Hyperandrogenism is one of the cardinal symptoms in polycystic ovary syndrome and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. However, the precise effects and mechanisms of excess androgen during follicular development are still unclear. Here we investigated the effects of androgen on mouse follicle development in vitro. Androgen did not affect the growth of follicles smaller than 160–180 μm in the presence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). However, in the presence of low FSH, androgen supported the growth of follicles larger than 160–180 μm, a size at which growing follicles acquire FSH-dependency. Androgen did not change the mRNA expression of various growth-promoting factors but did increase mRNA expression of the FSH receptor. We suggest that androgen has a positive impact on follicle development by augmentation of the actions of FSH. Therefore, FSH-responsive but FSH-independent follicles grow in the presence of a certain level of FSH or androgen, and androgen compensates for FSH deficiency in FSH-dependent follicles.

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Intrauterine infection is one of the most important causes of maternal death. In perinatal emergency, we often miss an opportunity to obtain culture specimens. In this study, we tried to examine whether we investigated whether bacteria causing infection can be detected from a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) placental specimen. We examined the placenta from a maternal invasive infection that resulted in infectious abortion at 18 weeks of gestation. The case was diagnosed by acute fever and abdominal pain, and the patient was cured after 3 weeks of intensive antimicrobial treatment. Four Streptococcus pyogenes strains were isolated from vaginal fluid and blood cultures of the patient. All of the strain types were emm1/ST28. We amplified the V1-V2 region of 16S rRNA from an FFPE placental specimen and sequencing was performed using a next-generation sequencer (NGS). Taxonomic analysis was then performed for sequenced data. We succeeded in detecting causative pathogens from the FFPE placenta: 69.1% of the predominantly identified bacteria were S. pyogenes and other small populations of bacteria were detected. Our results revealed the utility of NGS for 16S rRNA analysis of an FFPE placenta. This method may reveal previous perinatal invasive infections of unknown origin retrospectively. KeywordsStreptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) • Intrauterine infection • Placenta • 16S rRNA sequencing • Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimen * Tasuku Mariya

Background: Radical tracheletomy (RT) with pelvic lymphadenectomy has become an option for young patients with early invasive uterine cervical cancer who desire to maintain their fertility. However, this operative method entails a high risk for the following pregnancy due to its radicality. Methods: We have performed vaginal RT for 71 patients and have experienced 28 pregnancies in 21 patients. They were followed up carefully according to the follow-up methods we reported previously. Their pregnancy courses and prognoses after the pregnancy were retrospectively reviewed. Results: All the vaginal RTs were performed safely without serious complications, including 6 patients who underwent the operation during pregnancy. The median time to be pregnant after RT was 29.5 months. 13 patients (46%) became pregnant without artificial insemination by husband or assisted reproductive technology. Cesarean section was performed for all of them. The median time of pregnancy was 34 weeks, and emergent cesarean section was performed for 7 pregnancies (25%). The median birth weight was 2156 g. Four patients had trouble with cervical cerclage, and they suffered from sudden premature preterm rupture of the membrane (pPROM) during the second trimester of pregnancy. We underwent transabdominal cerclage (TAC) for all of them and careful management for the prevention of uterine infection was performed. One patient had a recurrence of cancer during pregnancy. Conclusions: Both the obstetrical prognosis and oncological prognosis after vaginal RT have become favorable for pregnant patients after vaginal RT.