Religious minority identity associates with stress and psychological health among Muslim and Hindu women in Bangladesh and London.

Objectives: This study examined the association of minority religious identification (Hindu or Muslim) with self-reported stress and psychological symptoms among sedentee and immigrant Bangladeshi women.

Methods: Women, aged 35-59 (n = 531) were drawn from Sylhet, Bangladesh and London, England. Muslim immigrants in London and Hindu sedentees in Sylhet represented minority religious identities.

Frequency of Phytoestrogen Consumption and Symptoms at Midlife among Bangladeshis in Bangladesh and London.

There is a longstanding interest in the relationship between diet and hot flash symptoms during midlife, especially in whether phytoestrogens ease menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, and vaginal dryness in relation to the intake of foods rich in phytoestrogens among Bangladeshi women aged 35 to 59 years who were living either in Sylhet, Bangladesh ( = 157) or as migrants in London ( = 174). Consumption ranges for phytoestrogens were constructed from food frequencies.

Relationship of Estradiol and Progesterone with Partnership and Parity Among Bangladeshi and British Women of European Origin.

Recent studies in social endocrinology have explored the effects of social relationships on female reproductive steroid hormones-estradiol and progesterone-investigating whether they are suppressed in partnered and parous women. Results have been mixed for these hormones although evidence is more consistent that partnered women and women with young children have lower levels of testosterone. These studies were sequential to earlier research on men, based on Wingfield's Challenge Hypothesis, which showed that men in committed relationships, or with young children, have lower levels of testosterone than unpartnered men or men with older or no children.

No impact of developmental conditions on serum estradiol levels among Bangladeshi women in the UK and Bangladesh.

Introduction: While many aspects of female ovarian function respond to environmental stressors, estradiol (E2) appears less sensitive to stressors than progesterone, except under extreme ecological conditions. However, earlier studies relied on saliva samples, considered less sensitive than blood. Here, we investigated E2 variation among 177 Bangladeshi and UK white women, aged 35-59, using single serum samples.

Mismatch: a comparative study of vitamin D status in British-Bangladeshi migrants.

Background And Objectives: Low levels of vitamin D among dark-skinned migrants to northern latitudes and increased risks for associated pathologies illustrate an evolutionary mismatch between an environment of high ultraviolet (UV) radiation to which such migrants are adapted and the low UV environment to which they migrate. Recently, low levels of vitamin D have also been associated with higher risks for contracting COVID-19. South Asians in the UK have higher risk for low vitamin D levels.

Hot flash report and measurement among Bangladeshi migrants, their London neighbors, and their community of origin.

Objectives: To examine hot flashes in relation to climate and activity patterns, and to compare subjective and objective hot flashes among Bangladeshi immigrants to London, their white London neighbors, and women still living in their community of origin, Sylhet, Bangladesh ("sedentees").

Methods: Ninety-five women, aged 40-55, wore the Biolog ambulatory hot flash monitor. Objective measurements and subjective hot flash reports were examined in relation to demographic, reproductive, anthropometric, and lifestyle variables; temperature and humidity at 12:00 and 18:00; and time spent on housework and cooking.

Hot flushes and reproductive hormone levels during the menopausal transition.

Introduction: Evidence suggests that hot flushes are associated with fluctuating levels of oestradiol (E2) during menopause, as well as changes in the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B. The relationship between hot flushes and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is unknown.

Aim: To examine specific hormone levels and ethnic differences in relation to hot flushes.

Ethnicity or environment: effects of migration on ovarian reserve among Bangladeshi women in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To assess whether the quality of early childhood environments among different groups of Bangladeshi women, including migrants to the United Kingdom (UK), contributes to variation in ovarian reserve and the rate of reproductive aging in later life.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Not applicable.

In-vitro study of the effect of anti-hypertensive drugs on placental hormones and angiogenic proteins synthesis in pre-eclampsia.

Introduction: Antihypertensive drugs lower the maternal blood pressure in pre-eclampsia (PE) by direct or central vasodilatory mechanisms but little is known about the direct effects of these drugs on placental functions.

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of labetolol, hydralazine, α-methyldopa and pravastatin on the synthesis of placental hormonal and angiogenic proteins know to be altered in PE.

Design: Placental villous explants from late onset PE (n = 3) and normotensive controls (n = 6) were cultured for 3 days at 10 and 20% oxygen (O2) with variable doses anti-hypertensive drugs.

Evaluation of the impact of maternal smoking on ultrasound and endocrinological markers of first trimester placentation.

Objectives: To study the effect of maternal smoking on 2D ultrasound measurements and maternal serum (MS) levels of endocrinologic markers of placentation.

Study Design: Prospective population-based cohort study of 32 smokers and 96 non-smoking controls with a normal pregnancy outcome.

Main Outcome Measures: Placental thickness and 2D-volume and MS levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free-beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (fβhCG) at 11-13(+6)weeks of gestation and mid-trimester MS α-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated estriol (uE3) and inhibin A levels.

2D-Ultrasound and endocrinologic evaluation of placentation in early pregnancy and its relationship to fetal birthweight in normal pregnancies and pre-eclampsia.

Objectives: To study the relationships between 2D ultrasound measurements of placentation and maternal serum (MS) levels of PAPP-A, inhibin A and fβhCG in early pregnancy and subsequent fetal growth in pregnancies with a normal and abnormal outcome.

Study Design: Prospective population-based cohort study of 301 pregnancies with a normal outcome, 18 with a pregnancy complicated by pre-term delivery (PTD) and 14 with subsequent pre-eclampsia (PE).

Main Outcome Measures: Basal placental surface area, placental thickness, ellipsivity and volume; MS PAPP-A and fβhCG at 11-13 + 6 weeks, MS inhibin A at 15-22 weeks and birthweight centile at delivery.

Life course effects on age at menopause among Bangladeshi sedentees and migrants to the UK.

Objectives: To assess how different variables experienced across the life course, but particularly during early life, might affect age at menopause among 174 Bangladeshi migrants to London by comparing them to 157 nonmigrant sedentees and 154 women of European descent in London.

Methods: Participants were aged 35-59 years, with no exogenous hormone use in the past three months, not pregnant or lactating, with no history of hysterectomy or oophorectomy. Face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measures were carried out.

Thrombin generation post elective caesarean section: effect of low molecular weight heparin.

Introduction: Caesarean section (CS) is a significant risk factor for venous thromboembolism.. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is commonly used for thromboprophylaxis post emergency caesarean delivery.

Placental villous expression of TNFα and IL-10 and effect of oxygen tension in euploid early pregnancy failure.

Problem: The objective was to investigate placental inflammation in chromosomally normal miscarriages in vivo and in vitro.

Method Of Study: Chorionic villous tissue was collected from missed miscarriages and normal gestation-matched controls and cultured at 6 and 20% O(2) concentrations. Tissue was karyotyped.

Investigation of systemic inflammatory response in first trimester pregnancy failure.

Background: The contribution of local and systemic inflammation to the pathophysiology of sporadic first trimester miscarriages remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the inflammatory response in the circulation of women presenting with first trimester miscarriage.

Methods: Levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), TNF receptors 1 and 2, interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were assayed using cytometric bead arrays in plasma samples from 29 euploid and 21 aneuploid missed miscarriages, 35 normal pregnant controls and 31 non-pregnant women (NPW).

Inflammatory cytokines in maternal circulation and placenta of chromosomally abnormal first trimester miscarriages.

The impact of abnormal placental karyotype on the inflammatory response within the villous tissue and peripheral circulation of women with miscarriage was evaluated. Villous (n = 38) and venous blood samples (n = 26) were obtained from women with missed miscarriage. Tissue chromosome analysis indicated 23 abnormal and 15 normal karyotypes.

The effect of coelomic fluid on the production of cytokines by the first trimester human placenta.

Objective: To investigate the modulatory effects of coelomic fluid (CF) on the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and its receptors, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, interferon gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-10 by placental villous explants cultured under physiological oxygen (O(2)) concentration.

Study Design: In vitro culture of placental villous explants at atmospheric and physiological (6%) O(2) levels at varying concentrations of CF.

Main Outcome Measures: Concentration of TNFα, TNF-R1, TNF-R2, IFNγ and IL-10 in culture medium and villous explant homogenates, measured using flowcytometric bead arrays.

Pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in threatened miscarriages.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate circulating and intracellular levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in women with threatened miscarriage (TM) and subsequent outcome.

Study Design: Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptors 1 and 2, TNFα, interferon gamma (IFNγ), and interleukins (IL) -6 and -10 were measured by flow cytometric bead assays in 80 women with TM: 53 women with normal outcome and 27 women who miscarried. Fluorescent antibody labeling was also performed on whole blood in a subgroup of 27 women of TM: 16 women with normal outcome and 11 women who miscarried.

Age-related normograms of serum antimüllerian hormone levels in a population of infertile women: a multicenter study.

Objective: To produce age-related normograms for serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) level in infertile women without polycystic ovaries (non-PCO).

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: Fifteen academic reproductive centers.

Soluble Flt-1 and PlGF: new markers of early pregnancy loss?

Recent data have indicated a relationship between placental oxygen and angiogenic protein levels in the first trimester of normal pregnancies. Our objective was to investigate if maternal serum levels of angiogenic factors Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 1 (sFlt-1), soluble Endoglin and placental growth factor (PlGF) are altered in women with symptoms of threatened miscarriage (TM) and if they are predictive of a subsequent miscarriage. Blood samples were collected at 6-10 weeks from women presenting with TM (n = 40), from asymptomatic controls (n = 32) and from non- pregnant women in their luteal phase (n = 14).

Hepcidin and iron species distribution inside the first-trimester human gestational sac.

We have investigated factors affecting iron distribution in the first-trimester gestational sac, by the measurement of transferrin, non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) and pro-hepcidin (Hep) in maternal serum, coelomic fluid (CF) and amniotic fluid (AF) and by immunostaining for Hep in villous and secondary yolk sac biopsies. These samples were obtained from 15 first-trimester pregnancies at 8-11 weeks gestation. Transferrin concentrations were significantly lower in fetal (0.

The normal menstrual cycle in women.

The menstrual cycle in women is characterised by high variability in cycle length (26-35 days), 5-day menses, a fertile phase from 5 days before to the day of ovulation, and low fertility which is dependent on cycle length and age. All women show an FSH rise at the luteal-follicular transition, stimulating a cohort of follicular growth and inhibin B secretion in the early follicular phase. The ovulatory dominant follicle (DF) is selected in the mid-follicular phase, and as this DF grows it increasingly secretes oestradiol and inhibin A for a week before ovulation.