Anti-Müllerian hormone as a marker of ovarian reserve in patients with ovarian malignancies who have undergone fertility-preserving surgery and chemotherapy.

With proper and careful selection of patients, fertility-preserving surgery may be feasible in patients with ovarian malignancies. However, the loss of follicles by oophorectomy and chemotherapy results in decreased ovarian reserve, which consecutively affects reproductive capacity. We evaluated postoperative levels of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in women with ovarian malignancies to assess the impact of the fertility-preserving surgery with or without the administration of chemotherapy on ovarian reserve.

ALX1 induces snail expression to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian cancer is a highly invasive and metastatic disease with a poor prognosis if diagnosed at an advanced stage, which is often the case. Recent studies argue that ovarian cancer cells that have undergone epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) acquire aggressive malignant properties, but the relevant molecular mechanisms in this setting are not well-understood. Here, we report findings from an siRNA screen that identified the homeobox transcription factor ALX1 as a novel regulator of EMT.

Mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas with severe dysplasia during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature.

Objective: Mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas occurs mainly in women aged 40-60 years, so it is extremely rare in pregnant woman.

Case Report: A 28-year-old woman in the ninth week of pregnancy was referred to our hospital due to a tumor of the abdominal cavity. Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated a huge multicystic lesion in the left upper abdomen.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Sonazoid(®) is useful for diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors: comparison with Doppler ultrasound.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of Sonazoid(®)-enhanced ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in comparison with Doppler US.

Methods: Twenty-five ovarian tumor patients who were scheduled to undergo surgery were recruited for this study. The day before the operation, each patient was evaluated with color and power Doppler and baseline US during intravenous infusion of Sonazoid.

Anti-Müllerian hormone as a marker of ovarian reserve following chemotherapy in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Objective: The loss of primordial follicles from gonadal damage caused by chemotherapy results in decreased ovarian reserve. To assess the impact of chemotherapy for patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) on the ovarian reserve, we evaluated the post-chemotherapy serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels.

Study Design: In 22 patients with GTN receiving chemotherapy, serum AMH levels were measured after the administration of chemotherapy and compared with serum AMH levels measured in patients with hydatidiform mole who did not receive chemotherapy, as a control.

Expression of Twist enhances risk of poor oncologic outcome in patients with stage Ib to II cervical carcinoma with lymphovascular space involvement.

Twist, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, promotes cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Here, we aimed to examine the association between Twist expression and lymphovascular space involvement for early-stage cervical carcinoma. Paraffin sections from 90 patients with stage Ib to IIb cervical carcinoma were immunostained with Twist antibody, and the staining intensities were semiquantitatively evaluated.

Fertility and pregnancy-associated ß-cell proliferation in mice deficient in proglucagon-derived peptides.

Proglucagon, which is encoded by the glucagon gene (Gcg), is the precursor of several peptide hormones, including glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Whereas glucagon stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion to lower blood glucose and also supports ß-cell proliferation and protection from apoptotic stimuli. Pregnancy is a strong inducer of change in islet function, however the roles of proglucagon-derived peptides in pregnancy are only partially understood.

Mesenchymal stromal cells of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly accelerate wound healing by paracrine mechanisms.

Background Aims: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) can be isolated from the perivascular connective tissue of umbilical cords, called Wharton's jelly. These human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVC) might provide therapeutic benefits when treating skeletal or cutaneous malformations in neonatal patients.

Methods: HUCPVC were isolated, and their proliferation rate, marker expression and multilineage differentiation potential determined.

Validity of lamellar body count as a fetal lung maturity assessment in twin pregnancy.

Fetal lung maturity assessment in twin pregnancy has been discussed, but is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to predict the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) using lamellar body count (LBC) and analyze the validity of LBC for fetal lung maturity assessment in twin pregnancy. Three-hundred two amniotic fluid samples were obtained at cesarean section from 29 to 38 weeks of gestation.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage i ovarian clear cell carcinoma: is it necessary for stage IA?

Background: It is controversial whether patients with stage I ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) benefit from postoperative chemotherapy. This study was designed to evaluate the postoperative outcomes associated with the inclusion or exclusion of adjuvant therapy in these patients.

Methods: A total of 185 patients who were treated for stage I CCC between 1991 and 2007 were retrospectively evaluated.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate inhibits H2O2-induced granulosa cell apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in human granulosa cell cultures with freshly harvested granulosa cells.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Academic medical center for reproductive medicine.

Normal human chorionic gonadotropin regression curves in uneventful postmolar patients.

Objective: To review current follow-up measures of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in uneventful postmolar patients, and to evaluate criteria for initiating chemotherapy.

Study Design: Between 1993 and 2011 hCG data from 395 patients with uneventful complete moles (CMs) (195 patients) and partial moles (PMs) (205 patients) were obtained at 4 hospitals in Japan. All patients had been followed regularly at various intervals based on the preceding hCG titers and normal hCG regression curve.

The ferroimmunomodulatory role of ectopic endometriotic stromal cells in ovarian endometriosis.

Objective: To understand the role of ectopic endometriotic stromal cells in ovarian endometriosis (OEM) and the associated risks for infertility and carcinogenesis.

Design: Analyses of secreted proteins and gene expression using immortalized eutopic/ectopic endometrial(-otic) stromal cells from OEM.

Setting: University.

Postrecurrent oncologic outcome of patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

Objectives: To estimate the long-term clinical outcome of patients with recurrent clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) of the ovary in comparison with those with recurrent serous adenocarcinoma (RSAC).

Patients And Methods: In this study, 113 patients with RCCC and 365 patients with RSAC were analyzed. The pathological slides were evaluated under central pathological review.

Is there any association between retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and survival benefit in advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients?

Aim: The effect of systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (SRL) remains controversial in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (aEOC) who are optimally debulked.

Material And Methods: Demographic and clinicopathologic data were obtained from the Tokai Ovarian Tumor Study Group between 1986 and 2009. All patients were divided into two groups.

Establishment of a human nonluteinized granulosa cell line that transitions from the gonadotropin-independent to the gonadotropin-dependent status.

The ovary is a complex endocrine organ responsible for steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis. Follicles consist of oocytes and two primary steroidogenic cell types, the granulosa cells, and the theca cells. Immortalized human granulosa cells are essential for researching the mechanism of steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis.

Carbon ion radiotherapy for recurrent malignant transformation from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.

Mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is the most common tumor of the ovary; malignant transformation (MT) of squamous cell carcinoma is a rare disorder. A 78-year-old woman with stage IIc MT-MCT (squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]) underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy; there was residual tumor in the pelvis. The patient was treated with six courses of paclitaxel and carboplatin, but the recurrent tumor grew.

Diagnostic utility of CD117, CD133, SALL4, OCT4, TCL1 and glypican-3 in malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary.

Aim: Primary ovarian malignant germ cell tumors (OMGCTs) are rare and difficult to diagnose. Immunohistochemistry can help in the diagnosis and development of new management strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of CD117, CD133, SALL4, OCT4, TCL1 and glypican-3 marker expression in OMGCTs.

Long-term clinical outcome of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma: is it the same for each histological type?

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate the long-term clinical outcome of patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma (ROC).

Methods: Six hundred three patients with ROC were analyzed in this study. The pathological slides were evaluated under central pathological review.

Expression of CXCR4 indicates poor prognosis in patients with clear cell carcinoma of the ovary.

Recent reports have shown that CXCR4 is expressed in various solid tumors and is involved in tumor development and metastasis. We examined the distribution and expression of this molecule in clear cell carcinoma of the ovary to elucidate its clinical significance. Paraffin sections from clear cell carcinoma of the ovary tissues (n = 42) were immunostained with CXCR4 antibody, and the staining intensities were evaluated.

Survival impact of adjuvant paclitaxel and carboplatin for early-stage ovarian clear-cell carcinoma with complete surgical staging.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the survival impact of adjuvant paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) compared to cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapies for early-stage ovarian clear-cell carcinoma (CCC).

Methods: Clinicopathologic information on 99 stage I-II CCC patients was obtained between 1987 and 2005. All patients underwent complete surgical staging including systemic lymphadenectomy, followed by TC or various CDDP-based regimens.

Functional interaction between peritoneal mesothelial cells and stem cells of ovarian yolk sac tumor (SC-OYST) in peritoneal dissemination.

Objective: In recent years it has been indicated that ecological niches play important roles in the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). We investigated interactions between peritoneal mesothelial cells and SC-OYST based on the hypothesis that peritoneal mesothelial cells have the potential to provide one of the niches for SC-OYST.

Methods: We divided NOY1 cells into CD133-positive and -negative cells.