Intrauterine Device Training Workshop for Preclinical Medical Students.

Introduction: Medical school reproductive health curricula often lack adequate education regarding intrauterine devices (IUDs). When placed in clinical scenarios, students may have insufficient knowledge and training to counsel patients about IUDs. Methods: We developed a workshop for preclinical medical students and assessed whether it improved knowledge of and comfort with counseling patients on IUDs. The workshop consisted of a 45-minute lecture and a 45-minute IUD simulation training. Each session was taught to groups of 40 to 50 students. The workshop was evaluated between January 2016 and November 2017. Participants completed pre- and postsurveys. The primary outcome was comfort level with IUD counseling. Results: One hundred forty-two students completed the workshop, and 137 completed both pre- and postsurveys (96% response rate). At baseline, more than half (56%, n = 77) had not seen an IUD inserted. Students scoring 75% or higher on the IUD knowledge questions increased from 51% (n = 70) on presurveys to 87% (n = 119) on postsurveys (p < .0001). Students agreeing or strongly agreeing that they felt comfortable counseling patients on IUDs increased from 27% (n = 37) to 92% (n = 122, p < .0001) on postsurveys. All students felt the workshop was worthwhile. Discussion: Preclinical students showed increased knowledge of and comfort with IUDs after a simple IUD simulation. Medical schools could utilize this workshop to ensure students have hands-on training and experience related to IUDs prior to clinical rotations and for their future careers.

Dermatomyositis - key to diagnosing ovarian cancer, monitoring treatment and detecting recurrent disease: Case report.

•Young women with dermatomyositis are at high risk for underlying ovarian cancer.•Dermatomyositis symptoms can be used to assess treatment and recurrence of disease.•Immunosuppression can complicate postoperative recovery in ovarian cancer patients.•Ovarian cancer patients with dermatomyositis should have genetic testing.

Hysteroscopic sterilization in immunocompromised patients who have intrauterine devices in place: two case reports.

INTRODUCTION: The micro-inserts used in the hysteroscopic sterilization procedure elicit a benign occlusive tissue response leading to permanent tubal occlusion. Little is known about whether immunosuppressed patients mount the immunological response necessary to ensure tubal occlusion. Theoretical concern for non-occlusion has limited the use of hysteroscopic sterilization in patients on immunosuppressive therapies. In all patient populations, if an intrauterine device is in place, it is usually removed at the time of hysteroscopic sterilization. Little is known about maintaining intrauterine devices during the 3-month period to tubal occlusion. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient in case 1 was a 35-year-old Hispanic woman, gravida 2, para 2002, with a history of a living donor kidney transplant. Our patient in case 2 was a 32-year-old Hispanic woman, gravida 3, para 2103, diagnosed with undifferentiated autoimmune disease. Both patients underwent hysteroscopic sterilization. In both cases, a levonorgestrel intrauterine device was in place for contraception. At the time of micro-insert placement, our patients were both on daily immunosuppressive medications, including long-term glucocorticoids. Three months after the hysteroscopic procedure, both patients had successful tubal occlusion, demonstrated by a hysterosalpingogram. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopic sterilization in an outpatient setting is a reasonable option for sterilization in immunocompromised patients on immunosuppressive therapies. Intrauterine devices can be maintained during the procedure and during the 3-month period to tubal occlusion.

Superoxide dismutase mimetic, MnTE-2-PyP, attenuates chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and activation of the NALP3 inflammasome.

AIMS: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance that promotes abnormal vascular responses. Reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide (O(2)(•-)), contribute to the pathogenesis of PH and vascular responses, including vascular remodeling and inflammation. This study sought to investigate the protective role of a pharmacological catalytic antioxidant, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic (MnTE-2-PyP), in hypoxia-induced PH, vascular remodeling, and NALP3 (NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3)-mediated inflammation. RESULTS: Mice (C57/BL6) were exposed to hypobaric hypoxic conditions, while subcutaneous injections of MnTE-2-PyP (5 mg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were given 3× weekly for up to 35 days. SOD mimetic-treated groups demonstrated protection against increased right ventricular systolic pressure, indirect measurements of pulmonary artery pressure, and RV hypertrophy. Vascular remodeling was assessed by Ki67 staining to detect vascular cell proliferation, α-smooth muscle actin staining to analyze small vessel muscularization, and hyaluronan (HA) measurements to assess extracellular matrix modulation. Activation of the NALP3 inflammasome pathway was measured by NALP3 expression, caspase-1 activation, and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1ß) and IL-18 production. Hypoxic exposure increased PH, vascular remodeling, and NALP3 inflammasome activation in PBS-treated mice, while mice treated with MnTE-2-PyP showed an attenuation in each of these endpoints. INNOVATION: This study is the first to demonstrate activation of the NALP3 inflammasome with cleavage of caspase-1 and release of active IL-1 ß and IL-18 in chronic hypoxic PH, as well as its attenuation by the SOD mimetic, MnTE-2-PyP. CONCLUSION: The ability of the SOD mimetic to scavenge extracellular O(2)(•-) supports our previous observations in EC-SOD-overexpressing mice that implicate extracellular oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in hypoxic PH and implicates its role in hypoxia-induced inflammation.