Digital Therapeutics: Exploring the Possibilities of Digital Intervention for Myopia.

Pediatric myopia is increasing globally and has become a major public health issue. However, the mechanism of pediatric myopia is still poorly understood, and there is no effective treatment to prevent its progression. Based on results from animal and clinical studies, certain neuronal-humoral factors (NHFs), such as IGF-1, dopamine, and cortisol may be involved in the progression of pediatric myopia. Digital therapeutics uses evidence-based software as therapeutic interventions and it has the potential to offer innovative treatment strategies for pediatric myopia beyond conventional treatment methods. In this perspective article, we introduce digital therapeutics SAT-001, a software algorithm that modulates the level of NHFs to reduce the progression of pediatric myopia. The proposed mechanism is based on a theoretical hypothesis derived from scientific research and clinical studies and will be further confirmed by evidence generated from clinical studies involving pediatric myopia.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy: the feasibility in single-site system.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of robotic single-site myomectomy (RSSM). METHODS: Medical records of 355 consecutive women who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical characteristics were compared between multi-site and single-site systems. After 1:1 propensity score matching for the total myoma number, largest myoma size, and total tumor weight (105 women in each group), surgical outcomes were also compared between the 2 systems. RESULTS: A total of 105 (29.6%) and 250 (70.4%) women underwent RSSM and robotic multi-site myomectomy (RMSM), respectively. RSSM was more commonly performed in women with lower body mass index (21.6 vs. 22.5 kg/m2, P=0.014), without peritoneal adhesions (7.6% vs. 24.8%, P<0.001), and less (2.6 vs. 4.6, P<0.001) and smaller (6.3 vs. 7.7 cm, P<0.001) myomas compared to RMSM. After propensity score matching, the largest myoma size (P=0.143), total myoma number (P=0.671), and tumor weight (P=0.510) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Although the docking time was significantly longer in the RSSM group (5.1 vs. 3.8 minutes, P=0.005), total operation time was similar between RSSM and RMSM groups (145.9 vs. 147.3 minutes, P=0.856). Additionally, hemoglobin decrement was lower in the RSSM group than in the RMSM group (1.4 vs. 1.8 g/dL, P=0.009). No surgical complication was observed after RSSM, while 1 ileus and 2 febrile complications occurred in women that underwent RMSM (0% vs. 2.9%, P=0.246). CONCLUSION: Although RMSM is preferred for women with multiple large myomas in real clinical practice, RSSM seems to be a feasible surgical method for less complicated cases, and is associated with minimal surgical morbidity.

Predictive factor for volume reduction of uterine fibroids after short-term use of ulipristal acetate.

OBJECTIVES: Ulipristal acetate (UPA) is a selective progesterone receptor modulator, which has been used to treat uterine fibroids. Many published reports about the outcomes indicate effective control of bleeding and reduction in the fibroid volume following both short- and long-term therapy. However, the reported volume reduction varies across different reports. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that can affect the volume reduction of uterine fibroids, after short-term UPA therapy in patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids. STUDY DESIGN: Women treated with UPA for 3 months, between November 2013 and February 2017, for symptomatic uterine fibroids were evaluated retrospectively. The fibroid volume was measured using ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging. Response was defined as any reduction in volume after treatment and non-response was defined as no change or increase in volume. RESULTS: Totally, 152 women were treated with UPA and the median volume reduction was 13.1% (interquartile range [IQR] -16.8 to 36.7). Response to treatment was seen in 92 of 152 (60.5%) patients, while 60 women (39.5%) showed no response. Median number of fibroids in the response group was less than that in the non-response group (P = 0.030; median 2, IQR 1-4 vs. median 4, IQR 1-6). On multivariate regression analysis, fewer number of uterine fibroids was an independent factor for predicting a good response to UPA (odds ratio 0.830, CI: 0.710-0.969, P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: An independent factor that can affect the volume reduction after a 3-month UPA therapy in women with uterine fibroids was the number of fibroids. This indicates that UPA might be ineffective for volume reduction in cases with multiple leiomyomas. However, future prospective studies comparing solitary and multiple leiomyomas for response to UPA are necessary.

Therapeutic outcomes of methotrexate injection in unruptured interstitial pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the therapeutic outcomes of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of unruptured interstitial pregnancy. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with interstitial pregnancy and received MTX as first-line treatment between January 2003 and July 2014 at CHA Gangnam Medical Center. The treatment success rates and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were diagnosed with interstitial pregnancy between January 2003 and July 2014. Of them, 38 initially received MTX treatment. The diagnosis was made at a median of 6+3 weeks (5+0 to 11+3 weeks). Thirty patients received a systemic MTX injection, while the other 8 received a local MTX injection. Systemic treatment composed of an 8-day alternating MTX regimen, single-dose regimen, or high-dose regimen (100 mg/m2 + 200 mg/m2 intravenously over 12 hours). The local injection consisted of a direct MTX injection into the gestational sac with or without systemic MTX injection. Twenty-one patients (55.3%) were successfully treated with MTX. However, MTX therapy failed in 17 patients (44.7%), who required surgery. Mode of MTX treatment was the only predictive variable of MTX treatment success (P=0.039). Treatment success was seen in 7 of 8 patients (87.5%) in the local MTX group vs. 14 of 30 patients (46.7%) in the systemic MTX group. After treatment, 13 patients attempted a successive pregnancy; of them, 10 patients had a confirmed clinical pregnancy and healthy live birth. CONCLUSION: Combined MTX treatment including a local injection might be an initial approach to the treatment of interstitial pregnancy.

Combined Oral Medroxyprogesterone/Levonorgestrel-Intrauterine System Treatment for Women With Grade 2 Stage IA Endometrial Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncologic and pregnancy outcomes of combined oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)/levonorgestrel-intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) treatment in young women with grade 2-differentiated stage IA endometrial adenocarcinoma who wish to preserve fertility. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with grade 2 stage IA endometrial adenocarcinoma who had received fertility-sparing treatment at CHA Gangnam Medical Center between 2011 and 2015. All of the patients were treated with combined oral MPA (500 mg/d)/LNG-IUS, and follow-up dilatation and curettage were performed every 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 5 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 30.4 ± 5.3 years (range, 25-39 years). After a mean treatment duration of 11.0 ± 6.2 months (range, 6-18 months), complete response (CR) was shown in 3 of the 5 patients, with partial response (PR) in the other 2 patients. One case of recurrence was reported 14 months after achieving CR. This patient was treated again with combined oral MPA/LNG-IUS and achieved CR by 6 months. The average follow-up period was 44.4 ± 26.2 months (range, 12-71 months). There were no cases of progressive disease. No treatment-related complications arose. CONCLUSIONS: Combined oral MPA/LNG-IUS treatment is considered to be a reasonably effective fertility-sparing treatment of grade 2 stage IA endometrial cancer. Although our results are encouraging, it is preliminary and should be considered with experienced oncologists in well-defined protocol and with close follow-up.

Uterine fibroid shrinkage after short-term use of selective progesterone receptor modulator or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term use of selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist on uterine fibroid shrinkage among Korean women. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 101 women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who received ulipristal acetate (SPRM, n=51) and leuprolide acetate (GnRH agonist, n=50) for 3 months between November 2013 and February 2015. The fibroid volume was measured both before and after treatment using ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The outcomes were compared between the SPRM and GnRH agonist groups. RESULTS: The median rate of fibroid volume reduction after SPRM treatment was 12.4% (IQR -14.5% to 40.5%) which was significantly lower than the reduction rate observed after GnRH agonist treatment (median 34.9%, IQR 14.7% to 48.6%, P=0.004). 19 of 51 (37.3%) patients with SPRM treatment did not show any response of volume shrinkage, while 7 of 50 (14.0%) women with GnRH agonist showed no response (P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Short-term SPRM treatment yields lower volume reduction than GnRH agonist treatment in Korean women with symptomatic fibroids. Further large-scale randomized trials are needed to confirm our findings.

Dilatation and curettage is more accurate than endometrial aspiration biopsy in early-stage endometrial cancer patients treated with high dose oral progestin and levonorgestrel intrauterine system.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether less invasive endometrial (EM) aspiration biopsy is adequately accurate for evaluating treatment outcomes compared to the dilatation and curettage (D&C) biopsy in early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) patients treated with high dose oral progestin and levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study with patients younger than 40 years who were diagnosed with clinical stage IA, The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade 1 or 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma and sought to maintain their fertility. The patients were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate 500 mg/day and LNG-IUS. Treatment responses were evaluated every 3 months. EM aspiration biopsy was conducted after LNG-IUS removal followed D&C. The tissue samples were histologically compared. The diagnostic concordance rate of the two tests was examined with κ statistics. RESULTS: Twenty-eight pairs of EM samples were obtained from five patients. The diagnostic concordance rate of D&C and EM aspiration biopsy was 39.3% (κ value=0.26). Of the seven samples diagnosed as normal with D&C, three (42.8%) were diagnosed as normal by using EM aspiration biopsy. Of the eight samples diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma by using D&C, three (37.5%) were diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma by using EM aspiration biopsy. Of the 13 complex EM hyperplasia samples diagnosed with the D&C, five (38.5%) were diagnosed with EM hyperplasia by using EM aspiration biopsy. Of the samples obtained through EM aspiration, 46.4% were insufficient for histological evaluation. CONCLUSION: To evaluate the treatment responses of patients with early-stage EC treated with high dose oral progestin and LNG-IUS, D&C should be conducted after LNG-IUS removal.

Predictors of Radiation Field Failure After Definitive Chemoradiation in Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer.

PURPOSE: We identified the predictive factors for locoregional failure after definitive chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. METHODS: Altogether, 397 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (stage IB2-IVA) were treated with definitive chemoradiation between June 2001 and February 2010. Platinum-based concurrent chemotherapy was given to all patients with median radiation dose of external beam radiotherapy 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and intracavitary radiotherapy 30 Gy in 6 fractions. Competing risk regression analysis was used to reveal the predictive factors for locoregional failure. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 7.2 years, locoregional failure occurred in 51 (12.9%) patients. The estimated 3-year rate of locoregional control was 89%, whereas the overall survival rate was 82%. After univariate and multivariate analyses, large tumor size (>5 cm), young age (≤40 years), nonsquamous histology, positive lymph node on magnetic resonance imaging, and advanced stage (III-IV) were identified as risk factors for locoregional failure (P = 0.003, P = 0.075, P = 0.005, P = 0.055, and P < 0.001, respectively). After risk grouping according to the coefficients from the multivariate model, we identified a high-risk group for locoregional failure after treatment with definitive chemoradiation as follows: (1) tumor size larger than 5 cm, and at least 1 other risk factor or (2) tumor size 5 cm or less, and at least 3 other risk factors. The cumulated estimated 3-year rate of locoregional failure of the high-risk group was 26%, which was significantly higher than that of the low-risk group (7%, P < 0.001). The 3-year overall survival rates of the 2 groups were also significantly different (57% vs 86%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Large tumor size (>5 cm), young age (≤40 years), nonsquamous histology, positive lymph node on magnetic resonance imaging, and advanced stage are all risk factors for locoregional failure after definitive platinum-based chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. In the high-risk group, further clinical trials are warranted to improve the locoregional control rate.

Postoperative Lower Extremity Edema in Patients with Primary Endometrial Cancer.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate clinical manifestations of lower extremity edema (LEE) after lymph node dissection in patients with primary endometrial cancer. METHODS: Women with primary endometrial cancer who underwent staging surgery between November 2001 and March 2011 were included in the study. Medical records and/or responses to the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) were used for LEE evaluation. RESULTS: All 154 patients underwent pelvic lymph node dissection, and 126 patients (81.8 %) underwent paraaortic LN dissection. The median age of the patients was 52 years, the majority had stage I cancer (78.6 %), and most had endometrioid histology (90.9 %). The most frequent GCLQ responses were "experienced swelling" (35.7 %), "experienced numbness" (30.5 %), "experienced heaviness" (29.9 %), and "experienced aching" (29.9 %). Sixty-four patients (41.6 %) had previous (9/64, 14.1 %) and/or current (55/64, 85.9 %) patient-reported LEE. Most patients developed LEE within 12 months after surgery (39/56, 69.6 %), and LEE lasted for more than 12 months in most patients (45/56, 80.4 %). Three patients reported recurrent LEE after recovery. Multivariate logistic regression identified the number of dissected pelvic lymph node (≥21) as a risk factor for LEE [odds ratio (OR) 3.28; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.058-10.136] and postoperative radiotherapy (OR 3.81, 95 % CI 1.67-8.69). CONCLUSIONS: LEE developed in more than one-third of patients with endometrial cancer after surgery, and LEE lasted for more than 12 months in most patients. A high number of dissected pelvic lymph nodes and postoperative radiotherapy is associated with LEE.

Assessment of Breast Cancer Patients' Knowledge and Decisional Conflict Regarding Tamoxifen Use.

Breast cancer is the most common type of female cancer. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is widely used to decrease breast cancer recurrence and mortality among patients. However, it also increases the risk of endometrial cancer. This study aimed to assess knowledge and decisional conflict regarding tamoxifen use. Between June and October 2014, breast cancer patients using tamoxifen were consecutively screened and requested to complete a survey including the EQ-5D, Satisfaction with Decision Scale (SWD), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), and a self-developed, 15-item questionnaire measuring tamoxifen-related knowledge. The study sample comprised 299 patients. The mean total knowledge score was 63.4 of a possible 100.0 (range, 13.3-93.3). While 73.9% of the participants knew that tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence, only 57.9% knew that the drug increases endometrial cancer risk. A higher education level (≥ college) was associated with a higher, total knowledge score (ß = 4.291; P = 0.017). A higher knowledge score was associated with a decreased DCS score (ß = -0.366; P < 0.001). A higher SWD score was also associated with decreased decisional conflict (ß = -0.178; P < 0.001). In conclusion, the breast cancer patients with higher levels of tamoxifen-related knowledge showed lower levels of decisional conflict regarding tamoxifen use. Clinicians should provide the exact information about tamoxifen treatment to patients, based on knowledge assessment results, so as to aid patients' decision-making with minimal conflict.

Should endometrial clear cell carcinoma be classified as Type II endometrial carcinoma?

Endometrial clear cell carcinomas (ECCCs) are considered to be Type II endometrial carcinomas, like uterine serous adenocarcinoma (SCA), and therefore aggressive clinical management is indicated. However, according to the limited clinical, immunohistochemical, and molecular data available in the literature, ECCCs show overlapping features of SCA and endometrioid adenocarcinomas. Therefore, questions regarding their designation as the Type II carcinomas have been raised. We performed immunohistochemical staining for hepatocyte nuclear factor-1ß and napsin A for the histologic confirmation of clear cell carcinoma (CCC), and analyzed immunohistochemical findings for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2/neu, p53, p16, ARID1A, PTEN, DNA mismatch-repair proteins along with other prognostic factors. We performed DNA sequencing for the K-RAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and PTEN genes for 16 pure CCCs. No patients with pure CCC experienced recurrent disease or died of the disease (0/16, 0%). ECCCs had SCA-like features with rare expression of estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (18.8%/6.3%) and no K-RAS mutations, intermediate features regarding expressions of p53 (37.5%) and p16 (25%), and endometrioid adenocarcinoma-like features regarding losses of PTEN (81.3%), ARID1A (25%) and mismatch-repair protein (68.8%), expression of microsatellite instability-high (25%), HER2/neu (12.5%), and PIK3CA mutations (18.8%). Pure ECCC should not be regarded as Type II carcinoma, because it shares the immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics of Type I endometrioid adenocarcinoma and Type II SCA.

Benefit of negative pressure drain within surgical wound after cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of subcutaneous negative-pressure wound drains on wound healing after cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer, between 2012 and 2013. The patients were divided into 2 groups, according to using (n = 163) and not using (n = 37) of subcutaneous wound drains, and wound outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients' characteristics were not statistically different, except for the prolonged operative time in patients with wound drains (median, 395 vs 240 minutes; P = 0.001). A lower rate of wound infection (12.9% vs 27.0%; P = 0.032) was observed in the drain group. In the multivariate analysis, placement of subcutaneous wound drain was an independent prognostic factor for reducing wound complications: disruption (odds ratio [OR], 0.367; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.145-0.929; P = 0.034) and wound infection (OR, 0.198; 95% CI, 0.068-0.582; P = 0.003). Bowel surgery at the time of cytoreductive surgery and prolonged operative time (≥360 minutes) were also associated with higher rates of disruption (OR, 2.845; 95% CI, 1.111-7.289; P = 0.029) and wound infection (OR, 4.212; 95% CI, 1.273-13.935; P = 0.019), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Installation of subcutaneous negative-pressure wound drain is an effective method to achieve clearer wound healing and less wound complications after cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer.

Lymph node status did not significantly improve the predictability of survival in patients with clinically early-stage endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether knowledge of lymph node status improves survival prediction in clinically early-stage endometrial cancer. METHODS: The records of 661 patients with apparently uterine-confined disease were reviewed. The performance in predicting overall survival and cause-specific survival was compared between a multivariate prognostic model with nodal status and a model without nodal status by calculating Harrell concordance index. RESULTS: Among 661 patients with clinically early-stage endometrial cancer, the lymph node metastasis rate was 8.3% (55/661). Lymph node metastasis independently associated with cause-specific survival only when no stratification according to adjuvant treatment was applied (P = 0.035). After stratification according to adjuvant radiotherapy, lymph node status marginally associated with cause-specific survival (P = 0.073), whereas myometrial invasion retained its strong association with cause-specific survival (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the performance of the survival model using only uterine factors and the model using lymph node status and uterine factors (concordance index, 0.77 vs 0.77, respectively; P = 0.798). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of lymph node status did not significantly improve the performance of survival prediction in apparently uterine-confined endometrial cancer, although it was independently associated with survival. In the patients with clinically early-stage endometrial cancer, the accuracy of the prediction of survival was comparable between risk grouping without lymph node status and that including lymph node status.

The effect of body mass index on survival in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Controversy remains regarding the effect of obesity on the survival of patients with ovarian cancer in Asia. This study examined the impact of obesity on the survival outcomes in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using Asian body mass index (BMI) criteria. The medical records of patients undergoing surgery for advanced (stage III and IV) EOC were reviewed. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analysis. Among all 236 patients, there were no differences in overall survival according to BMI except in underweight patients. In a multivariate Cox analysis, surgical optimality and underweight status were independent and significant prognostic factors for survival (HR, 2.302; 95% CI, 1.326-3.995; P=0.003 and HR, 8.622; 95% CI, 1.871-39.737; P = 0.006, respectively). In the subgroup of serous histology and optimal surgery, overweight and obese I patients showed better survival than normal weight patients (P = 0.012). We found that underweight BMI and surgical optimality are independent risk factors for the survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. High BMI groups (overweight, obese I and II) are not associated with the survival of advanced EOC patient. However, in the subgroup of EOC patients with serous histology and after optimal operation, overweight and obese I group patients show better survival than the normal weight group patients.

Obesity and epithelial ovarian cancer survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between obesity and ovarian cancer survival have had conflicting results. We reviewed and quantitatively summarized the existing evidence, exploring potentially important sources of variability, such as the timing of body mass index (BMI) assessment, BMI cut points, references used in multivariate analysis, and ovarian cancer stage. METHODS: Eligible studies were searched using MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, relevant bibliographies were manually reviewed for additional studies. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) from individual studies were pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: 17 cohort studies of 929 screened articles were included in the final analysis. Obesity in early adulthood and obesity 5 years before ovarian cancer diagnosis were associated with poor patient survival (early adulthood: pooled HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.29-2.16; 5 years prediagnosis: pooled HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.03-1.76). However, the results for obesity at diagnosis depended on whether BMI was analyzed as a categorical or continuous variable. Analysis of obesity with BMI as a categorical variable did not affect ovarian cancer prognosis (pooled HR 1.07; 95% CI 0.95-1.21); obesity with BMI as a continuous variable showed slightly poorer survival with each incremental increase in BMI (pooled HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity 5 years before ovarian cancer diagnosis and obesity at a young age were associated with poor prognosis. The association between obesity at diagnosis and survival of ovarian cancer patients still remains equivocal. BMI at diagnosis cannot be a prognostic factor for the survival of ovarian cancer patients. Further well-designed studies are needed to elucidate the variety effect of obesity on the survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Evaluation of risk factors of vaginal cuff dehiscence after hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors of vaginal cuff dehiscence or evisceration according to the type of operation. METHODS: Medical records of 604 women who underwent hysterectomies at Korea University Anam Hospital between June 2007 and June 2011 were reviewed. They were allocated to six groups. The six types of hysterectomies included robotic hysterectomy (n = 7), robotic radical hysterectomy and node dissection (RRHND, n = 9), total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH, n = 274), laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH, n = 238), laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and node dissection (n = 11), and abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH, n = 63). The characteristics and outcomes of each groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no difference in the characteristics of patients between 6 groups. In total of 604 hysterectomies, 3 evisceration (0.49%) and 21 dehiscences (3.47%) occurred. Evisceration were found in RRHND (1/9, 11.1%), TLH (1/276, 0.36%), and ARH (1/63, 1.56%). Dehiscences occurred in TLH (15/274, 5.42%), LAVH (4/238, 1.68%), and ARH (2/63, 3.17%). In 169 cases of TLH with intra-corporeal continuous suture, 1 evisceration and 4 dehiscences occurred, whereas 11 dehiscences occurred in 105 TLH cases with vaginal continuous locking suture (2.96% vs. 10.47%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscenceand eviscerationwas significantly higher in TLH than LAVH. The intra-corporeal cuff suture was superior to the vaginal suture to prevent the vaginal cuff complications in TLH.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in gynaecological cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the frequency and absolute numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in healthy control subjects and patients with gynaecological cancer, and to test the hypothesis that cancer treatment lowers EPC numbers. METHODS: Patients with cervical or ovarian cancer and healthy control subjects provided peripheral blood samples for the isolation of mononuclear cells. EPCs were identified by quadruple immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry as CD45(-)/CD34(+)/CD133(+)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)(+) cells. RESULTS: In total, 28 participants were enrolled. Circulating EPCs were present at higher frequencies (and in greater absolute numbers) in patients with cervical or ovarian cancer (n = 14) than in controls (n = 14). Concurrent chemoradiation therapy or surgery significantly reduced the frequency and number of EPCs in patients with gynaecological cancer, compared with pretreatment levels. CONCLUSIONS: EPC levels decline throughout cancer treatment; their measurement may therefore be a useful surrogate marker to monitor treatment response.

Detection of microRNA as novel biomarkers of epithelial ovarian cancer from the serum of ovarian cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA (miRNA) is an abundant class of small noncoding RNAs that act as gene regulators. Recent studies have suggested that miRNA deregulation is associated with the initiation and progression of human cancer. However, information about cancer-related miRNA is mostly limited to tissue miRNA. The aim of this study was to find specific profiles of serum-derived miRNAs of ovarian cancer based on a comparative study using a miRNA microarray of serum, tissue, and ascites. METHODS: From 2 ovarian cancer patients and a healthy control, total RNA was isolated from their serum, tissue, and ascites, respectively, and analyzed by a microarray. Under the comparative study of each miRNA microarray, we sorted out several miRNAs showing a consistent regulation tendency throughout all 3 specimens and the greatest range of alteration in serum as potential biomarkers. The availability of biomarkers was confirmed by qRT-PCR of 18 patients and 12 controls. RESULTS: Out of 2222 kinds of total miRNAs that were identified in the microarray analysis, 95 miRNAs were down-regulated and 88 miRNAs were up-regulated, in the serum, tissue, and ascites of cancer patients. Among the miRNAs that showed a consistent regulation tendency through all specimens and showed more than a 2-fold difference in serum, 5 miRNAs (miR-132, miR-26a, let-7b, miR-145, and miR-143) were determined as the 5 most markedly down-regulated miRNAs in the serum from ovarian cancer patients with respect to those of controls. Four miRNAs (miR-132, miR-26a, let-7b, and miR-145) out of 5 selected miRNAs were significantly underexpressed in the serum of ovarian cancer patients in qRT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Serum miR-132, miR-26a, let-7b, and miR-145 could be considered as potential candidates as novel biomarkers in serous ovarian cancer. Also, serum miRNAs is a promising and useful tool for discriminating between controls and patients with serous ovarian cancer.

Cancer of the supernumerary ovary in Mayer-Rokitansty-Küster-Hauser Syndrome: A case report.

Mayer-Rokitansty-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a Müllerian anomaly that presents with varying degrees of uterovaginal aplasia and is secondarily associated with cervicothoracic, auditory and skeletal anomalies. However, MRKH syndrome patients have normal and functional ovaries. A supernumerary ovary is an extremely rare form of an ectopic ovary and there are no reported cases of MRKH syndrome with cancer of the supernumerary ovary in the current literature. A 31-year-old female with a history of MRKH syndrome that was diagnosed 4 years previously presented with abdominal pain and a suspected malignant pelvic mass was identified. During the staging surgery, both ovaries were separated from the main mass, observed and removed. A third ovary was discovered in the pelvic mass and the diagnosis of primary ovarian cancer from the third ovary was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We report the first known case of cancer of the supernumerary ovary in a patient with MRKH syndrome. Although both ovaries were confirmed to be normal in the patient with MRKH syndrome, we propose that an ovarian neoplasm should be considered in the diagnosis of a pelvic mass.

The appropriate cone depth to avoid endocervical margin involvement is dependent on age and disease severity.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse factors associated with endocervical cone margin involvement and suggest appropriate cone depth for the conization procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Gynecological oncology center. POPULATION: One thousand two hundred and twenty women undergoing conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II or III or stage IA1 microinvasive cervical carcinoma. METHODS: The following factors were analysed: age, parity, gravida, conization type, margin status, disease severity and specimen depth. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the best cut-off points to define appropriate cone depth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cone depth to avoid endecervical margin involvement. RESULTS: Ninety-one women had endocervical margin involvement (7.5%). This was positively associated with disease severity and age and inversely related to cone depth. In women under 50 years of age, the cut-off value was achieved at 1.8 cm cone depth, with high sensitivity and relatively low specificity [area under the curve (AUC) 0.64, sensitivity 0.86, specificity 0.27, p= 0.005]. For a subset of CIN II patients aged ≤50 years, the cut-off value was 1.2 cm (AUC 0.75, sensitivity 0.90, specificity 0.47, p= 0.008). In women <40 years of age, the cut-off value was 1.8 cm (AUC 0.60, sensitivity 0.88, specificity 0.25, p= 0.036). In a subset of CIN II, the cut-off value was 0.9 cm (AUC 0.87, sensitivity 0.83, specificity 0.69, p= 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Age, disease severity and cone depth are predictive factors for endocervical margin involvement. In women of reproductive age, the appropriate cone depth to avoid endocervical margin involvement can be changed depending on age and disease severity.