Koh Kawagoe

Immunohistochemical demonstration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in normal human placental villi

With an avidin-biotin-peroxidase (or glucose oxidase) complex method using anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody (528 IgG), the tissue and cellular distribution of the receptors for epidermal growth factors (EGF) in normal human placental villi, from 6 to 42 weeks of gestation, were studied. EGF receptors were mainly localized on the free surface of the syncytiotrophoblast that directly faced to intervillous space of the maternal circulation. The cell surface of cytotrophoblasts, except for the region that was adjacent to the basal lamina, was also positive for EGF receptors. The receptors were in close contact to the fetal vessels in the villous stroma. The EGF receptors on the syncytiotrophoblast were thought to be involved in the production and secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin and placental lactogen, probably under the control of maternal EGF. The receptors on cytotrophoblasts may play a role in trophoblastic proliferation, possibly mediated by EGF in the fetal circulatory system.

Pregnancies following conservative treatment of malignant ovarian tumors

SummarySixteen patients with malignant ovarian tumors were treated conservatively; 1 had a serous cystadenoma of low potential malignancy; 6 had a mucinous cystadenoma of low potential malignancy; 2 had a pure dysgerminoma; 2 had a mature solid teratoma; 3 had a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma; and 2 had an endodermal sinus tumor. Postoperative chemotherapy was given in 12 cases and 1 patient with a pure dysgerminoma had radiotherapy. Eighteen pregnancies occurred in 13 patients. One full-term and one 8 month premature infant died in utero, and 2 infants had malformations; the other 14 infants are all well. The patient with moderately differentiated mucinous cystadenocarcinoma who delivered a premature infant and 2 patients with endodermal sinus tumors died of recurrence.

Management of Pregnancy Complicated by Genital Herpes

In the management of pregnancy complicated by genital herpes, two considerations should be made from obsterical points of view. One is congenital anomaly due to transplacental infection of HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus).!I and the second is neonatal herpes due to perinatal infection of this virus in the birth canal.![ Recently it has been recognized that genital herpes has a tendency to increase in Western countries as well as in Japan.!r Indeed, in our clinic patients with genital herpes have been encountered in much more number than those with gonorrhea or primary syphilis, implicating that pregnancy complicated by genital herpes has become of an important concern of obstetricians. In this report, some clinical and virological aspects of genital herpes during pregnancy are discussed and a tentative management of the pregnancy complicated by genital herpes is proposed. Materials and Methods