Women with endometriosis have higher comorbidities: Analysis of domestic data in Taiwan

AbstractEndometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities

Using Elastographic Ultrasound to Assess Plantar Tissue Stiffness after Walking at Different Speeds and Durations

Exercise has been demonstrated to improve health in people with diabetes. However, exercise may increase risk for foot ulcers because of increased plantar pressure during most weight-bearing physical activities. To date, there is no study investigating the effect of various walking speeds and durations (i.e., the most common form of exercise in daily living) on the plantar foot. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various walking intensities on plantar tissue stiffness. A 3 × 2 factorial design, including three walking speeds (1.8, 3.6 and 5.4 mph) and two durations (10 and 20 min), was tested in 12 healthy participants. B-mode and elastographic ultrasound images were measured from the first metatarsal head to quantify plantar tissue stiffness after walking. Two-way ANOVA was used to examine the results. Our results showed that the walking speed factor caused a significant main effect of planar stiffness of the superficial layers (p = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). However, the walking duration factor did not significantly affect the plantar stiffness. There was no interaction between the speed and duration factors on plantar tissue stiffness. Regarding the walking speed effect, there was a significant difference in the plantar stiffness between 1.8 and 3.6 mph (56.8 ± 0.8% vs. 53.6 ± 0.9%, p = 0.017) under 20 min walking duration. This finding is significant because moderate-to-fast walking speed (3.6 mph) can decrease plantar stiffness compared to slow walking speed (1.8 mph). This study suggests people at risk for foot ulcers walk at a preferred or fast speed (3.6 mph) rather than walk slowly (1.8 mph)

Using Bidimensional Multiscale Entropy Analysis of Ultrasound Images to Assess the Effect of Various Walking Intensities on Plantar Soft Tissues

Walking performance is usually assessed by linear analysis of walking outcome measures. However, human movements consist of both linear and nonlinear complexity components. The purpose of this study was to use bidimensional multiscale entropy analysis of ultrasound images to evaluate the effects of various walking intensities on plantar soft tissues. Twelve participants were recruited to perform six walking protocols, consisting of three speeds (slow at 1.8 mph, moderate at 3.6 mph, and fast at 5.4 mph) for two durations (10 and 20 min). A B-mode ultrasound was used to assess plantar soft tissues before and after six walking protocols. Bidimensional multiscale entropy (MSE2D) and the Complexity Index (CI) were used to quantify the changes in irregularity of the ultrasound images of the plantar soft tissues. The results showed that the CI of ultrasound images after 20 min walking increased when compared to before walking (CI4: 0.39 vs. 0.35; CI5: 0.48 vs. 0.43, p < 0.05). When comparing 20 and 10 min walking protocols at 3.6 mph, the CI was higher after 20 min walking than after 10 min walking (CI4: 0.39 vs. 0.36, p < 0.05; and CI5: 0.48 vs. 0.44, p < 0.05). This is the first study to use bidimensional multiscale entropy analysis of ultrasound images to assess plantar soft tissues after various walking intensities

Therapeutic potential of nanoceria pretreatment in preventing the development of urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Immunomodulation via reactive oxygen species scavenging and SerpinB2 downregulation

Abstract Urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) manifests as pelvic pain with frequent urination and has a 10% prevalence rate without effective therapy. Nanoceria (cerium oxide nanoparticles [CNPs]) were synthesized in this study to achieve potential long‐term pain relief, using a commonly used UCPPS mouse model with cyclophosphamide‐induced cystitis. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that serpin family B member 2 (SerpinB2) was the most upregulated marker in mouse bladder, and SerpinB2 was downregulated with CNP pretreatment. The transcriptome sequencing analysis results agreed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis results for the expression of related mRNAs and proteins. Analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets revealed that SerpinB2 was a differentially upregulated gene in human UCPPS. In vitro SerpinB2 knockdown downregulated proinflammatory chemokine expression (chemokine receptor CXCR3 and C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 10) upon treatment with 4‐hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. In conclusion, CNP pretreatment may prevent the development of UCPPS, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and SerpinB2 downregulation may modulate the immune response in UCPPS

The Sequential Change in Left Ventricular Function among Various Cardiovascular Diseases: A 12-Year Study

Background: This 12-year study aimed to compare the longitudinal change in left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) between healthy elderly, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension (HTN) patients. Methods: From 2008 to 2020, 1476 patients were included, and 3181 echocardiography examinations were conducted. Finally, 130 participants (36 healthy elderly (79.39 ± 9.51 years old), 51 with CAD (68.31 ± 12.09 years old), and 43 with HTN (68.31 ± 12.09 years old)) with more than a 10-year follow-up period were included in the final analysis. Results: The change in diastolic function was different among these subjects according to the integrated score index (elderly vs. HTN, p = 0.01; CAD vs. HTN, p = 0.01), septal E/e′ ratio (elderly vs. HTN, p p = 0.01), lateral E/e′ ratio (elderly vs. HTN, p p p = 0.03; CAD vs. HTN, p p < 0.05). Conclusion: Under aggressive treatment, diastolic function was relatively preserved in HTN subjects with aging in comparison with elderly and CAD subjects

Systemic Cytokines in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a vasoproliferative vitreoretinal disorder, is the leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Although angiogenic pathways have been the main focus, cytokine-mediated inflammation is also involved in ROP etiology. Herein, we illustrate the characteristics and actions of all cytokines involved in ROP pathogenesis. The two-phase (vaso-obliteration followed by vasoproliferation) theory outlines the evaluation of cytokines in a time-dependent manner. Levels of cytokines may even differ between the blood and the vitreous. Data from animal models of oxygen-induced retinopathy are also valuable. Although conventional cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation are well established and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents are available, less destructive novel therapeutics that can precisely target the signaling pathways are required. Linking the cytokines involved in ROP to other maternal and neonatal diseases and conditions provides insights into the management of ROP. Suppressing disordered retinal angiogenesis via the modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor, supplementation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1/IGF-binding protein 3 complex, erythropoietin, and its derivatives, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and inhibition of secretogranin III have attracted the attention of researchers. Recently, gut microbiota modulation, non-coding RNAs, and gene therapies have shown promise in regulating ROP. These emerging therapeutics can be used to treat preterm infants with ROP