Hideki Igarashi

Raloxifene inhibits estrogen-induced up-regulation of telomerase activity in a human breast cancer cell line.

The mechanism by which raloxifene acts in the chemoprevention of breast cancer remains unclear. Because telomerase activity is involved in estrogen-induced carcinogenesis, we examined the effect of raloxifene on estrogen-induced up-regulation of telomerase activity in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Raloxifene inhibited the induction of cell growth and telomerase activity by 17β-estradiol (E2). Raloxifene inhibited the E2-induced expression of the human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT), and transient expression assays using luciferase reporter plasmids containing various fragments of the hTERT promoter showed that the estrogen-responsive element appeared to be partially responsible for the action of raloxifene. E2 induced the phosphorylation of Akt, and pretreatment with a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, attenuated the E2-induced increases of the telomerase activity and hTERT promoter activity. Raloxifene inhibited the E2-induced Akt phosphorylation. In addition, raloxifene also inhibited the E2-induced hTERT expression via the PI3K/Akt/NFκB cascade. Moreover, raloxifene also inhibited the E2-induced phosphorylation of hTERT, association of NFκB with hTERT, and nuclear accumulation of hTERT. These results show that raloxifene inhibited the E2-induced up-regulation of telomerase activity not only by transcriptional regulation of hTERT via an estrogen-responsive element-dependent mechanism and the PI3K/Akt/NFκB cascade but also by post-translational regulation via phosphorylation of hTERT and association with NFκB.

Effects of different trehalose concentrations in a warming medium on embryo survival and clinical outcomes in vitrified human embryos.

Background/Aims: In the present study, we examined the effects of different concentrations of trehalose in a warming medium on both embryo survival and clinical outcomes in vitrified-warmed embryo transfer cycles. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 209 vitrified-warmed cycles from 177 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer. Embryos were cryopreserved by the vitrification method and warmed in solutions containing either 0.5 or 1.0 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose. We compared the 0.5 and 1.0 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose warming solution groups with respect to the embryo survival rate after warming and clinical outcomes. Results: The embryo survival rate in the 1.0 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose group (96.5%) was significantly higher than that in the 0.5 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose group (57.0%). The percentage of embryo transfers after warming in the 1.0 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose group (94.3%) was significantly higher than that in the 0.5 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose group (83.7%). The clinical pregnancy rate in the 1.0 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose group (25.0%) was significantly higher than that in the 0.5 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose group (11.1%). Conclusion: Embryo survival and clinical pregnancy rates were higher when a 1.0 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose solution was used than when a 0.5 <smlcap>M</smlcap> trehalose solution was used during the embryo warming process.

Efficacy of the endometrial receptivity array for repeated implantation failure in Japan: A retrospective, two-centers study

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the endometrial receptivity array (ERA) as a diagnostic tool and the impact of personalized embryo transfer (pET) for the treatment of patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) in Japan.

Three-dimensional Computed Tomography of Pelvic Masses in Mayer-rokitansky-küster-hauser Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by congenital aplasia or hypoplasia of the uterus and vagina. We report a case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome with multiple large pelvic masses diagnosed by three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiography. CASE: A 40-year-old woman with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome presented with an abdominal mass that had grown for 3 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed several solid masses, and normal bilateral ovaries were detected; three-dimensional CT revealed that these tumors were supplied from the right ovarian and uterine arteries, suggesting that they arose from the uterus. Accordingly, leiomyoma was suspected. Laparoscopic surgery was contraindicated, and the patient therefore underwent laparotomy. The masses were resected with the bilateral rudimentary uteri and fallopian tubes, and pathologic evaluation confirmed leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS: Combined MRI and three-dimensional CT angiography can accurately evaluate the origin and anatomic properties of leiomyomas in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome.

Long-term clinical outcomes of testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for infertile men

To find the best methods to achieve the highest pregnancy and birth rates for couples needing testicular sperm extraction (TESE)‐intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Contents Vol. 76, 2013

M.A. Belfort, Provo, Utah J. Bornstein, Nahariya H.L. Brown, Durham, N.C. C. Chapron, Paris J. de Haan, Maastricht G.A. Dekker, Adelaide, S.A. J.A. Deprest, Leuven K. Hecher, Hamburg S. Kahhale, São Paulo H. Kliman, New Haven, Conn. T.F. Kruger, Tygerberg J.A. Kuller, Raleigh, N.C. M.J. Kupferminc, Tel Aviv H. Minkoff , Brooklyn, N.Y. J. Moodley, Congella J.M. Mwenda, Nairobi H. Odendaal, Tygerberg J.T. Repke, Hershey, Pa. G.R. Saade, Galveston, Tex. B.M. Sibai, Cincinnati, Ohio S.K. Smith, London I.E. Timor-Tritsch, New York, N.Y. S. Uzan, Paris Johan Verhaeghe, Leuven J.J. Walker, Leeds G.D. Wendel, Dallas, Tex. R.A. Wild, Oklahoma City, Okla. G. Zador, Södertälje M.B. Zimmerman, Iowa City, Iowa Gynecological Ultrasound and Imaging George Condous, St. Leonards, N.S.W.