Rhabdomyolysis caused by tocolysis with oral ritodrine hydrochloride in a pregnant patient with myotonic dystrophy.

Drug-induced rhabdomyolysis during pregnancy is extremely rare. We report here a rare case of ritodrine-hydrochloride-induced rhabdomyolysis in a pregnant patient with myotonic dystrophy. A 32-year-old primigravida was admitted because of premature labor at 31 weeks of gestation.

The effect of epidermal growth factor on production of vascular endothelial growth factor by amnion-derived (WISH) cells.

Our objective was to clarify the physiological role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by amnion-derived (WISH) cells. WISH cells were cultured, and the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitors (U0126) or phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase on the production of VEGF was examined. VEGF was assayed by ELISA.

Expression of collagen XVIII mRNA and protein in human umbilical vein and placenta.

Endostatin is a potent angiogenic inhibitor that is derived from collagen XVIII by proteolytic cleavage. Localization of collagen XVIII has been reported in the basement membrane of blood vessels. To examine the involvement of collagen XVIII/endostatin during pregnancy, the distribution of collagen XVIII/endostatin protein in human umbilical vein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.