Prostaglandins (PGs) have long been known to play roles in various processes of female reproduction; however, the molecular mechanisms therein remained unsolved until recently. This review summarizes the recent progress towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying PG actions in fertilization and parturition. A series of studies using EP2-deficient mice demonstrated that after ovula...

Bovine neutrophils contain the enzyme acyloxyacyl hydrolase, which hydrolyzes the acyloxyacyl linkage of the two nonhydroxylated fatty acyl chains to two 3-hydroxy fatty acids in the highly conserved lipid A part of endotoxins with high specificity. This hydrolysis decreases the toxicity of lipid A, but the immunostimulatory capacity of endotoxins is largely maintained. In two trials, we studie...

The present study investigated the effect of parity on plasma insulin level around parturition in Saanen goats. On d -14, -7, 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14 from parturition, plasma glucose, NEFA, free AA, cortisol, and insulin concentrations were analyzed in 10 primiparous and 10 multiparous goats. At parturition, BW of primiparous goats was about 75% of that of multiparous ones (P < 0.001) and then thei...

After the placenta is lost at parturition the concentration of placental lactogen in the blood declines rapidly (Grumbach et al., 1968), whereas that of prolactin shows a compensatory increase. I assume that this switch in lactogenic hormone results in a fall in ‘anti-insulin’ activity, a situation which would occur if either the serum concentration of prolactin were lower than that of placenta...

at times, despite an unripe cervix, induction of labor may be needed. in these cases, a safe and suitable method should be considered for cervical ripening and pregnancy termination. the aim of this study is the comparison of vaginal misoprostol with foley catheter for cervical ripening and induction of labor. this randomized clinical trial was performed on 108 pregnant women who had referred t...

induction of labor is one of the most common procedures during pregnancy. various methods for cervical ripening and labor induction have been described in the obstetrics literature; but the role of corticosteroids in the process of labor is not entirely understood. this study challenged the possible role of corticosteroids in induction of labor by extra-amniotic injection through an inflated in...

induction heating is widely used in metal industry for melting or heating thin slabs in a continuous casting plant. the wide application is based on good efficiency, high production rate and non-polluting conditions. for designing a parallel resonant induction heating system, calculating the capacitance for the resonant circuit is important, because its value affects resonance frequency, output...

both midazolam and thiopental sodium are being used as induction agents and for maintenance of anesthesia. in contrast to other benzodiazepines such as diazepam, midazolam has a rapid onset of action and fast distribution and causes few cardiovascular or respiratory effects. being water soluble, midazolam is also associated with a low incidence of venous irritation. the purpose of this study wa...