Safety and efficacy of preoperative autologous blood donation for high-risk pregnant women: experience of a large university hospital in Japan.

Aim: Preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) has the advantages over allogeneic blood transfusion of theoretically no risk of viral infection and alloimmunization. However, there are some concerns regarding PAD in pregnant women, as they sometimes become anemic and adverse effects such as low blood pressure could be harmful to fetuses. In our hospital, the PAD program was implemented in 2006 and has been used in pregnant women at high risk of massive hemorrhage.

The role of bone morphogenetic protein 6 in accumulation and regulation of neutrophils in the human ovary.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) cytokine is known to regulate ovulation, as BMP-6 null mice exhibit a decrease in the number of ovulatory follicles without effect on either the morphology or the dynamics of follicular development. In the present study, the role of BMP-6 in ovulatory process was investigated using human granulosa-lutein cells (GCs). Granulosa-lutein cells, obtained from in vitro fertilization patients, were cultured with BMP-6 followed by RNA extraction.

Resveratrol suppresses inflammatory responses in endometrial stromal cells derived from endometriosis: a possible role of the sirtuin 1 pathway.

Aim: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) plays a role in regulation of inflammation. The role of SIRT1 in endometriosis remains unknown.

Increased tissue levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids prevents pathological preterm birth.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have anti-inflammatory effects. Preterm birth is an important problem in modern obstetrics and one of the main causes is an inflammation. We here showed that abundance of omega-3 fatty acids reduced the incidence of preterm birth induced by LPS with fat-1 mice, capable of converting omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.

High-risk human papillomavirus correlates with recurrence after laser ablation for treatment of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3: a long-term follow-up retrospective study.

Aim: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of laser ablation as a conservative treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) and assess whether the human papillomavirus (HPV) test is useful to predict recurrence after treatment.

Materials And Methods: A total of 134 patients who received laser ablation for treatment of CIN3 were enrolled in this study. During the follow-up period, patients were followed with cytological and colposcopic evaluations.

Factors that predict poor clinical course among patients hospitalized with pelvic inflammatory disease.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify factors that can predict clinical course among patients hospitalized with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Methods: Ninety-three patients who needed hospitalization with a diagnosis of PID were retrospectively studied. Patients who were discharged within 7 days by conservative treatment were defined as favorable course cases (n = 44).

Predictive factors for recurrence of ovarian mature cystic teratomas after surgical excision.

Objective: To study the recurrence rate and predictive factors for recurrence after surgical excision of ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCT).

Study Design: Retrospective study of 382 patients who underwent surgical excision of MCT and whose post-surgical follow-up data were available over six months. Patients who underwent concomitant oophorectomy or had a history of oophorectomy were excluded.

Human decidual macrophages suppress IFN-γ production by T cells through costimulatory B7-H1:PD-1 signaling in early pregnancy.

In human pregnancy, CD14⁺ decidual macrophages (DMs) are the dominant professional antigen-presenting cells in the decidua, comprising 20-30% of the local leukocyte population. Although the relevance of DMs to feto-maternal immune tolerance has been described, the molecular mechanisms underlying these functions have not been fully elucidated. B7-H1, a costimulatory ligand in the B7 family, negatively modulates T cell activity by binding to its corresponding receptor, PD-1.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated Fatty acids suppress the cystic lesion formation of peritoneal endometriosis in transgenic mouse models.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) play a role in controlling pathological inflammatory reactions. Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue on the peritoneum and an exaggerated inflammatory environment around ectopic tissues. Here peritoneal endometriosis was reproduced using a mouse model in which murine endometrial fragments were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of mice.

Placental abnormalities detected by ultrasonography in a case of confined placental mosaicism for trisomy 2 with severe fetal growth restriction.

Clinical outcome of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) is varied, from normal pregnancy to intrauterine fetal death. It has been suggested that CPM for trisomy 2 is less likely to cause serious adverse effect on pregnancy. We hereby report a case of CPM for trisomy 2, which presented severe fetal growth restriction (FGR) and placental abnormalities.

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-a expression in human granulosa cells and VEGF receptor expression in endothelial cells.

The formation of an individual capillary network in the theca cell layer is required for ovarian folliculogenesis. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critical for this process, the regulation of VEGF has been unclear. In the present study, the relationship between VEGF and intraovarian cytokine, bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) was investigated.

Individualized management of umbilical endometriosis: a report of seven cases.

Aim: The aim of this study was to review diagnostic/therapeutic strategies of umbilical endometriosis managed in our department and evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies.

Methods: Medical records for patients with diagnosis of endometriosis managed from 1999 through 2011 in the University of Tokyo Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Cases with diagnosis of umbilical endometriosis were identified.

Laparoendoscopic single-site concomitant surgery for gallstones and a giant ovarian teratoma.

Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) technique has gained popularity in several fields of surgery. Our patient had multiple gallstones and a left ovarian mature cystic teratoma 12 cm in diameter. She underwent concomitant laparoscopic cholecystectomy and adnectomy using LESS technique.

Laparoscopic ovarian-sparing surgery for a young woman with an exophytic ovarian fibroma.

Ovarian fibroma can occur in young women of reproductive age. Despite its benign feature, most surgical removals are done in open surgery with oophorectomy. However, an ovarian-sparing tumor resection can be an option, especially for an exophytic type of fibroma, which accounts for more than half of ovarian fibromas.

Cyclin D1 harboring the T286I mutation promotes oncogenic activation in endometrial cancer.

Cyclin D1 is an important regulator of cell cycle progression. Phosphorylation of cyclin D1 at Thr286 by GSK3β triggers its nuclear export and cytoplasmic proteolysis via the 26S proteasome. Cyclin D1 overexpression is a common event in various types of human cancers; however, reports of mutations are extremely rare.

The significance of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in patients over age 40 in first IVF treatment.

Purpose: Although studies of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in predicting ovarian reserve are numerous, many studies utilized patients under age 40. However, the assessment of ovarian reserve is especially critical in older infertile women. This study evaluates the significance of AMH level in patients over age 40 at the time of their first in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Longitudinal comparison study of pelvic floor function between women with and without stress urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery.

Purpose: To compare the pelvic floor function between women with and without stress urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery.

Methods: Seventeen women (age 35.5 ± 3.

Interleukin-4 and prostaglandin E2 synergistically up-regulate 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in endometrioma stromal cells.

Context: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which immune response and production of estrogen in endometriotic tissues are involved in the development of the disease. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulates aromatase (P450arom) expression in endometrioma stromal cells (ESCs) and increases the production of estrogens. On the other hand, an accumulating amount of evidence suggests that IL-4, a typical Th2 cytokine, plays important roles in the disease.

Cyclic stretch augments production of neutrophil chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) from human decidual cells, and the production was reduced by progesterone.

Problem: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of mechanical stretch caused by uterine contraction and progesterone (P₄) on decidual cells (DC), neutrophil chemokines, and MMP-1 expression.

Method Of Study: DC were cultured, and cyclic stretch was applied using a computer-operated cell stretch system. Interleukin (IL)-8, growth-regulated oncogene (GRO) α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and mRNA and/or protein expression/activity was measured using RT-PCR and ELISA.

A novel interaction between hScrib and PP1γ downregulates ERK signaling and suppresses oncogene-induced cell transformation.

Previous studies have shown that the cell polarity regulator hScrib interacts with, and consequently controls, the ERK signaling pathway. This interaction occurs through two well-conserved Kinase Interacting Motifs, which allow hScrib to bind ERK1 directly, resulting in a reduction in the levels of phospho-ERK. This suggests that hScrib might recruit a phosphatase to regulate this signaling pathway.

Therapeutic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines: A Novel Approach.

Cervical cancer is the second largest cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide, and it occurs following persistent infection, sometimes for decades, with a specific subset of human papillomavirus (HPV) types; the approximately 13 oncogenic subtypes. Prophylactic vaccines against HPV infections hold promise for cost-effective reductions in the incidence of cervical cancer, but this may not be enough. Two prophylactic HPV vaccines are presently available and both contain L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from the HPV subtypes most frequently associated with cervical cancer, HPV-16 and -18.

The influence of infertility treatment on the prognosis of endometrial cancer and atypical complex endometrial hyperplasia.

Introduction: Many patients with endometrial cancer have no children when diagnosed, and thus are reluctant to undergo hysterectomy, hoping to preserve their fertility. Their requirement is met, at least partially, with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate that brings good response rate in the treatment of endometrial cancer in the early stage and atypical complex endometrial hyperplasia (EC/ACEH). Actually, a number of successful pregnancies after the conservative treatment have been reported.

Cyclic stretch augments production of neutrophil chemokines and matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human uterine smooth muscle cells.

Problem: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of uterine contraction on the immune environment within the uterus during parturition.

Method Of Study: Uterine smooth muscle cells (USMC) were isolated from uterine myometrial tissues and cultured. The effects of cyclic stretch on mRNA and/or protein expression of IL-8, Groα, and pro-MMP-1 by USMC were measured using RT-PCR and ELISA.

Follistatin is induced by IL-1β and TNF-α in stromal cells from endometrioma.

The aim of this study is to examine the regulation of follistatin, an activin-binding protein, in endometriosis. Endometrioma stromal cells (EoSCs) were obtained from 9 patients undergoing laparoscopy of the ovarian endometrioma. In cultured EoSCs, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which could induce activin-A, also induced follistatin messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein.

Uterine arteriovenous fistula treated with repetitive transcatheter embolization: case report.

Uterine arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare entity, but may lead to life-threatening hemorrhage. Although transcatheter embolization, surgical ligation, or hysterectomy would be considered for treatment of uterine AVF, there is poor knowledge as to how gynecologists can manage the uterine AVF with multiple large inflow arteries. Herein we report a uterine AVF successfully treated using multiple-step transcatheter embolization.