A woman case of familial Mediterranean fever accompanied with periodic fever during menstruation
A 36-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with recurrent fever and thoracic/abdominal pain. Although several clinical examinations were performed for infectious and autoimmune diseases, the cause of the symptom was not clarified. Since the fever was periodic and occurred during the menstruation period, Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) was suspected. In mutation analysis of MEFV (Mediterranean Fever) gene, a heterozygous mutation (E148Q) was identified and she was diagnosed as FMF. Colchicine treatment was started, and the treatment decreased the severity of the both periodic fever and thoracic/abdominal pain. (Sou...
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: R. Maekawa, M. Sinagawa, M. Okada, H. Asada, T. Taketani, Y. Yamagata, H. Tamura, N. Sugino, M. Kubo Source Type: research
The examination of recurrent pregnancy loss in our hospital
Objectives: To examine the cause of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and its curative effect by analyzing patients in our hospital retrospectively. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: R. Yamamoto, R. Kawaguchi, S. Onota, A. Kato, T. Haino, K. Sugimoto, A. Okamoto Source Type: research
Genetic analysis for women with protein S deficiency
Introduction: Serum levels of protein S (PS) can be affected by various factors. During pregnancy, estrogen naturally decreases serum PS levels, and it is difficult to evaluate pathological significance for low levels of PS. The genetic analysis of PS deficiency may help the evaluation. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: N. Shinozaki, M. Deguchi, K. Tanimura, Y. Ebina, H. Yamada Source Type: research
Implantation failure and protein S deficiency
In this study, we examined total PS antigen, PS activity, antiphospholipid antibodies, factor XII (FXII) activity in 100 patients with implantation failure (including women having repeated IVF implantation failure and repeated chemical pregnancy, and excluding women having recurrent pregnancy loss). (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Y. Sato, T. Sugi, R. Sakai Source Type: research
Autoantibodies to protein s and protein S deficiency in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss
There is now genetic evidence that protein S (PS) participates in a variety of physiological role distinct from hemostasis, including cell proliferation/survival, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients (n=300) were screened for total PS antigen, antibodies to PS (Western blot), antiphospholipid antibodies, factor XII (FXII) activity. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Among 300 RPL patients, 90 patients (30%) were deficient for total PS antigen ( (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: T. Sugi, Y. Sato, R. Sakai Source Type: research
A case report of neonatal hemochromatosis treated by high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin
Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH) is characterized by serious fetal or neonatal liver failure due to alloimmune liver damage. Specific diagnosis using immunohistochemical staining of membrane attack complex (MAC IHC) in the liver and maternal treatment with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) have recently become the standard management. Here, we report a successful pregnancy in a woman whose index pregnancy was diagnosed as NH and who was treated with IVIG. A 37-year-old, gravida 1 para 0 woman delivered a normal-appearing neonate who died of liver failure only 17h after delivery in spite of having shown no symptoms d...
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Motomura, A. Sasaki, M. Hisano, K. Yamaguchi, Y. Ito, R. Ito, M. Kasahara, K. Matsumoto, H. Sago Source Type: research
Subcellular localization of era and their effects on cell size
Current data support the idea that estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is located in cell membrane, cytoplasm, and/or nucleus. ERα plays important roles in such processes as cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion respectively or collectively. In these processes, ERα cross-talk with other factors to control distinctive groups of target genes genetically and epigenetically. While some of these factors appear to regulate the accessibility of promoters, others are members of various kinase cascades such as PI3K-AKT that control crucial cellular events. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Z.-L. Li, Y. Otsuki Source Type: research
A new local drug delivery system for the uterus using bio-nanocapsule (BNC)
In this study, we optimized the BNC as a new drug delivery system (DDS) for uterus. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Koizumi, H. Nakamura, T. Matsuzaki, S. Kuroda, T. Takiuchi, K. Kumasawa, T. Kimura Source Type: research
Anti-thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid function in women with recurrent pregnancy loss during the early stages of pregnancy
Thyroid dysfunction is associated with various obstetrical complications. We evaluated the thyroid function in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) women with anti-thyroid autoantibodies including anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) during the early pregnancy. 153 women with RPL (Age, 35.7±4.7, mean±S.D.), who visited our RPL clinic were enrolled into the study after informed consent. Women with thyroid dysfunction receiving medical treatment were excluded. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Kubo, T. Hasegawa, A. Sakamoto, M. Matsuda, S. Kotani, Y. Kamada, M. Nakatsuka, Y. Hiramatsu Source Type: research
New metabolic marker: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) system may play a role in the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy losses
Objective: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) system reflected as the metabolic memory promotes oxidative stress and inflammation and finally contributes to vascular damage. Chorionic vascular damage is a major cause of recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). However, it remains unknown whether AGEs-RAGE system is involved in RPL. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Ota, J. Kwak-Kim, T. Maruyama, M. Tanaka Source Type: research
DR6 is epigenetically involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by creating the proliferative and anti-apoptotic characteristics
Objective: Accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations play definite roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The goals of this study were to identify the roles of death receptor (DR) 6, the only TNFRSF whose expression is epigenetically repressed in endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs), in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Kai, K. Nasu, Y. Aoyagi, Y. Tsukamoto, N. Hijiya, M. Okamoto, M. Moriyama, H. Narahara Source Type: research
Goshajinkigan completely recover the severe aspermatogenesis after busulfan treatment in mice
Busulfan (Myleran, 1,4-butanediol methanesulfonate) is used as anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs in childhood and adult chronic myelogenous leukemia as well as an immunosuppressive agent before bone marrow transplantation. It is well known that the male infertility including spermatogenesis disturbance is one of side effect. There is little information about therapeutic drugs on male infertility after busulfan treatment. Some traditional Chinese medicines have been administered for improving spermatogenesis and have been extensively used to treat male infertility. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: N. Qu, Y. Hirayanagi, S. Hayashi, S. Hirai, N. Hatayama, M. Kuramasu, Y. Ogawa, M. Itoh Source Type: research
Cadmium exposure increases the susceptibility to testicular autoimmunity in mice
Cadmium, one of various environmental toxicants, is known to suppress systemic immunity and to injure the testicular capillary endothelia with resultant necrosis of testicular tissues in mice and rats treated with high doses. Recently, it also became evident that cadmium can affect the integrity of the blood–testis barrier (BTB), the endocrine function of Leydig cells, apoptosis of germ cells and systemic immunity, even on treatment with a low dose that does not induce spermatogenic disturbance. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Y. Ogawa, M. Kuramasu, N. Qu, S. Hirai, S. Hayashi, N. Hatayama, M. Itoh Source Type: research
Prevention of preterm labor by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and resolvin E3
Introduction: Metabolites of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory property, opposing inflammatory actions by omega-6-derived eicosanoids. Recently resolvin E3 is identified as a novel anti-inflammatory substance produced in the metabolic pathway of omega-3 PUFAs. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: E. Inoue, T. Nagamatsu, K. Kawana, T. Yamashita, Y. Osuga, T. Fujii Source Type: research
Interleukin-1β increases expression of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase and stimulates tryptophan metabolism in ectopic endomtetrial stromal cells
Objective: Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) are enzymes that catalyze the first and rate-limiting step of tryptophan degradation (i.e. from tryptophan to kynurenine) and thereby regulate tryptophan levels. Decrease in tryptophan levels inhibits T cell function and contributes to immune tolerance. While IFNγ increases IDO expression, a molecule that regulates TDO expression remains to be elucidated. We evaluated the effect of IL-1β, a typical endometriosis-associated cytokine, on TDO expression in ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - November 1, 2014 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Y. Urata, Y. Osuga, K. Koga, Y. Hirota, T. Hirata, M. Harada, M. Takamura, G. Izumi, T. Fujii Source Type: research
