OBJECTIVE: We used a genome-wide approach to identify differentially expressed genes in patients with preterm delivery caused by preterm labor to improve the understanding of underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: RNA was isolated from the chorions of patients with preterm delivery caused by preterm labor with intact membranes and term vaginal delivery. cDNA microarray experiments were used to identify differentially expressed genes, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used in follow-up experiment. RESULTS: cDNA microarray experiments identified significantly increased expression of 104 genes and decreased expression of 102 genes in the preterm cases. 18 genes showed more than 1.5-fold increased expressions in the chorions of patients with preterm delivery by preterm labor than those with term vaginal delivery. In preterm delivery, up-regulated genes were associated with cell adhesion, cell cycle regulation, development, transport, morphogenesis, muscle contraction, signal transduction, and transcription. 15 genes showed more than 1.5-fold decreased expressions in chorions of patients delivered preterm by preterm labor than delivered term by labor. In preterm delivery, down-regulated genes were associated with cell differentiation, development, metabolism, morphogenesis, RNA processing, signal transduction, transcription, and transport. CONCLUSION: This study suggests cDNA microarray technique might provide insights into the molecular basis of preterm delivery caused by preterm labor.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Chorion* ; DNA, Complementary* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Morphogenesis ; Muscle Contraction ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Pregnancy ; RNA ; Signal Transduction

Intramural pregnancy is one of the rare forms of ectopic pregnancy and the optimal treatment is unknown. We describe two cases of intramural pregnancy treated with systemic methotrexate, which were diagnosed by pelvic MRI. Medical treatment with methotrexate may be a conservative treatment alternative for intramural pregnancies.
Female ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Methotrexate ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic

Lymphocytic hypophysitis, a rare inflammatory disorder in the pituitary gland that is often associated with pregnancy, is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pituitary gland evidenced by diffuse lymphocytic infiltration in the pituitary gland. We report a case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in a 38-year-old woman presenting with aggravating headache and sudden visual loss during pregnancy, which was misdiagnosed as pituitary adenoma before neurosurgery. Magnetic resonance imaging, with enhancement, showed an expanding 2.5x2.0x1.7 cm sized sellar mass. The patient underwent transsphenoidal surgery with a preoperative diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma. A histological examination revealed diffuse lymphocytes and fibrosis of adenohypophysis with atrophy, which are characteristic of lymphocytic hypophysitis. We report a case of lymphocytic hypophysitis occurred during pregnancy with a brief review of literatures.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurosurgery ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression profiles using GeneFishingTM kit in human placentae and their membranes delivered at preterm caused by preterm labor. METHODS: Specimens were obtained from placenta, chorion, and amnion delivered at preterm and term, respectively. Total RNAs were isolated from each specimen. Thereafter, the profiles of expression genes between preterm and term specimens were compared using a new and accurate reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that involves annealing control primers (ACPs) to identify the genes expressed differentially and screened by basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) search. RESULTS: Using 20 ACPs, 13 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and sequenced. 7 of them were expressed up-regulation, while 6 were expressed down-regulation in preterm deliveries. A BLAST searches revealed that 11 were known genes and 2 were unknown genes. Among known genes, up-regulated genes were insulin-like growth factor II associated protein, vigilin, acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), ribosomal protein S26 (RPS26), follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) and down-regulated genes were two mitochondrial DNAs, ribosomal protein S28 (RPS28), transglutaminase 2 (TGM2), heparin sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG, perlecan). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the ACP system is a good method for the identification of preterm-related genes. Furthermore, this study suggests that further analysis of the differentially expressed genes in preterm we have identified should provide insights into the molecular basis of preterm delivery caused by preterm labor.
Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase ; Amnion ; Chorion ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Heparin ; Humans* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Membranes* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy ; Proteoglycans ; Ribosomal Proteins ; RNA ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE: Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is known to have potent anti-vascular activity and significantly suppress solid tumor growth. The present study was conducted to investigate the vascular shutdown effects of a novel arsenic compound, tetraasrsenic oxide (As4O6), in comparison with As2O3 using cervical cancer animal model. METHODS: Mice tumor challenge model was used C57BL/6 mice transplanted with TC-1 cells. After the growth of tumors was reached up 200~250 mm3, mice were divided into 3 groups randomly for control and treatment of either As2O3 or As4O6. As2O3 and As4O6 was treated by i.p. injection. The tumor size was caliperated in twice for weeks and anti-vascular effect were assessed by Evans blue extraction assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. In tumor tissue, histopathological feaure was obserevd by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS: In mice treated with either As2O3 and As4O6 (i.p.), both of As2O3 and As4O6 was significantly suppressed the tumor growth compared with control group. Moreover, effect of As4O6 is more pronounced. These tumor growth inhibition is led to the massive necrosis and vacular shutdown in tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that As4O6 may have potential anticancer activity via vascular shutdown in C57BL/6 mice transplanted with TC-1 cells.
Animals ; Arsenic ; Arsenicals ; Benzimidazoles ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Evans Blue ; Hematoxylin ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Necrosis ; Oxides ; Transplants ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms