Reproductive sciences
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Reproductive sciences · May 2011
Comparative StudyPregnancy reduces the accuracy of the estimated glomerular filtration rate based on Cockroft-Gault and MDRD formulas.
This study aims to determine the effect of pregnancy on the accuracy of 3 commonly used methods to estimate glomerular filtration rate ([GFR] creatinine clearance, the Cockroft-Gault, and modification of diet in renal disease [MDRD] formulas) using the inulin clearance as a reference. ⋯ The renal hyperfiltration during pregnancy decreases further the accuracy of the creatinine clearance and the Cockroft-Gault and MDRD formulas to estimate GFR.
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Endothelial dysfunction has been observed systemically in women with gestational diabetes (GDM). Important cardiovascular adaptations occur during pregnancy, including enhanced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in systemic and uterine arteries, which are necessary to ensure the health of both mother and fetus. The effects of GDM, however, on uterine artery function and the possible mechanisms that mediate endothelial dysfunction remain unknown. ⋯ Both uterine and mesenteric arteries from mice with GDM exhibited a greater dependence on nitric oxide and increased superoxide production compared with those from mice with a healthy pregnancy. A significant source of superoxide in GDM mice was uncoupled nitric oxide synthase. These changes may contribute to the development of some of the fetal and maternal complication associated with GDM.
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Reproductive sciences · Jan 2011
Levo-tetrahydropalmatine retards the growth of ectopic endometrial implants and alleviates generalized hyperalgesia in experimentally induced endometriosis in rats.
One primary goal of medical treatment of endometriosis is to alleviate pain and there is a pressing need for new therapeutics for endometriosis with better efficacy and side-effect profiles. Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) has been used as a sedative or analgesic for chronic pains in China since 1970s. In this study, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of l-THP, with or without valproic acid (VPA), in a rat model of endometriosis. ⋯ The treatment also significantly lowered immunoreactivity to all mediators involved in central sensitization and to HDAC2 in DRG, to TrkA and CGRP in ectopic endometrium, and to CGRP in eutopic endometrium. In summary, l-THP reduces lesion growth and generalized hyperalgesia. Thus, l-THP may be a promising therapeutics for endometriosis.
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Reproductive sciences · Dec 2010
Generalized hyperalgesia in women with endometriosis and its resolution following a successful surgery.
Although pains of various kinds top the list of complaints from women with endometriosis and are the most debilitating of the disease, little is known about the mechanism/mechanisms of endometriosis-associated pains. To test the hypothesis that women with endometriosis have generalized hyperalgesia which may be alleviated by a successful surgery, we recruited 100 patients with surgically and histologically confirmed endometriosis and 70 women without, and tested their responses to pain stimulations. Before the surgery, all patients rated their dysmenorrhea severity by Visual Analog scale (VAS) and went through an ischemic pain test (IPT) and an electrical pain test (EPT). ⋯ We found that patients with endometriosis had significantly higher IPT VAS scores and lower EPT pain threshold than controls, but after surgery their IPT scores and EPT pain threshold were significantly and progressively improved, along with their dysmenorrhea severity. Thus, we conclude that women with endometriosis have generalized hyperalgesia, which was alleviated by surgery. Consequently, central sensitization may be a possible mechanism underlying various forms of pain associated with endometriosis, and its recognition should have important implications for the development of novel therapeutics and better clinical management of endometriosis.
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Reproductive sciences · Mar 2010
Comparative StudyOxytocin pretreatment of pregnant rat myometrium reduces the efficacy of oxytocin but not of ergonovine maleate or prostaglandin F 2 alpha.
Oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in both human and rat myometrial cells are desensitized by exposure to oxytocin, thereby reducing the ability of the cells to respond to the subsequent administration of oxytocin. However, it is unclear if this desensitization phenomenon is confined to oxytocin, or extends to other uterotonic agents such as ergonovine or prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)). We compared the in vitro contractile responses of myometrial samples from pregnant Wistar rats at 20 to 22 days of gestation. ⋯ However, oxytocin produced superior contractions in the control and oxytocin-pretreated myometrium compared to either ergonovine or PGF(2 alpha). Our study shows that the uterotonic effects of ergonovine and PGF(2 alpha) are not affected by the phenomenon of oxytocin desensitization in pregnant rat myometrium. However, oxytocin, despite the phenomenon of desensitization, provides superior uterine contractions when compared to ergonovine or PGF(2 alpha).