Background: Pain is considered as one of the main symptoms of endometriosis. The
treatment for endometriosis remains controversial.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the effect of medical or surgical
treatments for pain-relief in patients with endometriosis.
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Setting: Published papers about evaluating pain treatment in endometriosis in
PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
Methods: After searching all studies evaluating pain treatment in endometriosis in
PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, there were 23 related studies, containing 1,847
patients enrolled in our study. We used a variety of tests: fixed and random effects
models, Q Cochrane test and I2 index, Egger and Begg tests, forest and funnel plots,
Trim and fill method, and meta-regression in our analysis.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in pain improvement
between surgical and medical treatment. Interestingly, pain relief was more prominent
longer after treatment. Both clinical trials and cross sectional studies showed higher
improvement in pain than cohort studies. High quality studies and lower body mass
index (BMI) had a greater effect on pain relief. All studies were heterogeneous, but
there was no publication bias.
Limitations: There was a higher probability of risk of bias in blinding, random
sequence generation, and selective outcome reporting in clinical trial studies entered
in our meta-analysis.
Conclusions: Our results could not demonstrate the preference of each medical
or surgical treatment effect for dysmenorrhea in endometriosis. Additional data is
required before a standardized medical protocol can be offered, but we believe this
study may encourage clinicians to consider a less invasive alternative for treating their
patients’ chronic pelvic pain in the near future.
Key words: Endometriosis, pain, meta-analysis, therapy, disease management
In this article we review the application and procedures involved in scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe biological and live tissues through using SEM at high resolution. We discuss practical methods for optimizing tissue preservation to achieve the two principal goals of biological specimen preparation: (a) preserving biological structures as close to their living configuration as possible, and (b) rendering them visible with the desired imaging method. We also review and discuss the relative merits of different fixing (chemical fixation and cryofixation), drying (air-drying, critical point-drying, freeze-drying and chemical-drying) and coating procedures of biological specimens with metals to facilitate visualization in the SEM.
Introduction. The incidence of placenta accreta has dramatically increased due to increasing caesarean section rate all over the world. Placenta percreta is the most severe form of placenta accretes. It frequently results in maternal morbidity and mortality mainly caused by massive obstetric hemorrhage or emergency hysterectomy. Percreta invading into the broad ligament has rarely been previously reported. Case presenting. We presented a case of placenta percreta invading left broad ligament and parametrium in a woman with two previous cesarean sections, which led to massive intraoperative hemorrhage during hysterectomy and transient ischemic encephalopathy. Conclusion. In cases of parametrial involvement, it would be more difficult to decide whether to remove placenta or leave it in site. In surgical removal neither local excision of placental bed and uterine repair nor traditional hysterectomy is adequate if parametrium invaded by placenta. We suggest delayed elective hysterectomy in such cases. So, pregnancy-induced pelvic congestion would be decreased, we can gather an expert team of gynecologists, urologists, and vascular surgeons, we could get plenty of blood products, and we may have the chance to administer methotrexate.
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