Disrupted Rotational Perception During Simultaneous Stimulation of Rotation and Inertia.

Two vestibular signals, rotational and inertial cues, converge for the perception of complex motion. However, how vestibular perception is built on neuronal behaviors and decision-making processes, especially during the simultaneous presentation of rotational and inertial cues, has yet to be elucidated in humans. In this study, we analyzed the perceptual responses of 20 participants after pairwise rotational experiments, comprised of four control and four test sessions. In both control and test sessions, participants underwent clockwise and counterclockwise rotations in head-down and head-up positions. The difference between the control and test sessions was the head re-orientation relative to gravity after rotations, thereby providing only rotational cues in the control sessions and both rotational and inertial cues in the test sessions. The accuracy of perceptual responses was calculated by comparing the direction of rotational and inertial cues acquired from participants with that predicted by the velocity-storage model. The results showed that the accuracy of rotational perception ranged from 80 to 95% in the four control sessions but significantly decreased to 35 to 75% in the four test sessions. The accuracy of inertial perception in the test sessions ranged from 50 to 70%. The accuracy of rotational perception improved with repetitive exposure to the simultaneous presentation of both rotational and inertial cues, while the accuracy of inertial perception remained steady. The results suggested a significant interaction between rotational and inertial perception and implied that vestibular perception acquired in patients with vestibular disorders are potentially inaccurate.

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the vulva: a case report.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and is estimated to account for approximately 30% of all NHL cases. NHL can also occur in the female genital tract and accounts for approximately 1.5% of all NHL cases. Many doctors have difficulty diagnosing or treating vulvar DLBCL because of its very low prevalence. A 55-year-old woman presented with a solid mass on the right side of the vulva. No significantly enlarged lymph nodes were observed in the inguinal region. She underwent excisional biopsy at our institution. DLBCL was diagnosed based on histological examination. According to the Hans algorithm, the lesion was diagnosed as a non-germinal center B-cell-like subtype. The patient was referred to a hematologic oncologist. The disease stage was classified as IE according to the Ann Arbor staging classification. The patient received four cycles of chemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone and localized radiation therapy with 36 Gy in 20 fractions. She showed complete remission and maintained this status on the latest computed tomography scan. Gynecologists should rule out lymphoma in patients presenting with a vulvar mass.

Effect of a False Inertial Cue in the Velocity-Storage Circuit on Head Posture and Inertia Perception.

The velocity-storage circuit participates in the vestibulopostural reflex, but its role in the postural reflex requires further elucidation. The velocity-storage circuit differentiates gravitoinertial information into gravitational and inertial cues using rotational cues. This implies that a false rotational cue can cause an erroneous estimation of gravity and inertial cues. We hypothesized the velocity-storage circuit is a common gateway for all vestibular reflex pathways and tested that hypothesis by measuring the postural and perceptual responses from a false inertial cue estimated in the velocity-storage circuit. Twenty healthy human participants (40.5 ± 8.2 years old, 6 men) underwent two different sessions of earth-vertical axis rotations at 120°/s for 60 s. During each session, the participants were rotated clockwise and then counterclockwise with two different starting head positions (head-down and head-up). During the first (control) session, the participants kept a steady head position at the end of rotation. During the second (test) session, the participants changed their head position at the end of rotation, from head-down to head-up or vice versa. The head position and inertial motion perception at the end of rotation were aligned with the inertia direction anticipated by the velocity-storage model. The participants showed a significant correlation between postural and perceptual responses. The velocity-storage circuit appears to be a shared neural integrator for the vestibulopostural reflex and vestibular perception. Because the postural responses depended on the inertial direction, the postural instability in vestibular disorders may be the consequence of the vestibulopostural reflex responding to centrally estimated false vestibular cues.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The velocity-storage circuit appears to participate in the vestibulopostural reflex, which stabilizes the head and body position in space. However, it is still unclear whether the velocity-storage circuit for the postural reflex is in common with that involved in eye movement and perception. We evaluated the postural and perceptual responses to a false inertial cue estimated by the velocity-storage circuit. The postural and perceptual responses were consistent with the inertia direction predicted in the velocity-storage model and were correlated closely with each other. These results show that the velocity-storage circuit is a shared neural integrator for vestibular-driven responses and suggest that the vestibulopostural response to a false vestibular cue is the pathomechanism of postural instability clinically observed in vestibular disorders.

Scale for Ocular motor Disorders in Ataxia (SODA).

Eye movements are fundamental diagnostic and progression markers of various neurological diseases, including those affecting the cerebellum. Despite the high prevalence of abnormal eye movements in patients with cerebellar disorders, the traditional rating scales do not focus on abnormal eye movements. We formed a consortium of neurologists focusing on cerebellar disorders. The consortium aimed to design and validate a novel Scale for Ocular motor Disorders in Ataxia (SODA). The primary purpose of the scale is to determine the extent of ocular motor deficits due to various phenomenologies. A higher score on the scale would suggest a broader range of eye movement deficits. The scale was designed such that it is easy to implement by non-specialized neurological care providers. The scale was not designed to measure each ocular motor dysfunction's severity objectively. Our validation studies revealed that the scale reliably measured the extent of saccade abnormalities and nystagmus. We found a lack of correlation between the total SODA score and the total International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), or Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS). One explanation is that conventionally reported scales are not dedicated to eye movement disorders; and when present, the measure of ocular motor function is only one subsection of the ataxia rating scales. It is also possible that the severity of ataxias does not correlate with eye movement abnormalities. Nevertheless, the SODA met the consortium's primary goal: to prepare a simple outcome measure that can identify ocular motor dysfunction in patients with cerebellar ataxia.

Classification of endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Several classification systems for the severity of endometriosis have been proposed. Of these, the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification is the most well-known. The ENZIAN classification was developed to classify deep infiltrating endometriosis and focused on the retroperitoneal structures. The endometriosis fertility index was developed to predict the fertility outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for endometriosis. Finally, the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists classification is currently being developed, for which 30 endometriosis experts are analyzing and researching data by assigning scores to categories considered important; however, it has not yet been fully validated and published. Currently, none of the classification systems are considered the gold standard. In this article, we review the classification systems, identify their pros and cons, and discuss what improvements need to be made to each system in the future.

Tacrolimus for Treating Orbital and Cranial Form of Idiopathic Inflammatory Pseudotumors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Orbital and cranial form of idiopathic inflammatory pseudotumors (IIPs) are rare disorders with heterogeneous clinical presentations. Corticosteroids have been the first-line treatment for IIPs, but they are not always effective. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of three patients with orbital or cranial form of IIP who were treated with tacrolimus as an adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: The three patients showed favorable outcomes with the addition of tacrolimus, which is a calcineurin inhibitor that inhibits T-cell activation and T-cell-dependent B-cell activation. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus may be a safe and effective immunosuppressant for refractory or relapsing form of orbital or cranial IIPs.

Undifferentiated carcinoma arising in ovarian mature cystic teratoma: a case report and literature review.

Malignant transformation is a rare complication of the mature cystic teratoma of the ovary. Most of these histologic types are squamous cell carcinoma, and other types are exceptionally rare. Here, we present an extremely rare histology of malignant transformation, an undifferentiated carcinoma, arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary. A 48-year-old woman was referred due to abdominal distension and palpable pelvic mass. Computed tomography showed 16- and 12-cm-diameter mixed solid and cystic tumors in bilateral ovaries. Surgical exploration revealed bilateral ovarian tumors with multiple nodules on the whole peritoneum, liver capsule, and diaphragm. Cytoreductive surgery was performed, leaving <1 cm tumors. On pathologic review, the tumor was confirmed as undifferentiated with an adenosquamous carcinoma component arising in mature cystic teratoma. The patient died 7 days postoperatively due to uncontrolled malignant ascites and pleural effusion. We report a case of undifferentiated carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma, and we review the clinicopathologic features of this rare case.

Clinical outcomes of hysterectomy for benign diseases in the female genital tract: 6 years' experience in a single institute.

BACKGROUND: Hysterectomy is one of the major gynecologic surgeries. Historically, several surgical procedures have been used for hysterectomy. The present study aims to evaluate the surgical trends and clinical outcomes of hysterectomy performed for benign diseases at the Yeungnam University Hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent a hysterectomy for benign diseases from 2013 to 2018. Data included the patients' demographic characteristics, surgical indications, hysterectomy procedures, postoperative pathologies, and perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 809 patients were included. The three major indications for hysterectomy were uterine leiomyoma, pelvic organ prolapse, and adenomyosis. The most common procedure was total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH, 45.2%), followed by open hysterectomy (32.6%). During the study period, the rate of open hysterectomy was nearly constant (29.4%-38.1%). The mean operative time was the shortest in the single-port laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH, 89.5 minutes), followed by vaginal hysterectomy (VH, 96.8 minutes) and TLH (105 minutes). The mean decrease in postoperative hemoglobin level was minimum in single-port LAVH (1.8 g/dL) and VH (1.8 g/dL). Conversion to open surgery or multi-port surgery occurred in five cases (0.6%). Surgical complications including wound dehiscence, organ injuries, and conditions requiring reoperation were observed in 52 cases (6.4%). CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive approach was used for most hysterectomies for benign diseases, but the rate of open hysterectomy has mostly remained constant. Single-port LAVH and VH showed the most tolerable outcomes in terms of operative time and postoperative drop in hemoglobin level in selected cases.

Clinical and histopathologic analysis of gynecological cancer: a single institute experience over 7 years.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 100,000 women are diagnosed with cancer each year in Korea. According to a survey by the Korean central cancer registry in 2016, uterine cervical cancer, uterine corpus cancer, and ovarian cancer were the 5th, 7th, and 8th most prevalent cancers respectively among Korean women. The present study aims to review the clinico-pathologic characteristics of patients who were treated for major gynecological malignancies at Yeungnam University Medical Center. METHODS: Patients with invasive gynecological cancers from January 2012 to February 2019 were retrospectively identified. We analyzed the clinical features, demographic profiles, pathologic data, treatment modality used, adjuvant treatment used, complications, recurrence, and survival outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 287 patients (cervical cancer 115; corporal cancer 86; and ovarian, tubal, or primary peritoneal cancer 90) were included. Most cervical (82.7%) and corporal cancers (89.5%) were diagnosed in the early stages (stage I or II), while more than half (58.9%) the cases of ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancers were diagnosed in the advanced stages (stage III or IV). Surgical complications were observed in 12.2% of cervical cancers, 16.3% of uterine corpus cancers, and 11.1% of ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancers, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was 94.1%, 91.0%, and 77.1% for cervical, corporal, and ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancers, respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment was satisfactory in terms of the incidence of complications, and survival outcomes were generally good. Clinicians should be aware of the clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients with gynecological cancers to be able to provide optimal strategies and counseling.

Prognosis-Predicting Model Based on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET Metabolic Parameters in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy: Multi-Center Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to develop a prognosis-predicting model based on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and clinicopathologic factors in locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). The medical records of 270 locally advanced cervical cancer patients who were treated with CCRT were collected from three institutions and reviewed retrospectively. A nomogram was used for predicting 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 5-year overall survival (OS) based on Cox proportional hazards regression. Predictor variables included nodal maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), primary tumor SUVmax, age, tumor size, stage, serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen level, and human papillomavirus status. Internal nomogram validation was performed. A nomogram for predicting the 2-year DFS and 5-year OS was constructed using six and seven parameters, respectively. With a focus on 2-year DFS, our model found nodal SUVmax to be the highest weighted negative prognostic factor. With a focus on 5-year OS, young age was the highest weighted negative prognostic factor. The concordance index was 0.75 and 0.78 for the 2-year DFS and 5-year OS, respectively. This nomogram is a predictive tool that can be used to counsel patients for predicting survival outcomes. Moreover, our prognosis-predicting model may make it possible to personalize treatment.

Successful delayed-interval delivery performed 128 days after the vaginal delivery of the first fetus in a twin pregnancy.

There has been a significant increase in the number of multiple pregnancies that are associated with a high risk of preterm delivery among Korean women. However, to date, delayed-interval delivery in women with multiple pregnancy is rare. We report a case of delayed-interval delivery performed 128 days after the vaginal delivery of the first fetus in a dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy. The patient presented with vaginal leakage of amniotic fluid at 16 weeks of gestation and was diagnosed with a preterm premature rupture of membranes. Three days later, the first twin was delivered, but the neonate died soon after. The second twin remained in utero, and we decided to retain the fetus in utero to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with a preterm birth. The patient was managed with antibiotics and tocolytics. Cervical cerclage was not performed. The second twin was delivered vaginally at 34 weeks and 5 days of gestation, 128 days after the delivery of the first-born fetus. This neonate was healthy and showed normal development during the 1-year follow-up period. Based on our experience with this case, we propose that delayed-interval delivery may improve perinatal survival and decrease morbidity in the second neonate in highly selected cases.

Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic indications.

Recently, an increasing interest in less invasive surgery has led to the advent of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). LESS and NOTES could be technically challenging, but available literature has demonstrated the feasibility and safety of LESS for benign gynecologic diseases. However, the evidence is not strong enough to recommend the use of LESS over that of conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery (MLS). As per the results of the most recently published meta-analysis, the majority of surgical outcomes are equivalent between LESS and MLS, except for the longer operative time in LESS for both adnexal surgery and hysterectomy. Although an increasing number of studies have reported on robotic LESS, NOTES, and LESS for gynecologic malignancy, definite conclusions have not been drawn owing to the lack of sufficient information.

Puerperal septic shock and necrotizing fasciitis caused by staphylococcus caprae and Escherichia coli.

Puerperal sepsis is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Postpartum pelvic infections can cause various complications, including wound infections and necrotizing fasciitis. Several microorganisms are known to cause such infections; however, no study has reported on staphylococcus caprae, a coagulase-negative staphylococcus that is isolated frequently from animals and infrequently from human specimens, as a causative agent. Here, we report a rare case of septic shock complicated by necrotizing fasciitis after a cesarean section. This is the first report of a human isolate of S. caprae in association with puerperal sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.

Clinical indications for hysteroscopic removal of uterine masses: Time, age at diagnosis, and mass size.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical factors associated with abnormal pathologies of uterine masses resected via hysteroscopy. METHODS: Women who underwent hysteroscopic surgery for presumptive diagnoses of abnormal endometrial or endocervical masses, such as polyps or leiomyomas on ultrasonography, between January 2012 and April 2015, were enrolled. Clinical and pathologic data were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among 189 patients, pathologic diagnoses of the uterine mass were abnormal in 172 (91.0%) cases, including polyps in 119 (63.0%), leiomyomas in 49 (26.0%), endometrial hyperplasia in two (1.0%), and endometrial cancer in two (1.0%). Seventeen (9.0%) women who underwent hysteroscopic removal showed unremarkable results on pathology, and the most common finding among them was the proliferative phase of the normal endometrium. Women aged over 40 years with uterine masses and a time since last menstrual period of over 15 days are four times more likely to be diagnosed with neoplastic masses than others (odds ratio [OR], 4.39, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33-14.48 and OR, 4.22, 95%CI, 1.35-13.21, respectively); those with masses over 1.5 cm in size are three times more likely to be neoplastic than others (OR, 3.08, 95%CI, 1.04-9.12). CONCLUSION: Large mass size, longer time after last menstrual period, and older age are risk factors for abnormal histologies of uterine masses resected via hysteroscopy. Clinicians should take particular care when contemplating hysteroscopic removal for women younger than 40 years, and those with masses of <1.5 cm in size in the proliferative phase of the endometrium to avoid an unnecessary surgery.