Angiographic uterine artery chemoembolization followed by vacuum aspiration: an efficient and safe treatment for managing complicated cesarean scar pregnancy.

Purpose: To evaluate uterine artery chemoembolization (UAEC) followed by vacuum aspiration as a conservative treatment for complicated cesarean scar pregnancy.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of women presenting with cesarean scar pregnancy between January 2002 and December 2008. The medical record was evaluated to determine the method of treatment.

Timing and indication for curettage after medical abortion in early pregnant women with prior uterine incision.

Background: Termination of pregnancy is an important and necessary back-up method for family planning services in many countries. The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is a widely used alternative to surgical evacuation of the uterus in early pregnancy; however, there are few reports about medical abortion in women with a prior uterine incision and few studies have described curettage occurring as part of the procedure and an indication for the intervention. Curettage in a prior uterine incision can increase operative complications.

Biological characteristics of human placental mesenchymal stem cells and their proliferative response to various cytokines.

The placenta is an attractive new source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), but the biological characteristics of placenta-derived MSCs (P-MSCs) have not yet been characterized. We successfully isolated, cultured and expanded P-MSCs using routine methods. Under appropriate induction conditions, these cells can differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat and hepatocyte-like cells.