Treatment period and medical care costs to achieve the first live birth by assisted reproductive technology are lower in the single embryo transfer period than in the double embryo transfer period: a retrospective analysis of women younger than 40 years of age.

Aim: It was examined whether the single embryo transfer policy makes the treatment period longer for couples to achieve their first live birth by assisted reproductive technology.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed women who started assisted reproductive technology at younger than 40 years of age in the authors' organization. The treatment periods for couples to achieve the first live birth by assisted reproductive technology, between the women who started assisted reproductive technology from 2004 to 2009 (the double embryo transfer period group, n=250), in which the double embryo transfer was predominant, and the women who started assisted reproductive technology from 2010 to 2015 (the single embryo transfer period group, n=298), in which the single embryo transfer was predominant, were compared.

Reactivity of CA19-9 and CA125 in histological subtypes of epithelial ovarian tumors and ovarian endometriosis.

Previous reports have shown that some ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas and ovarian clear cell adenocarcinomas derive from ovarian endometriosis (OE), and that endocervical-like mucinous borderline ovarian tumors are associated with OE. We examined the relationship between the staging and histological subtypes of OE or epithelial ovarian tumors (EOT) and the serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) to evaluate the potential of these markers for preoperative diagnosis. First, we analyzed the preoperative serum levels of CA19-9 and CA125 in 195 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with OE or EOT.

[Comparison of intracytoplastic sperm injection outcomes with fresh and frozen-thawed testicular sperm].

Testicular sperm can be obtained from patients with non-obstructive azoospermia. However, there is not enough evidence concerning whether fresh or frozen-thawed sperm is better for successful pregnancy. We retrospectively compared initial treatment results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using fresh and frozen-thawed testicular sperm in our institution.

Perinatal management of cervicoisthmic pregnancy.

Cervicoisthmic pregnancy has a high risk of abortion or preterm delivery, and only 11 cases of live birth have been reported since 1980. In addition, almost all cases require blood transfusion and hysterectomy because of profuse bleeding after delivery of the placenta. A 39-year-old nulliparous woman who became pregnant after a fourth intracytoplasmic sperm injection was diagnosed with cervicoisthmic pregnancy on ultrasonography at 6 weeks' gestation.

Mutation screen of GABRA1, GABRB2 and GABRG2 genes in Japanese patients with absence seizures.

Absence seizures are classified into typical and atypical absences according to clinical and EEG characteristics. Although missense mutations in the GABA(A) receptor gamma2 subunits (GABRG2) gene have recently been detected in two families with typical absence seizures, no study has been carried out to clarify the relationship between atypical absence and GABA(A) receptors. We performed mutation analysis of all the coding exons of GABA(A) receptor alpha1, beta2 and gamma2 subunit (GABRA1, GABRB2 and GABRG2) genes by direct sequencing to clarify whether there was common molecular biological mechanism underlying both typical and atypical absences.

Costs of maternal and neonatal medical care for triplet and quadruplet pregnancies in Japan.

It is well documented that maternal morbidity and neonatal morbidity and mortality increase alike in high-order multiple (HOM) births. There have, however, been few reports concerning the costs of maternal and neonatal medical care associated with HOM births. This is the first such report on the situation in Japan.

Benefit of simultaneous recording of EEG and MEG in dipole localization.

Purpose: In this study, we tried to show that EEG and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are clinically complementary to each other and that a combination of both technologies is useful for the precise diagnosis of epileptic focus.

Methods: We recorded EEGs and MEGs simultaneously and analyzed dipoles in seven patients with intractable localization-related epilepsy. MEG dipoles were analyzed by using a BTI Magnes 148-channel magnetometer.

[Testicular sperm extraction for non-obstructive azoospermia: results with conventional and microsurgical techniques].

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) was performed on patients with non-obstructive azoospermia using the conventional or microdissection technique. First, conventional TESE was attempted on all patients. If the sperm was retrieved successfully, the TESE procedure was terminated.

Systematic source estimation of spikes by a combination of independent component analysis and RAP-MUSIC. II: Preliminary clinical application.

Objectives: We tried to estimate epileptic sources by a combination of independent component analysis (ICA) and recursively applied and projected multiple signal classification (RAP-MUSIC) in real epileptiform EEG discharges.

Methods: EEG data including an array of spikes from 3 patients were decomposed by ICA, and source estimation was performed by applying RAP-MUSIC to the spatial information defined by the set of ICA components that showed epileptiform activity in their waveform. Sources were also estimated from the same data using RAP-MUSIC based on eigen-decomposition of the covariance matrix of averaged spikes, and common spatial pattern decomposition for comparison.

Systematic source estimation of spikes by a combination of independent component analysis and RAP-MUSIC. I: Principles and simulation study.

Objectives: We propose a combination of independent component analysis (ICA) and recursively applied and projected multiple signal classification (RAP-MUSIC) as a new approach to dipole source estimation of epileptiform discharges. The method is minimally dependent on subjective decisions.

Methods: Ten electroencephalographic (EEG) data matrices were generated by computer, each matrix including real background activity from a normal subject and an array of added simulated spikes.

Combined use of sphenoidal electrodes and the dipole localization method for the identification of the mesial temporal focus.

Unlabelled: We attempted to sub-classify four cases who show temporal spikes on standard scalp electroencephalogram (EEG), using sphenoidal electrodes and the dipole localization

Method: In a case with mesial temporal epilepsy, spikes showed phase reversal in a sphenoidal electrode, and the spike dipoles were estimated to be in the mesial temporal lobe. In a case with lateral temporal epilepsy, spikes showed no phase reversal in a sphenoidal electrode, and the spike dipoles were estimated to be in the lateral temporal lobe. In two cases out of four, spikes showed phase reversal in sphenoidal electrodes, whilst the dipoles were estimated to be in the frontal lobe.

Electroencephalographic changes and their regional differences during pediatric cardiovascular surgery with hypothermia.

Monitoring brain function by EEG is an important means of preventing cerebral insults in pediatric cardiovascular surgery. We studied intraoperative EEG changes and their regional differences associated with hypothermia and brain ischemia. The subjects of this study consisted of 13 children ranging in age from 4 months to 4 years and 6 months.

Isolation of epileptiform discharges from unaveraged EEG by independent component analysis.

Objective: We propose a method that allows the separation of epileptiform discharges (EDs) from the EEG background, including the ED's waveform and spatial distribution. The method even allows to separate a spike in two components occurring at approximately the same time but having different waveforms and spatial distributions.

Methods: The separation employs independent component analysis (ICA) and is not based on any assumption regarding generator model.

Dipole analysis in a case with tumor-related epilepsy.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of presurgical dipole analysis of interictal spikes as a non-invasive technique for the determination of epileptogenic area, we compared the results of this method with those of electrocorticography (ECoG) localization in the diagnosis of a patient with tumor-related epilepsy. A preoperative MRI revealed a temporal lobe tumor on the right side. The individual dipoles estimated from the interictal spikes were located mainly in the anterolateral region of the right temporal lobe, although some were located in the mesial side.