Search results for "Pregnancy."

Goserelin acetate to avoid hysterectomy in pre-menopausal women with fibroids requiring surgery

1999

Objective: To obtain information on the efficacy of repeated short cycles of GNRH agonist treatment in order to avoid hysterectomy in near-menopausal women with symptomatic fibroids. Study design: 72 pre-menopausal women (mean age 50 years) with one or more uterine fibroids >10 cm in diameter, symptomatic menorrhagia lasting three months or more and haemoglobin=9 g/dl entered the study. The patients were randomized with ratio of approximately 1:4 to: (a) immediate surgery; or (b) treatment with goserelin acetate. Patients randomized to goserelin acetate received a first cycle of 3.6 mg depot once every 28 days for four months. They were followed-up for three years. If menorrhagia was observ…

In vitro fertilization in underweight women: focus on obstetric outcome.

2020

Clinical Role of CA125 in Worsening Heart Failure

2020

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between antigen carbohydrate 125 (CA125) and the risk of 1-year clinical outcomes in patients with worsening heart failure (HF). Background CA125 is a widely available biomarker that is up-regulated in patients with acute HF and has been postulated as a useful marker of congestion and risk stratification. Methods In a large multicenter cohort of patients with worsening HF, either in-hospital or in the outpatient setting, the independent associations between CA125 and 1-year death and the composite of death/HF readmission (adjusted for outcome-specific prognostic risk score [BIOSTAT risk score]) were determined by usin…

Developmental and tumoral vascularization is regulated by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2

2012

Tumor vessel dysfunction is a pivotal event in cancer progression. Using an in vivo neovascularization model, we identified G protein–coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) as a key angiogenesis regulator. An impaired angiogenic response involving immature vessels was observed in mice hemizygous for Grk2 or in animals with endothelium-specific Grk2 silencing. ECs isolated from these animals displayed intrinsic alterations in migration, TGF-β signaling, and formation of tubular networks. Remarkably, an altered pattern of vessel growth and maturation was detected in postnatal retinas from endothelium-specific Grk2 knockout animals. Mouse embryos with systemic or endothelium-selective Grk2 ablation …

Endocrinology and physiology of pseudocyesis

2013

This literature review on pseudocyesis or false pregnancy aims to find epidemiological, psychiatric/psychologic, gynecological and endocrine traits associated with this condition in order to propose neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms leading to the emergence of pseudocyetic traits. Ten women from 5 selected studies were analyzed after applying stringent criteria to discriminate between cases of true pseudocyesis (pseudocyesis vera) versus delusional, simulated or erroneous pseudocyesis. The analysis of the reviewed studies evidenced that pseudocyesis shares many endocrine traits with both polycystic ovarian syndrome and major depressive disorder, although the endocrine traits are more akin…

Alleles and haplotypes of the estrogen receptor alpha gene are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.

2010

Objective To investigate whether polymorphisms in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) or beta (ERβ) genes are associated with a risk of miscarriage. Design A retrospectively analyzed, prospectively obtained database of cases and controls. Setting University hospital menopause unit. Patient(s) 177 women with at least one spontaneous abortion and 442 controls with at least one live birth and no history of miscarriage. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Genotype frequencies and odd ratios for abortion risk in cases and controls for four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in intron 1 (C>T and A>G), intron 4 (A>T), and exon 8 (T>C) for the ERα gene, and two SNPs located in intro…

Placenta-derived CD95 ligand causes liver damage in hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome.

2004

Background & Aims: The HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome is a life-threatening complication during pregnancy. The associated liver disease may be severe, and maternal hepatic complications may progress to the point that transplantation becomes necessary. CD95 (APO-1, Fas)-mediated apoptosis of liver cells is one of the major pathogenic mechanisms during liver disease. The interaction of CD95 with its ligand, CD95L(FasL), induces apoptosis and thus the source of the death-inducing ligand is critical for understanding the pathomechanism of liver damage involving the CD95-system. Methods: Sera from HELLP patients were analyzed and used in cell culture experiment…

Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific disease, is associated with fetal monocyte activation.

2001

The maternal syndrome of preeclampsia is an exclusively pregnancy-related illness involving multiple organs and severe forms may be complicated by HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. Recently, it has been proposed that both normal pregnancy and preeclampsia are associated with a systemic activation of the nonspecific maternal immune system and that, in particular, monocytes have a central role in the adjustment of maternal immune functions in pregnancy. Here we have investigated the role of the fetal nonadaptive immune system in normal term delivery, uncontrollable preterm labor, and preeclampsia. We demonstrate that spontaneous delivery at term as well as pre…

Distinct subsets of regulatory T cells during pregnancy: is the imbalance of these subsets involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia?

2008

Abstract Regulatory T cells (CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + -Treg cells) are important regulators of tolerance induction during pregnancy. We now found that the number of CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + -Treg cells decreases during normal course of pregnancy and even more so in women affected by preeclampsia. The functional activity of these CD4 + CD25 + -Treg cells was significantly reduced in comparison to those of healthy pregnants. Further analysis revealed two Treg subsets that differed with regard to the FoxP3 and CD25 expression. The percentage of both, CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 high+ -Treg and CD4 + CD25 high+ FoxP3 + , was maximal in the first and second trimenon, but declined severely in the third trimenon. …

How reproductive and regenerative medicine meet in a Chinese fertility clinic. Interviews with women about the donation of embryos to stem cell resea…

2010

The social interface between reproductive medicine and embryonic stem cell research has been investigated in a pilot study at a large IVF clinic in central China. Methods included observation, interviews with hospital personnel, and five in-depth qualitative interviews with women who underwent IVF and who were asked for their consent to the donation of embryos for use in medical (in fact human embryonic stem cell) research. This paper reports, and discusses from an ethical perspective, the results of an analysis of these interviews. The participants talked of extreme social pressure to become pregnant. Once they had a baby, 'spare' embryos lost practical significance due to the Chinese one-…