Preconception counseling.

The preconception counseling visit is an ideal time to evaluate the patient and her future expectations regarding pregnancy. In fact at every patient encounter, whether for acute or chronic care, consideration should be given to any woman who, although not pregnant, may become pregnant, and what effect each ordered procedure, laboratory examination, or medication prescription might have on her or her fetus. If the primary reason for the office visit is preconception counseling there are a few specific components that should be discussed besides a complete history and physical examination.

Lysophosphatidic acid decreases epidermal growth factor receptor binding in airway epithelial cells.

We showed previously that treatment of human airway smooth muscle cells and lung fibroblasts with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) increases the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to EGF receptors (EGFRs). The purpose of this study was to determine whether LPA also regulates EGFR binding in airway epithelial cells. Airway epithelial cells were incubated in the absence or presence of 10 microM LPA for increasing times, and binding of 125I-EGF to intact cells on ice was measured.