Blood flow after intraarterial infusion chemotherapy in a patient with advanced cervical cancer

We presented a case of locally advanced cervical cancer treated by intraarterial infusion chemotherapy, and evaluated the blood flow of uterine arteries before and after chemotherapy by using a transvaginal ultrasonic color Doppler device. Pulsatility index (PI) of each uterine artery increased after first course of chemotherapy compared to that of before chemotherapy. But PI did not change after second course in spite of a significant reduction in tumor size. Blood flow change assessed by Doppler ultrasound may be a limited but useful parameter for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with cervical cancer.

Role of cytokines in progression of endometriosis

Peritoneal fluid in women with endometriosis contains an increased number of activated macrophages that secrete a variety of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Cytokines may be involved in the control of implantation and the growth of endometrial cells outside the uterus. In addition, several cytokines have been implicated in or directly associated with angiogenic activity in endometriosis. There could be a relationship between the levels of cytokines in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis and the status of the lesions in such patients. Peritoneal endometriosis can be classified as having red, black, or white lesions. Red lesions are known to be an active form of early endometriosis, because vascularization and mitotic activity are shown to be most prominent in these lesions. We found that the peritoneal fluid levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8 were significantly higher in patients with endometriosis, and correlated with the size and number of active lesions. In addition, TNF-alpha and IL-8 stimulated the growth of ectopic endometrial stromal cells. These cytokines with angiogenic activity may therefore have significant roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha promotes proliferation of endometriotic stromal cells by inducing interleukin-8 gene and protein expression

Endometriosis, a common disease among women of reproductive age, is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. We and others showed that several cytokine levels, including interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), are elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis compared with those in women without endometriosis. We also demonstrated that the addition of IL-8 to the culture medium stimulated the proliferation of cultured endometriotic stromal cells. TNFalpha is a multipotent cytokine that induces IL-8 production in various cell types. Therefore, we hypothesized that TNFalpha may also contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis by inducing the production of IL-8. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the peritoneal fluid concentrations of IL-8 and TNFalpha using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We observed a significant correlation between the levels of TNFalpha and IL-8 in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis patients. We also obtained the endometriotic stromal cells from chocolate cyst linings of the ovary. The expression of the receptors for TNFalpha (TNFR) was examined by RT-PCR. We observed the expression of both TNFR-I and TNFR-II genes in endometriotic stromal cells. The expression of IL-8 gene and protein was analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. TNFalpha induced the gene and protein expression of IL-8 in endometriotic stromal cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The addition of TNFalpha promoted the proliferation of the endometriotic stromal cells, and the stimulatory effects of TNFalpha were abolished by adding anti-IL-8 antibody. We demonstrated for the first time that TNFalpha stimulated proliferation of endometriotic stromal cells through induction of IL-8 gene and protein expression. We concluded that the TNFalpha may be one of the essential factors for the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Altered gene expression and secretion of interleukin-6 in stromal cells derived from endometriotic tissues

OBJECTIVE

To compare the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in endometrial and endometriotic cells.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan.

PATIENT(S)

Twenty patients who underwent either hysterectomy or laparoscopic surgery.

INTERVENTION(S)

Endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells were obtained from normal endometrium and from chocolate cyst linings of the ovary. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from peritoneal fluids. Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Gene expression of IL-6 was examined by Northern blot analysis. Interleukin-6 protein production was examined by immunocytochemical staining and ELISA.

RESULT(S)

A single IL-6 messenger RNA band of approximately 1.3 kilobases was detected in endometriotic stromal cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha increased the expression of IL-6 messenger RNA in endometriotic cells in a dose-dependent manner. In endometrial stromal cells, IL-6 messenger RNA signals were much weaker. Endometriotic stromal cells produced significantly larger amounts of IL-6 compared with endometrial stromal cells under basal conditions and after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Interleukin-6 protein was detected in cells isolated from endometriotic tissues by immunocytochemical staining. Interleukin-6 production by cultured macrophages from patients with endometriosis and endometriotic stromal cells was comparable.

CONCLUSION(S)

Altered gene expression and protein secretion of IL-6 in patients with endometriosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease and/or to endometriosis-associated infertility.

Autocrine effects of transforming growth factor-alpha on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos

PURPOSE

We wished to explore the role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha in mouse embryonic development.

METHODS

We examined the gene expression of TGF-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mouse blastocysts by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and evaluated the effects of TGF-alpha on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos using TGF-alpha antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Mouse teratocarcinoma F9 cells were also a subject of this study.

RESULTS

Gene transcripts of TGF-alpha and EGFR were present in both blastocysts and F9 cells. TGF-alpha significantly stimulated the rate of blastocoel expansion in early-cavitating blastocysts and the proliferation of F9 cells. Northern blot analysis showed that TGF-alpha gene expression in F9 cells was markedly suppressed in the presence of TGF-alpha antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. TGF-alpha antisense oligonucleotide significantly reduced the rate of blastocoel expansion and the growth of F9 cells. The inhibitory effects of TGF-alpha antisense oligonucleotide on blastocysts and F9 cells were reversed by the addition of TGF-alpha.

CONCLUSIONS

The present observations suggest that TGF-alpha acts as an autocrine factor in the development of preimplantation mouse embryos.

Pathogenetic significance of increased levels of interleukin-8 in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

DESIGN

Peritoneal fluid was collected by laparoscopy. Endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells were obtained from normal endometrium and from chocolate cyst linings of the ovary.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan.

PATIENT(S)

Forty women who underwent either laparoscopy or laparoscopic surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The peritoneal fluid concentration of IL-8 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the correlation between the IL-8 concentration and the extent of active endometriosis was investigated. The effect of IL-8 on cell proliferation was examined by tetrazolium bromide and thymidine incorporation. The expression of IL-8 receptor was examined in stromal cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULT(S)

The level of IL-8 in peritoneal fluid was significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than in patients without endometriosis. A significant correlation was noted with the extent of active endometriosis. Interleukin-8 significantly increased the number of cells and DNA synthesis in the endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells in a dose-dependent manner. Transcripts of IL-8 receptor type A were detected in stromal cells.

CONCLUSION(S)

The present study suggests that IL-8 found in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Laparoscopic management of early primary abdominal pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Abdominal pregnancy is a very rare condition with a high mortality rate.

CASE

A 29-year-old woman with a history of primary infertility was admitted because of lower abdominal pain, bloody vaginal discharge, and positive urine pregnancy test. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a 27 x 25-mm mass containing a gestational sac-like structure located outside the uterus. At laparoscopy, a clot was revealed including chorionic villi, adherent to the peritoneum in the right vesicouterine pouch. This was removed along with the adherent peritoneum. Postoperative histology revealed invasion of chorionic tissues into peritoneum.

CONCLUSION

Early diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy by transvaginal ultrasonography enabled the laparoscopic management of early abdominal pregnancy.