Adrenomedullin enhances invasion of human extravillous cytotrophoblast-derived cell lines by regulation of urokinase plasminogen activator expression and s-nitrosylation.

Extravillous cytotrophoblast (EVCT) is responsible for trophoblast invasion, which is an important process during placentation. Dysregulation of the process is associated with a wide range of pregnancy complications. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a polypeptide expressed most abundantly in first-trimester placentas.

A double-blinded randomized controlled trial of laparoendoscopic single-site access versus conventional 3-port appendectomy.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to perform a multicentered prospective double-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing laparoendoscopic single-site access (LESS) versus conventional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TPLA).

Background: The clinical benefits and disadvantages of LESS appendectomy are uncertain.

Methods: Between October 2009 and March 2011, consecutive patients admitted with clinical or radiological evidence of appendicitis were randomly assigned to receive either LESS or TPLA.

Ex vivo comparative study using the Endolifter® as a traction device for enhancing submucosal visualization during endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technically demanding procedure, and exposure of the submucosa depends on the action of gravity and submucosal injection. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Endolifter(®) as a traction device for enhancing submucosal visualization during ESD.

Methods: This was a prospective ex vivo comparative study conducted between September 2010 and March 2011 in the Prince of Wales Hospital.

Randomized trial of endoscopic sphincterotomy with balloon dilation versus endoscopic sphincterotomy alone for removal of bile duct stones.

Background & Aims: Limited endoscopic sphincterotomy with large balloon dilation (ESBD) is an alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) for removing bile duct stones, but it is not clear which procedure is most effective. We compared the 2 techniques in removal of bile duct stones.

Methods: Between September 2005 and September 2011, 156 consecutive patients with suspected of having, or known to have, common bile duct stones were randomly assigned to groups that underwent ES or ESBD.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy for treatment of achalasia: from bench to bedside (with video).

Background: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a novel approach to performing esophageal myotomy through a long submucosal tunnel.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of POEM for treatment of achalasia.

Design: Preclinical animal study and prospective clinical study.

Glycodelin-A stimulates interleukin-6 secretion by human monocytes and macrophages through L-selectin and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.

Macrophages represent the second major type of decidual leukocytes at the fetomaternal interface. Changes in macrophage number and activity are associated with fetal loss and pregnancy complications. Glycodelin-A (GdA) is an abundant glycoprotein in the first-trimester decidua.

Capsule endoscopy or angiography in patients with acute overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a prospective randomized study with long-term follow-up.

Objectives: Both capsule endoscopy (CE) and angiography have been recommended as first investigation for patients with acute overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). However, no studies have directly compared the two modalities in patients with overt OGIB. We compared the diagnostic yield and long-term outcomes of patients with overt OGIB randomized to CE or angiogram.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) compared with gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric neoplasia: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: This study aims to compare perioperative outcomes and oncological clearance of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) versus gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including all cases of EGC or severe dysplasia treated at a university-affiliated hospital from 1993 to 2010. Preoperative endoscopic ultrasound and image-enhanced endoscopy were employed to determine depth of invasion.

Current situation of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial neoplasms in the upper digestive tract in East Asian countries: a questionnaire survey.

Aim: This study was carried out to understand the current practice and learning of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial esophageal and gastric cancers in East Asian countries.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was used to investigate differences in upper gastrointestinal (GI) ESD among East Asian countries.

Results: ESD is used by many endoscopists in not only tertiary centers but also secondary care hospitals in China, Korea and Japan.

Robot-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection is effective in treating patients with early-stage gastric neoplasia.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a new technique for endoscopic resection of early-stage gastrointestinal cancers. Though ESD achieves high rate of en bloc resection, it is technically difficult to master. The development of a novel robotic endoscopic system that has 2 arms attached to an ordinary endoscope-Master and Slave Transluminal Endoscopic Robot (MASTER)-has improved the performance of complex endoluminal procedures.

Recognition of changes in microvascular and microstructural patterns upon magnifying endoscopy predicted the presence of extranodal gastric MALToma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gastric MALToma is difficult to recognize upon endoscopy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the application of microstructural and microvascular patterns in recognizing gastric MALToma on magnifying endoscopy. METHOD: All patients with diagnosis of gastric MALToma upon histology were recruited.

Sperm-borne microRNA-34c is required for the first cleavage division in mouse.

In mammals, the sperm deliver mRNA of unknown function into the oocytes during fertilization. The role of sperm microRNAs (miRNAs) in preimplantation development is unknown. miRNA profiling identified six miRNAs expressed in the sperm and the zygotes but not in the oocytes or preimplantation embryos.

The risk of peptic ulcer bleeding mortality in relation to hospital admission on holidays: a cohort study on 8,222 cases of peptic ulcer bleeding.

Objectives: Urgent endoscopic intervention is important in the management of patients with peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB). Hospital admission on Sundays or on public holidays may be associated with an increased mortality. This study sets to investigate whether mortality among patients with PUB differs between holiday and weekday admissions, and also to investigate the association between mortality and the waiting time for endoscopy.

Online combination of reversed-phase/reversed-phase and porous graphitic carbon liquid chromatography for multicomponent separation of proteomics and glycoproteomics samples.

In this paper, we describe an online combination of reversed-phase/reversed-phase (RP-RP) and porous graphitic carbon (PGC) liquid chromatography (LC) for multicomponent analysis of proteomics and glycoproteomics samples. The online RP-RP portion of this system provides comprehensive 2-D peptide separation based on sequence hydrophobicity at pH 2 and 10. Hydrophilic components (e.

Glycodelin-A protein interacts with Siglec-6 protein to suppress trophoblast invasiveness by down-regulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/c-Jun signaling pathway.

During placentation, the cytotrophoblast differentiates into the villous cytotrophoblast and the extravillous cytotrophoblast. The latter invades the decidualized endometrium. Glycodelin-A (GdA) is abundantly synthesized by the decidua but not the trophoblast.

Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma.

Minimally invasive approaches to esophageal leiomyoma, including thoracoscopic and laparoscopic enucleation, have been shown to have better postoperative recovery compared with thoracotomy approach. We present a case of robotic-assisted thoracoscopic enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma using the da Vinci(®) S system.

Human sperm binding is mediated by the sialyl-Lewis(x) oligosaccharide on the zona pellucida.

Human fertilization begins when spermatozoa bind to the extracellular matrix coating of the oocyte, known as the zona pellucida (ZP). One spermatozoan then penetrates this matrix and fuses with the egg cell, generating a zygote. Although carbohydrate sequences on the ZP have been implicated in sperm binding, the nature of the ligand was unknown.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection versus local excision for early rectal neoplasms: a comparative study.

Background: Transanal local excision (LE) is a well-established treatment option for early rectal neoplasms not amenable to complete colonoscopic removal. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been introduced recently as a novel procedure that enables en bloc resection of large rectal neoplasms. To date, no report comparing the two approaches can be found in the literature.

Glycodelin-A as a paracrine regulator in early pregnancy.

Glycodelin-A (GdA) is a glycoprotein secreted from the endometrial glands and decidual glandular epithelium. Given its abundance and ubiquitous distribution in the first trimester uterus, GdA may be involved in early placental development via its modulatory effect on immune and trophoblast cells. GdA inhibits activation and proliferation, and induces apoptosis of T cells.

Randomized comparative trial of a novel one-step needle sphincterotome versus direct incision and balloon dilation used to create gastrotomies for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) in the porcine model.

Background: This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a prototype device (the one-step needle sphincterotome) versus direct incision and balloon dilation for creating transgastric access to the peritoneal cavity in a porcine model.

Methods: In five swine, 24 gastrotomies were created using direct incision followed by balloon dilation (group A) or by the one-step needle sphincterotome (group B) in an in vivo nonsurvival model. The one-step needle sphincterotome is a novel instrument comprising two components including a retractable needleknife and a pull-type sphincterotome on the same instrument shaft, reducing the need to exchange instruments.

Glycosylation failure extends to glycoproteins in gestational diabetes mellitus: evidence from reduced α2-6 sialylation and impaired immunomodulatory activities of pregnancy-related glycodelin-A.

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder of pregnancy. Patients with GDM are at risk for high fetal mortality and gestational complications associated with reduced immune tolerance and abnormal carbohydrate metabolism. Glycodelin-A (GdA) is an abundant decidual glycoprotein with glycosylation-dependent immunomodulatory activities.