Smooth Muscle Tumor of Uncertain Malignant Potential (STUMP) is a rare uterine tumor primarily affecting perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, typically aged between 45 and 55 years. Characterized by ambiguous histological features, STUMPs present diagnostic challenges as they cannot be definitively classified as benign or malignant based on morphology alone. This systematic review aims to elucidate the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical, and treatment-related characteristics of STUMPs through an analysis of the literature from the past 20 years. The study follows PRISMA guidelines, utilizing comprehensive searches of PubMed and Scopus databases, yielding 32 studies that meet the inclusion criteria. From the analysis of these studies, it was revealed that the clinical presentations vary from common symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding and pelvic pain to incidental detection of uterine mass. Histologically, STUMPs demonstrate features overlapping with both leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas, including mild nuclear atypia, low mitotic indices, and focal necrosis. Immunohistochemical markers such as p16 and p53 have been investigated for prognostic significance. Elevated p16 expression, often associated with aggressive behavior, was observed in a subset of STUMPs. Surgical management, typically involving hysterectomy or tumorectomy, is the primary treatment, though the extent of resection is variable. Adjuvant therapies are not routinely recommended, but long-term surveillance is advised, especially for high-risk patients. Recurrence rates for STUMPs are approximately 12%, with factors such as high mitotic counts and coagulative necrosis indicating higher risk. This review highlights the complexity of STUMP diagnosis and management, emphasizing the need for more precise diagnostic criteria and individualized treatment strategies. Understanding the morphological, immunohistochemical, and clinical behavior of STUMPs can improve patient outcomes and guide future research in this diagnostically challenging area.

Maternal obesity is an escalating public health concern that adversely affects pregnancy outcomes. Adipokines play a key role in regulating metabolism and fetal development, but their dynamic changes during pregnancy remain inadequately understood. Objective: This study investigates maternal and fetal adipokine variations throughout pregnancy and their associations with maternal body mass index (BMI), abdominal wall thickness, and neonatal outcomes. Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted involving 74 pregnant women categorized by BMI. Maternal blood samples were collected at mid-pregnancy and delivery, and additional analysis of umbilical-cord blood was performed. Clinical parameters such as BMI, abdominal wall thickness, and fetal growth metrics were also recorded. Results: Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in obese pregnancies, whereas leptin and visfatin levels increased with higher maternal BMI. Umbilical-cord blood leptin levels correlated positively with maternal BMI and neonatal birth weight, while ghrelin levels were reduced in neonates born to obese mothers. Significant adipokine fluctuations were observed between mid-pregnancy and delivery. Conclusions: Maternal obesity is associated with distinct alterations in adipokine profiles. These findings highlight the potential of maternal adipokines, given their links to maternal adiposity, as predictive biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term metabolic risks in offspring. Further interventional research is warranted to evaluate targeted strategies aimed at improving perinatal metabolic health.

A fetus identified to be at risk for chromosomal abnormalities may benefit from identification of genetic defects through amniocentesis. Although the risks associated with amniocentesis are considered to be minimal, being an invasive procedure it is not completely without complications. Background and Objectives: The current study aims to identify correlations between blood contamination of samples collected during amniocentesis and certain factors dependent on the instruments used (thickness of the needle used to aspirate the fluid), the location of the placenta, and uterine vascularity (more pronounced in multiparous patients). Materials and Methods: The study included 190 patients in the second trimester of pregnancy who met one of the criteria for invasive prenatal diagnosis (age over 35 years, high risk in first trimester screening, history of pregnancies with genetic abnormalities, etc.). The amniotic fluid samples collected from these patients were analyzed in terms of blood contamination of the amniotic fluid aspirated with maternal cells Results: Of the patients in whom the procedure was performed using 21 G size needles, 16 samples (13.33% of the total) were contaminated. None of the samples collected from patients where a 20 G needle was used were contaminated. There was a statistically significant association between the lack of contamination and the use of Doppler ultrasound in multiparous patients with anterior placenta in whom a 21-gauge needle was used for amniocentesis. Conclusions: There is an increased rate of sample contamination (statistically significant) when using 21 G needle sizes and a significant difference in contamination between primiparous and multiparous patients, with contamination being more frequent in multiparous patients. The use of Doppler ultrasonography may benefit the procedure, as the contamination rate was significantly reduced when used during amniocentesis.

Background: Uterine fibroids affect 70–80% of women by age 50, often impairing fertility through mechanical distortion and altered endometrial receptivity. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, though its impact on future fertility remains debated. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate pregnancy rates, time to conception, and fertility-related complications following UAE in women with symptomatic fibroids. Methods: A systematic search was performed across PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and other databases (January 2005–March 2025) following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies reporting fertility outcomes ≥ 6 months after UAE were included. Primary outcomes were pregnancy rates and time to conception. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (observational studies) and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results: Thirty-three studies (4287 women) were included; 85.2% had follow-up. The pregnancy rate was 52.1% (95% CI: 46.8–57.4%), with a mean time to conception of 14.7 months. Pregnancy rates were highest in women < 30 years (67.8%) and lowest in those > 40 years (31.5%). Unilateral UAE had superior outcomes to bilateral (61.2% vs. 49.8%). Conclusions: UAE can preserve fertility in ~50% of selected patients, with better outcomes in younger women. Early intervention is advised for fertility preservation.

Obesity, characterized by an excess of adipose tissue, has become a significant global health issue. The prevalence of obesity has increased markedly in recent decades worldwide, with a sharp rise also observed in developing countries, particularly in urban areas. Addressing obesity during pregnancy is crucial for several reasons and presents challenges for specialists in obstetrics and gynecology. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between obesity and its implications for childbirth. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 1513 patients, grouped into normal-weight, overweight, and obese categories using corrected BMI values. We performed comparative analyses to explore the association between BMI and various outcomes: the method of delivery, the Apgar score at birth, the incidence of fetal distress, fetal birth weight, the presence of pregnancy-associated pathologies, and the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage. Descriptive statistical analysis was utilized to characterize the demographic and clinical features of the patients and newborns. Results: By examining variables such as the occurrence of fetal distress during labor, the Apgar score at delivery, and the mode of delivery, we identified an association between increasing BMI and complications during labor and delivery. The results indicate that a higher BMI is linked with increased complications and variations in the mode of delivery. Conclusions: Obesity is the most common health issue among women of reproductive age and requires long-term care. It can contribute to numerous pregnancy-associated pathologies and affect both mother and child during labor and delivery. Obesity is associated with lower Apgar scores, the increased incidence of fetal distress, and a higher rate of cesarean section deliveries. Although the absolute risk of serious complications for mother, fetus, and newborn is low among women with obesity, adopting healthy eating and exercise behaviors prior to pregnancy, ideally, or as early in pregnancy as possible, can help minimize excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting up to 10% of reproductive-age individuals, is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Current treatments are based primarily on hormonal therapy, analgesia, and surgery, while additional biologically targeted approaches remain under investigation. This review examines polyphenols in relation to endometriosis-associated redox dysregulation and inflammation. Rather than acting simply as antioxidants, individual polyphenols may function as context-dependent redox and signaling modulators. Preclinical studies suggest effects on NF-κB and MAPK signaling, Nrf2-related stress responses, angiogenesis, apoptosis, immune-cell activity, and hormone-related pathways, but the direction and magnitude of these effects differ substantially among compounds, doses, metabolites, and experimental models. Resveratrol and quercetin have generated the greatest clinical interest; however, human evidence remains sparse and heterogeneous, quercetin has been evaluated mainly in multicomponent formulations, and the only double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial of resveratrol did not demonstrate superiority over placebo for pain reduction. Low and variable bioavailability, compound-specific metabolism, phytoestrogenic and pro-oxidant effects at some exposures, heterogeneous formulations, and limited long-term safety data remain major translational barriers. Polyphenols should therefore be regarded as potential adjunctive approaches whose clinical efficacy in endometriosis remains to be established.