Intravenous lipid emulsion for local anaesthetic systemic toxicity in pregnant women: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) is a rare but life-threatening complication that can occur after local anaesthetic administration. Various clinical guidelines recommend an intravenous lipid emulsion as a treatment for local anaesthetic-induced cardiac arrest. However, its therapeutic application in pregnant patients has not yet been established. This scoping review aims to systematically identify and map the evidence on the efficacy and safety of intravenous lipid emulsion for treating LAST during pregnancy. METHOD: We searched electronic databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register Controlled Trials) and a clinical registry (lipidrescue.org) from inception to Sep 30, 2022. No restriction was placed on the year of publication or the language. We included any study design containing primary data on obstetric patients with signs and symptoms of LAST. RESULTS: After eliminating duplicates, we screened 8,370 titles and abstracts, retrieving 41 full-text articles. We identified 22 women who developed LAST during pregnancy and childbirth, all presented as case reports or series. The most frequent causes of LAST were drug overdose and intravascular migration of the epidural catheter followed by wrong-route drug errors (i.e. intravenous anaesthetic administration). Of the 15 women who received lipid emulsions, all survived and none sustained lasting neurological or cardiovascular damage related to LAST. No adverse events or side effects following intravenous lipid emulsion administration were reported in mothers or neonates. Five of the seven women who did not receive lipid emulsions survived; however, the other two died. CONCLUSION: Studies on the efficacy and safety of lipids in pregnancy are scarce. Further studies with appropriate comparison groups are needed to provide more robust evidence. It will also be necessary to accumulate data-including adverse events-to enable clinicians to conduct risk-benefit analyses of lipids and to facilitate evidence-based decision-making for clinical practice.

Visceral Adipose Tissue Percentage Compared to Body Mass Index as Better Indicator of Surgical Outcomes in Women With Obesity and Endometrial Cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact visceral adipose tissue percentage (VAT%) on surgical outcomes during minimally invasive surgery in obese women with endometrial cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Mie University Hospital, Japan. PATIENTS: Of the 73 women (body mass index [BMI] >30 kg/m2) with obesity and primary endometrial cancer, 52 underwent robotic surgery, while 21 underwent laparoscopic surgery between April 2014 and December 2022. INTERVENTIONS: We investigated the correlation between surgical outcomes (operative time and blood loss) and obesity (BMI and visceral adipose tissue percentage [VAT%]). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Abdominal fat-related parameters were measured at the level of the umbilicus using preoperative computed tomography. A weak negative correlation was found between BMI and VAT% (CC = -0.313, p = .001). Multivariate analysis showed that VAT% had a stronger correlation to total and practical operative time than BMI (ß = 0.338 vs 0.267, ß = 0.311 vs 0.209, respectively) and was an independent predictor of blood loss. VAT% was an independent predictive marker prolonged for operative time and increased blood loss during lymphadenectomy. CONCLUSION: VAT% could be an indicator of surgical outcomes for patients with obesity and endometrial cancer.

Modes of delivery and indications in women with COVID-19: a regional observational study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caesarean section (CS) has been the preferred deliver method for pregnant women with COVID-19 in order to limit the use of hospital beds and prevent morbidity among healthcare workers. METHODS: To evaluate delivery methods used during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the rates of adverse events and healthcare worker morbidity associated with caesarean deliveries. METHODS: We investigated maternal and neonatal backgrounds, delivery methods, indications and complication rates among pregnant women with COVID-19 from December 2020 to August 2022 in Mie Prefecture, Japan. The predominant mutation period was classified as the pre-Delta, Delta and Omicron epoch. RESULTS: Of the 1291 pregnant women with COVID-19, 59 delivered; 23 had a vaginal delivery and 36 underwent CS. Thirteen underwent CS with no medical indications other than mild COVID-19, all during the Omicron epoch. Neonatal complications occurred significantly more often in CS than in vaginal delivery. COVID-19 in healthcare workers was not attributable to the delivery process. CONCLUSION: The number of CS with no medical indications and neonatal complications related to CS increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this study included centres that performed vaginal deliveries during COVID-19, there were no cases of COVID-19 in healthcare workers. It is possible that the number of CS and neonatal complications could have been reduced by establishing a system for vaginal delivery in pregnant women with recent-onset COVID-19, given that there were no cases of COVID-19 among the healthcare workers included in the study.

We evaluated the incidence of adverse events associated with caesarean section (CS) deliveries and the morbidity of health care workers, which increased during the coronavirus infection pandemic. Maternal and neonatal background, delivery methods, indications and complication rates of pregnant women with COVID-19 from December 2020 to August 2022 in Mie Prefecture were investigated by time of onset. Of the 1291 pregnant women with COVID-19, 59 delivered while affected; 23 underwent vaginal delivery and 36 CS. Of these, 13 who underwent CS in the omicron epoch had no medical indication other than mild COVID-19. Neonatal complications were significantly more common with CS than with vaginal delivery, and there was no occurrence of COVID-19 in healthcare workers. In this study, there were no cases of COVID-19 among health care workers; establishing a system to perform vaginal delivery for pregnant women with COVID-19 could have reduced the number of CS and neonatal complications.

Balloon Trocar Is a Suitable Instrument for Retroperitoneal Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy in Gynecologic Malignant Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the surgical technique of retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy to prevent peritoneal rupture in gynecologic malignant disease. In this video, the authors describe how to use a balloon trocar to create a safe and efficient working space without peritoneal rupture. DESIGN: A step-by-step video demonstration of a surgical technique. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mie University, Tsu, Japan. INTERVENTIONS: Para-aortic lymphadenectomy is a part of most gynecologic oncology procedures for primary and recurrent gynecologic malignancies. There are 2 approaches to para-aortic lymphadenectomy: transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Although there are no significant differences between these approaches (such as in terms of the number of isolated lymph nodes or related complications), they are performed based on the operator's preference. The retroperitoneal approach is an unfamiliar surgical technique compared with usual laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery, and its disadvantages include a steeper learning curve for attaining proficiency. It is also difficult to develop the retroperitoneal space without a peritoneal rupture. In this video, we demonstrate the use of balloon trocars to create a retroperitoneal compartment. The patient was placed in the lithotomy position with the pelvis elevated at 5° to 10°. The left internal iliac approach, which is considered the standard approach, was used in this case (Fig 1). After identifying the left psoas muscles and the ureter crossing the common iliac artery, dissection of the left para-aortic lymph node was initiated (Supplemental Video 1, 2). CONCLUSION: Herein, we demonstrated a successful surgical technique for retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy to prevent peritoneal ruptures.

Surgical technique for fertility preservation for placenta accreta spectrum without previa: Tourniquet, uterus inversion and placental dissection procedure.

The placenta accreta spectrum without previa is difficult to diagnose before delivery and sometimes requires hysterectomy. A fertility preservation procedure is useful when placenta accreta spectrum is unexpectedly encountered. A 38-year-old woman, conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF), was not diagnosed of placenta accreta spectrum until delivery. A cesarean section was performed for fetal breech presentation. The placenta could not be detached from the uterine fundus and marked bleeding started. We conducted the "TURIP" procedure: ensured hemostasis with tourniquet of uterine isthmus, uterus inversion to expose the adhesion site with intra-venous nitroglycerin administration, placental detachment by sharp dissection under direct visualization. The detached areas were sutured for hemostasis. The patient recovered uneventfully and achieved the second pregnancy by IVF 1 year later. The TURIP procedure is useful to preserve fertility in unpredicted placenta accreta spectrum without previa, even in undiagnosed cases before delivery.

Maternal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The perinatal resuscitation history in Japan is short, with the earliest efforts in the field of neonatology. In contrast, the standardization and dissemination of maternal resuscitation is lagging. With the establishment of the Maternal Death Reporting Project and the Maternal Death Case Review and Evaluation Committee in 2010, with the aim of reducing maternal deaths, the true situation of maternal deaths came to light. Subsequently, in 2015, the Japan Council for the Dissemination of Maternal Emergency Life Support Systems (J-CIMELS) was established to educate and disseminate simulations in maternal emergency care; training sessions on maternal resuscitation are now conducted in all prefectures. Since the launch of the project and council, the maternal mortality rate in Japan (especially due to obstetric critical hemorrhage) has gradually decreased. This has been probably achieved due to the tireless efforts of medical personnel involved in perinatal care, as well as the various activities conducted so far. However, there are no standardized guidelines for maternal resuscitation yet. Therefore, a committee was set up within the Japan Resuscitation Council to develop a maternal resuscitation protocol, and the Guidelines for Maternal Resuscitation 2020 was created in 2021. These guidelines are expected to make the use of high-quality resuscitation methods more widespread than ever before. This presentation will provide an overview of the Guidelines for Maternal Resuscitation 2020.

Fetal Biometric Assessment and Infant Developmental Prognosis of the Tadalafil Treatment for Fetal Growth Restriction.

Background and Objectives: Tadalafil is expected to treat fetal growth restriction (FGR), a risk factor for stillbirth and neonatal morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the fetal biometric growth pattern of fetuses with FGR treated with tadalafil by ultrasonographic assessment. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study. Fifty fetuses diagnosed with FGR and treated by maternal administration of tadalafil and ten controls who received conventional treatment at Mie University Hospital from 2015 to 2019 were assessed. Fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) at the start of treatment and at two weeks and four weeks of treatment were mainly assessed by ultrasound examination. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess the measures. The Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development (KSPD) was used to assess the developmental prognosis on tadalafil-treated children at 1.5 years of corrected age (CA) and 3 years old. Results: The median gestational age at the start of treatment was 30 and 31 weeks in the tadalafil and control groups, respectively, and the median gestational age at delivery was 37 weeks in both groups. The Z-score of HC was significantly increased at 4 weeks of treatment (p = 0.005), and the umbilical artery resistance index was significantly decreased (p = 0.049), while no significant difference was observed in the control group. The number of cases with an abnormal score of less than 70 on the KSPD test was 19% for P-M, 8% for C-A, 19% for L-S, and 11% for total area at 1.5 years CA. At 3 years old, the respective scores were 16%, 21%, 16%, and 16%. Conclusions: Tadalafil treatment for FGR may maintain fetal HC growth and infants' neuro-developmental prognosis.

Differences in the prevention and incidence of maternal venous thromboembolism according to the type of institution in Japan in 2018: A sub-analysis of national questionnaire surveillance.

AIM: To clarify the relation between institutions capacity to manage venous thromboembolism (VTE) and its incidence in pregnant women throughout Japan. METHODS: Among the 2299 institutions that received the surveillance questionnaire, 666 (29.0%) responded, after which data from 295 961 women who gave birth at those institutions in 2018 were analyzed. Incidences and characteristics of antepartum and postpartum VTE in perinatal medical centers (PMCs), general hospital with obstetric facilities (GHs), and maternal clinic with beds (MCs) were then determined. RESULTS: The frequencies at which routine antepartum and postpartum thromboprophylaxis for high-risk women and routine transport to the more advanced medical institutions upon antepartum and postpartum pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) onset were performed differed significantly according to types of institution (PMCs: 92.4%, 96.2%, 23.8%, and 21.2%; GHs: 76.5%, 80.6%, 58.8%, and 54.1%; MCs: 29.2%, 41.7%, 96.5%, and 96.2%, respectively). Among the 295 961 women analyzed, 243 (0.082%) developed VTE. Incidences of antepartum VTE differed significantly according to institution types (PMCs: 106.4, GHs: 51.6, and MCs: 11.6 per 100 000 women). PMCs and GHs had significantly higher incidences of postpartum VTE compared to MCs (43.3 and 26.6 vs. 10.7 per 100 000 women, respectively), although PMCs and GHs had similar incidences. Among the four women (1.4%) who died due to VTE, three and one developed a PE in a PMC and MC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PMCs had higher incidences of VTE despite their more frequent performance of thromboprophylaxis. Several pregnant women with higher risk of VTE transported to PMCs.

Evaluation of the tolerability of monoclonal antibody therapy for pregnant patients with COVID-19.

AIM: To evaluate the tolerability of casirivimab and imdevimab (CAS/IMB) therapy in pregnant women with COVID-19 in Japan and its impact on the neonate and process of delivery. METHODS: Eight cases of pregnancy complicated by COVID-19 and requiring hospitalization during the delta variant epidemic were included. Gestational age, initial symptoms, pregnancy complications and outcome, severity of illness, blood test findings at the time of treatment initiation and on days 3-5 after administration, body temperature at administration, and 8, 24, and 48 h post-administration, delivery outcome, and neonatal findings were recorded. Ten pregnant women who required hospitalization at the same time and did not receive CAS/IMB were used as controls. RESULTS: Of the eight cases, seven were mild, and one case was of moderate severity. Body temperature in the CAS/IMB group was significantly higher at 8 h post-administration than that at the time of administration. However, body temperature significantly reduced at 24 and 48 h post-administration in the CAS/IMB group compared with that in the control group. There were no apparent adverse events after CAS/IMB administration. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal administration of CAS/IMB was safe. Although it was difficult to evaluate the improvement in disease by blood test findings, the fever improved within 24 h, which suggests rapid improvement in patient condition.

Comparative study of the usefulness of risk score assessment in the early stages of COVID-19 affected pregnancies: Omicron variant versus previous variants.

AIM: To evaluate the utility of the risk score in assessing the current status and prognosis of COVID-19 in pregnancy. METHODS: Seventy-seven cases affected before the Omicron variant epidemic and 50 pregnant cases affected by the Omicron variant were included. The risk score consists of maternal background, current condition, and examination findings. We determined the risk score in the early stages of disease onset. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the maternal or gestational ages between the groups. The risk score was significantly lower in the After-Group patients (those affected during the Omicron epoch), while 14.3% of the Before-Group patients (those affected during the pre-Delta and Delta epochs), experienced a worsening of disease after the visit to the center, whereas none of the After-Group patients did. The Before Group's frequency of risk score items was higher among the two groups for "fever for ≥48 h," "mild pneumonia image," and "blood tests," whereas "disease onset 14 days after the second vaccination" was increased in After Group. The blood test parameters for platelet count, C-reactive protein, and D-dimer levels were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The risk score system appeared superior in detecting deteriorating cases. There were no cases of post-illness deterioration in the After-Group, suggesting that cases of the Omicron variant in pregnancy may have had a less severe course compared to that of previous variants. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of a specific blood test evaluation, suggesting the need for a combined evaluation of cases affected during pregnancy.

Safety and efficacy of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device in the treatment of atypical endometrial hyperplasia and early endometrial cancer.

AIM: To investigate the recurrence rate, live-birth rate, and treatment outcomes of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) for the management of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) or Grade-1 endometrial cancer (EC) in patients who desire fertility-sparing treatment and those seeking conservative treatment without fertility preservation. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled nine patients from a single institution between April 2009 and September 2013 who were followed up for 60 months after LNG-IUD insertion. RESULTS: The median patient age was 35 (range: 29-39) years. The overall recurrence rate was 56% (5/9). The median interval between removal of the LNG-IUD and recurrence was 20.5 (range: 2-30) months. Three of the nine patients had Grade-1 EC, and six had AEH. The response rates to the LNG-IUD in patients with Grade-1 EC and AEH were 66% and 100%, respectively. Four patients (three with AEH, one with Grade-1 EC) experienced recurrence 6 months after MPA treatment and all 4 (100%) had complete response. Eight patients desired fertility preservation, of which 37% (3/8) conceived after receiving fertility treatment and 25% (2/8) had a live birth; the remaining three had previously received MPA for 6 months and had a recurrence; of these, 1 had a live birth. CONCLUSION: LNG-IUD is effective for the management of AEH and EC in young patients who desire fertility-sparing treatment, including those ineligible for MPA owing to the presence of comorbidities and those with recurrence after MPA treatment (6-month treatment), and patients seeking conservative treatment without fertility preservation.

Peripartum Mid-Ventricular-Type Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy After Cesarean Delivery.

There are several causes of heart failure during pregnancy and the peripartum period, which include peripartum cardiomyopathy, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, exacerbation of a preexisting cardiomyopathy, and acute myocarditis. It is important to determine the cause of the heart failure as the medical treatment may be different based on the diagnosis. However, it has been sometimes challenging to diagnose the cause because of the limited diagnostic tools, especially in pregnant women. Cardiac MRI can characterize myocardial injury and can be used to track the changes in myocardial tissue. We herein report a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with peripartum mid-ventricular-type Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, who was referred to our hospital due to worsening dyspnea the day after cesarean delivery. On admission, electrocardiography showed sinus tachycardia and poor progression of R waves in the precordial leads. Bedside echocardiography revealed severe hypokinesis in the mid- and apical left ventricle (LV) with a LV ejection fraction of 20%. Cardiac catheterization showed normal coronary arteries, and myocardial biopsy revealed contraction band necrosis. On acute phase (Day 4), cardiac MRI showed prolonged native T1 and T2, and severe hypokinesis and decreased regional longitudinal peak strain in the mid-anterior LV wall. During the 1st week, precordial ST fluctuation was observed, and LV wall motion had gradually recovered. Repeat cardiac MRI revealed normalized LV wall motion and shortened values for global native T1 and T2. Thus, she was diagnosed with peripartum Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Serial cardiac MRI may be able to differentiate Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during pregnancy and the peripartum period from other preexisting cardiomyopathies.

Appropriate Method of Administering Vasopressors for Maternal Hypotension Associated with Combined Spinal Epidural Anesthesia in Elective Cesarean Section: Impact on Postnatal Respiratory Support for Newborns.

Background and Objectives: Vasopressors are used for treating maternal hypotension. However, the appropriate administration method and effects on newborns have not been reported. We evaluated maternal blood pressure fluctuation and neonatal findings in patients who received continuous vasopressor administration during elective cesarean sections and those who received bolus vasopressor administration upon onset of hypotension. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 220 patients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at Mie University Hospital between April 2017 and March 2021. The patients were classified according to the method of vasopressor administration. Maternal information, intraoperative maternal blood pressure fluctuation, and neonatal findings were examined. A multiple regression analysis was performed for the administration of postpartum neonatal respiratory support using maternal background information and other variables related to blood pressure changes as independent variables. Results: The Continuous group and the Bolus group were composed of 98 and 122 patients, respectively. No difference was observed in maternal background information between the groups. Significant changes were noted in several blood pressure parameters between both groups. As for neonatal parameters, newborns of Bolus group patients had lower pO2, 1 min and 5 min Apgar scores, and required more respiratory support than those of Continuous group patients. In the multiple regression analysis, the groups and maternal post-anesthesia diastolic blood pressure variability were considered explanatory variables. Conclusions: Maternal hypotension and the need for neonatal respiratory support associated with anesthesia administration in elective cesarean section may be improved by continuous vasopressor administration upon induction of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

A retrospective cohort study using a national surveillance questionnaire to investigate the characteristics of maternal venous thromboembolism in Japan in 2018.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, the numbers of deliveries by women of older maternal age and women with overweight or obesity have recently increased. Since 2008, the guidelines and practices to prevent the maternal venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been recommended antepartum and postpartum thromboprophylaxis for each risk level of VTE. This study aimed to clarify the incidence and characteristics (type of VTE and thromboprophylaxis) of VTE in pregnant women in Japan to reduce the rate of mortality from VTE METHODS: Of 2299 institutions sent the surveillance questionnaire, 666 (29.0%) responded, and data from 295,961 women who gave birth in those institutions in 2018 were analyzed. We calculated the incidence and characteristics of VTE before and after the deliveries. RESULTS: At the responding institutions, 243 women (0.082%) had VTE in 2018. In 2018, deep vein thrombosis was significantly more common (0.0053%) than pulmonary thromboembolism (0.0019%; p < 0.0001). The incidence of antepartum VTE (0.0055%) was significantly higher than that of postpartum VTE (0.0026%; p < 0.0001). The incidence of VTE after cesarean Sect. (0.0074%) was significantly higher than that after vaginal delivery (0.0012%; p < 0.0001). Of the women with VTE, 4 (1.6%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Among the women thought to have a low risk of VTE during the antepartum period, and especially women who had a vaginal delivery, the actual incidence of VTE might have increased in Japan.

Reference range for C1-esterase inhibitor (C1 INH) in the third trimester of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to (i) establish the reference range and mean value for normal levels of C1-esterase inhibitor (C1 INH) during pregnancy, and (ii) investigate the association between C1 INH and uterine atony, as measured by blood loss at delivery. METHODS: We prospectively studied 200 healthy pregnant women who were registered. We studied C1 INH levels in 188 women at 34 and 35 gestational weeks of pregnancy. The reference range for C1 INH during the third trimester of pregnancy was calculated using the value of C1 INH that was determined at registration. RESULTS: The mean value of C1 INH was determined to be 70.3% (95% confidence interval, 68.7-71.9). While the C1 INH levels in four women were determined to be 40% lower than the calculated mean value, amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) did not occur in any of the women studied. CONCLUSIONS: This study successfully demonstrated that a reference value for C1 INH activity can be established using the methods described herein. Further research is needed to determine whether C1 INH is involved in obstetric coagulopathy syndrome such as amniotic fluid embolism.

Capacity of Japanese institutions to manage obstetrical disseminated intravascular coagulation in 2018: A national surveillance questionnaire and retrospective cohort study.

AIM: To investigate the management of obstetrical disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in Japan. METHODS: We sent a surveillance questionnaire to 2299 institutions to collect details about the deliveries they performed in 2018. We investigated differences in the management of obstetrical DIC among three types of institutions: perinatal medical centers (PMCs), general hospitals with obstetrical facilities (GHs), and maternal clinics with beds (MCs). RESULTS: We received responses from 703 institutions (30.6% of the total mailed) with results of 306 799 women who gave birth in 2018. In Japan, the potential to treat postpartum hemorrhage and obstetrical DIC was high in the PMC group, moderate in the GH group, and low in the MC group. The incidence of obstetrical DIC in the PMC group (0.44%) was significantly higher than that in the GH (0.21%) and MC (0.06%) groups. The mortality of women with obstetrical DIC in PMCs (1.3%) was similar to that in GHs (0.6%) and MCs (0.0%). The percentages of PMCs that always or sometimes transfused fresh frozen plasma or fibrinogen concentrates (100% and 42.2%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the GH (88.2% and 29.5%, respectively) and MC groups (29.4% and 5.3%, respectively). Furthermore, institutions whose internal protocols mandated that replacement therapy be always administered in women with obstetrical DIC scores of ≥8 had similar protocols to those for women with fibrinogen levels of ≤1.5 g/L. CONCLUSIONS: The capacity to provide therapy for postpartum hemorrhage and obstetrical DIC varied widely among the three groups of institutions.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal para-aortic lymph node biopsy in advanced cervical cancer with pelvic lymph node metastases: A single-center prospective study.

AIM: Extended-field concurrent chemoradiation therapy (Ex-CCRT) has been widely used for para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastases confirmed by radiographic assessment without surgical exploration. The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical value of laparoscopic retroperitoneal PAN biopsy in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) with pelvic lymph node (PLN) metastases. METHODS: From May 2017 to March 2020, stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer patients who were diagnosed with PLN metastasis using positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) ≥2.0 underwent laparoscopic retroperitoneal PAN biopsy. The radiation fields were extended to PAN areas with pathological metastases. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were diagnosed with cervical squamous cell carcinoma of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIB (n = 7) and IIIB (n = 7). The median operating time was 138 min (range, 104-184 min). The median number of harvested PANs was 19 (range, 6-36). Three patients were positive for PAN metastasis on histological analysis. In this study, the sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT were 66.7% and 90.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study is characterized by the use of more appropriate eligibility criteria for LACC with PLN metastases. Our results revealed that laparoscopic retroperitoneal PAN biopsy may be a useful approach to determine the radiation field for PANs during standard radiotherapy planning.

Tadalafil Treatment Ameliorates Hypoxia and Alters Placental Expression of Proteins Downstream of mTOR Signaling in Fetal Growth Restriction.

Background and Objectives: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with fetal mortality and is a risk factor for cerebral palsy and future lifestyle-related diseases. Despite extensive research, no effective treatment strategy is available for FGR. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is important for the growth of fetal organs and its dysregulation is associated with miscarriage. Here, we focused on mTOR signaling and investigated how the activities of phospho-ribosomal protein S6 (rps6) and phospho-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E), which act downstream of mTOR signaling in the human placenta, change following treatment of FGR with tadalafil and aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. Placental hypoxia was investigated by immunostaining for hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α. Materials and Methods: Phosphor-rps6 and phosphor-eIF4E expression were examined by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: HIF-2α expression significantly increased in FGR placenta compared with that in the control placenta but decreased to control levels after tadalafil treatment. Levels of phospho-rps6 and phospho-eIF-4E were significantly higher in FGR placenta than in control placenta but decreased to control levels after tadalafil treatment. Conclusions: Tadalafil restored the levels of HIF-2α, phospho-rps6, and eIF-4E in FGR placenta to those observed in control placenta, suggesting that it could be a promising treatment strategy for FGR.

Maternal Blood Concentration of Tadalafil and Uterine Blood Flow in Pregnancy.

: Background and Objectives: Tadalafil for treatment of fetal growth restriction (FGR) or preeclampsia is given once a day orally. The drug kinetics of tadalafil were investigated to determine the ideal dosage to promote uterine blood flow. Materials and Methods: We recruited five pregnant women with FGR or preeclampsia before administration of tadalafil, all of which were administered tadalafil (20 mg/day, once-daily dosing). The blood concentration of tadalafil was measured 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 h after administration, and uterine blood flow was measured before tadalafil administration and 2-4 and 20-24 h after. We then analyzed the correlation between tadalafil blood concentration and uterine artery blood flow. Results: The blood concentration of tadalafil correlated with uterine artery blood flow in pregnant women. The blood concentration of tadalafil and uterine artery blood flow decreased 5 h after administration of tadalafil. Conclusions: The blood concentration of tadalafil and uterine artery blood flow fluctuate in parallel, the latter was decreased by reduced blood concentration. Thus, a study of tadalafil administered twice a day in pregnant women will be needed to stabilize uterine artery blood flow.

Myocardial tissue characterization and strain analysis in healthy pregnant women using cardiovascular magnetic resonance native T1 mapping and feature tracking technique.

BACKGROUND: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a life-threatening condition that occurs during the peripartum period in previously healthy women. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping permits sensitive detection of tissue edema and fibrosis, and it may be useful in identifying altered myocardial tissue characteristics in peripartum cardiomyopathy. However, left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass increase considerably even in normal pregnancy, and it is not known whether altered tissue characteristics can be found in normal pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the LV remodeling observed in normal pregnancy is associated with altered tissue characteristics determined by CMR. METHODS: Twelve normal pregnant women and 15 non pregnant women underwent cine CMR and myocardial T1 measurement at 1.5 T. Pregnant women were scanned three times, in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and at 1 month postpartum. LV volumes, LV mass (LVM), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were analyzed by cine CMR. Native myocardial T1 was determined using modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) images. RESULTS: LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) was significantly greater in the 3rd trimester (126 ± 22 mL) than in non-pregnant women (108 ± 14 mL, p < 0.05). LVM was significantly greater in the 3rd trimester (88.7 ± 11.8 g) than at 1 month postpartum (70.0 ± 9.8 g, p < 0.05) and in non-pregnant women (66.3 ± 13.9 g, p < 0.05). Myocardial native T1 among the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, 1 month postpartum, and non-pregnant women were similar (1133 ± 55 ms, 1138 ± 86 ms, 1105 ± 45 ms, and 1129 ± 52 ms, respectively, p = 0.59) as were GLS (- 19.5 ± 1.8, - 19.7% ± 2.2, - 19.0% ± 2.0%, and - 19.3% ± 1.9%, respectively, p = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: LV remodeling during normal pregnancy is associated with myocardial hypertrophy, but not with edema or diffuse fibrosis of the myocardium or LV contractile dysfunction. These results observed in normal pregnancy will serve as an important basis for identifying myocardial abnormalities in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy and other pregnancy-related myocardial diseases.