高橋 宏典

Objective: The intrauterine balloon (Balloon) has recently been widely used to achieve hemostasis for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). We concomitantly used a novel method, "holding the cervix", with the Balloon to prevent Balloon prolapse and achieve hemostasis. We aimed to clarify the following three factors: 1) hemostatic success rate of Balloon use for PPH, 2) effect of holding the cervix on Balloon prolapse, and, 3) the rate of bleeding after Balloon insertion, possibly predictive of Balloon failure. Study design: We retrospectively examined 80 patients undergoing Balloon application for PPH in our institution. We defined "success" as achieving hemostasis with no requirement of additional invasive procedures, and "failure" as their requirement. Between success vs. failure, several parameters were compared. For statistical analyses, Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were applied. Results: Excluding "unable to insert" patients, "holding the cervix" was performed in 56 (75%). Prolapse was less likely to occur in patients with than in those without "holding the cervix" (4 vs. 11%, respectively). The success rate in patients with "Balloon + holding the cervix" was 94%. Treatment for atonic bleeding and placenta previa (PP) showed similarly high success rates (97 and 94%, respectively). The rate of bleeding following Balloon insertion was significantly higher in failure than success cases (P =0.03) and all failure cases showed bleeding >250 mL/h. Conclusions: The "Balloon + holding the cervix" strategy achieved hemostasis in over 90% of primary PPH. Treatment: for not only atonic bleeding but also PP showed a high success rate. Bleeding >250 mL/h after Balloon insertion may indicate the requirement of additional invasive procedures. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is associated with several symptoms; of those, visual acuity loss, light oversensitivity (photophobia), and light flashes (photopsia) are known as PRES-related eye symptoms. We report a post-partum woman with PRES associated with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome (HELLP), in whom color vision abnormality (achromatopsia) was the sole manifestation. Cesarean section was performed at 28 weeks due to headache, epigastralgia, and severe hypertension. HELLP became evident after delivery. On post-partum day 1, she complained of achromatopsia, stating: all things look brownish-gray. Ophthalmologic examination was normal, but brain magnetic resonance imaging showed occipital lobe lesions, indicative of PRES, and, interestingly, also color vision center (area V4) lesions, suggesting that the achromatopsia had been caused by brain damage. It may be prudent to question HELLP patients concerning achromatopsia.

Introduction: Adequate extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion is essential for successful placentation. Although miR-520c-3p plays an important role in CD44-mediated invasion in cancer cells, there is little information on whether miR-520c-3p is involved in the regulatory mechanisms of CD44-mediated EVT invasion. Methods: We screened first trimester trophoblast cells and trophoblast cell lines for expression of miR-520c-3p using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The cell invasion assay was performed using EVT cell lines, HTR8/SVneo and HChEpC1b, to investigate the capability of suppressing EVT invasion by miR-520c-3p. Laser microdissection analysis was then used to determine whether miR-520c-3p was present in the first trimester decidua. Finally, the possibility of chorionic villous trophoblast (CVT)-EVT communication via exosomal miR-520c-3p was determined using an in vitro model based on BeWo exosomes and the EVT cell lines as recipient cells. Results: The miR-520c-3p level was significantly downregulated in EVT cell lines and EVTs. Cell invasion was significantly inhibited in miR-520c-3p-overexpressing cell lines, involving a significant reduction of CD44. Laser microdissection analysis showed that miR-520c-3p in the periarterial area of the decidua was significantly higher than that in the non-periarterial area. Using an in vitro model system, BeWo exosomal miR-520c-3p was internalized into the EVT cells with subsequently reduced cell invasion via CD44 repression. Conclusions: EVT invasion is synergistically enhanced by the reciprocal expression of endogenous miR-520c-3p and CD44. The present study supports a novel model involving a placenta-associated miRNA function in cell-cell communication in which CVT exosomal miR-520c-3p regulates cell invasion by targeting CD44 in EVTs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A primiparous pregnant woman in remission of myositis suffered very acute-onset ritodrine-induced rhabdomyolysis. At 29 gestational weeks, ritodrine was administered for threatened preterm labor. Just 3 h later, she complained of severe limb muscle pain, with serum creatinine phosphokinase elevated to 32019 U/L and myoglobinuria. The muscle pain disappeared immediately after ceasing administration of ritodrine. At 31 weeks, premature rupture of the membranes occurred, necessitating cesarean section, yielding a baby with weak tonus, and the presence of infantile muscle diseases was suspected. Genetic analysis of the infant confirmed myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica, DM), which prompted us to perform maternal genetic analysis, confirming maternal DM. Ritodrine can induce rhabdomyolysis even in the prodromal phase with a mild phenotype of DM. A literature review suggested that ritodrine-induced rhabdomyolysis may be likely to occur more acutely after ritodrine administration in DM compared with non-DM mothers.

Purpose of investigation: Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a life-threatening condition that requires early pregnancy termination. Its early ultrasound diagnosis is clinically important; however, previous studies focused on the CSP site itself. The present study was conducted to investigate the authors' clinical impression that a uterine-fundal hypoechoic mass is more frequently observed in CSP. Such a finding, if confirmed, may contribute to ultrasound diagnosis of CSP. The authors also determined the relationship between the treatment strategy and outcome, with special emphasis on conditions eventually requiring uterine artery embolization (UAE). Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study of CSP, and the authors analyzed all 14 women that were treated in this single tertiary institute over a period of ten years. Control subjects consisted of all pregnant women with prior cesarean section (CS) but no CSP. Results: Patients with CSP were significantly more likely to have a hypoechoic mass than controls (42.9 vs. 15.4%, respectively; p = 0.028). On confining results to a "fundal" hypoechoic mass, only CSP(+) patients showed it (CSP vs. control: 28.6 vs. 0%, respectively; p < 0.001). Six (43%: 6/14) received UAE: four following vaginal evacuation (artificial or spontaneous), and two for bleeding after methotrexate (MTX) treatment. Conclusion: Patients with CSP more frequently had a uterine-fundal hypoechoic mass, whose detection may trigger a detailed observation of the CSP site, possibly leading to CSP diagnosis.

Objectives: Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) has been considered to occur very rarely after traumatic delivery/abortion, and is usually detected after its rupture, yielding massive bleeding. Our hypothesis is: some UAP may be undetected without massive bleeding and may spontaneously resolve, and, thus, may not require transarterial embolization (TAE). We attempted: (1) to detect both ruptured and non-ruptured UAP, thereby characterizing candidates of spontaneously resolving UAP, and (2) to confirm that UAP is not rare and not always associated with traumatic events. Study design: This was a retrospective observational study of 50 women with angiographically confirmed UAP and treated by TAE. Angiograms and medical charts were retrieved to examine the associations among symptoms, ultrasound findings, and extravasation. Gray-scale ultrasound was performed for all women after delivery or abortion as our routine practice. Results: UAP occurred in 3-6/1000 deliveries and 40% occurred after non-traumatic deliveries/abortion. While 36% had active vaginal bleeding at admission, 64% did not. While 100% of patients with current active bleeding showed extravasation from the pseudoaneurysmal sac, patients without it showed a varied incidence of extravasation depending on the bleeding pattern/history and ultrasound findings. Interestingly, all patients with current bleeding (-), bleeding history (+), and ultrasound-discernable intrauterine low echoic mass (-) were devoid of extravasation, suggesting that UAP may show progression to thrombosis and, thus, resolve spontaneously. Conclusions: UAP may not be so rare and not associated with traumatic delivery/abortion. Some UAP may resolve, and, thus, may not require TAE, at least immediately. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objectives Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) has been considered to occur very rarely after traumatic delivery/abortion, and is usually detected after its rupture, yielding massive bleeding. Our hypothesis is: some UAP may be undetected without massive bleeding and may spontaneously resolve, and, thus, may not require transarterial embolization (TAE). We attempted: (1) to detect both ruptured and non-ruptured UAP, thereby characterizing candidates of spontaneously resolving UAP, and (2) to confirm that UAP is not rare and not always associated with traumatic events. Study design This was a retrospective observational study of 50 women with angiographically confirmed UAP and treated by TAE. Angiograms and medical charts were retrieved to examine the associations among symptoms, ultrasound findings, and extravasation. Gray-scale ultrasound was performed for all women after delivery or abortion as our routine practice. Results UAP occurred in 3–6/1000 deliveries and 40% occurred after non-traumatic deliveries/abortion. While 36% had active vaginal bleeding at admission, 64% did not. While 100% of patients with current active bleeding showed extravasation from the pseudoaneurysmal sac, patients without it showed a varied incidence of extravasation depending on the bleeding pattern/history and ultrasound findings. Interestingly, all patients with current bleeding (−), bleeding history (+), and ultrasound-discernable-intrauterine low echoic mass (−) were devoid of extravasation, suggesting that UAP may show progression to thrombosis and, thus, resolve spontaneously. Conclusions UAP may not be so rare and not associated with traumatic delivery/abortion. Some UAP may resolve, and, thus, may not require TAE, at least immediately.