Long-term re-intervention after USgHIFU and prediction of NPVR in different ages of patients with uterine fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term re-intervention after ultrasound-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) ablation was reported, and the prediction of non-perfusion volume ratio (NPVR) in differently aged patients with uterine fibroids (UFs) was explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with UFs who underwent USgHIFU ablation from January 2012 to December 2019 were enrolled and divided into < 40-year-old and ≥ 40-year-old groups. Cox regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of re-intervention rate, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the correlation between NPVR and re-intervention rate. RESULTS: A total of 2141 patients were enrolled, and 1558 patients were successfully followed up. The 10-year cumulative re-intervention rate was 21.9%, and the < 40-year-old group had a significantly higher rate than the ≥ 40-year-old group (30.8% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.001). NPVR was an independent risk factor in both two groups. When the NPVR reached 80.5% in the < 40-year-old group and 75.5% in the ≥ 40-year-old group, the risk of long-term re-intervention was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The long-term outcome of USgHIFU is promising. The re-intervention rate is related to NPVR in differently aged patients. Young patients need a high NPVR to reduce re-intervention risk.

Chronic Exposure to Hypoxia Inhibits Myelinogenesis and Causes Motor Coordination Deficits in Adult Mice.

Exposure to chronic hypoxia is considered to be a risk factor for deficits in brain function in adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since active myelinogenesis persists in the adult central nervous system, here we aimed to investigate the impact of chronic hypoxia on myelination and the related functional consequences in adult mice. Using a transgenic approach to label newly-generated myelin sheaths (NG2-CreERTM; Tau-mGFP), we found that myelinogenesis was highly active in most brain regions, such as the motor cortex and corpus callosum. After exposure to hypoxia (10% oxygen) 12 h per day for 4 weeks, myelinogenesis was largely inhibited in the 4-month old brain and the mice displayed motor coordination deficits revealed by the beam-walking test. To determine the relationship between the inhibited myelination and functional impairment, we induced oligodendroglia-specific deletion of the transcription factor Olig2 by tamoxifen (NG2-CreERTM; Tau-mGFP; Olig2 fl/fl) in adult mice to mimic the decreased myelinogenesis caused by hypoxia. The deletion of Olig2 inhibited myelinogenesis and consequently impaired motor coordination, suggesting that myelinogenesis is required for motor function in adult mice. To understand whether enhancing myelination could protect brain functions against hypoxia, we treated hypoxic mice with the myelination-enhancing drug-clemastine, which resulted in enhanced myelogenesis and improved motor coordination. Taken together, our data indicate that chronic hypoxia inhibits myelinogenesis and causes functional deficits in the brain and that enhancing myelinogenesis protects brain functions against hypoxia-related deficits.

[Doppler flow imaging characteristics of blood supply of uterine fibroids on the therapeutic dosage of ultrasound ablation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between therapeutic dosage of ultrasound ablation in treatment of uterine fibroids and imaging characteristics of bloody supply of uterine fibroids by color Doppler ultrasound imaging. METHODS: One hundred and forty-two patients with 168 fibroids were treated by ultrasound ablation. Before treatment, bloody supply of fibroids were classified into grade 0 - 4 by ultrasonography. Three patients lost follow-up with contrast MRI exam within 1 month after treatment, so 165 fibroids were enrolled in this study. Bloody supplies were 9 fibroids in grade 0, 34 fibroids in grade 1, 35 fibroids in grade 2, 55 fibroids in grade 3 and 32 fibroids in grade 4. After 1 month treatment, the treated area without blood supply and ratio of ablation were measured by contrast MRI to evaluate the efficacy of thermal ablation and compare status of blood supple based different therapeutic dosage. According to International Reditherapy for Society (SIR) standard, adverse effect and score of pain were evaluated. RESULTS: (1) Ratio of ablation based: ratios of ablation were 79% in grade 0, 89% in grade 1, 92% in grade 2, 86% in grade 3, 71% in grade 4. It reached statistical difference when blood supply of grade 0 compared with those of grade 2 and 3 (P < 0.05) and blood supply of grade 4 compared with those of grade 1, 2, 3 (P < 0.05). (2) Factor of energy efficiency: factor of energy efficiency were 13.19 J/mm(3) in degree 0, 9.54 J/mm(3) in degree 1, 12.91 J/mm(3) in degree 2, 17.83 J/mm(3) in degree 3 and 28.10 J/mm(3) in degree 4. Factor of energy of ablation in degree 4 was significantly higher than those in degree 1, 2 and 3 blood supply (P < 0.05). It exhibit the positive relationship between blood supply and factor of energy of ablation (r = 0.354, P < 0.01). (3) Score of pain and adverse effect: nearly 85% (120/142) patients could tolerate this treatment very well. Those scores of pain were in range of 0 to 4. All patients did not extend their hospitalization and C to F of SIR standard was not recorded. CONCLUSION: blood supply of myoma measured by ultrasound could predict dosage of ultrasound ablation, it could help select indicated well patients.

[Study on the efficacy and safety of ultrasound ablation in treatment of uterine fibroids].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound ablation in treatment of uterine fibroids. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with 117 leiomyomas in total treated by Haifu JC focused ultrasound tumor therapeutic system were enrolled in prospective and non-randomized clinical trial in First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Ultrasound ablation was performed guided by real-time ultrasonography under conscious sedation for single session. All patients were followed up at 6 months after treatment. On the day of treatment and after 1 month, patients were given by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam to evaluate the effect of fibroids ablation. At 3 and 6 months after treatment, the ratio of ablated area and volume reduction of fibroids more than 50% were evaluated by MRI exam again. The symptoms improvements were evaluated by uterine fibroid symptom (UFS) and complications were analyzed by guideline of society of international radiation (SIR). RESULTS: The average ablated area ratio of the target fibroid was (76 ± 24)%. The average reduction in fibroid volume determined by MRI at 3 and 6 months after treatment was (45 ± 21)% and (59 ± 26)%. Which were significantly decreased than those before treatment (P < 0.05). At 6 months after treatment, 84.6% (99/117) of patients showed more than 50% volume reduction, the rate of improved symptom score was 92% (66/72). All patients could resume normal daily activities at 2 hours after treatment. The adverse reactions of SIR C-D included delayed hospitalization, repeat treatment and increased level of nursing. E-F included permanent sequelae and death. In this study, no adverse reactions of C-F were recorded. Common complications (SIR A-B, only observation or simple management without sequelae) were 35% (35/99). Four cases with adverse reactions B of SIR were found, including 2 cases with skin burning of degree II and 2 cases with febrile, they were administered by symptomatic therapy and changing dressing. The other adverse reaction A of SIR included sorness of buttock, vaginal discharge, dysuria and painful urination, they were only suggested by follow-up. CONCLUSION: It was efficacy and safe that ultrasound ablation as a single strategy were used in treatment of uterine fibroids.