Incidence and Clinical Implications of Placenta Accreta Spectrum after Treatment for Asherman Syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence, predictors, and clinical implications of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in pregnancies after hysteroscopic treatment for Asherman syndrome (AS). DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study, conducted through a telephone survey and chart review. SETTING: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery center in an academic community hospital. PATIENTS: Database of 355 patients hysteroscopically treated for AS over 4 years. We identified patients who achieved pregnancy past the first trimester and evaluated the incidence and predictors for PAS as well as associated clinical implications. INTERVENTIONS: Telephone survey. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified 97 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Among these patients, 23 (23.7%) patients had PAS. History of cesarean delivery was the only variable statistically significantly associated with having PAS (adjusted odds ratio 4.03, 95% confidence interval 1.31-12.39). PAS was diagnosed antenatally in 3 patients (14.3%), with patients having placenta previa more likely to be diagnosed (p <.01). Nine patients (39.13%) with PAS required cesarean hysterectomy, which is 9.3% of those with a pregnancy that progressed past the first trimester. Factors associated with cesarean hysterectomy were the etiology of AS (dilation and evacuation after the second trimester pregnancy or postpartum instrumentation, p <.01), invasive placenta (increta or percreta, p <.05), and history of morbidly adherent placenta in previous pregnancies (p <.05). Two patients with PAS (9.5%) had uterine rupture, and another 2 (9.5%) experienced uterine inversion. CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of PAS and associated morbidity in pregnancies after hysteroscopic treatment for AS. There is a low rate of antenatal diagnosis as well as a lack of reliable clinical predictors, which both stress the importance of clinical awareness, careful counseling, and delivery planning.

Applications of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in gynecologic surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is an emerging approach used across surgical disciplines. This review seeks to assess the growing body of literature on experiences and outcomes using vaginal NOTES (vNOTES) in gynecologic surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: Many limitations of vaginal surgery including lack of descensus or restricted vaginal space can be overcome with vNOTES whereas avoiding risks of abdominal incisions in traditional laparoscopy. vNOTES may have superior outcomes in pain, length of stay, and satisfaction for multiple gynecologic indications however additional data is needed to assess cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes. Surgeons implementing this technique should have adequate experience with both traditional vaginal and laparoscopic approaches. The current body of high-quality studies is heavily influenced by single site, single surgeon studies and as such may not be fully applicable to all practices incorporating this novel technique, and adequate training should precede implementation of Vnotes. SUMMARY: Vaginal surgery is considered the least invasive approach, however, may not be appropriate in all cases. vNOTES presents a novel approach that combines the access and visualization afforded by endoscopy whereas avoiding the risks associated with transabdominal entry and can be considered as a feasible option in gynecologic surgery.

Effects of Asherman Syndrome on Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity with Evaluation by Conception Method.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Create a comprehensive summary of maternal and neonatal morbidities from patients previously treated for Asherman syndrome and evaluate for differences in perinatal outcomes based on conception method. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Community teaching hospital affiliated with a large academic medical center. PATIENTS: Total of 43 singleton births identified from 40 patients previously treated at our institution for Asherman syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Review of fertility and obstetric data to summarize the maternal and neonatal outcomes in singleton births from patients with Asherman syndrome who had been treated with hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcomes of maternal morbidity (i.e., hypertensive disease, gestational diabetes, ruptured membranes, postpartum hemorrhage, morbidly adherent placenta [MAP]) and secondary outcomes of neonatal morbidity (i.e., gestational age at birth, method of delivery, weight, length, 1- and 5-minute Apgar score oxygen requirement, anatomic malformations, length of neonatal admission) were evaluated. We identified 40 patients who completed successful treatment of Asherman syndrome and went on to carry a singleton gestation within our institution: 20 (50%) with mild disease, 18 (45%) with moderate disease, and 2 (5%) with severe disease under the March classification system. In total, 43 singleton births were examined, with 27 of 43 (62.8%) conceived without in vitro fertilization (IVF) (group A: non-IVF conception) and 16 of 43 (37.2%) conceived through IVF (group B: IVF conception). The overall rate of preterm birth in Asherman pregnancies was 11.6%, with no difference between the 2 conception groups. We documented 9.3% cases with intrauterine growth restriction, with no difference based on conception groups. The rate of MAP in patients with Asherman syndrome was 14.0%, and the rate of postpartum hemorrhage was 32.6%, with no differences between the conception groups. Newborn anatomic malformations of any cause were documented in 18.6% of all singleton births, with no difference between the conception groups. CONCLUSION: Our series indicates a higher incidence of intrauterine growth restriction, MAP, postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn anatomic malformations in Asherman syndrome pregnancies than that reported in pregnancies within the general population. However, we found no significant differences in the maternal and neonatal outcomes of patients with Asherman syndrome who conceived with or without IVF after being treated with hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.

Concomitant Adenomyosis among Patients with Asherman Syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To characterize obstetric outcomes for concomitant Asherman syndrome and adenomyosis. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A community teaching hospital affiliated with a large academic medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 227 patients with Asherman syndrome with available hysteroscopy and pelvic ultrasound reports. INTERVENTIONS: Telephone survey to assess and compare the obstetric outcomes of patients with Asherman syndrome with concomitant adenomyosis (Group A) vs patients with Asherman syndrome without concomitant adenomyosis (Group B). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A telephone survey and confirmatory chart review were conducted to obtain information on patients' demographics, gynecologic and obstetric history, past medical and surgical history, and Asherman syndrome management. Adenomyosis was a common sonographic finding, detected in 39 patients with Asherman syndrome (17.2%). In this cohort, 77 patients attempted pregnancy and produced 87 pregnancies. Age (odds ratio [OR] 0.67; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.52-0.86) was negatively associated with a pregnancy outcome. Age (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73-0.95) and severe Asherman disease (OR 0.06; 95% CI, <0.01-0.99) were negatively associated with a live birth outcome. Adenomyosis was not an independent predictor of pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, or live birth rate among patients with Asherman syndrome. CONCLUSION: Adenomyosis is relatively common in patients with Asherman syndrome. Adenomyosis does not seem to add any distinct detriment to fertility among patients with Asherman syndrome.

Endometrial thickness measurements among Asherman syndrome patients prior to embryo transfer.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an association between endometrial thickness (EMT) measurement and clinical pregnancy rate among Asherman syndrome (AS) patients utilizing IVF and embryo transfer (ET)? SUMMARY ANSWER: EMT measurements may not be associated with successful clinical pregnancy among AS patients undergoing IVF. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Clinical pregnancy rate after IVF is significantly lower in patients with a thin endometrium, defined as a maximum EMT of <7 mm. However, AS patients often have a thin EMT measurement due to intrauterine scarring, with a paucity of data and no guidance on what EMT cutoff is appropriate when planning an ET among these patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a retrospective cohort study of 45 AS patients treated at a specialized advanced hysteroscopic clinic from 1 January 2015, to 1 March 2019. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Review of EMT measurements prior to a total of 90 ETs, among 45 AS patients. The impact of the maximum EMT measurement prior to ET on clinical pregnancy rate was analyzed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A total of 25/45 (55.6%) AS patients ultimately went on to have ≥1 clinical pregnancy following a mean ± SD of 2.00 ± 1.26 ET attempts. There was a total of 90 ETs among the 45 AS patients, with 29/90 (32.2%) ETs resulting in a clinical pregnancy. Younger patient age (P = 0.05) and oocyte donation (P = 0.01) were the only variables identified to be significant predictors for a positive clinical pregnancy outcome on bivariate analysis. The mean EMT measurement prior to all ETs among AS patients was 7.5 ± 1.6 mm. EMT measurement prior to ET did not predict a positive clinical pregnancy on either bivariate (P = 0.84) or multivariable analysis (odds ratio 0.91, P = 0.60). 31.8% of EMT measurements measured <7.0 mm. In this small cohort, no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate was detected when comparing ETs with EMT measurements of <7.0 mm versus ≥7.0 mm (P = 0.83). The mean EMT measurement decreased with increasing AS disease severity; 8.0 ± 1.6 mm for mild disease, 7.0 ± 1.4 mm for moderate disease and 5.4 ± 0.1 mm for severe disease. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Our small sample size limits our ability to draw any definitive conclusions. In addition, patients utilized various infertility clinics. This limits our ability to evaluate the consistency of EMT measurements and the IVF care that was received. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: EMT measurement cutoff values should be used with caution if canceling a scheduled ET in AS patients. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was not funded. K.I. reports personal fees from Karl Stroz and personal fees from Medtronics outside the submitted work. The other authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Important considerations for women in the late reproductive and perimenopausal years desiring myomectomy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review important considerations in the counseling and management of women over the age of 40 desiring a myomectomy for symptomatic fibroids. RECENT FINDINGS: Women in the late reproductive and perimenopausal years may choose a myomectomy over a hysterectomy for reasons of fertility preservation or a personal desire to retain their uterus. Data suggest that laparoscopic myomectomy is a low-risk procedure that can be offered to older women, though the age-related risk of uterine malignancy must be evaluated. SUMMARY: When assessing the surgical candidacy of older women desiring myomectomy, it is important to weigh a woman's fertility potential, surgical risk, and concerns about malignancy with her desire to preserve the uterus and autonomy to choose a procedure type.

Understanding Preventive Health Behavior: A Mixed-Methods Study to Explore Factors Influencing the Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Indian Medical Students.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is among the most prevalent oncological cases in the world, and the global burden of the disease is expected to rise further in the coming years. Strategies aiming at early diagnosis, backed by research and a well-trained healthcare cadre, can aid low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in tackling the possible cancer-caused strain on healthcare systems. Our study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge of medical students concerning BC and explore barriers and facilitators of breast self-examination (BSE). METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study approach to better understand factors and beliefs influencing preventive health practice in BSE was conducted among students at a medical college in rural Maharashtra, India. One hundred and two female medical students completed the quantitative phase, and 15 of them gave in-depth interviews (IDIs) for the qualitative aspect. RESULTS: Among the participants, 67.6% had good knowledge of risk factors, but only 10% knew the recommendations for BSE, clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography. We found that being taught BSE by a trusted source and knowing a BC patient were significant facilitators. In contrast, lack of self-efficacy and two fear factors were found to be acting as barriers for BSE, one being the absence of fear of ever getting BC and the other fear of detecting a lump. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a gap between knowledge of risk factors and their translation to disease prevention practice. The barriers elicited are modifiable by planning and implementing an appropriate training program covering risk factors and recommending all available screening and preventative modalities. A well-trained medical staff will be instrumental in improving the health status of our community and country.

A Critical Review of Global Digital Divide and the Role of Technology in Healthcare.

Healthcare and technology, the fusion of these two distinct sciences can be traced back to the Vedic era. Regrettably, while it is evident that the journey of advancements in knowledge and innovation leading to the advent of technology to better the health of mankind is not a recent one, owing to inexistent means of transfer of knowledge, these contraptions stayed mostly localized to the regions of their inventors. This article seeks to review the vital role that technology has in bettering the health status of the global community and the challenges associated with healthcare technologies like inequity in connectivity, affordability, and accessibility. Technology and artificial intelligence are integrated to the best of the health systems across the world but these advancements are not accessible to a considerable part of the global population. While affordability, the absence of a steady internet supply, and the lack of a device to use the technology are the major impediments causing this digital divide, cultural factors and health literacy also contribute to this scenario. Nevertheless, access to the internet has been recognized as a basic need by all governments around the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic shook the health systems of developed and developing countries alike and has made every administration feel the urgency in making healthcare more accessible. Having seamless internet coverage and setups to make telemedicine or online consultations possible, can contribute significantly in paving the path to making our societies prosperous and healthier. With the world's consensus about this goal, efforts now should be focused on research and development for making these technologies more affordable and accessible without compromising their utility.

Young-Onset Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Young With an Emphasis on Clinical Manifestations.

Young-onset dementia (YOD) refers to a neurological ailment primarily affecting people below 65 years of age in roughly about 8% of cases found through various researches. The high rate of prevalence of secondary dementias among older patients proves that younger people show a better prognosis of the conditions causing dementia than older people. However, effective interventions have to be usually provided early in the course of cognitive decline to help facilitate cognitive improvement. The risk of development of prodromal dementia is high if there is a development of psychoses in middle-aged or older people. When there is a development of psychoses in middle to late life, the likelihood of this indicates prodromal dementia is high. The clinical presentation is quite variable and often subtle in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) but may be dominated by personality change, behavioral disturbances, motivation, or the loss of empathy. There is great heterogeneity in the probable causes of dementia in young age as compared to dementia in old age, and some observed differences also exist in the course and characteristics of the disease. These causes may range from the most probable cause such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) to causes with low probability, such as metabolic disorders and prion diseases. The symptoms of young-onset dementia include a gradual development of personality and behavioral changes over a period of years. However, in the initial stages of young-onset dementia, this change can be attributed to various issues, such as depression, marital problems, and menopause. Other neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease show presentations such as changes in personality, chorea, and depression that can be observed in patients in their early adulthood. A few other neurodegenerative disorders are myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF) and mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) with presentations such as characterized muscle weakness, poor growth, problems with vision and hearing, and the involvement of the multi-organ system, including the central nervous system to name a few. There is also the prevalence of juvenile parkinsonism in the community, which represents a group of clinicopathological entities present before the age of 21. Young-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) (YOPD) appears to have the same pathological presentation as late-onset Parkinson's disease (LOPD). Recent researches have proved that "gene therapy" can be useful in the treatment and in preventing the progression of symptoms in cases of neurodegenerative diseases.

Patient-reported menstrual and obstetric outcomes following hysteroscopic adhesiolysis for Asherman syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Review the menstrual and obstetric outcomes among Asherman syndrome patients when stratified by disease severity. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A community teaching hospital affiliated with a large academic medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 355 Asherman syndrome patients stratified by March classification who underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. INTERVENTIONS: Telephone survey, analyzed with multivariable analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Return of menstruation. Pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rate. RESULTS: A total of 355 patients underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. Of these, 150 (42.3%) patients completed the telephone survey with a mean follow-up of 2.21 years. Additionally, 40.7% had mild, 52.7% had moderate, and 6.6% had severe disease. Furthermore, 25.3% of patients reported amenorrhea at presentation, with mild disease patients having the highest rate of returning menstruation (93.8%) following treatment. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 81.9%, and the cumulative live birth rate was 51.2%, with no statistical differences identified by the classification group. CONCLUSION: Asherman syndrome disease severity predicted returning menstruation but not pregnancy or live birth rate.

Cadmium attenuates bradykinin-driven nitric oxide production by interplaying with the localization pattern of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Cadmium, a ubiquitous heavy metal, interferes with endothelial functions and angiogenesis. Bradykinin is a Ca-mobilizing soluble peptide that acts via nitric oxide to promote vasodilation and capillary permeability. The objective of the present study was to explore the Cd implications in bradykinin-dependent endothelial functions. An egg yolk angiogenesis model was employed to evaluate the effect of Cd on bradykinin-induced angiogenesis. The results demonstrate that 100 nmol/L Cd attenuated bradykinin-dependent angiogenesis. The results of the in vitro wound healing and tube formation assays by using EAhy 926, a transformed endothelial cell line, suggest that Cd blocked bradykinin-mediated endothelial migration and tube formation by 38% and 67%, respectively, while nitric oxide supplementation could reverse the effect of Cd on bradykinin-induced endothelial migration by 94%. The detection of nitric oxide by using a DAF-2DA fluorescent probe, Griess assay, and ultrasensitive electrode suggests that Cd blocked bradykinin-induced nitric oxide production. Fluorescence imaging of eNOS-GFP transfected endothelial cells, immunofluorescence, and Western blot studies of Cd and bradykinin-treated cells show that Cd interfered with the localization pattern of eNOS, which possibly attenuates nitric oxide production in part. Additionally, Ca imaging of Cd- and bradykinin-treated cells suggests that Cd blocked bradykinin-dependent Ca influx into the cells, thus partially blocking Ca-dependent nitric oxide production in endothelial cells. The results of this study conclude that Cd blunted the effect of bradykinin by interfering with the Ca-associated NOS activity specifically by impeding subcellular trafficking of eNOS.

Thalidomide attenuates nitric oxide-driven angiogenesis by interacting with soluble guanylyl cyclase.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nitric oxide (NO) promotes angiogenesis by activating endothelial cells. Thalidomide arrests angiogenesis by interacting with the NO pathway, but its putative targets are not known. Here, we have attempted to identify these targets. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Cell-based angiogenesis assays (wound healing of monolayers and tube formation in ECV304, EAhy926 and bovine arterial endothelial cells), along with ex vivo and in vivo angiogenesis assays, were used to explore interactions between thalidomide and NO. We also carried out in silico homology modelling and docking studies to elucidate possible molecular interactions of thalidomide and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). KEY RESULTS: Thalidomide inhibited pro-angiogenic functions in endothelial cell cultures, whereas 8-bromo-cGMP, sildenafil (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) or a NO donor [sodium nitroprusside (SNP)] increased these functions. The inhibitory effects of thalidomide were reversed by adding 8-bromo-cGMP or sildenafil, but not by SNP. Immunoassays showed a concentration-dependent decrease of cGMP in endothelial cells with thalidomide, without affecting the expression level of sGC protein. These results suggested that thalidomide inhibited the activity of sGC. Molecular modelling and docking experiments revealed that thalidomide could interact with the catalytic domain of sGC, which would explain the inhibitory effects of thalidomide on NO-dependent angiogenesis. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results showed that thalidomide interacted with sGC, suppressing cGMP levels in endothelial cells, thus exerting its anti-angiogenic effects. These results could lead to the formulation of thalidomide-based drugs to curb angiogenesis by targeting sGC.