The value of gynecologic cancer follow-up: single institution experience in Slovakia

Background: A routine follow-up is standard medical practice in patients treated for gynecologic cancer. Objectives of the follow-up are: 1) to detect recurrence as soon as possible and therefore improve the survival of patients with recurrence; 2) to diagnose complications related to treatment; 3) to provide psychological support and 4) to participate in scientific studies. The aim of our study was to compare the survival differences between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients at the time of relapse. Method: Retrospective cohort analysis. Results: All women diagnosed and treated for vulvar, cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer at our institution between 2003 and 2012 were included in this retrospective study. We identified 59 patients with vulvar cancer, 216 with cervical cancer, 311 with endometrial cancer and 177 with ovarian cancer. The median survival time after recurrence between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients was in vulvar cancer 22 vs. 27 months (p = 0.181), in cervical cancer 10 vs. 13 months (p = 0.123), in endometrial cancer 19 vs. 30 months (p = 0.265) and in ovarian cancer 19 vs. 18 months (p = 0.861). Conclusions: There was no survival difference between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients at the time of relapse. Follow-up may become effective if the procedures are adapted to other aims of routine practice (e.g. psychosocial care and monitoring adverse effects of treatment). The development of follow-up care is a dynamic process, especially in the light of the continuous development of new medical technologies.Wstęp: Rutynowe badania kontrolne to procedury standardowe u pacjentek leczonych z powodu nowotworów ginekologicznych. Celem obserwacji jest: 1) jak najwcześniejsze wykrycie nawrotu i związana z tym poprawa przeżywalności pacjentek; 2) rozpoznanie powikłań związanych z leczeniem; 3) zapewnienie wsparcia psychologicznego oraz 4) prowadzenie badań naukowych. Celem niniejszej pracy było porównanie przeżywalności u pacjentek z objawami i bez objawów w czasie wznowy choroby nowotworowej. Metoda: Retrospektywne badanie kohortowe. Wyniki: Do badania retrospektywnego włączono wszystkie kobiety, u których rozpoznano i które leczono z powodu raka sromu, szyjki macicy, endometrium lub jajnika w naszym ośrodku w latach 2003–2012. Raka sromu stwierdzono u 59, raka szyjki macicy u 216, raka błony śluzowej trzonu macicy u 311, a raka jajnika u 177 pacjentek. Odpowiednio dla pacjentek z objawami i bez objawów mediana przeżycia po rozpoznaniu nawrotu wynosiła 22 vs 27 m iesięcy ( p = 0,181) w przypadku raka sromu, 10 vs 13 m iesięcy ( p = 0,123) w przypadku raka szyjki macicy, 19 vs 30 miesięcy (p = 0,265) w przypadku raka endometrium oraz 19 vs 18 miesięcy (p = 0,861) w przypadku raka jajnika. Wnioski: Nie wykazano różnic w przeżywalności między pacjentkami z objawami i bez objawów w czasie wznowy choroby nowotworowej. Obserwacja może być skuteczna, gdy jej procedury dostosowane są do innych celów postępowania rutynowego (np. opieki psychologicznej i monitorowania objawów niepożądanych związanych z leczeniem). Doskonalenie okresu obserwacji jest procesem dynamicznym, szczególnie w świetle ciągłego rozwoju nowych technologii medycznych

Urinary Phthalate Biomarkers during Pregnancy, and Maternal Endocrine Parameters in Association with Anthropometric Parameters of Newborns

Adverse birth outcomes present risk factors resulting in neonatal morbidity and mortality. Sufficient maternal hormonal concentrations are crucial for normal foetal development. Previous studies have shown a relationship between phthalate exposure and maternal hormonal levels during pregnancy. This study aims to investigate if neonatal anthropometric parameters are associated with maternal endocrine parameters during the ≤15th week of gestation and the third trimester of pregnancy concerning phthalate exposure in pregnant women from Nitra, Slovakia. We used high-performance liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), and electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay to quantify urinary concentrations of phthalates and serum concentrations of hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), respectively. We observed a mostly positive correlation between neonatal anthropometric parameters (gestational age, birth length, birth weight, head circumference) and maternal concentration of phthalate metabolites (p ≤ 0.05). The hierarchical multivariate regression results showed a statistically significant association between Apgar score at 5 min after delivery, gestational age, birth weight, head circumference, and maternal endocrine parameters during pregnancy (p ≤ 0.05), adjusted to phthalate metabolites. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to indicate that prenatal exposure to phthalates may also affect birth outcomes through interaction with the maternal endocrine system

The Joint Effect of Perceived Psychosocial Stress and Phthalate Exposure on Hormonal Concentrations during the Early Stage of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Phthalates alter the hormonal balance in humans during pregnancy, potentially affecting embryonic and fetal development. We studied the joint effect of exposure to phthalates, quantified by urinary phthalate metabolite concentration, and perceived psychological stress on the concentration of hormones in pregnant women (n = 90) from the Nitra region, Slovakia, up to the 15th week of pregnancy. We used high-performance liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), and electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay to determine urinary concentrations of phthalates and serum concentrations of hormones, respectively. We used Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS) to evaluate the human perception of stressful situations. Our results showed that mono(carboxy-methyl-heptyl) phthalate (cx-MiNP) and a molar sum of di-iso-nonyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDiNP) were negatively associated with luteinizing hormone (LH) (p ≤ 0.05). Mono(hydroxy-methyl-octyl) phthalate (OH-MiNP) and the molar sum of high-molecular-weight phthalate metabolites (ΣHMWP) were positively associated with estradiol (p ≤ 0.05). PSS score was not significantly associated with hormonal concentrations. When the interaction effects of PSS score and monoethyl phthalate (MEP), cx-MiNP, ΣDiNP, and ΣHMWP on LH were analyzed, the associations were positive (p ≤ 0.05). Our cross-sectional study highlights that joint psychosocial stress and xenobiotic-induced stress caused by phthalates are associated with modulated concentrations of reproductive hormones in pregnant women