Fibroid Patients Research Articles

The feasibility of high-resolution organ-axial T2-weighted MRI when combined with federation of gynecology and obstetrics (FIGO) classification of uterine fibroid patients.

Correctly classifying uterine fibroids is essential for treatment planning. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of the FIGO classification system in categorizing uterine fibroids via organ-axial T2WI and to further investigate the factors associated with uterine compression. A total of 130 patients with ultrasound-confirmed fibroids were prospectively enrolled between March 2023 and May 2024. These patients underwent MR examinations, including body-axial T2W (sagittal and axial) and organ-axial T2W (high resolution with oblique coronal and double oblique axial). For postprocessing, the interobserver agreements between two radiologists and the interagreements between two MR examinations and operational descriptions were evaluated via kappa statistics. The accuracy of axial and organ-axial T2W assessments in the FIGO classification of uterine fibroids was compared when surgical outcomes were used as the gold standard. The Kruskal‒Wallis test was used to compare the differences in cavity deformation across various FIGO classifications. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between the FIGO classification and the parameters of uterine cavity deformation. In total, 170 fibroids from 130 patients were included. Compared with body-axial T2WI, organ-axial T2WI showed better interobserver agreement and greater interagreements with operational descriptions, with kappa values of 0.877 (P = 0.04) and 0.932 (P = 0.037), respectively. The accuracy of the organ-axial T2WI assessment in determining the FIGO classification of uterine fibroids was greater than that of the body-axial T2WI assessment, with an accuracy of 92.9% (P < 0.01). Thirty-two (38.1%) fibroids showed cavity deformation according to organ-axial T2WI, including fibroids with FIGO types 0-7 and 2-5. Among these factors, the size of the fibroids (S), base width (B), depth of compression (D), D/B, D/S, and compression angle (A) significantly differed among the different FIGO types of fibroids (P < 0.05). Compression angle exhibited a linear correlation with the FIGO type (P < 0.001). Compared with body-axial T2WI, organ-axial T2WI provides greater accuracy on the basis of the FIGO classification, which is more consistent with surgical outcomes. Given the excellent reliability and accuracy of the preoperative FIGO classification, organ-axial T2WI can contribute to treatment planning.

Ultrasound guided microwave ablation treatment of uterine fibroids: Clinical response and patient acceptability.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of ultrasound guided microwave ablation for treating symptoms related to uterine fibroids. This was a prospective interventional study. Patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids were included at Danderyd Hospital, Sweden, from January 2020 to August 2023. All patients were treated with percutaneous or vaginal ultrasound guided microwave ablation. Primary outcome was reduction of fibroid symptoms evaluated by the validated uterine fibroid symptom and quality of life (UFS-QoL) questionnaire at 6 months post-treatment. Location of each fibroid was noted. Secondary outcomes included reduction of menstruation blood loss, change in hemoglobin, ferritin and Anti-Müllerian hormone, fibroid volume difference, hospitalization, acceptability, and postoperative pain. Clinical trials registration number NCT04240262. Symptoms from uterine fibroids decreased by 37% (p < 0.001) on the symptom severity scale and health-related quality of life increased by 74% (p < 0.001). Menstrual blood loss decreased by 38% (p < 0.001) according to the Pictorial Bleeding Assessment Chart and median fibroid shrinkage of the three largest treated fibroids was 64% (p < 0.001). Highest median shrinkage rate (82) was seen in submucous fibroids. A total of 110 of 113 (97%) patients left the hospital on the day of treatment. We experienced one adverse event (0.8%) Clavien Dindo grade 3. Acceptability was high and postoperative pain was mild to moderate. Microwave ablation is a highly acceptable minimally invasive method for treating symptoms related to uterine fibroids in patients who desire uterus preservation. Submucosal fibroids showed more favorable treatment results.

Revolutionizing Fertility: A Review Of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound On Uterine Fibroids

Background: The aim of the study is to review the safety and the success in fibroid patients by using high intensity focused ultrasound and compare with those of other surgeries for treatment of fibroid. Materials and Methods: We searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science by using the keywords MRHIFU and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, uterine fibroid, fertility sparing and pregnancy. The literature reviews for the recent 7 years were searched. The database search was limited to English although much of publications and studies were those of China. Results: HIFU has significant advantage over other methods and improving the health related quality of life. It has a significant effect in shortening pregnancy interval thereby preserving ovarian function. HIFU treatment displayed a relatively higher pregnancy rate, shorter pregnancy interval by preserving ovarian function. This, it is an excellent option for treating symptomatic fibroid patients willing to conceive. Conclusion: HIFU is a safe and effective non-invasive treatment for patients with symptomatic fibroids,offering a good quality of life with minimal complications.

Development and validation of a deep learning-based method for automatic measurement of uterus, fibroid, and ablated volume in MRI after MR-HIFU treatment of uterine fibroids

IntroductionThe non-perfused volume divided by total fibroid load (NPV/TFL) is a predictive outcome parameter for MRI-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) treatments of uterine fibroids, which is related to long-term symptom relief. In current clinical practice, the MR-HIFU outcome parameters are typically determined by visual inspection, so an automated computer-aided method could facilitate objective outcome quantification. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a deep learning-based segmentation algorithm for volume measurements of the uterus, uterine fibroids, and NPVs in MRI in order to automatically quantify the NPV/TFL. Materials and MethodsA segmentation pipeline was developed and evaluated using expert manual segmentations of MRI scans of 115 uterine fibroid patients, screened for and/or undergoing MR-HIFU treatment. The pipeline contained three separate neural networks, one per target structure. The first step in the pipeline was uterus segmentation from contrast-enhanced (CE)-T1w scans. This segmentation was subsequently used to remove non-uterus background tissue for NPV and fibroid segmentation. In the following step, NPVs were segmented from uterus-only CE-T1w scans. Finally, fibroids were segmented from uterus-only T2w scans. The segmentations were used to calculate the volume for each structure. Reliability and agreement between manual and automatic segmentations, volumes, and NPV/TFLs were assessed. ResultsFor treatment scans, the Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) between the manually and automatically obtained segmentations were 0.90 (uterus), 0.84 (NPV) and 0.74 (fibroid). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 1.00 [0.99, 1.00] (uterus), 0.99 [0.98, 1.00] (NPV) and 0.98 [0.95, 0.99] (fibroid) between manually and automatically derived volumes. For manually and automatically derived NPV/TFLs, the mean difference was 5% [-41%, 51%] (ICC: 0.66 [0.32, 0.85]). ConclusionThe algorithm presented in this study automatically calculates uterus volume, fibroid load, and NPVs, which could lead to more objective outcome quantification after MR-HIFU treatments of uterine fibroids in comparison to visual inspection. When robustness has been ascertained in a future study, this tool may eventually be employed in clinical practice to automatically measure the NPV/TFL after MR-HIFU procedures of uterine fibroids.

“In our community, we normalize pain”: discussions around menstruation and uterine fibroids with Black women and Latinas

BackgroundUterine fibroids are non-cancerous neoplasms that arise from the uterus affecting over 75% of women. However, there is a disparity with Black women having an increased prevalence of nearly 80%. Black women also experience increased symptom burden, including younger age at the time of diagnosis and increased number and volume of fibroids. Less is known about other ethnoracially diverse women such as Latinas and the potential cultural impacts on fibroid burden and treatment.MethodsCommunity engagement studios were conducted to facilitate discussions with stakeholders on their uterine fibroid and menstruation experience. We recruited Black women (n = 6) diagnosed with uterine fibroids and Latinas (n = 7) without uterine fibroids. We held two virtual community engagement studios split by uterine fibroid diagnosis. The studios were not audio recorded and notes were taken by four notetakers. The notes were thematically analyzed in Atlas.ti using content analysis.ResultsParticipants felt there was a lack of discussion around menstruation overall, whether in the home or school settings. This lack of menstruation education was pronounced when participants had their first menstruation experience, with many unaware of what to expect. This silence around menstruation led to a normalization of painful menstruation symptoms. When it came to different treatment options for uterine fibroids, some women wanted to explore alternative treatments but were dismissed by their healthcare providers. Many participants advocated for having discussions with their healthcare provider about life goals to discuss different treatment options for their uterine fibroids.ConclusionDespite uterine fibroid diagnosis, there is silence around menstruation. Menstruation is a normal biological occurrence and needs to be discussed to help prevent delayed diagnosis of uterine fibroids and possibly other gynecological disorders. Along with increased discussions around menstruation, further discussion is needed between healthcare providers and uterine fibroid patients to explore appropriate treatment options.

Enhancing Uterine Fibroid Care: Clinician Perspectives on Diagnosis, Disparities, and Strategies for Improving Health Care.

To explore clinicians' perspectives on diagnosing, treating, and managing uterine fibroids, identifying gaps and challenges in health care delivery, and offering recommendations for improving care. A qualitative design was used to conduct 14 semistructured interviews with clinicians who treat fibroid patients in central Indiana. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Constant comparative analysis was used to identify emergent themes. Four themes emerged. (1) Lack of patient fibroid awareness: Patients lacked fibroid awareness, leading to challenges in explaining diagnoses and treatment. Misconceptions and emotional distress highlighted the need for better education. (2) Inequities in care and access: Health care disparities affected Black women and rural patients, with transportation, scheduling delays, and financial constraints hindering access. (3) Continuum of care: Clinicians prioritized patient-centered care and shared decision-making, tailoring treatment based on factors like severity, location, size, cost, fertility goals, and recovery time. (4) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact: The pandemic posed challenges and opportunities, prompting telehealth adoption and consideration of nonsurgical options. Clinician perspectives noted patient challenges with fibroids, prompting calls for enhanced education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and accessible care to address crucial aspects of fibroid management and improve women's well-being. Clinicians identified a lack of patient awareness and unequal access to fibroid care, highlighting the need for improved education and addressing disparities. Findings also emphasized the importance of considering multidimensional aspects of fibroid care and adapting to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, recommending broader education, affordability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research for better fibroid health care.

Differences in endometrial and cervical microbiome of uterine fibroids patients – A preliminary study

Differences in endometrial and cervical microbiome of uterine fibroids patients – A preliminary study

Influence of nutrition on the course of uterine fibroids

Currently, there is a negative trend in the increase in the incidence of uterine fibroids, often diagnosed at a later date, requiring more invasive laparotomic myomectomy, up to hysterectomy. It was also revealed that the patients had an aggravated premorbid background in the form of obesity and related diseases.The purpose of the study. To study domestic and foreign studies. To identify the features of the course of uterine fibroids in patients with hypersthenic and normosthenic body types.Materials and methods. Anonymous and voluntary questionnaire survey with an in-depth collection of food history, interviews of 260 patients and analysis of their case histories with uterine fibroids who underwent laparoscopic and laparotomic myomectomy were carried out, dividing them into 2 groups according to BMI.Results. In both groups, there was the following distribution according to the presence of pregnancies: 0 – 4 % and 5 %, 1 – 86 % and 84 %, 2 – 10 % and 11 % for groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.041 criterion). 25 % in group I and 31 % in group II had a history of surgery – caesarean section. The presence of inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs in both groups was 89.3 % and 91.6 %, respectively. Also noted was a high consumption of beef and pork by 10 and 23 %, potatoes by 8 % and 13 %, white cabbage by 12 % and 11 %, bakery products by 21 % and 26 %. Low consumption of seafood and fish products by 35 % and 56 %, dairy products by 44 % and 47 %, absolutely low content of olive oil in the daily diet. The above data are presented for groups I and II, respectively. (criterion p = 0.029-0.054).Сonclusions. Obesity plays a role as a risk factor for the development of uterine fibroids, acting either through hormonal or inflammatory mechanisms. Obesity can contribute to the development of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, which can directly or indirectly influence the development of fibroids by promoting the proliferation of myometrial smooth muscle cells and increasing circulating levels of ovarian hormones.

Complications of transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of fibroids: A 5-year experience

IntroductionTransvaginal radiofrequency ablation is a relatively noninvasive approach for the treatment of fibroids in patients who do not wish to undergo conventional surgery. Information on potential complications of this novel technique is very scarce. MethodsRetrospective, descriptive, epidemiological study of 115 patients who underwent transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of fibroids and for whom complications were recorded. ResultsWe performed 115 transvaginal radiofrequency ablation procedures, we recorded a total of 11 complications (9.6%; 95% CI, 3.8–14.8). Of these, 8 (7.0%) were classified as Clavien-Dindo type I, 1 (0.9%,) as type II, and 2 (1.7%) as type IIIb (severe). No other complications were recorded in a year follow-up. ConclusionTransvaginal radiofrequency ablation is a treatment option that makes it possible to treat fibroids that are difficult to manage using other techniques. Few associated complications have been described, and most of them are mild.

Reasons for aversion to hysterectomy among fibroid patients in ESUT teaching hospital, Enugu: Cross-sectional study

Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign gynaecological tumours in women of reproductive age. It is a benign monoclonal tumour of the smooth muscles of the uterus with very low potential for malignant transformation. More often than not, it is asymptomatic and found as an incidental occurrence but when symptomatic, heavy menstrual bleeding is the commonest occurrence. It has various modalities of treatment ranging from watchful waiting, medical to surgical treatments. However, hysterectomy is the only definitive treatment but this treatment option has not been found to be easily acceptable in our centre from observations, hence, the need to find the proportion of women who may accept this option and the reason given by those who may not accept it when indicated. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the factors responsible for the observed high level of aversion to hysterectomy for treating fibroid in our centre Methodology: It was a cross-sectional questionnaire based, hospital study of 285 women who were diagnosed with uterine fibroid in the gynaecology clinic of ESUT Teaching Hospital, Enugu

Study Protocol of a Prospective, Monocentric, Single-Arm Study Investigating the Safety and Efficacy of Local Ablation of Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids with US-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the uterus. Approximately 20-50% of women with myomas experience a variety of symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, pelvic pain and pressure, and urological problems, possibly interfering with fertility and pregnancy. Although surgery remains the standard treatment option for fibroids, non-invasive therapeutic options, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), have emerged over the last dec ade. During HIFU, ultrasound is focused on the target tissue causing coagulation necrosis. HIFU has, meanwhile, become an established method for treating uterine fibroids in many countries. Clinical data have shown that it effectively alleviates fibroid-related symptoms and reduces fibroid size with a very low rate of side effects. However, there is a lack of data on how this treatment affects laboratory parameters and structural features of uterine tissue. As our center is the only one in German-speaking countries where ultrasound-guided HIFU technology is currently established, the aim of this prospective, monocentric, single-arm trial is not only to evaluate the safety and efficacy of local US-guided HIFU in symptomatic uterine fibroid patients according to GCP standards but also to explore its effects on blood parameters and the structural integrity of uterine tissue using elastographic methods.

Myomectomy: surgical tactics, reproductive outcomes

The article highlights modern approaches to the surgical treatment of uterine fibroids in patients of reproductive age, depending on the size and type of localization of the node in the uterus in accordance with the FIGO classification. It has been established that submucosal uterine fibroids of types 0, 1, 2 are subject to hysteroscopic removal, since their effect on the onset, prolongation of pregnancy and reproductive outcomes has been proven. Intramural uterine leiomyomas are subject to removal if the node size is more than 5 cm or other unidentified causes of infertility in patients with reproductive plans. Subserous uterine leiomyomas do not affect fertility and do not require removal.

Therapeutic dose and long-term efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for different types of uterine fibroids based on signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images

Objective To investigate the therapeutic dose and long-term efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation for different types of uterine fibroids based on signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images (T2WI). Materials and methods Four hundred and one patients with a solitary uterine fibroid treated with HIFU were classified into four groups consisting of extremely hypointense, hypointense, isointense and hyperintense fibroids. Each group was further classified into two subtypes: homogeneous and heterogeneous, based on signal homogeneity of fibroids. The therapeutic dose and long-term follow-up results were compared. Results There were significant differences in treatment time, sonication time, treatment intensity, total treatment dosage, treatment efficiency, energy-efficiency factor (EEF) and non-perfused volume (NPV) ratio among the four groups (p<.05). The average NPV ratio achieved in patients with extremely hypointense, hypointense, isointense and hyperintense fibroids was 75.2 ± 14.6%, 71.1 ± 15.6%, 68.2 ± 17.3% and 67.8 ± 16.6%, respectively; the re-intervention rates at 36 months after HIFU were 8.4%, 10.3%, 12.5% and 6.1%, respectively. Sonication time, treatment intensity and total energy for heterogeneous fibroids were greater than that for homogeneous fibroids in patients with extremely hypointense fibroids (p<.05). The treatment time for heterogeneous fibroids was significantly longer than that for homogeneous fibroids in patients with isointense fibroids (p<.05). Multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis showed that the ablation volume of fibroids and treatment time were related to NPV ratio (p<.05). Conclusion Every group of patients obtained satisfactory long-term results. Hyperintense fibroids are difficult to treat by HIFU. Heterogeneous fibroids are more difficult to treat with HIFU than homogeneity fibroids.

Conservative surgical treatment of uterine fibroids in women of childbearing age

Uterine fibroids are benign gynecologic tumors, and women aged between 30 to 50 years are known to have a high incidence of uterine fibroids. A growing number of pharmacotherapies and minimally invasive organ-preserving treatments have been designed and conducted over the past few years. However, there has not been any therapeutic drugs exhibiting an ideal therapeutic effect and low recurrence rate, such that the surgical treatment continues to be primarily employed in the actual clinical treatment. In general, surgical treatment has been performed as the organ- and fertility-preserving hysteroscopic or laparoscopic resections of the fibroids. Minimally invasive surgical equipment (e.g., hysteroscopy, traditional porous laparoscopy, trans-umbilical laparoscopy, transvaginal laparoscopy, as well as robot-assisted laparoscopy) has been extensively applied to clinical treatment. Compared with traditional laparotomy, minimally invasive surgical equipment is characterized by minimally invasive surgery, high efficiency and safety. As medical technology has been leaping forward, interventional therapy and radiofrequency ablation can also be employed for treating uterine fibroids. In accordance with the research progress worldwide, the current situation, limitations, and advantages of the treatment of uterine fibroids in patients with fertility requirements are reviewed in this study.

Alterations in vaginal microbiota in uterine fibroids patients with ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation.

Vaginal microbiota dysbiosis is closely related to diseases of the vagina and uterus. Uterine fibroids (UF) are the most common benign neoplasms of the uterus, and increased diversity in vaginal microbial of UF patients. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is effective invasive treatment for fibroids in women who are not good surgical candidates. Whether HIFU of uterine fibroids will cause the change in vaginal microbiota has not been reported. We aimed to investigate the vaginal microbiota of UF patients with/without HIFU treatment using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Vaginal secretions were collected from 77 UF patients (pre-operative and post-operative) and were used for comparative composition, diversity, and richness analyses of microbial communities. The microbial α-diversity was significantly lower in the vaginal of UF patients with HIFU treatment. The relative abundance of some pathogenic bacteria of UF patients with HIFU treatment were significantly decreased in the bacterial phylum and genus level. Proteobacteria were found to be significantly upregulated as a biomarker in the HIFU treatment group in our study. These findings might confirm the effectiveness of HIFU treatment from the point of view of microbiota.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes and Efficiencies of HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound), Da Vinci Robotic Surgery and Laparoscopic Surgery for Uterine Fibroids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: To compare the clinical outcomes and treatment efficiencies of advanced surgical treatments including High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery in the uterine fibroid patients. Methods: A total of 512 studies from 1995 to 2021 were identified by screening from Science Direct, Cochrane library, Medscape, Willey Online Library, PubMed, and Taylor Francis. From these studies 29 articles were qualitatively included in our systematic review and 24 of them considered quantitively eligible were included in the meta-analysis. Study analyzed by pooling the weighed mean difference (WMD) with the 95% confidence interval (CI) were study provided as a mean + (SD) and pooled risk ratio (RR) was expressed for dichotomous variables. Pooled results were assessed with either a random-effect or fixed-effect model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic. Results: Comparison of HIFU and robotic surgeries with operation times of 86.13 ± 36.37 minutes to 120.2 ± 63 minutes and 166 ± 48.5 minutes to 278 ± 67 minutes were higher significant differences (I2 = 97%, p &lt; 0.00001), (WMD –111.88 [–189.68, –34.08]) with statistically significant (p = 0.005). Comparison of HIFU and laparoscopic surgery in operation time of 86.13 ± 36.37 minutes to 120.2 ± 63 minutes and 79 ± 30 minutes to 106.4 ± 38.5 minutes were not statistically significant (p = 0.75) with higher significant differences heterogeneity (I2 = 96%, p &lt; 0.00001), (5.51 [–27.82, 38.83]). Comparison of between blood losses and fibroid sizes at 154 ± 75 mL to 278 ± 164.6 mL and 6.5±2.9 cm to 13.6 ± 3.1 cm respectively in laparoscopic surgery was higher significant differences (I2 = 91%, p &lt; 0.0007), (WMD 202.29 [87.77, 316.80]) with statistically significant (p = 0.0005). Between hospital stay and blood loss in laparoscopic surgery at 1.2 ± 0.9 days to 5.4 ± 0.2 days and 200 ± 107 mL to 278 ± 164.6 mL showed significant differences (I2 = 90%, p &lt; 0.0001), (WMD –269.71 [–361.33, –178.09]) with statistically significant (p &lt; 0.00001) while in robotic surgery was not significant. The follow up uterine fibroid symptom &amp; health-related quality of life questionnaire (UF-QOL) at 3 months 45.3 + 26.9 to 70.6 + 26.9 in fibroids group and 61.6 + 41.4 to 79.64 + 17.91 in adenomyosis group and both shows significantly different (I2 = 83%, p = 0.02), (WMD 14.08 [4.42, 23.75]) with statistically significant (p = 0.0004) and (I2 = 97%, p &lt; 0.00001), (WMD –15.95 [–28.06, –3.84]) with (p = 0.010). SSS follow up 3 months 27.2 + 15.7 to 36.6 + 7.9 in fibroids of HIFU, the heterogeneity test showed significant differences (I2 = 95%, p &lt; 0.00001), (WMD 16.22 [8.33, 24.11]) with statistically significant (p &lt; 0.0001). In terms of pregnancy outcome, delivery outcome in live birth between HIFU and laparoscopic surgery 4 (8) within 165 (219) and (7) 23 within 158 (224), the heterogeneity was not significant (I2 = 0%, p = 0.44), (RR 1.06 [0.97, 1.17]) neither with for risk of delivering was not significant (p = 0.20). Conclusions: HIFU treatment reveals more efficient clinical and treatment outcomes than robotic or laparoscopic surgery, including improved symptoms, absence of bleeding, shorter operative time, shorter recovery time, and good benefits in both short-term and long-term quality-of-life.

Clinicopathological Patterns and Biochemical Markers in Serum of Uterine Leiomyoma Patients

Background: Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are exceedingly common reproductive neoplasms with foremost public health impact. A cross-sectional study was performed to systematically investigate the marker enzymes, clinicopathological correlations, and electrolyte profile in myoma Method: This study enrolled 44 control and 46 leiomyoma subjects, aged 21- 50 years. Anthropometric parameters, detailed history of disease and clinicopathological outcomes were documented via a standardized questionnaire followed by uterine ultrasound investigation. Venous blood samples were taken for the measurement of marker enzymes and serum electrolyte concentration with commercially accessible kits Results: In the age group between 30-40 years high incidence of myoma (43.5%) was found. Majority of fibroids were observed single (52%) and Intramural uterine fibroids were found more common type (61%) of leiomyomas. Menorrhagia was frequent clinical demonstration with 63% leiomyoma cases. In 26% myoma women positive family history of leiomyomas was also observed. A significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and body mass index (BMI) while in parity a significant decrease was recorded in leiomyoma patients in comparison with controls. Serum electrolytes investigation revealed a substantial increase in the calcium (Ca2+) as well as chloride (Cl–) concentration and significant drop in potassium (K+) concentration in myoma subjects when compared to the controls. While for serum sodium (Na+) concentration, a non-significant difference was documented between comparable groups. Analysis of marker enzymes manifested a significant increase in the serum concentration of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in fibroid patients in comparison to controls whereas non-significant variations were recorded for serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration. Conclusion: A reduced serum K+ concentrations and raised Ca2+, Cl–and Na+ levels in the leiomyoma patients illustrate increased estrogen concentration, that may be responsible for fibroid growth and serum concentration of AST, ACP and ALP are sustainable diagnostic markers of uterine fibroids.

Increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with uterine fibroids: a nationwide population-based study

Abstract Background Uterine fibroid, the most common benign neoplasm of the uterus, is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. The link between incident atrial fibrillation (AF) and the uterine fibroid is unclear because earlier studies focused primarily on the development of atherosclerosis and hypertension. We aimed to investigate the risk of AF in patients with uterine fibroid. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database (NHIS). From 2009 to 2012, a total of 2,574,349 women (20 to 40 years old) who underwent general health examinations were included. Diagnosis of uterine fibroids and surgical treatment status was defined by the international classification of diseases, 10th revision codes, and procedural codes from the Korean NHIS. The primary outcome was newly diagnosed AF. The risk of AF according to the uterine fibroids and their surgical treatment status was evaluated using Cox proportional-hazard models. Results Of the total population, the mean age was 29.76±4.27 years, and 20,682 (0.8%) were identified to have uterine fibroid. Incident AF was identified in 3,868 patients (61 in the fibroid group, 3,807 in the control group) during a mean follow-up of 7.3±1.1 years. Patients of the uterine fibroid group showed a higher incidence of AF compared to the control group (0.41 and 0.20 per 1000 person-years, respectively, Figure 1). Multivariate Cox-regression analysis presented that uterine fibroid was an independent risk factor of AF: hazard ratio (HR) 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–1.93, p=0.002. Compared to the control group, uterine fibroid patients who underwent surgical treatment tend to show a lower risk for AF (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.79–1.90) than patients without surgical treatment (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.24–2.30), though statistical significance was indeterminate (Figure 2). After propensity score matching, patients of the uterine fibroid group showed higher risk of AF when compared to the control group (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.32–2.63, p&amp;lt;0.001), which was in line with our main results. The presence of uterine fibroid was consistently associated with higher risk of AF among all subgroups except for the stroke subgroup. Conclusion Patients with uterine fibroids are predisposed to an increased risk of AF compared to the control group. Careful monitoring of arrhythmia development would be warranted in patients of uterine fibroid and surgical treatment as it is associated with a modest risk decrement of incident AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Circ_0061140 Facilitates Adenomyosis Progression by Upregulating LIN28B in vitro

Objectives: The aim of our study was to explore the role of circular RNA_0061140 (circ_0061140) in adenomyosis progression and its associated mechanism. Design: We first analyzed the expression pattern of circ_0061140 in endometrial tissues of adenomyosis patients (n = 27) and uterine fibroid patients (n = 15). Loss-of-function experiments were conducted to analyze the biological roles of circ_0061140 in regulating the viability, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion of endometrial epithelial cells. The downstream microRNA (miRNA)/messenger RNA (mRNA) axis of circ_0061140 was predicted by bioinformatics tool Starbase, and its working mechanism was verified by rescue experiments. Methods: Cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and migration were assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry analysis, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine assay, transwell assay, and scratch test. The binding relationship between miR-141-3p and circ_0061140 or lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B) was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Results: Circ_0061140 expression was upregulated in adenomyosis patients. Circ_0061140 knockdown suppressed the viability, proliferation, invasion, and migration and triggered the apoptosis of endometrial epithelial cells. Circ_0061140 served as a miRNA sponge for miR-141-3p, and miR-141-3p silencing partly reversed circ_0061140 knockdown-induced effects in endometrial epithelial cells. miR-141-3p directly interacted with LIN28B mRNA. LIN28B overexpression partly diminished miR-141-3p overexpression-mediated influences in endometrial epithelial cells. Circ_0061140 knockdown downregulated LIN28B expression by elevating miR-141-3p level in endometrial epithelial cells. Limitations: The functional verification of circ_0061140/miR-141-3p/LIN28B axis was merely conducted in vitro. Conclusion: Circ_0061140 contributed to adenomyosis progression by binding to miR-141-3p to induce LIN28B expression in vitro.

The Comparison of Life Quality between Ultrasound-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Laparoscopic Myomectomy for the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids.

Objective This study is aimed at comparing the uterine fibroids patients' postoperative living quality between ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and laparoscopic myomectomy. Materials and Methods A total of 164 patients were included with uterine fibroids who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy and HIFU in Cangzhou Central Hospital from September 2020 to November 2021. This study divided these objects into HIFU group and laparoscopic group, and both groups were followed up 6 months after surgery. After obtaining the results, Uterine Fibroid Symptom and health-related Quality Of Life questionnaire (UFS-QOL) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were performed before and after treatment to assess patient outcome. Results After treatments, the living quality in both groups was significantly improved compared with that before surgery, which had statistical significant (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of the two scales in HIFU group were significantly better than those in the laparoscopic group (P < 0.05). Conclusion In comparison with laparoscopic myomectomy, ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound could improve the life quality of patients more effectively than traditional laparoscopic myomectomy and was helpful to the recovery and prognosis of uterine fibroids after treatment. The outcomes will provide a reference for clinicians to select a more appropriate treatment for uterine fibroids.