Expression of NKp46 and other activating inhibitory receptors on uterine endometrial NK cells in females with various reproductive failures: A review.

Background: Uterine endometrial natural killer (uNK) cells represent major leukocytes in the mid-secretory phase of the cell cycle, and their number is further increased during early pregnancy. The activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on their surface mediate various functions of uNK cells, such as cytotoxicity, cytokine production, spiral artery remodeling, and self-recognition.

Methods: This study reviewed the most recent information (PubMed database, 175 articles included) regarding the activating and inhibitory receptors on uNK cells in human females with healthy pregnancies and the evidence indicating their significance in various reproductive failures.

The relationship between controlled ovarian stimulation protocol, meiotic spindle visibility, position of the meiotic spindle relative to the polar body in the human oocyte, and clinical outcomes following ICSI.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of different controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols, including the progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS), long, short, and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocols, on meiotic spindle visibility and position within the oocyte and clinical outcomes following ICSI.

Methods: Before ICSI, spindle position () just below the polar body (PB) was defined as 0° and categorized as follows:  = 0°, 0° <  ≤ 30°, 30° <  ≤ 60°, 60° <  ≤ 90°, 90° <  ≤ 180°, between the PB and the oolemma, and nonvisible. The clinical outcomes after ICSI were retrospectively analyzed.

A proposed new Japanese classification of synchronous peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer: A multi-institutional, prospective, observational study conducted by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum.

Aim: To establish a new Japanese classification of synchronous peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer.

Methods: This multi-institutional, prospective, observational study enrolled patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastases. Overall survival rates were compared according to the various models using objective indicators.

Relationship Between Endothelial Dysfunction and the Outcomes After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.

Background Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the utility of ED as a prognostic marker after AF ablation supplementary to the CHADS-VASc score is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ED and 5-year cardiovascular events in patients undergoing AF ablation.

Sleep Apnea and Physical Movement During Sleep, But Not Sleep Duration, Are Independently Associated With Progression of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction: Prospective Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis Cohort Study.

Background Although co-occurrence of sleep disorder with heart failure is known, it is not clear whether that condition is a cause or consequence of heart failure. The present study was conducted as a longitudinal examination of the predictive value of sleep parameters on progression of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Methods and Results Four-hundred fifty-two subjects were followed for a mean of 34.