The current status of robotic surgery for endometrial cancer in Japan.

The da Vinci® surgical system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) was approved in 2009 by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. In gynecology, robotic surgery for hysterectomy for benign indications and early-stage endometrial cancer has been covered by National Health Insurance since 2018. In a context where the da Vinci surgical system has prevailed in urology departments in Japan, gynecological robotic surgery has spread rapidly once it was covered by insurance. Although minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (minimally invasive surgery, or MIS) in Japan has a specific context, there are several problems with its safety, surgeon education, and cost in Japan. To maximize the many advantages of robotic surgery, its effectiveness needs to be carefully evaluated and this new technology needs to be safely incorporated in practice.

A case of recurrence of adult-onset Still's disease in the third trimester: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a self-inflammatory disease showing macrophage and neutrophil activation by inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-18. Although some cases with the flare of AOSD during pregnancy have been reported, most had flares in the first or second trimester and few had flares in the third trimester. In this report, we present the case of a patient with recurrent flare of AOSD in the third trimester and discuss the management of AOSD in the third trimester with the review of previous literatures. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old woman in complete AOSD remission without medication presented with impaired liver function, low platelet count, mild fever, abdominal pain, splenomegaly, and elevated ferritin and IL-18 levels at 30 gestational weeks. Although the laboratory data and physical examination finding suggested HELLP syndrome or acute fatty liver of pregnancy and we considered the termination of her pregnancy, her fetus was in a reactive status. Considering her fetal status, some specific findings of AOSD, and her AOSD history, we and rheumatologists diagnosed her with AOSD recurrence and started systemic steroid therapy. In her clinical course, three flares of AOSD occurred, twice in the third trimester and once in postpartum; twice systemic steroid pulse therapies were then needed. Ultimately, a healthy infant was delivered transvaginally at 36 gestational weeks spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Specific findings of the flare of AOSD such as fever, splenomegaly, elevated ferritin and IL-18 levels, and fetal status could be useful findings for differentiation from HELLP syndrome and AFLP in the third trimester. With the careful management supported by rheumatologists, patients complicated with the flare of AOSD may continue their pregnancy longer than we expected.

High Plasma Concentrations of Zidovudine (AZT) Do Not Parallel Intracellular Concentrations of AZT-Triphosphates in Infants During Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV-1 Transmission.

OBJECTIVES: Zidovudine (AZT) is mainly used to prevent mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission (PMTCT). Despite serious concerns on AZT-associated toxicity, there is little information on pharmacokinetics of intracellular AZT metabolites in infants. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study in 31 HIV-uninfected infants who received AZT for PMTCT. Blood samples were obtained from 14 infants on postdelivery days (PDD) 1, 7, 14, and 28 and from 17 infants at 0 and 4 hours after dosing on PDD-1. Plasma AZT concentrations (pAZT) and intracellular concentrations of AZT-monophosphate (icAZT-MP), diphosphate (icAZT-DP), and triphosphate (icAZT-TP) were determined. RESULTS: Plasma AZT and icAZT-MP concentrations were 2713 nmol/L and 79 fmol/10 cells in PDD-1, but decreased to 1437 nmol/L and 31 fmol/10 cells by PDD-28 (P = 0.02 and P = 0.07 for all PDDs, respectively), whereas those of icAZT-DP and icAZT-TP remained low throughout the sampling period (P = 0.29 and P = 0.61 for all PDDs, respectively) There were no differences in icAZT-TP between infants of the 2 mg/kg 4 times a day dose and 4 mg/kg twice daily dose (P = 0.25), whereas pAZT and icAZT-MP levels were higher in the latter (P < 0.01 and <0.01, respectively). The pAZT and icAZT-MP significantly increased from 0 to 4 hours after dosing (P < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively), whereas icAZT-DP, icAZT-TP levels were not changed (P = 0.41 and 0.33, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The level of icAZT-TP did not change with age, time, or a single dose despite the wide range of pAZT concentration. A safer dosage needs to be determined because high pAZT levels do not parallel those of icAZT-TP.

Predisposing individual characteristics and perinatal outcomes of women in the Tokyo metropolitan area who initiate prenatal care late in their pregnancy: a case-control study.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the individual characteristics and perinatal outcomes of women who initiate prenatal care late in their pregnancy in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Methods. Retrospective study. The study enrolled all women at our hospital who initiated prenatal care after 22 weeks of gestation (late attenders) and control women who initiated prenatal care prior to 11 weeks of gestation participated in the study at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2011. We compared the maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes of late attenders with those of the control group. Results. A total of 121 late attenders and 1,787 controls were enrolled. Late attenders had a higher incidence of unmarried compared with the control group (P < 0.01). There were no differences in the incidence of preterm delivery and low birth weight; however, babies of the late attenders had a higher incidence of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions. Our results indicate that there is a pressing need for further steps to promote the importance of receiving prenatal care during pregnancy.

Effect of Social Service Prenatal Care Utilization on Perinatal Outcomes among Women with Socioeconomic Problems in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

Background. To investigate the effect of social service prenatal care (PNC) utilization on perinatal outcomes among women with socioeconomic problems in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Methods. Retrospective study. The study enrolled all women at our hospital who either attended PNC utilizing social services (attenders) or who did not attend PNC (nonattenders) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010. We compared the maternal characteristics and perinatal outcome of attenders with those of nonattenders. Results. A total of 83 attenders and 45 nonattenders were enrolled. The mean gestational age at the first PNC visit was 31.1 weeks in the attenders. Attenders were found to have a lower incidence of preterm delivery, pregnancy-induced hypertension, emergency cesarean section, low birth weight, and the NICU admission than nonattenders (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The utilization of social service PNC greatly improved perinatal outcomes among women with socioeconomic problems problems in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Prolonged fetal bradycardia as the presenting clinical sign in congenital syphilis complicated by necrotizing funisitis: a case report.

Syphilis remains a serious cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this paper, we describe a case of congenital syphilis that was fully supported by abnormal fetal heart rate patterns and placental histopathological evidence. A 24-year-old para 4 woman, who did not attend antenatal care, was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of abdominal discomfort at an estimated 31-week gestation. Fetal heart rate monitoring showed prolonged bradycardia. A neonate weighting 1,423 g with severe birth asphyxia was immediately delivered by cesarean section. Following delivery, the mother and the neonate were diagnosed with syphilis. Histopathological examination confirmed severe chorioamnionitis and necrotizing funisitis with numerous Treponema pallidum. Conclusions. Challenges in establishing the diagnosis of necrotizing funisitis are essential for optimal management of a fetus with a systemic inflammatory response in utero.

Postpartum maternal pneumococcal meningitis complicated by endocarditis.

Bacterial meningitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Few cases of pneumococcal meningitis during pregnancy and the postpartum period have been reported. We describe a case of postpartum pneumococcal meningitis complicated by endocarditis. A 26-year-old para-2 woman who had had a normal vaginal delivery at 38 weeks at a maternity home was transported to our hospital with a 39.5°C fever 11 days postpartum. Eight hours after her arrival, her state of consciousness deteriorated rapidly. Lumbar puncture revealed Gram-positive cocci consistent with Streptococcus pneumoniae. She was immediately treated with antibiotics and subsequently diagnosed with endocarditis. Final culture results from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the presence of S. pneumoniae. She recovered completely with no evidence of neurological damage. Maintaining a high clinical suspicion and initiating appropriate diagnostic testing and therapeutic interventions promptly are essential to reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with bacterial meningitis.

Antepartum intracranial hemorrhage due to unrecognized unilateral moyamoya disease: a case report.

PURPOSE: Moyamoya (meaning a "hazy puff of smoke" in Japanese) disease is a rare cerebrovascular occlusive disease. Moyamoya disease may become symptomatic for the first time during pregnancy. We report a case of antepartum intracranial hemorrhage due to unrecognized unilateral moyamoya disease, which was subsequently diagnosed as HELLP syndrome during the postpartum period. STUDY DESIGN: A case report of a 29-year-old Japanese primigravida who was transported to our hospital at 39 weeks of gestation because of sudden loss of consciousness and left hemiplegia. On arrival, her blood pressure was 143/94 mmHg with 1+ proteinuria by dipstick. Brain computed tomography revealed a right putaminal hemorrhage with intraventricular hemorrhage. The patient delivered a neonate by emergency cesarean section, and an intracranial hematoma was subsequently evacuated. Approximately 3 h postoperatively, she was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and the following were initiated: IV magnesium sulfate, antihypertensive agents, and transfusion of 10 units of platelets. Angiographic findings were consistent with unilateral moyamoya disease. CONCLUSIONS: Moyamoya disease is a rare entity that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke during pregnancy. It is important to perform careful monitoring and adequate management with cooperation between obstetricians and other specialists when serious complications arise.

Biological activity of follistatin isoforms and follistatin-like-3 is dependent on differential cell surface binding and specificity for activin, myostatin, and bone morphogenetic proteins.

Follistatin (FST) and FST-like-3 (FSTL3) are activin-binding and neutralization proteins that also bind myostatin. Three FST isoforms have been described that differ in tissue distribution and cell-surface binding activity, suggesting that the FST isoforms and FSTL3 may have some nonoverlapping biological actions. We produced recombinant FST isoforms and FSTL3 and compared their biochemical and biological properties. Activin-binding affinities and kinetics were comparable between the isoforms and FSTL3, whereas cell-surface binding differed markedly (FST288 > FST303 > FST315 > FSTL3). Inhibition of endogenous activin bioactivity, whether the FST isoforms were administered endogenously or exogenously, correlated closely with surface binding activity, whereas neutralization of exogenous activin when FST and FSTL3 were also exogenous was consistent with their equivalent activin-binding affinities. This difference in activin inhibition was also evident in an in vitro bioassay because FST288 suppressed, whereas FST315 enhanced, activin-dependent TT cell proliferation. Moreover, when FSTL3, which does not associate with cell membranes, was expressed as a membrane-anchored protein, its endogenous activin inhibitory activity was dramatically increased. In competitive binding assays, myostatin was more potent than bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) 6 and 7, and BMPs 2 and 4 were inactive in binding to FST isoforms, whereas none of the BMPs tested competed with activin for binding to FSTL3. Neutralization of exogenous BMP or myostatin bioactivity correlated with the relative abilities of the isoforms to bind cell-surface proteoglycans. These results indicate that the differential biological actions among the FST isoforms and FSTL3 are primarily dependent on their relative cell-surface binding ability and ligand specificity.