Three-year questionnaire study on human papillomavirus vaccination targeting new female college school students: Follow-up to a 2021 report to reveal the impact of a policy change in Japan.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the trend in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in Japan before and after a policy change in 2022, involving resumption of active recommendation and start of catch-up vaccination. METHODS: From 2021 to 2023, a web-based questionnaire survey was administered to newly enrolled female college students in Yokohama, Japan. The questionnaire included items such as age, HPV vaccination status, HPV vaccine awareness, and awareness of catch-up vaccination. We compared knowledge about the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer in 2021 and 2023, before and after resumption of the national vaccination program. RESULTS: The HPV vaccination rates were 5.4% in 2021, 7.5% in 2022, and 35.3% in 2023, with a significant upward trend (p < 0.001). A similar upward trend was observed for HPV vaccine awareness (p < 0.001). Comparing 2022 and 2023 after the start of catch-up vaccination, there was no significant difference in awareness of catch-up vaccination (p = 0.669), but there was a significant increase in awareness of free vaccination tickets (p < 0.001). After resumption of the national vaccination program with adoption of the catch-up vaccination program, there was no difference in knowledge of cervical cancer, but there was a difference in knowledge of the HPV vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Although the HPV vaccination rate has increased after the policy change, it has not recovered to the level before the suspension of active recommendation. It is important for healthcare providers and school educators to actively communicate the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine.

Effect of Vaginal Estriol Use in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Therapy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of vaginal estriol therapy in total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. DESIGN CLASSIFICATION: Canadian Task Force classification II-2. SETTINGS: Department of Gynecology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 50 fibroid cases that had TLH with preoperative GnRH-a treatment and compared the surgical outcome with or without vaginal estriol use (1mg). Estriol was used administered for two weeks before TLH. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 12 patients (27%) received vaginal estriol (1 mg) for 14 days before TLH. As a result of vaginal estriol treatment, there were no group differences in uterus size reduction with GnRH-a treatment (22% vs. 15%, P = 0.20), uterine removal time through the vagina (12.5 min vs. 18.5 min, P = 0.18), rate of vaginal dehiscence (3% vs. 0%, P = 0.76) or in the rate of perineal laceration (33% vs. 34%, P = 0.55). CONCLUSION: The use of vaginal estriol treatment before TLH with GnRH-a therapy did not improve surgical outcomes.

Safety of total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy with or without lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: In order to reduce the risk of vaginal recurrence, we have chosen total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy instead of extrafascial hysterectomy in the treatment of endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of this method. DESIGN: Retrospective study of gynecological patients. SETTING: Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. PATIENTS: Forty-nine patients who underwent total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy for the treatment of endometrial cancer at our hospital between December 2011 and September 2015. INTERVENTIONS: Total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (n = 20), total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy + pelvic lymphadenectomy (n = 18), or total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy + pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (n = 11). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The surgical outcomes were analyzed and compared to previous reports. The median operative time was 204 minutes (range, 99-504 minutes) and the median intraoperative blood loss was 150 mL (range, 0-680 mL). No patients needed a blood transfusion, conversion to laparotomy, or reoperation. Intra- and postoperative complications were observed in three patients and nine patients, respectively. The amount of blood loss and the incidence of complications in our study were almost identical to previous reports of laparoscopic hysterectomy. The operative time in our study was equivalent to previous reports of total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of early stage endometrial cancer. This procedure can be an alternative to total laparoscopic hysterectomy, especially when the uterus must be removed completely.