Clinical application of serum anti-Müllerian hormone in women / 대한생식의학회지

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a peptide growth factor of the transforming growth factor-β family, is a reliable marker of ovarian reserve. Regarding assisted reproductive technology, AMH has been efficiently used as a marker to predict ovarian response to stimulation. The clinical use of AMH has recently been extended and emphasized. The uses of AMH as a predictive marker of menopause onset, diagnostic tool for polycystic ovary syndrome, and assessment of ovarian function before and after gynecologic surgeries or gonadotoxic agents such as chemotherapy have been investigated. Serum AMH levels can also be affected by environmental and genetic factors; thus, the effects of factors that may alter AMH test results should be considered. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies focusing on the clinical application of AMH and factors that influence the AMH level and opinions on the use of the AMH level to assess the probability of conception before reproductive life planning as a “fertility test.”

Drainage of an acute spinal epidural hematoma that developed without risk factors in the thoracic spine using epidural needle: A case report

Epidural hematoma after epidural block is a rare complication in healthy patients without risk factor. However, this rare disease can lead to neurological symptoms or paralysis. It is usually treated with surgical drainage. Herein we report a case of acute thoracic epidural hematoma associated with neurologic symptoms after epidural block in a healthy male without risk factors. We performed drainage of the epidural hematoma using 18-gauge Tuohy needle without surgical intervention. The patient's neurological symptoms and pain were relieved. He was discharged without sequelae.

Diagnostic dilemma in cervical endocervicosis

Müllerianosis is an embryonic Müllerian disease, resulting in the formation of the benign diseases adenomyosis, endometriosis, endosalpingiosis, and endocervicosis. Endocervicosis primarily affects the bladder, and rarely the cervix. Cervical endocervicosis, which is also a pseudoneoplastic glandular lesion, could be misinterpreted as a premalignant or even a malignant lesion. Because the treatment of these diseases is very different, early clinical diagnosis is important. Unfortunately, however, this lesion is difficult to diagnose preoperatively using clinical and radiological information, and pathological confirmation is needed. Herein, we report a rare case of cervical endocervicosis that was difficult to diagnosis preoperatively.

BRCA1-mutated ovarian cancer with skin metastasis: a case report

The major risk factor for ovarian cancer (OC) is mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 DNA mismatch repair genes, which occurs in approximately 10% of OC cases. Most previous studies have demonstrated that BRCA1- and BRCA2-mutated OCs are associated with better prognosis than sporadic OCs. However, information about the patterns and clinical course of the metastatic spread of BRCA-mutated OCs is limited. Herein, we describe a case of OC with a BRCA1 mutation and skin metastases in a 49-year-old patient, which to the best of our knowledge has not been reported previously.

Superficial Angiomyxoma of the Vulva in a Postmenopausal Woman: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Superficial angiomyxomas (SAMs) are rare benign cutaneous tumors that involve the subcutaneous layer. They are commonly located in the trunk, lower limbs and head or neck of women of reproductive age. SAMs in the vulva of postmenopausal women are especially rare case. Herein, we report a vulvar SAM in a postmenopausal 60-year-old woman. The patient presented with a palpable cutaneous mass in the right labium majora that had appeared 3 months earlier. The mass was slow growing and approximately 5 cm in size and resembled a soft tissue malignancy. It appeared as a well-defined multilocular cystic mass in magnetic resonance images. The preoperative diagnosis was a benign cystic lesion such as an epidermoid cyst. Grossly, the completely excised mass was 6 × 5 cm in size and well circumscribed with a multilocular outer surface, a yellowish-gray gelatinous cut surface, and a smooth rubbery inner surface. Histologic review revealed that the mass contained small to moderate amount of cellular angiomyxoid nodules and bland-looking spindle-shaped to ovoid cells without atypia. Neutrophil infiltration, which is a diagnostic feature of SAMs, was observed. Immunohistochemistry showed expression of CD34, but not of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, or desmin in the SAM. The patient has been followed up for 12 months without recurrence.

Uterine Lipoleiomyoma in Peri or Postmenopausal Women

Lipoleiomyoma is an uncommon neoplasm of the uterus, composed of smooth muscles intermixed with mature adipocytes. These tumors are considered a benign variant of uterine leiomyomas. Herein, we report six cases of lipoleiomyoma experienced in our institution from January 2005 to March 2015. The patients ranged in age from 45 to 70 years; the etiology may be related to estrogen deficiency occurring after menopausal transition. Except for one lipoleiomyoma in the broad ligament, all others were found in the uterine corpus. The presenting symptoms were nonspecific, and most cases were incidentally diagnosed during surgery for other reasons. We performed preoperative imaging studies, including abdominal and pelvic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Preoperatively, four patients were diagnosed as having a pelvic mass and one patient was diagnosed as having a right ovarian mature teratoma. In one case, we found a gynecologic malignancy (cervical cancer 1A1). Histologically, there was no gross or microscopic contiguity between the lipoleiomyoma and the malignancy. Lipoleiomyomas seem to have a benign clinical course. In our study, there were no recurrences of or deaths attributed to the lipoleiomyomas during a mean follow-up period of 16.17 +/- 23.80 months.

Detection of Heparin in the Salivary Gland and Midgut of Aedes togoi

Mosquitoes secrete saliva that contains biological substances, including anticoagulants that counteract a host's hemostatic response and prevent blood clotting during blood feeding. This study aimed to detect heparin, an anticoagulant in Aedes togoi using an immunohistochemical detection method, in the salivary canal, salivary gland, and midgut of male and female mosquitoes. Comparisons showed that female mosquitoes contained higher concentrations of heparin than male mosquitoes. On average, the level of heparin was higher in blood-fed female mosquitoes than in non-blood-fed female mosquitoes. Heparin concentrations were higher in the midgut than in the salivary gland. This indicates presence of heparin in tissues of A. togoi.

Regulation of DREAM Expression by Group I mGluR

DREAM (downstream regulatory element antagonistic modulator) is a calcium-binding protein that regulates dynorphin expression, promotes potassium channel surface expression, and enhances presenilin processing in an expression level-dependent manner. However, no molecular mechanism has yet explained how protein levels of DREAM are regulated. Here we identified group I mGluR (mGluR1/5) as a positive regulator of DREAM protein expression. Overexpression of mGluR1/5 increased the cellular level of DREAM. Up-regulation of DREAM resulted in increased DREAM protein in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, where the protein acts as a transcriptional repressor and a modulator of its interacting proteins, respectively. DHPG (3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine), a group I mGluR agonist, also up-regulated DREAM expression in cortical neurons. These results suggest that group I mGluR is the first identified receptor that may regulate DREAM activity in neurons.