Evaluation of the vaginal flora in pregnant women receiving opioid maintenance therapy: a matched case-control study

Dataset supporting the conclusions of this article. (XLS 2634 kb

Enhanced expression of the stemness-related factors OCT4, SOX15 and TWIST1 in ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients

Abstract Background Current evidence suggests that endometrial-derived stem cells, spilled in the peritoneal cavity via retrograde menstruation, are key players in the establishment of endometriotic lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and distribution of the stemness-related factors OCT4, SOX15, TWIST1 and DCAMLK1 in women with and without endometriosis. Methods Immunohistochemical analysis was used to determine stromal and epithelial expression of OCT4, SOX15, TWIST1 and DCAMLK1 in endometriosis patient (EP) endometrium (n = 69) and endometriotic tissue (n = 90) and in control endometrium (n = 50). Quantitative Real-Time PCR of OCT4, SOX15 TWIST1 and DCAMLK1 was performed in paired samples of EP endometrium and endometriotic tissue. Co-immunofluorescence staining was performed for OCT4 and SOX15. For statistical analyses we used unpaired t-test, Fisher combination test and Spearman test. For paired analyses, paired t-test and McNemar test were used. Results We detected a significant correlation between the expression of the established stem cell marker OCT4 and the stemness-related markers SOX15 (p < 0.001) and TWIST1 (p = 0.002) but not DCAMLK1. We showed a colocalization of SOX15 and OCT4 in epithelial and stromal cells of endometriotic tissue by coimmunofluorescence. A concordant expression of OCT4 and SOX15 in the same sample was observed in epithelial cells of the endometriotic tissue (71.7%). The expression of stemness-related factors was not associated with proliferative or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle in endometriosis patients but was found to be differentially expressed during the menstrual cycle in the control group. Increased expression of epithelial OCT4, SOX15 and TWIST1 was detected in endometriotic tissue compared to EP endometrium in paired (p = 0.021, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) and unpaired analysis (p = 0.040, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that upregulation of stem cell-related factors contribute to the establishment of endometriotic lesions. Trial registration The study was approved by the institutional review board (545/2010 on 6th of May 2014) of the Medical University of Vienna ( http://ethikkommission.meduniwien.ac.at/fileadmin/ethik/media/dokumente/register/alle_2010.pdf )

Импульсный плазмохимический синтез углеродсодержащих композитов на основе TiO2

Полупроводниковый фотокатализ – одна из самых привлекательных и востребованных технологий, которая основана на сборе солнечной энергии для использования в энергетике и окружающей среде. Показано, что диоксид титана (TiO2) является ведущим полупроводниковым фотокатализатором для разложения загрязняющих веществ. Он обладает низкой фотокаталитической активностью при активации видимым светом, из-за его внутренней ширины запрещенной зоны. Разработаны различные стратегии повышения эффективности TiO2 в области видимого света. Среди них модификация TiO2 углеродистыми наноматериалами – весьма эффективный путь для значительного повышения фотокаталитической активности. Цель работы - Получение углеродосодержащего нанокомпозита на основе диоксида титана с улучшенными фотокаталитическими свойствами.Semiconductor photocatalysis is one of the most attractive and sought after technologies, which is based on the collection of solar energy for use in energy and the environment. It is shown that titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the leading semiconductor photocatalyst for the decomposition of pollutants. It has low photocatalytic activity when activated by visible light, because of its internal band gap. Various strategies have been developed to increase the efficiency of TiO2 in the visible light region. Among them, the modification of TiO2 by carbon nanomaterials is a very effective way for a significant increase in the photocatalytic activity. The aim of the research is synthesis of carbon-based nanocomposite based on titanium dioxide with improved photocatalytic properties

Guidelines for the management of spontaneous preterm labor: identification of spontaneous preterm labor, diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes, and preventive tools for preterm birth

Preterm premature rupture of the membranes (preterm PROM) is a common and significant cause of preterm birth and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The obstetric caregiver has the opportunity significantly to alter pregnancy and perinatal outcome for women suffering from this complication. Although management is often predetermined by the presence of clinical infection, vaginal bleeding, labor, or nonreassuring fetal heart-rate pattern on admission, a gestational age-based approach to the management of the stable patient with preterm PROM offers the potential to reduc

Design Novel Dual Agonists for Treating Type-2 Diabetes by Targeting Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors with Core Hopping Approach

Owing to their unique functions in regulating glucose, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) have drawn special attention for developing drugs to treat type-2 diabetes. By combining the lipid benefit of PPAR-alpha agonists (such as fibrates) with the glycemic advantages of the PPAR-gamma agonists (such as thiazolidinediones), the dual PPAR agonists approach can both improve the metabolic effects and minimize the side effects caused by either agent alone, and hence has become a promising strategy for designing effective drugs against type-2 diabetes. In this study, by means of the powerful “core hopping” and “glide docking” techniques, a novel class of PPAR dual agonists was discovered based on the compound GW409544, a well-known dual agonist for both PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma modified from the farglitazar structure. It was observed by molecular dynamics simulations that these novel agonists not only possessed the same function as GW409544 did in activating PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma, but also had more favorable conformation for binding to the two receptors. It was further validated by the outcomes of their ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) predictions that the new agonists hold high potential to become drug candidates. Or at the very least, the findings reported here may stimulate new strategy or provide useful insights for discovering more effective dual agonists for treating type-2 diabetes. Since the “core hopping” technique allows for rapidly screening novel cores to help overcome unwanted properties by generating new lead compounds with improved core properties, it has not escaped our notice that the current strategy along with the corresponding computational procedures can also be utilized to find novel and more effective drugs for treating other illnesses

Impact of Maternal Body Build Characteristics on Newborn Size in Two Different European Populations

The association patterns between maternal anthropometric characteristics (stature, prepregnancy weight, prepregnancy body mass index, pregnancy weight gain) and newborn size (birth weight, length, head circumference) were tested with 10,240 single births taking place between 1985 and 1995 in Vienna, Austria, and 3,452 single births taking place between 1989 and 1995 in Westerstede-Ammerland (Friesland), northern Germany. Maternal size and newborn size differed highly significantly (p \u3c 0.001) between the two genetically and socioeconomically different population groups. Furthermore, the incidence of macrosomia among newborns (birth weight greater than 4000 g) was extraordinarily high (17.9%) in the Frisian group from northern Germany. In both populations taller and heavier women with a higher weight gain during pregnancy gave birth to heavier offspring. Nevertheless, the pregnancy weight gain, which indicates environmental conditions of the mother, had only a minor impact on newborn size compared with stature and prepregnancy weight, which reflect the maternal genetic potential to a higher degree