Latex anaphylaxis during labor: case report / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Allergy to latex gloves has been described as an unusual complication during labor. However, IgE mediated hypersensitivity reaction to natural rubber have recently been identified as an international health problem. In this first case report in Korea, latex anaphylaxis during labor is described in an operating room nurse who has been continuously exposed to latex gloves. Because of the increasing frequency of latex allergy, obstetrician should take care and give more attention to the clinical history, as well as be aware of this possibility especially in high risk groups.

Establishment of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-like Cells from In Vitro Fertilized Embryos / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: In order to acquire the technique for the establishment of human embryonic stem cells (ESC) derived from the human frozen-thawed embryos produced in IVF-ET program, this study was performed to establish mouse ESC derived from the in vitro fertilized embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After F1 hybrid (C57BL x CBA) female mice were superovulated with PMSG and hCG treatment, their oocytes were retrieved and inseminated, and the fertilized embryos were cultured for 96-120 hours until the expected stages of blastocysts were obtained. To isolate the inner cell mass (ICM), either the blastocysts were treated with immunosurgery, or the whole embryos were cultured for 4 days. Isolated ICMs were then cultured onto STO feeder cell layer, and the resultant ICM colonies were subcultured with trypsin-EDTA treatment. During the subculture process, ESC-like cell colonies were observed with phase contrast microscopy. To identify ESC in the subcultured ESC-like cell colonies, alkaline phosphatase activity and Oct-4 (octamer-binding transcription factor-4) expression were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. To examine the spontaneous differentiation, ESC-like cell colonies were cultured without STO feeder cell layer and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). RESULTS: Seven ESC-like cell lines were established from ICMs isolated from the in vitro fertilized embryos. According to the developmental stage, the growth of ICMs isolated from the expanded blastocysts was significantly better than that of ICMs isolated from the hatched blastocysts (80.3% vs. 58.7%, p<0.05). ESC-like cell colonies were only obtained from ICMs of expanded blastocysts. However, the ICMs isolated from the embryos treated with immunosurgery were poorly grown and frequently differentiated during the culture process. The established ESC-like cell colonies were positively stained with alkaline phosphatase and expressed Oct-4, and their morphology resembled that observed in the previously reported mouse ESC. In addition, following the extended in vitro culture process, they maintained their expression of cell surface markers characteristic of the pluripotent stem cells such as alkaline phosphatase and Oct-4. When cultured without STO feeder cell layer and LIF, they were spontaneously differentiated into the various types of cells. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the establishment of mouse ESC can be successfully derived from the in vitro fertilized embryos. The established ESC-like cells expressed the cell surface markers characteristic of the pluripotent stem cells and spontaneously differentiated into the various types of cells.

The Study on Vitrification and Ultrarapid Thawing of Human Embryonic Stem Cells / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to establish the effectiveness of the vitrification method and the optimal cryoprotectants in the cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells (ESC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human ESC clumps established at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUhES 1) were cryopreserved with the vitrification method using the EM grid. EDS and EFS40 were used as vitrification solutions. RESULTS: Between the EDS and EFS40 groups, there was no significant difference in the recovery rate after cryopreservation of human ESC. The formation rates of ESC colonies in the vitrified groups were significantly lower than those in the control ESC group (p<0.05, p<0.05). In addition, the formation rate of ESC colonies in the EDS group was significantly higher than that in the EFS40 group (p<0.05). The ESC colonies in the vitrified groups were significantly smaller after culture duration of 2 and 4 days, respectively, compared with the control ESC group (p<0.01, p<0.05). However, these effects could be reduced to nonsignificant level by the additional culture of ESC colonies. The vitrified human ESC retained the properties of pluripotent cells, including the expression of cell surface markers for the undifferentiated cells such as alkaline phosphatase and SSEA-4 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-4), and the expression of transcription factor Oct-4 (octamer-binding transcription factor-4), and the normal karyotype. CONCLUSION: The vitrification method using the EM grid and EDS solution was confirmed to be very effective for the cryopreservation of human ESC.

Association of Amniotic Fluid Concentrations of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 with Intrauterine Infections and Perinatal Outcomes in Preterm Labor / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To examine if amniotic fluid (AF) monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) concentrations are useful in the identification of intrauterine infection and pregnancy outcomes in preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: The study population consists of 65 patients who received amniocentesis for preterm labor with intact membranes. Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as mycoplasmas. MCP-1 was determined by a sensitive and specific immunoassay. Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic curve, survival techniques, logistic regression, and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: (1) Patients with a positive amniotic fluid culture had a significantly higher median AF MCP-1 concentration than those with negative results (median, 9.0 ng/mL; range, 0.45-40.5 ng/mL; vs median, 0.82 ng/mL; range, 0.06-30.1 ng/mL; P1.9 ng/mL had a significantly shorter median interval to delivery, the higher rate of histologic chorioamnionitis, preterm delivery within 2 and 5 days, and the occurrence of congenital proven or suspected sepsis than did those with AF MCP-1 concentration of <1.9 ng/mL after adjustment for gestational age (P<.05). (3) There was strong correlation between AF MCP-1 concentrations and AF interleukin-6 concentrations (r=.881, P<.001). CONCLUSION: AF MCP-1 determinations are useful in the identification of intrauterine infection, preterm delivery, and neonatal infectious complication in preterm labor with intact membranes.