ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To screen the differentially expressed gene profile from the smooth muscles in the fundus uterus at the active stage of labor, and to provide candidate genes for picking out the drug targets related to uterine contraction.@*METHODS@#Differentially expressed genes of uterine smooth muscles in the corpus from pro and post spontaneous parturition and those induced by oxytocin,as well as those from the corpus and the lower portion spontaneous parturition,were scanned respectively by human full-length genetic cDNA microarray with 8064 probe sets. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to testify the expression of voltage dependent calcium channel-L subtype (CACNA). The differentially expressed genes in the structure and function of the drug targets were picked out by bio-informatics to serve as candidate drug targets related to uterine contraction.@*RESULTS@#The expressions of 29 genes were upregulated in fundus smooth muscles from the pro and post natural parturition, the pro and post inductive parturition of oxytocin, and the natural parturition. The expression of CACNA gene in RT-PCR was in accordance with that in the microarray. Among the 29 genes, neuromedin B receptor (NMBR) gene and neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene were the genes which not only had the targets of uterine contracted medicine, but also could contract the uterine. The differential expression ratios of NMBR in the above 3 types of uterine myometrium were 6.9,11.3, and 9.0, respectively while those of NPY were 6.0,29.8, and 2.9 respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#NMBR, whose expression in the uterine smooth muscles is always up-regulated at different parturition conditions, is likely to be an ideal candidate target of uterotonic drugs.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Calcium Channels , Genetics , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Gene Expression , Gene Expression Profiling , Myometrium , Neuropeptide Y , Genetics , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Receptors, Bombesin , Genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Uterine ContractionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the interacting effects between pregnancy and flares of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore the best occasion for SLE patients' conception and the management during the pregnancy.@*METHODS@#Thirty one cases of pregnancy complicated with SLE were investigated retrospectively, among whom 18 were in remission of SLE at the beginning of conception (Group A), and the other 13 either had high-activity of the disease or were first diagnosed as SLE during the pregnancy (Group B). Various doses of prednisone were administered to control SLE.@*RESULTS@#SLE flares still occurred in 6 cases in Group A, but in all cases in Group B. Compared with Group A, the rates of fetal loss and early delivery were significantly higher in Group B (P < 0.05), while the survival rate and the weight of the new born were notably decreased in Group B (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Pregnancy and SLE interacted with each other unfavorably. Selection of remission stage for conception and proper management during the pregnancy could significantly improve the maternal-fetal safety.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Therapeutics , Pregnancy Complications , Therapeutics , Pregnancy Outcome , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To examine the normal range of the width of posterior cranial fossa (WPCF) in the second and third trimester by ultrasonography, and to investigate its relationship with fetal congenital and chromosome abnormality.@*METHODS@#WPCF of 2484 fetus (gestational age from 14 to 41 weeks) was measured by ultrasonograph routinely, and the infants were followed up.@*RESULTS@#In 2848 fetus, 2772 were normal and 76 were abnormal. WPCF increased before 32 weeks, decreased after 33 weeks, the largest value of WPCF was 13.4 mm. The occurrence rate of WPCF> or =8 mm in normal fetus was 8.84%, and that in abnormal fetus was 17.46%. Most fetuses with chromosome abnormality had normal WPCF in the second trimester, but some fetuses with remarkable broadening in the late stage. Some abnormal fetuses (such as water head, Dandy-Walker's syndrome etc) showed significant extension of WPCF.@*CONCLUSION@#WPCF increases before 32 weeks, decreases after 33 weeks;and can be easily measured during 29 - 32 weeks. WPCF of some fetus with chromosome abnormality or with congenital abnormality is remarkably broadened in the late stage. The fetus of WPCF> or =10 mm should be followed up closely, and antenatal diagnosis should be done if WPCF is more than 14 mm.