Maternal hyperglycemia inhibits pulmonary vasculogenesis during mouse fetal lung development by promoting GβL Ubiquitination-dependent mammalian target of Rapamycin assembly.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with retarded lung development and poor lung health in offspring. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role mTOR plays in pulmonary vasculogenesis during fetal lung development under maternal hyperglycemia.

Expression of Lung Surfactant Proteins SP-B and SP-C and Their Regulatory Factors in Fetal Lung of GDM Rats.

This study investigated the expression of lung surfactant proteins (SP-B and SP-C), and regulatory factors [forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) and nitrolyogenic FOXA2 (N-FOXA2)] in the fetal lung of rats with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in order to study the mechanism of pulmonary dysplasia. The rat GDM model was established by using streptozotocin intraperitoneally in the first stage of pregnancy. There were 10 rats in the GDM group, and 10 healthy rats in normal control group without any treatment.

The reduction in FOXA2 activity during lung development in fetuses from diabetic rat mothers is reversed by Akt inhibition.

Hyperglycemia during pregnancy is associated with fetal lung development disorders and surfactant protein (SP) deficiency. Here, we examined the role of FOXA2 and Akt signaling in fetal lung development during diabetic pregnancy. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with streptozocin (STZ) during pregnancy to induce diabetes (DM).

Expression of lung surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C and their modulating factors in fetal lung of FGR rats.

This study investigated the expression of lung surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C, and their modulating factors TTF-1 and PLAGL2 in the fetal lung of rats with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The rat FGR model was established by prenatal hypoxia in the first stage of pregnancy, 180 rats for experiment served as hypoxia group, and 197 healthy rats served as normal control group. The FGR incidence in hypoxia was compared with that in normal control group.

A comparison of anesthetic regimens using etomidate and propofol in patients undergoing first-trimester abortions: double-blind, randomized clinical trial of safety and efficacy.

Background: This prospective study compared the safety, recovery time and side effects of six distinct general anesthesia regimens for first-trimester surgical abortion.

Study Design: Two hundred forty women scheduled for surgical abortion at 6 to 8 weeks of gestation were randomized into three groups (n=40) of propofol: group P (2 mg/kg propofol alone), group PF (2 mg/kg propofol+1 mcg/kg fentanyl), group PMF (2 mg/kg propofol+1 mcg/kg fentanyl+0.02 mg/kg midazolam) and three groups (n=40) of etomidate: group E (0.

Hilar inflammatory pseudotumor mimicking hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Inflammatory pseudotumor of the biliary tract is a benign disease, and is extremely rare. Its diagnosis often depends on pathological examination after operation. The histopathological examination shows inflammatory lesions with a polymorphous infiltration and variable amounts of fibrous tissue.

Expression and immune effect of toll-like receptor 4 in human trophoblast cells.

This study investigated the expression and immune effect of TLR4 in human trophoblast cells. The expression level of TLR4 mRNA in normal and LPS-stimulated human term trophoblast cells (1 mg/L LPS, 12 h) was detected by RT-PCR. In LPS-stimulated human term trophoblast cells of TLR4-blocked group and non-TLR4-blocked group, and normal term trophoblast cells of blank control group, apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry (FCM), and the level of TNF-alpha determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively.

Pleiomorphic adenoma gene-like-2, a zinc finger protein, transactivates the surfactant protein-C promoter.

Expression of surfactant protein (SP)-C occurs principally in type II pneumocytes located in the distal lung alveolae. SP-C expression is thought to be primarily regulated by thyroid transcription factor (TTF)-1 and its associated proteins interacting with a previously defined promoter region between -197 and -158 in mice. We screened a human lung cDNA library using a modified yeast one-hybrid system and identified pleiomorphic adenoma gene-like (PLAGL)-2, a ubiquitously expressed zinc finger protein, as a transfactor of the SP-C promoter.