Spindle-nucleated cells in cervical liquid-based cytology: Difficulties in distinguishing between epithelial and non-epithelial tumours based on morphology.

Uterine tumours resembling ovarian sex cord tumours of the uterine cervix are highly sporadic. Cervical liquid-based cytology revealed two cell patterns: spindle-nucleated cells and polygonal cells.

Unusual uterine cervical polypoid mass presenting during pregnancy.

The authors encountered a case of uterine cervical adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth during pregnancy. Cytological images of atypical stromal cells in sarcoma components were obtained in this case.

Applicability of care quality indicators for women with low-risk pregnancies planning hospital birth: a retrospective study of medical records.

Practices for planned birth among women with low-risk pregnancies vary by birth setting, medical professional, and organizational system. Appropriate monitoring is essential for quality improvement. Although sets of quality indicators have been developed, their applicability has not been tested.

Involvement of Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.

Preeclampsia/hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (PE/HDP) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. Recently, PE/HDP has been considered to cause adipose tissue inflammation, but the detailed mechanism remains unknown. We exposed human primary cultured adipocytes with serum from PE/HDP and healthy controls for 24 h, and analyzed mRNA expression of several adipokines, cytokines, and ligands of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE).

Satisfaction of a new telephone consultation service for prenatal and postnatal health care.

Aims: In October 2017, the 'Prenatal and Postnatal Health Care Service in Nara (PPHSN)' has piloted the introduction of a new telephone consultation service to support prenatal and postnatal health care and childcare. This study aimed to document the feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction with the service provided by a trained nurse specialist who can access to clinician support when necessary.

Methods: The pilot study was conducted between November 2017 and February 2018.

Multiple metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease after a twin pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus, following assisted reproductive technology: Case report and literature review.

Objective: Twin pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus (CHMCF) is rare and associated with severe complications during pregnancy and subsequent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). We encountered a case of multiple metastatic GTD after a twin pregnancy with CHMCF, following conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Only one case of metastatic GTD after CHMCF due to assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been reported.

Severe reduction of free-form ADAMTS13, unbound to von Willebrand factor, in plasma of patients with HELLP syndrome.

Severely decreased ADAMTS13 unbound to VWF may play a key role in the pathogenesis of HELLP syndrome.A qualitative ADAMTS13 assay may be important for diagnosing HELLP syndrome.

Comparison of the Different Definition Criteria for the Diagnosis of Amniotic Fluid Embolism.

Introduction: There are several sets of criteria for the diagnosis of Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE), but little is known about their degree of agreement.

Aim: To evaluate the concordance of the Japan criteria for AFE in comparison with two definitions: the US AFE registration entry criteria (the US criteria) and UK Obstetric Surveillance System criteria for defining cases of amniotic fluid embolism (the UK criteria).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in which the AFE cases registered in the Obstetrical Gynaecological Society of Kinki District in Japan for the period of April 2005 to December 2012 have been analysed by the expert steering obstetric committee, organized by the members of the Obstetric Research group.

Evaluation of vaginal fluid squamous cell carcinoma antigen test in diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that concentrations of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen in amniotic fluid are extremely higher than that in the maternal serum. The aim of this study was to assess the potential clinical utility of vaginal fluid SCC level as a marker for diagnosing premature rupture of membranes (PROM).

Methods: A case-control study was performed using patients admitted to Nara Medical University Hospital, delivery ward, from January 2011 to December 2012.

Vaginal fluid pH and buffer capacity for predicting false preterm labor in Japanese women.

Objective: To determine the relationship between preterm labor and delivery, and the pH and buffer capacity of vaginal secretions.

Methods: Between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2012, two cohorts of patients at 22-36weeks of pregnancy were enrolled in a prospective cohort study at Nara Medical University Hospital, Japan. Patients experiencing preterm contractions and a control group of patients experiencing normal pregnancies were included.

Modulation of estrogenic action in clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (Review).

Two histologic types, clear cell carcinoma (CCC) and endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC), are the common histology in ovarian cancer patients who have associated endometriosis. However, both tumor types have distinct clinicopathological characteristics and molecular phenotypes. EAC is predominantly positive for estrogen receptor (ER), but CCC specifically exhibits lower ER expression.

The role of components of the chromatin modification machinery in carcinogenesis of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (Review).

Recent data have provided information regarding the profiles of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (CCC) with adenine-thymine rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A) mutations. The purpose of this review was to summarize current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in CCC tumorigenesis and to describe the central role played by the aberrant chromatin remodeling. The present article reviews the English-language literature for biochemical studies on the ARID1A mutation and chromatin remodeling in CCC.

Molecular mechanisms linking endometriosis under oxidative stress with ovarian tumorigenesis and therapeutic modalities.

Inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinogenesis might be promoted through oxidative stress-induced increased genomic instability, aberrant methylation, and aberrant chromatin remodeling, as well as mutations of tumor suppressor genes. Aberrant expression of ARID1A, PIK3CA, and NF-kB genes has been recognized as the major target genes involved in oxidative stress-induced carcinogenesis.

Chemokine and free fatty acid levels in insulin-resistant state of successful pregnancy: a preliminary observation.

Increased insulin resistance and inflammatory action are observed in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), but similar insulin resistance is observed also in successful pregnancy. To estimate insulin resistance and inflammatory activity in normal pregnancy and PIH, serum concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA; corrected with albumin to estimate unbound FFA), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin were measured in severe PIH patients with a BMI less than 25 kg/m(2) and were measured 3 times during the course of pregnancy in women with normal pregnancies. FFA/albumin, MCP-1, and HMW adiponectin concentrations were significantly higher in PIH patients than in women with normal pregnancies.

Peripheral RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation endproducts)-ligands in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia: novel markers of inflammatory response.

Inflammatory response in preeclampsia (PE) is a key feature in its pathophysiology. Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs), receptors for AGEs (RAGE), and RAGE ligands are involved in systemic inflammation in various pathological conditions. In this study, we measured serum RAGE ligands in normal pregnancy controls and PE patients.

Antiangiogenic-induced hypertension: the molecular basis of signaling network.

Problem: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder, is one of the leading causes of fetal and maternal death globally. Angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in the formation of new blood vessels required for placental development and function. The hallmark of preeclampsia is similar to the toxicities related to antiangiogenesis therapy.

Combination of B-Lynch brace suture and uterine artery embolization for atonic bleeding after cesarean section in a patient with placenta previa accreta.

We report the case of a patient with placenta previa accreta. A 29-year-old multipara, who had previously undergone a cesarean section, was admitted to our hospital for vaginal bleeding. An emergency cesarean section was carried out at the 33rd week of gestation.

Increase of high molecular weight adiponectin in hypertensive pregnancy was correlated with brain-type natriuretic peptide stimulation on adipocyte.

Background: High-molecular weight (HMW)-adiponectin is an active multimer for insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory reactions. We compared the ratio of serum total and HMW-adiponectin with brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and other adipocytokines in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Effect of BNP on the secretion of adiponectin from cultured adipocytes was also examined.

Inflammatory pattern recognition receptors and their ligands: factors contributing to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Problem: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific hypertensive syndrome, is one of the leading causes of premature births as well as fetal and maternal death. Preeclampsia lacks effective therapies because of the poor understanding of disease pathogenesis. The aim of this paper is to review molecular signaling pathways that could be responsible for the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Risk of carcinoma in women with ovarian endometrioma.

Endometriosis affects an estimated 10% of women in the reproductive-age group. Here, we review current knowledge on molecular genesis of endometriosis-associated epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). This article reviews the English language literature for biology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiological studies on endometriosis-associated EOC.

Anticytokine therapy in preterm labor: current knowledge and future perspectives.

Aims: Up to 10% of pregnant women have preterm birth that might be refractory to current therapy. Infections and asphyxia related to preterm birth are the causes of death in the majority of neonates and therefore represent an urgent clinical need.

Methods: The present article reviews the English language literature for preclinical and clinical trials and promising molecular targets on preterm labor.

Evidence for activation of Toll-like receptor and receptor for advanced glycation end products in preterm birth.

Objective: Individuals with inflammation have a myriad of pregnancy aberrations including increasing their preterm birth risk. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and their ligands were all found to play a key role in inflammation. In the present study, we reviewed TLR and RAGE expression, their ligands, and signaling in preterm birth.

New insights into the pathophysiology of endometriosis: from chronic inflammation to danger signal.

Background: Various theories try to explain the development and progression of endometriosis, however, no single theory can explain all aspects of this disorder. Gene expression profiling studies might reveal factors that explain variability in disease development and progression, which can serve as specific biomarkers for endometriosis and novel drug development. We have recently showed that the upregulated genes were predominantly clustered in stress and detoxification, providing a mechanistic explanation for the oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory response in endometriosis.

Fatal factors of clinical manifestations and laboratory testing in patients with amniotic fluid embolism.

Aims: To identify factors leading to fatality of patients with amniotic fluid embolism (AFE).

Methods: Patients who had fatal or nonfatal AFE were registered at the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1992 to 2006. Data collected included information about demographics and clinical characteristics.