Yun Sung Jo

Antenatal sonographic features of ileal atresia

Aim:  The purpose of this study was to determine the antenatal sonographic features of ileal atresia.

Progesterone Inhibits Leptin-Induced Invasiveness of BeWo Cells.

Background: This study investigated the roles of progesterone and leptin in placenta invasion, which is closely related to pregnancy prognosis. We examined the effects of leptin and progesterone on the invasion of BeWo cells, a human trophoblastic cell line, and the effect of concurrent treatment. Methods: Cells were treated with leptin (0, 5, 50, or 500 ng/mL) or progesterone (0, 2, 20, or 200 µM) and cultured in an invasion assay. Cells treated with 500 ng/mL leptin were also treated with progesterone (0, 2, 20, or 200 µM) in the invasion assay for 48 h. The number of cells that invaded the lower surface was counted in five randomly chosen fields using a light microscope with a 200× objective. The mRNA expression levels of MMP-9, TIMP1, TIMP2, and E-cadherin were detected by semi-quantitative PCR. Results: Invasion of BeWo cells was promoted by leptin and influenced by both leptin concentration and treatment duration. Invasion was most effective at 500 ng/mL leptin and 48 h culture. Leptin-induced invasiveness was suppressed by progesterone in a dose-dependent manner. Leptin significantly decreased the expression levels of TIMP1 and E-cadherin, whereas progesterone significantly decreased expression of MMP-9 and significantly increased levels of TIMP1, TIMP2, and E-cadherin. Conclusions: Leptin promotes invasion of BeWo cells, and progesterone suppresses leptin-induced invasion by regulating the expressions of MMP-9, TIMP1, TIMP2, and E-cadherin. The balance between leptin and progesterone may play an important role in human placenta formation during early pregnancy.

A Large Amniocele with Protruded Umbilical Cord Diagnosed by 3D Ultrasound

An amniocele is a herniation of the amniotic sac through a uterine defect. Uterine rupture during pregnancy may develop as a result of a pre-existing injury, uterine anomaly, or unscarred uterus. A 30-year-old patient, with a history of 2 vaginal deliveries, presented an amniocele complicated by left fundal perforation and was evaluated with 3-dimensional ultrasound at 23 weeks. Because of worsening lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, she underwent exploratory laparotomy. Herein, we report a uterine rupture with amniocele.

Practice patterns in the management of threatened preterm labor in Korea: A multicenter retrospective study

Objective This study aimed to examine clinical practice patterns in the management of pregnant women admitted with threatened preterm labor (TPL) in Korea. Methods Data from women admitted with a diagnosis of TPL were collected from 22 hospitals. TPL was defined as regular uterine contractions with or without other symptoms such as pelvic pressure, backache, increased vaginal discharge, menstrual-like cramps, bleeding/show and cervical changes. Data on general patient information, clinical characteristics at admission, use of tocolytics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, and pregnancy outcomes were collected using an online data collections system. Results A total of 947 women with TPL were enrolled. First-line tocolysis was administered to 822 (86.8%) patients. As a first-line tocolysis, beta-agonists were used most frequently (510/822, 62.0%), followed by magnesium sulfate (183/822, 22.3%), calcium channel blockers (91/822, 11.1%), and atosiban (38/822, 4.6%). Of the 822 women with first-line tocolysis, second-line tocolysis were required in 364 (44.3%). Of 364 with second-line, 199 had third-line tocolysis (37.4%). Antibiotics were administered to 29.9% of patients (284/947) with single (215, 22.7%), dual (26, 2.7%), and triple combinations (43, 4.5%). Corticosteroids were administered to 420 (44.4%) patients. Betamethasone was administered to 298 patients (71.0%), and dexamethasone was administered to 122 patients (29.0%). Conclusion Practice patterns in the management of TPL in Korea were quite various. It is needed to develop standardized practice guidelines for TPL management.

Congenital Chloride Diarrhea

A 28-year-old primigravida woman had marked polyhydramnios and multiple dilated bowel loops were seen in the fetal abdomen on prenatal ultrasound, we suspected the ileal atresia. After birth by preterm premature rupture of the membrane at 33 weeks, imaging studies showed dilated bowels without evidence of intestinal obstruction or intestinal atresia. The neonate had watery diarrhea like urine and measurement of ionic content of the stool led to the diagnosis of congenital chloride diarrhea (CCD). The neonate was placed on sodium and potassium chloride supplements, and his condition was improved. CCD is a rare, inherited condition caused by an abnormality of intestinal electrolyte transport. This case illustrates that it may present prenatally with a picture similar to that seen with intestinal obstruction including ileal atresia.

Clinical Efficacy of Cervical Length and Volume for Prediction of Labor Onset in VBAC Candidates

Background: The purpose of this research is to discover whether measurement of cervical length and cervical volume at term is helpful in predicting the onset of labor in VBAC candidates. Methods: Transvaginal sonographic evaluations of the cervixes of pregnant women who desired to undergo VBAC were performed between 36 - 40 weeks gestation. Clinical information such as labor onset time, gestational age at delivery and delivery mode was gathered from medical records. Results: A total of 514 pregnant women participated in this study. Cervical length was significantly longer in the group that delivered 7 days or more after measurement than in the group that delivered within 7 days of measurement (43±0.77 cm vs. 2.99±0.72 cm, p< 0.001). Cervical volume was significantly larger in the group that delivered at and after 7 days than in the group that delivered within 7 days (29.21±11.62 cm3 vs. 34.07±13.41 cm3, p=0.014). The cervical length ROC curve was significantly more predictive than the cervical volume ROC curve (AUC: 0.711 vs 0.594, p= 0.001). There were no significant differences between the combined cervical length/volume ROC curve and the cervical length ROC curve alone (p= 0.565). The AUC of the cervical length ROC curve to predict postterm pregnancy was 0.729. Conclusion: Measuring cervical length is helpful in predicting the onset of spontaneous labor within 7 days and posterm delivery in VBAC candidates.

Antenatal sonographic features of intestinal neuronal dysplasia type A associated with polydactyly and micromelia

Type A intestinal neuronal dysplasia is a congenital abnormality that is a very rare disease. Here, we report on a patient who had intestinal dilatation with serial changes and polydactyly, as shown on prenatal ultrasound. Bowel obstruction symptoms were shown at 16 days of life. An open abdominal surgery was performed. Malrotation of the bowel and narrowing of the area from 15 cm above the ileocecal valve were noted. Therefore, a right hemicolectomy, including lesions was performed. The patient was diagnosed with type A intestinal neuronal dysplasia by pathology.

P49.12: Clinical efficacy of XI VOCAL in cervical volume measurement for the prediction of preterm delivery in Korea

Objectives: To determine if low cervical volume predicts risk of spontaneous preterm birth in preterm contraction pregnancy. Study design: A prospective study that measured cervical volume by transvaginal XI VOCAL was performed among 100 patients with a singleton pregnancy hospitalized with signs of premature labor between 24 and 36 weeks’ gestation. Result: The rate of preterm birth was 32.2%. The sensitivity, specificity of transvaginal XI VOCAL were, respectively, 72.2%, 65.3% for delivery before 37 weeks’ gestation. When cervical volume was ≤ 17 CC, the gestational age at delivery was significantly lower than when it exceeded 17 CC (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Transvaginal XI VOCAL in cervical volum measurement provides an objective method for evaluating the risk of preterm delivery. Its predictive values are impressive and allow better discrimination between women at high risk of preterm delivery and those in false preterm labor.