Study on the expressions of PHD and HIF in placentas from normal pregnant women and patients with preeclampsia.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between oxygen sensitivity of trophoblast and hypoxia in preeclamptic placenta by the study on the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PHD) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in placentas from normal pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia.

Methods: Subjects were chosen from the in-patients or the out-patients from May 2003 to May 2004. They were divided into 5 groups: early pregnancy group (EP), 13 cases; middle pregnancy group (MP), 9 cases; late pregnancy group (LP, or control group), 12 cases; preeclampsia (PE) group, 20 cases; gestational hypertension group (GH), 10 cases.

[cDNA cloning and expression analysis of MSTN gene from Schizopygopsis pylzovi].

Myostatin (MSTN) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that acts as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. A full-length, 2 180 bp, cDNA sequence of the myostatin gene from Schizopygopisis pylzovi was cloned with RT-PCR,5'-RACE and 3'-RACE and the cDNA clone included a 1 128 bp ORF, encoding a 375 amino acid peptide. Using PCR, we obtained the sequences of two introns of the MSTN gene and found that its structure in Schizopygopsis pylzovi was similar to that of other vertebrates, including three exons and two introns.

Dysregulation of macrophage activation by decidual regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent miscarriage patients.

CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells (Treg cells) and macrophages play roles in the maintenance of maternal-fetal immunological tolerance. Treg cells suppress the function of macrophages via mechanisms mediated by cell-cell contact and production of soluble factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate regulation of macrophages by Treg cells within decidua from patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM) and normal control women during early pregnancy.

Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion with immune type.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks of gestation, is difficult to treat in the clinical setting. It affects 1%-5% of women of reproductive age. In the investigations of immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of RSA since the late 1980s, it was found that RSA was associated with abnormal maternal local or systemic immune response.

Decidual CD4+CD25+CD127dim/- regulatory T cells in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage.

Objectives: To investigate the frequency and function of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(dim/-) regulatory T (Treg) cells in decidua of patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (URSM).

Study Design: The decidual lymphocytes from patients who experienced URSM and normal pregnant women (controls) were collected by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(dim/-) Treg cells were isolated by magnetic cell sorting.

Effect of antioxidants on amelioration of high-risk factors inducing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Background: This is a prospective clinical study based on a large sample gathered from multiple centers in China, subordinating to 10th Five-Year Plan of National Science & Technology Progression. We analyzed the high-risk factors inducing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) and estimated the potential effect of anti-oxidants administration, including vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and Salvia Miltiorrhiza L (SML), a Chinese herb medicine, in amelioration of the high-risk factors in pregnancy.

Methods: From April 2005 to July 2006, 4814 pregnant women from 24 national wide cooperative hospitals were involved in this prospective research.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with heart disease.

Background: As the Shanghai Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center, our hospital has accumulated a large number of clinical data of pregnant women with heart disease. This paper is a retrospective analysis of 1142 pregnancies in women with heart disease so as to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes of these patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out for pregnancies in 1142 women with heart disease who delivered in Shanghai Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center between 1993 and 2007.

[A multi-center study to evaluate the dynamic changes of uterine artery and umbilical artery flow in a normal pregnancy and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic changes of uterine artery and umbilical artery in the first, second, and third trimester of normal pregnancy and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP).

Methods: A multi-center prospective study was conducted on 1098 women with normal singleton pregnancies at the first prenatal visit in the Second West China Hospital of Sichuan University, First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Wuhan Union Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from April 2005 to July 2006, with the average age of (28.3 ± 3.

Role of cyclooxygenase-2 signaling pathway dysfunction in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Background: Experimental evidence indicates that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a critical role in blastocyst implantation; however, little is known of the role of COX-2 in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

Methods: We evaluated the expression level and potential signaling pathway of COX-2 in 30 cases of URSA who were excluded the abnormality of chromosomes, anatomy, endocrine, infectious, autoimmune diseases and in 30 normal pregnancies.

Results: The mRNA and the protein expression level of COX-2 in the URSA group (-0.

The deregulation of regulatory T cells on interleukin-17-producing T helper cells in patients with unexplained early recurrent miscarriage.

Background: CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important for the maintenance of immune homeostasis by virtue of their ability to control T-cell proliferation in the peripheral blood (PB). We recently demonstrated that the prevalence of Tregs is decreased, whereas that of Th17 cells is increased, in the PB and decidua samples of patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM). In this study, we investigated whether the cytokine production of Th17 cells can be suppressed by the Tregs and elucidated the mechanism by which Tregs exert this suppressive effect.

Increased prevalence of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in peripheral blood and decidua in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients.

T helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are two distinct subsets of CD4(+) T cells which have opposite effects on inflammation, autoimmunity and immunological rejection of foreign tissue. Treg cells have been shown to be important in maintaining materno-fetal tolerance, but the role of Th17 cells in human pregnancy and pathological pregnancy, especially in relation to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), has not been investigated. In this study, we showed that the proportion of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood and decidua was significantly higher in unexplained RSA patients compared to normal, early pregnant women.

[Regulative effects of regulatory T cells on dendric cells in peripheral blood and deciduas from unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients].

Objective: To study the effect of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T(Tr) cells on dendric cells (DC) in peripheral blood and deciduas from unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) patients.

Methods: Four URSA patients (abortion group) and 4 normal early pregnant women (control group) were enrolled in this study. Tr cells and DC in the peripheral blood and deciduas were isolated using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and magnetic cell sorting (MACS).

[Multi-center study of motherwort injection to prevent postpartum hemorrhage after caesarian section].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of motherwort (herba leonuri/leonurus heterophyllus sweet) injection for preventing postpartum hemorrhage after caesarian section.

Methods: The prospective study was designed as a randomized and single blind multi-center research matched with positive agent as controls from Apr 2007 to Aug 2007. 440 women underwent caesarian section (CS) indicated by obstetric factors were enrolled from 15 teaching hospitals in China and assigned into three groups: group of motherwort: 147 cases were administered by motherwort 40 mg uterine injection during CS and 20 mg intramuscular injection per 12 hours 3 times after CS; group of motherwort+oxytocin: 144 cases were administered by motherwort 40 mg and oxytocin 10 U uterine injection during CS and motherwort 20 mg intramuscular injection per 12 hours 3 times after CS and group of oxytocin: 149 cases were administered by oxytocin 10 U uterine injection and oxytocin 10 U+5% glucose 500 ml intravenously injection during operation and oxytocin 10 U intramuscular injection per 12 hours 3 times after CS.

Relationship between expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells and spontaneous abortion in mice.

Background: Previous studies have shown that local immune cells in the feto-maternal interface are recruited from peripheral blood, and that chemokines and their receptors play an initial and key role in this recruitment process. In this study, we aimed to determine whether spontaneous abortion is associated with the expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells.

Methods: Peripheral blood, spleen, and thymus were collected from the spontaneous abortion mouse model CBA/JxDBA/2 (SA group, n = 14), the normal pregnant mouse model CBA/JxBALB/c (NP group, n = 13), and normal non-pregnant CBA/J mice (NNP group, n = 11).

Coagulation and fibrinolysis related cytokine imbalance in preeclampsia: the role of placental trophoblasts.

Objective: Cytokine imbalance might have a pivotal role in hypercoagulability seen in preeclampsia. Our objective was to determine the relationship of blood coagulation related factors in placental tissue and peripheral blood in preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Methods: We compared mRNA and protein levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and tissue factor (TF) in the placenta of normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

[The skewed usage of T cell receptor beta variable chain at the maternal-fetal interface of women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

Objective: To investigate T cell receptor (TCR) variable beta (BV) chain usage at the maternal-fetal interface and explore the relationship between the skewed TCR BV usage and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Methods: Eighteen cases with unexplained RSA, together with matched 41 women with normal pregnancies in first trimester from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University were studied. A high-resolution spectrum typing analysis of complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) was used to detect and compare the degree and frequency of TCR BV family expression in deciduas between RSA patients and normal controls.

[Changes in proportion of decidua and peripheral blood CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients].

Objective: To study the changes in the percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T (Tr) cells in peripheral blood and deciduas in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) patients, normal non-pregnant and pregnant women respectively.

Methods: The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells in deciduas and peripheral blood from 25 URSA patients, 22 normal non-pregnant (NNP) women, and 34 normal early pregnant (NP) women were measured by double-staining followed by flow cytometric analysis.

Results: (1) The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright) T cells in peripheral blood in both URSA and NP [(1.

The investigation on the value of repeat and combination test of ACA and anti-beta2-GPI antibody in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Problem: In order to investigate the value of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and anti-beta2-GPI antibodies detection in screening autoimmune type recurrent spontaneous abortion and its clinic application in antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosis, we adopt repeat combined ACA and anti-beta2-GPI antibodies detection in this study.

Method Of Study: Sera were collected from patients and work-up was done for detection of ACA and anti-beta2-GPI antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The work-up was done for detection of antibodies once in every 6 weeks for 14 times consecutively.

CXCL12 enhances exogenous CD4+CD25+ T cell migration and prevents embryo loss in non-obese diabetic mice.

Objective: To investigate the possible role of CXCL12 in the migration of regulatory T (Treg) cells.

Design: Animal model-based study.

Setting: Academic.

Effects of letrozole and clomiphene citrate on the expression of HOXA10 and integrin alpha v beta 3 in uterine epithelium of rats.

Objective: To compare the effects of letrozole and clomiphene citrate on the expression of HOXA10 and integrin alpha(v)beta(3) in the uterine epithelium in rats.

Design: Controlled prospective study.

Setting: Teaching hospital and university research laboratory.

Natural selection and adaptive evolution of leptin in the ochotona family driven by the cold environmental stress.

Background: Environmental stress can accelerate the evolutionary rate of specific stress-response proteins and create new functions specialized for different environments, enhancing an organism's fitness to stressful environments. Pikas (order Lagomorpha), endemic, non-hibernating mammals in the modern Holarctic Region, live in cold regions at either high altitudes or high latitudes and have a maximum distribution of species diversification confined to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Variations in energy metabolism are remarkable for them living in cold environments.

[Study on the expression of transcription factor GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA in decidua of women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

Objective: To investigate the roles of transcription factor GATA-3 and T-bet at the fetal-maternal interface in the pathogenesis of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

Methods: The expression of GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. Decidua was obtained from 20 women with URSA and 20 normal pregnant (NP) women.

[Expression of trophoblast invasion related genes mRNA and protein in human placenta in preeclampsia].

Objective: To study the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, 2, metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 in placenta of preeclampsia patients and their relation to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Methods: Expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, KiSS-1, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNAs and proteins in placenta from 27 cases of preeclampsia, 10 cases of gestational hypertension and 30 cases of normal term pregnant women was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, and enzyme activity of MMP-9 and MMP-2 was measured by gelatin zymography.

Results: (1) Expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 mRNA in placenta of preeclampsia (0.