Effects of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a major lipid peroxidation-derived aldehyde, and N-acetylcysteine on the cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human uterine myometrium.

Background: Chorioamnionitis is one of the important causes of preterm labor. Preterm labor with chorioamnionitis is associated with oxidative stress. We reported that 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), a major end product of oxidative fatty acid metabolism, is accumulated in the placenta with chorioamnionitis.

Oxidative stress-induced S100B protein from placenta and amnion affects soluble Endoglin release from endothelial cells.

Oxidative stress with elevated intracellular Ca(2+) concentration as well as endothelial dysfunction is a component of pre-eclampsia. Our aim was to investigate the oxidative stress-dependent expression of Endoglin and Ca(2+)-binding S100B protein from villous and amniotic tissue cultures, and to assess sEng expression from S100B protein-stimulated endothelial cells. We initially examined Endoglin and Hydroxy-nonenal-(HNE)-modified proteins in the placentas and amnion obtained from women with pre-eclampsia (n = 8), and healthy controls (n = 8) by immunohistochemistry.

Calcineurin/NFAT pathway: a novel regulator of parturition.

Problem: The oxytocin (OT)-oxytocin receptor (OTR) system plays an important role in mammalian parturition. However, we found OTR-deficient (OTRKO) mice are fertile and deliver at term without birth defects, thus alternative pathways inducing parturition can be hypothesized.

Methods Of Study: We tested the gene expression profile of OTRKO mice using suppressive subtractive hybridization, and focused on the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway.

S100B protein expression in the amnion and amniotic fluid in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.

Our aim was to investigate the expression of S100B protein in the amnion and to assess the amniotic fluid concentration in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. Samples were obtained from women who developed pre-eclampsia (n = 7), pre-eclampsia with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (n = 4), normotensive IUGR (n = 7) and gestational hypertension (n = 4) during pregnancy and healthy controls who delivered at term (n = 35). To determine the difference in the expression of S100B in the amnion, we performed immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis and RT-PCR.

Prospective study of non-closure or closure of the peritoneum at cesarean delivery in 124 women: Impact of prior peritoneal closure at primary cesarean on the interval time between first cesarean section and the next pregnancy and significant adhesion at second cesarean.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of non-closure of the peritoneum at cesarean delivery on postoperative complications and the interval time to the next pregnancy, and to investigate the incidence of adhesion following cesarean and the association between adhesion formation and peritoneal closure.

Methods: One hundred and twenty four women scheduled for cesarean section were randomized to either closure of both the visceral and parietal peritoneum (C-group, n = 70) or non-closure (NC-group, n = 54). At repeated cesarean, the levels and extent of adhesion, operating time, and any complications were examined.

The expression of fractalkine in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the presence of fractalkine in the endometrium of the uterus and the change of fractalkine protein levels during menstrual cycle.

Methods: Twelve samples of endometrium of the uterus were obtained from gynecological patients who underwent total hysterectomy. Western blotting, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed.

MR imaging evaluation of postmenopausal adnexal masses: correlation with final pathologic diagnosis.

Objective: Adoption of transvaginal ultrasound in usual clinical settings allowed us to find asymptomatic adnexal masses more frequently in postmenopausal women. These masses were traditionally considered as the indication of surgical excision to determine histological diagnosis. Recently, if the appearance of that is simple cyst, conservative management may be acceptable because ultrasound benign diagnosis is proved to be reasonably reliable.

Fractalkine in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of fractalkine in the ascites and the association between fractalkine levels in the ascites and endometriosis.

Methods: Peritoneal fluids and peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients undergoing laparoscopy for infertility work-up or laparoscopic cystectomy. Three samples of peritoneum were obtained from patients undergoing hysterectomy.