Influence of early-life factors on the development of endometriosis

Objective: Our aim was to study the association between early-life factors and the development of endometriosis.

Methods: This case–control study included 440 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis (cases) and 880 women without endometriosis (controls). Information on early-life factors was ascertained retrospectively by in-person interviews with participants and their mothers. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between endometriosis and maternal and paternal characteristics and foetal and infant exposures were estimated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for frequency matching and confounding variables.

Results: We observed that women who were not breastfed as infants had twice the risk of endometriosis compared with women who were breastfed (adjusted OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.6, 4.5). Our data suggested an increased endometriosis risk with neonatal vaginal bleeding (adjusted OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2, 4.3) and paternal smoking (adjusted OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1, 4.9). Although the CIs included the null hypothesis value, caesarean section (adjusted OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0, 3.5) and prematurity (adjusted OR 1.4; 95% CI 0.8, 3.7) were probably associated with the incidence of endometriosis.

Conclusions: Some early-life factors including breastfeeding, neonatal vaginal bleeding and paternal smoking were associated with subsequent, surgically confirmed endometriosis in this cohort of Chinese women.     

Imaging benign gynaecological conditions

Radiology plays an essential role in the management of benign gynaecological conditions and includes: ultrasound; computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Each modality has a different role in diagnosis, treatment selection and follow-up. This review discusses the different imaging modalities, their recommended roles in the imaging and imaging findings of common female pelvic pathology.     

A rare massive presentation of catamenial hemothorax

Catamenial hemothorax is a rare manifestation of thoracic endometriosis syndrome. It is commonly seen associated with pelvic endometriosis in nulliparous reproductive-age women. Most cases are minor and self-limiting. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with prolonged worsening dyspnea and was found to have a massive hemothorax on evaluation.     

脂肪和肥胖相关基因通过TLR2/p38信号通路促进异位子宫内膜间质细胞纤维化

目的：探讨脂肪和肥胖相关基因（FTO）对异位子宫内膜间质细胞（eESCs）纤维化的影响及其机制。方法：采用实时定量聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）检测子宫内膜异位症（EMs）患者病变组织中m6A相关基因的表达；通过慢病毒载体过表达FTO，在eESCs中检测纤维化相关基因的表达；通过m6A2 Target数据库和MeRIP-qPCR预测和验证eESCs中FTO与Toll样受体2（TLR2）的关系；Western blot法检测p38的蛋白表达变化。结果：FTO在EMs中表达下调（P ＜0.05）；FTO过表达促进eESCs纤维化并抑制其增殖（P ＜0.05）；在eESCs中，FTO通过TLR2 的m6A修饰途径上调其蛋白水平（P ＜0.05）；FTO在eESCs中经TLR2/p38 信号通路促进细胞纤维化（P ＜0.05）。结论：FTO在EMs中低表达，上调FTO可能通过TLR2/p38信号通路促进eESCs纤维化。     

Comparative Analysis of Umbilical Nodules in Male and Female Patients: A 20-Year Retrospective Study

Background and aimsThe umbilicus is known to receive metastatic malignancy from diverse visceral organs. Accurate and correct diagnosis of umbilical lesions is imperative since metastatic malignancy signifies a serious underlying situation with dire prognosis. Identification of demographic features that can contribute to diagnostic resolution of umbilical lesions is desirable. We analyzed umbilical biopsies received over a 20-year period to determine any gender distinctive attributes of umbilical nodules.Materials and methodAll umbilical biopsies received in our department from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2019 were identified and analyzed. Data acquired included patient's gender, age, date of biopsy, type of biopsy and histopathological diagnoses and these were analyzed using computer software.ResultsThere were 67 umbilical biopsies from 22 males and 45 females giving a male: female ratio of 1:2. The difference between the mean age (SD) of male patients [47.8 years (19.4 years)] and that of the females [42.8 years (13.9 years)] was not statistically significant (p = 0.28). Twenty-five of the 67 umbilical lesions were benign while 42 were malignant. About 90.9% of biopsies in males were malignant and 9.1% benign while 48.9% of biopsies in females were malignant and 51.1% benign. The odds of malignant umbilical biopsy in males compared to females is 10.5 [OR = 10.5; 95% CI = 2.2–50.1)].ConclusionUmbilical biopsies were relatively infrequent in our practice and were more common in females than males. Umbilical lesions presented by males are mostly malignant. Overall, 78% of all umbilical lesions in females were of gynecological derivation.     

Clinical analysis of high-intensity focussed ultrasound ablation for abdominal wall endometriosis: a 4-year experience at a specialty gynecological institution

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical effect of high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) as a non-invasive modality for ablation of abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) foci.

Methods: All women who were diagnosed with cutaneous endometriosis and underwent HIFU ablation and 4-year follow-up were included. Patient symptoms, imaging performed, HIFU ablation, recurrence, lesion location, size and number were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 51 women with 57 painful abdominal wall masses with a median volume of 4.00?cm³ and a mean age of 30.5±2.12 years were treated with HIFU. The main symptoms were a palpable painful abdominal mass (93%), protrusion of the skin (28.1%, 16) or lack of protrusion of the skin (71.9%, 41). Ultrasound was initially performed in 100% (51) of women, whereas 6% (3) required MRI examinations to distinguish the features and range of the masses. Ablation was performed with a median 300?s of sonication time, 40?min treatment time, 150?W of power and 41800?J of total energy to treat lesions that were a median volume of 3.83?cm³. No severe complications occurred, except in one patient with a first-degree skin burn, during the 48-month follow-up period. The pooled recurrence of cutaneous endometriosis occurred in 3.9% (2) of women.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of AWE should be confirmed with imaging of the lesion number, location, size and features before HIFU ablation. HIFU should be the first choice for the treatment of AWE as it is a non-invasive method, with high efficiency and safety and rapid postoperative recovery.