Management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors: An update.

There is increasing attention about managing the adverse effects of adjuvant therapy (Chemotherapy and anti-estrogen treatment) for breast cancer survivors (BCSs). Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), caused by decreased levels of circulating estrogen to urogenital receptors, is commonly experienced by this patients. Women receiving antiestrogen therapy, specifically aromatase inhibitors, often suffer from vaginal dryness, itching, irritation, dyspareunia, and dysuria, collectively known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), that it can in turn lead to pain, discomfort, impairment of sexual function and negatively impact on multiple domains of quality of life (QoL). The worsening of QoL in these patients due to GSM symptoms can lead to discontinuation of hormone adjuvant therapies and therefore must be addressed properly. The diagnosis of VVA is confirmed through patient-reported symptoms and gynecological examination of external structures, introitus, and vaginal mucosa. Systemic estrogen treatment is contraindicated in BCSs. In these patients, GSM may be prevented, reduced and managed in most cases but this requires early recognition and appropriate treatment, but it is normally undertreated by oncologists because of fear of cancer recurrence, specifically when considering treatment with vaginal estrogen therapy (VET) because of unknown levels of systemic absorption of estradiol. Lifestyle modifications and nonhormonal treatments (vaginal moisturizers, lubricants, and gels) are the first-line treatment for GSM both in healthy women as BCSs, but when these are not effective for symptom relief, other options can be considered, such as VET, ospemifene, local androgens, intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (prasterone), or laser therapy (erbium or CO2 Laser). The present data suggest that these therapies are effective for VVA in BCSs; however, safety remains controversial and a there is a major concern with all of these treatments. We review current evidence for various nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapeutic modalities for GSM in BCSs and highlight the substantial gaps in the evidence for safe and effective therapies and the need for future research. We include recommendations for an approach to the management of GSM in women at high risk for breast cancer, women with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers, women with triple-negative breast cancers, and women with metastatic disease.

Etiopathogenesis of ovarian cancer. An inflamm-aging entity?

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic cancers and has the highest mortality rate. The risk/protective factors of ovarian cancer suggest that its etiology is multifactorial. Several factors are involved in age-related increases in carcinogenesis, including the accumulation of senescent cells, inflammaging (a chronic inflammatory state that persists in the elderly), and immunosenescence (aging of the immune system) changes associated with poor immune surveillance. At sites of inflammation, exposure to high levels of inflammatory mediators, such as reactive oxygen species, cytokines, prostaglandins, and growth factors, contributes to increased cell division and genetic and epigenetic changes. These exposure-induced changes promote excessive cell proliferation, increased survival, malignant transformation, and cancer development. Furthermore, the proinflammatory tumor microenvironment contributes to ovarian cancer metastasis and chemoresistance. This narrative review of the literature was carried out to delineate the possible role of inflammaging in the etiopathogenesis of ovarian cancer development. We discuss the current carcinogenic hypotheses, sites of origin, and etiological factors of ovarian cancer. Treatment of inflammation may represent an attractive strategy for both the prevention and therapy of ovarian cancer.

Neurodevelopment Outcome in Children with Fetal Growth Restriction at Six Years of Age: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe neurodevelopment in fetal growth restriction children at the age of six. Secondly, we tried to demonstrate influencing factors that can improve or exacerbate this development, as well as predictive factors that might select a population at risk to assist with early childhood support. METHOD: It was a study of 70 children affected with FGR. FGR was based on these definitions: birth weight below the 3rd percentile or birth weight below the 10th percentile with an abnormal hemodynamic Doppler study. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 6 years old by means of Batelle Development Inventory. A global development quotient under a 100 score was considered a neurodevelopment delay. All variables regarding pregnancy care, delivery episode, postpartum, neonatal care, sociodemographic issues, and the need for support in the first years were studied. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 33.14 weeks (standard deviation (SD = 4.31), with 32.9% of early-onset diagnoses. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.61 (SD = 3.21), and the cesarean rate was 64.3%. The average age of the children at the moment of the evaluation was 76.20-month-old (SD = 3.70). The mean global development quotient was 97.28 (SD = 13.97). We were able to record a 57.1% of global development delay. In the cases of cognition, only 17.1% of the children registered a delay. Motor and communication skills were the most frequently affected. We discovered that socioeconomic status was positively related to the global development quotient, as well as both gestational age at delivery and middle cerebral artery pulsatility index was positively related to the global development quotient. CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher neurodevelopment delay rate (57.1%). We could relate a higher gestational age at delivery and a higher MCA percentile with better global neurodevelopment quotients.

Sexual Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer on Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate whether postmenopausal women with breast cancer (BC) on adjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy have a higher prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Second, the aim was to determine the quality of life (QoL) and level of anxiety depending on whether or not they are AI users. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study involving 168 patients was performed. Three questionnaires were carried out: sexual functioning was evaluated with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), while the EORTC QLQ-BR23 measures to study QoL in patients with BC and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire (trait and status) were used to assess anxiety status in patients under treatment with AIs or not. RESULTS: 47.6% (80/168) of the postmenopausal BC survivors were not sexually active (mean time after surgery: 48.6 months) despite a relatively low mean age (56.43 years). Postmenopausal AI-treated women had significantly worse sexual function as measured by the FSFI (23.40 ± 5.26 vs. 30.16 ± 2.24; p = 0.000). There were significant differences between both groups in all domains, except orgasm. The QoL score was 37.67 ± 7.38 in AI users versus 39.00 ± 1.44 among nonusers (p = 0.053). Patients under endocrine treatment also presented STAI scores significantly higher (25.83 ± 4.99 vs. 19.00 ± 7.12; p = 0.000). Trait anxiety was high in both groups, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of sexual inactivity among BC survivors regardless of AI use. Patients with AI use presented significantly higher prevalence of FSD, worse QoL, and greater anxiety.

Measuring Resilience in Women with Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with pathophysiological factors not yet well known; it also presents a wide symptomatic range that makes us think about the need for multidisciplinary management. It is a chronic disease in which there is no definitive treatment, and is associated in a large majority of cases with psychological pathology. Connecting comorbidities and multimorbidities on a neurobiological, neuropsychological, and pathophysiological level could significantly contribute to their more successful prevention and treatment. In our study, resilience is analyzed as an adjunctive measure in the management of endometriosis. Methods: A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was performed to analyse resilience levels in a sample of Spanish women suffering from endometriosis. CDRIS-25, CDRIS-10, BDI, the STAI, and the SF-36 Health Questionnaire were used for assessments. A representative group of 202 women with endometriosis was recruited by consecutive sampling. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for both resilience scales. Results: Mean CDRIS-25 and CDRIS-10 scores were 69.58 (SD 15.1) and 29.37 (SD 7.2), respectively. Women with adenomyosis and without signs of deep endometriosis showed the lowest scores. The best predictive model included women's age, years of endometriosis evolution, number of pregnancies, and history of fertility problems as the best predictive factors. Conclusions: Women build resilience as the number of years of evolution of the disease increases. Symptoms such as dyspareunia and continued abdominal pain were more prevalent among less resilient women.

Correlates of Sexual Function in a Sample of Spanish Women with Endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aim to report on the sexual function of women experiencing symptoms of endometriosis, analysing the clinical and psychosocial factors that may be associated. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was performed to analyse the sexual function in a sample of 196 Spanish women with endometriosis, using the Female Sexual Function Inventory. RESULTS: The Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) was validated in our endometriosis study group. The mean FSFI score for the sample was 22.5 (SD 6.6), with 20.9 and 26.9 being in the 25th and 75th percentiles, respectively. Although physical sexual pain and dyspareunia were factors that influenced the sexual function of women with endometriosis, our results show that the impairment was multifactorial. CONCLUSIONS: We found impaired sexual function in women diagnosed with endometriosis. The final model included deep endometriosis, depression, age, and unemployment as strongest predictive factors for poor (deteriorated) sexual function.

Relationship of breast volume, obesity and central obesity with different prognostic factors of breast cancer.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the BC tumor biology in women with larger breast volume, in obese women and especially in women with central adiposity at the moment of diagnosis of BC is more aggressive than in those women without these characteristics. 347 pre- and postmenopausal women with a recent diagnosis of BC were analyzed. In all patients, anthropometric measurements at the time of diagnosis was collected. In 103 of them, the breast volume was measured by the Archimedes method. The Breast volume, BMI, WHR and the menopausal status were related to different well-known pathological prognostic factors for BC. At the time of diagnosis, 35.4% were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2), 60.2% had a WHR ≥ 0.85, 68.8% were postmenopausal and 44.7% had a breast volume considered "large" (> 600 cc). Between patients with a large breast volume, only a higher prevalence of ER (+) tumors was found (95.3% vs. 77.2%; p = 0.04) compared to those with small breast volumes. The obese BC patients showed significantly higher rates of large tumors (45.5% vs. 40.6%; p = 0.04), axillary invasion (53.6% vs. 38.8%; p = 0.04), undifferentiated tumors (38.2% vs. 23.2%) and unfavorable NPI (p = 0.04) than non-obese women. Those with WHR ≥ 0.85 presented higher postsurgical tumor stages (61.7% vs. 57.8%; p = 0.03), higher axillary invasion (39.9% vs. 36.0%; p = 0.004), more undifferentiated tumors (30.0% vs. 22.3%; p = 0.009), higher lymphovascular infiltration (6.5% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.02), and a higher NPI (3.6 ± 1.8 vs. 3.2 ± 1.8; p = 0.04). No statistically significant differences were found according to menopausal status. We conclude that obesity, but especially central obesity can be associated with a more aggressive tumour phenotype. No relation between breast volume and tumoral prognostic factors was found, except for a higher proportion of ER (+) tumor in women with higher breast volume.

Resilience and psychological distress in pregnant women during quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain: a multicentre cross-sectional online survey.

PURPOSE: To examine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and the corresponding risk factors among pregnant women during the confinement due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 15 April and 14 May 2020, a multicentre cross-sectional survey was performed to study depression, anxiety and resilience in a sample of Spanish pregnant women during the lockdown set up by the Government in response to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. We designed an anonymous online self-administered questionnaire (https://bit.ly/34RRpq1) that included the Spanish validated versions of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience 10-items Scale (CD-RISC-10). RESULTS: A total of 514 pregnant women completed the survey. 72.8% had been confined < 40 days and 27.2% between 41 and 60 days. 182 (35.4%) participants scored over 10, with 21.3% scoring over 13 (75th Percentile) in depressive symptoms rates. We found high trait and anxiety scores, with 223 (43.4%) and 227 (44.2%) pregnant women scoring over the trait and state mean scores. Neither depression, anxiety or resilience levels showed any significant correlation with the length of confinement. We found low CD-RISC-10 scores. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms during the quarantine, although we did not find an increased prevalence of psychological distress according to length of home confinement. Resilience correlated negatively with depression and anxiety.

Granular cell tumor in breast: a case report.

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a rare neoplasm of the soft tissues, and <1% of all GCTs are malignant. It usually appears in the tongue and sometimes may affect the female breast. Initially, GCT was considered to be a myogenic lesion affecting female breast (myoblastoma). Actually, it is assumed as a tumor originating from perineural or putative Schwann cells of peripheral nerves or their precursors that grows in the lobular breast tissue, due to the immunohistochemical features. Here, we review the importance of differentiating between this tumor and malignant breast carcinoma. Mammographically, by ultrasound scan and clinically, this case appears to be a malignant tumor of the breast, but with a correct and precise diagnosis including histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical studies, it was correctly identified as a GCT. CASE DETAILS: We present a case of a 52-year-old premenopausal woman. This report is of interest because of patient's familial oncologic history and personal history of gynecologic cancer. This rare tumor of the breast and the special way to approach the tumor by local anesthesia makes it interesting to communicate. CONCLUSION: This is a case of interest because GCT located in the breast is very unusual and knowledge of GCT is required for the differential diagnosis with breast cancer.

Value of the progesterone test in screening for endometrial pathology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving treatment with tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the value of the progesterone challenge test (PCT) in screening for the endometrial pathology of asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving tamoxifen (TMX). METHODS: A prospective and preliminary study was conducted on 89 postmenopausal women who had been receiving adjuvant treatment for breast cancer with TMX (20 mg/d) for at least 2 years and who had not presented with any episode of postmenopausal metrorrhagia. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS), PCT, diagnostic hysteroscopy, and sampling of histologic material were performed on all the women. The validity of the PCT was compared with that of TVUS in screening these women for endometrial pathology, using hysteroscopic biopsy as the gold standard for comparisons. RESULTS: The study protocol was completed in 82 (92.13%) women. The PCT was negative in 69.5% and positive in 30.4% of the cases. The sensitivity of the PCT for detecting the absence of pathology (atrophic endometrium) in the women was 100% versus 91.6% for TVUS; the positive predictive value for endometrial pathology was 100% versus 85.7% for TVUS; and the negative predictive value for hyperplasic pathology was 100% versus 98.1% for TVUS. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving TMX, the PCT presents high sensitivity (100% in our series) and high positive predictive value (100%) in the diagnosis of endometrial pathology and a high negative predictive value (100%) for hyperplasic pathology. Its predictive performance is superior even to that of TVUS. Therefore, although this a preliminary study, we consider that the inexpensive PCT could be an efficient method of screening in these women during or before initiation of TMX therapy.