Clinical guidelines for obstetrical practice were first published by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) and the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG) in 2008, and a revised version was published in 2011. The aims of this publication include the determination of current standard care practices for pregnant women in Japan, the widespread use of standard care practices, the enhancement of safety in obstetrical practice, the reduction in burdens associated with medico-legal and medico-economical problems, and a better understanding between pregnant women and maternity-service providers. These guidelines include a total of 87 Clinical Questions followed by several Answers (CQ&A), a Discussion, a List of References, and some Tables and Figures covering common problems and questions encountered in obstetrical practice. Each answer with a recommendation level of A, B or C has been prepared based principally on 'evidence' or a consensus among Japanese obstetricians in situations where 'evidence' is weak or lacking. Answers with a recommendation level of A or B represent current standard care practices in Japan. All 87 CQ&A are presented herein to promote a better understanding of the current standard care practices for pregnant women in Japan.

Anticardiolipin antibody is associated with adverse outcomes of pregnancy such as spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and FGR.

No abstract

The lysis of the alpha-granules of platelets has been shown to release insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). One of the major regulators of the activity of IGFs is the IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), but IGFBPs were thought to be absent from platelet alpha-granules. Human platelets were isolated, and the contents of the alpha-granules were released by thrombin digestion. IGFBP-3 was identified in the lysate by RIA and a ligand-binding Western blot; no other IGFBPs were observed. Platelet IGFBP-3 was present as the characteristic glycosylated doublet at 45 and 43 kilodaltons on ligand-binding Western blot, but was not associated with the acid-labile subunit in the alpha-granule. Thus, the IGFs in platelet alpha-granules coexist with IGFBP-3, which can play a major role in regulating and targeting the actions of IGFs when released by lysis.