BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent condition affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by metabolic, endocrine, and reproductive disturbances including insulin resistance, abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, and hyperandrogenism, and is associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The etiology of PCOS is unclear and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) present in everyday products may play a role by disrupting hormonal pathways. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between exposure to EDC-containing products, sociodemographic factors, and PCOS diagnosis among nonpregnant reproductive-aged women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey assessed the frequency of EDC exposure in homes and workplaces. The Rotterdam Criteria were used for the diagnosis of PCO features with clinical history and ultrasound. The association between PCOS and EDC exposure was determined using Chi-square and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The study identified significant sociodemographic factors associated with PCOS (P < 0.001) including age, civil status, and household income. Increased likelihood of PCOS was linked to frequent use of scented candles (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07), cleaning sprays (OR = 2.28), and floor polish (OR = 2.07), exposure to new upholstered furniture (OR = 4.00), thermal receipts (OR = 2.16), and consumption of microwaved and processed foods (OR = 2.60), as well as water sourced from wells (OR = 7.69). Additional associations were found with access to public markets (OR = 0.26) and the use of paper food wrappers (OR = 1.72). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that frequent exposure to EDC-containing products and certain sociodemographic factors may contribute to the development of PCOS among women of reproductive age. Results underscore the importance of reducing exposure to EDCs to prevent or mitigate the development of PCOS and other reproductive consequences.
Female

This paper will focus only on the recommendations or guidelines on the evaluation for female infertility. Most of the recommendations were based on the Fertility Assessment and Treatment for People with Fertility Problems Guideline by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
Human ; Female ; INFERTILITY, FEMALE

No abstract available.
Female ; Female* ; Genitalia, Female* ; Humans ; Incidence*

Chromomycosis is a chronic localized infection of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues and characterized by verrucoid, ulcerated and crusted lesions with sclerotic margins. It histologically show confluent granulomatous nodules containing large giant cells of the foreign body type. The organisms are differ from other yeastform fungi by the characteristic chestnut-brown color and by the septate division. A case of 51 year old woman with chromomycosis at submental area is presented.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease has various manifestations that are differentiated by their pathology, progress and treatment However, all manifestations eventually progresses to pulmonary fibrosis. Recent studies have shown that apoptosis of pulmonary epithelial cells might be related to pulmonary fibrosis. The correlation of the apoptotic index with the clinical manifestations, pathological findings, HRCT findings and the response to treatment were examined. METHOD: Twenty subjects (14 men, 16 women), who had been diagnosed with interstitial lung disease through an open lung biopsy, were enrolled in this study. The subtypes were one AIP, two NIP, eight BOOP, and seven UIP cases. The apoptotic index was scaled from 0-2 depending on the fraction of positive staining cells by TUNEL method. The clinical severity was assessed by a modification of a previously developed CRP scoring system. The pathologic scores were based on 4 components: fibrosis, cellularity, desquamation, and granulation. In the HRCT study, each lobe was scored by the radiologists on a scale for both fibrosis and ground-glass attenuation. The treatment response was assessed by an increase in more than 10% of the CRP score, and comparing the results 3 months before and after treatment. RESULTS: The apoptotic index showed no correlation with the CRP and HRCT scoring system. The apoptotic index correlated with the pathologic elements including fibrosis, cellularity and the desquamation score (p<0.05). Of the 16 patients who received corticosteroid therapy, 9 patients (56.3%) responded to therapy. There was no correlation between the response to corticosteroid and the apoptotic index. In the case of patients with acute and subacute ILD, the apoptotic index showed a correlation with the cellularity, desquamation, and the total histological score (p<0.05). In the case of patients with chronic ILD, the apoptotic index correlated with the fibrosis and cellularity score (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of the pulmonary epithelial cells is implicated in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease particularly on a pathological basis.
Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female

Malignant transformation of endometriosis is an infrequent complication. Clear cell carcinoma from endometriosis is very rare in the paraovarian cyst. To date no cases have been reported. We report a case of clear cell carcinoma arising from endometriosis of the paraovarian cyst with a brief review of literature.
Endometriosis ; Female

Recently the syndrome of mitral valve prolapse with associated auscultatory and other clinical findings has generated considerable interest. Although this syndrome was originally described as benign, more recent observations have demonstrated that the patients are subject to sudden death, life threatening arrhythmias, bacterial endocarditis or hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation. It is therefore important to identify such patients so that appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis and antiarrhythmic therapy may be instituted. Since earlier reports of this syndrome by Barlow et al. in 1963, various names or descriptions have been applied to the condition based upon pathologic findings, on cinical investigators has stressed different aspects of the entity. Now it is well known that the syndrome is no longer a benign condition. We have recently had the opportunity to study 15 cases of mitral valve prolapse, which was confirmed by left ventricular cineangiography. Among them 9 cases had associated other cardiac anomalies, most frequently secundum type of atrial septal defect. Among 15 cases 8 were female and the ages ranged from 20 to 52. Selective cine-coronary arteriography was also performed in 2 cases who complained of severe chest pain. We discussed generally the clinical features including hemodynamic and angiocardiographic findings, and pertinent literature published until recently were reviewed.
Female ; Humans

Gastric carcinoids usually appear as a single polypoid tumor or yellowish rounded submucosal tumor in the fundus or body of the stomach. Multiple gastric carcinoids are associated with pernicious anemia, chronic atrophic gastritis and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. These are believed to be due to hypergastrinemia. In Korea, carcinoids usually appear as single round-based submucosal tumor or sessile polyps. Multiple pedunculated polypoid carcinoids were rarely reported. A 27-year old woman was admitted to our hospital due to melena. The endoscopy revealed multiple pedunculated polypoid lesions in the fundus and body, predominantly in Yamada type III and IV. The histopathologic examination revealed the diagnosis of gastric carcinoid tumors. Serum fasting gastrin level was normal. We report a case of multiple pedunculated polypoid gastric carcinoids without atrophic gastritis or hypergastrinemia with a review of relevant literatures.
Female ; Humans

A human embryo obtained incidentally from a hysterectomy specimen of a 36 year old woman who was operated for chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, was serially sectioned and reconstructed with 104 section slides. This embryo was characterized by a thick corneal body with well developed Descemet's endothelium, the optic nerve having vascular canal, the cochlear turning a little more than one time, the hypophysis with threadlike stalk, the vomeronasal organ having intermediate long narrow canal, the submandibular gland with deep lumen, the kidney with short secretory tubules and few large glomeruli and a well formed osseous band in the cartilage and bone. From above findings, it was concluded that this embryo belongs to the age group XXIII of Streeter's developmental horizon.
Female ; Humans