Current state of management of struma ovarii and preoperative imaging features: A retrospective case series study of 18 patients at a single institution.

AIM: Even though 95% of struma ovarii are benign, it is often overtreated because of the difficulty to distinguish it from malignancy. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the current state of the preoperative diagnosis and the selection of the surgical procedure, and to improve preoperative diagnostic accuracy by retrospectively reviewing imaging findings. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course and imaging characteristics of 18 patients who were diagnosed postoperatively with struma ovarii, pathologically, at our institution between 2015 and 2021. RESULTS: The preoperative diagnoses included benign ovarian tumor in eight cases, borderline in four cases, and malignant in six cases. None of the cases were diagnosed as struma ovarii preoperatively. Of the seven patients who had confirmed a desire for future childbearing, four patients were suspected for borderline or malignant tumor preoperatively, and underwent abdominal adnexectomy. In patients without a desire for childbearing, laparoscopic surgery was performed in only 45% of the patients whose preoperative diagnosis was benign. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 54% of the cases showed enhanced solid components, which is characteristic of malignant tumors, but diffusion restriction was observed in only 11%. On computed tomography (CT), 78% of the cases showed a high attenuation lesion reflecting thyroid tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Struma ovarii is difficult to distinguish from malignancy preoperatively, making the choice of surgical approach complicated. A comprehensive evaluation of diffusion-weighted MRI and CT findings may improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of struma ovarii.

Risk factors for infertility treatment-associated harassment among working women: a Japan-Female Employment and Mental health in assisted reproductive technology (J-FEMA) study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to elucidate the risk factors of infertility treatment-associated harassment (I-harassment) among Japanese working women. METHODS: The study participants were 1103 female patients who enrolled in the Japan-Female Employment and Mental Health in artificial reproductive technology (J-FEMA) study. Of the 1727 female patients, 1103 female patients were working during the initiation of infertility treatment and were still working during the survey. Risk factors for I-harassment were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: In this study, 82 female patients (7.4%) experienced I-harassment. The risk was significantly higher in those who had more in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles than those who had fewer IVF cycles (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10). Similarly, those who disclosed their infertility treatment to their workplace were at significantly higher risk for I-harassment than those who did not (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.03-3.15). CONCLUSION: This study found that 7.4% of female patients experienced I-harassment after infertility treatment initiation. Those female patients who "experienced more IVF cycles," and "disclosed their infertility treatment in their workplace" should be carefully followed up by healthcare professionals to prevent I-harassment.

National survey of bladder endometriosis cases in Japan.

AIM: We aimed to describe the clinical presentation, operative or medical management, and postoperative recurrence of bladder endometriosis (BE). METHODS: We conducted a national survey to investigate BE cases from 2006 to 2016 in Japan. Histologically diagnosed cases were extracted and then investigated for the following factors: age at diagnosis, body mass index, symptoms, imaging modalities, surgical therapy, hormonal therapy, follow-up period, and postoperative recurrence. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients with pathologically benign BE were identified. Eighty patients underwent surgery, whereas nine did not. Moreover, 34 and 44 patients underwent transurethral resection (TUR) and partial cystectomy (PC), respectively. Cumulative recurrence rates were significantly higher with TUR than with PC (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate tended to be higher after laparoscopic PC (n = 24) than after open PC (n = 20), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.0879). Of the nine nonsurgical patients, eight received hormonal therapy and one did not. Efficacy rates of dienogest, GnRH agonist, and OC were 85.7%, 66.7%, and 66.7%, respectively. Of five patients with BE extending to the ureter or ureteral orifices, two underwent PC and ureteroneocystostomy and one underwent total nephroureterectomy due to renal function loss. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the postoperative recurrence of BE after TUR and PC. We found that cumulative recurrence rate is significantly lower after PC than after TUR. BE extending to the ureter or ureteral orifices is a very challenging condition. Further studies are required for the optimal management of BE.

A National Survey of Umbilical Endometriosis in Japan.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, operative or medical management, and postoperative recurrence of umbilical endometriosis. DESIGN: A retrospective national survey. SETTING: Obstetrics and Gynecology and Plastic Surgery Departments at a teaching hospital in Japan. PATIENTS: Patients with umbilical endometriosis or malignant transformation. INTERVENTIONS: A national survey was conducted to identify and evaluate cases of umbilical endometriosis or malignant transformation documented between 2006 and 2016. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The following were evaluated for each patient: age at diagnosis, body mass index, medical history, presence of extragenital endometriosis, surgical history, symptoms, imaging modalities, surgical therapy, hormonal therapy, follow-up period, postoperative recurrence, and time to recurrence. Ninety-six patients were identified with pathologically diagnosed benign umbilical endometriosis. The patients frequently had swelling (86.5%), pain (81.3%), or bleeding (44.8%) in the umbilicus. Sensitivity was 87.1% for physical examination, 76.5% for transabdominal ultrasonography, 75.6% for computed tomography, and 81.8% for magnetic resonance imaging. The cumulative recurrence rate was 1.34% at 6 months, 6.35% at 12 months, and 6.35% at 60 months after surgery. Importantly, there was no recurrence after wide resection including of the peritoneum (0 of 37 cases). The efficacy of dienogest (an oral progestin), gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, and oral contraceptives was 91.7%, 81.8%, and 57.1%, respectively. Finally, 2 cases of malignant transformation were identified. CONCLUSION: There was a low recurrence rate following surgery, and hormonal treatment is an option, although the current findings suggest surgical therapy as the first choice of treatment for umbilical endometriosis.

Incidence of Postoperative Adhesions after Laparoscopic Myomectomy with Barbed Suture.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of postoperative adhesion by baseball running suture using barbed suture (BS) in laparoscopic myomectomy in comparison with sutures using an absorbable thread. METHODS: Two hundred fifteen patients who underwent second-look laparoscopy (SLL) 6 months after laparoscopic myomectomy at our hospital between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence, numbers, types, and extent of adhesions were evaluated according to the more comprehensive adhesion scoring method. Propensity score matching (PS) (1:1) between the groups was performed by using the diameter of the largest myoma, the number of enucleated myomas, and the type of adhesion barrier. RESULTS: Running baseball sutures and running sutures were applied to 28 and 187 patients with unidirectional BS and absorbable thread, respectively, to close the incised serosal wounds enucleating largest myomas during laparoscopic myomectomy. After PS matching for the patients, surgical findings and the incidence of postoperative wound adhesions were compared between the groups, including 22 patients each. The surgical findings were similar between the groups, except for the total surgical duration and blood loss (medians), which were significantly shorter and lower in the BS group than in the absorbable thread group (70 vs. 100 min; p = 0.01, 50 vs. 100 mL; p = 0.02). Regarding findings of SLL, no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative wound adhesions were found between the groups (BS, 4/22 [18.2%] versus absorbable thread, 8/22 [36.4%]; p = 0.31). CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that the incidence of postoperative adhesion following the use of BS for wound closure in laparoscopic myomectomy was similar to that following the use of conventional suture.

Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of extragenital endometriosis in Japan, 2018.

The aim of this publication is to disseminate the clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of intestinal, bladder/ureteral, thoracic and umbilical endometriosis, already published in Japanese, to non-Japanese speakers. For developing the original Japanese guidelines, the clinical practice guideline committee was formed by the research team for extragenital endometriosis, which is part of the research program of intractable disease of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The clinical practice guideline committee formulated eight clinical questions for the treatment of extragenital endometriosis, which were intestinal, bladder/ureteral, thoracic and umbilical endometriosis. The committee performed a systematic review of the literature to provide responses to clinical questions and developed clinical guidelines for extragenital endometriosis, according to the process proposed by the Medical Information Network Distribution Service. The recommendation level was determined using modified Delphi methods. The clinical practice guidelines were officially approved by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Japan Society of Endometriosis. This English version was translated from the Japanese version.

Comparison of effect of preoperative dienogest and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist administration on laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometriomas.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of preoperative dienogest (DNG) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist administration on the improvement of preoperative symptoms and surgical outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometriomas. METHODS: Seventy patients who were scheduled for laparoscopic surgery were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: 35 patients who received DNG for 4 months preoperatively (group D) and 35 patients who received low-dose sustained-release goserelin acetate for 4 months preoperatively (group G). Preoperative outcomes, including pain score associated with endometriosis, using the numerical rating scale (NRS), adverse events of hormonal therapy and Kupperman index (KI) before and after treatment, surgical outcomes including total surgical duration and blood loss, and postoperative recurrence of endometrioma were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Regarding preoperative symptoms, NRS and KI at 4 months after preoperative hormonal therapy were significantly lower in group D than in group G (NRS, 5.3 ± 5.5 vs. 2.7 ± 3.9; P = 0.01; KI, 16.0 ± 11.0 vs. 9.2 ± 7.6; P = 0.006). Regarding adverse events, the incidence of hot flashes was significantly lower in group D than in group G (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the incidence of breast pain and metrorrhagia was significantly higher in group D than in group G (P = 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). The total surgical duration and blood loss were not significantly different between the groups. At 12 months after surgery, ovarian endometrioma did not recur in either group. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of DNG is more valuable for patients with endometriosis and scheduled for laparoscopic surgery to improve symptoms with good efficacy and tolerability than the administration of GnRH agonist.

A nationwide survey on gynecologic endoscopic surgery in Japan, 2014-2016.

AIM: Since 2014, Japan Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and minimally invasive therapy (JSGOE) conducted a nationwide survey on gynecologic endoscopic surgery. We aimed to evaluate the current status and complications associated with endoscopic surgery by Japan gynecologic and obstetric endoscopy-database registry system (JOE-D). METHODS: Electrical medical records concerning the endoscopic surgery were generated from the daily use of reporting system. The subjects were all patients who underwent gynecologic endoscopic surgery. In addition to assessment of actual numbers, diagnosis, and operative methods, adverse events were registered. RESULTS: Total 203 970 patients performed laparoscopic, hysteroscopic and falloposcopic surgery for 3 years, 2014-2016. The numbers of endoscopic surgeries conducted in 2016 were increased more than 67 000, 13 000 or 450 cases, respectively. Incidence rates of complications involving these three types of surgeries in each year were approximately 3.1%. Incidences of intraoperative complications were relatively high in malignant diseases, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and myomectomy (LAM). In total laparoscopic hysterectomy/laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH/LH) performed from 2014 to 2016, ureteral injury as intra and postoperative complication occurred in 0.35%. In the past 3 years, the rates of vascular injury, urinary tract, and bowel injury as intraoperative complications caused by laparoscopic surgery were approximately 0.1%. In the hysteroscopic surgery, the rates of total intra- and postoperative complications were 0.78%. CONCLUSION: We exhibited the current status by the nationwide survey of gynecologic endoscopic surgery all over Japan. Severe intra or postoperative complications were identified over the 3 years at a rate of 0.04%.

Clinical outcomes of infertility treatment for women with adenomyosis in Japan.

Aim: A multicenter, retrospective survey was conducted in order to investigate the current clinical status of adenomyosis in Japan. Methods: The questionnaires covered the management of infertile women with adenomyosis and the outcomes of infertility treatment in women with adenomyosis. The questionnaires were sent to 1149 facilities in Japan. Results: The data were obtained on 535 infertile women with adenomyosis from 190 facilities. Regarding management, infertility treatment was performed without pretreatment for adenomyosis in 37 facilities, after medication in eight facilities, and after an operation in four facilities. Management policies were not established in 106 facilities. Regarding outcomes, the pregnancy rate was 41.7% and the abortion rate was 29.8%. Eighty-five patients received medication and 89 patients underwent surgery as a pretreatment before infertility treatment, while 361 patients had no pretreatment. In relation to the type of adenomyosis, 162 patients had the focal type and 336 patients had the diffuse type. The pregnancy rate and abortion rate were not affected by pretreatment or the type of adenomyosis. Conclusion: The management policy for infertile women with adenomyosis has not been established. The pregnancy rate of infertility treatment is about 40%. There were no data to suggest that medication or surgery as a pretreatment for adenomyosis increased the pregnancy rate in infertile women.

Complications and outcomes of pregnant women with adenomyosis in Japan.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of adenomyosis on the complications and outcomes of pregnancy in Japan. Methods: We carried out a multicenter retrospective questionnaire survey. A questionnaire regarding pregnancy complications and the outcomes of pregnancy was sent to 725 facilities. Results: Data were obtained on the cases of 272 pregnant women with adenomyosis from 65 facilities. The complications of pregnancy included miscarriage before 12 weeks of pregnancy (14.8%), miscarriage after 12 weeks of pregnancy (9.9%), preterm delivery (24.4%), fetal growth restriction (11.8%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (9.9%), intrauterine infection (7.3%), and cervical incompetency (5.3%). The rates of pregnancy complications in the three groups classified according to pretreatment for adenomyosis (no pretreatment, medication, surgery) did not differ to a statistically significant extent. The rates of miscarriage (>12 weeks) and cervical incompetency increased according to the size of the adenomyosis. The rates of pregnancy-induced hypertension and uterine infection in patients with diffuse-type adenomyosis were higher than that in patients with focal-type adenomyosis. Conclusions: Our results show that the increased size and diffuse type of adenomyosis are associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. We should be aware of the higher incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension and uterine infection in patients with diffuse-type adenomyosis.

An improved method for isolation of epithelial and stromal cells from the human endometrium.

We aimed to improve the efficiency of isolating endometrial epithelial and stromal cells (EMECs and EMSCs) from the human endometrium. We revealed by immunohistochemical staining that the large tissue fragments remaining after collagenase treatment, which are usually discarded after the first filtration in the conventional protocol, consisted of glandular epithelial and stromal cells. Therefore, we established protease treatment and cell suspension conditions to dissociate single cells from the tissue fragments and isolated epithelial (EPCAM-positive) and stromal (CD13-positive) cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Four independent experiments showed that, on average, 1.2 × 10(6) of EMECs and 2.8 × 10(6) EMSCs were isolated from one hysterectomy specimen. We confirmed that the isolated cells presented transcriptomic features highly similar to those of epithelial and stromal cells obtained by the conventional method. Our improved protocol facilitates future studies to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic changes of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Minimum ovarian stimulation involving combined clomiphene citrate and estradiol treatment for in vitro fertilization of Bologna-criteria poor ovarian responders.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a minimal ovarian stimulation involving combined clomiphene citrate (CC) and estradiol (E2) administration for poor responders with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this case-control study, we recruited 41 consecutive hypergonadotropic poor responders (69 cycles) who met Bologna-criteria and had experienced cancellation of oocyte retrieval. In 10 (20 cycles), 11 (21 cycles) and 20 patients (28 cycles) between 2012 and 2014, follicular development was induced using an E2 cycle, CC cycle and CC + E2 cycle, respectively. After confirmation of high follicle-stimulating hormone levels (15-40 mIU/ml) at menstrual day 3, DOR patients were treated with oral E2 of 1.0 mg/day, CC of 100 mg/day, or both CC and E2 continuously, until ovulation induction. Two days later, we transvaginally aspirated the follicles, performed in vitro fertilization, and cryopreserved the cleavage embryos. One warmed embryo was transferred into the uterus during the hormone replacement cycles. RESULTS: For the E2, CC, and CC + E2 cycles, the median patient age was 41 years in all groups, and the serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels were 0.2 ± 0.3, 0.4 ± 0.4, and 0.2 ± 0.3 ng/mL, respectively (P = 0.258); follicular development failure rates were 50.0%, 19.0%, and 3.6%, respectively (P < 0.001); numbers of retrieved oocytes (/cycle) were 0.5 ± 0.6, 0.8 ± 0.7, and 1.2 ± 1.1, respectively (P = 0.033); and clinical pregnancy rates (/cycle) were 5.0%, 4.8%, and 10.7%, respectively (P = 0.725). CONCLUSION: CC + E2 administration for the patients with DOR was effective with a lower cancellation rate of oocyte retrieval and a higher number of retrieved oocytes.

Long unidirectional barbed suturing technique with extracorporeal traction in laparoscopic myomectomy.

BACKGROUND: Myomectomy is now often performed laparoscopically rather than by laparotomy to alleviate the risk of postoperative adhesions and reduce postoperative pain. However, intracorporeal knot-tying under direct laparoscopy is difficult and requires proficiency. We conducted a retrospective study comparing the results of a long unidirectional barbed suturing technique (with V-Loc180 suture) and the results of conventional suturing as applied to laparoscopic myomectomy. METHODS: In women who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy in our university hospital between January 2011 and April 2013, uninterrupted suturing of 2 or more layers was performed. These women were divided into 2 groups according to the method of suturing: those in whom standard absorbable sutures were used (group P, n =42) and those in whom our suturing technique was used (group V, n =41). Patient characteristics and surgical variables were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: No significant between-group difference was observed in age (p = .975), body mass index (p = .778), GnRHa administration (p = .059), intraoperative vasopressin dose (p = .364), intraoperative blood loss (73.8 ± 64.1 vs. 59.3 ± 54.0 mL, respectively; p = .199), myoma mass (212.6 ± 133.3 vs. 208.3 ± 198.4 g, respectively; p = .134), ΔHb (p = .517), or postoperative hospital stay (p = .314). Operation time (mean ± SD) was significantly shorter for group V (71.2 ± 22.9 minutes; range, 28.0-110.0 minutes; p < .001) than for group P (94.4 ± 27.2 minutes; range, 53.0-165.0 minutes). No patient required intraoperative transfusion or conversion to laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our suturing technique exploits the features of unidirectional barbed sutures and can be used in the same way as the conventional method when performing continuous suturing for laparoscopic myomectomy. Our data suggest that operation time can be reduced by as much as 25% with this new technique.

The effectiveness of relugolix compared with leuprorelin for preoperative therapy before laparoscopic myomectomy in premenopausal women, diagnosed with uterine fibroids: protocol for a randomized controlled study (MyLacR study).

BACKGROUND: The oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist relugolix, which temporarily stops menstruation, is used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, and low back pain in women with uterine fibroids. Treatment can also help women recover from low hemoglobin levels and possibly shrink the fibroids. However, evidence of preoperative use of relugolix before laparoscopic myomectomy is limited. Nevertheless, the treatment could reduce interoperative blood loss, decrease the risk of developing postoperative anemia, and shorten the operative time. Thus, we aim to test whether 12-week preoperative treatment with relugolix (40 mg orally, once daily) is similar to or not worse than leuprorelin (one injection every 4 weeks) to reduce intraoperative blood loss. METHODS: Efficacy and safety of preoperative administration of drugs will be studied in a multi-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, noninferiority trial enrolling premenopausal women ≥ 20 years of age, diagnosed with uterine fibroids and scheduled for laparoscopic myomectomy. Participants (n = 80) will be recruited in the clinical setting of participating institutions. The minimization method (predefined factors: presence or absence of fibroids ≥ 9 cm and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] type 1-5 fibroids) with randomization is used in a 1:1 allocation. Relugolix is a 40-mg oral tablet taken once a day before a meal, for 12 weeks, up to the day before surgery. Leuprorelin is a 1.88 mg, or 3.75 mg subcutaneous injection, given in three 4-week intervals during patient visits before the surgery. For the primary outcome measure of intraoperative bleeding, the blood flow is collected from the body cavity, surgical sponges, and collection bag and measured in milliliters. Secondary outcome measures are hemoglobin levels, myoma size, other surgical outcomes, and quality-of-life questionnaire responses (Kupperman Konenki Shogai Index and Uterine Fibroid Symptoms-Quality of Life). DISCUSSION: Real-world evidence will be collected in a clinical setting to use pre-treatment with an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist to reduce intraoperative bleeding in women who undergo laparoscopic myomectomy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: jRCTs031210564 was registered on 19 January 2022 in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials ( https://jrct.niph.go.jp ).

Effectiveness of Prophylactic Laparoscopic Surgery for Benign Adnexal Mass during Pregnancy: A Single-center Retrospective Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic laparoscopic surgery for avoiding adnexal torsion in pregnant women with benign adnexal masses. Materials and Methods: This report contains two analyses, each for a different group of patients. Analysis 1: Surgical and pregnancy outcomes were examined among the 126 cases who underwent laparoscopic assisted cystectomy for adnexal masses during pregnancy in our hospital between January 2001 and December 2020. Analysis 2: The incidence of adnexal torsion during pregnancy was evaluated among the cases with adnexal masses ≥5 cm who opted for conservative follow-up in our hospital between January 2011 and December 2020. Results: In analysis 1, the most common pathological diagnosis was a mature cystic teratoma (76.2%). The mean gestational age at surgery was 13.1 ± 1.3 weeks. No cases were converted to laparotomy and oophorectomy. Regarding delivery outcomes, 97.4% of cases went on to have full-term deliveries. In Analysis 2, the incidence of adnexal mass ≥5 cm that did not resolve spontaneously during pregnancy was 89 cases (0.8%). The frequency of malignancy was 3 cases (0.03%). In 28 cases who opted for conservative treatment, 5 (17.9%) underwent emergency surgery for adnexal torsion. Conclusion: Prophylactic surgery for benign adnexal masses during pregnancy can be performed laparoscopically and preserved ovarian functions. In pregnant women with adnexal masses that do not resolve spontaneously, planning laparoscopic surgery is considered beneficial for complications, such as adnexal torsion.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery using an articulating monopolar for juvenile cystic adenomyoma.

We demonstrate the feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) by using a novel monopolar cautery and a technique based on conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery in a patient with Juvenile cystic adenomyoma (JCA). A 20-year-old woman with severe dysmenorrhea, and a 3-cm uterine lesion was diagnosed with JCA. 70 cm of absorbable string tied to the tumor parenchyma was used to extract the tumor. The ends of the strings were positioned extracorporeally and the intra-abdominal parts of the strings adjacent to the anchored tumor were grasped by a laparoscopic needle holder for clarifying the incision line surrounding the tumor. The lesion was completely excised using a single-use articulating hook with monopolar cautery, and the hysterotomy site was sutured using barbed string. No complications occurred intraoperatively, and dysmenorrhea had significantly improved three months after surgery. SILS for JCA is a feasible and minimally invasive surgery for women desiring esthetic benefit.

Gene expression signatures associated with chronic endometritis revealed by RNA sequencing.

Introduction: Chronic endometritis (CE) is a persistent inflammatory condition of the endometrium characterized by the infiltration of plasma cells in the endometrial stroma. CD138 immunohistochemistry is considered to improve the CE diagnosis rate. Methods: Using the number of CD138-positive cells equal or greater than five as a diagnostic criterion for CE, we identified 24 CE and 33 non-CE cases among women with infertility. We conducted RNA-sequencing analysis for these 57 cases in total as an attempt to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of CE and to search for new biomarkers for CE. Results and Discussion: By comparing CE and non-CE groups, we identified 20 genes upregulated in the endometria of CE patients, including 12 immunoglobulin-related genes and eight non-immunoglobulin genes as differentially expressed genes. The eight genes were MUC5AC, LTF, CAPN9, MESP1, ACSM1, TVP23A, ALOX15, and MZB1. By analyzing samples in the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle separately, we also identified four additional non-immunoglobulin genes upregulated in CE endometria: CCDC13 by comparing the samples in the proliferative phase, and OVGP1, MTUS2, and CLIC6 by comparing the samples in the secretory phase. Although the genes upregulated in CE may serve as novel diagnostic markers of CE, many of them were upregulated only in a limited number of CE cases showing an extremely high number of CD138-positive cells near or over one hundred. Exceptionally, TVP23A was upregulated in the majority of CE cases regardless of the number of CD138-positive cells. The upregulation of TVP23A in the endometria of CE cases may reflect the pathophysiology of a cell-type or cell-types intrinsic to the endometrium rather than the accumulation of plasma cells. Our data, consisting of clinical and transcriptomic information for CE and non-CE cases, helped us identify gene expression signatures associated with CE.

iPSC-derived hypoimmunogenic tissue resident memory T cells mediate robust anti-tumor activity against cervical cancer.

Functionally rejuvenated human papilloma virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (HPV-rejTs) generated from induced pluripotent stem cells robustly suppress cervical cancer. However, autologous rejT generation is time consuming, leading to difficulty in treating patients with advanced cancer. Although use of allogeneic HPV-rejTs can obviate this, the major obstacle is rejection by the patient immune system. To overcome this, we develop HLA-A24&-E dual integrated HPV-rejTs after erasing HLA class I antigens. These rejTs effectively suppress recipient immune rejection while maintaining more robust cytotoxicity than original cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Single-cell RNA sequencing performed to gain deeper insights reveal that HPV-rejTs are highly enriched with tissue resident memory T cells, which enhance cytotoxicity against cervical cancer through TGFßR signaling, with increased CD103 expression. Genes associated with the immunological synapse also are upregulated, suggesting that these features promote stronger activation of T cell receptor (TCR) and increased TCR-mediated target cell death. We believe that our work will contribute to feasible "off-the-shelf" T cell therapy with robust anti-cervical cancer effects.

Risk Factors for Alcohol Consumption after Starting Assisted Reproductive Technology Treatment among Japanese Women: Japan-Female Employment and Mental Health in Assisted Reproductive Technology (J-FEMA) Study.

AIMS: To determine the association between drinking habits and social factors among women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in Japan. METHODS: The study participants who provided answers for the questionnaire concerning alcohol consumption were 1017 female patients undergoing ART treatment were enrolled in the Japan-Female Employment and Mental Health in assisted reproductive technology (J-FEMA) study between August and December 2018. Patient characteristics, including demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic status, were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire which was distributed only once during the period, regardless of their first or follow-up examination. We defined current drinkers who drank ≥46 g of ethanol per week as the habitual drinking group. The risk factors for habitual drinking were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of habitual drinkers was 15.5% in this study population. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for habitual drinking were 2.27 (0.99-5.21) for women aged ≥35 years versus those <35 years, 4.26 (1.98-9.16) for women having partners who currently drink compared to those with partners without current drinking, 1.84 (1.08-3.12) for women without a history of childbirth versus those with, and 1.77 (1.00-3.14) for working women compared with those not working. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, habitual drinking among women undergoing ART treatment was significantly associated with older age, no history of childbirth, partner's current drinking status, and working.

Association between uterine repair at laparoscopic myomectomy and postoperative adhesions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether uterine repair at laparoscopic myomectomy influences postoperative adhesions. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. POPULATION: A total of 108 patients who underwent second-look laparoscopy after laparoscopic myomectomy without concomitant pelvic surgery between January 2006 and May 2010. METHODS: Absorbable cellulose adhesion barriers were used for uterine repair at initial surgery in all women. The presence of adhesions was evaluated by second-look laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The influence of background factors (diameter of largest myoma, number of myomas, incision sites and number of suture layers) and the uterine status immediately after uterine repair at laparoscopic myomectomy (number, length and location of wounds, as well as wound appearance classified as virtually normal, swollen or protruding) on adhesion formation were analysed in 108 women with 296 uterine wounds. Data were analysed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-one (38.0%) women had adhesions to their uterus at follow up. We identified 48 (16.2%) adhesions among 296 wounds in all women. A protruding wound was significantly associated with postoperative wound adhesion (odds ratio, 2.53; p=0.02). The number of enucleated subserosal myomas (odds ratio, 3.29; p<0.001) and the diameter of the largest myoma (odds ratio, 1.05; p<0.001) were significantly associated with wound protrusion, which was a critical factor influencing adhesion. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative wound adhesion formation seems to depend on uterine status immediately after laparoscopic myomectomy.