AIMS To clarify the role of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) of endometrial epithelial cell in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy and the involvement in the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss. METHODS The expression of FABP4 and uterine receptive factor (LIF, Integrin-β3 and Claudin 4) was determined by Western blotting or quantitative PCR. FABP4 siRNA was used to silence FABP4 wh...

The erythropoietin (EPO) belongs to the family of angiogenic factors, which is regulated by Hypoxia-inducible factor- 1α (HIF-1α). As known, EPO are expressed in human villi and decidua, but the function is not clear. In this study, we investigated the expression and roles of HIF-1α, EPO and its receptor (EPOR) in the biological functions of trophoblast and decidual stromal cell (DSC) in human ...

T he renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is one of the key players in volume and sodium homeostasis. Activation of the RAS leads to vasoconstriction, sodium retention, and volume expansion via the action of angiotensin II and the effector hormone of the RAS, aldosterone. The RAS can also respond to changes in plasma volume; activation of the RAS is seen in states of volume contraction and will lead ...

Capparis deciduas and its combinatorial mixtures were evaluated to observe the anti-termite efficacy against Indian white termite Odontotermes obesus. These have shown very high termiticidal activity and wood protection in the soil. It is proved by very low LD50 values i.e. 0.0218mg/g and 0.021mg/g obtained in stem fractions CDS3 and CDS7 respectively. When other ingredients, were used to prepa...

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is still the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The level of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is known to be significantly elevated in the maternal plasma at preterm birth. Although, CRH, CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP), CRH-receptor 1 (CRH-R1) and CRH-R2 have been identified both at mRNA and protein level in human placenta, deciduas, fetal membranes, ...

Previous study demonstrated that IL-11 receptor alpha knockout female mice (IL-11Ralpha(-/-)) were phenotypically normal but infertile due to defective decidualization. However, the role of IL-11 signaling in human reproduction remains unclear. This study examined the expression of IL-11, IL-11Ralpha, and signal transduction factor glycoprotein 130 in different phases of endometrium (six in pro...

We measured water relations of 11 tree species from tropical to cool-temperate forests at 450-2310 m elevation in the central Himalaya of India, including water potential (ψ), leaf conductance (gl), osmotic potential (ψs), an index of tissue elasticity (ε), relative water content at turgor loss (RWCz), and four aspects of twig xylem conductance. We sought to determine the degree, timing, and di...

Since David Barker first raised concerns about the impact of poor maternal nutrition and fetal growth restriction on the infant’s long-term health (1,2), the obesity epidemic has shifted attention to the long-term effects of maternal over-nutrition and hyperglycemia in pregnancy (rev. in 3). Currently, one in five women is obese at the start of pregnancy and 2–10% are diagnosed with gestational...

Female and male reproductive tracts are of interest sites to study of immune system because they encounter specific infections such as those are sexually transmitted. Furthermore, female reproductive tract is in close contact with allogenic sperms and transmitted microorganisms during intercourse and semi allogenic fetus during pregnancy. In mammals, there are two types of immune responses, the...

“Comparison of Topotecan Myelosupression in Differing Dosing Schedules” Nina Strollo, M.D. Mentor: Joshua Kesterson, M.D. Objective: Topotecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor used to treat chemotherapy patients who are platinumsensitized or platinum-resistant. The selected study group had a known, limiting side effect of myelosupression. The object of this study was to compare the degree of pati...