ObjectiveTo evaluate correlation of preoperative anemia with clinical outcomes in patients with early stage cervical cancer who were treated with radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection.MethodsPatients who underwent radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection for cervical cancer from January 2001 to February 2012 were included in this study. Clinicopatholgoical factors included in univariate and multivariate analysis were age, tumor histology, FIGO (International Federation of Gyneocology and Obstetrics) stage, preoperative hemoglobin, depth of invasion, tumor size, parametrial involvement, resection margin, and lymph node status.ResultsA total of 387 patients were retrospectively analyzed in this study; 141 patients (36.4%) had preoperative anemia (hemoglobin <12 g/dL) and 16 out of 141 patients (11.3%) received blood transfusion for correction of preoperative anemia. Patients with preoperative anemia showed significant association with age <50 years, more advanced stage, non-squamous cell carcinoma histology, larger tumor size, deeper stromal invasion, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Both relapse-free survival and overall survival were worse in patients with preoperative anemia in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, overall survival was worse in patients with preoperative anemia, but relapse-free survival was not associated with preoperative anemia. In the intergroup analysis of anemic patients for the effect of preoperative blood transfusion, preoperative anemia correction did not affect survival.ConclusionPreoperative anemia was not an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with early cervical cancer. However, it was associated with poor prognostic factors. Further study in large population is needed.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the aortic isthmus (AoI) flow difference between larger fetus and smaller fetus of twin; and to evaluate the predictive value of early diagnosis of hemodynamic change in twin growth.MethodsThis prospective study on 49 pairs of twin fetuses was performed to obtain AoI blood flow data. Cases with structural or chromosomal abnormalities and co-twin death were excluded. The interval from examination to delivery was within 4 weeks and 3 cases over 4 weeks interval were re-examined. Assessment of fetal AoI Doppler parameters were peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, times-averaged maximum velocities, pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI). According to the direction of the diastolic flow in the AoI, antegrade and retrograde flow were made and was used to analyze the perinatal outcomes of each fetus. The predictive value of AoI Doppler parameters in predicting fetal growth was obtained by using ANOVA and logistic regression analysis of quantitative variables in each fetus of twins.ResultsThere were significant differences in the gestational weeks at delivery, birth weight and the incidence of growth discordance over 20% or more between monochorionic twin and dichorionic twin. The AoI PI and RI were significantly higher in smaller fetus than in larger regardless of chorionicity. Retrograde flow was noted in 8 of 98 cases (8.2%) and the only one case was of the larger fetus and the others were smaller fetuses of twin. Significant correlations were found between the AoI PI and birthweight (P=0.018) and between the PSV and growth discordance (P=0.032). In monochorionic twin, linear correlation was shown between the AoI PI and birthweight (P=0.004) and between AoI PI and growth discordance (P=0.031). Also, the meaningful correlation between the PSV and birthweight (P=0.036) was found by using logistic regression analyses.ConclusionOn the basis of our observation, AoI PI has revealed their hemodynamic status and this result may improve the understanding of growth patterns in twins.