Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Peripheral Blood in the First Trimester of Pregnancy and Different Preeclampsia Clinical Phenotypes Development: A Pilot Study.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are intrinsically linked to early poor placentation, typical of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia associated with intrauterine growth restriction (PE-IUGR). Low mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in peripheral blood constitutes a good peripheral surrogate marker of inflammation and oxidative stress. On these basis, we explored a possible correlation between mtDNAcn in peripheral blood in the first trimester of pregnancy and the PE-IUGR onset.

Protective effects of vitamin D3 on fimbrial cells exposed to catalytic iron damage.

Background: Recently, vitamin D3 (1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D) has shown its capability to take part in many extraskeletal functions and its serum levels have been related to patient survival rate and malignancy of many types of neoplasms, including ovarian cancers. Catalytic iron is a free circulating form of iron that is able to generate reactive oxygen species and consequently to promote a number of cellular and tissutal dysfunctions including tumorigenesis. In fertile women an important source of catalytic iron is derived from retrograde menstruation.

Serum Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Time to Natural Pregnancy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether natural fertility is related to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-vitamin D) levels.

Methods: A nested case-control study was designed from a prospective cohort of pregnant women undergoing first trimester screening for aneuploidies. Cases included women seeking pregnancy for 12-24 months.

Serum anti-Müllerian hormone in subfertile women.

Introduction: The correlation between ovarian reserve and infertility remains unclear. Albeit poorly predictive of pregnancy success in in vitro fertilization cycles, serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been acknowledged as a surrogate measure of ovarian reserve and is commonly evaluated in women seeking pregnancy. Disentangling whether low serum AMH affects natural fecundity is clinically important, as this information helps physicians in providing appropriate counseling to women and may impact on management strategies.

Fimbrial cells exposure to catalytic iron mimics carcinogenic changes.

Objective: Recent evidence strongly suggests that the fallopian tube is a site of origin of ovarian cancer. Although histological data show iron deposition in the fallopian tubes, its role remains unclear. To establish whether catalytic iron has a possible role in ovarian carcinogenesis, we isolated human fimbrial secretory epithelial cells (FSECs).