Angiopoietin-2-induced lymphatic endothelial cell migration drives lymphangiogenesis via the β1 integrin-RhoA-formin axis.

Lymphangiogenesis is an essential physiological process but also a determining factor in vascular-related pathological conditions. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) plays an important role in lymphatic vascular development and function and its upregulation has been reported in several vascular-related diseases, including cancer. Given the established role of the small GTPase RhoA on cytoskeleton-dependent endothelial functions, we investigated the relationship between RhoA and Ang2-induced cellular activities.

Reproducibility of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the Postpartum Period.

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in the immediate postpartum period, which we defined as between 3 and 24 hours postpartum for the purpose of this research. This is such that if it can predict scores obtained at the postpartum visit, it will be an opportunity to access psychiatric services for the patient that may otherwise be more difficult to access in the outpatient setting.

Study Design: Longitudinal observational study, which included an analysis of 848 consecutive participants screened with the EPDS in the hospital and at the 6-week postpartum visit.

Low Dose of Penfluridol Inhibits VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis.

Metastasis is considered a major burden in cancer, being responsible for more than 90% of cancer-related deaths. Tumor angiogenesis is one of the main processes that lead to tumor metastasis. Penfluridol is a classic and commonly used antipsychotic drug, which has a great ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Endothelial RhoA GTPase is essential for in vitro endothelial functions but dispensable for physiological in vivo angiogenesis.

Imbalanced angiogenesis is a characteristic of several diseases. Rho GTPases regulate multiple cellular processes, such as cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell movement, microtubule dynamics, signal transduction and gene expression. Among the Rho GTPases, RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 are best characterized.

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis.

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Similar to other cancer cells, a fundamental characteristic of LC cells is unregulated proliferation and cell division. Inhibition of proliferation by halting cell cycle progression has been shown to be a promising approach for cancer treatment, including LC.

Recurrent Nausea and Vomiting in a Pregnant Woman with Chronic Marijuana Use.

Background: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a condition characterized by chronic cannabis use and cyclic episodes of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, relieved by compulsive bathing. The syndrome is likely to be underdiagnosed in pregnant women due to its similarity with hyperemesis gravidarum in the presentation.

Case: We report a 20-year-old pregnant woman with multiple admissions for recurrent nausea and vomiting who was observed to be taking frequent hot showers.

Multipronged activity of combinatorial miR-143 and miR-506 inhibits Lung Cancer cell cycle progression and angiogenesis in vitro.

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Downregulation of CDK1, 4 and 6, key regulators of cell cycle progression, correlates with decreased LC cell proliferation. Enforced expression of miRNAs (miRs) is a promising approach to regulate genes.

Developing and Testing a Vaginal Delivery Safety Checklist.

Communication failures are the most common root causes of perinatal deaths and injuries. We designed and tested a Vaginal Delivery Safety Checklist to improve communication and assist delivery teams' risk assessments and plans for potential complications of vaginal birth. Delivery teams found the checklist easy, convenient, and helpful.

Current recommendations for cervical cancer screening: do they render the annual pelvic examination obsolete?

The development of a screening test for cervical dysplasia has been a major force in diminishing the worldwide incidence of invasive cervical cancer. Screening intervals recommended by professional organizations have changed over the past half century. Recognition of the human papillomavirus (HPV) as the causative agent and enhanced understanding of the natural history of HPV and cervical dysplasia in different age groups have prompted the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other professional societies to defer Pap smear screening to intervals no less than 2 years apart in women 21-29, and every 3 years in women 30 and over assuming no prior history of cervical dysplasia.

Serum magnesium concentrations and metabolic variables in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Hypomagnesemia is associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 and other components of the metabolic syndrome in older patients. Whether serum magnesium concentrations correlate with insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or other components of metabolic syndrome in younger women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is currently unknown.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.