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<p><b>Background</b>Endometriosis is a challenging disease with symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and infertility. However, its etiology is still vague and there is still no effective markers or treatment. This study aimed to profile the circular RNAs (circRNAs) expressed in eutopic endometrium from patients with ovarian endometriosis and explore potential clues to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, providing an evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><b>Methods</b>A total of 63 clinical samples, including control endometrium (n = 22) and eutopic endometrium (n = 41), were collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016. Of them, four samples in each group were used for circRNA microarray. Then, four upregulated circRNAs were screened out for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation. After that, bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict miRNAs targeted by validated circRNAs and investigate the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions.</p><p><b>Results</b>Among 88 differentially expressed circRNAs, 11 were upregulated and 77 were downregulated in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis. qRT-PCR validation results for two upregulated circRNAs (circ_0004712 and circ_0002198) matched the microarray results. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of circ_0002198 for distinguishing ovarian endometriosis was 0.846 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.752-0.939; P < 0.001) while that of circ_0004712 was 0.704 (95% CI: 0.571-0.837; P = 0.008). On the basis of target prediction, we depicted the molecular interactions between the identified circRNAs and their dominant target miRNAs, as well as constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>This study provides evidence that circRNAs are differentially expressed between eutopic and normal endometrium, which suggests that circRNAs are candidate factors in the activation of endometriosis. circ_0002198 and circ_0004712 may be potential novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis.</p>
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Objective To investigate current status of hemodialysis,and qualified status of dialysis water and dia-lysate in a city. Methods Status of hemodialysis in 36 medical institutions in a city which conducted blood purifica-tion programme was surveyed,dialysis water and dialysate were collected to perform microbial detection(including conventional and low temperature culture methods)and on-site ATP detection.Results 13.89% of equipments for water treatment were used less than 1 year,5.56% were used for more than 10 years. 77.78% of medical institu-tions didn't replace sand filtration which had been used for more than 1 year,the replacement time of 72.22% of fil-ter core was less than 3 months,2.78% of reverse water supply pipeline was used for more than 10 years.77.78%of medical institutions used finished A solution,72.22% used finished B solution,22.22% used centrally provided A solution,19.44% used centrally provided B solution,and 8.34% used self-made B solution. Routine microbial detection in 36 medical institutions were qualified,but 80.56% of detection results were"0" value for long period;ATP detection of on-site collected dialysis water and dialysate were all qualified. One specimen for microbial detec-tion under normal temperature exceeded the standard,2 reached the intervention value;4 specimens for microbial detection under low temperature exceeded the standard,6 reached the intervention value;qualified rates of 3 kinds of detection methods among different levels of medical institutions weren't significantly different(all P>0.05).Con-clusion The overall quality of hemodialysis water and dialysate in this city is good,the majority of medical institutions pay attention to the routine maintenance of water treatment equipment,detect the quality of hemodialysis water and dialysate regularly,but microbial detection technique needs to be improved,causes for abnormal results or intervention value of rou-tine detection needs to be analyzed and improved continuously.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Adenomyosis is a gynecological disorder with symptoms most presenting as dysmenorrhea and heavy menstrual bleeding. However, the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among women with adenomyosis remains unclear. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of LUTS and factors related to the severity of these symptoms in this population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From July 2016 to November 2016, a total of 298 untreated symptomatic adenomyosis patients and 280 age-matched controls were enrolled. Demographics, LUTS, pain symptoms, ultrasonographic uterine size, and serum CA125 level were recorded. LUTS were evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Factors related to the severity of LUTS were detected using the logistic regression analysis presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, patients with adenomyosis had a greater IPSS total (4 [2-8] vs. 2 [0-3], Z = -8.159, P 0.001), IPSS storage (2 [1-4] vs. 1[0-2], Z = -7.361 P 0.001), and IPSS voiding (2 [0-4] vs. 0 [0-1], Z = -7.194, P 0.001). Of the patients with adenomyosis, 30.2% had moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (IPSS ≥8). The most prevalent LUTS were daytime frequency (40.9%), followed by nocturia (24.8%), weak stream (24.2%), and incomplete emptying (23.5%). In study group, patients with an IPSS total score ≥8 had higher proportion of menorrhagia (51.1% vs. 30.8%, χ2= 11.162 P= 0.025) and larger uterine volumes (183.3 [109.8-273.8] cm3 vs. 148.5 [96.4-262.7] cm3, Z = -1.441, P= 0.150) compared to patients with an IPSS total score <8. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with menorrhagia were associated with an increased risk of an IPSS total score ≥8 (OR: 2.309, 95% CI: 1.310-4.070, P= 0.004), an IPSS storage subscore ≥4 (OR: 2.422, 95% CI: 1.395-4.206, P= 0.002), and an IPSS voiding subscore ≥5 (OR: 1.971, 95% CI: 1.176-3.302, P= 0.010). However, patients with uterine volume more than 180 cm3 had more than 2-fold risk of bearing IPSS total score ≥8 (OR: 2.437, 95% CI: 1.381-4.300, P= 0.002), IPSS storage subscore ≥4 (OR: 2.486, 95% CI: 1.433-4.314, P= 0.001), and IPSS voiding subscore ≥5 (OR: 2.700, 95% CI: 1.485-4.908, P= 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lower urinary tract symptoms are prevalent in patients with symptomatic adenomyosis and greatly affect patients' quality of life. Menorrhagia and large uterine volume could be potential risk factors that increase the occurrence of moderate-to-severe LUTS.</p>
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Peritoneal tuberculosis and primary peritoneal carcinoma can both present as an abdominal mass and ascites with elevated serum CA125. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the clinical features of peritoneal tuberculosis, compare them with features of primary peritoneal carcinoma, and establish definitive diagnostic procedures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a retrospective study in patients with peritoneal tuberculosis from January 1995 to October 2010 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. During this time, the data of 38 patients with primary peritoneal carcinoma were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age was 34 years (range, 19 - 80 years). The most common symptoms were abdominal distension (16/30, 53.3%) and an abdominal mass (12/30, 40.0%). The serum CA125 level was elevated in 25 patients (83.3%). The median level of cancer antigen CA125 was 392.5 U/ml (range, 0.6 - 850.0 U/ml). Abdominal ultrasound revealed a pelvic mass in 25 patients and ascites in 20 patients. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 15 patients (50.0%) and exploratory laparotomy was performed in 12 patients (40.0%), and 3 patients (10.0%) who underwent laparoscopy converted to laparotomy because of severe adhesions. The intraoperative findings were adhesions, multiple white tubercles, and ascites. Frozen tissue sections were obtained in 17 patients, and 14 of whom showed chronic granulomatous reactions. Final pathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Peritoneal tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis, especially for young women with an abdominal mass, ascites, and elevated serum CA125 levels. Laparoscopy is a useful diagnostic method for peritoneal tuberculosis, and intraoperative frozen sections are recommended when the diagnosis is in doubt.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , CA-125 Antigen , Blood , Diagnosis, Differential , Peritoneal Neoplasms , Diagnosis , Peritonitis, Tuberculous , Blood , Diagnosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Endometriosis is a controversial and enigmatic disease. Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is responsible for painful symptoms and is the least understood type of endometriosis. Little work has been devoted to define the location of DIE lesions and its relationships with pain. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the anatomical distribution of DIE lesions and pain symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data from 354 patients between May 2003 and December 2007 with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis were collected including 177 DIE patients and 177 non-DIE patients. The pain symptoms, including dysmenorrhea (DM), chronic pelvic pain (CPP, defined as intermittent or permanent pelvic pain, not related to the menstruation and longer than 6 months), deep dyspareunia (pelvic pain at intercourse) and dyschezia (pelvic pain with defecation), were recorded for every patient before operation. Endometriotic lesions were recorded by their anatomical distributions, the depth of infiltration and lesion colors. And the relationship between the anatomical distribution of DIE lesions and pain symptoms was analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression and binary Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The duration ((13.79 ± 3.94) years) of pain suffering in DIE patients was much longer than that of non-DIE patients (P < 0.01). In DIE patients, 60.7% of the uterosacral ligament (USL) nodules were bilateral (P < 0.01); 44.6% of the cul-de-sacs were completely blocked. Rectum invasion was observed in 19.9% of DIE patients (P = 0.03); pelvic adhesion was also more common. Up to 98.41% of the deep infiltrative lesions were located in the posterior pelvic compartment. DIE lesions were also found in bladder (1.58%), USL (67.08%), cul-de-sac (12.02%), recto-vaginal septum (12.66%), rectum and rectosigmoid junction (2.85%) and ureter (3.80%). The odds ratio of USL-DIE for CPP, deep dyspareunia, dyschezia were 2.52, 1.29 and 2.24 respectively. And the depth of infiltration correlated with the severity of dysmenorrhea.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DIE lesions were associated with severe pain symptoms. The main distribution of DIE lesions was in the posterior pelvic compartment, and was more widespread and severe in DIE patients. Moreover, resection of these DIE lesions are very important to treat the pain symptoms.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Constipation , Dysmenorrhea , Endometriosis , Pathology , Pelvic Pain , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Laparoscopy has been accepted for years as a management of benign ovarian tumors. The aim of this study was to estimate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopy in diagnosis and management of adnexal masses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 2083 patients with benign adnexal mass were treated by laparoscopy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to December 2003. Their clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. All the adnexal masses suspicious of malignancy at the time of laparoscopy were sent for frozen section evaluation intraoperatively. The rates of unexpected intracystic vegetation and low malignant potential (LMP) tumor or malignancy were investigated. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of laparoscopic diagnosis for LMP or ovarian malignancies were calculated. The ratios were compared by Chi-square test and the continuous variables were tested using two-tailed t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 2083 patients, 16 had LMP or invasive tumors (0.77%), among which 14 were diagnosed histologically intraoperatively and 2 postoperatively. Fifty-five (2.6%) of the 2083 patients had unexpected intracystic vegetations. Their frozen sections showed benign tumors in 41 (74.5%), LMP tumors in 8 (14.5%), and focal invasive ovarian cancers (stage Ic) in 6 (10.9%). The final pathological diagnosis were benign tumors in 41 (74.5%), LMP tumors 7 (12.7%), and focal invasive ovarian cancers (stage Ic) in 7 (12.7%). Laparoscopy achieved a sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 98%, positive predictive value of 25.5%, and negative predictive value of 99.9% in the diagnosis of ovarian malignancies. 2067 cases with benign adnexal masses underwent laparoscopy successfully. No conversion to laparotomy, or intra- and postoperative complications in this series. Of the 16 patients with LMP or invasive ovarian cancer, seven underwent laparoscopic surgery including immediate staging laparoscopy in 3. The mean follow-up was 17.3 months for the 16 patients. Among them, 1 developed a recurrent LMP tumor in the contralateral ovary 36 months after laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy, and received subsequent laparoscopic cystectomy and pelvic lymph node sampling; the others had no evidence of recurrent tumor during the follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Laparoscopy is feasible for diagnosis of adnexal masses, and the surgery is safe for patients with benign ovarian tumors.</p>