Effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human endometrial stromal cells from women with endometriosis / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human endometrial cells from women with endometriosis. METHODS: Endometrial tissues were obtained from four women with endometriosis. The endometrial stromal cells isolated from tissue were cultured with 0, 2 and 10 micrometer simvastatin treatments for 48 hours. The proliferation of endometrial stromal cells was inhibited with 2 and 10 micrometer simvastatin treatments compared to control. The effect of simvastatin on the sub-G1 phase of cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis related molecule (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3) was examined in control and simvastatin treatments using western blot. RESULTS: The sub-G1 phase was higher in 10 micrometer simvastatin than in control and 2 micrometer simvastatin (P<0.05). This result showed that simvastatin could induce apoptosis of stromal cells. The expression of Bcl-2 was increased in simvastatin treatments slightly (P<0.05) and the expression of Bax was not different between control and experimental groups. The activation of caspase-3 was significantly higher in 10 micrometer simvastatin treated group than control and 2 micrometer simvastatin treated groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Simvastatin induces apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells and inhibits their proliferation. It was considered that simvastatin could potentially be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of endometriosis.

Torsion of Uterine Subserosal Leiomyoma During Pregnancy / 대한주산의학회잡지

Uterine leiomyomas cause some complications in pregnancy. Most common complication is red degeneration causing acute pelvic pain. Torsion of a uterine leiomyoma is rare but more frequent during pregnancy. It represents emergency surgery to improve symptoms and prevent complications such as consumptive coagulopathy. We have experienced a case of torsion of subserosal leiomyoma during 1st trimester of pregnancy managed using laparotomy and successfully delivered vaginally at fullterm period. So, we report the case with brief review of literatures.

A case of inguinal endometriosis in the absence of previous gynecologic surgery / 대한산부인과학회지

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease, it occur not only pelvic organ but also anywhere in human body. However inguinal endometriosis is a very rare condition, its incidence is 0.4% of entire endometriosis. Most of inguinal endometriosis are found as inguinal masses in women in 30s and 40s who have history of gynecologic surgery. Majority of the cases are accompanied with pelvic endometriosis. Authors report a case of inguinal endometriosis in patients who has no history of gynecological surgery.

A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer Diagnosed by Endoscopy Performed in the Second Trimester due to Persistent Nausea and Vomiting / 대한주산의학회잡지

Gastric cancer is rarely associated with pregnancy and its incidence is reported to be 0.1%. The dilemma in the treatment of this rare occasion is that it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. The most common reason for delayed diagnosis is that early symptoms of gastric cancer, such as nausea, vomiting and epigastric discomfort, are nonspecific and usually misinterpreted as those related to pregnancy. Clinicians' reluctance to request diagnostic studies is another reason for delayed diagnosis. So these make the prognosis much worse. We must consider the rare possibility of gastric cancer in case of persistent nausea and vomiting. We report a case of advanced gastric cancer diagnosed by gastroscopic examination performed in the second trimester because of persistent nausea and vomiting.