Pregnancy after removal of Norplant implants contraceptive

Many concerns have been expressed regarding the introduction of a new contraceptive method into family planning programmes. One of the concerns is the return of fertility after discontinuing the method. To evaluate the subsequent fertility status of the Indonesian women after removal of Norplant, a prospective longitudinal study was undertaken in Klinik Radeb Saleh, Jakarta. Fifty-one women whose Norplant were removed because of their wish to become pregnant were followed-up for a period of two years or until pregnancy occurred, whichever was earlier. Two groups of women who had Lippes C IUD removed or discontinued the use of DMPA for planning pregnancy served as control and were followed-up for equal length of time. The cumulative conception rate for ex-Norplant users, ex-IUD users and ex-DMPA users at one year was 76.5, 74.7 and 70.2 per 100 women, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (p greater than 0.05). The present study, along with other studies, indicate that the prolonged use of Norplant do not impair the return of fertility.     

Transfection of cultured cells of the cotton boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis,with a heat-shock-promoter-chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase construct*

Expression of heat shock proteins (hsp) in the BRL-AG-3C cell line from the cotton boll weevil was examined. It was determined that the maximal expression of endogenous hsp occurred at 41°C. Various transfection methods were then compared using this cell line in conjunction with a transiently expressed bacterial gene marker (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) which was under the control of the Drosophila hsp 70 gene promoter. The cationic lipid preparation Lipofectin was found to be very efficient at transfecting the boll weevil cells. Polylysine and 20-hydroxyecdysone-conjugated polylysine were moderately effective, whereas polybrene and electroporation, under the conditions reported herein, were ineffective at transfecting this cell line.     

缺血性冠状动脉疾病的治疗策略

缺血性冠状动脉疾病的临床类型多种多样：有稳定型心绞痛和不稳定型心绞痛，ST段抬高的心肌梗死和ST段不抬高的心肌梗死，无症状心肌缺血或者是这些疾病的并发症。因为其临床特征不同，决定在治疗方面也有所不同。为了确定疾病的类型，进行全面的临床分析和实验室评估是必须的。     

Sequential Therapy With Recombinant Human IGF-1 Followed by Risedronate Increases Spine Bone Mineral Density in Women With Anorexia Nervosa: A Randomized,Placebo-Controlled Trial

Anorexia nervosa is complicated by low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk associated with low bone formation and high bone resorption. The lumbar spine is most severely affected. Low bone formation is associated with relative insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) deficiency. Our objective was to determine whether bone anabolic therapy with recombinant human (rh) IGF-1 used off-label followed by antiresorptive therapy with risedronate would increase BMD more than risedronate or placebo in women with anorexia nervosa. We conducted a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 90 ambulatory women with anorexia nervosa and low areal BMD (aBMD). Participants were randomized to three groups: 6 months of rhIGF-1 followed by 6 months of risedronate (“rhIGF-1/Risedronate”) (n = 33), 12 months of risedronate (“Risedronate”) (n = 33), or double placebo (“Placebo”) (n = 16). Outcome measures were lumbar spine (1° endpoint: postero-anterior [PA] spine), hip, and radius aBMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and vertebral, tibial, and radial volumetric BMD (vBMD) and estimated strength by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pCT) (for extremity measurements) and multi-detector computed tomography (for vertebral measurements). At baseline, mean age, body mass index (BMI), aBMD, and vBMD were similar among groups. At 12 months, mean PA lumbar spine aBMD was higher in the rhIGF-1/Risedronate (p = 0.03) group and trended toward being higher in the Risedronate group than Placebo. Mean lateral lumbar spine aBMD was higher, in the rhIGF-1/Risedronate than the Risedronate or Placebo groups (p < 0.05). Vertebral vBMD was higher, and estimated strength trended toward being higher, in the rhIGF-1/Risedronate than Placebo group (p < 0.05). Neither hip or radial aBMD or vBMD, nor radial or tibial estimated strength, differed among groups. rhIGF-1 was well tolerated. Therefore, sequential therapy with rhIGF-1 followed by risedronate increased lateral lumbar spine aBMD more than risedronate or placebo. Strategies that are anabolic and antiresorptive to bone may be effective at increasing BMD in women with anorexia nervosa. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Molecular Imaging of Stem Cells and Exosomes for Myocardial Regeneration

Purpose of Review

Stem cell therapy is studied for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Despite high expectations, investigation has yielded mixed results. For further advancement of this field, it is essential to understand the fate of the transplanted stem cells in living subjects. A myriad of tools has been developed to allow for the immediate and longitudinal monitoring of stem cells in vivo. In this review, we outline the most reliable techniques and their implications for cardiac regenerative medicine.

Recent Findings

Direct (e.g., PET/SPECT, MRI) and indirect labeling (e.g., reporter gene) techniques have existed for decades prior to their use in stem cell imaging. In this review, we describe some of the key developments in the context of stem cell therapy for cardiac ischemia, including new contrast agents (MRI, SPECT) and novel reporter genes (e.g., near-infrared fluorescent protein). Furthermore, we discuss innovative techniques that integrate direct and indirect labeling, such as PET reporter gene systems. Finally, we examine the potential of exosomes, a component of the stem cell secretome, which has recently garnered much attention for its potential in myocardial regeneration, and how they may be imaged in vivo.

Summary

This review outlines the most reliable techniques for stem cell imaging in cardiac injury animal models, new and notable advancements in the field, and possible directions for cardiac regenerative medicine.

     

Two major histocompatibility complex haplotypes influence susceptibility to sporadic inclusion body myositis: critical evaluation of an association with HLA-DR3

Previous studies of sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) have shown a strong association with HLA-DR3 and other components of the 8.1 ancestral haplotype (AH) (HLA-A1, B8, DR3), where the susceptibility locus has been mapped to the central major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region between HLA-DR and C4. Here, the association with HLA-DR3 and other genes in the central MHC and class II region was further investigated in a group of 42 sIBM patients and in an ethnically similar control group (n = 214), using single-nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellite screening. HLA-DR3 (marking DRB1*0301 in Caucasians) was associated with sIBM (Fisher's test). However, among HLA-DR3-positive patients and controls, carriage of HLA-DR3 without microsatellite and single-nucleotide polymorphism alleles of the 8.1AH (HLA-A1, B8, DRB3*0101, DRB1*0301, DQB1*0201) was marginally less common in patients. Patients showed no increase in carriage of the 18.2AH (HLA-A30, B18, DRB3*0202, DRB1*0301, DQB1*0201) or HLA-DR3 without the central MHC of the 8.1AH, further arguing against HLA-DRB1 as the direct cause of susceptibility. Genes between HLA-DRB1 and HOX12 require further investigation. BTL-II lies in this region and is expressed in muscle. Carriage of allele 2 (exon 6) was more common in patients. BTL-II(E6)*2 is characteristic of the 35.2AH (HLA-A3, B35, DRB1*01) in Caucasians and HLA-DR1, BTL-II(E6)*2, HOX12*2, RAGE*2 was carried by several patients. The 8.1AH and 35.2AH may confer susceptibility to sIBM independently or share a critical allele.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Glycodelin A Induces a Tolerogenic Phenotype in Monocyte‐Derived Dendritic Cells In vitro

Problem Successful mammalian pregnancy requires a delicate immunological balance at the feto‐maternal interface that allows the semi‐allogeneic fetus to grow, while protecting mother and child from environmental pathogens. As in other mucosal tissues, antigen‐recognition and ‐handling by professional antigen‐presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DC) determine the course of the subsequent immune response. DC at the feto‐maternal interface help shape this immunological equilibrium. Endometrial tissue secretes high quantities of glycodelin A (GdA) during the so‐called fertile window (i.e. the time of implantation of the blastocyst). Method of study We investigated the effect of GdA on monocyte‐derived DC (moDC) regarding surface marker expression, endopinocytotic activity, cytokine profile as well as lymphoproliferative activity. Results Upon pretreatment with GdA and subsequent maturation with tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β, moDC displayed a reduced expression of costimulatory molecules, an unchanged major histocompatibility complex‐II expression and persistence of DC‐SIGN positive cells. GdA‐pretreated moDC had a higher endopinocytotic activity, an increased IL‐10 production and a dose‐dependent reduction in lymphoproliferative activity. GdA incubation alone did not alter the immature phenotype. Conclusion Our results suggest a model in which the human endometrium secretes high quantities of GdA during implantation and thereby helps to shape the unique immunological interaction between mother and fetus via decidual DC.