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Sherifi SK, Odahowski CL, López Castillo H. Uterine leiomyomata claim rate estimates and demographic characteristics by county. Florida, 2010-2019. Women Health 2024; 64:75-89. [PMID: 38154484 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2296524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
To describe the demographic characteristics and estimate the uterine leiomyomata claim rates (ULCRs) by women 18 years and older in Florida, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2010-2019 administrative claims for uterine leiomyomata and associated study variables (age, race, ethnicity, county of residence, anatomic site, length of stay, and additional diagnoses). ULCR ratios were estimated by race and ethnicity, using ULCR for non-Hispanic White women as the reference group. We identified 232,475 claims, most of which were among non-Hispanic White women in their forties. The overall ULCR estimate [95 percent CI] was 284.8 [284.21, 285.39] per 100,000 women 18 years and older, with a small, nonsignificant trend to increase over time (R2 = .310; p = .094). Black, Hispanic, and other women of color presented with higher ULCR ratios (4.84, 1.87, and 1.58, respectively). Urban counties had significantly higher ULCRs than suburban and rural counties. While non-Hispanic White women had the highest frequency of ULCRs, women of color-especially Black women-presented with significantly higher ULCR ratios. The epidemiologic profile of uterine leiomyomata in terms of age, race, ethnicity, and geographic location points to unmet healthcare needs among specific demographic and geographic groups of women in Florida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saarah K Sherifi
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Cassie L Odahowski
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
- Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Humberto López Castillo
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
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2
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Singh P, Metkari SM, Tripathi A, Bhartiya D. Reversing Uteropathies Including Cancer-Like Changes in Mice by Transplanting Mesenchymal Stromal Cells or XAR Treatment. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:258-282. [PMID: 37779174 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and tissue-committed 'progenitors' termed endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) are reported in mouse uterus. They express gonadal and gonadotropin hormone receptors and thus are vulnerable to early-life endocrine insults. Neonatal exposure of mouse pups to endocrine disruption cause stem/progenitor cells to undergo epigenetic changes, excessive self-renewal, and blocked differentiation that results in various uteropathies including non-receptive endometrium, hyperplasia, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and cancer-like changes in adult life. Present study investigated reversal of these uteropathies, by normalizing functions of VSELs and EnSCs. Two strategies were evaluated including (i) transplanting mesenchymal stromal cells (provide paracrine support) on D60 or (ii) oral administration of XAR (epigenetic regulator) daily from days 60-100 and effects were studied later in 100 days old mice. Results show normalization of stem/progenitor cells (Oct-4, Oct-4A, Sox-2, Nanog) and Wnt signalling (Wnt-4, β-catenin, Axin-2) specific transcripts. Flow cytometry results showed reduced numbers of 2-6 µm, LIN-CD45-SCA-1 + VSELs. Hyperplasia (Ki67) of epithelial (Pax-8, Foxa-2) and myometrial (α-Sma, Tgf-β) cells was reduced, adenogenesis (differentiation of glands) was restored, endometrial receptivity and differentiation (LIF, c-KIT, SOX-9, NUMB) and stromal cells niche (CD90, VIMENTIN, Pdgfra, Vimentin) were improved, cancer stem cells markers (OCT-4, CD166) were reduced while tumor suppressor genes (PTEN, P53) and epigenetic regulators (Ezh-2, Sirt-1) were increased. To conclude, normalizing VSELs/EnSCs to manage uteropathies provides a novel basis for initiating clinical studies. The study falls under the umbrella of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all of all ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushpa Singh
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive & Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| | - S M Metkari
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive & Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| | - Anish Tripathi
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Lower Parel, Mumbai, 400 013, India
| | - Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive & Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Lower Parel, Mumbai, 400 013, India.
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3
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Nazri HM, Greaves E, Quenby S, Dragovic R, Tapmeier TT, Becker CM. The role of small extracellular vesicle-miRNAs in endometriosis. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2296-2311. [PMID: 37877421 PMCID: PMC10694411 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is defined by the presence of extrauterine endometrial-like tissue, which can cause pain and infertility in 10% of reproductive-age women. To date, the pathogenesis is poorly understood resulting in significant diagnostic delays and poor therapeutic outcomes in many women. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) (<200 nm) are cell-derived vesicles containing molecules that can influence gene expression and behaviour in target cells. One such cargo are microRNAs (miRNAs), which are short, non-coding RNAs mostly 19-25 nucleotides in length that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. This mini-review focuses on the role of sEV-miRNAs, which are conceivably better biomarkers for endometriosis than free miRNAs, which reflect the true pathophysiological state in the body, as sEV-encapsulated miRNAs are protected from degradation compared to free miRNA and provide direct cell-to-cell communication via sEV surface proteins. sEV-miRNAs have been implicated in the immunomodulation of macrophages, the proliferation, migration and invasion of endometrial cells, and angiogenesis, all hallmarks of endometriosis. The diagnostic potential of sEV-miRNA was investigated in one study that reported the sensitivity and specificity of two sEV-miRNAs (hsa-miR-22-3p and hsa-miR-320a-3p) in distinguishing endometriosis from non-endometriosis cases. Only three studies have explored the therapeutic potential of sEV-miRNAs in vivo in mice-two looked into the role of sEV-hsa-miR-214-3p in decreasing fibrosis, and one investigated sEV-hsa-miR-30c-5p in suppressing the invasive and migratory potential of endometriotic lesions. While early results are encouraging, studies need to further address the potential influence of factors such as the menstrual cycle as well as the location and extent of endometriotic lesions on miRNA expression in sEVs. Given these findings, and extrapolating from other conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and pre-eclampsia, sEV-miRNAs could present an attractive and urgently needed future diagnostic and therapeutic target for millions of women suffering from endometriosis. However, research in this area is hampered by lack of adherence to the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles 2018 guideline in separating and characterising sEVs, as well as the World Endometriosis Research Foundation Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Nazri
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Erin Greaves
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Siobhan Quenby
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Rebecca Dragovic
- Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, Endometriosis CaRe Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas T Tapmeier
- Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, Endometriosis CaRe Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Christian M Becker
- Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, Endometriosis CaRe Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Tore U, Abilgazym A, Asunsolo-del-Barco A, Terzic M, Yemenkhan Y, Zollanvari A, Sarria-Santamera A. Diagnosis of Endometriosis Based on Comorbidities: A Machine Learning Approach. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3015. [PMID: 38002015 PMCID: PMC10669733 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11113015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is defined as the presence of estrogen-dependent endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite extensive research, endometriosis is still an enigmatic disease and is challenging to diagnose and treat. A common clinical finding is the association of endometriosis with multiple diseases. We use a total of 627,566 clinically collected data from cases of endometriosis (0.82%) and controls (99.18%) to construct and evaluate predictive models. We develop a machine learning platform to construct diagnostic tools for endometriosis. The platform consists of logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, AdaBoost, and XGBoost for prediction, and uses Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) values to quantify the importance of features. In the model selection phase, the constructed XGBoost model performs better than other algorithms while achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.725 on the test set during the evaluation phase, resulting in a specificity of 62.9% and a sensitivity of 68.6%. The model leads to a quite low positive predictive value of 1.5%, but a quite satisfactory negative predictive value of 99.58%. Moreover, the feature importance analysis points to age, infertility, uterine fibroids, anxiety, and allergic rhinitis as the top five most important features for predicting endometriosis. Although these results show the feasibility of using machine learning to improve the diagnosis of endometriosis, more research is required to improve the performance of predictive models for the diagnosis of endometriosis. This state of affairs is in part attributed to the complex nature of the condition and, at the same time, the administrative nature of our features. Should more informative features be used, we could possibly achieve a higher AUC for predicting endometriosis. As a result, we merely perceive the constructed predictive model as a tool to provide auxiliary information in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulan Tore
- School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan; (U.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Aibek Abilgazym
- School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan; (U.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Angel Asunsolo-del-Barco
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alcalá, 288871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY 10028, USA
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Healthcare Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Milan Terzic
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan;
- Clinical Academic Department of Women’s Health, CF “University Medical Center”, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Yerden Yemenkhan
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan;
| | - Amin Zollanvari
- School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan; (U.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Antonio Sarria-Santamera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan;
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Nousiainen S, Kuismin O, Reinikka S, Manninen R, Khamaiseh S, Kuivalainen M, Terho A, Koivurova S, Niinimäki M, Salokas K, Varjosalo M, Ahtikoski A, Bützow R, Lindgren O, Uimari O, Vahteristo P. Whole-exome sequencing reveals candidate high-risk susceptibility genes for endometriosis. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:88. [PMID: 37789421 PMCID: PMC10546785 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00538-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a common, chronic disease among fertile-aged women. Disease course may be highly invasive, requiring extensive surgery. The etiology of endometriosis remains elusive, though a high level of heritability is well established. Several low-penetrance predisposing loci have been identified, but high-risk susceptibility remains undetermined. Endometriosis is known to increase the risk of epithelial ovarian cancers, especially of endometrioid and clear cell types. Here, we have analyzed a Finnish family where four women have been diagnosed with surgically verified, severely symptomatic endometriosis and two of the patients also with high-grade serous carcinoma. RESULTS Whole-exome sequencing revealed three rare candidate predisposing variants segregating with endometriosis. The variants were c.1238C>T, p.(Pro413Leu) in FGFR4, c.5065C>T, p.(Arg1689Trp) in NALCN, and c.2086G>A, p.(Val696Met) in NAV2. The only variant predicted deleterious by in silico tools was the one in FGFR4. Further screening of the variants in 92 Finnish endometriosis and in 19 endometriosis-ovarian cancer patients did not reveal additional carriers. Histopathology, positive p53 immunostaining, and genetic analysis supported the high-grade serous subtype of the two tumors in the family. CONCLUSIONS Here, we provide FGFR4, NALCN, and NAV2 as novel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis. Our results also support the association of endometriosis with high-grade serous carcinoma. Further studies are required to validate the findings and to reveal the exact pathogenesis mechanisms of endometriosis. Elucidating the genetic background of endometriosis defines the etiology of the disease and provides opportunities for expedited diagnostics and personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Nousiainen
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Kuismin
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Siiri Reinikka
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roosa Manninen
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sara Khamaiseh
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Kuivalainen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kainuu Central Hospital, Kajaani, Finland
| | - Anna Terho
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sari Koivurova
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Maarit Niinimäki
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kari Salokas
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Ahtikoski
- Department of Pathology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Ralf Bützow
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Lindgren
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Outi Uimari
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pia Vahteristo
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, Helsinki, Finland.
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Reddy LS, Jaiswal A, Reddy K, Jyotsna G, Yadav P. Retained Intrauterine Fetal Bone Fragments Causing Secondary Infertility: A Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e44005. [PMID: 37746402 PMCID: PMC10517090 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Retained intrauterine fetal bone fragments are emerging as a potential yet often overlooked cause of secondary infertility, posing significant challenges for couples who have previously experienced successful pregnancies. This review article explores the association between retained fetal bone fragments and secondary infertility by delving into their impact on fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and diagnostic challenges. The review highlights the underlying mechanisms of fragment retention, including immune response and inflammation, and their detrimental effects on endometrial receptivity and implantation. The diagnostic difficulties and importance of specialized imaging techniques like hysteroscopy for accurate diagnosis are also discussed. The article also provides insights into available treatment options, such as medical management and surgical interventions, focusing on hysteroscopy as the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment. The implications for clinical practice emphasize early diagnosis and intervention to improve fertility outcomes and reduce the emotional burden of secondary infertility. Furthermore, the review discusses preventive strategies and the potential for future research to refine diagnostic methods and explore novel treatments. By recognizing and addressing the impact of retained fetal bone fragments, this review aims to enhance the understanding and management of this condition, providing valuable support to couples seeking to overcome the challenges of secondary infertility on their journey toward parenthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucky Srivani Reddy
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Arpita Jaiswal
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Kavyanjali Reddy
- Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Garapati Jyotsna
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Pallavi Yadav
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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Edzie EKM, Dzefi-Tettey K, Brakohiapa EK, Abdulai AB, Kekessie KK, Aidoo E, Amoah S, Boadi E, Kpobi JM, Quarshie F, Edzie RA, Kusodzi H, Asemah AR. Assessment of the Clinical Presentations and Ultrasonographic Features of Uterine Fibroids in Adult Africans: A Retrospective Study. Oman Med J 2023; 38:e459. [PMID: 36908828 PMCID: PMC9996686 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2023.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives We sought to determine the clinical presentations and ultrasonographic features of uterine fibroids in adult Ghanaians. Methods Between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021, 4279 ultrasound-confirmed cases of uterine fibroids were retrieved. The data obtained, which included age, clinical presentations, and sonographic features were analyzed. A chi-squared test was done to assess for possible associations between the clinical indications, age distribution, and ultrasonographic features of uterine fibroids. Results The mean age of the patients diagnosed with uterine fibroids was 37.1±11.5 years (range = 16-69 years). Routine checkup (n = 1310, 28.1%), menorrhagia (n = 1104, 23.7%), and lower abdominal mass (n = 801, 17.2%) were the leading clinical indications. Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, and routine checkup were significantly noted in the younger patients (p ≤ 0.001). The majority of the fibroid nodules had smooth regular outline (n = 4125, 96.4%) and were mostly heterogeneous (n = 3282, 76.7%). The echo pattern of the nodules was predominantly hypoechoic (n = 3358, 51.1%) followed by hyperechoic nodules (n = 2554, 38.9%). Degenerative changes accounted for less than one-third of the total fibroid nodules, with the least recorded degenerative change being nodules with cystic areas (n = 55, 5.4%) and the most observed degenerative feature being nodules with rim of calcification and areas of calcified degeneration (n = 965, 94.6%). Almost all the sonographic features were significantly seen in the 30-44 years age category. Conclusions Sonographically, uterine fibroids were mostly hypoechoic heterogeneous nodules with a smooth regular outline with a predominant occurrence within women in the fourth to fifth decade of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Kobina Mesi Edzie
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,Department of Radiology, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | | | | | - Kafui Kossi Kekessie
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Eric Aidoo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Stephen Amoah
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Evans Boadi
- Department of Radiology, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Frank Quarshie
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Accra, Ghana
| | - Richard Ato Edzie
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Henry Kusodzi
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Abdul Raman Asemah
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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8
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Uimari O, Subramaniam KS, Vollenhoven B, Tapmeier TT. Uterine Fibroids (Leiomyomata) and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2022; 4:818243. [PMID: 36303616 PMCID: PMC9580818 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.818243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine Fibroids, or leiomyomata, affect millions of women world-wide, with a high incidence of 75% within women of reproductive age. In ~30% of patients, uterine fibroids cause menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding, and more than half of the patients experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, or infertility. Treatment is symptomatic with limited options including hysterectomy as the most radical solution. The genetic foundations of uterine fibroid growth have been traced to somatic driver mutations (MED12, HMGA2, FH -/-, and COL4A5-A6). These also lead to downstream expression of angiogenic factors including IGF-1 and IGF-2, as opposed to the VEGF-driven mechanism found in the angiogenesis of hypoxic tumors. The resulting vasculature supplying the fibroid with nutrients and oxygen is highly irregular. Of particular interest is the formation of a pseudocapsule around intramural fibroids, a unique structure within tumor angiogenesis. These aberrations in vascular architecture and network could explain the heavy menstrual bleeding observed. However, other theories have been proposed such as venous trunks, or venous lakes caused by the blocking of normal blood flow by uterine fibroids, or the increased local action of vasoactive growth factors. Here, we review and discuss the evidence for the various hypotheses proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Outi Uimari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit for Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Surgery, Child Psychiatry, Dermatology, Clinical Genetics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology (PEDEGO) Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kavita S. Subramaniam
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Beverley Vollenhoven
- Women's and Newborn Program, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Thomas T. Tapmeier
- Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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