestion of a foreign body into the gastrointestinal tract is not uncommon, however the development of hepatic abscesses secondary to digestive perforation by a foreign body is rare. We report the case of pyogenic hepatic abscesses secondary to gastric perforation by a fishbone complicated by acute peritonitis. A 53-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital with the main complaints: diffuse abdominal pain with vomiting in a context of fever and physical asthenia. A painful febrile hepatomegaly with jaundice was objectified, as well as a non-specific biological inflammatory syndrome. An initial abdominopelvic CT scan revealed multifocal liver abscesses. Faced with the initial therapeutic failure associating parenteral antibiotic therapy and abscess drainage, a second abdominal CT scan identified a foreign body straddling the antropyloric wall and segment I of the liver.A xypho-pelvic midline laparotomy was performed with nearly 200 cc of peritoneal fluid coming out. A fishbone approximately 5 cm long was extracted by laparotomy, followed by gastric closure with omentum, peritoneal cleansing and drainage. Symptomatic adjuvant treatment was initiated, including a proton pump inhibitor (Pantoprazole). He also benefited from transfusion support in the face of anemia. Antibiotic therapy was continued for a total of 2 weeks after surgery. The evolution was favorable with follow-up imaging at 3 months, showing complete resorption of the hepatic abscesses.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Peritonitis; Male; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic; Foreign Bodies; Acute Disease; Senegal; Stomach
PubMed: 38846121
DOI: 10.48327/mtsi.v4i1.2024.390 -
BMC Women's Health Jun 2024The oil-soluble contrast medium used in hysterosalpingography has been shown to have a fertility-enhancing effect, but the underlying mechanism is unclear, especially...
Oil-soluble contrast medium bathing attenuated endometrial inflammation and improved endometrial receptivity in women with recurrent implantation failure: a descriptive study.
BACKGROUND
The oil-soluble contrast medium used in hysterosalpingography has been shown to have a fertility-enhancing effect, but the underlying mechanism is unclear, especially regarding the role of window of implantation (WOI). This study aimed to assess the endometrial immunological impact of the WOI before and after bathing with the oil-soluble contrast medium in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF).
METHODS
This descriptive study involved two medical centers between December 18, 2019, and December 30, 2020. We included infertile women who underwent three or more transfer cycles, cumulative transplantation of at least four high-quality cleavage-stage embryos or three high-quality blastocysts without clinical pregnancy, and high-quality frozen embryos that were still available for implantation. Patients received 5 ml of ethiodized poppyseed oil bathing, endometrial biopsy around bathing, and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) within four menstrual cycles after bathing. Patients were excluded if failure to complete anyone. Data on the baseline characteristics and clinical data of the FET cycles were collected, and endometrial biopsy specimens were collected in the luteal phase before and after bathing and subjected to immunohistochemistry. The number of CD56 and CD138 positive cells and H-score of expression of ανβ-3 and HOXA10 in endometrium were collected.
RESULTS
Thirty-four patients were initially enrolled in the study; ultimately, twelve patients with a median age of 32.5 years (range 27-40 years) completed the research. The median number of embryo transfer cycles was three (range 3-8). A total of 4 of 12 women (33.33%) were diagnosed with chronic endometritis before oil-soluble contrast bathing. After bathing, the median numbers of CD138-positive cells in endometrium decreased from 0.75 (range 0-13.5) to 0.65 (range 0-6), P = 0.035; additionally, the H-score of expression of ανβ-3 in endometrium increased from 148.50 ± 31.63 to 175.58 ± 31.83, P < 0.001. The thickness of the endometrium also significantly increased (8.90 ± 1.45 mm vs.10.11 ± 1.98 mm, P = 0.005). However, no consistent changes were found in the expression of CD56 and HOXA10 in the endometrium. Five patients experienced biochemical pregnancies (41.67%), four had clinical pregnancies (33.33%), and three achieved live births following oil-soluble contrast bathing (25%).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that oil-soluble contrast medium bathing decreased CD138-positive cells and upregulated expression of ανβ-3 during WOI in patients with RIF. This histological impact of endometrium may result in enhanced fertility during FET cycles. Investigating the ability of intrauterine bathing with lower-dosage oil-soluble contrast to improve pregnancy in the RIF population is warranted.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Embryo Implantation; Endometrium; Infertility, Female; Embryo Transfer; Pregnancy; Contrast Media; Endometritis; Hysterosalpingography; Oils; Baths
PubMed: 38840118
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03160-6 -
International Journal of Women's Health 2024In recent years, female infertility has become a research hotspot in the field of health management, and its cause may be related to insulin resistance (IR). We used a...
PURPOSE
In recent years, female infertility has become a research hotspot in the field of health management, and its cause may be related to insulin resistance (IR). We used a novel and practical IR indicator, the TyG index to explore its association with infertility.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We calculated the TyG index using data from adult women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2018. Then, we used multivariate logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup analysis to examine the association between the TyG index and infertility in women.
RESULTS
Logistic regression models showed a positive correlation between the TyG index and infertility, which remained significant even after adjusting for all confounders (OR=1.51,95% CI:1.14-2.00, =0.005). This association was consistent in all subgroups (age, education level, marital status, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, pelvic inflammatory disease/PID treatment, and menstrual regularity in the past 12 months) (p>0.05 for all interactions). However, the diagnostic power of the TyG index for infertility was limited (AUC=0.56, 95% CI: 0.52-0.61).
CONCLUSION
The TyG index is positively correlated with infertility, but its diagnostic value is limited. Further research is needed on the TyG index as an early predictor of infertility.
PubMed: 38827929
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S461950 -
Journal of Dairy Science May 2024The aim of this study was to evaluate transcriptional changes in sole epidermis and dermis of bovine claws with septic sole ulceration of the lateral claw. Assessment...
The aim of this study was to evaluate transcriptional changes in sole epidermis and dermis of bovine claws with septic sole ulceration of the lateral claw. Assessment included changes in transcripts orchestrating epidermal homeostatic processes including epidermal proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, and cell signaling. Sole epidermis and dermis was removed from region 4 of lesion-bearing lateral and lesion-free medial claws of pelvic limbs in multiparous, lactating Holstein cows. Control sole epidermis and dermis was obtained from region 4 of lateral claws of normal pelvic limbs. Transcript abundances were evaluated by real-time QPCR and relative expression analyzed by ANOVA. Relative to normal lateral claws, sole epidermis and dermis in ulcer-bearing claws exhibited downregulation of genes associated with growth factors, growth factor receptors, activator protein 1 (AP-1) and proto-oncogene (CMYC) transcription components, cell cycle elements, lateral cell-to-cell signaling elements and structures of early and late keratinocyte differentiation. These changes were accompanied by upregulation of pro-inflammatory transcripts interleukin 1 α (IL1A), interleukin1 β (IL1B), interleukin 1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), the inflammasome components NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), pyrin and caspase recruitment domain (PYCARD), and caspase-1 interleukin converting enzyme (CASPASE), the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), and anti-inflammatory genes interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) and interleukin1 receptor 2 (IL1R2). Transcript abundance varied across epidermis and dermis from the ulcer center, margin and epidermis and dermis adjacent to the lesion. Sole epidermis and dermis of lesion-free medial claws exhibited changes paralleling those in the adjacent lateral claws in an environment lacking inflammatory transcripts and downregulated IL1A, interleukin 18 (IL18), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFA) and NOS2. These data imply perturbations in signal pathways driving epidermal proliferation and differentiation are associated with, but not inevitably linked to epidermis and dermis inflammation. Further work is warranted to better define the role of crushing tissue injury, sepsis, metalloproteinase activity, and inflammation in sole ulceration.
PubMed: 38825108
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24578 -
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and... May 2024Chronic endometritis (CE) is associated with poor reproductive outcomes, yet the role of endometrial microbiota in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and...
BACKGROUND
Chronic endometritis (CE) is associated with poor reproductive outcomes, yet the role of endometrial microbiota in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and CE remains unclear. This study aims to characterize endometrial microbiota in RIF patients with CE and assess its implications for reproductive outcomes.
METHODS
In this prospective study, we enrolled RIF patients both with and without CE. Endometrial and cervical samples were collected for 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbiota composition was compared between groups using diversity indices, phylum, and genus-level analysis. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to assess relationships between CE, reproductive outcomes, and microbiota. Predictive functional profiling was performed to evaluate metabolic pathways associated with CE.
RESULTS
Endometrial microbiota in CE patients exhibited greater diversity and evenness compared to non-CE patients. Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed distinct clustering between CE and non-CE groups. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) identified Proteobacteria, Aminicenantales, and Chloroflexaceae as characteristic of CE, while Lactobacillus, Acinetobacter, Herbaspirillum, Ralstonia, Shewanela, and Micrococcaceae were associated with non-CE. CCA demonstrated associations between CE, adverse reproductive outcomes, and specific bacterial taxa. Microbial metabolic pathways significantly differed between CE and non-CE groups, with enrichment in pathways related to cofactors, vitamins, secondary metabolites, and the immune system in CE patients.
CONCLUSION
RIF patients with CE exhibit distinct endometrial microbiota compositions associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. The increased microbial diversity and altered metabolic pathways in CE suggest a potential correlation with reproductive outcomes, although further studies are necessary to elucidate the causal relationship between microbiota alterations and fertility. Modulating the endometrial microbiome may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to improve IVF outcomes in patients with CE.
Topics: Humans; Female; Endometritis; Microbiota; Endometrium; Adult; Prospective Studies; Embryo Implantation; Bacteria; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Pregnancy; Chronic Disease; Infertility, Female
PubMed: 38816832
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-024-00710-6 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Chronic endometritis is associated with the imbalance of female reproductive tract microbiota and pathogenic microbial infection. This study aimed to identify the...
Chronic endometritis is associated with the imbalance of female reproductive tract microbiota and pathogenic microbial infection. This study aimed to identify the specific changes in the endometrial microbiome in patients with endometritis and to explore how Clostridium tyrobutyricum (C.t) influences the progression of endometritis in mice for further elucidating endometritis pathogenesis. For this purpose, endometrial tissues from 100 participants were collected and divided into positive, weakly positive, and negative groups based on CD138 levels, while endometrial microbiome differences were detected and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-induced endometritis mouse model was established, followed by treatment with C.t, and inflammatory response, epithelial barrier, and TLR4/NF-κB pathway were evaluated. Results showed that α- and β-diversity was significantly lower in the positive group compared with the weakly positive or negative groups, where the negative group had more unique operational taxonomic units. The abundance of Proteobacteria was found to be increased, while that of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes was found to be reduced in the positive group, while the area under the curve value was found to be 0.664. Furthermore, C.t treatment resulted in the alleviation of S. aureus-induced inflammatory response, epithelial barrier damage, and activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in mice. Clinical samples analysis revealed that the diversity and abundance of microbiota were altered in patients with endometritis having positive CD138 levels, while mechanistic investigations revealed C.t alleviated S. aureus-induced endometritis by inactivating TLR4/NF-κB pathway. The findings of this study are envisaged to provide a diagnostic and therapeutic potential of microbiota in endometritis.
Topics: Animals; Endometritis; Female; Dysbiosis; Humans; Mice; Microbiota; Adult; Staphylococcus aureus; Toll-Like Receptor 4; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; NF-kappa B; Endometrium; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38816643
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63382-4