Early-pregnancy N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level is inversely associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy diagnosed after 35 weeks of gestation.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are among the major causes of high maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with HDP have significantly elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels at diagnosis; however, the NT-proBNP levels during early pregnancy are largely unknown. This study aimed to validate the association between HDP and NT-proBNP levels.

Renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraception and smoking: a case report from Japan, with literature review.

Renal vein thrombosis, one of the common thrombotic complications of nephrotic syndrome or renal cell carcinoma, is reportedly a rare complication of hormonal contraception. Solitary renal vein thrombosis in the Japanese population is thought to be very rare because the incidence of venous thromboembolism is comparatively very low in Asian populations. We report a 38-year-old Japanese female with left renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraception and concurrent smoking as the first Japanese case of solitary renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraceptives, with a review of the literature.

Role of intercellular adhesion molecule-2 in osteoclastogenesis.

Osteoclasts, multinucleated bone-resorbing cells, are specialized cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Therefore, it is essential for mononuclear precursors to find a fusion partner during its differentiation. Our previous study showed an important role of cell communication via Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) during osteoclastogenesis.

Double vertical compression sutures: A novel conservative approach to managing post-partum haemorrhage due to placenta praevia and atonic bleeding.

Compression has been regarded as the main haemostatic mechanism of compression sutures; however, we suggest that reduced uterine blood flow may be another important action. We suggest that our 'double vertical compression sutures' may have dual actions: haemostatic compression of the bleeding surface and reduced uterine blood flow.

Heparin/heparan sulfate/CD44-v3 enhances cell migration in term placenta-derived immortalized human trophoblast cells.

The function of CD44-v3 and heparin/heparan sulfate (HS) signaling was investigated during trophoblast cell migration to identify their role in the renewal of syncytial layer damage caused by increased hemodynamic turbulence in the intervillous space and maintenance of syncytial integrity in pre-eclampsia. We evaluated the effect of heparin/HS/CD44-v3-mediated processes during scratch wound closure in monolayer immortalized human trophoblast cells derived from term placenta (TCL-1 cells). Western blot analysis showed that these cultured human trophoblast cells express the epidermal growth factor receptor and CD44-v3 but do not express syndecan 4.

Attempt to quantify uterine involution using acoustic radiation force impulse before and after placental delivery.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether baseline stiffness of the uterine corpus and cervix accurately estimated by acoustic radiation force impulse (AFRI) elastography changed after placental delivery.

Methods: Eleven patients with normal vaginal delivery underwent ARFI elastography before, immediately after, and 1 and 2 h after placental delivery, and the shear wave velocity was measured to determine the stiffness. Each measurement was performed in triplicate to obtain a mean ± SD.