Surgical and clinical safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to conventional laparoscopy and laparotomy for cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical safety and clinical effectiveness of RH versus LH and laparotomy for cervical cancer. METHODS: We searched Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, and the Cochrane library through May 2015, and checked references of relevant studies. We selected the comparative studies reported the surgical safety (overall; peri-operative; and post-operative complications; death within 30 days; and specific morbidities), and clinical effectiveness (survival; recurrence; length of stay [LOS]; estimated blood loss [EBL]; operative time [OT]) and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Fifteen studies comparing RH with OH and 11 comparing RH with LH were identified. No significant differences were found in survival outcomes. The LOS was shorter and transfusion rate was lower with RH compared to OH or LH. EBL was significantly reduced with RH compared to OH. Compared to OH, overall complications, urinary infection, wound infection, and fever were significantly less frequent with RH. The overall, peri-operative, and post-operative complications were similar in other comparisons. Several patient-reported outcomes were improved with RH, though each outcome was reported in only one study. CONCLUSIONS: RH appears to have a positive effect in reducing overall complications, individual adverse events including wound infection, fever, urinary tract infection, transfusion, LOS, EBL, and time to diet than OH for cervical cancer patients. Compared to LH, the current evidence is not enough to clearly determine its clinical safety and effectiveness. Further rigorous prospective studies with long-term follow-up that overcome the many limitations of the current evidence are needed.

The incidence and clinical characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis patients in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and clinical characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in SLE and RA patients in Korea where the prevalence rate of active pulmonary tuberculosis in a general population is relatively higher than in Western countries. PATIENTS: We reviewed the medical records of 283 SLE and 284 RA patients retrospectively and then assessed the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of active tuberculous infection. We then compared the results for the two different groups. RESULTS: Tuberculosis was documented in 15 SLE and 7 RA patients with an incidence rate of 7.9/1,000 patient-years and 2.3/1,000 patient-years, respectively (p = 0.003). SLE-associated tuberculosis cases included 3 of miliary tuberculosis, 7 of pulmonary tuberculosis (including 1 case of diffuse pulmonary involvement with meningitis) predominantly involving two or more lobes at the mid-/lower lungfield, and 5 extra-pulmonary forms (joint, bone, kidney, larynx, pleura). All of the RA-associated tuberculosis cases were pulmonary forms with the majority being localized to single lobe, and only one case had a past history of tuberculosis, whereas a past history of tuberculosis and a longer duration of the underlying disease were significantly correlated with the development of tuberculosis in the SLE patients. Major organ involvement, the mean daily dosage of prednisolone, and a history of over 30 mg of daily prednisolone were not related to the development of tuberculosis. However, when we took only those patients taking corticosteroid until the diagnosis of tuberculosis for analysis, SLE patients with tuberculosis showed a higher daily dosage of prednisolone than those without tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the characteristics of tuberculosis in SLE patients were: (1) a higher incidence rate, (2) more frequent extra-pulmonary involvement, (3) more extensive pulmonary involvement, and (4) a higher relapse rate than in rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, the contributory role of M. tuberculosis infection in the morbidity and mortality of patients with SLE must be emphasized, especially in areas in which this bacteria is endemic.

Polymorphism p53 codon-72 and invasive cervical cancer: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Although some studies have reported that the arginine isoform on codon 72 of p53 increases the susceptibility to invasive cervical cancer, such data remain controversial. The objective of this study was to quantitatively summarize the evidence for such a relationship. METHODS: Our data sources consisted of a MEDLINE search of the literature published before December 2002, bibliography review, and expert consultation. Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Information on sample size, study design, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and method of genotype determination was abstracted by two reviewers using a standardized protocol. The overall odds ratio (OR) of the p53 gene on invasive cervical cancer was estimated using the Mantel-Haenzel method. RESULTS: The overall OR (95% confidence interval) for cervical cancer among those with the homozygous mutant (Arg/Arg) was 1.2 (1.1-1.3, P=0.001) compared with those with the heterozygous mutant (Arg/Pro). By a cellular type of cervical cancer, the overall OR among those with Arg/Arg was statistically significant in adenocarcinomas (1.7, 1.1-2.6, P=0.024), but not in squamous cell carcinomas (1.1, 0.9-1.2, P=0.960), compared with Pro/Pro. Compared with Arg/Pro, the OR among those with Arg/Arg was statistically significant in HPV types 16 (1,5, 1.2-2.0, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the p53 gene was associated with increased risk for invasive cervical cancer. However, the risk varied by country, cellular, and HPV type.