Association between gene methylation in plasma in early pregnancy and Down's syndrome.

Down's syndrome (DS), a chromosomal abnormal genetic disease caused by a local or total copy of chromosome 21, leads to patients suffering from delayed body growth, special facies, mild to moderate mental retardation and other symptoms, seriously affecting the life of patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between Down's syndrome critical region 4 () gene methylation in plasma in high-risk pregnant women with DS in early pregnancy (hereinafter referred to as pregnant women in early pregnancy) and DS, in order to screen new epigenetic markers for the clinical diagnosis of DS. DNA in peripheral blood cells and plasma in pregnant women in early pregnancy were treated with hydrosulphite.

APOBEC3 deletion polymorphism is associated with epithelial ovarian cancer risk among Chinese women.

Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies and the second most common gynecological malignancy among women worldwide. However, the etiology still remains largely unknown. Previous studies identified APOBEC3 gene deletions were significantly associated with higher breast cancer risk in both European and Chinese women.

[Identification of contraction related proteins in corpus myometrium at labor].

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of human corpus myometrium contraction related proteins and parturition.

Methods: The proteins of human corpus of myometrium tissues from full term non-in labor (38- 41 weeks amenorrhea) and full term in labor (38-41 weeks amenorrhea) gravidas were separated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-GE), respectively. Then gels were stained by Coomassie brilliant blue G250, scanned by Image scanner and analyzed with PDQuest software.

The involvement of osteopontin and β3 integrin in implantation and endometrial receptivity in an early mouse pregnancy model.

Objective: To explore the roles of osteopontin and β3 integrin in successful implantation.

Study Design: In this study, an early pregnant mouse model was established by peritoneal injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin (PMSG+hCG). The expression of osteopontin (OPN) and β3 integrin on the endometrium was measured by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and western blot.

Reversal of paclitaxel resistance in epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells by a MUC1 aptamer-let-7i chimera.

The purpose of this study was to establish tumor tissue specific delivery of let-7i miRNA to reverse paclitaxel-induced chemoresistance. A chimera that combines MUC1 aptamer and let-7i miRNA was tested in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells. Results demonstrated that the chimera can specifically be delivered into OVCAR-3 cells and the released let-7i significantly sensitized the role of paclitaxel in inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing cell apoptosis, and decreasing long-term cell survival.

Phosphorylation of h1 calponin by PKC epsilon may contribute to facilitate the contraction of uterine myometrium in mice during pregnancy and labor.

Background: The timely onset of powerful uterine contractions during parturition occurs through thick and thin filament interactions, similar to other smooth muscle tissues. Calponin is one of the thin filament proteins. Phosphorylation of calponin induced by PKC-epsilon can promote the contraction of vascular smooth muscle.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin acts as a preeclampsia-related protein: a proteomic study.

Aims: To screen the preeclampsia-related protein by proteomics.

Methods: Proteomics was performed to identify differential protein expression profiles between normal full-term pregnancy, early-onset severe preeclampsia (ES-PE) or late-onset severe preeclampsia (LS-PE; n = 10 per group). Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were conducted to confirm the expression of α(1)-antitrypsin (α(1)-AT) in the decidual tissues of different subjects.

[Expression of Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor in the decidual tissues of preeclampsia patients and its clinical implication].

Objective: To investigate the expression of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues of patients preeclampsia and explore its clinical implication.

Methods: Real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues from 30 normal women with full-term pregnancy, 30 patients with early-onset severe preeclampsia and 30 with late-onset severe preeclampsia.

Results: Rho-GDI expression was found mainly on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the decidual cells, occasionally occurring in the stroma.

Proportional changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy and labor at term and preterm.

Purpose: To evaluate the proportional changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy and labor at term and preterm.

Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 20 non-pregnant controls and 139 pregnant women (60 at different gestational ages, 48 at term with or without labor, and 31 in threatened or actual preterm labor). CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in peripheral blood samples were analyzed in peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry.

[Expression of Calponin-1 and Transgelin in human uterine smooth muscles in non-labor and labor situation].

Objective: To investigate the expression of Calponin-1 and Transgenlin in the uterine smooth muscles during normal labor on-sets, and to evaluate their effect on initiating the normal labor.

Methods: A total of 14 uterine bodies and lower segments of human pregnancy were divided to a non-labor group (NIL) and a labor group(IL). Immunohistochemical technology and Western blot were used to determine the expression of Calponin-1 and Transgelin in the 2 groups.

[Effects of calponin-1 gene silencing on the biological behavior of uterine smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To study the effects of calponin-1 expression inhibition on the proliferation , invasiveness, apoptosis and cytoskeleton of uterine smooth muscle cells, and explore the molecular mechanism of calponin-1 in the uterine smooth muscle cells for labor onset.

Methods: siRNA-calponin-1 adenovirus plasmid was constructed and transfected into primarily cultured uterine smooth muscle cells. The proliferation, invasiveness and apoptosis of the cells were determined by MTT assay, matrigel invasion assays and flow cytometry, respectively.

[Change of HIF-1alpha protein expression in the placenta bed and concentration of vWF in maternal peripheral blood of pre-eclampsia].

Objective: To investigate the expression of HIF-1alpha protein in the placenta bed and the concentration of von Willrand factor (vWF) in maternal peripheral blood from pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy, and to determine the effect of HIF-1alpha and vWF on the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

Methods: Forty pre-eclampsia patients (20 mild and 20 severe) were recruited as 2 study groups, and another 20 normal pregnant women were served as a normal group.Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1alpha protein in the placenta bed.

[Construction of adenoviral vector encoding Calponin-1 siRNA and its effect on human myometrium cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Calponin-1 suppression on human myometrium cells through adenovirus mediated siRNA.

Methods: Human uterine smooth muscle tissues were digested with enzymes, cultured and confirmed with immunocytochemistry. Adenovirus siRNA-Calponin-1 plasmid was transfected into primary cultured uterine smooth muscle cells in vitro.

[Effect of HPV16E6 on sensitivity of chemotherapy for cervical carcinoma in different p53 genotype cell lines].

Objective: To investigate the effect of human papillomavirus types 16E6 on the sensitivity of chemotherapy for cervical carcinoma in different p53 genotype cell lines.

Methods: The apoptosis rates of each group were detected by AO/EB, immunofluorescence and Annexin V/PI stained methods. The expressions of protein HPV16E6 and p53(mt) after the treatments of different concentration of DDP were detected by Western blot.

[Expression of annexin V in decidua tissues of preeclampsia patients].

Objective: To investigate the expression of annexin V in the decidua tissues of preeclampsia patients and explore its clinical significance.

Methods: Real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of annexin V in the deciduas from 35 normal pregnant women at full term, 38 early onset severe preeclampsia patients and 33 late onset severe preeclampsia patients.

Results: Annexin V was found on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of the decidual cells and stroma.

[Expression of aspartyl-(asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase in villi in patients with missed abortion].

Objective: To determine the difference in aspartyl-(asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (AAH) expression level in villi between patients with missed abortion and normal women with early pregnancy, and to confirm the expression loci of AAH in villi.

Methods: A total of 50 patients of missed abortion were collected and categorized into a test group, which was subdivided into Group 1 and Group 2. Patients in Group 1 (n=20) were of confirmed etiological disorders while those in Group 2 (n=30) showed no obviously etiological clues.

[Study of the role of nuclear factor-kappa B in preterm birth with subclinical chorioamnionitis].

Objective: To investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in preterm birth with subclinical chorioamnionitis.

Methods: From October 2005 to October 2006, 111 cases including 36 cases of preterm birth in labor, 37 cases of full term gravida with spontaneous labor and 38 cases of full term gravida without threatened labor in the Hunan Province People's Hospital, third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and Changsha Maternal and Child Care Service Center were enrolled in the study. After delivery, by pathology results of fetal membrane they were divided into two groups: subclinical chorioamnionitis group (subclinical infectious group) and non-infectious group.

[Trophoblast cells invaing the placenta bed and change of spiral arteries and microvessels in pre-eclampsia].

Objective: To investigate the invason of trophoblasts in the placenta bed and the change of spiral arteries and microvessels in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy.

Methods: Twenty cases of normal pregnancies, mild pre-eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia were chosen as Group A, Group B, and Group C. HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining (SP method) were used to observe the depth and the density of trophoblasts invading the placenta bed and the change of spiral arteries and microvessels.

[Killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes stimulated by dendritic cell vaccine loaded with autologous cervical cancer antigen].

Background & Objective: Dendritic cells (DCs), the strongest antigen-presenting cells (APCs), can present antigens to T lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro, and induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) reaction. This study was designed to investigate the killing activity of CTLs stimulated by Dcs loaded with autologous cervical cancer antigen in vitro.

Methods: Tumor antigens were made from frozen-thawed cervical cancer cells from patients after operation.