Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumor in an Adult Woman During Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Objective To report a case of stage IIIB juvenile granulosa cell tumor (JGCT) complicating pregnancy in a 33 year-old (y.o.) woman. Methods Retrospective review of the clinical data, imaging studies, and pathology reports of a case of JGCT diagnosed during pregnancy. Patient consent was obtained for review and presentation of the case. A literature review was conducted. Results A 33 y.o., gravida 3, para 1 was incidentally found to have an 8 cm left ovarian mass on an anatomy scan at 22 weeks gestation. Four days later, she presented to labor and delivery triage with abdominal pain. An ultrasound revealed an 11 cm heterogeneous, solid mass in the left adnexa and free fluid at this level. The diagnosis of degenerating fibroid was made based on her clinical presentation and she was discharged. A follow up outpatient MRI revealed a 15 cm left ovarian mass consistent with a primary malignant ovarian neoplasm with moderate ascites and omental, left cul de sac, and probable paracolic gutter implantation. She re-presented 2 weeks later with an acute abdomen and was admitted for a gynecologic oncology consult. Pre-op tumor markers showed an elevated inhibin B. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy, left salpingo-oophorectomy, omental biopsy, and small bowel resection at 25 weeks gestation. Intra-op findings included a ruptured tumor and metastases. Tumor reductive surgery was completed to R0. Pathology revealed a JGCT, FIGO stage IIIB. The pathology and management were reviewed in collaboration with an outside institution. Chemotherapy was delayed until after delivery with monthly MRI surveillance. She underwent induction of labor at 37 weeks followed by an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. She received 3 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin starting six weeks postpartum. Last known contact was over five years after the initial diagnosis with no evidence of recurrent disease. Conclusion JGCTs account for 5% of granulosa cell tumors and 3% are diagnosed after age 30. JGCT is an uncommon neoplasm in pregnancy. 90% are stage I at diagnosis, but advanced stage tumors are aggressive often resulting in recurrence or death within 3 years of diagnosis. We present a surgically treated case with delay in chemotherapy until after delivery with a good outcome after 5 years of follow up

Yoga and pilates in the management of low back pain

Many interventions for the management of low back pain exist, however most have modest efficacy at best, and there are few with clearly demonstrated benefits once pain becomes chronic. Therapeutic exercise, on the other hand, does appear to have significant benefits for managing patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) in terms of decreasing pain and improving function. In addition, because chronic pain is complex and does not fit a simple model, there have also been numerous trials investigating and demonstrating the efficacy of multidisciplinary pain programs for CLBP. It follows that interventions that treat more than one aspect of LBP would have significant benefits for this patient population. Yoga and Pilates which have, both been gaining in popularity over the last decade are two mind–body exercise interventions that address both the physical and mental aspects of pain with core strengthening, flexibility, and relaxation. There has been a slow evolution of these nontraditional exercise regimens into treatment paradigms for LBP, although few studies examining their effects have been published. The following article will focus on the scientific and theoretical basis of using yoga and Pilates in the management of CLBP

Achilles tendon rupture following surgical management for tendinopathy: a case report

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendinopathy is understood to be a failed healing response. Operative management is utilised following the failure of non-operative methods. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of Achilles tendon rupture, sustained whilst isometrically loading the Achilles tendon during an eccentric loading exercise programme. Conclusion: Bilateral surgical exploration and debridement had previously been performed after conservative management of bilateral Achilles tendinopathy had been unsuccessful

Elevated Oestrogen Receptor Splice Variant ERαΔ5 Expression in Tumour-adjacent Hormone-responsive Tissue

Susceptibility to prostate or endometrial cancer is linked with obesity, a state of oestrogen excess. Oestrogen receptor (ER) splice variants may be responsible for the tissue-level of ER activity. Such micro-environmental regulation may modulate cancer initiation and/or progression mechanisms. Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to quantitatively assess the levels of four ER splice variants (ERαΔ3, ERαΔ5, ERβ2 and ERβ5), plus the full-length parent isoforms ERα and ERβ1, in high-risk [tumour-adjacent prostate (n = 10) or endometrial cancer (n = 9)] vs. low-risk [benign prostate (n = 12) or endometrium (n = 9)], as well as a comparison of UK (n = 12) vs. Indian (n = 15) benign prostate. All three tissue groups expressed the ER splice variants at similar levels, apart from ERαΔ5. This splice variant was markedly raised in all of the tumour-adjacent prostate samples compared to benign tissues. Immunofluorescence analysis for ERβ2 in prostate tissue demonstrated that such splice variants are present in comparable, if not greater, amounts as the parent full-length isoform. This small pilot study demonstrates the ubiquitous nature of ER splice variants in these tissue sites and suggests that ERαΔ5 may be involved in progression of prostate adenocarcinoma

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and survivin in endometrioid and nonendometrioid endometrial cancers and clinicopathologic significance

Objective: To determine matrix metalloproteinase-2 and survivin expressions in endometrial cancers, their relation to clinical and histologic parameters and to investigate any difference in the expression of these markers between endometrioid and non-endometrioid cancers

Implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol in gynecologic oncology.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based approach that aims to reduce narcotic use and maintain anabolic balance to enable full functional recovery. Our primary aim was to determine the effect of ERAS on narcotic usage among patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy by gynecologic oncologists. We characterized its effect on length of stay, intraoperative blood transfusions, bowel function, 30-day readmissions, and postoperative complications. A retrospective cohort study was performed at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health in gynecologic oncology. Women who underwent an exploratory laparotomy from 2011 to 2016 for both benign and malignant etiologies were included before and after implementation of our ERAS protocol. Patients who underwent a bowel resection were excluded. A total of 724 patients were included: 360 in the non-ERAS and 364 in the ERAS cohort. An overall reduction in narcotic usage, measured as oral morphine milliequivalents (MMEs) was observed in the ERAS relative to the non-ERAS group, during the entire hospital stay (MME 34 versus 68, p \u3c 0.001 and within 72 h postoperatively (MME 34 versus 60, p \u3c 0.005). A shorter length of stay and earlier return of bowel function were also observed in the ERAS group. No differences in 30-day readmissions (p = 0.967) or postoperative complications (p = 0.328) were observed. This study demonstrated the benefits of ERAS in Gynecologic Oncology. A significant reduction of postoperative narcotic use, earlier return of bowel function and a shorter postoperative hospital stay was seen in the ERAS compared to traditional perioperative care

Terminology for Achilles tendon related disorders

The terminology of Achilles tendon pathology has become inconsistent and confusing throughout the years. For proper research, assessment and treatment, a uniform and clear terminology is necessary. A new terminology is proposed; the definitions hereof encompass the anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology. It comprises the following definitions: Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: a clinical syndrome characterized by a combination of pain, swelling and impaired performance. It includes, but is not limited to, the histopathological diagnosis of tendinosis. Achilles paratendinopathy: an acute or chronic inflammation and/or degeneration of the thin membrane around the Achilles tendon. There are clear distinctions between acute paratendinopathy and chronic paratendinopathy, both in symptoms as in histopathology. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy: located at the insertion of the Achilles tendon onto the calcaneus, bone spurs and calcifications in the tendon proper at the insertion site may exist. Retrocalcaneal bursitis: an inflammation of the bursa in the recess between the anterior inferior side of the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior aspect of the calcaneus (retrocalcaneal recess). Superficial calcaneal bursitis: inflammation of the bursa located between a calcaneal prominence or the Achilles tendon and the skin. Finally, it is suggested that previous terms as Haglund’s disease; Haglund’s syndrome; Haglund’s deformity; pump bump (calcaneus altus; high prow heels; knobbly heels; cucumber heel), are no longer used

In vitro activity of pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab in uterine serous papillary adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Uterine serous papillary adenocarcinoma (USPC) is a rare but highly aggressive variant of endometrial cancer. Pertuzumab is a new humanised monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the epidermal growth factor type II receptor (HER2/neu). We evaluated pertuzumab activity separately or in combination with trastuzumab against primary USPC cell lines expressing different levels of HER2/neu. METHODS: Six USPC cell lines were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, and real-time PCR for HER2/neu expression. c-erbB2 gene amplification was evaluated using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). Sensitivity to pertuzumab and trastuzumab-induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) was evaluated in 5 h chromium release assays. Pertuzumab cytostatic activity was evaluated using proliferation-based assays. RESULTS: Three USPC cell lines stained heavily for HER2/neu by IHC and showed amplification of the c-erbB2 gene by FISH. The remaining FISH-negative USPCs expressed HER2/neu at 0/1\ufe levels. In cytotoxicity experiments against USPC with a high HER2/neu expression, pertuzumab and trastuzumab were similarly effective in inducing strong ADCC. The addition of complementcontaining plasma and interleukin-2 increased the cytotoxic effect induced by both mAbs. In low HER2/neu USPC expressors, trastuzumab was more potent than pertuzumab in inducing ADCC. Importantly, in this setting, the combination of pertuzumab with trastuzumab significantly increased the ADCC effect induced by trastuzumab alone (P\ubc0.02). Finally, pertuzumab induced a significant inhibition in the proliferation of all USPC cell lines tested, regardless of their HER-2/neu expression. CONCLUSION: Pertuzumab and trastuzumab induce equally strong ADCC and CDC in FISH-positive USPC cell lines. Pertuzumab significantly increases tratuzumab-induced ADCC against USPC with a low HER2/neu expression and may represent a new therapeutic agent in patients harbouring advanced/recurrent and/or refractory USPC