Treatment of Infertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Single Center Study

Background: Anovulatory infertility is caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome in 80 percent of patients. Preconception guidelines, such as lifestyle modification (weight loss) to avoid fetal neural tube abnormalities, and quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, are all part of the early treatment. A clomiphene citrate medication for timed intercourse is the first-line pharmacological treatment for producing ovulation. Exogenous gonadotropins or laparoscopic ovarian surgery are two options for second-line pharmaceutical treatment (ovarian drilling). Ovulation induction using clomiphene citrate or gonadotropins is effective, with a 70 % cumulative live birth rate. When laparoscopy is necessary, ovarian drilling should be done; this operation is usually successful in around half of the instances. Finally, when the previous interventions have failed, a high-complexity reproduction treatment (in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is recommended. There is no evidence that metformin should be used routinely in the treatment of infertility in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Aromatase inhibitors show promise, but more research is needed to confirm their safety.Methods:This study was conducted in Department of gynecology and obstetrics, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, from January 2019 to December 2019. A total number of 100 patients with multiple myeloma were analyzed cytogenetically by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH). The collected data were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS-24) for windows version 24.0.Conclusion:PCOS is a frequent syndrome and the most frequent cause of infertility. PCOS is defined as a syndrome with at least two of three of the Rotterdam criteria. A complete evaluation of the infertility is needed to exclude other causes of infertility..

Blood Transfusion in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Retrospective Analysis in Government Naseerullah Babar Hospital Peshawar

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the indications of blood transfusion in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Government NaseerUllah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective observational study was performed on indoor gynecology and obstetrics patients for the period of one year, a total of 100 patients were included in this study that received blood transfusion. Samples were collected by non-random convenience sampling after getting approval from the hospital ethical committee. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: In this study a total of 100 patients who received blood transfusion were analyzed, out of 100 patients 78% of patients received transfusion due to obstetrical causes and 22% patients got transfused for gynecological causes. Most common blood group transfused was B+ and O+ and mean hemoglobin level at which patients received blood transfusion was 9.7g/dl. Blood components preparation can provide components to treat two to three patients from a single donor. The use of packed cell transfusion should be promoted instead of whole blood transfusion that is not even needed in most of the cases. CONCLUSION: Blood transfusion practice has been used aggressively in gynecology and obstetrics in some cases even without proper indications. There is a need to modify this practice by correcting anemia through drugs to avoid the inappropriate use of blood. Use of blood components should be encouraged.

Validation of the 2021 FIGO staging schema for advanced vulvar cancer

ObjectiveThe International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revised the vulvar cancer staging schema in 2021. Previous stage IIIA–B diseases were reclassified based on nodal size (≤5 mm for stage IIIA compared with >5 mm for stage IIIB), and previous stage IVA1 disease based on non-osseous organ extension was reclassified to stage IIIA whereas osseous extension remained as stage IVA. This study sought to validate the 2021 FIGO vulvar cancer staging schema.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study examined 889 women with stage III–IV vulvar cancer from 2010 to 2015 in the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Stage shift and overall survival were assessed by comparing the 2021 and 2009 FIGO staging schemas.ResultsStage shift occurred in 229 (25.8%) patients (upstaged 17.7% and downstaged 8.1%). When comparing the new and previous staging schemas, 5 year overall survival rates were 45.6% versus 48.9% for stage IIIA, 47.0% versus 44.2% for stage IIIB, and 13.9% versus 25.1% (interval change −11.2%) for stage IVA diseases. According to the revised staging schema, 5 year overall survival rates were similar for stage IVA and IVB diseases (13.9% vs 14.5%) and for stage IIIA and IIIB disease (45.6% vs 47.0%). For new stage IIIA disease, 5 year overall survival rates differed significantly based on the staging factors (nodal involvement vs non-nodal organ involvement, 48.9% vs 38.7%, difference 10.2%, p=0.038).ConclusionThe 2021 FIGO staging schema results in one in four cases of advanced vulvar cancer being reclassified. Survival rates of patients with new stage IVA disease worsened significantly whereas those of patients with new stage IIIA disease were heterogenous based on the staging factors. The discriminatory ability of the revised 2021 FIGO staging schema for 5 year overall survival rate between patients with stage IIIA and IIIB tumors and those with IVA and IVB tumors is limited in this study population.

Effects of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer Patients With Different Germline BRCA1/2 Mutational Status: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BackgroundWhether neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) against primary debulking surgery (PDS) has a differential effect on prognosis due to Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes (BRCA)1/2 mutations has not been confirmed by current studies.MethodsAll patients included in this retrospective study were admitted to Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between January 2009 and June 2020, and germline BRCA1/2 mutation were tested. Patients in stage IIIB, IIIC, and IV, re-staged by International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2014, were selected for analysis. All patients with NAC received 1-5 cycles of platinum-containing (carboplatin, cisplatin, or nedaplatin) chemotherapy. Patients who received maintenance therapy after chemotherapy were not eligible for this study. All relevant medical records were collected.ResultsA total of 322 patients were enrolled, including 112 patients with BRCA1/2 mutations (BRCAmut), and 210 patients with BRCA1/2 wild-type (BRCAwt). In the two groups, 40 BRCAmut patients (35.7%) and 69 BRCAwt patients (32.9%) received NAC. The progression-free survival (PFS) of BRCAmut patients was significantly reduced after NAC (median: 14.9 vs. 18.5 months; p=0.023); however, there was no difference in overall survival (OS) (median: 75.1 vs. 72.8 months; p=0.798). Whether BRCAwt patients received NAC had no significant effect on PFS (median: 13.5 vs. 16.0 months; p=0.780) or OS (median: 54.0 vs. 56.4 months; p=0.323). Multivariate analyses in BRCAmut patients showed that the predictors of prolonged PFS were PDS (p=0.001), the absence of residual lesions (p=0.012), and FIGO III stage (p=0.020); Besides, PARP inhibitor was the independent predictor for prolonged OS in BRCAmut patients (p=0.000), for BRCAwt patients, the absence of residual lesions (p=0.041) and history of PARP inhibitors (p=0.000) were beneficial factors for OS prolongation.ConclusionsFor ovarian cancer patients with FIGO IIIB, IIIC, and IV, NAC-IDS did not adversely affect survival outcomes due to different BRCA1/2 germline mutational status.

Safety and efficacy of dendritic cell-based immunotherapy DCVAC/OvCa added to first-line chemotherapy (carboplatin plus paclitaxel) for epithelial ovarian cancer: a phase 2, open-label, multicenter, randomized trial

BackgroundMost patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) relapse despite primary debulking surgery and chemotherapy (CT). Autologous dendritic cell immunotherapy (DCVAC) can present tumor antigens to elicit a durable immune response. We hypothesized that adding parallel or sequential DCVAC to CT stimulates antitumor immunity and improves clinical outcomes in patients with EOC. Based on the interim results of sequential DCVAC/OvCa administration and to accommodate the increased interest in maintenance treatment in EOC, the trial was amended by adding Part 2.MethodsPatients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III EOC (serous, endometrioid, or mucinous), who underwent cytoreductive surgery up to 3 weeks prior to randomization and were scheduled for first-line platinum-based CT were eligible. Patients, stratified by tumor residuum (0 or <1 cm), were randomized (1:1:1) to DCVAC/OvCa parallel to CT (Group A), DCVAC/OvCa sequential to CT (Group B), or CT alone (Group C) in Part 1, and to Groups B and C in Part 2. Autologous dendritic cells for DCVAC were differentiated from patients’ CD14+ monocytes, pulsed with two allogenic OvCa cell lines (SK-OV-3, OV-90), and matured in the presence of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid. We report the safety outcomes (safety analysis set, Parts 1 and 2 combined) along with the primary (progression-free survival (PFS)) and secondary (overall survival (OS)) efficacy endpoints. Efficacy endpoints were assessed in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis set in Part 1.ResultsBetween November 2013 and March 2016, 99 patients were randomized. The mITT (Part 1) comprised 31, 29, and 30 patients in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Baseline characteristics and DCVAC/OvCa exposure were comparable across the treatment arms. DCVAC/OvCa showed a good safety profile with treatment-emergent adverse events related to DCVAC/OvCa in 2 of 34 patients (5.9%) in Group A and 2 of 53 patients (3.8%) in Group B. Median PFS was 20.3, not reached, and 21.4 months in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. The HR (95% CI) for Group A versus Group C was 0.98 (0.48 to 2.00; p=0.9483) and the HR for Group B versus Group C was 0.39 (0.16 to 0.96; p=0.0336). This was accompanied by a non-significant trend of improved OS in Groups A and B. Median OS was not reached in any group after a median follow-up of 66 months (34% of events).ConclusionsDCVAC/OvCa and leukapheresis was not associated with significant safety concerns in this trial. DCVAC/OvCa sequential to CT was associated with a statistically significant improvement in PFS in patients undergoing first-line treatment of EOC.Trial registration numberNCT02107937, EudraCT2010-021462-30.

Incidence and Reasons for a Surgical Cancellation at a Hospital in Rwanda

BackgroundSurgery cancellation is a challenging and costly event resulting in operating theatre inefficiency and psychological and financial problems for the patients and their families. This study aimed to find out the incidence and reasons for surgical cancellation at a Rwandan hospital.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 736 patients’ files obtained from theatre registry lists of surgical operations done from January to March 2017. The American Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN) checklist for documenting cancelled surgical cases was used to establish the rate and reasons for cancellation. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage descriptive statistics.ResultsOut of the 736 surgeries booked, 179 (24.3%) were cancelled as follows: Orthopedic and general surgeries (28.2%) respectively, gynecology and obstetrics (27.4%), urology surgeries (15.5%), maxillofacial surgeries (15.9%), ENT (15.6%) and plastic surgeries (13.3%). Time constrain/long list (19.6%), acute change in medical status (10.6%), non-turn-up of the patient (8.4%), and abnormal lab findings (7.8%) were the most prevalent reasons.ConclusionThe surgical cancellation rate at the study hospital was 24%, increasing with the number of patients booked and the type of surgical procedure. A prospective study is required to gain more insight into the reason for cancellations, mostly amenable to mitigation measures.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(3):379-386

EPDR1, Which Is Negatively Regulated by miR-429, Suppresses Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Progression via PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the main pathological type of ovarian cancer. In this study, we found that ependymin-related 1 (EPDR1) was remarkably downregulated in EOC tissues, and low EPDR1 expression was associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, metastasis, and poor prognosis. We confirmed that EPDR1 overexpression dramatically suppressed EOC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, EPDR1 inhibited EOC tumorigenesis and progression, at least in part, through the repression of the PI3K (Phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/AKT (AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the expression and function of EPDR1 were regulated by miR-429, as demonstrated by luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments. In conclusion, our study validated that EPDR1, negatively regulated by miR-429, played an important role as a tumor-suppressor gene in EOC development via inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The miR-429/EPDR1 axis might provide novel therapeutic targets for individualized treatment of EOC patients in the future.

Coriocarcinoma gestacional primario de cuello uterino. Presentación de un caso

Choriocarcinoma represents a type of malignant tumor of gestational trophoblastic disease. It can develop after a molar pregnancy, miscarriage, normal or ectopic pregnancy. Generally its seat site is the uterine body; infrequent places such as the cervix have been described. We report the case of a 37-year-old patient is reported, VI gestations IV deliveries I cesarean section I molar pregnancy, with abnormal uterine bleeding, which is referred to the Hospital Oncology Service. On gynecological examination, an exophytic mass is observed in the cervix. A biopsy was taken that reported: Gestational choriocarcinoma and plasma levels of β-hCG were verified: 13805 IU / L. A total abdominal hysterectomy was performed with preservation of the ovaries. It was concluded as stage I of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and 8, according to the score of the World Health Organization (ST I: 8), for which adjuvant was indicated. Currently no evidence of disease. Keywords: Choriocarcinoma, gestational trophoblastic disease, cervix.