Brucellosis is commonly presented with cytopenia, especially in bacteremic episodes with fever. However, pancytopenia is uncommon and its finding should alert the physician to look for other possible etiologies.

Introduction and hypothesis To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser maintenance treatment in women previously treated successfully with laser for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), who have demonstrated a decline in treatment effect. Methods Women aged 40–70 years who experienced temporary significant improvement in symptoms following CO 2 laser treatments for SUI were randomized to either the treatment group or the sham treatment control group. Cough test results, 1-h pad weights and scores on the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI6), the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI) and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) were obtained at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Results Of 183 women screened, 131 were included in the final analysis. Demographic characteristics and baseline measures in the outcome tests were similar between the groups. Statistically significant improvements were demonstrated in the study compared to the control group at 3 months post-treatment in positive cough test (44.4% vs. 79.4%, P = 0.002), mean pad weight test (2.3 g ± 1.3 vs. 5.6 ± 1.1, P < 0.001), mean UDI-6(24.7 ± 12.1 vs. 45.1 ± 13.6 SD, P = 0.004), mean ICIQ-UI (16.5 ± 4.3 vs. 10.3 + 3.8, P = 0.003) and mean PISQ-12 (21.3 ± 6.8 vs. 36.6 ± 7.5, P = 0.003). However, values at 6 months post-treatment were similar to those at baseline. Conclusions Our results suggest that a single maintenance laser treatment for reducing symptoms of SUI is transiently effective, well tolerated and safe. This treatment modality provides alternative non-surgical therapy for women with SUI.

No abstract

Data regarding the preferred induction method in women with obesity is scarce. The current study was aimed at comparing pharmacological and mechanical induction in this population. This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted between 2016–2020, in nulliparas with a pre-pregnancy body mass index >30. Inclusion criteria were singleton-term pregnancies, bishop score < 5, and indication for induction. Patients were randomized to induction by a cervical ripening balloon (CRB) or a 10 mg vaginal dinoprostone insert. The primary outcome was delivery rate within 24 h. Secondary outcomes included time to delivery, cesarean section rate, maternal and neonatal outcomes, satisfaction, and anxiety. The study population comprised of 83 women in the CRB group and 81 in the dinoprostone group. There was a significant difference in delivery rates within 24 h and time to delivery between the dinoprostone and CRB groups (45% vs. 71%, p = 0.017 and 49.3 ± 6.8 h vs. 23.5 ± 5.9 h, p = 0.003, respectively). There were no differences in cesarean delivery rates or maternal and neonatal outcomes, though CRB induction was associated with a significantly lower rate of tachysystole. Induction with CRB was accompanied by higher satisfaction and lower anxiety. In summary, CRB induction is associated with shorter time to delivery, higher satisfaction, and lower anxiety compared to PGE2 in women with obesity, without compromising maternal or neonatal outcomes.