Roles of microRNA-34a in the pathogenesis of placenta accreta.

Aim: MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) is associated with invasion and metastasis of various cancers. The trophoblastic cells of placenta accreta invade into the myometrium in a similar way to the invasion of cancers. We studied the roles of miR-34a in the pathogenesis of placenta accreta.

Changes of uterine blood flow after vaginal radical trachelectomy (VRT) in patients with early-stage uterine invasive cervical cancer.

Background: Vaginal radical trachectomy (RT) ligates and cuts several arteries supplying the uterus. Changes of blood supply to the uterus in two patients who experienced pregnancy and delivery were studied by using 3-D CT scanning. Effects of changes of blood supply to the uterus on the pregnancy courses were also examined.

Successful uterus-preserving surgery for treatment of chemotherapy-resistant placenta increta.

Treatment of placenta increta often entails abdominal total hysterectomy. We present a case of placenta increta in which 3-dimensional computed tomography shows very high blood flow to the placenta, even after chemotherapy with methotrexate. Nonetheless, we were able to remove the region of the uterus that had been invaded by chorionic villi.

Outcomes of planned delivery delay in pregnant patients with invasive gynecologic cancer.

Background: Pregnancy with invasive gynecologic cancer is a rare condition. It is still unclear whether we can choose planned delay in treatment until maturation of the fetus as a treatment modality for this condition. If there are no adverse effects from the cancer and there is improvement of neonatal outcomes, this treatment modality might be an option for patients with this condition.

Proteomic analysis of mechanisms of hypoxia-induced apoptosis in trophoblastic cells.

Preeclampsia is often accompanied by hypoxia of the placenta and this condition induces apoptosis in trophoblastic cells. The aim of this study was to characterize global changes of apoptosis-related proteins induced by hypoxia in trophoblastic cells so as to clarify the mechanism of hypoxia-induced apoptosis by using the PoweBlot, an antibody-based Western array. Human choriocarcinoma cell line JAR was cultured for 24 hours under aerobic and hypoxic conditions.