Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of foetal intracranial haemorrhage and the correlation with ultrasound findings and postnatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) in the middle- and late trimesters and to explore the relationship between the MRI features of foetal ICH and postnatal outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective study which recruited foetal ICH diagnosed by MRI in one tertiary centre from 2015 to 2019. The prenatal and postnatal medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 39 ICH cases, 82.1% (32) had germinal matrix intraventricular haemorrhage (GM-IVH), and 18.9% (7) were diagnosed with non-GM-IVH. The cerebellum, corpus callosum and subdural space were affected in 5, 1 and 1 non-GM-IVH cases, respectively. MRI confirmed possible ICH on sonogram in 10 cases (35.7%) and the remaining 19 added ICH diagnoses that were not obtained on initial ultrasound imaging. Pregnancy outcome data were available in 82.1% of (32) cases, of which 21 were terminated pregnancies, 1 was foetal demise and 10 were delivered. One neonate died after birth and one infant suffered from hearing loss. The remaining eight patients had favourable outcome. CONCLUSION: In our study, evaluation of the relationship between MRI findings and outcomes remains challenging, depending on the timing of examination and the hematoma itself. MRI was an adjunct to US in diagnosing ICH in utero which helps to assess postnatal development.

How does the extent of fibrosis in adenomyosis lesions contribute to heavy menstrual bleeding?

Purpose: To investigate how the extent of fibrosis in adenomyosis lesions contributes to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Methods: We recruited 57 women with histologically confirmed adenomyosis, 29 of whom reported moderate/heavy bleeding (MHB) (menstrual blood loss (MBL) ≥20 but <100 mL) and the remaining 28, excessive MBL (EXB; ≥100 mL). Lesional stiffness was measured by transvaginal elastosonography. Full-thickness uterine tissue columns containing the lesion and its neighboring endometrial-myometrial interface (EMI) and endometrial tissues were evaluated for tissue fibrosis and immunohistochemical analysis of HIF-1α, COX-2, EP2, and EP4. Results: The lesional stiffness in the EXB group was significantly higher than that of MHB, and consistently, the extent of lesional fibrosis and the extent of tissue fibrosis in both EMI and eutopic endometrium were also significantly higher. In adenomyotic lesions and their neighboring EMI and eutopic endometrial tissues, the immunostaining of HIF-1α, COX-2, EP2, and EP4 was significantly reduced. The extent of fibrosis and the immunostaining levels of HIF-1α, COX-2, EP2, and EP4 were negatively correlated in all tissues. Conclusions: Lesional fibrosis begets stiffening matrix, propagating fibrosis to neighboring EMI and eutopic endometrium, resulting in reduced PGE2 and HIF-1α signaling, and thus likely reduced hypoxia necessary for endometrial repair, leading to HMB.

Importance of Colposcopy Impression in the Early Diagnosis of Posthysterectomy Vaginal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the value of cytology, high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status and colposcopy in the early diagnosis of vaginal cancer after hysterectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. Posthysterectomy patients who were diagnosed with vaginal high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) by colposcopy-directed biopsy with colposcopy impression of extensive HSIL or suspicion of cancer and underwent upper or total vaginectomy from January 2009 to December 2017 were included. RESULTS: Eighty-six posthysterectomy vaginal HSIL patients were included. Available abnormal cytology and positive hrHPV were observed in 90.7% (49/54) and 96.2% (51/53) of the patients, respectively. A total of 18.6% (16/86) of the patients were diagnosed with squamous cell cancer by vaginectomy, and the average interval between hysterectomy and vaginectomy was 3.5 years. Among them, 62.5% (10/16) cancers occurred after hysterectomy for cervical cancer, 31.2% (5/16) after hysterectomy for cervical precancer, and 6.3% (1/16) after hysterectomy for myoma. An indication for hysterectomy (cervical cancer vs HSIL, odds ratio = 7.2, 95% CI = 1.9-28.0, p = .004) and colposcopy impression of vaginal cancer (vaginal cancer vs HSIL, odds ratio = 5.9, 95% CI = 1.3-26.8, p = .021) were high-risk factors of cancer confirmed by vaginectomy in colposcopy-directed biopsy vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 posthysterectomy in multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Colposcopy is pivotal in the evaluation of abnormal cytology/hrHPV tests in follow-up of cervical cancer patients after hysterectomy and decision-making for vaginectomy in detecting early cancer.

Value of loop electrosurgical excision procedure conization and imaging for the diagnosis of papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Background: Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) conization and hysterectomy are performed for some patients with papillary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC), whereas only hysterectomy is performed for others. We aimed to determine the optimal management for PSCC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with PSCC by colposcopy-directed biopsy between June 2008 and January 2020 who underwent LEEP conization and hysterectomy or only hysterectomy at our hospital were enrolled. Results of cervical cytology, high-risk human papillomavirus testing, transvaginal sonography, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, LEEP, hysterectomy, and pathology testing of colposcopy-directed biopsy samples were analyzed. Results: A total of 379 women were diagnosed with PSCC by colposcopy-directed biopsy; 174 underwent LEEP before hysterectomy and 205 underwent only hysterectomy. Patients underwent and did not undergo LEEP were aged 47 ± 11 years and 52 ± 11 years, respectively. Among women who underwent LEEP, the agreement between LEEP and hysterectomy pathology was 85.1%. For women who underwent only hysterectomy, the agreement between preoperative clinical staging and pathological staging after hysterectomy was 82.4%. For patients with preoperative imaging indicative of malignancy, the accuracy of LEEP for diagnosing and staging PSCC was 88.5%, whereas for the hysterectomy-only group, it was 86.2%. For patients without malignancy detected with imaging, the accuracy of LEEP for diagnosing and staging PSCC was 81.6%; however, for those who did not undergo LEEP, it was 70.0%. Conclusion: For women diagnosed with PSCC by colposcopy-directed biopsy, LEEP conization is necessary for an accurate diagnosis when imaging does not indicate cancer; however, LEEP is not necessary when imaging indicates cancer.

The interactions of CAP and LYN with the insulin signaling transducer CBL play an important role in polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Evidence suggests that aberrations in insulin signaling-associated pathways may underlie PCOS pathogenesis. Our aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying PCOS and associated insulin resistance using in silico analyses, in vitro cell models, and in vivo murine models. METHODS: R-based bioinformatics analysis was performed on granulosa cell microarray data from three human cohorts: healthy control, PCOS patients without insulin resistance, and PCOS patients with insulin resistance. Transgenic human granulosa cell models were utilized for in vitro studies. Transgenic murine models of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS were utilized for in vivo studies. RESULTS: Sorbin and SH3 Domain Containing 1 (SORBS1), the parent gene of the insulin receptor-associated Casitas B-lineage lymphoma protein (CBL)-associated protein (CAP), is a key downregulated gene in PCOS patients with insulin resistance. CAP binding to CBL reduced CBLY731 phosphorylation, CBL-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) p85α interactivity, protein kinase B (Akt)S473 phosphorylation, and NFκB-induced inflammatory marker expression but enhanced CRKII-mediated membrane GLUT4 translocation in granulosa cells. In contrast, the tyrosine kinase Lck/Yes-Related Novel Protein (LYN) is upregulated in PCOS patients with insulin resistance. LYN binding to CBL enhanced CBLY731 phosphorylation, CBL-PI3K p85α interactivity, AktS473 phosphorylation, and NFκB-induced inflammatory marker expression but did not impact membrane GLUT4 translocation. In PCOS mice, Cap overexpression, Cap transactivation by metformin, or enhancing Cbl-CrkII binding improved insulin sensitivity and ovarian dysfunction (i.e., estrous cycle disruption, cyst-like follicle formation, and sex hormone dysregulation). In contrast, Lyn knockdown, Lyn inhibition by PP2, or CBL-PI3K p85α blockade improved only ovarian dysfunction. Cbl3YF phosphomutant overexpression (which enhances Cbl-CrkII binding but blocks Cbl-PI3K p85α binding) ameliorated both ovarian dysfunction and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The interactions of CAP and LYN with CBL, and the resulting effects on CBL phosphorylation and activity, may play an important role in PCOS pathogenesis. Targeting these players may be a viable therapeutic strategy for PCOS.

Histopathology of women with non-uniform endometrial echogenicity and risk factors for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: In sonography, homogeneous endometrium is defined as uniform endometrial echogenicity and heterogeneous, asymmetrical or cystic endometrium is defined as non-uniform. However, the relationship between the non-uniform endometrial echogenicity and the presence or absence of pathology is not known. A retrospective study of the patients with ultrasound non-uniform endometrium who underwent hysteroscopy-directed biopsy was performed to explore its clinical meaning in the diagnosis of endometrial lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with non-uniform endometrial echogenicity who underwent hysteroscopy-directed biopsy were enrolled in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January 2015 to May 2018 as the primary cohort. In total, 692 patients with non-uniform endometrial echogenicity were diagnosed and underwent hysteroscopy-directed biopsy. Characteristics were assessed using univariate logistic regression between patients with and without atypical endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma (atypical EH+). Multivariate analyses were used to develop the predicting model. We incorporated statistically significant variables and presented with nomogram. Internal validation was assessed. An independent validation cohort consisted of 237 consecutive patients from June 2018 to February 2019. RESULTS: Hysteroscopy-directed biopsy showed that 55.20% (382/692) of the patients with non-uniform endometrium had normal endometrium, while 44.80% (310/692) had endometrial lesions, including 39.31% (272/692) benign lesions and 5.49% (38/692) atypical EH+. Univariate logistic analysis showed that older age (P=0.027), abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) before menopause (P=0.011), postmenopausal bleeding (P<0.001) and endometrial thickness ≥7 mm (P=0.013) were statistically significant for atypical EH+. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥50 years old (OR: 3.97, 95% CI: 1.17-13.43, P=0.027), endometrial thickness ≥7 mm (OR: 8.08, 95% CI: 1.86-35.08, P=0.005) and postmenopausal bleeding (OR: 8.98, 95% CI: 3.26-24.76, P<0.001) were risk factors for atypical EH+. Predictors in the individualized predicted nomogram included age ≥50 years old, AUB before menopause, postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial thickness ≥7 mm. The model showed good discrimination with area under curve (AUC) of 77.09%. With cutoff value of 0.0089267, the recall of atypical EH+ is 100% with precision 6.52% and 6.22% in both primary and validation cohort, respectively. Conclusion Non-uniform endometrial echogenicity is clinically meaningful in assessment of atypical EH+ with risk factors of age ≥50 years old, postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial thickness ≥7 mm. The model can help clinician to predicate the probability of atypical EH+ and make clinical decision.