Human placenta amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) regulate immune responses, and this property can be exploited to treat stroke patients via cell therapy. We investigated the expression profile of AMSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions and observed interesting expression changes in various genes involved in immune regulation. CD200, an anti-inflammatory factor and positive regulator of TGF-β, was more highly expressed under hypoxic conditions than normoxic conditions. Furthermore, AMSCs exhibited inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in co-cultures with LPS-primed BV2 microglia, and this effect was decreased in CD200-silenced AMSCs. The AMSCs transplanted into the ischemic rat model of stroke dramatically inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and up-regulated CD200, as compared with the levels in the sham-treated group. Moreover, decreased microglia activation in the boundary region and improvements in behavior were confirmed in AMSC-treated ischemic rats. The results suggested that the highly expressed CD200 from the AMSCs in a hypoxic environment modulates levels of inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation, thus increasing the therapeutic recovery potential after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, and further demonstrated the immunomodulatory function of AMSCs in a stroke model.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair on overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in women with POP and the effect of baseline POP severity on improvement in OAB after surgical repair of POP. And we also tried to identify any preoperative factors for persistent postoperative OAB symptoms.MethodsA total of 87 patients with coexisting POP and OAB who underwent surgical correction of POP were included and retrospectively analyzed and postoperative data was obtained by telephone interview. OAB was defined as an affirmative response to item no. 15 (urinary frequency) and item no. 16 (urge incontinence) of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory. POP severity was dichotomized by Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification stage 1 to 2 (n=22) versus stage 3 to 4 (n=65).ResultsOAB symptoms were significantly improved after surgical treatment (P<0.001). But there was no significant differences in postoperative improvement of frequency and urge incontinence between stage 1 to 2 group versus stage 3 to 4 group. Preoperative demographic factors (age, parity, and POP stage) were not significantly related to persistent postoperative OAB symptoms.ConclusionWomen with coexisting POP and OAB who undergo surgical repair experience significant improvement in OAB symptoms after surgery, but severity of POP had no significant difference in improvement of OAB symptoms. Postoperative persistent OAB symptoms were not related to age, parity, body mass index, and POP stage.

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Acardiac twin is a rare anomaly that occurs 1% in monochorionic twins and 1 in 35,000 pregnancies overall. Acardiac twin, also known as twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence, involves a "pump" or donor twin perfusing a recipient or "acardiac" twin through vascular (usually arterial-arterial and venous-venous) anastomoses. Perinatal mortality rate for the pump twin has been reported to be 50~75%, mainly as a result of polyhydramnios, preterm labor, and congestive heart failure. Therefore, occlusion of the circulation to the acardiac twin has been recommended to improve perinatal outcome of the pump twin. Radiofrequency ablation of the acardiac twin effectively protects the pump twin from high-output cardiac failure and death. We report our experience in the treatment of patients with TRAP sequence using radio frequency ablation to stop perfusion to the acardiac twin.

Adenomyomas are benign tumors typically located in the uterus, and extrauterine adenomyomas are rare, especially those in the sigmoid mesocolon. Extrauterine adenomyomas resemble the uterine structure and can occur anywhere in the pelvic cavity or abdomen. Here, we present 2 cases of extrauterine adenomyomas invading the sigmoid mesocolon.