The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor in ovarian biology

Understanding how the ovary functions in a normal, cyclic pattern is necessary in order to identify what leads to female sub- and infertility. In order to improve fertility and reproductive success, it is important to understand how genes are regulated in the ovary. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) has been detected in the ovary of several species. Previous studies have found that PPAR is involved in steroidogenesis and can influence female fertility. However, the genes it regulates in the ovary are not known. The studies described herein were designed to investigate the role of PPARgamma in ovarian function. The effect of PPARgamma on luteal steroid production and luteal cell survival was investigated. These experiments demonstrated that PPARgamma did not play a role in the production and/or breakdown of progesterone, the main hormone produced by the corpus luteum. It was also found that the localization of PPARgamma in the corpus luteum was not due to the presence of macrophages. However, it was determined that PPAR may play a role in luteal cell survival by regulating an important gene involved in cell survival. In vitro and in vivo models were created in which the expression of PPARgamma was selectively reduced in the ovary. The in vivo model allowed for identification of candidate genes regulated by PPAR. Finally, the impact of an environmental agonist of PPARgamma on follicular estradiol production was also studied. Genistein has been found to bind to and activate PPARgamma. Experiments were performed that suggest that genistein may not affect the basal production of estradiol but may alter response to gonadotropin stimulation. Collectively, these studies were able to identify candidate ovarian genes regulated by PPAR and possible role(s) of PPARgamma in the ovary. The knowledge of the genes regulated by PPAR will allow researchers to further investigate how regulation of these genes by PPAR is involved in the functioning of the ovary

Unmet health needs identified by Haitian women as priorities for attention: a qualitative study

This 2009 qualitative study investigated Haitian women’s most pressing health needs, barriers to meeting those needs and proposed solutions, and how they thought the community and outside organizations should be involved in addressing their needs. The impetus for the study was to get community input into the development of a Family Health Centre in Leogane, Haiti. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 52 adult women in six communities surrounding Leogane. The most pressing health needs named by the women were accessible, available and affordable health care, potable water, enough food to eat, improved economy, employment, sanitation and education, including health education. Institutional corruption, lack of infrastructure and social organization, the cost of health care, distance from services and lack of transport as barriers to care were also important themes. The involvement of foreign organizations and local community groups, including grassroots women’s groups who would work in the best interests of other women, were identified as the most effective solutions. Organizations seeking to improve women’s health care in Haiti should develop services and interventions that prioritize community partnership and leadership, foster partnerships with government, and focus on public health needs

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor in ovarian biology

Understanding how the ovary functions in a normal, cyclic pattern is necessary in order to identify what leads to female sub- and infertility. In order to improve fertility and reproductive success, it is important to understand how genes are regulated in the ovary. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) has been detected in the ovary of several species. Previous studies have found that PPAR is involved in steroidogenesis and can influence female fertility. However, the genes it regulates in the ovary are not known. The studies described herein were designed to investigate the role of PPARgamma in ovarian function. The effect of PPARgamma on luteal steroid production and luteal cell survival was investigated. These experiments demonstrated that PPARgamma did not play a role in the production and/or breakdown of progesterone, the main hormone produced by the corpus luteum. It was also found that the localization of PPARgamma in the corpus luteum was not due to the presence of macrophages. However, it was determined that PPAR may play a role in luteal cell survival by regulating an important gene involved in cell survival. In vitro and in vivo models were created in which the expression of PPARgamma was selectively reduced in the ovary. The in vivo model allowed for identification of candidate genes regulated by PPAR. Finally, the impact of an environmental agonist of PPARgamma on follicular estradiol production was also studied. Genistein has been found to bind to and activate PPARgamma. Experiments were performed that suggest that genistein may not affect the basal production of estradiol but may alter response to gonadotropin stimulation. Collectively, these studies were able to identify candidate ovarian genes regulated by PPAR and possible role(s) of PPARgamma in the ovary. The knowledge of the genes regulated by PPAR will allow researchers to further investigate how regulation of these genes by PPAR is involved in the functioning of the ovary.</p

Human papillomavirus prevalence in a population of women living in Port-au-Prince and Leogane, Haiti.

BACKGROUND:There have been no published studies of carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV)--the necessary cause of cervical cancer--in Haiti, a nation that has one of the greatest burdens of cervical cancer globally. OBJECTIVE:Characterize prevalence of carcinogenic HPV and the prevalence of individual carcinogenic HPV genotypes in women with cervical precancer or cancer, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or more severe (CIN2+). METHODS:Women (n=9,769; aged 25-60 years) were screened for carcinogenic HPV by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2; Qiagen, Gaithersburg, MD). Carcinogenic HPV positives underwent colposcopy and visible lesions were biopsied. A subset of carcinogenic HPV positives was tested for individual HPV genotypes using a GP5+/6+ assay. RESULTS:The prevalence of carcinogenic HPV was 19.0% (95% confidence interval: 18.4%-19.9%) and decreased with increasing age (ptrend < 0.001). Women with 3 or more sexual partners and who started sex before the age of 18 years had twice the age-adjusted prevalence of carcinogenic HPV of women with one partner and who started sex after the age of 21 (24.3% vs. 12.9%, respectively). HPV16 and HPV35 were the most common HPV genotypes detected in CIN2+ and more common in women with CIN2+ than those without CIN2+. HPV16 and/or HPV18 were detected in 21.0% of CIN2 (n = 42), 46.2% of CIN3 (n = 52), and 80% of cancers (n = 5). CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of carcinogenic HPV in Haiti was much greater than the prevalence in other Latin American countries. High carcinogenic HPV prevalence and a lack of cervical cancer screening may explain the high burden of cervical cancer in Haiti

Age-range-specific carcinogenic HPV prevalence in Latin America compared to Haiti.

<p>A comparison of carcinogenic HPV prevalence for selected cross-sectional studies conducted in Latin America: Haiti (from this study); Guanacaste [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B16" target="_blank">16</a>]; Colombia [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B17" target="_blank">17</a>], Argentina [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B18" target="_blank">18</a>], Chile [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B17" target="_blank">17</a>], Mexico [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B17" target="_blank">17</a>]; Peru [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B18" target="_blank">18</a>]; Guatemala [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B20" target="_blank">20</a>]; and a second study from Mexico [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076110#B19" target="_blank">19</a>]. *estimated from graphs; †Drs. Eduardo Franco and Luisa Villa, unpublished data, Ludwig-McGill Cohort, Brazil.</p

Carcinogenic HPV prevalence by age range.

<p>The age-group specific prevalence of carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA as detected by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2). Bars represent 95% confidence intervals .</p

Unmet health needs identified by Haitian women as priorities for attention: a qualitative study

This 2009 qualitative study investigated Haitian women’s most pressing health needs, barriers to meeting those needs and proposed solutions, and how they thought the community and outside organizations should be involved in addressing their needs. The impetus for the study was to get community input into the development of a Family Health Centre in Leogane, Haiti. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 52 adult women in six communities surrounding Leogane. The most pressing health needs named by the women were accessible, available and affordable health care, potable water, enough food to eat, improved economy, employment, sanitation and education, including health education. Institutional corruption, lack of infrastructure and social organization, the cost of health care, distance from services and lack of transport as barriers to care were also important themes. The involvement of foreign organizations and local community groups, including grassroots women’s groups who would work in the best interests of other women, were identified as the most effective solutions. Organizations seeking to improve women’s health care in Haiti should develop services and interventions that prioritize community partnership and leadership, foster partnerships with government, and focus on public health needs