Pregnancies in women with adenomyosis were associated with a higher preterm delivery rate and more frequent occurrences of fetal growth restriction and fetal malpresentation, such that both pregnancy and delivery outcomes were poor.

The placenta plays a central role in governing local circulatory system that mediates maternal condition and fetal growth. In early gestational phases, the placenta exerts properties of invasion and neovascularization for successful placentation. Extravillous invasive trophoblasts replace uterine endometrial vasculature and establish local blood pathway to obtain oxygen and nutrients from the mother. In later phases, the placenta promotes villous angiogenesis and vascular maturation that are finely controlled by angiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules. Among various molecules involved in placental neovascularization, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) mediate important signaling pathways for maternal circulatory system and fetal growth. VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 are functional receptors for placental growth factor (PlGF) and VEGF, respectively, and PlGF-VEGFR1 and VEGF-VEGFR2 interactions are disturbed in many preeclamptic patients by excess amount of soluble form of VEGFR1 (also named sFlt1), a natural PlGF/VEGF antagonist. Recent studies have disclosed that excessive sFlt1 production in the placenta and aberrant AT1 signaling in the mother are closely associated with the pathology of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In this paper, neovascularization of the placenta and pathological events associated with disrupted balance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic signaling in preeclampsia are discussed.

In women with prolapsed fetal membranes but no signs of infection or painful uterine contractions, emergency cervical cerclage prolonged pregnancy duration as compared with expectant management.

Preterm birth and SGA incidences did not differ significantly between pre-pregnancy normal weight women with weight gain of 0.2 kg/week or more and pre-pregnancy underweight women with weight gain of 0.3 kg/week or more, as compared to women meeting IOM guidelines. These results suggest that IOM guidelines for gestational weight gain may lack external validity in Japanese women.

Among the isotypes of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), only type 5b (TRACP-5b) is derived from osteoclasts, and it is necessary to develop an assay specific for this TRACP-5b for evaluation of osteoclastic activity. Recently, a novel assay system for TRACP-5b called the fragments absorbed immunocapture enzymatic assay (FAICEA) has been developed. With two unique monoclonal antibodies, one that is highly specific for TRACP-5b and another which absorbs inactive TRACP-5b fragments that interfere with measuring active TRACP-5b, this assay provides correct measurement of TRACP-5b activity in the serum without interference by the inactive fragments of TRACP-5b and other isotypes of TRACP, especially TRACP-5a. To study the reference data of Japanese subjects, we measured TRACP-5b activity in the serum of 320 men (age, 20-82 years) and 466 women [315 premenopausal (age, 18-55 years) and 151 postmenopausal (age, 45-77 years)] with this novel assay. In men, serum TRACP-5b activity did not vary significantly with age. The postmenopausal women had significantly higher serum TRACP-5b activity than the premenopausal women. The reference intervals (logarithmic mean +/-1.96 SD) for men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women were 1.7-5.9 U/l, 1.2-4.4 U/l, and 2.5-7.6 U/l, respectively.

Aims. To analyze the pregnancy outcomes of circumvallate placenta retrospectively and to predict circumvallate placenta during pregnancy based on its clinical features. Methods. The pregnancy outcomes of 92 women with circumvallate placenta who delivered live singletons at a tertiary care center between January 2000 and September 2012 were compared with those of 9057 controls. Results. Women with circumvallate placenta were associated with higher incidences of preterm delivery (64.1%), placental abruption (10.9%), emergency cesarean section (45.6%), small-for-gestational age (36.9%), neonatal death (8.9%), neonatal intensive care unit admission (55.4%), and chronic lung disease (33.9%). When vaginal bleeding during the second trimester and premature chemical rupture of membranes (PCROM) were both used as predictive factors for circumvallate placenta, the sensitivity was 28.8% and specificity was 99.9%. Conclusion. With circumvallate placenta, pregnancy outcomes were poor and had characteristic clinical manifestations. In women with both vaginal bleeding and PCROM during pregnancy, circumvallate placenta should be strongly suspected.

Gestational thrombocytopenia with platelet counts of less than 10 0000/μL occurred more frequently in twin pregnancies. Although onset of thrombocytopenia in the first trimester and a platelet count of less than 70 000/μL is more common in ITP, these findings were not uncommon in GT. Differentiation between ITP and GT may be feasible only with post-partum changes in the platelet count.

Aim: To evaluate psychological stress among pregnant and puerperal women in Japan during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited pregnant women and puerperal women who delivered between January and September 2020 in Japan, using an online questionnaire. Participants were divided into low, middle, and high groups according to the degree of the epidemic in their region of residence. Related factors were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The relationship between COVID-19 epidemic regions and depression risks and anxiety using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Kessler 6 scale (K6) was evaluated using a univariate and multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Overall, 7775 cases, including 4798 pregnant and 2977 puerperal women, were analyzed. The prevalence of high EPDS and K6 scores was significantly increased in pregnant women in the high than those in the low epidemic regions (EPDS: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.453, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.205-1.753; K6: aOR 1.601, 95% CI 1.338-1.918). There was no difference in EPDS score, but the prevalence of high K6 scores was significantly increased in puerperal women in the high than those in the low epidemic regions (aOR 1.342, 95% CI 1.066-1.690). Further, restriction on going to their hometown for delivery increased the prevalence of high EPDS scores among pregnant (aOR 1.663, 95% CI 1.296-2.133) and puerperal women (aOR 1.604, 95% CI 1.006-2.557). Conclusions: Decreased support due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the psychological status of pregnant and puerperal women; hence, investing medical resources in their healthcare essential.