A prospective analysis of the sagittal profile of 100 healthy young adult volunteers was carried out in order to evaluate the relationship between the shape of the pelvis and lumbar lordosis and to create a databank of the morphologic and positional parameters of the pelvis and spine in a normal healthy population. Inclusion criteria were as follows: no previous spinal surgery, no low back pain, no lower limb length inequality, no scoliotic deviation. For each subject, a 30 x 90-cm sagittal radiograph including spine, pelvis and proximal femurs in standing position on a force plate was performed. The global axis of gravity was determined with the force plate. Each radiograph was digitized using dedicated software. The spinal parameters registered were values for thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. The pelvic angles measured were: pelvic incidence, sacral slope and pelvic tilt. The global axis of gravity was on average 9 mm anterior of the center of the femoral heads. The anatomic parameter of pelvic incidence angle varied from 33 degrees to 85 degrees (mean: 51.7 degrees, SD: 11 degrees). The average lumbar lordosis was 46.5 degrees. The average thoracic kyphosis was 47 degrees. We found a statistical correlation between incidence angle and lumbar lordosis (r=0.69, P<0.001) and between sacral slope angle and lumbar lordosis (r=0.75, P<0.001). Spine and pelvis balance around the hip axis in order to position the gravity line over the femoral heads. We propose a scheme of sagittal balance of the standing human body.

Introduction Endometriosis is a benign condition that causes pain and infertility. Sexual dysfunction, particularly deep dyspareunia, is common in patients with endometriosis and interferes with quality of life and conjugal satisfaction. Aim The study aims to assess sexual function in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Method Fifty-seven women diagnosed with deep infiltrating endometriosis were recruited from Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto (HUPE) between July and December 2011. The control group comprised 38 healthy women recruited at the HUPE family planning clinic. Main Outcome Measures The main outcomes are full-scale and individual domain scores on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a validated questionnaire for functional assessment of sexual function in women. Results Patients with endometriosis had more pain in intercourse than controls, which correlates with lower scores in the FSFI pain domain. However, there were no statistically significant between-group differences in overall (full-scale) FSFI scores. Conclusion Women with endometriosis exhibit significant dysfunction in the pain domain of the FSFI questionnaire, but this finding was not sufficient to affect the overall sexual function.

The layout of the new complex allows open access to the 3-T iMRI system except when it is in use under surgical conditions. Three patients benefited from the iMRI examination to achieve total resection. No permanent complications were observed. Therefore, the 3-T iMRI is feasible and appears to be a safe tool for intraoperative surgical planning and assessment.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the double-stimulation protocol efficacy over conventional ovarian stimulation in recovering a more adequate number of oocytes and increase the number of embryos to be transferred or to be genetically analyzed.MethodsA retrospective and comparative study with 13 patients who underwent unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with a conventional antagonist ovarian stimulation protocol and repeat the attempt with a double stimulation protocol. The following variables were analyzed: number of oocytes collected, mature oocytes collected, fertilization rate, blastocyst rate, biopsied blastocyst rate and euploidy rate.ResultsThe double stimulation protocol had a significant higher number of oocytes collected (p=0.007) and mature oocytes to be injected (p=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in fertilization (p=0.78) and blastocyst (p=0.59) rates.ConclusionDouble stimulation favors patients who are at risk of incurring several attempts of IVF to achieve pregnancy.