Type B Laparoscopic Radical Trachelectomy With Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Early Cervical Cancer

Study Objective

To demonstrate the technique of laparoscopic radical trachelectomy (LRT) and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for early cervical cancer.

Feasibility and effects of a decision aid about fertility preservation

This paper reports on the feasibility and preliminary effects of a decision aid (DA) about female fertility preservation (FP). We conducted a pilot multicentre randomized controlled trial of women with breast cancer aged 18–40 who were randomized to brochures or the DA. Over 18 months, 62 women were eligible, of which 42 were invited by their healthcare provider (74%) to participate in the study. A total of 36 women signed up for participation and 26 (72%) were randomized to brochures (n?=?13) or the DA (n?=?13). In both groups, many women (87%) read the brochures and eight women used all available brochures. In the intervention group, 7/13 women logged in to the DA. Women who received brochures had slightly less decisional conflict, whereas knowledge improved in both groups. Our results indicate that both brochures about FP and a detailed DA have beneficial effects with regard to knowledge, but the DA seemed to introduce slightly more decisional conflict (DC) than the brochures. Although we encountered challenges with recruitment, our design and measurements seem feasible and the effects of the information materials seem promising, hence justifying conducting a larger study.     

罗湖术式在阴道闭锁治疗中的应用及热点问题探讨

先天性阴道闭锁临床表现复杂,北京协和医院把阴道闭锁分为阴道下段闭锁(Ⅰ型)和阴道完全闭锁(Ⅱ型),准确的分型有利于选择恰当的治疗方案。对于阴道闭锁Ⅱ型,"罗湖三式"通过闭锁宫颈切除+腹腔镜腹膜阴道成形(罗湖二式)+子宫人工阴道吻合术的组合,成功解决了阴道闭锁Ⅱ型保留生育功能的难题。对于阴道闭锁Ⅰ型中闭锁位置较高的病例,"罗湖四式"通过腹腔镜下闭锁阴道切开+腹膜阴道成形术(罗湖二式)的结合,也成功保留了患者的子宫。充分的术前影像学检查有助于对阴道闭锁的类型进行正确诊断,协助制定合理的治疗方案,而且应该选择合适的手术时机以避免患者延误治疗。术后利用阴道模具进行短时间定期扩张以保持人工阴道的通畅,合并严重子宫内膜异位症者可加用药物治疗。阴道闭锁保留子宫术后的远期妊娠结局有待观察。     

Ovarian-Sparing Surgery in Pediatric Benign Ovarian Tumors

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate outcomes of children after ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) for non-neoplastic and benign neoplastic ovarian lesions.DesignRetrospective cohort study from January 2003 to January 2012.SettingSingle, high-volume, tertiary care hospital.ParticipantsChildren 18 years of age and younger.InterventionsNone.Main Outcome MeasuresPostoperative complications and tumor recurrence after OSS.ResultsOne hundred nine patients underwent OSS with a median age of 13.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 11.4-15.1 years). Eighty-two patients were treated laparoscopically with 4 conversions to an open procedure. Postoperative complications included surgical site infections in 7 patients (6%). Pathology most commonly revealed functional ovarian cysts (n = 57) and mature teratomas (n = 37). Ninety-four patients (86%) were followed for a median of 10.4 months (IQR, 0.72-30.8 months). Fifty-five patients (60%) had subsequent imaging surveillance a median of 7.6 months postoperatively (IQR, 3.9-13 months). Ten patients (10%) developed a second ipsilateral lesion within a median time of 11 months (IQR, 7.7-24 months), of whom 5 girls had repeated surgery for mass enlargement or persistent abdominal pain at a median time of 10.5 months (IQR, 8.0-12.65 months). Fifty-eight patients (63%) began or resumed menses at their most recent follow-up. Three girls became pregnant after OSS at a median follow-up of 5 years (range, 2.4-6.7 years).ConclusionBenign ovarian lesions in children can be treated successfully with OSS with low recurrence and repeat surgery rates.     

Fertility awareness-based methods of family planning

Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) of family planning involve monitoring various signs and symptoms of fertility during the menstrual cycle to identify the “fertile window,” or the days of the cycle when unprotected intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy. Signs and symptoms include menstrual cycle length, basal body temperature, urinary hormone measurements, and/or cervical fluid and may be used alone or in combination. Fertility signs reflect both physiological changes during the menstrual cycle and the life cycle of the ovum and sperm. Women learn to observe or measure and interpret these signs according to the instructions of their chosen FABM and avoid unprotected intercourse on fertile days. FABMs are appropriate for those who choose to use them, are able and willing to observe one or more fertility signs, and are in relationships that support the use of a coitus-related method such as a condom or abstaining from intercourse on fertile days.     

COH outcomes in breast cancer patients for fertility preservation: a comparison with the expected response by age

PurposeBreast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed during childbearing age, and fertility preservation is becoming increasingly more essential. However, recent studies indicate a possible poorer response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in cancer patients than in non-cancer controls and a negative impact of BRCA mutations on female fertility. This study aims to evaluate ovarian response and the number of mature oocytes (MII) vitrified in women with breast cancer, with or without BRCA mutation, comparing them to the expected response according to an age-related nomogram.MethodsThis is a retrospective observational study involving sixty-one breast cancer patients who underwent COH for oocyte cryopreservation. The age-specific nomogram was built using 3871 patients who underwent COH due to oocyte donation, fertility preservation for non-medical reasons, or FIVET for male factor exclusively.ResultsThe mean number of oocytes retrieved was 13.03, whereas the mean number of MII oocytes was 10.00. After the application of the z-score, no statistically significant differences were found compared with the expected response in the general population, neither by dividing patients according to the presence or absence of BRCA mutation nor according to the phase in which they initiated stimulation.ConclusionThe results obtained do not support the notion of a negative impact of the BRCA mutation on the ovarian response of women with breast cancer. Women with breast cancer undergoing COH for fertility preservation can expect the ovarian response predicted for their age.     

Efficacy of transient abdominal ovariopexy in patients with severe endometriosis

Objective

To assess adhesion formation and fertility outcome after transient abdominal ovariopexy performed in patients with severe endometriosis.

Study design

Retrospective study including 218 patients who underwent surgery for severe endometriosis from 1997 to 2009. One hundred and thirty-nine (64%) patients were infertile. The initial ASRM stage was IV in 139 cases, III in 43 cases and II in 36 cases. Adnexal adhesions were scored by using the Operative Laparoscopy Study Group (OLSG) and modified AFS scoring systems. Unilateral or bilateral transient abdominal ovariopexy of 336 ovaries was performed to prevent adhesion formation or reformation for extensive surgery. In patients who underwent a second operation, adnexal adhesion scores were reported. Fertility outcome was evaluated by a questionnaire.

Results

Second-look surgery was performed after 11.7 ± 2.4 months in 24 patients (11%) who had undergone 38 ovariopexies. Transient abdominal ovariopexy significantly decreased adnexal adhesion scores (p < 0.05). Regarding fertility outcome, the median follow up was 19.6 ± 1.5 months. Fifty-eight patients, out of 105 infertile women who actively tried to conceive after surgery, conceived, 21 (36%) spontaneously and 37 (64%) after ART. The median time interval for conception was 8.6 ± 1 months.

Conclusion

In patients with severe endometriosis, transient abdominal ovariopexy is an effective technique in preventing postoperative adhesion formation and in improving fertility outcome.

Condensation

In 218 patients with severe endometriosis, transient abdominal ovariopexy was an effective technique in preventing adhesion formation and improving fertility outcome.     

Combination Treatment of Preoperative Embryo Cryopreservation and Endoscopic Surgery (Surgery-ART Hybrid Therapy) in Infertile Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve and Uterine Myomas or Ovarian Endometriomas

Study ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical outcomes of and predictive factors for the therapeutic effect of combination treatment of preoperative embryo cryopreservation and endoscopic surgery (surgery-assisted reproductive technology [ART] hybrid therapy) in infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) with uterine fibroids and/or ovarian endometriomas.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingData from all patients who underwent surgery-ART hybrid therapy at Juntendo University Hospital and Sugiyama Clinic between 2014 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. We compared women who experienced live birth (success group) and implantation failure or miscarriage (failure group) after surgery-ART hybrid therapy and evaluate the predictive factors for live birth.PatientsA total of 39 infertile women underwent surgery-ART hybrid therapy with 86 embryo transfer cycles.InterventionsAll women underwent ART treatment for embryo cryopreservation preoperatively, reproductive surgery, and warmed embryo transfer after the postoperative contraceptive interval (surgery-ART hybrid therapy) for women with DOR (anti-Müllerian hormone <1.0 ng/mL) and/or advanced reproductive age (>40 years) with uterine myomas and/or ovarian endometriomas who required surgery.ResultsAmong 39 women underwent surgery-ART hybrid therapy, 1 woman acquired no embryo after oocyte retrieval trials and abandoned efforts to conceive, 14 experienced childbirth (success group) and 24 (63.2%) experienced implantation failure or miscarriage (failure group) after surgery-ART hybrid therapy. The median patient age was 40 years (interquartile range [IQR], 38–41 years) in the success group and 41.5 years (IQR, 41–42 years) in the failure group (p = .032). The respective serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels were 2.5 ng/mL (range, 0.1–8.6 ng/mL) and 1.3 ng/mL (range, 0.1–4.2 ng/mL) (p = .396), and the respective numbers of preoperative frozen were 5.0 (range, 4.0–6.0) and 2.0 (range, 1.0–3.0) (p < .001). There were no significant differences in surgical findings of myomas and endometriosis between the 2 groups. Compared with the 24 women who experienced hybrid therapy failure, the 14 who underwent successful surgery-ART hybrid therapy were significantly younger and had a greater number of cryopreserved embryos.ConclusionSuccessful surgery-ART hybrid therapy requires a sufficient preoperative age-specific number of frozen embryos, establishment of ART treatment with stable pregnancy outcomes and skillful reproductive surgery, and a strong desire of the patient and doctor for pregnancy.     

Oocytes from stem cells

Folliculogenesis describes the process of activating an oocyte-containing primordial follicle from the ovarian reserve and its development to the mature ovulatory stage. This process is highly complex and is controlled by extra- and intra-ovarian signaling events. Oocyte competence and capacity for fertilization to support a viable pregnancy are acquired during folliculogenesis. Cancer and cancer-based therapies can negatively affect this process, compromising fertility. Currently, preservation of fertility in these patients remains limited to surrogacy, oocyte freezing, oocyte donation, or in vitro maturation (IVM). Recent reports of stem cells being used to produce fully competent oocytes and subsequently healthy offspring in mice have opened up a novel avenue for fertility preservation. However, translating these findings into human health first relies on enhancing our understanding of follicle growth and mimicking its intricacies in vitro. Indeed, the future of oocytes from stem cells in humans comes with many possibilities but currently faces several technical and ethical obstacles.