Is human chorionic gonadotropin supplementation beneficial for frozen and thawed embryo transfer in estrogen/progesterone replacement cycles?: A randomized clinical trial.

Aim: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is used frequently for luteal support in fresh in vitro fertilization cycles as it induces progesterone secretion from the ovaries after oocyte retrieval and modulates the endometrium for implantation in fresh cycles. In contrast, hCG is not usually used for the transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos in estrogen/progesterone replacement cycles because ovulation is suppressed. However, several studies have shown that luteinizing hormone and hCG receptors are present in the human endometrium and that hCG can directly induce the decidualization of endometrial stromal cells in vitro.

Frequency of Sperm DNA Fragmentation According to Selection Method: Comparison and Relevance of a Microfluidic Device and a Swim-up Procedure.

Introduction: Multiple rounds of centrifugation or washing spermatozoa can cause sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF); however, a microfluidic approach to select spermatozoa does not require centrifugation. Reports have suggested that sperm sorting using a microfluidic device is an effective method to select good quality spermatozoa, however, it is not known whether it reduces sperm DNA damage. We investigated whether the frequency of SDF was affected by selection method during sperm processing.

Fasudil inhibits lysophosphatidic acid-induced invasiveness of human ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian cancer is known to be highly invasive. The poor prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer comes from increased invasiveness of human ovarian cancer cells. The lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)/Rho/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) pathway is intimately involved in the course of ovarian cancer progression, and the inhibition of this pathway attenuates ovarian cancer invasiveness.

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography is useful to monitor response to alendronate therapy in postmenopausal women.

A forearm fracture (Colles' fracture) is often the first sign of osteoporosis and may suggest underlying skeletal fragility. Therefore, establishment of a more accurate and reliable method for the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal radius would be beneficial for patients who suffer from osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) to monitor the response to alendronate therapy at the distal radius in early postmenopausal Japanese women.

In vitro and in vivo assays to analyze the contribution of Rho kinase in angiogenesis.

Therapeutic targeting of angiogenesis has become a novel approach to cancer therapy. The recent discovery of specific molecular targets that modulate the endothelial cell response and the development of suitable methods for assessing the contribution of these targets have given further impetus for the development and therapeutic application of an angiogenesis-targeted therapy. The small GTPase Rho and the major downstream effector, Rho kinase, is well established to regulate cell migration by the formation of stress fibers and the turnover of focal adhesions and plays a pivotal role in endothelial cell organization in angiogenesis.

Fasudil inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced endothelial cell migration is an important component of tumor angiogenesis. Rho and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) are key regulators of focal adhesion, stress fiber formation, and thus cell motility. Inhibitors of this pathway have been shown to inhibit endothelial cell motility and angiogenesis.

Geranylgeranylacetone inhibits ovarian cancer progression in vitro and in vivo.

Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), an isoprenoid compound, is an anti-ulcer drug developed in Japan. In our previous study, GGA was shown to inhibit ovarian cancer invasion by attenuating Rho activation [K. Hashimoto, K.

Alendronate suppresses tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting Rho activation of endothelial cells.

We previously reported that alendronate inhibits intraperitoneal dissemination in an in vivo ovarian cancer model. Recently, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have been reported to have antiangiogenic activities. In this study, alendronate inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration and capillary-like structure formation in vitro.

Involvement of nuclear factor-kB activation through RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in LPS-induced IL-8 production in human cervical stromal cells.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine that recruits and activates neutrophils in stromal tissue and plays an essential role in cervical ripening. Nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) is known to be important for the up-regulation of IL-8 gene expression. We examined the molecular mechanisms responsible for NF-kB activation in IL-8 production in cervical stromal cells.

Enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its severity.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosing acute appendicitis and its severity.

Materials And Methods: Contrast-enhanced MD-CT 3.5 mm thick images of 23 control patients (A), and 64 patients with surgically proven acute appendicitis including 8 catarrhal (B), 28 phlegmonous (C), and 28 gangrenous (D) appendicitis patients were respectively analyzed.