Published papers

What are the reproductive and obstetric outcomes in patients undergoing radical abdominal trachelectomy (RAT) for early-stage cervical cancer? When RAT was performed before a pregnancy achieved with fertility treatments, pregnancy rate of 36.2% was obtained and 71.4% of these women gave birth at ≥ 32 weeks of gestation. Reproductive and obstetric outcomes after radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) are well documented; however, these outcomes after RAT have not been well studied. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients at a single institution who underwent RAT and became pregnant. Reproductive and obstetric outcomes of 114 patients who had undergone RAT from September 2002 to December 2010 were investigated. Women of reproductive age with early-stage cervical cancer who wished to preserve their fertility were documented. Patients' median age was 33 years (25-40 years). A total of 31 pregnancies were achieved in 25 patients and 6 patients had 2 pregnancies. Eighteen of 25 patients (72.0%) had infertility problems; 17 patients conceived with IVF-embryo transfer and 1 patient with intrauterine insemination. The pregnancy rate among patients who wished to conceive was 36.2% (25/69). Among 31 pregnancies in 25 patients, 4 patients had first trimester miscarriage and 1 patient had second trimester miscarriage. Excluding the five patients who miscarried and the five ongoing pregnancies, all the 21 patients had deliveries by Cesarean section. Four patients had a preterm birth in the second trimester and 17 patients delivered in the third trimester. Of the 17 pregnancies that reached the third trimester, 2 (11.8%) were preterm births between 29 and 32 weeks, 11 (64.7%) were delivered between 32 and 37 weeks and 4 (23.5%) at ≥ 37 weeks of gestation. Because of the retrospective data collection, not all pregnancies may have been recorded. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to determine if the results shown in this retrospective cohort can be generalized to all patients with early-stage cervical cancer who wish to undergo the fertility-sparing RAT procedure.

We report a case of body stalk anomaly detected prenatally by fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 14 weeks' gestation. A 29-year-old woman was followed during her first pregnancy. At 11-12 weeks' gestation, our sonographic images showed multiple fetal deformities. An abdominal wall defect was suspected. The exteriorized abdominal contents and the lower limb appeared within the extraembryonic celom with an intact amniotic membrane. Fetal MRI at 14 weeks' gestation confirmed a large anterior wall defect with herniation of the liver and bowel. In addition, abnormally rotated lower limb and scoliosis could be demonstrated. The fetus was prenatally diagnosed with body stalk anomaly, expected to be lethal in nature. The parents decided to terminate the pregnancy at 15 weeks' gestation. Prenatal diagnosis of body stalk anomaly is usually based on sonographic findings. As far as we are aware, this is the first case report of body stalk anomaly satisfactorily diagnosed by fetal MRI in the early second trimester. Fetal MRI scans should provide ground for a precise antenatal diagnosis of body stalk anomaly from early gestation. © 2013 Japan Radiological Society.

We report a case of amniotic band syndrome diagnosed prenatally by serial sonographic examinations. Our initial sonographic image showed a large fetal nuchal translucency (NT) at 12 weeks' gestation. Repeated fetal ultrasound images revealed an amniotic band and right upper limb anomaly. Fetal MRI at 19 weeks' gestation revealed right forearm hypoplasia and pseudosyndactyly. The fetus was prenatally diagnosed with amniotic band syndrome and was suspected of having severe functional impairment of the deformed limb. The parents decided to terminate the pregnancy at 21 weeks' gestation. In fetuses with aneuploidy and various structural and genetic abnormalities, the NT thickness is increased in the first trimester. As far as we are aware, this is the first case report of increased NT and limb anomaly associated with amniotic band syndrome. In chromosomally normal fetuses with increased NT, intensive sonographic follow-up should provide grounds for a precise antenatal diagnosis. © The Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine 2012.

Purpose Because the safety of intravenous fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia (iv-PCA) administered during labor remains unclear, we retrospectively examined the labor records from January 2005 to December 2007 in our institution, with a focus on both maternal and neonatal outcomes, as compared to no analgesia. Methods Parturients over 35 weeks of gestational age who received fentanyl iv-PCA (iv-PCA group) or no analgesia (control group) during labor were enrolled. The former group received iv-PCA through a pump programmed to give a loading dose of 0.05 mg fentanyl, followed by bolus injection of 0.02 mg fentanyl, with a lock-out interval of 5 min. This analgesia was initiated at the parturient's request and was discontinued before the second stage of labor, to ensure neonatal safety. During labor, both maternal and fetal heart rates, maternal pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO 2), respiratory rate, and sedation and nausea scores were continuously monitored, and the neonatal outcomes including umbilical arterial pH, Apgar scores, and other parameters were recorded. Results The data of 129 of the 143 parturients who received fentanyl iv-PCA were analyzed, while 697 parturients delivered without any analgesia during the 3-year study period. While iv-PCA prolonged the duration of labor and increased oxytocin use, no obvious maternal or neonatal complications of fentanyl use were recorded. Except for the significantly lower rate of emergency cesarean section in the iv-PCA group, both the maternal and neonatal outcomes were comparable between the groups. Conclusions As compared to no analgesia, fentanyl iv-PCA appears to be safe and clinically acceptable as analgesia during labor, particularly in nulliparous women. © 2011 Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the consecutive administration of recombinant thrombomodulin (r-TM) for 4 days improves maternal and fetal conditions and physiological outcomes in an N'-nitro-L-arginine- methyl ester hydrochloride-induced and low-dose endotoxin-induced pre-eclampsia (PE). Methods: r-TM or saline was administrated i.v. to normal pregnant and experimental PE rats for 4 days. The maternal condition, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), fetal conditions, uteroplacental blood flow (UPBF), and oxygenation in the placenta and fetal brain was evaluated on gestational day 21. Results: Significant increases in the mean arterial blood pressure, VEGFR-1 values and fetal death rate were observed in PE rats compared with control rats, while maternal and fetal bodyweight and fetal brain weight were substantially lower. Hypoperfusion and hypo-oxygenation in both the placenta and fetal brain tissues occurred in PE rats. Although r-TM failed to improve hypertension and affect the differences in maternal bodyweight between the groups, r-TM significantly improved hypoperfusion and fetal and maternal conditions, including VEGFR-1 values (6.5 ± 4.0 vs 2.2 ± 2.7 ng/mL, PE vs PE with r-TM, respectively; P < 0.05). Although not significant, a decrease in the fetal death rate was observed in PE rats administrated r-TM (36.1 ± 17.6% vs 25.0 ± 23.8%, P = 0.077). Conclusion: The severe reductions in the UPBF and the placental oxygenation imply that regional hypoperfusion occurs in association with systemic mean arterial pressure. r-TM may be a candidate medical treatment for PE complications. © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Successful development of preimplantation embryos is essential for reproduction. Growth factors secreted by reproductive tracts are important for the development of preimplantation embryos. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a tyrosine kinase receptor related to colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor and c-KIT, promoting preimplantation embryo development following their ligand binding. We found expression of FLT3 ligand transcripts in the oviducts and uteri of pregnant mice. The transcripts for its receptor, FLT3, were detectable throughout the early embryonic stages with an increase after the eight-cell stage. In contrast, the expression of FLT3 ligand was negligible after the morula stage, suggesting potential paracrine actions of FLT3 ligand produced by the reproductive tracts. Treatment with FLT3 ligand promoted the development of two-cell embryos to the morula and blastocyst stages in a dose-dependent manner with increases in cell proliferation, but not inhibition of cell survival. The effects of FLT3 ligand were blocked by a FLT3 receptor inhibitor, TCS359. Studies using specific inhibitors demonstrated the potential involvement of the PI3K pathway in mediating FLT3 ligand actions. Our findings suggest that the FLT3 ligand/FLT3 signaling system plays important paracrine roles during the development of preimplantation embryos. ©2014 Japan Society for Ova Research.

Fetuses with concomitant duodenal atresia (DA) and esophageal atresia (EA) might develop in utero gastric rupture as well as neonatal respiratory complication due to dilated stomach and duodenum. Our patient with the typical "double bubble" appearance was highly suspected to have DA in the second trimester. Follow-up examinations revealed a massively dilated stomach and duodenum with a dilated distal esophagus, indicating concomitant DA and EA. With advancing pregnancy, the fetal abdomen progressively increased in size by retention of fluid in the closed loop of DA and EA. To avoid gastric perforation, prenatal stomach paracentesis using an ultrasound-guided needle was performed three times until delivery. A male neonate born at 37 weeks gestation showed no respiratory complication. Perinatal clinical features and operative findings revealed combined DA and EA (gross type A). He was successfully managed with duodenoduodenostomy, followed by esophago-esophagostomy. On fetal sonography, the marked "double bubble" appearance and the cystic structure presenting peristalsis-like movement above the diaphragm were indicative of concomitant DA and EA. Fetal stomach paracentesis could contribute to the improvement of perinatal outcomes in fetuses with this pathological condition. © 2014 The Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine.