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Objective: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in high-income countries. In Taiwan, the incidence of EC increased from 1.69 in 1980 to 11.36 per 100,000 women/year in 2010. Therefore, we aimed to study the prognostic factors and survival of patients with EC in southern Taiwan. Materials and methods: This study included patients with EC who underwent hysterectomy-based surgery at our hospital between 2010 and 2020. The primary outcome was 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with EC. The secondary outcome was the prognostic factors associated with 5-year PFS and OS in patients with EC. We used the chi-square test to assess categorical variables and the independent t-test to assess continuous variables. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate survival outcomes. Cox regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with PFS and OS. Results: A total of 133 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was 56.5 ± 10.71 years. The mean body mass index was 26.4 ± 5.21 kg/m2. The 5-year PFS and OS were 90.3% and 94.53%, respectively. In terms of PFS, endometrioid histology was linked to more favorable outcomes (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.001–0.59), while lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) was associated with adverse results (HR = 9.11, 95% CI: 1.07–77.44). Initial analyses revealed no significant correlations between OS and various factors, including age, BMI, parity, DM, hypertension, age at last birth, and tumor grade. However, univariate analysis found grade 3 tumor differentiation, LVSI, and lymph node invasion associated with poorer OS. Laparoscopy was associated with better OS. Nevertheless, subsequent multivariate analysis did not reveal any factor significantly associated with OS. Most patients with EC (76.69%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. Conclusion: In conclusion, endometrioid histology was linked to more favorable PFS, while LVSI was related to adverse PFS. Our study did not identify any factors associated with OS. Two-thirds of the patients underwent minimally invasive surgery.

Background: Preserving the integrity of the endometrial cavity is crucial, particularly for preserving fertility during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). This study aimed to compare the uterine breaching rate and clinical outcomes of LM performed with and without a uterine manipulator. Methods: Data from women who underwent LM at our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcomes included endometrial cavity breaching rate, conversion rate, abdominal port count, operative time, hospitalization duration, and blood loss. The secondary outcomes included adverse events such as postoperative anemia and emphysema. Results: We analyzed the data from 50 participants, comparing those with (n=30) and without (n=20) manipulators. No significant differences were observed in age, body mass index, surgical time, hospitalization, blood loss, or hemoglobin drop. However, the incidence of endometrial cavity breach was higher in the manipulator group (p=0.007). The manipulator group required fewer abdominal ports (p

Summary: Postoperative adhesions show a higher occurrence in females aged 16–60, especially after pelvic surgeries. This study explores the role of ovulation in adhesion formation in mice. Ovarian surgery in mice with normal- or super-ovulation led to pronounced adhesions, whereas ovulation-defective Pgr-KO mice showed minimal adhesions. Specifically, exposure to ovulatory follicular fluid (FF) markedly increased the adhesion. The hazardous exposure time window was one day before to 2.5 days after the surgery. Mechanistically, early FF exposure triggered adhesions via the blood coagulation cascade, while later exposure relied on the HGF/cMET signaling pathway. Prophylactic administration of a thrombin inhibitor pre-operatively or a cMET inhibitor postoperatively effectively mitigated FF-induced adhesions, while COX inhibitor treatment exhibited no discernible effect. These findings underscore ovulation as a pivotal factor in the development of pelvic wound adhesions and advocate for targeted preventive strategies such as c-MET inhibition, scheduling surgeries outside the ovulatory period, or employing oral contraceptive measures.

Objective: To present a rare case of xanthogranulomatous inflammation (XI) mimicking a uterine sarcoma and invading the ureter and colon. Case report: A 66-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain. Pelvic examination showed tenderness over the lower abdominal region without cervical discharge. Per-rectal examination showed a hard tumor on the posterior uterine wall, while ultrasonography showed a tumor-like mass extending from the posterior uterine wall to the rectum. Magnetic resonance imaging showed signs of endometrial cancer invading the rectum. However, the tumor markers carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, CA199, and carcinoembryonic antigen were in the normal range. Cystoscopy, panendoscopy, and colonoscopy showed no significant findings. On performing exploratory laparotomy, we observed pus and severe adhesion on the posterior uterine wall and rectum. Hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, colectomy, and partial left ureter resection were performed. The final pathology showed XI. The pus culture revealed Klebsiella pneumonia and PCR revealed nocardiosis. The patient received 2 weeks of antibiotic treatment and was discharged thereafter. Conclusion: XI in elderly women is rare, and hence, differential diagnoses should be carefully considered.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the efficacy of abdominal compression and pulmonary recruitment maneuver (CPRM) after transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) to alleviate post-laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP). Materials and methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary referral medical center, women who underwent vNOTES between January 2018 and May 2019 were classified into control group and CPRM group with CO2 force expelled. Data on the demographic characteristics, indications for surgery, and surgical history were collected. Postoperative pain was assessed 24 and 48 h postoperatively using the visual analog scale (VAS, 0–10). Chest radiography was used to determine the residual air volume 24 h after surgery. Results: Of 10 patients, 6 and 4 underwent vNOTES adnexal surgeries and vNOTES hysterectomy, respectively. The median volumes of residual pneumoperitoneum were 9.02 mL and 28.11 mL in the CPRM and control groups, respectively (p = 0.001). The intensity of PLSP in the CPRM and control groups were 0 ± 0 vs. 3.4 ± 3.4 and 0.4 ± 0.8 vs. 2.2 ± 2.2 24 and 48 h after surgery, respectively (p = 0.005 for 24 h and p = 0.04 for 48 h). Conclusion: CPRM might facilitate decrease in residual gas volume and PLSP after vNOTES. CPRM might be considered using in vNOTES to decrease PLSP.

Objective: To present a case of vulvar myoma and the factors differentiating this tumor from Bartholin's cyst. Case report: A 50-year-old woman presented with a nodule over the left labia majora. Pelvic examination showed swelling and redness of the left labia majora. A 2-cm nodule with firm consistency was found near the vaginal opening. There was no inguinal lymphadenopathy. Bartholin's cyst was suggested, and oral cephalexin was prescribed for 1 week, but no improvement was seen. Therefore, she underwent excision of the nodule. Pathology revealed it to be a benign vulvar myoma. The patient recovered well, and no recurrence was noted after 2 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Vulvar myoma is rare. Sexual history, nodule consistency, and imaging are helpful, but the final diagnosis of vulvar myoma is usually made following surgical excision and histopathological analysis.

Objective: We present a rare case of well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) found incidentally in a 59-year-old woman with endometrial cancer. Case report: A 59-year-old nulliparous obese woman with a past history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus presented with postmenopausal bleeding for 11 months. Two months prior to this admission, an episode of massive vaginal bleeding lasting for a day was noticed by the patient. Hysteroscopy was performed after her visit to our outpatient department. Papillary tumors with active bleeding were found in the uterine cavity. Endometrial biopsy showed adenocarcinoma, endometrioid type characterized by papillary architecture lined by columnar cells with mild nuclear pleomorphism. The patient proceeded to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which demonstrated a 6.4 × 5.5 × 4.9 cm intrauterine mass. Her tumor marker levels were elevated (CA 125 87.8 IU/ml, CA19-9160.54 IU/ml). The patient then underwent a staging surgery and final pathology revealed stage IA endometrial cancer. During surgery, multiple nodules were found in the peritoneum, initially considered as tumor metastasis and eventually proved to be WDPM. Conclusion: In conclusion, the simultaneous occurrence of WDPM with endometrial cancer is a rare entity. Although no standardized treatment has been established, WDPMs have a relatively favorable prognosis compared to malignant mesotheliomas.

Objective: The aim of the study was to propose a method using saline lubrication and two glass slides to reduce the proportion of inadequate Pap smears. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study of patients at a medical center in eastern Taiwan that performs 5000–6000 Pap smears annually. The extracted data only detailed the number and percentage of inadequate Pap smears. We applied two modifications to the conventional Pap smear technique. The first modification was lubricating the speculum with normal saline instead of jelly. The second modification was performing the smear on two glass slides instead of just one. We used the modified technique beginning in January 2017. Therefore, we collected data from 2016 (before the modified technique was employed) and 2018 (after the modified technique was employed). The categorical data are presented as numbers (percentages). The differences in the number and percentage of inadequate smears resulting from both techniques were assessed using the Chi-square test. Results: During 2016 and 2018, 28 and 2 women received inadequate Pap smears among the total of 594 and 613 women who received Pap smears, respectively. The proportion of inadequate Pap smears was 4.71% and 0.33% in 2016 and 2018, respectively (P

Background: The fallopian tube fimbria is regarded as the main tissue of origin and incessant ovulation as the main risk factor of ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Previously, we discovered the tumorigenesis activity of human ovulatory follicular fluid (FF) upon injection to the mammary fat pad of Trp53-null mice. We also found a mutagenesis activity of FF-ROS and a apoptosis-rescuing activity of Hb from retrograde menstruation. However, neither of them can explain the tumorigenesis activities of FF. Methods: From two cohorts of ovulatory FF retrieved from IVF patients, the main growth factor responsible for the transformation of human fimbrial epithelial cells was identified. Mechanism of activation, ways of signal transduction of the growth factor, as well as the cellular and genetic phenotypes of the malignant transformation was characterized. Findings: In this study, we showed that insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-axis proteins, including IGFBP-bound IGF2 as well as the IGFBP-lytic enzyme PAPP-A, are abundantly present in FF. Upon engaging with glycosaminoglycans on the membrane of fimbrial epithelial cells, PAPP-A cleaves IGFBPs and releases IGF2 to bind with IGF-1R. Through the IGF-1R/AKT/mTOR and IGF-1R/AKT/NANOG pathways, FF-IGF leads to stemness and survival, and in the case of TP53/Rb or TP53/CCNE1 loss, to clonal expansion and malignant transformation of fimbrial epithelial cells. By depleting each IGF axis component from FF, we proved that IGF2, IGFBP2/6, and PAPP-A are all essential and confer the majority of the transformation and regeneration activities. Interpretation: This study revealed that the FF–IGF axis functions to regenerate tissue damage after ovulation and promote the transformation of fimbrial epithelial cells that have been initiated by p53- and Rb-pathway disruptions. Fund: The study was supported by grants of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 106-2314-B-303-001-MY2; MOST 105-2314-B-303-017-MY2; MOST 107-2314-B-303-013-MY3), and Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taiwan (TCMMP104-04-01). Keywords: Ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma, Follicular fluid, Fallopian tube fimbriae, IGF axis, Stemness

Objective: We describe the first case of a rare undifferentiated uterine sarcoma exhibiting both neuroectodermal differentiation and osteoclast-like giant cells, and elaborate its morphology. Case report: A 54-year-old woman presented with suprapubic pain, frequent urination, and perimenopausal abnormal vaginal bleeding. Computed tomography revealed a large heterogeneous uterine mass and multiple lung nodules. She received a staging surgery. The tumor pathology examination revealed an undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS) with neuroectodermal differentiation and osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs). The patient was managed with palliative hospice care; however, she died within 1.5 months of diagnosis. Conclusion: UUSs are rare high-grade tumors observed in elderly women. These women typically present with postmenopausal bleeding and extrauterine diseases and have a poor prognosis. Neuroectodermal differentiation in UUSs has a müllerian origin. The presence of OGCs may suggest a poor prognosis; however, further studies are necessary to determine the exact nature of such neoplasms.

Objective: To proposed a novel method for a difficult laparoscopic hysterectomy that spares the cervical ligaments and eliminates the cervical canal and transformation zone of the cervix. Case report: A 40-year-old women, gravida 3 para 3, who had had a cesarean delivery previously, was referred to the gynecology clinic due to adenomyosis with menorrhagia and severe anemia. Ultrasonography showed that the uterus was enlarged to 13.5 cm × 10.7 cm × 8.8 cm. After obtaining informed consent, a two-phase laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) cervical ligaments-sparing hysterectomy was performed smoothly. The patient discharged on 4th day and resumed her sexual life less than 2 months after surgery. Conclusion: This novel minimal invasive method of hysterectomy makes difficulty laparoscopic hysterectomy easy and safe. Preservation of cervical ligaments retains stability in the pelvic floor and may reduce intraoperative complications and subsequent pelvic floor organ prolapse.

Objective: To report a case of small bowel obstruction caused by barbed suture applied in hysterosacropexy, and possible solutions. Case Report: A 57-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic hysterosacropexy for a Stage 2 uterine prolapse, presenting with acute abdominal pain and a bowel obstruction syndrome 2 days following the surgery. Conservative treatment was given, but the symptoms did not improve and gradually became worse. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed on the 7th day after the hysterosacropexy, and the volvulus was found. The residual end of the barbed V-Loc adopted in the peritoneal closure was incidentally hooked to the mesentery and caused small bowel obstruction. The redundant V-Loc was released and cut off at 2 cm. Neither bowel ischemia nor significant bowel injury was noted. Two days later, she was discharged without complication. Conclusion: A barbed suture has a risk of bowel obstruction when used in surgery. To avoid a grave prognosis, early diagnosis and prompt management of complication is necessary.

Objective: This report describes a case of serous ovarian carcinoma with occult serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), which presented as atypical glandular cells favor neoplasia (AGC-FN) with Pap cytology and dermatomyositis. Case report: A 48-year-old woman presented with symptoms of dermatomyositis. An AGC-FN result from a Pap smear, with an absence of a cervical or endometrial lesion was noted. After cancer surveillance, ovarian high grade serous carcinoma associated with serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma was diagnosed. Two weeks following surgical excision of the carcinoma, dramatic remission of the dermatomyositis symptoms was evident. Conclusion: The patient had serous carcinoma of the ovary with tubal STIC, which presented as dermatomyositis. The AGC-FN identified from a Pap smear hinted at a diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma. These presentations point to an occult malignancy in the genital tract and demand careful diagnostic workup.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze short-term outcomes of pelvic prolapse surgery using Prolift transvaginal mesh in a teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four patients who received prolapse surgery with Prolift were followed up for 7–26 months. Assessment included pre- and postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage, and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI)-6, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ)-7 scores. Surgical characteristics and adverse events during follow-up were also recorded. Results: Objective and subjective data were available for 29 patients. The overall anatomical success rate was 96.5 % (28/29) after a mean of 18 ± 6.3 months follow-up. The POP-Q, UDI, and IIQ all improved significantly after surgery. Uterine sparing prolapsed surgery with Prolift unexpectedly yielded a cure rate of 100%. Ten adverse events occurred during and after prolapse surgery with dyspareunia (3/34) as the most common, followed by bladder injury (2/34). Conclusions: Prolapse surgery with Prolift yielded a good anatomical outcome and satisfactory symptom improvement at different periods of follow-up, especially in uterus-sparing prolapse surgery. However, adverse events were not uncommon, and patients should be fully informed of all possible adverse events prior to surgery.

Objective: Cervicovaginal secretions (CVSs) are reported to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Although vaginal douching is known to clear both viral inoculants and CVSs, its effect on CVSs in women with HPV infection is unknown. Materials and Methods: The in vitro HPV pseudovirus infection system was used to test the protective activity of CVSs against HPV infection in samples collected before and after vaginal douching. To simulate different time points of vaginal douching in relation to viral exposure, the cell CVS reconstitute was washed after different viral exposure durations. Results: In the CVSs of premenopausal and postmenopausal women who did not perform douching, the CVSs inhibited HPV infection by 56.7 ± 1.8% and 53.6 ± 2.5%, respectively; in women who had performed douching, the CVSs inhibited HPV infection by only 31.2 ± 7.1%, which was significantly lower (p

Objective: In developed countries, vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is a rare complication after gynecological surgery. In this report, the Latzko procedure was used to repair VVF to evaluate its safety and efficacy. Materials and Methods: Between 1991 and 2009, cases in which VVF developed after various gynecological surgeries and repaired using the Latzko procedure were included. The cause of VVF and outcome after Latzko procedure were reported. The previous published reports regarding Latzko procedure were also listed and compared. The median follow-up period was 8 years. Results: Six cases of VVF were documented in this period. All fistulas were simple type with a fistular size of less than 2 cm. In three of six cases, fistulas developed after a hysterectomy for carcinoma in situ of cervix. Of those remaining, one case developed after staging an operation for endometrial adenocarcinoma, while the other two cases occurred after hysterectomy for myoma. Five cases were repaired successfully. One case had postoperative complications such as fever and urinary tract infection. Intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were minimal. There was no recurrence of VVF postoperatively among successful cases during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Adequate exposure of the fistular site is a key point to a successful repair. The Latzko method is a minimal access procedure for VVF repair. This technique may be considered a first-line treatment of VV fistula.

Neuroplasticity subsequent to functional angiogenesis is an important goal for cell-based therapy of ischemic neural tissues. At present, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved are still not well understood. In this study, we isolated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from Wharton's jelly (WJ) to obtain clonally expanded human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) with multilineage differentiation potential. Experimental rats receiving intracerebral HUCMSC transplantation showed significantly improved neurological function compared to vehicle-treated control rats. Cortical neuronal activity, as evaluated by proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS), also increased considerably in the transplantation group. Transplanted HUCMSCs migrated towards the ischemic boundary zone and differentiated into glial, neuronal, doublecortin+, CXCR4+, and vascular endothelial cells to enhance neuroplasticity in the ischemic brain. In addition, HUCMSC transplantation promoted the formation of new vessels to increase local cortical blood flow in the ischemic hemisphere. Modulation by stem cell-derived macrophage/microglial interactions, and increased β1-integrin expression, might enhance this angiogenic architecture within the ischemic brain. Inhibition of β1-integrin expression blocked local angiogenesis and reduced recovery from neurological deficit. In addition, significantly increased modulation of neurotrophic factor expression was also found in the HUCMSC transplantation group. In summary, regulation of β1-integrin expression plays a critical role in the plasticity of the ischemic brain after the implantation of HUCMSCs.

Objective: Scar endometriosis is a rare condition. We report a case of scar endometriosis occurring at the site of an old cesarean section scar. Case Report: A 29-year-old multiparous woman complained of painful sensation during menstruation for 2 years that occurred at the site of her cesarean section surgical scar. On examination, there was a firm nodule measuring 2 × 1.5 cm in size at the mid-point of the scar. In view of the possibility of scar endometriosis, the mass was completely excised. Pathologic findings were compatible with scar endometriosis. Postoperatively, danazol was prescribed to prevent recurrence. Conclusion: A surgical scar becoming painful and swollen during menstruation is the classic symptom of scar endometriosis. Causes include iatrogenic transplantation of endometrium to the surgical wound. Surgical excision is the main treatment. Postoperative GnRH-agonist or danazol may be prescribed to patients with scar endometriosis.

Objective: To present a rare case of massive maternal ascites with severe pre-eclampsia at 35 weeks of gestation. Case Report: A 35-year-old, gravida 3, para 2, woman presented with a 1-day history of headache, blurred vision, and abdominal pain with uterine contractions, at 35 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography showed a fetus that was small for gestational age. A large amount of free fluid was noted intraperitoneally. This complication developed in association with a blood pressure of 202/107 mmHg, proteinuria, and abnormal laboratory values. More than 2 L of ascitic fluid was removed at the time of cesarean section. Conclusion: Massive ascites is an unusual complication of pre-eclampsia that can result in respiratory compromise. The rarity of this condition may be due to under-reporting. Careful clinical and ultrasonographic examinations are necessary to detect this condition.