Activation of PPARγ at an Early Stage of Differentiation Enhances Adipocyte Differentiation of MEFs Derived from Type II Diabetic TSOD Mice and Alters Lipid Droplet Morphology.

Type 2 diabetic Tsumura, Suzuki, obese, diabetes (TSOD) mice gradually gain weight as compared to corresponding Tsumura, Suzuki, non-obesity (TSNO) control mice, and develop insulin resistance. Although development of type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with dysfunction of adipocytes, little is known about the properties of adipocytes from TSOD mice. Therefore, we attempted to remove intracorporeal factors and elucidate inherent properties of adipocytes of TSOD mice using adipocytes differentiated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) in vitro. Here, we show that MEFs of TSOD have low potency for differentiation into adipocytes. The percentage of Oil red O-stained cells and levels of adipogenic markers in cells differentiated from MEFs of TSOD are lower than those in cells differentiated from MEFs of TSNO. We further show that treatment with an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) (rosiglitazone) at an early stage of differentiation increases the percentage of Oil red O-stained cells in TSOD-MEFs differentiated into adipocytes. Moreover, the lipid droplet size in those adipocytes is larger than that in the adipocytes differentiated from MEFs of TSNO. Although persistent treatment of MEFs of TSOD with rosiglitazone during differentiation increases the percentage of Oil red O-stained cells, the lipid droplet size in adipocytes treated as such does not reach the size of those treated in early stage only. Thus, activation of PPARγ by its agonist at an early stage of differentiation compensates for the low potency toward adipogenic differentiation of, and accelerates formation of enlarged lipid droplets in adipocytes derived from, MEFs of TSOD mice.

Derivation of human decidua-like cells from amnion and menstrual blood.

We induced differentiation of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMCs) and menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MMCs) into endometrial stroma-like cells, which could be useful for cell therapy to support embryo implantation. Interestingly, the expression patterns of surface markers were similar among AMCs, MMCs, and endometrial stromal cells. In addition, whereas treatment with estrogen and progesterone was not very effective for decidualizing AMCs and MMCs, treatment with 8-Br-cAMP prompted remarkable morphological changes in these cells as well as increased expression of decidualization markers (prolactin and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1) and attenuated expression of surface markers unique to mesenchymal stem cells. These results demonstrated that bone marrow-derived stem cells, which are considered a potential source of endometrial progenitor cells, as well as AMCs and MMCs show in vitro decidualization potential, which is characteristic of endometrial stromal cells.

Changes in the prevalence of the measles, rubella, varicella-zoster, and mumps virus antibody titers in Japanese pregnant women.

In the present study, immunity against infectious diseases, which are capable of influencing both the mother and fetus during pregnancy and the infant in the postnatal period, were assessed in pregnant women to elucidate the necessity of vaccination during the childbearing age. It was determined that there was a trend of increases in the proportion of patients that had low antibody titers observed at a young age. Overall, after adjusting for age, low antibody titers of measles (≤ 4 via the neutralization test [NT]), rubella (≤ 16 via the hemagglutination inhibition [HI]), and varicella and mumps (plus minus or negative on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [EIA]) indicated that the rates of necessity for vaccination against measles, rubella, varicella, and mumps were 27.6%, 16.1%, 3.9%, and 23.8%, respectively. In Japan, acquired immunity for measles, rubella, and mumps was dependent on vaccination, whereas acquired immunity for varicella was dependent on natural infection. We recommend that women be vaccinated after delivery, as these vaccines are live, and thereby, are contraindicated during pregnancy.

A medium-chain fatty acid as an alternative energy source in mouse preimplantation development.

To further optimize the culturing of preimplantation embryos, we undertook metabolomic analysis of relevant culture media using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS). We detected 28 metabolites: 23 embryo-excreted metabolites including 16 amino acids and 5 media-derived metabolites (e.g., octanoate, a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA)). Due to the lack of information on MCFAs in mammalian preimplantation development, this study examined octanoate as a potential alternative energy source for preimplantation embryo cultures. No embryos survived in culture media lacking FAs, pyruvate, and glucose, but supplementation of octanoate rescued the embryonic development. Immunoblotting showed significant expression of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, important enzymes for ß-oxidation of MCFAs, in preimplantation embryo. Furthermore, CE-TOFMS traced [1-(13)C(8)] octanoate added to the culture media into intermediate metabolites of the TCA cycle via ß-oxidation in mitochondria. These results are the first demonstration that octanoate could provide an efficient alternative energy source throughout preimplantation development.

Impact of laparoscopic cystectomy on fecundity of infertility patients with ovarian endometrioma.

AIM: To clarify the effect of laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometrioma in infertility patients, the pregnancy outcome was evaluated. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. From August 2002 to February 2006, 33 infertility patients with ovarian endometrioma underwent laparoscopic cystectomy at our center. According to the laparoscopic findings 33 were divided into two groups; 10 were evaluated as the patients who need assisted reproductive technologies (ART) treatment (IVF subgroup) and 23 were evaluated as the patients who do not need ART treatment but conventional infertility treatment (non-IVF subgroup). During the same period, 70 patients who were age-matched and received ART treatment without laparoscopy were defined as control (control group). Following up to 12 months after laparoscopy, the cumulative pregnancy rate in the non-IVF subgroup was calculated. RESULTS: The patients age, duration of infertility and size of endometrioma were equal in the IVF and the non-IVF subgroups. The revised-American Society of Reproductive Medicine (r-ASRM) score in the IVF subgroup was significantly higher than that in the non-IVF group (P < 0.05). The pregnancy rates after laparoscopic cystectomy in IVF and non-IVF subgroups were 50.0% and 60.9%, respectively. These rates in the IVF and the non-IVF groups were slightly higher than that in control group (41.4%), but these differences were not significant. The cumulative pregnancy rate in the non-IVF group reached 52.2%, 12 months after laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery should be performed prior to ART treatment not only for making a decision about the treatment course but also for establishing a good pelvic condition to induce a pregnancy during ART treatment in infertility treatment with ovarian endometrioma.

Bacteria-associated haemophagocytic syndrome and septic pulmonary embolism caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex in a woman with chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections with certain types of bacteria and fungi. Presented herein is the case of a 29 year old woman with CGD who suffered from bacteria-associated haemophagocytic syndrome and a septic pulmonary embolism following a uterine infection and sepsis, caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex.

Recombinant-follicle stimulating hormone is more effective than urinary human menopausal gonadotropin in ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproductive technology treatment.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to establish a standard protocol for ovarian stimulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRH-a) long protocol using recombinant-follicle stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) preparations for assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Methods: In 86 patients who underwent ovarian stimulation with GnRH-a long protocol for ART treatment, 53 were stimulated by rec-FSH preparations (rec-FSH group) and the others were stimulated by urinary-hMG (u-hMG group) preparations. The subjects were randomly assigned to either of these preparations. Hormonal profiles, total doses of gonadotropins, duration of stimulation and ART results were compared in both groups. Results: The duration of stimulation was similar in both groups (9.2 ± 0.3 days and 9.2 ± 0.2 days, respectively). The total doses of gonadotropin in the rec-FSH group (1505.3 ± 29.2 IU) was significantly lower than those in the u-hMG group (2130.3 ± 54.6 IU, P < 0.0001). The FSH and LH values on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration in the rec-FSH group were significantly lower than those in the u-hMG group. Pregnancy rates were 31.3% in the rec-FSH group and 33.3% in the u-hMG group, respectively. Conclusions: The present study showed that rec-FSH preparations were more potent than conventional u-hMG preparations and the protocol of the present study with rec-FSH was a new ovarian stimulation protocol with GnRH-a long protocol. (Reprod Med Biol 2007; 6: 27-32).