Kathryn C. Squires

Clinical impact of selective and nonselective beta-blockers on survival in patients with ovarian cancer.

Preclinical evidence has suggested that sustained adrenergic activation can promote ovarian cancer growth and metastasis. The authors examined the impact of beta‐adrenergic blockade on the clinical outcome of women with epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancers (collectively, epithelial ovarian cancer [EOC]).

The Course of Lichen Sclerosus Diagnosed Prior to Puberty

STUDY OBJECTIVE To help determine the long-term course of girls diagnosed with lichen sclerosus before puberty. DESIGN Retrospective chart review and follow-up interview. SETTING Washington University pediatric gynecology and dermatology clinics. PARTICIPANTS Premenarchal girls diagnosed with lichen sclerosus from 1989-2010. INTERVENTIONS Telephone interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Resolution of symptoms, specifically pain and/or pruritus. RESULTS Follow-up was available for 36 premenarchal girls. The mean age at lichen sclerosus (LS) diagnosis was 7 years (range: 3-14 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 5.3 years (range: 2 months-15 years). Treatment with topical steroids (primarily 0.05% clobetasol propionate ointment) resulted in improvement in symptoms within an average of 14 weeks (range: 2 weeks-2 years) in 33 girls. Eighty-three percent of patients (n = 30) experienced remission after initial treatment. Sixteen patients reported relapses requiring an average of 3.1 years of intermittent maintenance therapy. The mean length of remission to date was 3.6 years (range 1 months-10 years). 72% of patients reported remission at the time of the phone interview. Of note, 7 out of 9 patients in our study who continue to report symptoms are still premenarchal. One postmenarchal patient was asymptomatic but had signs of LS on physical exam. CONCLUSION The prognosis and long term course of LS diagnosed prior to puberty is unclear. Although remission may occur prior to menarche in some cases, once children reach menarche with active disease, complete remission may be less likely. Treatment duration of LS in our study had a wide range, but 3 months appears to be adequate for most patients to obtain remission.

Eptifibatide induced profound thrombocytopenia in a patient with pelvic malignancy: A case report

► Eptifibatide is associated with profound thrombocytopenia and thrombosis secondary to a HITT-like mechanism associated with drug-dependant antibodies. ► Caution with eptifibatide use is needed in those pre-disposed to hypercoaguability, particularly those with an underlying malignancy.

Clinical impact of selective and nonselective beta-blockers on survival in patients with ovarian cancer: Beta-Blockers and Ovarian Cancer Survival

Preclinical evidence has suggested that sustained adrenergic activation can promote ovarian cancer growth and metastasis. The authors examined the impact of beta‐adrenergic blockade on the clinical outcome of women with epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancers (collectively, epithelial ovarian cancer [EOC]).

Clinical Impact of Selective and Non-selective Beta Blockers on Survival in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Preclinical evidence has suggested that sustained adrenergic activation can promote ovarian cancer growth and metastasis. The authors examined the impact of beta‐adrenergic blockade on the clinical outcome of women with epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancers (collectively, epithelial ovarian cancer [EOC]).

Discussion: ‘Congenital hypogonadisms impair quality of life and sexual function,’ by Ros et al

In the roundtable that follows, clinicians discuss a study published in this issue of the Journal in light of its methodology, relevance to practice, and implications for future research. Article discussed: Ros C, Alobid I, Balasch J, et al. Turners syndrome and other forms of congenital hypogonadism impair quality of life and sexual function. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013;208:484.e1-6.

Discussion: 'Comparison of cervical cancer screening strategies,' by Cox et al.

In the roundtable that follows, clinicians discuss a study published in this issue of the Journal in light of its methodology, relevance to practice, and implications for future research.