Selective loss of unmyelinated nerve fibers after extracorporeal shockwave application to the musculoskeletal system.

Application of extracorporeal shockwaves (ESW) to the musculoskeletal system may induce long-term analgesia in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies of the shoulder, heel and elbow. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind this phenomenon are largely unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that long-term analgesia caused by ESW is due to selective loss of nerve fibers in peripheral nerves.

Interleukin-11 expression: its significance in eutopic and ectopic human implantation.

Embryo implantation and subsequent decidualization, trophoblast invasion and formation of a functional placenta are crucial for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Interleukin-11 signalling has been shown to be obligatory for adequate decidualization and trophoblast invasion in mice. Defects in IL-11 signalling in mice result in trophoblast over-invasion and fetal loss.

Apoptosis of extravillous trophoblast cells limits the trophoblast invasion in uterine but not in tubal pregnancy during first trimester.

During the first trimester of pregnancy extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) invade the maternal decidua. Invasion normally is reduced from the second trimester onwards and stops in the inner third of the myometrium. By contrast, in extrauterine tubal pregnancy, trophoblast invasion may even penetrate the tubal wall, which ultimately leads to the rupture of the fallopian tube.

Differential effects of catecholamines on vascular rings from ductus venosus and intrahepatic veins of fetal sheep.

Ductus venosus (DV) sparing means the maintenance of blood flow through the DV following reduction of liver venous blood supply during fetal hypoxia. The present study compared the reactions of the isthmic portion of the DV and intrahepatic veins (IHVs) to catecholamines in vitro. Vessel rings of 1 mm width and 3 mm diameter were obtained from 17 fetal sheep (88-136 days gestational age, median 120 days).

Invasive depth of extravillous trophoblast correlates with cellular phenotype: a comparison of intra- and extrauterine implantation sites.

During intrauterine human placentation, extravillous trophoblast invades uterine tissues starting with proliferating stem cells at the basement membrane of anchoring villi. Transition to the postproliferative invasive phenotype takes place several cell layers distant. Here we show that in intrauterine pregnancies invasive trophoblast comprises three cellular phenotypes: a.