Case Report: Management of Recurrent Ovarian Squamous Cell Carcinoma With PD-1 Inhibitor.

Malignant transformations, such as ovarian squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in ovarian mature cystic teratoma (OMCT), are rare tumors. The management of recurrent disease is still a challenge, and the gene mutations involved remain unclear. We herein report a recurrent case of ovarian SCC with a PIK3CA gene variation and immunohistochemical staining of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) >10%. This patient achieved clinical remission after platinum-based effective chemotherapy and programmed death 1 (PD-1) immunotherapy.

Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Symptoms of 85 Adolescents with Endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is the most common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea among adolescents. Data on postoperative symptoms of the disease in adolescents are limited. In this study we aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and postoperative symptoms of adolescent endometriosis in our center. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care institution. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-five adolescents with surgically confirmed endometriosis, age younger than 19 years, were included. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical characteristics including demographic factors, pelvic symptoms, and changes of pelvic pain after surgery. RESULTS: Of 11,236 patients with endometriosis who received surgical treatment between January 2008 and January 2018 in our department, 85 adolescents (85/11,236; 0.76%) were included. The mean age at the time of surgery was 16.3 (±2.4) years and pelvic pain was the main symptoms which occurred in 73/85 (85.9%). Forty-four of the 85 patients (51.8%) had associated genital malformations. The patients with genital malformations tended to present with a younger age at the time of surgery (15.1 ± 2.4 vs 17.6 ± 1.7 years; P < .001) and a shorter duration of symptoms to time of surgery (1.5 ± 1.3 vs 2.3 ± 2.1 years; P = .033). The median follow-up time was 56 months (range, 24-140 months) after surgery, and the pelvic pain had disappeared in 41.7% of patients, improved in 38.3% of patients, and had no change or worsened in 20.0% patients. CONCLUSION: Pelvic pain was the main symptom in adolescents with endometriosis and was greatly improved after surgery. It should also be noted that genital malformation might be an important factor in younger adolescents with endometriosis.

Edge defect switched dual spin filter in zigzag hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons.

Unlike graphene nanoribbons, zigzag monolayer hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons (ZBNNRs) possess two distinct edges (B and N edges). Using first-principles calculations, we investigate the spin-dependent electronic transport of ZBNNRs with edge defects. It is found that the defects could make the system operate as a dual spin filter, where the direction of spin polarization is switched by the defect. Further analysis shows that the transmission eigenchannels for the opposite spins reside spatially separated on opposite edges. The defect on one edge could suppress the transmission for only one spin component, but preserve that for the other spin, resulting in a dual spin filter effect. This effect is found to be unaffected by the width of the ribbon and the length of the defect. Moreover, by constructing defects on both edges, the system exhibits two transmission peaks with opposite spins residing discretely on both sides of the Fermi level, suggesting that an electrically controlled dual spin filter based on ZBNNRs is also realizable. As controllable defects have been experimentally fabricated on monolayer boron nitride [T. Pham, A. L. Gibb, Z. Li, S. M. Gilbert, C. Song, S. G. Louie and A. Zettl, Nano Lett., 2016, 16, 7142-7147], our results may shed light on the development of B/N-based spintronic devices.

Induction of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into tissue-forming cells in a murine model: implications for pelvic floor reconstruction.

HUMSCs were isolated, differentiated and characterized in vitro. Both HUMSCs and smooth muscle cells differentiated from HUMSCs were used to fabricate tissue-engineered fascia equivalents. Forty-eight mature female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: group A (GynemeshTMPS, n = 12), group B (GynemeshTMPS + HUMSCs; n = 12), group C (GynemeshTMPS + smooth muscle cells differentiated from HUMSCs; n = 12) and group D (GynemeshTMPS + HUMSCs + smooth muscle cells differentiated from HUMSCs; n = 12). The posterior vaginal wall was incised from the introitus and the mesh was then implanted. Three implants of each type were tested at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Fibrotic remodeling, inflammation, vascularization and tissue regeneration were histologically assessed. The levels of type I and type III collagen were determined. There was no difference in fibrotic remodeling between cell-seeded and unseeded meshes at any time (p > 0.05). At 12 weeks, there did not appear to be fewer inflammatory cells around the filament bundles in the mesh with cells compared with the mesh alone (P > 0.05). Group D showed a trend toward better vascularization at 12 weeks compared with group A (P < 0.05). Twelve weeks after implantation, a thin layer of new tissue growth covered the unseeded scaffold and a thicker layer covered the cell-seeded scaffold (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the ratio of collagen type I/III could be detected among the different groups after 12 weeks (P > 0.05). HUMSCs with differentiated smooth muscle cells might have a potential role in fascia tissue engineering to repair POP in the future.

Changes in voiding function after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for advanced pelvic organ prolapse: a cohort study of 76 cases.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We evaluated changes in voiding function at 3 months after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) for advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients and identified risk predictors for postoperative voiding dysfunction. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with advanced POP who underwent LSC were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Pre- and postoperative objective voiding function was assessed by uroflowmetry plus postvoid residual (PVR) volumes. Voiding dysfunction was defined as a maximum flow rate (Qmax) < 15 ml/s, average flow rate (Qave) < 10 ml/s, or PVR > 50 ml. Statistical analyses were performed using paired-sample t tests, McNemar's tests, and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: Thirty patients (39%) showed evidence of voiding dysfunction preoperatively, but two thirds of these patients were asymptomatic. Voiding dysfunction decreased significantly from baseline to 3 months after surgery (39% vs. 21%, p = 0.009), including a decrease among patients with Qave < 10 ml/s (32% vs. 17%, p = 0.043) and PVR > 50 ml (24% vs. 9%, p = 0.019). Voiding difficulty decreased significantly from baseline to 3 months after surgery (32% vs. 9%, p < 0.001); urgency and urinary incontinence symptoms did not exhibit significant improvement (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified Qave < 10 ml/s as the independent predictor of postoperative voiding dysfunction [p = 0.014, odds ratio (OR) = 4.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-16.54]. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative voiding dysfunction is common among patients with POP and significantly improves at 3 months following LSC. A preoperative Qave < 10 ml/s was an independent risk factor for postoperative voiding dysfunction.

Which factors should be considered in choosing pessary type and size for pelvic organ prolapse patients in a fitting trial?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study explored whether the optimal pessary type and size can be predicted using the specific pelvic organ prolapse quantification system (POP-Q) measurements in women with pelvic organ prolapse in a fitting trial. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study in women who had undergone pessary fitting. A total of 78 patients with stage II, III or IV symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse completed a detailed history. Data were analysed using nonparametric tests, continuity correction chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Differences in total vaginal length (TVL; p < 0.01) and vaginal introitus width/TVL ratio (p = 0.012) were observed between patients with and without a history of hysterectomy. Patients with a history of hysterectomy and patients with a larger vaginal introitus had more success with the Gellhorn pessary than with the ring pessary with support (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01, respectively). Factors determining the size of the ring pessary with support were the genital hiatus (GH) width (p = 0.044), TVL (p = 0.011), vaginal introitus width (p < 0.001), and vaginal introitus width/TVL ratio (p = 0.025). Factors determining the size of the Gellhorn pessary were the GH width (p = 0.025), GH width/TVL ratio (p = 0.013), vaginal introitus width (p = 0.003), vaginal introitus width/TVL ratio (p = 0.001), stage of apical prolapse (p = 0.006) and stage of posterior prolapse (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a history of hysterectomy or with a larger vaginal introitus were more likely to achieve success with the Gellhorn pessary. The GH width and the vaginal introitus width influenced the size of both pessaries chosen. The TVL was predictive of the optimal size of the ring pessary with support but was not predictive of the optimal size of the Gellhorn pessary. Finally, the size of the Gellhorn pessary was associated with POP stage.

Nanofibrous biomimetic mesh can be used for pelvic reconstructive surgery: A randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Implantation of nonabsorbable polypropylene (PP) mesh in the vagina is the main surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP); however, clinical outcomes remain controversial and far from satisfactory. In particular, reducing the exposure or erosion of vaginal implants to obtain improved functional reconstruction is challenging. There is an urgent need for the development of new materials and/or products for POP treatment. A nanofibrous biomimetic mesh was recently developed to address this issue. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the basic properties of the newly developed mesh, including structural characteristics, mechanical properties, biological response of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in vitro, and tissue regeneration and biocompatibility in vivo, were evaluated and compared with those of Gynemesh™PS. METHODS: Scanning electron microscopy and uniaxial tensile methods were used to evaluate microstructure and mechanical properties, respectively. Mesenchymal stem cell growth on the meshes was observed by fluorescence microscopy to visualize the expression of enhanced red fluorescent protein. Twenty-four mature female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups: group 1 (nanofibrous biomimetic mesh, Medprin, Germany, n=12) and group 2 (Gynemesh(TM)PS, Ethicon, USA; n=12). The posterior vaginal wall was incised from the introitus, and the mesh was then implanted. Three implants of each type were tested for 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Connective tissue organization, inflammation, vascularization, and regenerated tissue were histologically assessed. RESULTS: The nanofibrous biomimetic mesh is a relatively heavy material and exhibited lower porosity than Gynemesh(TM)PS. The new mesh was stiffer than Gynemesh(TM)PS (p<0.001) but supported human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell attachment. Erosion of the grafts did not occur in any animal. The nanofibrous biomimetic mesh was encapsulated by a thicker layer of connective tissue and was associated with significantly greater inflammatory scores compared with Gynemesh(TM)PS. At 12 weeks, the vascularization of the new mesh was greater than that of Gynemesh(TM)PS (p<0.05). No significant difference in the thickness of the smooth muscle layer following implantation was observed between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The nanofibrous biomimetic mesh is a candidate for reinforcing pelvic reconstruction. The mesh could be improved by decreasing its weight and stiffness and increasing its porosity. This mesh could serve as a carrier for stem cells in future regenerative medicine and tissue engineering research.

Changes in Prolapse and Urinary Symptoms After Successful Fitting of a Ring Pessary With Support in Women With Advanced Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the percentage of improvement in prolapse and urinary symptoms and adverse effects in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) after 3 months of use of a ring pessary with support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 109 consecutive women with advanced POP were fitted with a ring pessary with support; 73 (73/109, 67.0%) of the women had a successful 3-month pessary fitting trial. Prolapse symptoms, urinary symptoms, and urinary flow parameters were assessed at baseline and at 3 months. Adverse effects were assessed within 3 months. McNemar's test and paired-sample t tests were performed. RESULTS: Prolapse and urinary symptoms improved from baseline to 3 months, including bulging (90.4% to 23.3%; P <.001) and pressure (64.4% to 13.7%; P <.001). Voiding difficulty improved in 97.8% of the women (45/46; P <.001), splinting improved in 100% (19/19; P <.001), urge urinary incontinence improved in 76.9% (30/39; P <.001), and stress urinary incontinence improved in 58.1% (18/31; P = .025) after 3 months. After pessary treatment, the differences in maximum flow rate, mean flow rate, void volume, and postvoid residual at baseline and 3 months were statistically significant (P <.05). Vaginal discharge (32/73, 43.8%) was the most common adverse event. Vaginal ulcers developed in 7 (7/73, 9.6%) of the women. CONCLUSION: The ring pessary with support was successfully fitted in patients with advanced POP with a high success rate and few complications. The pessary could resolve more than half of the prolapse and urinary symptoms. Therefore, initial conservative treatment with a ring pessary with support in advanced POP is worthwhile.

Successful use of ring pessary with support for advanced pelvic organ prolapse.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Support pessaries are not recommended for patients with advanced prolapse. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of the ring pessary with support for the treatment of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: We conducted this prospective study on pessary fittings performed between November 2013 and September 2014 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing. A total of 109 patients with stage III or IV POP completed a detailed history. A successful fitting was defined as the continued use of the device for over 3 months from the initial fitting. Data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, independent sample t tests, continuity correction χ(2) tests, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 74.3 % (81/109) of the patients were successfully fitted with the ring pessary with support at the initial visit. Among those women with a successful initial fitting, the failure rate was less than 10 % (8/81) at 3 months. Furthermore, 82.7 % (67/81) of the patients were able to manage the pessary by themselves. Seven patients experienced vaginal erosion. There was no association of prolapse stage and the predominant prolapse compartment with pessary trial outcome. The average vaginal length of the patients with successful pessary use was 7.58 cm. CONCLUSIONS: The ring pessary with support was successfully fitted in patients with advanced POP with a high success rate and few complications. Older patients were more likely to prefer the ring pessary with support due to its convenient use.

Homoisoflavonoids from the fibrous roots of Polygonatum odoratum with glucose uptake-stimulatory activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The EtOAc-soluble fraction of a 90% MeOH extract of the fibrous roots of Polygonatum odoratum was found to potentiate insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Bioassay-guided fractionation yielded nine homoisoflavonoids (1-9), four of which were new (1-4), together with an isoflavone glycoside (10) and a flavanone glycoside (11). The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and the absolute configurations were deduced by CD spectra. All 11 compounds showed effects of sensitizing adipocytes for insulin in a cell-based glucose uptake assay using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results indicate that homoisoflavonoids may be potential insulin sensitizers.