Bowel perforation after placement of tubal occlusion contraceptive.

Background: The tubal occlusion contraceptive provides a hysteroscopic technique for female sterilization. Efficacy of the tubal occlusion contraceptive relies on proper placement within the proximal aspect of the fallopian tubes. As long-term data become available, rates of complications are better defined.

Fibronectin gene expression in aortic regurgitation: relative roles of mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Objectives: In aortic regurgitation (AR), fibronectin (FN) expression is upregulated. This study sought to determine signal transduction pathways involved in upregulation of FN expression in AR.

Methods: Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) from rabbits with surgically induced AR and matched controls (NL) were cultured and assayed for FN expression and kinase activity with and without inhibitors of kinases JNK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular response kinase (ERK).