Changed Bcl:Bax ratio in endometrium of patients with unexplained infertility

Apoptosis has been shown to be an important regulator of endometrial function during the menstrual cycle and implantation. Recently, some possible implantation defects were identified in patients with unexplained infertility. In this study, we investigated the role of spontaneous apoptosis, which is regulated by death regulatory genes, such as Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and isoenzymes of nitric oxide synthases; eNOS and iNOS during the implantation window in women with unexplained infertility. Endometrial samples were evaluated from fertile (n=15) and unexplained-infertile women (n=15) during post-ovulatory 7th or 8th day of their menstrual cycles. Apoptotic cells were detected using the dUTP nick-end labelling assay and Bcl-2, Bax, p53, iNOS and eNOS were assessed immunohistochemically. Reduced apoptotic cells, weak immunoreactivity of p53 and strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 were observed in the unexplained-infertile group compared with the fertile group (p<0.001). Bax intensity was similar in both groups. While weak iNOS immunoreactivity was detected in both groups, moderately increased eNOS immunoreactivity was observed in infertile cases. Spontaneous apoptosis is reduced in the endometrium of unexplained-infertile women, and is associated with the changed Bcl-2:Bax ratio. This finding may be a contributing factor to defective implantation causing infertility in this group of patients.     

Immunohistochemical detection of transforming growth factor-alpha, epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in hyperstimulated rat ovary

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to figure out the immunohistochemical expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hyperstimulated rat ovaries. METHODS: Twenty Wistar-Albino adult female rats (250-300 g) were taken into the study. The animals were randomly divided into two groups, each containing 10 rats: (i) stimulation group and (ii) control group. In the stimulation group, a stimulation regimen was administered to induce follicular maturity and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) at the end using a 30-IU follicle-stimulating hormone that was administered subcutaneously for 4 consecutive days, followed by a 30-IU human chorionic gonadotropin on day 5 to induce ovulation. The rats, in the control group, received 0.2 ml of 0.9% NaCl for 5 consecutive days to mimic the conditions of the study animals. At the end of the treatment period, all rats underwent ovariectomy and the sections of ovaries were stained for the TGF-alpha, EGF, and VEGF. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-alpha, EGF, and VEGF in the endothelium, the stroma, the granulosa cells, and the corpus luteum was found to be significantly higher in the stimulated group, compared to that in the control group ( p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TGF-alpha, EGF, and VEGF are found to have increased in the hyperstimulated ovaries and this finding seems to be involved in the OHSS pathogenesis.     

Assessment of fetal cerebral arterial and venous blood flow before and after vaginal delivery or Cesarean section.

OBJECTIVES: To compare perinatal intracranial arterial and venous blood velocity changes between healthy term neonates delivered vaginally or by Cesarean section and to correlate these changes with cord blood gases and pH values at birth. METHODS: The study involved 43 healthy term neonates who were delivered vaginally (n = 20) or by Cesarean section (n = 23). All fetuses/neonates were examined by Doppler ultrasound to obtain middle cerebral artery (MCA) and cerebral transverse sinus (Tsin) Doppler waveforms on three occasions (before delivery, and 1 h and 24 h after birth). Pulsatility index (PI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) for MCA and Tsin were measured and compared between neonates who were delivered vaginally or by Cesarean section. Umbilical cord blood samples were analyzed for umbilical artery and vein pH, pO(2) and pCO(2) and values were correlated with MCA and Tsin Doppler indices. RESULTS: MCA-PI increased and MCA-PSV decreased at 1 h after birth, and Doppler measurements returned to predelivery values at 24 h after birth. Tsin Doppler measurements remained unchanged at 1 h and 24 h when compared to predelivery values in both the Cesarean and vaginal delivery groups. There was a negative correlation between Tsin-PI before birth and umbilical venous pH. There was a positive correlation between Tsin-PSV at 1 h after birth and umbilical vein pCO(2). CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral arterial blood velocity decreases immediately after birth and increases within 24 h, probably as part of neonatal adaptation. Cerebral venous blood velocity remains constant during the perinatal period and is likely to be regulated in a different and more complex manner than that of arterial blood velocity. Mode of delivery does not affect cerebral blood velocity.     

Crohn’s and Parkinson’s Disease-Associated LRRK2 Mutations Alter Type II Interferon Responses in Human CD14+ Blood Monocytes Ex Vivo

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology - The Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) is one of causative genes of familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). The M2397T polymorphism in LRRK2 is genetically...     

Pulmonary Resection in the Treatment of Life-Threatening Hemoptysis

Purpose: Massive hemoptysis is a life threatening situation with high mortality rates. Surgery is effective, however generally an avoided treatment. We report our experience with patients undergoing lung resection for life-threatening hemoptysis.Methods: Records of all surgically treated patients for hemoptysis between June 2009 and June 2012 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.Results: Anatomical resection was performed on 31 (15.3%) patients out of 203 patients referred to our intensive care unit for life-threatening hemoptysis. 25 (80.6%) were male and six (19.4%) were female; with mean age of 46.4 ± 13.7 (21–77). Pneumonectomy was performed in four (12.9%), lobectomy in 24 (77.4%), segmentectomy in two (6.5%) and bilobectomy in one case. Postoperative complications developed in eight (25.8%), and mortality was observed in two (6.5%) patients. Etiology was bronchiectasis in 13 (42.0%), tuberculosis in eight (25.8%), carcinoma in four (12.9%), aspergilloma in four (12.9%), hydatid cyst in one (3.2%) and lung abscess in one (3.2%) of the cases.Conclusions: Although lung resection in the treatment of massive hemoptysis is accompanied with high morbidity and mortality rates, surgery is the only permanent curative modality. Acceptable results can be achived in the company of a multidisciplinary approach, through avoidance of pneumonectomy and urgent surgery.     

The effects of periodontal therapy on intracrevicular prostaglandin E2 concentrations and clinical parameters in pregnancy

BACKGROUND: The increase in circulating levels of progesterone during pregnancy stimulates production of prostaglandins, especially prostaglandin E2, possibly resulting in pregnancy gingivitis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of prostaglandin E2 concentrations on gingival tissues in pregnancy and to assess its relationship to clinical parameters. METHODS: This study evaluates the effects of periodontal treatment on clinical indices including plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and gingival crevicular fluid prostaglandin E2 levels of 22 pregnant women in their first, second, and third trimesters. Initial periodontal therapy consisting of scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene instruction was performed at the beginning of the first trimester and repeated each trimester. Prostaglandin E2 concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid were determined using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit. The statistical tests used were paired sample test and correlation analysis. RESULTS: The results of the study show that periodontal therapy has resulted in an improvement in clinical parameters (P<0.05). There is also a statistically significant decrease in levels of prostaglandin E2 at the second and third trimesters following periodontal therapy (P <0.001). The correlation between prostaglandin E2 concentrations and clinical parameters is found to be non-significant (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that levels of prostaglandin E2 in gingival crevicular fluid may be used as a marker of gingival inflammation in order to determine the effects of periodontal therapy in pregnancy. Periodontal therapy that is performed throughout the entire pregnancy period may help prevent the threat of pregnancy gingivitis.