Arch Med Sci
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Folate is required for fetal, placental and maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. A decline in maternal circulating folate concentrations and an increase in total homocysteine (a non-specific indicator of folate deficiency) have been observed with the progression of pregnancy. However, the role of folate in the third trimester of pregnancy is not clear and folate status in late pregnancy has not so far been widely analyzed. The main aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to determine the folate concentrations in amniotic fluid and in maternal and umbilical cord blood serum derived during delivery. ⋯ Folate concentrations in amniotic fluid are associated with maternal and neonatal folate status peripartum in healthy women.
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Despite its importance in pre-chemotherapy counselling, specific reproductive toxicological information about cisplatin and paclitaxel is very rare. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations at which cisplatin and paclitaxel, alone or combined, affect the in vitro development of ovarian follicles. Their differential effects on the oocytes and surrounding granulosa cells was also evaluated. ⋯ These data provide an insight into the critical concentrations regarding in vitro follicular development and the differential effects of chemotherapeutic effects on oocytes and granulosa cells. Further studies are necessary to develop more efficient pre-chemotherapeutic fertility-sparing medical treatment that can evade oocyte-specific damage.
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Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that aldosterone nongenomically induces transglutaminase (TG) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which enhanced angiotensin II receptor (ATR) dimerization. There are no in vivo data in the kidney. ⋯ This is the first in vivo study demonstrating that aldosterone nongenomically increases renal TG2 and p47phox protein expression and then activates AT1R and AT2R dimerizations. Aldosterone-stimulated AT1R and AT2R dimerizations are mediated through activation of NADPH oxidase. Aldosterone-induced AT1R dimer formation is an MR-independent pathway, whereas the formation of AT2R dimer is modulated in an MR-dependent manner.
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Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in a variety of biological processes and diseases in humans, including cancer. However, the exact effects and molecular mechanisms of TP73-AS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression are still unknown. The present study is aimed to reveal the detailed functions and the mechanism of TP73-AS1 in the regulation of NSCLC cell proliferation. ⋯ Our data suggest that TP73-AS1 might be an oncogenic lncRNA that promotes proliferation of NSCLC and might be regarded as a therapeutic target in NSCLC.
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Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies, with a poor 5-year survival rate. Numerous studies have shown that microRNAs participate in the malignant behavior of ovarian cancer cells by directly targeting multiple oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. ⋯ These data indicate that miR-331-3p can inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells via directly targeting RCC2. Our study provides potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of ovarian cancer.