Minimizing bladder injury in laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy among women with previous cesarean sections.

BACKGROUND: This study demonstrated a method to prevent bladder injury during laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) to patients with vesicocervical adhesion after previous cesarean deliveries. METHODS: Between July 2004 and July 2005, 50 women with vesicocervical adhesion who had given birth by cesarean delivery underwent LAVH. To minimize the chance of bladder injury, transvaginal lateral intervention was used to enter the anterior cul-de-sac during laparoscopic intrafascial hysterectomy. The lateral windows of the vesicocervical space were opened first. Usually, the potential spaces lateral to the adhesions could be developed easily by blunt finger dissection. Once adequate lateral spaces were created, an index finger was swept medially to define the margin of the midline adhesions secondary to the cesarean delivery scar. Under direct vision and finger guidance, the dense adhesions were dissected with more confidence and safety. Subsequently, the bladder was pushed gently aside to avert unexpected tearing or injury along the intrafascial hysterectomy. Because the vesico-uterine fold had been cut open previously under laparoscopy, the anterior cul-de-sac could be entered without much resistance. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 45 +/- 7 years, and the extirpated uterine weight was 323 +/- 170.8 g (range, 85-730 g). Intraoperatively, the mean operation time was 124.6 +/- 28.5 min (range, 80-235 min), and the average blood loss was 79.1 +/- 47.8 ml (range, 20-250 ml). The mean intramuscular meperidine requirements were 1.2 +/- 0.8 ampules (range, 0-2 ampules) (1 ampule = 50 mg), and the average hospital stay was 3.2 +/- 0.9 days (range, 2-5 days). Of these 50 patients, 24 (48%) had one, 22 (44%) had two, and 4 (8%) had three previous cesarean deliveries. No bladder injury occurred among the patients, and there was no other complication. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal lateral intervention may help to minimize bladder injuries during LAVH for patients with previous cesarean deliveries.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) acts as an invasion-metastasis suppressor in ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.

Metastasis and invasion occur in the majority of epithelial ovarian carcinoma at diagnosis. To delineate the molecular signature in ovarian cancer invasion, we established and characterized a human ovarian endometrioid carcinoma (EC) cell line OVTW59-P0 and its invasion-related sublines (P1-P4, in the order of increasing invasive activity). P4 showed faster migration and larger xenograft formation with metastasis than P0. By microarray analysis of different gene expression among P0-P4 sublines, one group of gene was found negatively correlated with cancer invasion. Among these genes, IGFBP-3 was identified as one of the most remarkably suppressed gene that showed lower gene expression in P4 than P0. Re-expression of IGFBP-3 in P4 effectively inhibited cell migration, invasion and metastasis, but did not affect cell proliferation. In 35 patients with EC tumors, low IGFBP-3 expression correlated clinically with higher tumor grade, advanced stage and poor survival. Our results provide evidence and indicate that IGFBP-3 plays an important role as an invasion-metastasis suppressor in ovarian EC.

Expression of inhibitory natural killer receptors on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocyte lineage in human endometrial carcinoma.

To investigate the expression of natural killer receptors (NKRs) within the human tumor milieu, we directly examined the in vivo expressions of various NKRs on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) derived from human endometrial carcinoma (EC). In total, 22 patients with stage IA-IIIA EC were enrolled. TILs were isolated from tissue specimens by means of a mechanical dispersal technique. The subpopulations of immunocytes were quantified, and expressions of NKRs on CD8+ T cells were analyzed by triple-color flow cytometry. CD8+ T cells express higher ratios of CD94 and NKG2A in TILs than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in human EC. Flow cytometry reveals that 15.90% of CD3+CD8+ TILs compared with 2.10% of CD3+CD8+ PBMCs express the NKG2A molecules (P < 0.001). The percentage expressions of CD94 are 8.40% in CD3+CD8+ TILs and 3.80% in CD3+CD8+ PBMCs (P= 0.013). The numbers of CD8+ T cells expressing CD158b and NKB1 are higher in CD3+CD8+ PBMCs in EC than in normal (CD158b: 10.70% vs 2.60%, P < 0.001; NKB1: 2.20% vs 0.40%, P= 0.018, respectively). Increased expression of CD94/NKG2A restricted to tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell subsets may shape the cytotoxic responses, which indicate a possible role of tumor escape from host immunity in human EC.

Effects of menopause and obesity on lipid profiles in middle-aged Taiwanese women: the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort Study.

In this cross-sectional study, we examined the associations between lipid profiles and menopausal status, age, and obesity in Taiwanese women. The study population, established in 1990-91, consisted of 671 premenopausal and 872 postmenopausal women from the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort (CCCC). The associations of age, body mass index (BMI), and menopausal status with serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apoproteins (Apo) A-1 and B, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] were evaluated. The results showed that menopause was associated with significant increases in TC, LDL-C, TG, and Apo B levels (all P < 0.001). Total cholesterol, LDL-C, TG, and Apo B levels increased consistently with BMI in middle-aged women, regardless of menopausal status. Among women aged 45-49, menopausal women had significantly higher levels of TC and LDL-C than premenopausal women (P < 0.01). However, TG and Apo B levels were higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women aged 50-54 years (P < 0.05). Standardized regression analyses showed all lipid variables, except those of Apo A1 and Lp (a) before menopause and TC, LDL-C, and Lp (a) after menopause, were significantly associated with BMI (all P < 0.01). We conclude serum lipid levels in Taiwanese women are no more strongly associated with menopause and BMI than with age.

Reversed CD4/CD8 ratios of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are correlated with the progression of human cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within the tumor milieu of human cervical carcinoma, the authors quantitatively measured and compared the subpopulations of lymphocytes infiltrating the neoplastic cervix. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with Stage Ia-IIa cervical carcinoma were enrolled. TILs were isolated from tissue specimens by means of a mechanical dispersal technique, and the immunocyte subsets were quantified with dual-color flow cytometry. Bulky tumor was defined as tumor size >4 cm in greatest dimension according to the 1995 staging of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. RESULTS: The CD4/CD8 ratios of TILs were reversed in both cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 20) and cervical adenocarcinoma (n = 10). The proportion of CD4(+) T cells was significantly lower in tumors from patients with lymph node metastasis (n = 8) than in those from patients without lymph node metastasis (n = 22) (24.5 vs. 32.7, P = 0.001), as was the reversed CD4/CD8 ratio (0.50 vs. 0.81, P = 0.001). The proportion of CD4(+) T cells was much lower in bulky tumors (n = 5) than in nonbulky tumors (n = 25) (21.4 vs. 32.5, P < 0.001), reflecting in a more strongly reversed CD4/CD8 ratio (0.41 vs. 0.81, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased proportions of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T cells with reversed CD4/CD8 ratios are highly correlated with rapid tumor growth and lymph node metastasis in cervical carcinoma. The regional immune escape is of prognostic importance with regard to cancer progression.

Comparison of endometrial changes among symptomatic tamoxifen-treated and nontreated premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer patients who received tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy have been reported to have more endometrial lesions such as polyps, hyperplasia, or carcinoma. We conducted a prospective study to elucidate the endometrial changes of premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients with tamoxifen. Sixty-seven symptomatic breast cancer patients who had been on tamoxifen treatment, including 34 premenopausal and 33 postmenopausal patients, and another group of 48 patients who had not been on tamoxifen, including 25 premenopausal and 23 postmenopausal patients, were recruited. Symptomatic patients were defined as having hypermenorrhea or abnormal vaginal bleeding among premenopausal patients or postmenopausal bleeding among postmenopausal patients. Endometrial thickness and uterine size determined by vaginal ultrasonography, histologic findings, and risk factors for endometrial cancer were compared. The mean endometrial thickness and uterine size showed no statistically significant difference in premenopausal patients with (n = 34) or without (n = 25) tamoxifen treatment, whereas there was a significant difference in the postmenopausal patients with (n = 33) or without (n = 23) tamoxifen treatment (12.11 +/- 12.38 mm vs 5.41 +/- 2.70 mm, P = 0.025; 234.71 +/- 76.36 cm3 vs 108.81 +/- 81.27 cm3, P = 0.0018, respectively). The frequency of endometrial histopathologic findings was 23.5% (8/34) in tamoxifen-treated women compared with 12.0% (3/25) in nontreated women (P = 0.269) in the premenopausal groups. In contrast, it was remarkably high with 66.7% (22/33) in tamoxifen-treated women compared with 30.4% (7/23) in the nontreated women in the postmenopausal groups (P = 0.025). There were four postmenopausal patients with tamoxifen, including three with atypical endometrial hyperplasia and one endometrial carcinoma, in contrast to no postmenopausal nontreated patients, although this difference did not reach statistical significance in this study (P = 0.096). There was a remarkably high prevalence of endometrial histopathologic findings in symptomatic tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients, especially postmenopausal women. Tamoxifen might be associated with premalignant or malignant changes in postmenopausal endometrium. Thus timely, aggressive histologic assessment such as curettage or hysteroscope should be performed to detect the endometrial lesions when symptoms occur. Vaginal ultrasonography could be a useful tool to detect the endometrial lesions.

Prediction of residual neoplasia based on histopathology and margin status of conization specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the status of cone margins and the severity of cervical neoplasia as predictors of residual lesions in the remaining cervices. METHODS: We performed a 7-year retrospective study and reviewed 172 patients who had undergone cervical conization followed by subsequent hysterectomy. Pathological findings of the cone margins and residual lesions in the postcone hysterectomy specimens were recorded for analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of positive cone margins were 0, 18.6, 23.8, and 25%, respectively, in patients with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) (n = 6), high-grade SIL (n = 129), stage IA1 cervical cancer (CC-IA1) (n = 21), and CC-IA2 (n = 16). The prevalence rates of positive residual lesions in postcone hysterectomy specimens were 0, 23.3, 23.8, and 43.8%, respectively, in those with low-grade SIL, high-grade SIL, CC-IA1, and CC-IA2. Residual lesions were significantly more frequently found in patients with positive cone margins (84.8%) than in those with negative margins (10.1%) (X2 = 76.81, P < 0.0001). All six patients with low-grade SIL had free cone margins. Positive predictive values of margin status for the presence of residual lesions were 83.3, 80, and 100%, respectively, in patients with high-grade SIL, CC-IA1, and CC-IA2. Only two (6.1%) of 33 patients with positive cone margins had more advanced residual lesions. Negative predictive values of margin status for the absence of residual lesions were 100, 90.5, 93.8, and 75%, respectively, in patients with low-grade SIL, high-grade SIL, CC-IA1, and CC-IA2. None of the 139 patients with negative margins had invasive residual lesion. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The prevalence of positive cone margin and residual lesion increased with higher severity of cervical neoplasia. (2) Patients with positive cone margins had significantly higher chances of having residual lesion than those with negative margins. (3) Free cone margin does not ensure the absence of residual lesion in the remaining cervix. However, the possibility of residual invasive cancer in the remaining cervix is remote. (4) Positive cone margin does not invariably indicate the presence and persistence of more severe residual lesion. Subsequent hysterectomy may be reserved for the patient with invasive cone pathology, the patient with concomitant morbid uterine condition, or the patient who is not reliable for continuous follow-up.

Mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: a clinicopathologic study of 283 cases.

BACKGROUND: Although in the English literature, much has been published about ovarian teratoma, no large series has been reported in Taiwan. Therefore a retrospective study of 283 consecutive cases of mature cystic teratomas of the ovary, operated at National Taiwan University Hospital between 1988 and 1993, was undertaken. METHODS: This series was based on a retrospective chart study at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1988 to 1993. All cases included in this study were proven by pathology review. The clinical data, pathology and complications are summarized. RESULTS: The incidence of mature cystic teratoma was 32.6% of primary ovarian neoplasm. As for the age distribution, the youngest patient was 12 years old and the oldest, 76. The largest number of cases was found in patients between the ages of 20 and 30 years; the mean age was 35.4 years. Pain, the most common complaint, was noted in 48.1% of the cases in whom it varied from a dull ache to the sharp, stabbing pain of torsion. Of greater interest was an unexpectedly high incidence (16.6%) of asymptomatic cysts found on routine physical examination. The right ovary was involved in 51.2%, the left ovary in 40.6% and bilateral ovaries were involved in 8.2%. The incidence of torsion was 9.2%, and was the highest in all complications. Ten concurrent pregnancies were noted, an incidence of 3.5%. The incidence of malignant transformation was 0.7%, with a pathology of squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Mature cystic teratom is the most common germ cell tumor and accounts for about 33% of all ovarian neoplasm They occur primarily during the reproductive years, but may occur in the postmenopausal period or in childhood. A cystic teratoma can undergo malignant transformation; it occurs most frequently in postmenopausal women, and the prognosis is poor. However, it is a rare complicaiton, with an incidence less than 1%.

Female genital tuberculosis: report of seven cases.

Seven cases of histologically proven genital tuberculosis (TB) encountered at the National Taiwan University Hospital in the past 16 years were reviewed. From a total of 54,576 gynecologic specimens submitted for pathologic examination, the occurrence of genital TB was 0.01%. Of these seven patients, one suffered from primary infertility and one from secondary infertility. The patient with primary infertility had been married for 29 years. The patient with secondary infertility underwent a tuboplasty due to bilateral hydrosalpinx. Genital TB was not diagnosed preoperatively in any of the seven cases. The preoperative diagnoses included: postmenopausal spotting, ovarian malignancy, cervicitis, ectopic pregnancy and hydrosalpinx with secondary infertility. This review suggests that genital TB is becoming rare in Taiwan. It is difficult to diagnose from clinical symptoms and is usually discovered on pathologic examination.