Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Trophectoderm Differentiation In The Bovine Embryo: Characterization Of A Polarized Epithelium., L C Barcroft, A Hay-Schmidt, A Caveney, E Gilfoyle, E W Overstrom, P Hyttel, A J Watson

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

Blastocytst formation is dependent on the differentiation of a transporting epithelium, the trophectoderm, which is coordinated by the embryonic expression and cell adhesive properties of E-cadherin. The trophectoderm shares differentiative characteristics with all epithelial tissues, including E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, tight junction formation, and polarized distribution of intramembrane proteins, including the Na-K ATPase. The present study was conducted to characterize the mRNA expression and distribution of polypeptides encoding E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and the tight junction associated protein, zonula occludens protein 1, in pre-attachment bovine embryos, in vitro. Immunocytochemistry and gene specific reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction methods were used. Transcripts for E-cadherin and …

Initial Multicenter Experience With Double Nucleoside Therapy For Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection During Pregnancy., N S Silverman, D H Watts, J Hitti, D M Money, E Livingston, J Axelrod, J M Ernest, D Robbins, M M Divito

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To study maternal and neonatal effects of combination nucleoside analog therapy administered to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women for maternal indications.

METHODS: A multicenter, prospective observational study was undertaken at six perinatal centers in the United States and Canada that supported regional referral programs for the treatment of HIV-infected pregnant women. Demographic, laboratory, and pregnancy outcome data were collected for 39 women whose antiretroviral treatment regimens were expanded to include more than one nucleoside analog for maternal indications. The 40 newborns were monitored at pediatric referral centers through at least three months of age to ascertain their HIV …

Determinants Of Antepartum Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing In A Non-Medicaid Obstetric Population., E Cardonick, S Daly, M Dooley, K Elles, N S Silverman

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To determine voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing rates and factors influencing testing in a private obstetric practice.

METHODS: Antepartum patients were offered HIV testing after completing a self-assessment questionnaire. Perceived risks and demographics were correlated with testing rates.

RESULTS: Overall, 348/600 (58%) women consented to HIV testing. In a univariate analysis, patients with "any" perceived risk(s) were more likely to be tested. Single women and those with an at-risk partner(s) or a history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) were more likely to desire testing. These factors remained independently associated with voluntary testing in a multivariate regression model. No …

How To Make A Blastocyst., A J Watson, G M Kidder, G A Schultz

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

Several of the new reproductive technologies have been cultivated from our current understanding of the genetic programming and cellular processes that are involved in the major morphogenetic events of mammalian preimplantation development. Research directed at characterizing the patterns of gene expression during early development has shown that the embryo is initially under maternal control and later superseded by new transcriptional activity provided by the activation of the embryonic genome. Several embryonic transcripts encoding: (i) growth factors, (ii) cell junctions, (iii) plasma membrane ion transporters, and (iv) cell adhesion molecules have been identified as contributing directly to the progression of the …