Effect of pregnancy on uterine-sparing pelvic organ prolapse repair.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The impact of pregnancy on pelvic organ prolapse following surgical repair is not well understood. We describe five cases of pregnancy following uterine-sparing surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. We analyzed the changes in women's Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) scores. We hypothesized there would be significant improvement in anterior and apical prolapse after surgery and no recurrence of prolapse after pregnancy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the electronic medical record for cases of uterine-sparing apical suspension performed between January 2004 and December 2012 at Boston Medical Center. Student's t-test for paired design was used to compare the change in POP-Q score at points Aa, Ba and C obtained at preoperative, postoperative and postpartum visits. RESULTS: Subjects in our series demonstrated significant improvement in their prolapse at all POP-Q points of interest between the pre- and postoperative visits, particularly at point C. There was a slight increase in POP-Q score from the postoperative visit to the postpartum visit, but this change was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with previous literature, suggesting that the results of uterine-sparing apical prolapse repair are maintained after pregnancy. Women may be counseled to consider surgical prolapse repair even if they have not completed childbearing.

HIV-1 replicates and persists in vaginal epithelial dendritic cells.

HIV-1 acquisition occurs most commonly after sexual contact. To establish infection, HIV-1 must infect cells that support high-level replication, namely CD4+ T cells, which are absent from the outermost genital epithelium. Dendritic cells (DCs), present in mucosal epithelia, potentially facilitate HIV-1 acquisition. We show that vaginal epithelial DCs, termed CD1a+ VEDCs, are unlike other blood- and tissue-derived DCs because they express langerin but not DC-SIGN, and unlike skin-based langerin+ DC subset Langerhans cells (LCs), they do not harbor Birbeck granules. Individuals primarily acquire HIV-1 that utilizes the CCR5 receptor (termed either R5 or R5X4) during heterosexual transmission, and the mechanism for the block against variants that only use the CXCR4 receptor (classified as X4) remains unclear. We show that X4 as compared with R5 HIV-1 shows limited to no replication in CD1a+ VEDCs. This differential replication occurs after fusion, suggesting that receptor usage influences postentry steps in the virus life cycle. Furthermore, CD1a+ VEDCs isolated from HIV-1-infected virologically suppressed women harbor HIV-1 DNA. Thus, CD1a+ VEDCs are potentially infected early during heterosexual transmission and also retain virus during treatment. Understanding the interplay between HIV-1 and CD1a+ VEDCs is important for future prevention and cure strategies.

Knowledge and Comfort With Pessary Use: A Survey of US Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine factors associated with perceived comfort with pessary management among obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residents in the United States. METHODS: A 31-item anonymous electronic survey regarding experience with, attitudes toward, and comfort with pessary management was distributed to US OB/GYN residents in all postgraduate years (PGYs). Demographic and program-specific data on pessary education were collected. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Single-predictor logistic regression analysis, followed by analysis of a multivariable model that included significant single predictors, was performed to determine factors associated with residents' perception of comfort. Results were stratified for junior (PGYs 1, 2), senior (PGYs 3, 4), and chief (PGY4) residents. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-eight completed surveys were returned and analyzed. Mean age of respondents was 29.5 (±2.56) years. Training levels were distributed evenly (PGY1, 25%; PGY2, 28%; PGY3, 25%; PGY4, 22%). Twenty-eight percent had a urogynecology fellowship in the department. Factors associated with comfort were similar for all training levels and included working with advanced practitioners, a formal urogynecology rotation, experience with pessary fitting, and receiving formal pessary-specific didactics (P < 0.001). PGY4s also benefitted from a formal urogynecology rotation. Factors that did not improve comfort were having a urogynecology fellowship and receiving general didactics on prolapse and incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Gaining outpatient experience, especially with pessary fitting, along with formal didactics specific to pessary fitting and management may improve resident' confidence with pessary use.