Takahiro Nobuzane

IFPA Meeting 2010 Workshops Report II: Placental pathology; trophoblast invasion; fetal sex; parasites and the placenta; decidua and embryonic or fetal loss; trophoblast differentiation and syncytialisation

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting. At IFPA Meeting 2010 diverse topics were discussed in twelve themed workshops, six of which are summarized in this report. 1. The placental pathology workshop focused on clinical correlates of placenta accreta/percreta. 2. Mechanisms of regulation of trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling were discussed in the trophoblast invasion workshop. 3. The fetal sex and intrauterine stress workshop explored recent work on placental sex differences and discussed them in the context of whether boys live dangerously in the womb.4. The workshop on parasites addressed inflammatory responses as a sign of interaction between placental tissue and parasites. 5. The decidua and embryonic/fetal loss workshop focused on key regulatory mediators in the decidua, embryo and fetus and how alterations in expression may contribute to different diseases and adverse conditions of pregnancy. 6. The trophoblast differentiation and syncytialisation workshop addressed the regulation of villous cytotrophoblast differentiation and how variations may lead to placental dysfunction and pregnancy complications.

Morphologic effects of epithelial ion channels on the mouse uterus: differences between raloxifene analog (LY117018) and estradiol treatments

OBJECTIVE Estrogen regulates the expression of epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Our purpose was to assess the effects of raloxifene analog LY117018 on the expression of ENaC and CFTR in ovariectomized mice. STUDY DESIGN Three groups of 5 female ovariectomized mice were treated with 17beta-estradiol benzoate (E2), LY117018 (LY), or vehicle, respectively, for 4-12 weeks. Effects on the messenger ribonucleic acid expression levels of ENaC and CFTR channels in the uterus were studied using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS E2 treatment induced CFTR expression, repressed ENaC expression and resulted in fluid accumulation in the uterus. In contrast, LY induced CFTR expression, did not repress ENaC expression, and caused no fluid accumulation. CONCLUSION Estradiol and LY117018 differentially regulate the expression of CFTR and ENaC in ovariectomized mouse uterus. This finding suggests that uterine fluid accumulation can be controlled mainly by targeting the ENaC.

IFPA Meeting 2012 Workshop Report II: Epigenetics and imprinting in the placenta, growth factors and villous trophoblast differentiation, role of the placenta in regulating fetal exposure to xenobiotics during pregnancy, infection and the placenta

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting as they allow for discussion of specialized topics. At IFPA meeting 2012 there were twelve themed workshops, four of which are summarized in this report. These workshops related to various aspects of placental biology: 1) epigenetics and imprinting in the placenta; 2) growth factors and villous trophoblast differentiation; 3) role of the placenta in regulating fetal exposure to xenobiotics during pregnancy; 4) infection and the placenta.

Effects of menopause and hormone therapy on erythrocyte deformability.

Objective: The climacteric disturbance seen among perimenopausal women often includes symptoms related to poor microcirculation. This hemorheological condition plays an important role in the hemodynamism of microcirculation. Specifically, erythrocyte deformability is considered to be one of the most significant factors in determining this hemorheological condition. Methods: The present study investigated the level of erythrocyte deformability in four groups of women: namely, 10 healthy premenopausal women (PRE group), 25 postmenopausal women (POST group), 20 postmenopausal women on estrogen therapy (ET group) who received conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg/day, and 20 postmenopausal women on estrogen plus progestogen therapy (EPT group) who received conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg/day plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/day. The erythrocyte deformability score (EDS), measured by the Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer, was determined as an index of erythrocyte deformability. Results: The mean EDS for the POST group was significantly higher (mean ± SE, 1.02 ± 0.04) (P < 0.01) than that for the PRE group (0.78 ± 0.05). The mean EDS for the ET group (0.88 ± 0.03) was significantly lower than that for the POST group and close to that of the PRE group. There was no difference in the EDS values between the ET group and the EPT group (0.87 ± 0.03). Conclusions: These results indicate that erythrocyte deformability may worsen with the decrease in the estrogen level because of the onset of menopause, and also suggest that ET and EPT may allow it to recover.

Survey of prenatal testing for genetic disorders in Japan: Recent report

In order to investigate the current status of prenatal testing for genetic disorders, we conducted a multicenter retrospective questionnaire survey.

Additional comment to “Survey of prenatal testing for genetic disorders in Japan: Recent report”

I reported survey results of prenatal testing of genetic disorders in Japan in ACTA OBSTETRICA ET GYNAECOLOGICA JAPONICA in Japanese. I have an additional comment regarding the sampling procedure for testing. The survey revealed 277 cases of prenatal testing for genetic disorders. Almost all of the sampling procedures were either chronic villi sampling (73%) or amniocentesis (25%), both of which posed a risk of pregnancy loss. Conversely, some tests were conducted on maternal blood for fetal gender testing using samples that were easily and safely collected. In 2000, the diagnosis of a fetal single gene disorder via fetal cell-free DNA in maternal plasma was reported. For a gender-specific inherited disorder, fetal cell-free DNA analysis in maternal plasma has the potential for earlier and safer prenatal diagnosis. Of course, sufficient information and counseling are required for genetic testing. In fact, many patients who underwent maternal blood screening for chromosomal abnormalities received inadequate genetic counseling. The new technique of fetal cell-free DNA analysis may become the standardmethod in the near future.However, the procedure is currently in the developmental stage and requires careful evaluation in regard to ethics, the possibility of inadequate counseling, and the present