DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION BY EXAMINATION OF PLACENTA: Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction and in Situ Hybridization

We examined the placentas of 12 patients in whom congenital cytomegalovirus CMV infection was suspected from serological and or pathological evaluation. Seven patients died including four intrauterine deaths and five survived. On histological examination, the characteristic inclusion bodies were detected in only three placentas, and villitis with plasma cell infiltration was seen in eight placentas. Immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody against CMV improved the sensitivity of CMV detection 10 cases were positive . With the polymerase chain reaction PCR following the extraction of DNA from formaldehyde-fixed placenta samples, CMV DNA was detected in seven cases. All 12 subjects were diagnosed with CMV infection by additional Southern blot analysis after the PCR. CMV DNA was also detected by an in situ hybridization method in all cases. With current molecular biological techniques the placenta can be reliably used for the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.     

Increased placental apoptosis in intrauterine growth restriction

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to investigate a possible role for apoptosis in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of intrauterine growth restriction. STUDY DESIGN: Placental samples were obtained from 43 uncomplicated third-trimester pregnancies and from 26 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction. The definition used to identify cases of intrauterine growth restriction depended on three criteria: clinical evidence of suboptimal growth, ultrasonographic evidence of deviation from an appropriate growth percentile, and individualized birth weight ratios <10th percentile. Light microscopy was used to quantify the incidence of apoptosis. Electron microscopy and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling) staining were used to confirm the occurrence of apoptosis. RESULTS: Quantification of apoptosis (medians and interquartile ranges) resulted in the following values: normal third trimester (n = 43) 0.14% of cells (0.08% to 0.20%) and intrauterine growth restriction third trimester (n  = 26) 0.24% of cells (0.16% to 0.29%). The incidence of apoptosis was significantly higher in placentas from pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction compared with normal third-trimester placentas (p < 0.01, Mann Whitney U test). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that apoptosis may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of intrauterine growth restriction.(Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:401)     

Intraplacental Choriocarcinoma Associated with Viable Pregnancy: Pathologic Features and Implications for the Mother and Infant

Choriocarcinoma arising in the placenta, or intraplacental choriocarcinoma, has seldom been reported, particularly in the absence of maternal metastases. Reluctance to diagnose choriocarcinoma in the presence of chorionic villi can delay diagnosis; however, timely diagnosis of choriocarcinoma is prognostically important, both for the mother and infant. We report the clinicopathologic findings in five mothers and infants in whom choriocarcinoma was identified in the placenta. None of the mothers had a history of gestational trophoblastic disease in previous pregnancies. Three placentas were similar with a single small lesion grossly suggesting a small infarct; microscopically these consisted of infarcted areas surrounded by choriocarcinoma. These three mothers were unusual in that none had metastatic choriocarcinoma; two were treated with chemotherapy and remained disease-free; the third was lost to follow-up shortly following delivery. The remaining two mothers had known pulmonary metastases at time of delivery. One of these latter two placentas contained a large marginal lesion microscopically identified as choriocarcinoma. The fifth placenta had rare microscopic foci of choriocarcinoma, and sheets of necrotic choriocarcinoma were identified in “blood clot” submitted with the placenta. In four of the five cases the choriocarcinoma appeared to be arising from otherwise normal chorionic villi, and in no case was there invasion of the villous stroma. All of the infants survived, and none had evidence of choriocarcinoma. These cases support the concept that choriocarcinoma associated with otherwise normal pregnancy arises in the placenta and may be more common than reported. Received August 11, 1997; accepted December 8, 1997.     

The retained placenta

The incidence and importance of retained placenta (RP) varies greatly around the world. In less developed countries, it affects about 0.1% of deliveries but has up to 10% case fatality rate. In more developed countries, it is more common (about 3% of vaginal deliveries) but very rarely associated with mortality. There are three main types of retained placenta following the vagina delivery: placenta adherens (when there is failed contraction of the myometrium behind the placenta), trapped placenta (a detached placenta trapped behind a closed cervix) and partial accreta (when there is a small area of accreta preventing detachment). All can be treated by manual removal of placenta, which should be carried out at 30-60 minutes postpartum. Medical management is also an option for placenta adherens and trapped placenta. The need for manual removal can be reduced by 20% by the use of intraumbilical oxytocin (30 i.u. in 30 mL saline). A trapped placenta may respond to glyceryl trinitrate (500 mcg sublingually) or gentle, persistent, controlled cord traction.     

胎盘组织中解脲脲原体感染的检测与分型

应用扩增解脲脲原体（Ｕｕ）ＭＢ抗原基因的ＰＣＲ方法与培养法对照检测了３２例新鲜胎盘组织,结果ＰＣＲ扩增阳性８例,其中属于生物Ⅰ型Ｕｕ５例,生物Ⅱ型３例,ＰＣＲ扩增阳性的新生儿出生时体重平均比扩增阴性的新生儿低０６２ｋｇ,且以感染Ｕｕ生物Ⅰ型者更为显著,培养法检出Ｕｕ阳性５例。结果提示胎盘组织中Ｕｕ检出率,ＰＣＲ法显著高于培养法,感染胎盘的Ｕｕ可引起新生儿体重降低,可能与Ｕｕ生物Ⅰ型有关。     

Nobiletin Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Placental Damage via Modulating P53 Signaling Pathway

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Nobiletin (NOB) on the placenta of Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats that had undergone reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) surgery and to evaluate the safety of NOB intervention during pregnancy. The results showed that NOB alleviated placental hypoxia, attenuated placental cell apoptosis, and inhibited placental damage in RUPP rats. No side effect of NOB intervention during pregnancy was observed. BeWo cell lines with P53 knockdown were then constructed using lentiviral transfection, and the P53 signaling pathway was found to be essential for NOB to reduce hypoxia-induced apoptosis of the BeWo cell lines. In summary, NOB attenuated hypoxia-induced placental damage by regulating the P53 signaling pathway, and those findings may contribute some insights into the role of NOB in placental development and the prevention of placental-related diseases.     

7例穿透性胎盘植入的临床分析

目的 探讨穿透性胎盘植入的诊断、处理和预防.方法 对我院1999年1月～2007年2月穿透性胎盘植入7例进行回顾性临床分析.结果 7例穿透性胎盘植入,其中有剖宫产史3例,刮宫史5例,盆腔手术史1例.7例均为术中诊断,术后病理确诊.合并中央性前置胎盘4例,宫颈妊娠1例,宫内感染1例.其中5例行剖宫产加子宫切除术,其中2例再加化疗,2例加膀胱修补术,1例加右卵巢囊肿剔除术.产后出血约605～3000ml.结论 穿透性胎盘的产前诊断较为困难,产后较为明确.治疗首选全宫切除或次全宫切除术.要加强对胎盘植入的预防.