Analysis of risk factors for postoperative bleeding and recurrence after laparoscopic myomectomy in patients with uterine fibroids: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: In Asia, the incidence of uterine fibroids (UFs) in women is as high as 1.278%. However, there are few analyses of the prevalence and independent risk factors for bleeding and recurrence after laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with UF and identify the independent risk factors for postoperative bleeding and recurrence after LM, so as to provide a reference basis for improving the quality of life of patients. Methods: Based on our exclusion and inclusion criteria, we retrospectively analyzed a total of 621 patients who developed UF from April 2018 to June 2021. The t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and chi-square test were used to analyze the relationship between the clinical characteristics of the patients and postoperative bleeding as well as recurrence. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative bleeding and fibroid recurrence in patients. Results: The rates of postoperative bleeding and recurrence after LM for uterine fibroids were 4.5% and 7.1%, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that fibroid size [odds ratio (OR) =5.502, P=0.003], maximum fibroid type (OR =0.293, P=0.048), pathological type (OR =3.673, P=0.013), preoperative prothrombin time level (OR =1.340, P=0.003), preoperative hemoglobin level (OR =0.227, P=0.036), surgery time (OR =1.066, P=0.022), intraoperative bleeding (OR =1.145, P=0.007), and postoperative infection (OR =9.540, P=0.010) were independent risk factors for postoperative bleeding; meanwhile, body mass index (BMI) (OR =1.268, P=0.001), age of menarche (OR =0.780, P=0.013), fibroid size (OR =4.519, P=0.000), fibroid number (OR =2.381, P=0.033), maximum fibroid type (OR =0.229, P=0.001), pathological type (OR =2.963, P=0.008), preoperative delivery (OR =3.822, P=0.003), preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level (OR =1.162, P=0.005), intraoperative ultrasonography (OR =0.271, P=0.002), postoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment (OR =2.407, P=0.029), and postoperative infection (OR =7.402, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for recurrence. Conclusions: At present, there is still a high probability of postoperative bleeding and recurrence after LM for UF. Clinical work should pay close attention to clinical features. Adequate preoperative examination to improve surgical precision, and strengthen postoperative care and education, thus reducing the probability of postoperative bleeding and recurrence in patients.

Continuous theta burst stimulation over the bilateral supplementary motor area in obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment: A clinical randomized single-blind sham-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can cause substantial damage to quality of life. Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) is a promising treatment for OCD patients with the advantages of safety and noninvasiveness. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the treatment efficacy of cTBS over the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA) for OCD patients with a single-blind, sham-controlled design. METHODS: Fifty-four OCD patients were randomized to receive active or sham cTBS treatment over the bilateral SMA for 4 weeks (five sessions per week, 20 sessions in total). Patients were assessed at baseline (week 0), the end of treatment (week 4), and follow-up (week 8). Clinical scales included the YBOCS, HAMD24, HAMA14, and OBQ44. Three behavioral tests were also conducted to explore the effect of cTBS on response inhibition and decision-making in OCD patients. RESULTS: The treatment response rates were not significantly different between the two groups at week 4 (active: 23.1% vs. sham: 16.7%, p = 0.571) and week 8 (active: 26.9% vs. sham: 16.7%, p = 0.382). Depression and anxiety improvements were significantly different between the two groups at week 4 (HAMD24: F = 4.644, p = 0.037; HAMA14: F = 5.219, p = 0.028). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the performance of three behavioral tests. The treatment satisfaction and dropout rates were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of cTBS over the bilateral SMA was safe and tolerable, and it could significantly improve the depression and anxiety of OCD patients but was not enough to improve OCD symptoms in this study.

Crosstalk Between Abnormal TSHR Signaling Activation and PTEN/PI3K in the Dedifferentiation of Thyroid Cancer Cells.

Iodide uptake and the metabolism of thyroid cells are regulated by thyrotropin (TSH)-TSH receptor (TSHR) signaling. Thus, it is necessary to elevate serum TSH levels by T4 withdraw or rTSH administration to facilitate radioiodide (131I) therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, non-iodide-avid metastases of DTC which is dedifferentiated do not respond to stimulation by high levels of TSH, suggesting abnormal TSH-TSHR signal transduction in cancer cells. In addition, PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling activation has been shown to be associated with the dedifferentiated phenotype of thyroid cancer, but the mechanism remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to explore the role of abnormal TSH-TSHR signaling activation in regulating iodide uptake and cell mobility in thyroid cancer and its relationship with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. We found that in thyroid cancer cells, TSH binds TSHR coupled to the Gα12/13 protein and then activates RhoA through interacting with leukemia associated RhoA guanine exchange factor (LARG). This results in a promigration tumorigenic phenotype independent of canonical TSHR-GαS signaling that regulates the expression of molecules involved in iodine uptake and metabolism. We observed that signaling pathways downstream of Gα12/13 signaling were increased, while that of Gαs signaling was decreased in thyroid cancer cells undergoing dedifferentiation compared to control cells following stimulation with different levels of TSH. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling activation enhanced Gα12/13 signaling through increasing LARG levels but also inhibited the expression of molecules downstream of Gαs signaling, including thyroid-specific molecules, and iodide uptake. In summary, our results demonstrate the noncanonical activation of TSH-TSHR signaling and its role in increasing the cell mobility and dedifferentiation of thyroid cancer through crosstalk with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pioglitazone for bipolar depression.

BACKGROUND: Objective of the present study was to conduct an 8-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test the efficacy of pioglitazone in the treatment of bipolar depression. METHODS: 38 outpatients with bipolar disorder and current major depressive episode were randomized to pioglitazone (15-45 mg/day) or placebo. The use of concomitant mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants was permitted. The primary outcome measure was the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Clinician Rated (IDS-C30) total score change from baseline to endpoint. Laboratory evaluations, including serum level of inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, were conducted. RESULTS: 37 subjects were analyzed for efficacy (1 subject had no follow-up data). Mean reduction from baseline to week 8 in IDS-C30 score was-6.59 for pioglitazone and -11.63 for placebo. Mixed effects modeling indicated borderline statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.056) in favor of placebo. On analysis of inflammatory and metabolic markers, a statistically significant negative correlation was noted between change in leptin levels and change in depression scores in the pioglitazone group (r = -0.61, p = 0.047) but not in the placebo group, the significance of which is unclear as the study failed to demonstrate antidepressant efficacy of pioglitazone over placebo. No serious adverse effects were reported, and pioglitazone was well-tolerated. LIMITATIONS: small sample size with inadequate power, concomitant use of other psychotropic medications, and lack of statistical adjustment for multiple testing. CONCLUSION: Current study does not support the antidepressant efficacy of pioglitazone in the treatment of bipolar depression. (240 words).

Effects of Omega-3 in the treatment of violent schizophrenia patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the relationship in between the daily consumption of fish oil (360mg DHA+540mg EPA), and reduction of symptoms and violent behavior among patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: Fifty inpatients meeting ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia and scoring more than four of Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) with antipsychotics treatment were randomly assigned to receive either fish oil (N=28) or a placebo (N=22) in a twelve week, double-blind supplementation trial. Assessments were performed at baseline and at weeks 4, 8 and 12. RESULTS: The PANSS and CGI scores decreased at the week of 4, 8 and 12, but no differences were found between the two groups. MOAS scores declined significantly at weeks 4, 8 and 12. At week 12, MOAS scores of the fish oil group declined significantly than the placebo group (t=-2.40, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: violent schizophrenia patients treated with fish oil (360mg DHA+540mg EPA) demonstrated a decrease in violence, but improvement in positive and negative symptoms was no greater than patients treated with the placebo after twelve weeks.