Laparoscopic-assisted uterovaginal anastomosis for uterine cervix atresia with vaginal aplasia using a silicone stent lined with acellular porcine small intestinal submucosa graft inserted using a 16F Foley catheter.

Herein is reported a novel technique for cervical reconstruction of congenital cervicovaginal atresia. The patient was a 16-year-old girl with congenital atresia of the cervix and vagina, didelphic uterus, and right hematosalpinx. At laparoscopic-assisted creation of a neocervix, a silicone stent was inserted using a 16F Foley catheter and lined with an acellular porcine small intestinal submucosa graft under ultrasound guidance. At 3-month clinical follow-up after placement of the stent, the patient had regular menstrual flow. The neocervix was completely mucosalized on the inner surface at 4 months after surgery. There were no complications related to the silicone stent or the cervical stent. Cervical reconstruction using a vaginal mucosa-lined silicone stent is accessible and effective, and provides an alternative option to preserve reproductive potential in patients with cervicovaginal atresia.

The Reduction in Circulating Melatonin Level May Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Ovarian cancer is the third most common gynaecological malignancy. Changes in circadian rhythms such as bright light exposure may affect female reproductive physiology. Night shift work is associated with higher risks of developing gynaecological cancers. In addition, the season of birth is also suggested as an important environmental risk factor for developing gynaecological cancers. Melatonin may play an important role in this association as a marker of circadian rhythms. Serum from 96 women with ovarian cancer and 40 healthy women were collected and the level of melatonin was measured. In addition 277 women with ovarian cancer and 1076 controls were retrospectively collected for season of birth analysis over seven years. The serum levels of melatonin were significantly lower in women with ovarian cancer compared with healthy women (p<0.05). However there was no difference in melatonin levels in perimenopausal and postmenopausal patients. In addition, there is no statistically significant difference in seasonal distribution of birth between ovarian cancer patients and the control group. The melatonin levels in ovarian cancer patients and controls were not associated with the season of birth. Our results demonstrate the lower serum levels of melatonin in ovarian cancer patients which may contribute to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. The incidence of ovarian cancer was not associated with the season of birth. The serum levels of melatonin do not appear to be associated with season of birth in ovarian cancer patients.