Background
Human papillomavirus vaccination is not widespread in Japan, and the low screening rates result in many cases of locally advanced cervical cancer. We investigated the prognostic ...significance of sarcopenia in patients with cervical cancer to guide healthcare policies to improve treatment outcomes.
Methods
This retrospective study included 83 patients with cervical cancer without distant metastasis who underwent primary concurrent chemoradiotherapy between 2013 and 2018. We analyzed the indicators of physical condition and muscle quantity using the SYNAPSE VINCENT software. Muscle mass and the relationship between treatment toxicity and prognosis were evaluated.
Results
The patients’ median age was 60 (range 33‒80) years. Cancer stage distribution was as follows: cT2b or higher, 84.3%; N1, 65.1%; and MA, 27.7%. The overall sarcopenia (skeletal muscle index SMI < 38.5) rate was 30.1%, and the rate was 33.9 and 22.2% in patients aged < 64 and ≥ 65 years, respectively. No correlation was observed between clinical stage and musculoskeletal indices. Treatment resulted in decreased body weight and SMI; after treatment, the sarcopenia rate increased to 37.3%. A higher intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) reduced the number of chemotherapy cycles needed. Treatment-associated SMI decreases of ≥ 7% indicated poor prognosis, with significant differences in progression-free survival and overall survival (
p
= 0.013 and
p
= 0.012, respectively). Patients who were very lean (body mass index < 18.5 kg/m
2
) before treatment had a poor prognosis (
p
= 0.016 and
p
< 0.001).
Conclusions
Our findings emphasize the importance of assessing original nutritional status and maintaining muscle mass and quality during the treatment of patients with cervical cancer.
In recent years, the effects of androgens on metabolic and body weight regulation systems and their underlying mechanisms have been gradually revealed in females. In women and experimental animals of ...reproductive age, androgen excess can adversely affect metabolic functioning, appetite, and body weight regulation. In addition, excess androgens can increase the risk of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. These unfavorable effects of androgens are induced by alterations in the actions of hypothalamic appetite-regulatory factors, reductions in energy expenditure, insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, and β-cell dysfunction. Interestingly, these unfavorable effects of androgens on metabolic and body-weight regulation systems are neither observed nor evident in ovariectomized animals and post-menopausal women, indicating that the adverse effects of androgens might be dependent on the estrogen milieu. Recent findings may provide novel sex- and age-specific strategies for treating metabolic diseases.
Changes in the activities of some metabolic factors have been suggested to increase the risk of conditions associated with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). We examined changes ...in oxytocin (OT), a metabolic factor, and OT receptor (OTR) mRNA levels throughout the developmental period in rats of intrauterine undernutrition. Pregnant rats were divided into two groups: a maternal normal nutrition (mNN) and maternal undernutrition (mUN) group. Serum OT concentrations and hypothalamic mRNA levels of OT and OTR were measured in both offspring at various postnatal stages. Both offspring showed significant increases in serum OT concentrations during the neonatal period, significant reductions around the pubertal period, and significant increases in adulthood. Hypothalamic OT mRNA expression levels gradually increased from the neonatal to pubertal period and decreased in adulthood in both offspring. In the pre-weaning period, hypothalamic OT mRNA expression levels were significantly lower in the mUN offspring than in the mNN offspring. In the mUN offspring, hypothalamic OTR mRNA expression levels transiently increased during the neonatal period, decreased around the pubertal period, and increased again in adulthood, whereas transient changes were not detected in mNN offspring. These changes could affect nutritional and metabolic regulation systems in later life and play a role in the mechanisms underlying DOHaD.
Aim
We conducted a self‐administered survey on the perception of teachers toward human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to determine the ways to increase their willingness to encourage its use.
Methods
...Answers were obtained both prior to and after having the teachers read five brief information articles: (i) cervical cancer knowledge, (ii) vaccine knowledge, (iii) result of a survey in Nagoya, (iv) news report of the World Health Organization statement and (v) articles written by Dr Muranaka, a journalist.
Results
Most of the respondents (180/247) did not know about the natural history of cervical cancer. Only 36% knew that HPV is the cause of cervical cancer, although 63% knew that HPV vaccine would prevent cervical cancer. Few respondents had knowledge regarding adverse events following immunization and the survey results from Nagoya.
Among those who were initially negative for the HPV vaccine, only 43% revealed that they fully understood its safety and only 29% reversed their opinion to recommend vaccination to their daughters and/or students, even after reading our informational material. The most useful information for changing their attitudes was to increase their understanding of vaccines and informing them about Nagoya city survey results. They mostly wanted a proof of the preventive effects of the vaccine on cervical cancer in Japan.
Conclusion
Gynecologists and pediatricians must proactively communicate accurate scientific information to the government and the media to spread awareness among people in Japan. Also, we must try to demonstrate the capabilities of this vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and/or its precancerous lesions.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased risk of psychological distress as well as enhanced responses to psychosocial stress. Recently, it was hypothesized that PCOS patients ...may be at high risk of novel COVID-19 infections and worse clinical presentations during such infections. Here, we evaluated the effects of PCOS on stress responses to bacterial and viral mimetics using dihydrotestosterone-induced PCOS model rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS; a bacterial mimetic) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly-IC; a viral mimetic) was injected into PCOS model rats (PCOS) and non-PCOS rats (control), and the rats' stress responses were evaluated. In the PCOS group, the rats’ anorectic and febrile responses to LPS injection were enhanced, whereas their anorectic and febrile responses to Poly-IC injection were unaltered. The PCOS group also exhibited greater changes in peripheral cytokine levels in response to LPS, but not Poly-IC. On the contrary, after the injection of Poly-IC depressed locomotor activity was more evident in the PCOS group, whereas no such changes were observed after LPS injection. These findings indicate that although the stress responses of PCOS model rats to infection may be enhanced, the patterns of change in stress responses and their underlying mechanisms may differ between bacterial and viral infections.
•Responses to psychosocial stress are increased in PCOS.•Responses to bacterial and viral mimetics were evaluated in PCOS model rats.•Responses to LPS and Poly-IC were increased in PCOS model rats.•The patterns of these stress responses to LPS and Poly-IC were different.
Abstract
Endometrial cancer keeps increasing in Japan explosively. In endometrial cancer, the prognosis of serous carcinoma is very poor, because of early progression to abdominal cavity. Remedy for ...endometrial cancer is limited, so new therapy has been required for a long time. Immunotherapy is very promising in various cancers recently. PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1) and B7-H3 are factors of immunoresponse between cancer cells and lymphcyte. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investing the expression of PD-L1 and B7-H3, moreover, relationship with clinicopathological factors in serous carcinoma of endometrium. We immunohistochemically evaluated PD-L1 and B7-H3 expression in 21 serous carcinoma. The result was graded as positive in case stained more than 10% area. Result: 2/21(9.5%) for PD-L1 and 10/21(47.6%) for B7-H3 were positive. There was no correlation with tumor diameter, lymphnode metastasis, advanced stage and recurrence in PD-L1, however, B7-H3 expression had trend node metastasis, 3/10 in positive cases vs 0/11 in negative cases (p=0.05). In 4 recurrent cases treated with taxane and carboplatin as second line therapy, one case with B7-H3 negative got complete remission, however 3 cases with B7-H3 positive got partial improvement once, but finally got progression. Conclusion: PD-L1 expression was limited in serous carcinoma, so immunotherapy targeted for PD-1 and PD-L1 may be limited. The expression of B7-H3 is related to chemotherapy resistance. B7-H3 may be a biomarker for chemotherapy and target of new immunotherapy for serous carcinoma of endometrium.
Citation Format: Masato Nishimura, Ayuka Mineda, Akiko Abe, Minoru Irahara. PD-L1 and B7-H3 expression in serous carcinoma of endometrium abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4566.
•Testosterone increased serum OT levels, up-regulated the expression of OT receptors mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and promoted the secretion of adiponectin from visceral fat.•Testosterone reduced ...body fat directly and/or indirectly through OT and adiponectin.•The preventative effects of OT on obesity might be synergistic with testosterone.•Testosterone replacement therapy is useful for preventing obesity caused by hypogonadism, and OT has potential in supportive medicine to prevent obesity and adult diseases.
Sex steroid hormones are important for the maintenance of metabolism in both sexes. Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide that is synthesized in hypothalamic regions, secreted from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, and is involved in the control of appetite, body weight, and metabolism. Estrogen and OT both play a role in the metabolism of nutrients, and OT has potential in the prevention of obesity. However, the relationship between testosterone and OT remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between testosterone and OT in hypogonadal male rats and male rats receiving testosterone replacement therapy. The results obtained showed that testosterone increased serum OT levels and promoted the secretion of adiponectin from visceral fat, and reduced body fat directly and/or indirectly through OT and adiponectin. Testosterone also increased the expression of OT receptors in the hypothalamus to increase sensitivity to OT, and perhaps because of this, OT administration had the effect of reducing food intake and body weight gain in both normal and castrated rats, and this effect was stronger in normal rats. In other words, the preventative effects of OT on obesity may be synergistic with testosterone. Collectively, the present results indicate that testosterone exerts indirect effects to prevent obesity and atherosclerosis through OT and adiponectin. In conclusion, testosterone replacement therapy is useful for preventing obesity caused by hypogonadism, and OT has potential in supportive medicine to prevent obesity and adult diseases.
•Kisspeptin administration to male rats increases precopulatory behavior in male rats and reduces mating failure independently of testosterone.•Kisspeptin administration to male rats increases female ...proceptive behavior, which requires the presence of testosterone in males.•Kisspeptin administration to male rats did not affect copulatory behavior in male rats and receptive behavior in partner female rats.•Male sexual desire and aggressiveness towards the opposite sex are not solely driven by testosterone, and also that kisspeptin may exert effects independent of testosterone.
Kisspeptin is a peptide that plays an important role through its effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. It has also been implicated in sexual behavior. The present study investigated whether the relationship between kisspeptin and sexual behavior is independent of the HPG axis, i.e., testosterone. Sexual behavior was examined after the administration of kisspeptin to gonadally intact male rats and gonadectomized male rats that received testosterone supplementation. Other male rats were also observed for sexual behavior once a week from 2 to 5 weeks after gonadectomy and receiving kisspeptin for the sixth postoperative week. Sexual behavior in female rats serving as the partner for each male was also observed. Female rats were not administered kisspeptin in the present study. The results obtained showed that the administration of kisspeptin increased precopulatory behavior in gonadally intact male rats and gonadectomized male rats that received testosterone supplementation and proceptive behavior in their female partners. Precopulatory behavior in males and receptive behavior in females increased, while copulatory behavior in males and receptive behavior in females remained unchanged. Furthermore, the administration of kisspeptin increased precopulatory behavior in gonadectomized males, but did not affect receptive behavior in females. These results suggest that kisspeptin affected males independently and/or supplementally to testosterone, and also that changes in the presence of testosterone in males had an impact on proceptive behavior in their female partners. In conclusion, kisspeptin may involve an as-yet-unidentified neural pathway in sexual desire independently of the HPG axis.
Abstract
Objective: In Japan, side effects are emphasized and ingestion of HPV vaccine is not widespread. Meanwhile, the number of people suffering from cervical cancer has increased, and there is ...concern that deaths due to cervical cancer will increase. The objective of this study is to clarify the differences in the frequency of cytological abnormalities by presence or absence of HPV vaccination, sex hormone intake, and smoking history.
Methods: We examined each item described in medical questionnaire of a consultant who received cervical cancer screening in April 2015 - March 2016 and cytological diagnosis.
Results: There are 23,001 consultation examiners for 1 year. Of these, 3609 people aged 20-29, 6457 people aged 30-39 years old, 4433 people aged 40-49 years old were examined each item. With or without HPV vaccination, the frequency of cytological abnormalities (ASC-US and more) in 20-29 years old was 8/262 (3.1%), 121/3307 (3.7%), and there was no difference. Frequency of LSIL or more was significantly lower in vaccinates as 0/262 (0%) vs 70/3307 (2.3%) p<0.05. There was no difference in the frequency of cytological abnormalities between the groups at 30-39 years old and 40-49 years old. With regard to the presence or absence of sex hormones, there was no difference in the frequency of cytological abnormalities in all ages. With smoking history, the frequency of LSIL or more was significantly higher in a group with smoking history, at the ages of 20-29 years (3.7% vs 1.4%) and 30-39 years (2.3% vs 1.2%).
Conclusion: If there is smoking history, it is important to undergo regular cervical cancer screening. In addition, HPV vaccination reduces the frequency of cytological abnormalities, so HPV vaccine is also important for the prevention of cervical cancer.
Citation Format: Masato Nishimura, Tomohiro Kagawa, Ayuka Mineda, Eri Takiguchi, Akiko Abe, Minoru Irahara. Study on cervical cancer preventive effect of HPV vaccine in Japan abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1458.
To evaluate the usefulness of transabdominal sonographic confirmation of placental detachment in preventing uterine inversion.
This was 14-year retrospective cohort study that included women who had ...transvaginal deliveries in our hospital. We introduced routine transabdominal ultrasonography during placental delivery to prevent uterine inversion. Followed by the confirmation of placental detachment by ultrasonography, we started placental delivery procedure. The frequency of uterine inversion during placental delivery was compared before and after the ultrasonography was introduced. Moreover, the duration of the third stage of labor and bleeding volume during labor were compared between the ultrasonography performing group (USG group) and the non-performing group (non-USG groups).
Five thousand and eighty-one women, including 1724 and 3357 women who delivered before and after the ultrasonography was introduced, respectively. The frequency of uterine inversion after the introduction of the ultrasonography system was significantly reduced compared to that before the introduction (0.03% vs. 0.23%, p = 0.03). Even after the introduction of ultrasonography, the actual rate of performing ultrasonography remained 54.1% due to various restrictions. The mean duration of the third stage of labor in the USG group was slightly longer than that in the non-USG group (8.4 ± 5.0 vs. 6.8 ± 3.6, p < 0.01). The mean bleeding volume during labor in the USG group was higher compared with the non-USG group (457 ± 329 vs. 418 ± 285, p < 0.01).
Transabdominal sonographic confirmation of placental detachment may be useful in preventing uterine inversion.