Daigo Ochiai

Despite the poor prognosis associated with myelomeningocele (MMC), the options for prenatal treatments are still limited. Recently, fetal cellular therapy has become a new option for treating birth defects, although the therapeutic effects and mechanisms associated with such treatments remain unclear. The use of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) is ideal with respect to immunoreactivity and cell propagation. The prenatal diagnosis of MMC during early stages of pregnancy could allow for th

The prevalence of COVID‐19 in asymptomatic obstetric patients in Tokyo was shown to be 4% when universal screening was implemented. Physicians should pay attention to asymptomatic patients to prevent nosocomial infections.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have generated great interest in the fields of regenerative medicine and immunotherapy because of their unique biological properties. Among MSCs, amniotic fluid stem cells (AFS) have a number of characteristics that make them attractive candidates for tissue engineering and cell replacement strategies, particularly for perinatal medicine. If various neonatal conditions, including birth asphyxia, preterm birth, and congenital abnormalities, which result in long-lasti

A systemic inflammatory response induces multiple organ dysfunction and results in poor long-term neurological outcomes in neonatal sepsis. However, there is no effective therapy for treating or preventing neonatal sepsis besides antibiotics and supportive care. Therefore, a novel strategy to improve neonatal sepsis-related morbidity and mortality is desirable. Recently, we reported that prophylactic therapy with human amniotic stem cells (hAFSCs) improved survival in a rat model of lipopolysacc

Chondrodysplasia punctata brachytelephalangic type is a common subset of a heterogeneous group of chondrodysplasia punctata. Most affected children generally do not have significant physical disabilities; however, a small number of patients are at risk of cervical canal stenosis with cervical cord compression leading to serious morbidity and early mortality. Very little is known about the in utero manifestation of severe complications. We report an affected child in whom the Binder phenotype was

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) refers to end-organ resistance that impairs the renal actions of the parathyroid hormone (PTH). PHP-1a, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, is characterised by ...

Vasa previa (VP) is a condition in which fetal vessels run near the internal cervical os1. VP is diagnosed if a fetal vessel is observed on transvaginal sonography (TVS) coursing through the membranes close to or over the internal cervical os1-3. Recent advances in the prenatal diagnosis of VP using TVS have improved the prognosis of this condition; however, the survival rate remains as low as 50% when it is not detected prenatally4. A previous study reported several cases of VP without prenatal

<i>Background and objectives</i><i>:</i> Massive postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the most common cause of maternal death worldwide. A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) may be used to provide significant benefits in the management of PPH; however, only a limited number of hospitals use MTP protocol to manage massive obstetric hemorrhages, especially in Japan. This study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes in patients in whom MTP was activated in our hospital. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> We re

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare vascular disorder characterized by multiple venous malformations (VMs) of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs. To date, several cases of sporadic BRBNS involving various parts of the pregnant woman's body have been reported; however, BRBNS in pregnancy with spinal epidural involvement has not been reported. Here, we describe the clinical features and management of familial BRBNS in pregnancy. The patient presented with multiple VMs

Meconium periorchitis is a rare disorder caused by fetal meconium peritonitis, with subsequent passage of meconium into the scrotum via a patent processus vaginalis. To date, clinical significance of meconium periorchitis for the prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis and prediction for postnatal surgery remains to be determined. We present a clinical course of a fetus presenting with meconium periorchitis induced by meconium peritonitis. At 28 weeks' gestation, fetal ultrasonography indicat