The stimulus

triples were divided into six conditions dep

The stimulus

triples were divided into six conditions depending on the emotion (neutral and negative) and the extension product category in stimulus 3: beverage, clothing, and the household appliance. A negative component reflecting conflict, N2, was recorded for MK-4827 cost each condition on the subjects’ scalp. The induced negative emotion elicited significantly larger amplitude of N2 than did the induced neutral emotion in the moderate extension type (extending to the clothing product), whereas no significant difference was observed in any of the other two extension types. The findings indicate that the induced negative emotion has a specific negative impact on moderate brand extension, and the amplitude of N2 can be viewed as a reference measure reflecting such effect. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) or intraperitoneal (IP) administration of saredutant (SR48968), an NK2 receptor antagonist, produces anxiolytic-like effects in rodents in a number of animal models of anxiety. NK2 binding sites are present in several limbic structures in rats, including the hippocampus, thalamus, septum

and prefrontal cortex, suggesting involvement in the modulation of emotional processes. The current study investigated the behavioral effects of saredutant infused THZ1 mouse into the ventral hippocampus (VH), a structure associated with cognitive and emotional processes, to clarify the neural substrate underlying the anxiolytic-like effect of the compound. Saredutant (10, 100 or 500 pmol/0.2 mu L) was injected bilaterally into the VH of male CD-1 mice tested in the elevated plus-maze and mouse defense test battery (MDTB). Results from the EPM showed that microinjections

of 10pmol/0.2 mu L of saredutant increased entries and time spent in the open arms and enhanced end-arm exploration. In the MDTB, saredutant (500 pmol/0.2 mu L) decreased vocalizations and increased escape attempts in mice confronted with a rat. Taken together, these results suggest that hippocampal tachykinin mechanisms are involved in the modulation of anxiety and defensive behaviors. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“This study explored effects of perceptual load on stimulus processing in the presence and absence of an attended stimulus. Participants were presented with a bilateral or unilateral display and asked to perform found a discrimination task at either low or high perceptual load. Electrophysiological responses to stimuli were then compared at the P100 and N100. As in previous studies, perceptual load modified processing of attended and unattended stimuli seen at occipital scalp sites. Moreover, perceptual load modulated attention effects when the attended stimulus was presented at high perceptual load for unilateral displays. However, this was not true when the attended and unattended stimulus appeared simultaneously in bilateral displays. Instead, only a main effect of perceptual load was found.

With Bst DNA polymerase, the

With Bst DNA polymerase, the selleckchem target DNA can be clearly amplified for 60 min at 64 degrees C in a simple water

bath. The detection sensitivity of the LAMP assay for the detection of V. alginolyticus is about 3 center dot 7 x 102 CFU ml-1 (3 center dot 7 CFU per reaction). LAMP products could be judged with agar gel or naked eye after the addition of SYBR Green I. There were no cross-reactions with other bacterial strains indicating a high specificity of the LAMP. The LAMP method was applied to detect V. alginolyticus-infected fish tissues effectively.

Conclusions:

The LAMP established in this study is a simple, sensitive, specific, inexpensive and rapid protocol for the detection of V. alginolyticus.

Significance and Impact of the Study:

This LAMP method provides an important diagnostic tool for the detection of V. alginolyticus infection both in the laboratory and field.”
“Aims:

To test the efficacy of acceptable photoantimicrobial agents against bacterial pathogens

implicated in complicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in comparison with conventionally employed antibacterials.

Methods and Results:

Toluidine blue (TB), methylene blue (MB), 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA), trimethoprim and levofloxacin were employed in the study against the typical UTI-implicated pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus Veliparib ic50 faecalis and Proteus mirabilis. Standard bacterial cell culture was used to assay the activity both in the dark and under 660-nm LED-illuminated conditions.

TB and MB were highly photoactive across the range and exhibited rapid kill rates, their effects being assayed after 20-min illumination, rather VX770 than the 18-h incubation employed with the other compounds. Trimethoprim was inactive against all bacteria except Pr. mirabilis, while levofloxacin maintained highly bactericidal activity throughout. ALA required high concentrations for effective action but, for porphyrin production in situ, also required an 18-h incubation.

Conclusions:

TB

and MB were highly and rapidly photobactericidal in comparison with the remaining agents tested.

Significance and Impact of the Study:

Ubiquitous catheterization of geriatric patients offers a portal for light delivery to the urinary tract. The photoantimicrobial approach thus offers considerable potential.”
“Aims:

The aim of this study was to develop a real-time quantitative PCR test to recognize and quantify the DNA levels of the increasingly important barley pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni.

Methods and Results:

The method described uses specifically designed primers and a molecular beacon probe based on an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence. Pathogen extracted from barley leaves could be quantified to the picogram level in both leaves showing symptoms of infection and symptomless barley leaves.

Conclusions:

A relationship between R.

Few apoptotic cells were found in saline- or MAO-B inhibitor-trea

Few apoptotic cells were found in saline- or MAO-B inhibitor-treated CFTRinh-172 purchase animals but MPTP markedly induced apoptosis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and rostral migratory stream (RMS) after 1 day. When mice were pretreated with deprenyl or Ro 16-6491, not only nigrostriatal dopamine levels but also NPCs were significantly protected against MPTP. In addition, MPTP-induced apoptosis was found in both juvenile (postnatal 21 days) and older (12 months old) mice, suggesting NPCs to be different from the dopamine system, which has been thought to exhibit age-dependent susceptibility to MPTP. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The

risk associated with exposure to hepatotoxic drugs is difficult to quantify. Animal experiments to assess their chronic toxicological impact are time consuming. New quantitative approaches

to correlate gene expression changes caused by drug exposure to chronic toxicity are required. This article proposes a mathematical model entitled Toxicologic Prediction Network (TPN) to assess chronic hepatotoxicity based on subchronic hepatic gene expression see more data in rats. A directed graph accounts for the interactions between the drugs, differentially expressed genes and chronic hepatotoxicity. A knowledge-based mathematical model estimates phenotypical exposure risk such as toxic hepatopathy, diffuse fatty change and hepatocellular adenoma for rats. The network’s edges encoding the interaction strength are determined by solving an inversion problem that minimizes the difference between the observed and the predicted relative gene expressions as well as the chronic toxicity data. A realistic case study demonstrates how chronic health risk of three halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons can be inferred from subchronic gene expression data. The advantages of the TPN are further demonstrated through two novel applications: Estimation of toxicological impact of new drugs and drug mixtures

as well as rigorous determination of the optimal drug formulation to achieve maximum potency with minimum side-effects. Prediction of animal toxicity may be relevant for assessing risk for humans in the future. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“While proper brain function requires the complex interaction of chemicals perpetually occupied in purposeful IPI145 biochemistry, it is well established that certain toxic substances have the potential to disrupt normal brain physiology and to impair neurological homeostasis. As well as headache, cognitive dysfunction, memory disturbance, and other neurological signs and symptoms, disruption of brain function may also manifest as subtle or overt alteration in thoughts, moods, or behaviors. Over the last four decades, there has been the unprecedented development and release of a swelling repertoire of potentially toxic chemicals which have the capability to inflict brain compromise.

Reported adverse events were infrequent in both groups (10 2% and

Reported adverse events were infrequent in both groups (10.2% and 10.3%). Conclusions. HBB is effective in the treatment of recurrent

APC and is safe and well tolerated when used on demand. The change from baseline in the intensity of APC using the 11-point NPRS distinguished HBB from placebo.”
“Objectives. To perform a validation of dairy registrations for use as diagnostic tool in IBS and fructose malabsorption (FM). To investigate the precision of the fructose breath test (FBT) as compared with symptom score reduction on fructose-reduced diet (FRD) in a cohort of patients with Rome II defined irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Design. IBS patients diagnosed according to the Rome II criteria and with no organic gastrointestinal disease were enrolled. The patients were randomized in an open study design with a 2 week run-in on IBS diet, followed by 4 weeks w/wo additional GDC-0994 FRD. FBT was performed in all patients. Dairy registrations of stool frequency and consistency as well as abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating on a visual analog scale (VAS) were performed during the whole study. Results. A total of 182 subjects performed the study according to protocol (88 FRD, 94 controls). The VAS symptom registration performed well in validation procedures, whereas stool data showed less impressive characteristics. FRD improved

symptom scores (abdominal Daporinad in vivo pain/discomfort and bloating) significantly whereas no changes were observed in the control group. The effect of FRD on the stool frequency was modest but no effect was observed on the stool consistency. The FBT did not discriminate between patients with and without effect of FRD, and even in the group with a negative FBT significant improvement of symptom scores was observed. Conclusion. VAS measures yield reliable symptom evaluation in dairy registrations of IBS. FRD improves symptom scores in IBS patients independent of results from the FBT.”
“Background

and aims. Collagenous colitis (CC) is associated Selleck Vorinostat with autoimmune disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CC and autoimmune disorders in a Swedish multicenter study. Methods. Patients with CC answered questionnaires about demographic data and disease activity. The patient’s files were scrutinized for information about autoimmune diseases. Results. A total number of 116 CC patients were included; 92 women, 24 men, median age 62 years (IQR 55-73). In total, 30.2% had one or more autoimmune disorder. Most common were celiac disease (CeD; 12.9%) and autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD, 10.3%), but they also had Sjogren’s syndrome (3.4%), diabetes mellitus (1.7%) and conditions in skin and joints (6.0%). Patients with associated autoimmune disease had more often nocturnal stools. The majority of the patients with associated CeD or ATD got these diagnoses before the colitis diagnosis. Conclusion.

During learning, the input synapses of many neurons undergo trans

During learning, the input synapses of many neurons undergo transient changes, resulting in altered spiking activity. If this in turn promotes strengthening of output synapses, the recent AZD5582 synaptic changes will be stabilized; otherwise they will decay. A representation of sensory stimuli therefore evolves that is tailored to the demands of behavioral tasks. We describe a candidate molecular mechanism for this process involving the activation of CREB by

retrograde neurotrophin signals.”
“After a series of serendipitous discoveries of pharmacological treatments for mania and depression several decades ago, relatively little progress has been made for novel hypothesis-driven drug development in mood disorders. Multifactorial etiologies of, and lack of a full understanding of, the core neurobiology of these conditions clearly have contributed to these development challenges. There are, however, relatively novel targets that have raised opportunities for progress in the field, such as glutamate and cholinergic receptor modulators, circadian regulators, and enzyme inhibitors, for alternative treatment. This review will discuss these promising new treatments in mood disorders, the underlying mechanisms of action, and critical issues of their clinical application. For these new treatments to be successful in clinical practice, it is also important to design

innovative clinical trials that identify the specific actions of new drugs, and, ideally, to develop biomarkers for monitoring individualized treatment response. It is predicted that future AZD6738 ic50 drug development will identify new agents targeting the molecular mechanisms

involved in the pathophysiology selleck kinase inhibitor of mood disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews (2012) 37, 77-101; doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.198; published online 7 September 2011″
“Pairs of recombinant MVA (Modified Vaccinia Ankara) and FPV (Fowlpox Virus) expressing the same transgene are reasonable candidates for prime/boost regimens, because cross-reacting immune responses between the two vectors, both non-replicative in mammalian hosts, are very limited. The acceptor virus FPD-Red, a derivative of FPV, carrying a red fluorescent protein gene flanked by the homology regions of MVA deletion III, was constructed. The same MVA Transfer Plasmid Green, designed to insert transgenes into the MVA deletion III locus, can therefore be used to transfer transgenes into both acceptor viruses MVA-Red and FPD-Red with the described recently Red-to-Green gene swapping method. Cells infected by either recombinant virus can be sorted differentially by a simple and reliable FACS-based purification protocol. The procedure is carried out in primary chick embryo fibroblasts grown in serum-free media and was applied to the production of three rMVA/rFPV pairs expressing the H5N1 avian influenza antigens M1, M2 and NP.

6-OHDA showed similar toxicity pattern in differentiated compared

6-OHDA showed similar toxicity pattern in differentiated compared to undifferentiated NPCs. By evaluating the toxicity of MPP+ on MAP2ab(+) neurons derived from both mNPCs and sNPCs as well as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)(+) dopaminergic cells from mNPCs, we found concentration-dependent cell death of all cell types with no increased vulnerability of TH+ cells. Primary TH+ neurons showed significantly higher vulnerability to MPP+. Together, we demonstrated stage-dependent vulnerability of NPCs towards dopaminergic neurotoxins,

but no selective vulnerability of NPC-derived TH+ dopaminergic cells towards MPP+. This cell system seems not suitable as a screening tool for selective dopaminergic toxicity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Sulfatide is abundantly expressed in various mammalian organs, including the intestines and trachea, in SB203580 datasheet which influenza A viruses (IAVs) replicate. However, the function of sulfatide in IAV infection remains unknown. Sulfatide is synthesized by two transferases, ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) and cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST), and is degraded by arylsulfatase A (ASA). In this study, we demonstrated that sulfatide enhanced Omipalisib solubility dmso IAV replication through efficient translocation of the newly synthesized IAV nucleoprotein

(NP) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, by using genetically produced cells in which sulfatide expression was down-regulated by RNA interference against CST mRNA or overexpression of the ASA gene and in which sulfatide expression was up-regulated by overexpression of both the CST and CGT genes. Treatment of IAV-infected cells with an antisulfatide monoclonal antibody (MAb) or an anti-hemagglutinin (HA) MAb, which

blocks the binding of IAV and sulfatide, resulted in a significant reduction in IAV replication and accumulation of the viral NP in the nucleus. Furthermore, antisulfatide MAb protected mice against lethal challenge Selleck BMS-777607 with pathogenic influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus. These results indicate that association of sulfatide with HA delivered to the cell surface induces translocation of the newly synthesized IAV ribonucleoprotein complexes from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Our findings provide new insights into IAV replication and suggest new therapeutic strategies.”
“Previous studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to nicotine is associated with abnormal development in fetuses, including fetal brain damage. The present study determined the effect of maternal administration of nicotine during different gestational periods on brain nicotine receptor subunits in fetal rats. Subcutaneous injections of nicotine in maternal rats from the early and middle gestation decreased fetal blood PO2, increased fetal blood PCO2 and hemoglobin, and decreased fetal brain weight. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) mRNA abundance in the fetal brain was significantly changed by prenatal treatment with nicotine during pregnancy.

In comparison

to HvAV-3e reported from Australia, HvAV-3g

In comparison

to HvAV-3e reported from Australia, HvAV-3g has all the ORFs in HvAV-3e with 6 additional ORFs unique to HvAV-3g, including 1 peptidase C26 gene with the highest identity to Drosophila spp. and 2 gas vesicle protein Entrectinib in vivo U (GvpU) genes with identities to Bacillus megaterium. The five unique homologous regions (hrs) and 25 baculovirus repeat ORFs (bro) of HvAV-3g are highly variable.”
“DNA methylation is involved in many diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. We generated recombinant single-chain Fv (scFv) antibodies against 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (m(5)dCyd) using phage display technology and a hyperimmunized mouse, and the scFv of most interest were contructed as fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein obtained from Aequorea coerulescens GFP (AcGFP). Using RNA isolated from mouse spleens, we constructed a scFv library consisting of lambda light chains. The scFv library was selected against m(5)Cyd-BSA and enriched through four rounds of panning. The scFv library was concentrated about 390-fold and GSK126 in vitro an individual clone was reacted with m(5)Cyd-BSA. Two scFvs with high reactivity for m(5)Cyd-BSA termed 1-2 and 1-12 were produced. Furthermore,

methylated DNA-binding activities of the scFvs were confirmed using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Additionally, N- and C-terminal scFv 1-2 fusion with AcGFP were constructed, and we observed the N-terminal AcGFP exhibited much higher fluorescence intensity than the C-terminal fusions. The AcGFP-scFv 1-2 modified N-terminus of scFv with AcGFP had high fluorescence intensity, but the scFv 1-2-AcGFP modified C-terminus of scFv with AcGFP had low fluorescence intensity. The cross-reactivity of AcGFP-scFv 1-2 was similar to scFv 1-2, and thus, AcGFP-scFv 1-2 could be used in a direct immunofluorescence

assay. The scFv fusion proteins may be useful for the detection and quantification of cellular methylated see more DNA in various specimens.”
“ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) is involved in amyloid-beta transport and was found to be significantly up-regulated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain. A functional polymorphism of the ABCG2 gene (C421A; rs2231142) was genotyped in a sample of 299 Hungarian late-onset AD patients and 259 elderly, non-demented controls to investigate for the first time its association with AD, either alone or in combination with apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 2/epsilon 3/epsilon 4 polymorphism. A significantly increased susceptibility to AD (OR= 1.741, 95% CI: 1.075-2.819, p = 0.024) associated with ABCG2 C/C genotype was found when compared with the variant allele containing genotypes (CA and AA) as the reference category. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between the ABCG2 C/C genotype and APOE epsilon 4 allele on AD risk (p = 0.003). It seems that the potential modest risk effect of the ABCG2 C/C genotype on AD risk is more pronounced in combination with the APOE epsilon 4 allele.

Convective heat transfer through jugular venous return and the ci

Convective heat transfer through jugular venous return and the circle of Willis was simulated. Hemodilution and volume loading were modeled using a two-compartment saline infusion model. A feedback method of local brain temperature control was developed where ICSI flow rate was varied based on the rate of temperature change and the deviation of temperature to a target (32 degrees C) within a voxel in the treated region of

brain. The simulations confirmed the inability of cooling caps alone to induce hypothermia. In the ICSI and the combination models (ICSI and cap), the control algorithm guided ICSI to quickly achieve and maintain the target temperature. The combination model had lower ICSI flow rates than the ICSI model resulting in a 55% reduction of infusion volume over click here a 6 h period and higher hematocrit values compared to the ICSI model. Moreover, in the combination model, the ICSI flow rate decreased to zero after 4h, and hypothermia was subsequently maintained solely by the cooling cap. This is the first study supporting a role of cooling caps in therapeutic hypothermia in adults. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Eag1 (K(v)10.1) is the founding member of an evolutionarily conserved superfamily of voltage-gated K+ channels. In rats and humans Eag1 is preferentially expressed in adult brain but its regional distribution YM155 has only been

studied at mRNA level and only in the rat at high resolution. The main

aim of the present study is to describe the distribution of Eag1 protein in adult rat brain in comparison to selected regions of the human adult brain. The distribution of Eag1 protein was assessed using alkaline-phosphatase based immunohistochemistry. Eag1 immunoreactivity was widespread, although selective, throughout rat brain, especially noticeable in the perinuclear space of cells and proximal regions of the extensions, both in rat and human brain. To relate the results to the relative abundance of Eag1 transcripts in different regions of rat brain a reverse-transcription coupled to quantitative polymerase chain reaction learn more (real time PCR) was performed. This real time PCR analysis showed high Eag1 expression in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and cerebellum. The results indicate that Eag1 protein expression greatly overlaps with mRNA distribution in rats and humans. The physiological relevance of potassium channels in the different regions expressing Eag1 protein is discussed. (C) 2008 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“In phylogenetic systematics a problem of great practical and theoretical interest is to construct one or more large phylogenies (evolutionary trees), i.e., supertrees, from a given set of small phylogenies with overlapping sets of leaf labels.

Secondary end points were postoperative symptoms (pain, use of an

Secondary end points were postoperative symptoms (pain, use of analgesics, paresthesia at the ankle, residual hematoma), complications, time taken to resume work, the patient’s satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome, and the CIVIQ quality of life score at 16 weeks.

Results: The groups were well matched at baseline. In all, 95 patients could be followed up in accordance with the protocol. The treatment was successful in all patients.

Endovenous laser ablation was associated with an occlusion rate of 100%. Hematomas were significantly smaller after EVLA (median [quartiles]) at 125 (55-180) cm(2) vs stripping 200 (123-269) cm(2) (p =.001). No difference this website was registered between groups for the CIVIQ quality of life score, with EVLA at – 1.25 (-7.5-11.25) vs stripping at 4.38 (-5.94-14.38; P =.34). Several postoperative see more symptoms

favored EVLA, but the only significant differences were seen in the minor side effects of surgery at 1 and 4 weeks and discomfort due to paresthesia at the ankle in the first postoperative week. EVLA was associated with a longer period of time until return to work (median [quartiles]) of 20 (14-25.5) days vs 14 (12.8-25) days (P =.054).

Conclusion: Endovenous laser ablation combined with high ligation is safe and effective. Postoperative hematomas are significantly smaller

than those after stripping. Short-term quality of life is at least as good as that after stripping. The long-term results warrant further investigation.”
“In this study, the effects of chronic lead (Pb2+) exposure, during day 0 of gestation (EO) to postnatal day 15 (P15), on voltage-gated sodium channel currents (I-Na) were investigated in CA1 field of the hippocampus (CA1) neurons using the conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique on rat hippocampal slices. Levetiracetam We found that developmental lead exposure increased the activation threshold and the voltage at which the maximum IN. current was evoked, caused positive shifts Of IN. steady-state activation curve, and enlarged IN. tail-currents; Pb2+ delayed the activation Of IN, in a voltage-dependent manner, prolonged the time course of the fast inactivation of sodium channels; Pb2+ induced a right shift of the steady-state inactivation curve, accelerated the activity-dependent attenuation Of IN., but made no significant effects on the time course of the recovery of I-Na from inactivation and the fraction of inactivated channels. In addition, the co-treatment with alpha-tocopherol (VE), an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger, completely prevented the aforementioned changes on I-Na. The alterations on IN.

Results demonstrated that the BP and TR expressed low levels of R

Results demonstrated that the BP and TR expressed low levels of RLN/RXFP1 and INSL4 through gestation. In accreta, increased RLN gene and protein in BP were associated with antepartum bleeding whereas INSL4 expression decreased throughout the TR. There were no changes in mRNAs

for MMPs, but TIMP-1 was increased only in the invasive TR.”
“Background:

The Wnt signaling pathway is a conserved pathway and plays a crucial role in regulating trophoblast functions. Abnormal expression of the Wnt pathway may result in the dysfunction of the trophoblast that can contribute to the pathogenesis of WH-4-023 mw preeclampsia (PE). However, published data regarding the association between Wnt pathway and PE in human pregnancy is rare.

Objective:

The aims of this study were to investigate the expression pattern of Wnt2 and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) in the third trimester Palbociclib chemical structure human placenta and to evaluate the relationship between changes in placental Wnt2 and sFRP4 expression and severe PE.

Methods:

The expression of Wnt2 and sFRP4 in normal and severe PE placentas was examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot.

Results:

Compared to the controls, the relative expression of Wnt2 messenger RNA was remarkably downregulated in the PE placentas,

while there was no significant difference in sFRP4 between the 2 groups. The IHC indicated that Wnt2 and sFRP4 were expressed predominantly in the villous syncytiotrophoblast and the extravillous trophoblast, whereas Wnt2 in the control group showed higher staining intensity than in the PE group, and sFRP4 in the PE group had a higher staining intensity than in over the control group. Furthermore, the results of the Western blots were consistent with the IHC.

Conclusions:

The Wnt signaling pathway was detected in human third trimester placentas, and the decreased placental expression of Wnt2 and increased placental expression of sFRP4 may be associated

with the pathogenesis of severe PE.”
“The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an in vitro culture (IVC) medium containing either or not -mercaptoethanol (BME), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) could be able to promote the development of capuchin monkeys’ preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian cortical strips. Follicular viability after IVC was similar to control (89.32%). Primordial follicle recruitment to primary stage was not reached with IVC, but the rate of secondary follicle formation was increased in the medium supplemented with BME, BMP4, and PMSG (44.86%) when compared to IVC control (9.20%). In the medium supplemented with BME, BMP4, and PMSG, contrary to other media, anti-mullerian hormone-messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in ovarian tissue was upregulated (3.4-fold), while that of growth differentiation factor-9 was maintained. The BMP4-mRNA expression, however, appeared downregulated in all cultured tissues.