Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Rice Consumption Contributes To Arsenic Exposure In Us Women, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Kathryn L. Cottingham, Joann F. Gruber, Tracy Punshon, Vicki Sayarath, A. Jay Gandolfi, Emily R. Baker, Brian P. Jackson, Carol L. Folt, Margaret R. Karagas

Dartmouth Scholarship

Emerging data indicate that rice consumption may lead to potentially harmful arsenic exposure. However, few human data are available, and virtually none exist for vulnerable periods such as pregnancy. Here we document a positive association between rice consumption and urinary arsenic excretion, a biomarker of recent arsenic exposure, in 229 pregnant women. At a 6-mo prenatal visit, we collected a urine sample and 3-d dietary record for water, fish/seafood, and rice. We also tested women's home tap water for arsenic, which we combined with tap water consumption to estimate arsenic exposure through water. Women who reported rice intake (n …

Human Glial-Restricted Progenitor Transplantation Into Cervical Spinal Cord Of The Sod1 Mouse Model Of Als., Angelo C Lepore, John O'Donnell, Andrew S Kim, Timothy Williams, Alicia Tuteja, Mahendra S Rao, Linda L Kelley, James T Campanelli, Nicholas J Maragakis

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Cellular abnormalities are not limited to motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There are numerous observations of astrocyte dysfunction in both humans with ALS and in SOD1(G93A) rodents, a widely studied ALS model. The present study therapeutically targeted astrocyte replacement in this model via transplantation of human Glial-Restricted Progenitors (hGRPs), lineage-restricted progenitors derived from human fetal neural tissue. Our previous findings demonstrated that transplantation of rodent-derived GRPs into cervical spinal cord ventral gray matter (in order to target therapy to diaphragmatic function) resulted in therapeutic efficacy in the SOD1(G93A) rat. Those findings demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of transplantation-based …

Alpha-Defensins 1-3 Release By Dendritic Cells Is Reduced By Estrogen, Maria M. Escribese, Marta Rodríguez-García, Rhoda Sperling, Stephanie M. Engel

Dartmouth Scholarship

During pregnancy the immune system of the mother must protect any activation that may negatively affect the fetus. Changes in susceptibility to infection as well as resolution of some autoimmune disorders represent empirical evidence for pregnancy related alterations in immunity. Sex hormones reach extremely high levels during pregnancy and have been shown to have direct effects on many immune functions including the antiviral response of dendritic cells. Among the immunologically active proteins secreted by monocyte derived DCs (MDDC) are the alpha-defensins 1-3. This family of cationic antimicrobial peptides has a broad spectrum of microbicidal activity and has also been shown …

Health Needs Of Hiv-Infected Women In The United States: Insights From The Women Living Positive Survey., Kathleen E Squires, Sally L Hodder, Judith Feinberg, Dawn Averitt Bridge, Staats Abrams, Stephen P Storfer, Judith A Aberg

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The objective of this study was to describe attitudes, opinions, and perceived health needs of HIV-infected women in the United States. In this cross-sectional study, women were invited to participate in the Women Living Positive survey, a structured interview instrument with 45 questions. Collected data were deidentified and the margin of error was calculated as four percentage points. Incoming toll-free phone interviews were conducted from December 21, 2006, through March 14, 2007 among subjects recruited from a U.S. national network of AIDS counseling centers. Seven hundred HIV-infected women (43% African American, 28.5% Hispanic, 28.5% Caucasian; median age, 42.5 years) receiving …

Type, Content, And Source Of Social Support Perceived By Women During Pregnancy: Evidence From Matlab, Bangladesh, Joyce K. Edmonds, Moni Paul, Lynn M. Sibley

Joyce K. Edmonds

Specific and contextualized data on social support during distinct health events are needed to improve social support interventions. This study identified the type, content, and source of social support perceived by women during pregnancy. In-depth interviews with 25 women, aged 18-49 years, living in Matlab, Bangladesh, were conducted. The findings demonstrated that women perceived, the receipt of eight distinct types of support. The four most frequently-mentioned types included: practical help with routine activities, information/advice, emotional support and assurance, as well as the provision of resources and material goods. Sources varied by type of support and most frequently included--mothers, mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, …

Tdp-43 Potentiates Alpha-Synuclein Toxicity To Dopaminergic Neurons In Transgenic Mice., Tian Tian, Cao Huang, Jianbin Tong, Ming Yang, Hongxia Zhou, Xugang Xia

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

TDP-43 and α-synuclein are two disease proteins involved in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. While TDP-43 proteinopathy is considered a pathologic hallmark of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobe degeneration, α-synuclein is a major component of Lewy body characteristic of Parkinson's disease. Intriguingly, TDP-43 proteinopathy also coexists with Lewy body and with synucleinopathy in certain disease conditions. Here we reported the effects of TDP-43 on α-synuclein neurotoxicity in transgenic mice. Overexpression of mutant TDP-43 (M337V substitution) in mice caused early death in transgenic founders, but overexpression of normal TDP-43 only induced a moderate loss of cortical neurons in …

Addressing The Fertility Needs Of Hiv-Seropositive Males, Brian A. Levine, Sahadat K. Nurudeen, Jennifer T. Gosselin, Mark V. Sauer

Psychology Faculty Publications

An increasing number of serodiscordant couples are utilizing advanced reproductive technologies to address their reproductive needs. Recent literature has demonstrated that it is not only technically possible but also safe to utilize sperm-washing techniques to allow for the creation of embryos, thereby preventing both horizontal and vertical transmission of HIV. This article addresses the strengths and weakness of various reproductive techniques and discusses our experience at Columbia University (NY, USA), the location of the largest HIV-focused fertility program in the USA.

Development Of Fetal Movement Between 26 And 36 Weeks’ Gestation In Response To Vibroacoustic Stimulation, Marybeth Grant-Beuttler, Laura M. Glynn, Amy L. Salisbury, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Carol Holliday, Curt A. Sandman

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound observation of fetal movement has documented general trends in motor development and fetal age when motor response to stimulation is observed. Evaluation of fetal movement quality, in addition to specific motor activity, may improve documentation of motor development and highlight specific motor responses to stimulation.

AIM: The aim of this investigation was to assess fetal movement at 26 and 36-weeks gestation during three conditions (baseline, immediate response to vibro-acoustic stimulation (VAS), and post-response).

DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal design was utilized.

SUBJECTS: Twelve normally developing fetuses, eight females and four males, were examined with continuous ultrasound imaging.

OUTCOME MEASURES: …

Serum Paraoxonase And Arylesterase Activities In Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy, Hakan Camuzcuoğlu, Harun Toy, Mehmet Vural, Aysun Camuzcuoğlu, Abdullah Taşkin, Haki̇m Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and lipid hydroperoxide levels in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia. Materials and methods: Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and lipid hydroperoxide levels were assessed for pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (n = 50) and controls (n = 70). Serum basal and salt-stimulated paraoxonase, and arylesterase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. The lipid hydroperoxide levels were measured by ferrous ion oxidation xylenol orange assay. In addition, lipid parameters were determined by routine laboratory methods. Results: Basal and salt-stimulated paraoxonase, and arylesterase activities were significantly lower (P = 0.026, P = 0.031, and P = …

A Comparison Of Intravenous General Anesthesia And Paracervical Block For In Vitro Fertilization: Effects On Oocytes Using The Transvaginal Technique, Sevi̇l Bümen, İlkben Günüşen, Vi̇cdan Firat, Semra Karaman, Ayşi̇n Akdoğan, Ege Nazan Tavmergen Göker

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To compare the effects of 2 different anesthetic techniques used for oocyte retrieval. Comparison was made based on the number of retrieved and fertilized oocytes, metaphase 2 (M2, mature) oocytes, and transferred embryos, as well as fertilization, pregnancy, and live birth rates. Ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization is one of the most common minor surgical procedures. Despite this, it is stressful and painful for the patient; most patients request sedation and/or pain relief. Propofol, which is frequently used for general anesthesia in such procedures, has been suspected to damage oocytes. Materials and methods: Results from 70 patients …

Evaluation Of Rubella, Toxoplasma Gondii, And Cytomegalovirus Seroprevalences Among Pregnant Women In Denizli Province, Aysun Karabulut, Yusuf Polat, Meral Türk, Yasemi̇n Işik Balci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

There is no national screening program for rubella, Toxoplasma gondii, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections for pregnant women in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of these infections among pregnant women in Denizli province, and to review seroprevalences reported from different regions of Turkey. Materials and methods: Between April 2008 and April 2009, 1268 women were investigated for rubella, 1102 for toxoplasma, and 1000 women for CMV seroprevalences in the first trimester of pregnancy. Toxoplasma and rubella IgM and IgG antibodies were assayed by the automated Vitros ECiQ system based on an immunometric technique. Cytomegalovirus IgM …

Icsi Outcome In Severely Oligoasthenozoospermic Patients And Its Relationship To Prewash Progressive Sperm Motility*, Ni̇lgün Turhan, Aslihan Pekel, Ayli̇n Ayrim, Ömer Bayrak

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the association between prewash progressive sperm motility and pregnancy rate in cases of severely oligoasthenozoospermic patients in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Materials and methods: The study included 80 infertile couples who were treated by ICSI due to severe oligoasthenozoospermia (