Increased Plasma Levels of Platelet Factor 4 and β-thromboglobulin in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Thrombosis in decidual vessels is one of the mechanisms of pregnancy loss. However, few studies have assessed the relation between platelet activation, which is known to cause of thrombosis, and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). We investigated platelet activation in women with RPL compared to controls by measuring plasma levels of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and β-thromboglobulin (βTG), and assessed correlations between PF4/βTG and coagulative risk factors associated with RPL. The study group included 135 women who had experienced two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. The control group included 28 age-matched healthy women who had never experienced pregnancy loss. PF4 and βTG plasma levels were significantly higher in the women with RPL than controls (PF4: 14.0 [8.0-20.0] vs. 9.0 [6.0-12.0] ng/ml, p=0.043; βTG: 42.0 [24.3-59.8] vs. 31.5 [26.6-36.4] ng/ml, p=0.002). There was a significant association between βTG and anti-phosphatidylethanolamine antibody immunoglobulin M (aPE IgM) (p=0.048). Among the women with RPL, 18 of those who were positive for PF4 (45%) and 18 of those who were positive for βTG (37%) were negative for all known coagulative risk factors associated with RPL. Measurements of PF4 and βTG may be important because they help identify women who are at risk of RPL

Magnetic field effect on the chiral magnetism of noncentrosymmetric UPtGe: experiment and theory

The effect of differently oriented magnetic field on chiral incommensurate helimagnet UPtGe is studied both experimentally and theoretically. The magnetization measurements up to the field above the saturation have revealed an isotropic magnetic response below 20 T and a remarkable nonmonotonic anisotropy in high fields. Moreover, the two principally different phase transitions from the noncollinear incommensurate to the field-induced ferromagnetic state have been observed. These properties are successfully explained by density-functional theory calculations taking into account the noncollinearity of the magnetic structures, arbitrary directed magnetic field, and relativistic effects. We also estimate the strength of different competing magnetic interactions and discuss possible scenarios of the field-induced phase transformations.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl

Pdz adaptors: Their regulation of epithelial transporters and involvement in human diseases

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系Homeostasis in the body is at least partially maintained by mechanisms that control membrane permeability, and thereby serve to control the uptake of essential substances (e.g., nutrients) and the efflux of unwanted substances (e.g., xenobiotics and metabolites) in epithelial cells. Various transporters play fundamental roles in such bidirectional transport, but little is known about how they are organized on plasma membranes. Protein-protein interactions may play a key role: several transporters in epithelial cells interact with the so-called adaptor proteins, which are membrane anchored and interact with both transporters and other membranous proteins. Although most of the evidences for transporter-adaptor interaction has been obtained in vitro, recent studies suggest that adaptor-mediated transporter regulation does occur in vivo and could be relevant to human diseases. Thus, protein-protein interaction is not only associated with the formation of macromolecular complexes but is also involved in various cellular events, and may provide transporters with additional functionality by forming transporter networks on plasma membranes. Interactions between xenobiotic transporters and PSD95/Dlg/ZO1 (PDZ) adaptors were previously reviewed by Kato and Tsuji (2006. Eur J Pharm Sci 27:487-500); the present review focuses on the latest findings about PDZ adaptors as regulators of transporter networks and their potential role in human diseases. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Cement composites reinforced with surface modified coir fibers

An experimental investigation of coir mesh reinforced mortar (CMRM) is conducted using nonwoven coir mesh matting. The main parameters in this study are the fiber volume fraction (number of mesh layers) and fiber surface treatment with a wetting agent. The composites are subjected to the four-point bending test. The short-term mechanical properties of CMRM are discussed. Scanning electron micrograph analysis is used to observe the fiber&mdash;matrix interfacial characteristics. The results indicate that the addition of coir mesh to mortar significantly improves the composite post-cracking flexural stress, toughness, ductility, and toughness index, compared to plain mortar materials. The Albatex &copy; FFC wetting agent (2-ethylhexanol) can effectively improve water absorption of coir fiber and enhance the fiber&mdash;matrix bonding strength. These coir mesh reinforced composites may be useful in civil engineering applications.<br /

Prognostic Factors in Endodontic Surgery Using an Endoscope: A 1 Year Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective study clarified the success rate of endoscopic endodontic surgeries and identified predictors accounting for successful surgeries. In this retrospective study, 242 patients (90 males, 152 females) who underwent endoscopic endodontic surgery at a single general hospital and were diagnosed through follow-up one year later were included. Risk factors were categorized into attributes, general health, anatomy, and surgery. Then, the correlation coefficient was calculated for the success or failure of endodontic surgery for each variable, the odds ratio was calculated for the upper variable, and factors related to the surgical prognosis factor were identified. The success rate of endodontic surgery was 95.3%, showing that it was a highly predictable treatment. The top three correlation coefficients were post, age, and perilesional sclerotic signs. Among them, the presence of posts was the highest, compared with the odds ratio, which was 9.592. This retrospective study revealed the success rate and risk factors accounting for endoscopic endodontic surgeries. Among the selected clinical variables, the presence of posts was the most decisive risk factor determining the success of endodontic surgeries