Effects of exotic Spartina alterniflora invasion on benthic environments in the Yellow Sea.

For four decades, cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has invaded salt marshes in the Yellow Sea, altering physical, biogeochemical, and biological processes. Here, we investigated the ecological effects of S. alterniflora invasion on benthic environments compared to native halophytes. S. alterniflora contributed to higher carbon accumulation rates compared with bare tidal flat in sediments (3.4 times), through greater primary production and root biomass, compared to Suaeda japonica (2.5 times) and Phragmites australis (2.4 times) over the given period. The results showed that S. alterniflora eradication treatments inhibited its growth but did not significantly affect the benthic communities. Compared to P. australis and bare tidal flats, S. alterniflora invasion resulted in lower greenhouse gas emission and higher contributions to macrobenthos nutrition, and increased sediment stability and carbon burial. Overall, these multiple lines of evidence provide new insights on S. alterniflora invasion, suggesting that the current eradication policy would be carefully reviewed.

Changes in limpet diet according to habitat type.

Limpets are a key taxon regulating the benthic community structure and serving as prey for various predators in rocky shores, however, their role in food web dynamics is still unclear. To determine environmental factors influencing the limpet diet, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in limpets and food sources were analyzed on three different coastal habitats. Sediment organic matter contributed the most (86 %) to the limpet diet in bedrocks around tidal flats with abundant sediment supply from the terrestrial matter inflow and the sediment resuspension. Microphytobenthos and macroalgae were the main food sources (57 % and 20 %, respectively) for the limpets around beaches, where benthic flora was abundant. Limpets in bedrocks, erosional habitat, primarily consumed relatively abundant phytoplankton (33 %) and microphytobenthos (28 %). Contrary to previous studies, habitat type, rather than latitude or seawater characteristics, was the most important factor determining the limpet diet. This result also suggests that limpets are non-selective scraper that consume abundant food sources.

Food web dynamics in the mangrove ecosystem of the Pearl River Estuary surrounded by megacities.

Global recognition that mangroves support coastal ecosystem services has increased; however, studies on trophic dynamics in mangrove ecosystems remain limited. We seasonally analysed the δ13C and δ15N of 34 consumers and 5 diets to elucidate the food web dynamics in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Fish had a large niche space during the monsoon summer, reflecting increased trophic roles. In contrast, the small niche space of benthos over seasons reflected consistent trophic positions. Consumers mainly utilized plant-derived organic matters in the dry season and particulate organic matters in the wet season. The present study with literature reviews revealed characteristics of the PRE food web with the depleted δ13C and enriched δ15N, indicating a high contribution of mangrove-derived organic carbon and sewage input, particularly in the wet season. Overall, this study confirmed the seasonal and spatial trophic dynamics in mangrove forests surrounding megacities for future sustainable mangrove ecosystem management.

Risk of developing major depressive disorder in polycystic ovary syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As a population-based retrospective cohort study based on the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database and National Health Information Database, newly diagnosed 26,251 women with PCOS with age matched 131,480 women without PCOS from 2007 to 2010 were followed longitudinally and the subsequent occurrence of newly onset MDD was evaluated. The risk of developing MDD in women with PCOS after adjusting for various confounding variables was higher compared to women without PCOS (hazard ratio [HR]1.34, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.29-1.40, p<.0001). Stratified by the body mass index, the risk of being admitted to the hospital due to MDD was the highest in the overweight PCOS (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.71-3.76, p<.0001). The risk of developing MDD was higher in women with PCOS compared to women without PCOS. Maintenance of the appropriate body weight should be emphasised as the hazard ratio of developing MDD was higher in overweight women with PCOS.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? PCOS is a multisystem disorder associated with various comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, infertility and endometrial cancer.What do the results of this study add? Women with PCOS showed a higher risk of developing MDD compared to age matched women without PCOS in this multivariate analysis after adjusting for body-mass-index, smoking habit, socio-economic status, residential area, blood glucose, and blood cholesterol. The risk of being admitted to hospital due to MDD was the highest in PCOS with BMI ≥ 25.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? PCOS should not be considered as a condition confined to ovulatory dysfunction and dermatologic problems, but the higher risk of developing MDD should be recognised. The importance of maintaining an appropriate BMI should be emphasised, as the risk of being admitted to the hospital due to MDD increased in overweight and obese women with PCOS.

Stable isotope signatures reveal the significant contributions of microphytobenthos and saltmarsh-driven nutrition in the intertidal benthic food webs.

A tidal saltmarsh supporting marine ecosystem services becomes more recognized, but an understanding of its trophic dynamics is far limited. We investigated the benthic food-web dynamics in Ganghwa tidal flat, a representative tidal saltmarsh of South Korea. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio values were analyzed for the sixteen species of macrobenthos and their potential food sources such as microphytobenthos (MPB) and various organic matters. A year-round survey was conducted in the three sites at Ganghwa showing the different types of sediment bottom (sandy mud or mud) and/or vegetation (Phragmites or Suaeda). In general, the isotopic signature fairly well demonstrated that trophic structure is primarily influenced by sediment mud content and/or dominated vegetation. Among the four feeding types of consumers (filter feeder; deposit feeder; omnivore; carnivore), the deposit feeders such as mollusk, arthropod, and annelid showed increased dietary dependency on MPB at bare sites. Whilst they actively utilized 13C-depleted organic matters at vegetated sites. Meantime, significantly enriched stable nitrogen isotopic ratio of macrobenthos was evidenced in fall, which reflected the seasonal variation of food sources and physiological processes in survival strategy. Overall, the stable isotopic approach was useful to address the key factors (in)directly influencing the benthic food web structure and its functioning in a typical tidal saltmarsh of the Yellow Sea.

Effects of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on Menopausal Symptoms in Premenopausal Women After Gynecologic Cancer Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been widely used as an alternative medicine to relieve menopausal symptoms. However, there is still a lack of clinical studies showing the effects of KRG on menopausal symptoms after gynecologic cancer surgery. Therefore, the authors investigated the effects of KRG on surgical menopause symptoms in premenopausal women with gynecologic cancer. Design: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Settings/Location: The study was performed at Severance Hospital at the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. Subjects: Fifty-five premenopausal women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer were enrolled in the study. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to a KRG (n = 29) or a placebo control group (n = 26). Subjects were administered either KRG (a total of 3 g per day) or placebo supplements for 12 weeks. Outcome measures: Patients' physical measurements (height, weight, and blood pressure) and blood samples (lipid profiles, hormone profiles, biochemical profiles, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) at baseline and at 12 weeks were compared. Changes in menopausal symptoms based on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) were also compared between these two time points and two groups. Results: After 12 weeks, the MRS score was significantly reduced in each group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively), but there were no significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.661). No adverse events were observed in either group. After comparing 11 MRS symptoms between the two groups, the KRG group seemed to be superior to the placebo group on the subscale of sexual complaints (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Through the study, KRG did not show absolute relief of surgical menopause symptoms in premenopausal women after gynecologic cancer surgery. However, the study did demonstrate that KRG may be effective in reducing sexual complaints. Further studies are required to evaluate the long-term effects of KRG in a larger patient population.

The role of port site local anesthetic injection in laparoendoscopic single site surgery: a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of port-site bupivacaine hydrochloride injection in laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) as a means of postoperative umbilical pain alleviation. METHODS: A total of 200 consecutive patients who underwent LESS from October 2018 to February 2019 were included in this randomized prospective case control study. The patients were alternatively assigned to either the study group (0.25% 10-mL bupivacaine hydrochloride injection at the 1.5-cm umbilical incision site after surgery) or the control group (no injection). All patients underwent surgery at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital under the same operational setting by 3 board-certified gynecologists. Postoperative umbilical pain scores assessed using the visual analog scale were compared between the 2 groups as the primary outcome. Student's t-test, χ2 test, and a linear mixed model were used for the statistical analysis. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The patients' age, body mass index, and menopausal status; type of surgery performed; and need for additional trocar insertion exhibited a significant difference between the bupivacaine injection and non-injection groups. After adjusting for various confounding variables, the postoperative umbilical pain scores measured at postoperative 2-3 hours, 6-10 hours, 1 day, and 3 days did not exhibit a significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Port-site bupivacaine injection in LESS did not show any additive effect in alleviation of postoperative umbilical pain.

Prognostic significance of supradiaphragmatic lymph node metastasis detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Supradiaphragmatic lymph node metastases (SdLNM) are frequently identified using 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancers (AEOC). This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of SdLNM detected by PET/CT in patients with AEOC. METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with AEOC were retrospectively registered from January 2009 to July 2015. Patients were categorized according to PET/CT stage: PET/CT stage III, PET/CT stage IV with SdLNM, and PET/CT stage IV with other metastases. Clinicopathologic characteristics, recurrence patterns, survival outcomes were compared according to PET/CT stage. Anatomical distribution of SdLNM and effect of thoracic debulking surgery were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 295 patients were identified, including 176 patients who underwent primary debulking surgeries (PDS). Progression-free (P = 0.671) and overall (P = 0.525) survival did not differ significantly between patients with PET/CT IV with SdLNM and PET/CT IV with other metastases; however, patients with PET/CT IV with SdLNM had significantly poorer progression-free (P < 0.001) and overall (P = 0.016) survival than those with PET/CT stage III. Recurrence patterns were similar in all groups; intraperitoneal metastasis was the most common (78.8%) and thoracic recurrence alone accounted for less than 10%. Debulking of SdLNM lesions did not improve progression-free survival (P = 0.425) or overall survival (P = 0.465) of patients with AEOC. CONCLUSIONS: SdLNM detected using preoperative PET/CT are a negative prognostic factor in AEOC. Resection of suspicious SdLNM may not have effect to survival of patients with AEOC.

Demographic characteristics of labial adhesion in South Korea: a population-based study from 2010 to 2014.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the demographic features of labial adhesion (LA) in South Korea. DESIGN: A population-based nationwide study. SETTING: Census population of South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: With the entire population of South Korea (n=47 990 761), patients under age 7 who were newly diagnosed with LA from January 2010 to December 2014 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The average incidence and the peak age of LA occurrence were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 4934 newly diagnosed LAs were analysed. The incidence of LA has constantly increased since 2008, the year that the Korean Developmental Screening Test for InfantsandChildren registry began. The average incidence of LA was 55.0 cases/100 000 person-years (95% CI 53.5 to 56.6). The highest incidence was 183.6 cases/100 000 person-years (95% CI 175.8 to 191.6) in the age group of13 to 24 months. The relative risk of acquiring LA in the age group of 13 to 24 months was 1.481 (95% CI 1.381 to 1.587) compared with the age group of 0 to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The demographic characteristics of LA including the average incidence and the highest incidence age group in South Korea were revealed in this nationwide, population-based study including a total of 4934 newly developed LA cases. Further studies are needed to reveal the natural disease course and the significance of diagnosing asymptomatic LA cases.

Comparison of Clinical Features and Outcomes in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer according to Tumorigenicity in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models.

PURPOSE: Although the use of xenograft models is increasing, few studies have compared the clinical features or outcomes of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients according to the tumorigenicity of engrafted specimens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether tumorigenicity was associated with the clinical features and outcomes of EOC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight EOC patients who underwent primary or interval debulking surgery from June 2014 to December 2015 were included. Fresh tumor specimens were implanted subcutaneously on each flank of immunodeficient mice. Patient characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS), and germline mutation spectra were compared according to tumorigenicity. RESULTS: Xenografts were established successfully from 49 of 88 specimens. Tumorigenicity was associated with lymphovascular invasion and there was a propensity to engraft successfully with high-grade tumors. Tumors from patientswho underwent non-optimal (residual disease ≥ 1 cm) primary orinterval debulking surgery had a significantly greater propensity to achieve tumorigenicity than those who received optimal surgery. In addition, patients whose tumors became engrafted seemed to have a shorter PFS and more frequent germline mutations than patients whose tumors failed to engraft. Tumorigenicity was a significant factor for predicting PFS with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and high-grade cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Tumorigenicity in a xenograft model was a strong prognostic factor and was associated with more aggressive tumors in EOC patients. Xenograft models can be useful as a preclinical tool to predict prognosis and could be applied to further pharmacologic and genomic studies on personalized treatments.

Sentinel lymph node mapping with indocyanine green in vaginal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is being adapted to gynecologic cancer. Higher SLN mapping rates were reported with indocyanine green (ICG) compared to other dyes. The aim of this film is to share our experience of SLN mapping with ICG in vaginal cancer. METHODS: A 40 year-old woman was diagnosed with squamous cell vaginal cancer. About 1.5 cm-sized tumor was located on the posterior vaginal fornix. Preoperatively she was assumed to be stage I vaginal cancer. Beginning of surgery, we performed SLN mapping by ICG injection into 3- and 9-o'clock positions of the vaginal tumor. Concentrated in 1.25 mg/mL, 1 mL of ICG solution was injected into deep stroma and another 1 mL submucosally in both sides. Bilateral SLN identification and lymphadenectomy were done. Afterward, laparoscopic Type C1 Querleu-Morrow radical hysterectomy with vaginectomy was done. A fluorescence endoscope produced by KARL STORZ (Tuttlingen, Germany) was used for ICG detection. RESULTS: To our knowledge, this is the first film report performing SLN mapping with ICG in vaginal cancer. The mapping was successful and we were able to recognize SLN of vaginal cancer. SLNs were located in the bilateral obturator fossa. According to the pathologic diagnosis, the mass size was 15 mm and invasion depth was 1 mm. Subvaginal tissue involvement and pelvic wall extension were absent. Resection margin of the vagina was free from carcinoma. No lymph node metastasis was reported including the bilateral SLNs. CONCLUSION: For vaginal cancer, SLN mapping can be applied by injecting ICG into the bilateral sides of the vaginal tumor.

Surgical technique for single-port laparoscopy in huge ovarian tumors: SW Kim's technique and comparison to laparotomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to introduce a method to remove huge ovarian tumors (≥15 cm) intact with single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) using SW Kim's technique and to compare the surgical outcomes with those of laparotomy. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent either SPLS (n=21) with SW Kim's technique using a specially designed 30×30-cm2-sized 3XL LapBag or laparotomy (n=22) for a huge ovarian tumor from December 2008 to May 2016. Perioperative surgical outcomes were compared. RESULTS: In 19/21 (90.5%) patients, SPLS was successfully performed without any tumor spillage or conversion to multi-port laparoscopy or laparotomy. There was no significant difference in patient characteristics, including tumor diameter and total operation time, between both groups. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for the SPLS group than for the laparotomy group (median, 2 [1 to 5] vs. 4 [3 to 17] days; P<0.001). The number of postoperative general diet build-up days was also significantly shorter for the SPLS group (median, 1 [1 to 4] vs. 3 [2 to 16] days; P<0.001). Immediate post-operative pain score was lower in the SPLS group (median, 2.0 [0 to 8] vs. 4.0 [0 to 8]; P=0.045). Patient-controlled anesthesia was used less in the SPLS group (61.9% vs. 100%). CONCLUSION: SPLS was successful in removing most large ovarian tumors without rupture and showed quicker recovery and less immediate post-operative pain in comparison to laparotomy. SPLS using SW Kim's technique could be a feasible solution to removing huge ovarian tumors.

Delayed hemorrhage effect of local anesthesia with epinephrine in the loop electrosurgical excisional procedure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate factors preventing delayed hemorrhage after the loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP). METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent LEEP at one university affiliated hospital from October 2013 to January 2015 were reviewed. Patients with or without delayed hemorrhage were classified. LEEP was performed either in an operating room under general anesthesia or in a procedure room with local anesthesia in the outpatient clinic. Delayed hemorrhage was defined as excisional site bleeding occurring between 1 and 30 days after the LEEP requiring intervention such as electro-cauterization, gauze packing, or application of another hemostatic agent. RESULTS: During the study period, 369 patients underwent LEEP. Twenty-three (6.2%) patients with delayed hemorrhage returned to our hospital either to the outpatient clinic or to the emergency unit. A third of the population (103, 27.9%) underwent LEEP in the operating room under general anesthesia without injection of local anesthesia. The remaining patients (266, 72.1%) underwent LEEP with local anesthesia (lidocaine HCl 2% with epinephrine 1:100,000) in the office procedure room. Patients given local anesthesia including epinephrine had significantly lower delayed hemorrhage compared to patients with general anesthesia without injection of local anesthesia (P=0.001). Hemostats, such as fibrin glue or patch, were used for the majority of patients (346, 93.8%) during the procedure. However, using hemostats was not statistically associated with delayed hemorrhage (P=0.163). CONCLUSION: Local anesthesia with the powerful vasoconstrictor epinephrine is effective not only to control perioperative bleeding, but also to prevent delayed hemorrhage after LEEP.

A comparison of clinical and surgical outcomes between laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery and traditional multiport laparoscopic surgery for adnexal tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and surgical outcomes between laparo-endoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery and traditional multiport laparoscopic (TML) surgery for treatment of adnexal tumors. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for patients undergoing surgery for benign adnexal tumors between January 2008 and April 2012 at our institution. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Clinical and surgical outcomes for patients undergoing LESS surgery using Glove port were compared with those patients undergoing TML surgery. RESULTS: A review of 129 patient cases undergoing LESS surgery using Glove port and 100 patient cases undergoing TML surgery revealed no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the two groups. The median operative time was shorter in the LESS group using Glove port at 44 minutes (range, 19-126 minutes) than the TML group at 49 minutes (range, 20-196 minutes) (P=0.0007). There were no significant differences between in the duration of postoperative hospital stay, change in hemoglobin levels, pain score or the rate of complications between the LESS and TML groups. CONCLUSION: LESS surgery showed comparable clinical and surgical outcomes to TML surgery, and required less operative time. Future prospective trials are warranted to further define the benefits of LESS surgery for adnexal tumor treatment.