Shigeki Shimada

Pre-conceptional Natural Killer Cell Activity and Percentage as Predictors of Biochemical Pregnancy and Spontaneous Abortion with Normal Chromosome Karyotype

Problem: The aim of the present study was to determine whether pre‐conceptional natural killer (NK) cell activity and percentage are predictive of subsequent spontaneous abortion in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

High NK Cell Activity in Early Pregnancy Correlates with Subsequent Abortion with Normal Chromosomes in Women with Recurrent Abortion

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to assess the role of natural killer (NK) cells in pregnant women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). 
METHOD OF STUDY: Consecutive 66 pregnant women with a history of RSA were prospectively assessed for peripheral NK cell activity, percentage of the NK cell subsets, and subsequent pregnancy outcome. 
RESULTS: NK cell activity in women with subsequent live birth (group I) at 4–5 gestational weeks (GW) (mean±SD, 32.5±12.3%) significantly decreased at 6–7 GW (28.1±12.1%) and at 8–9 GW (28.0±11.8%). NK cell activity in women with subsequent abortion with normal chromosomes (group II) at 6–7 GW (41.2±19.0%) was significantly higher than that in group I women, while NK cell activity at 6–7 GW in women with subsequent abortion with abnormal chromosomes (group III) was the same as the level in group I women. 
CONCLUSIONS: High NK cell activity at 6–7 GW correlates with subsequent abortion with normal chromosomes.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment in Women with Recurrent Abortions: Increased Cytokine Levels and Reduced Th1/ Th2 Lymphocyte Ratio in Peripheral Blood

PROBLEM:  The aim of this study was to investigate changes in peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cytokine levels and lymphocyte ratios after massive intravenous immunoglobulin (MIVIg) treatment for women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) of unexplained etiology.

Massive Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment in Women with Four or More Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions of Unexplained Etiology: Down-Regulation of NK Cell Activity and Subsets

PROBLEM: The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of massive intravenous immunoglobulin (MIVIg) treatment for women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) of unexplained etiology, and to investigate changes in peripheral natural killer (NK) cell activity and subsets.
 METHOD OF STUDY: MIVIg treatment was performed in 18 pregnancies from 15 women with 4 or more consecutive RSA of unexplained etiology. NK cell activity and subsets were assessed in 8 of the pregnancies.
 RESULTS: 14 pregnancies resulted in live births and 4 resulted in abortions with chromosome abnormality. The pre‐infusion NK cell activity (mean±SD, 40.9±17.0%) at 4.4±0.5 weeks of gestation (GW) decreased to 15.0±7.9% at post‐infusion status (5.4±0.5 GW). Pre‐infusion percentages of CD56+CD16− cells (3.5±2.1%) and CD56+CD16− cells (16.8±8.8%) decreased to 3.0±2.2% and 11.1±6.9%, respectively, after MIVIg treatment.
 CONCLUSIONS: MIVIg treatment was effective in all 14 pregnancies from RSA women of unexplained etiology, excluding 4 abortions with chromosome abnormality. Peripheral NK cell activity and subsets were suppressed by MIVIg treatment.

Expression of allograft inflammatory factor-1 in mouse uterus and poly(I:C)-induced fetal resorption.

Problem: To investigate whether the allograft inflammatory factor‐1 (AIF‐1) is expressed and plays a role in the reproductive system.

Natural Killer, Natural Killer T, Helper and Cytotoxic T Cells in the Decidua from Sporadic Miscarriage

Problem  The aim of this cohort study was to assess natural killer (NK) cell and natural killer T (NKT) cell populations and cytokine expressions of helper T (Th) and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in the decidua of sporadic miscarriage (MS) and induced abortion (IA).

Postpartum thyroid dysfunction in women with normal thyroid function during pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to establish the risk of postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) in women who had normal thyroid function during pregnancy and no history of thyroid disease.

No Difference in Natural-killer-T cell population, but Th2/Tc2 Predominance in Peripheral Blood of Recurrent Aborters

Problem: The aim of this study was to assess the natural‐killer‐T (NKT) cell population and cytokine expression in the peripheral blood of women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 regulates trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis

The expression of allograft inflammatory factor‐1 (AIF‐1) in 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis, a model for T helper 1 (Th1) type disease, was investigated in BALB/c mice. The AIF‐1 expression was significantly increased in the colitis lesion compared to that in the normal colon. We then prepared AIF‐1 transgenic mice (Tgm) with the BALB/c background that express high levels of AIF‐1 in lymphoid tissues and the colon. When AIF‐1 Tgm were administrated TNBS, the TNBS‐induced colitis was ameliorated compared with that in non‐transgenic littermates. The amelioration of colitis was associated with the low expression of interleukin‐1β in the colon. The present findings suggest that AIF‐1 regulates Th1‐type inflammatory responses.

Prenatal diagnosis of agnathia‐holoprosencephaly: three‐dimensional imaging by helical computed tomography

We report a case of agnathia‐holoprosencephaly which was prenatally diagnosed based on helical computed tomography (CT) images obtained at 23 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound examination first showed the presence of alobar holoprosencephaly, but the facial structures were not clearly detailed. However, three‐dimensional imaging by helical CT precisely demonstrated the most striking feature of agnathia: absence of the mandible. This technique provided us valuable information that contributed to the in utero diagnosis. In utero helical CT is a useful examination tool for the diagnosis of osteogenic abnormalities. Copyright