scholarly journals Endometrial Inhibin/Activin β-B Subunit Expression Is Related to Decidualization and Is Reduced in Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy

2008 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 2375-2382 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Horne ◽  
S. van den Driesche ◽  
A. E. King ◽  
S. Burgess ◽  
M. Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Stromal Fibroblasts ◽  
Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
B Subunit ◽  
Subunit Expression ◽  
Igf Binding ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancies ◽  
Igf Binding Protein

Abstract Context: Ectopic pregnancy is common but remains difficult to diagnose accurately. There is no serum test to differentiate ectopic from intrauterine gestation. Objective: Our objective was to investigate differential gene expression in decidualized endometrium of ectopic pregnancy. Design: Tissue and serum analysis informed by microarray study was performed. Setting: The study was performed at a large United Kingdom teaching hospital. Patients or Other Participants: Women undergoing surgical termination of pregnancy (n = 8), evacuation of uterus for miscarriage (n = 6), and surgery for tubal ectopic pregnancy (n = 11) were included in the study. Endometrium was collected from normally cycling women undergoing hysterectomy. Interventions: Decidualized endometrium was subjected to microarray analysis, morphological assessment, and immunohistochemistry. Endometrial stromal fibroblasts were cultured in the presence of decidualizing stimuli. Main Outcome Measures: Differential expression of potentially secreted molecules was calculated. Results: Inhibin/activin β-B expression was lower in decidualized endometrium from ectopic pregnancies when compared with that of ongoing pregnancies (P < 0.01) or miscarriages (P < 0.01). The localization of the β-B subunit was more marked in decidualized than nondecidualized stroma. Decidualization of stromal fibroblasts in vitro was associated with increased β-B expression (P < 0.05). Endometrial stroma of ectopic pregnancies was less decidualized morphologically (P < 0.05), with lower prolactin (P < 0.01) and IGF binding protein-1 (P < 0.005) expression. Serum activin B was lower in ectopic pregnancies (P < 0.005) than in intrauterine pregnancies, whereas there was no difference in progesterone concentrations. Conclusions: Despite similar concentrations of progesterone, the endometrium of ectopic pregnancies is less decidualized than intrauterine pregnancies. Expression of the β-B subunit is related to decidualization and can be detected in the circulation as activin B. Serum activin B concentrations are lower in ectopic pregnancy.

scholarly journals Neurite Growth and Polarization on Vitronectin Substrate after in Vitro Trauma is not Enhanced after IGF Treatment

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bergen ◽  
M. Frödin ◽  
C. von Gertten ◽  
A. Sandberg-Nordqvist ◽  
M. Sköld
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Neurite Growth ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Neurotrophic Activity ◽  
Igf Binding ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Igf Binding Protein

Following traumatic brain injuries (TBI), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is cortically widely upregulated. This upregulation has a potential role in the recovery of neuronal tissue, plasticity, and neurotrophic activity, though the molecular mechanisms involved in IGF regulation and the exact role of IGF after TBI remain unclear. Vitronectin (VN), an extracellular matrix (ECM) molecule, has recently been shown to be of importance for IGF-mediated cellular growth and migration. Since VN is downregulated after TBI, we hypothesized that insufficient VN levels after TBI impairs the potential beneficial activity of IGF. To test if vitronectin and IGF-1/IGFBP-2 could contribute to neurite growth, we cultured hippocampal neurons on ± vitronectin-coated coverslips and them treated with ± IGF-1/IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2). Under same conditions, cell cultures were also subjected to in vitro trauma to investigate differences in the posttraumatic regenerative capacity with ± vitronectin-coated coverslips and with ± IGF-1/IGFBP-2 treatment. In both the control and trauma situations, hippocampal neurons showed a stronger growth pattern on vitronectin than on the control substrate. Surprisingly, the addition of IGF-1/IGFBP-2 showed a decrease in neurite growth. Since neurite growth was measured as the number of neurites per area, we hypothesized that IGF-1/IGFBP-2 contributes to the polarization of neurons and thus induced a less dense neurite network after IGF-1/IGFBP-2 treatment. This hypothesis could not be confirmed and we therefore conclude that vitronectin has a positive effect on neurite growth in vitro both under normal conditions and after trauma, but that addition of IGF-1/IGFBP-2 does not have a positive additive effect.

scholarly journals Non-surgical management of unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 3041
Author(s):  
Anjali Choudhary ◽  
Priyanka Chaudhari ◽  
Neeta Bansal
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Expectant Management ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Surgical Trauma ◽  
Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Beta Hcg ◽  
Surgical Options ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancies

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is still the leading cause of pregnancy related morbidity in the first trimester. Since majority of the women who present with ectopic pregnancies are sub fertile and young, there is a role for non-surgical options of managing these pregnancies. Expectant and medical management not only serves to conserve the fallopian tubes but also saves women from surgical trauma and morbidity. The objective of this retrospective study was to share our experience of treating un-ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancies conservatively.Methods: Women diagnosed with un-ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy, fit for conservative /medical management were included. Women with serum beta HCG levels less than 1000 mIU/L were treated expectantly and women with Bet HCG levels >1000 but <10,000 mIU /L were given Injectable methotrixate. Response to treatment was monitored by serial beta HCG levels.Results: Total 37 women included in the study.12% women showed complete resolution with expectant treatment alone and 88% resolved after a single dose methotrixate.Conclusions: Many women with un-ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancies would benefit from expectant management, or methotrixate therapy. Methotrixate used in carefully selected women is safe and effective in resolving these cases with good post treatment reproductive outcome.

scholarly journals Unexpected rupture of an expectantly managed tubal ectopic pregnancy: a reminder for enhanced diligence

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. e230876
Author(s):  
Amenda Ann Davis ◽  
Kusum Lata ◽  
Akshita Panwar ◽  
Alka Kriplani
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Expectant Management ◽  
Close Monitoring ◽  
Original Diagnosis ◽  
Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Β Hcg ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancies ◽  
Asymptomatic Women ◽  
Low Serum

Expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancies is a feasible and possibly preferable method of management in asymptomatic women with low serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This involves serial monitoring of β-hCG until negative, after which it is deemed as spontaneously resolved ectopic pregnancy. We describe a case of tubal ectopic pregnancy which was expectantly managed with an initial β-hCG of 585 mIU/mL until undetectable. This patient presented with ruptured ectopic pregnancy 8 weeks after the original diagnosis, at the level of 5 mIU/mL. This highlights the importance of close monitoring in the expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancies, with the incorporation of imaging, even when serial β-hCG shows a persistently reducing trend.

scholarly journals Ruptured Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy at Fifteen Weeks Gestational Age

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Stremick ◽  
Kyle Couperus ◽  
Simeon Ashworth
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Vaginal Bleeding ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Intrauterine Pregnancy ◽  
Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancies ◽  
First Trimester Ultrasound

Tubal ectopic pregnancies are commonly diagnosed during the first trimester. Here we present a second-trimester tubal ectopic pregnancy that was previously misdiagnosed as an intrauterine pregnancy on a first-trimester ultrasound. A 39-year-old gravida 1 para 0 woman at 15 weeks gestation presented with 10 days of progressive, severe abdominal pain, along with vaginal bleeding and intermittent vomiting for two months. She was ultimately found to have a ruptured left tubal ectopic pregnancy. Second-trimester ectopic pregnancies carry a significant maternal mortality risk. Even with the use of ultrasound, they are difficult to diagnose and present unique diagnostic challenges.

scholarly journals Pachytene spermatocytes in co-culture inhibit rat Sertoli cell synthesis of inhibin beta B-subunit and inhibin B but not the inhibin alpha-subunit

2002 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Clifton ◽  
L O'Donnell ◽  
DM Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Sertoli Cell ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Inhibin B ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Subunit Mrna ◽  
B Subunit ◽  
Subunit Expression ◽  
Pachytene Spermatocytes

This study investigates the effects of spermatogenic germ cells on inhibin alpha-subunit and beta B-subunit expression, and inhibin alpha-subunit and inhibin B production by rat Sertoli cells in vitro. Sertoli cells isolated from 19-day-old rats were cultured for 48 h at 32 degrees C, in the presence or absence of FSH (2.3-2350 mIU/ml), and in the presence of pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids or cytoplasts of elongated spermatids purified from adult rat testis by elutriation and density gradient separation. Sertoli cell secretion of inhibin alpha-subunit and inhibin B, as measured by immunoassay, was dose-dependently stimulated by FSH (maximal stimulation 13- and 2-fold, respectively). Round spermatids or cytoplasts co-cultured with Sertoli cells had no effect on basal or FSH-induced secretion of inhibin alpha-subunit or inhibin B. When Sertoli cells were co-cultured with pachytene spermatocytes, inhibin alpha-subunit secretion was unaltered, while inhibin B secretion was suppressed in a cell concentration-dependent manner to reach a maximal suppression of 45% compared with Sertoli cells alone (P<0.01). A similar suppression in inhibin B was still observed (64% of Sertoli cells alone) when the pachytene spermatocytes were separated from Sertoli cells by a 0.45 microm pore membrane barrier in bicameral chambers. Pachytene spermatocytes also suppressed FSH-induced inhibin B levels in Sertoli cell co-cultures and this suppression was attributed to a decrease in basal inhibin B production rather than a change in FSH responsiveness. Quantitation of Sertoli cell inhibin alpha- and beta B-subunit mRNA by quantitative (real-time) PCR demonstrated that pachytene spermatocytes did not alter Sertoli cell alpha-subunit mRNA expression, but significantly (P<0.01) suppressed basal and FSH-induced beta B-subunit mRNA expression to a similar degree to that seen with inhibin B protein levels. It is concluded that pachytene spermatocytes in vitro suppress Sertoli cell inhibin B secretion via factor-mediated suppression of inhibin beta B-subunit expression. These findings support the hypothesis that specific germ cell types can influence inhibin B secretion by the testis independent of FSH regulation.

scholarly journals An immunologically anomalous but considerably bioactive GH produced by a novel GH1 mutation (p.D116E)

2009 ◽  
Vol 161 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumito Dateki ◽  
Kazuko Hizukuri ◽  
Toshiaki Tanaka ◽  
Noriyuki Katsumata ◽  
Paravee Katavetin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Condition ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Provocation Tests ◽  
Old Japanese ◽  
Igf Binding ◽  
Functional Analyses ◽  
Igf Binding Protein

ContexAlthough GH values measured by an immunoassay usually reflect GH bioactivities, discrepancy exists between immunoactivity and bioactivity in a rare condition known as ‘bioinactive GH’.ObjectiveTo report an immunologically anomalous but considerably bioactive GH.MethodsWe performed mutational and functional analyses of GH1 in a 7-year-old Japanese boy with short stature (−3.0 s.d.) in whom serum GH values measured with a Tosoh immunoassay kit were all undetectable in three provocation tests, whereas urine GH value measured with a Hitachi immunoassay kit was within the normal range. Serum IGF-1 was at a low-normal range, and IGF-binding protein-3 was below the normal range.ResultsMutation analysis showed a missense GH produced by a novel GH1 mutation (p.D116E) of paternal origin and a frameshift mutation (p.Q68fsX106) of maternal origin. Genotype–phenotype correlations in this family and in vitro functional studies indicated that the p.D116E-GH was immeasurable with the Tosoh kit but was measurable, though maybe not precise, with a Daiichi kit, and had a reduced in vivo bioactivity. The p.Q68fsX106 yielded no GH protein.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the p.D116E affects the GH epitope primarily recognized by the Tosoh kit but not by the Hitachi or the Daiichi kits, thereby producing an immunologically anomalous but considerably bioactive GH. The presence of such a hormone discordant for immunoactivity and bioactivity should be kept in mind, to allow for an appropriate assessment of endocrine data.

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