Prognostic value of lupus anticoagulant and anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibody in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: International criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) include lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (aCL) immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM, and anti-β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) IgG and IgM. However, evidence supporting their prognostic value or treatment efficacy in improving live birth rates is limited. The Lancet series on miscarriage recommends testing only for LA and aCL, excluding β2GPI.

Stalling of the endometrial decidual reaction determines the recurrence risk of miscarriage.

In every menstrual cycle, progesterone acting on estrogen-primed endometrium elicits an inflammatory decidual reaction, rendering it poised for embryo implantation and transformation into the decidua of pregnancy. Here, we show that the sequential functions of the decidual reaction-implantation and decidualization-pivot on the time-sensitive loss of progesterone-resistant stromal cells that form a specialized implantation niche and reciprocal expansion of progesterone-dependent predecidual cells. Simultaneously, uterine natural killer (uNK) cell proliferation results in the accumulation of immunotolerant subsets.

Is There Any Association Between Orientation of the Lumbar Facet Joints and Increasing Age in White and Black Patients?

Background: Numerous studies have found an association between sagittally oriented facet joints and degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Several studies have found sagittalization of lumbar facet joints with aging in various Asian patients. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the association between orientation of the lumbar facet joints and age in White and Black patients.

Social consequences of recurrent pregnancy loss and maternal myths, past, present, and future in Japan.

In Japan, the myth of motherhood, the idea that every woman harbours maternal love and that a woman only becomes a full-fledged woman after giving birth, has existed for a long time. However, there has been a limited number of studies concerning this motherhood myth in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The present study aimed to examine the experiences of maternal myths in patients with RPL and to determine whether maternal myths affect depression.

Common and rare genetic variants predisposing females to unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a major reproductive health issue with multifactorial causes, affecting 2.6% of all pregnancies worldwide. Nearly half of the RPL cases lack clinically identifiable causes (e.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Lumbar Spondylolysis in White and Black Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis in white and black populations has never been studied using computed tomography (CT). The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the prevalence and characteristics of lumbar spondylolysis in white and black patients.

Impaired decidualization and relative increase of PROK1 expression in the decidua of patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss showing insulin resistance.

A recent meta-analysis revealed that patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) show higher insulin resistance compared to healthy controls. However, the etiology of RPL remains unknown. Prokineticin (PROK1), a pleiotropic uterine endometrial protein, is important for implantation and decidualization and is regulated by hypoxia and insulin.

Efficacy of patch technique for dural tear repair using hydrogel sealant: a pilot study.

Background Context: Dural tear is one of the common complications of lumbar spine surgery. Suture repair is often difficult due to the requirement of meticulous suture technique in limited space. Dural tear repair is particularly challenging in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Cervicovaginal microbiome in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.

There have been few studies concerning an association between unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and the microbiome. A recent study including 67 patients demonstrated that an increase in Ureaplasma species in the endometrium raised the risk of miscarriage with an euploid karyotype. While endometrial sampling is invasive, cervicovaginal sampling is not.

The association between chronic deciduitis and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Chronic deciduitis (CD) is defined as the presence of lymphocytes or plasma cells in decidual tissue. CD suggests the presence of chronic endometritis (CE) which is associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). In this study, we examined the role CD plays in RPL patients with aneuploid and euploid miscarriage.

Prevalence and characteristics of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 3299 Black patients: a cross-sectional study of a prospectively registered database.

Objectives: To the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) in the Black population has never been studied and is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of T-OPLL in the Black patients.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study.

Characteristic DNA methylation profiles of chorionic villi in recurrent miscarriage.

Dysregulation of transcriptional programs that are tightly regulated by DNA methylation during placental and fetal development at different gestational stages, may cause recurrent miscarriage. Here, we examined genome-wide DNA methylation in chorionic villi and decidual tissues from patients suffering RM and from healthy women who had undergone artificial abortion (n = 5 each). We found that 13,426 and 5816 CpG sites were differentially methylated in chorionic villi and decidua, respectively.

Abnormal ciliogenesis in decidual stromal cells in recurrent miscarriage.

Primary cilia regulate cellular signaling and are involved in both sensing and transducing extracellular stimuli. A recent study of patients with recurrent miscarriage (RM) identified mutations affecting DYNC2H1, which were involved in ciliary biogenesis. However, there has been no study concerning primary cilia in the decidua.

Prevalence and characteristics of thoracic diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in 3299 black patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of thoracic diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (T-DISH) in the Black patients using the computed tomography (CT) analysis. This study is a cross-sectional study. All patients who underwent chest CT for the trauma screening and whose race was categorized as "Black" on the questionnaire were recruited in the study from Mar 2019 to Mar 2020.

Evaluation of artificial intelligence using time-lapse images of IVF embryos to predict live birth.

Research Question: Can artificial intelligence (AI) improve the prediction of live births based on embryo images?

Design: The AI system was created by using the Attention Branch Network associated with deep learning to predict the probability of live birth from 141,444 images recorded by time-lapse imaging of 470 transferred embryos, of which 91 resulted in live birth and 379 resulted in non-live birth that included implantation failure, biochemical pregnancy and clinical miscarriage. The possibility that the calculated confidence scores of each embryo and the focused areas visualized in each embryo image can help predict subsequent live birth was examined.

Results: The AI system for the first time successfully visualized embryo features in focused areas that had potential to distinguish between live and non-live births.

Pathomechanisms and Predisposing Factors for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Narrative Review.

The pathomechanism of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) is not fully understood and is likely to be multifactorial. The primary cause of DLS likely is age-related degeneration of all of the components of the segments and their surroundings. Subsequently, additional factors, such as anatomical, hormonal, and mechanical stress factors, may drive the spinal segments to DLS.

Levothyroxine and subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.

Problem: The association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) remains unclear. We evaluated whether SCH affects subsequent live births and whether levothyroxine is effective in improving the live birth rate in patients with RPL.

Method Of Study: This observational cohort study included 1418 pregnancies of 1014 patients with a history of 2 or more pregnancy losses, who were euthyroid or had hypothyroidism, and had at least one subsequent pregnancy outcome.

Polo-like kinase 4 and Stromal antigen 3 are not associated with recurrent pregnancy loss caused by embryonic aneuploidy.

No genetic association with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) caused by embryonic aneuploidy has been found. Recent studies have indicated that the common genetic variant rs2305957, surrounding the gene, contributes to mitotic-origin aneuploidy risk during human early embryo development. The decrease in meiosis-specific cohesin causes predivision of sister chromatids in the centromere and chromosome segregation errors.

The Development of Medical Markup Language Version 4 as a Clinical Document Exchange Format for Nationwide EHR Systems.

Medical Markup Language (MML) is a standard format for exchange of healthcare data among healthcare providers. Following the last major update (version 3), we developed new modules and discussed the requirements for the next major updates. Subsequently, in 2016 we released MML version 4 and used it to obtain clinical data from healthcare providers for a nationwide electronic health records (EHR) system.

Attitudes toward preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy among patients with recurrent pregnancy loss in Japan.

Aim: To examine attitudes toward preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) because it has been performed worldwide in spite of little evidence regarding whether it can improve the live birth rate and prevent miscarriage. There has been no study to examine attitudes toward PGT-A in patients with RPL.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study that used a questionnaire to examine attitudes toward PGT-A, the desire for PGT-A and the factors associated with this desire in 386 patients with RPL between November 2014 and January 2019.

Are inferior facetectomies adequate and suitable for surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Background: Inferior facetectomies, with the utilization of segmental pedicle screw constructs for corrective fixation, can provide adequate flexibility and post less risk of neural tissue and blood loss. We analyzed outcomes of surgical treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using inferior facetectomies and segmental pedicle screw constructs.

Designing Archetype Models for Each Step of Workflow in Medication.

Medication processes are consisted with multiple steps by professionals and consumers. Physicians prescribe drugs to patient with conformance, but sometimes they were changed to other drugs. We designed concept models to capture medication workflow process records by openEHR archetype models, and four templates were determined with each step of the medication process.

Original Laboratory Test Code Mapping System Using Test Result Data on Electronic Health Record.

Laboratory tests results have potential secondary usage. Each healthcare facility has a laboratory test code. Hence, test code mapping is required to support laboratory technicians.

Surgical Treatment of Lenke Type 5 Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: A systematic review.

Objective: To systemically review the previous literature regarding surgical treatment of Lenke type 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary Of Background Data: The Lenke classification was published in 2001 as the classification of AIS.