Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Tumor cells need food and oxygen supply for growth and division. Therefore one of the most promising areas of cancer therapy focuses on using agents that inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Inhibition of angiogenesis prevents cell growth, division and metastasis. Previous studies showed that plasminogen related Protein-B has an anti-tumor activity in mice. This protein has a high level of homology with preactivation Peptide (PAP) of human plasminogen. According to this high homology, antiangiogeneic activity of PAP was investigated in an in vitro angiogenesis model.

Methods: PAP encoding region of human plasminogen gene was isolated by Polymerase Chain Reaction and ‎cloned in pGEX-2T vector. This plasmid was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein (GST-PAP). ‎GST-PAP was expressed as inclusion body and purified by affinity chromatography on GSH-sepharose ‎resin after refolding. antiangiogenic effects of purified protein were surveyed with Matrigel assay‏.‏‎ ‎

Results: The GST-PAP was expressed and purified and its accuracy was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis ‎and immunoblotting. Microscopic studies showed that GST-PAP inhibited angiogenesis in Matrigel system ‎which is shown by shrinking the length of capillary like structures and a decrease in the number of tubule. ‎While applying concentarations of 25μg/ml of GST-PAP and concentrations above that, antiangiogenic ‎activity of GST-PAP was significant comparing to the controls. ‎

Conclusion: Finding shows that GST-PAP can inhibit network formation in Matrigel system. This findings ‎support the theory that PAP is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor.‎

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Background: Cervical ripening usually begins prior to the labor when there is an unripe cervix. Complications will increase significantly when the cervix is not ripped. Misoprostol is a pharmacologic agent available for cervical ripening and labor induction. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of administration of a single dose of 25 mg vaginal Misoprostol (A) with 100 mg Misoprostol (B) for cervical ripening.
Methods: Sixty subjects with pregnancies of at least 40 gestation weeks, and an unfavorable cervix (Bishop Score <6) were randomly assigned to receive one dose oral misoprostol 100 mg or 25 mg vaginal misoprostol. The main dependent variables were mode of delivery, time interval from induction to cervical ripening, need for additional oxytocin, perinatal results and maternal side effects.
Results: The mean time from the indication of induction to cervical ripening was the same in the two groups (3.63 h in oral group and 3.9 h in vaginal group). Two groups did not differ statistically in the percent of patients who were delivered vaginally or with cesarean section during 24 hours (20% in group A versus 10% in group B).
Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, Misoprostol is an effective drug for the cervical ripening and labor induction in the term pregnancies. 25 mg vaginal tablet of Misoprostol is as effective as 100 mg oral misoprostol for cervical ripening.

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Background: Lochia is the slight vaginal bleeding between 24 hour to 12 week after delivery. There isn't any standard definition for difference between normal and abnormal lochia in post-partum period. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ultrasonic findings of the postpartum uterus after normal vaginal delivery with the duration of lochia discharge.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study was done in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from 2014 to 2015. In this study 160 women with non-complicated vaginal delivery were entered. Inclusion criteria were: Term pregnancy with gestational age > 37, singleton fetus with cephalic presentation. Exclusion criteria were pre-term pregnancies, previous Cesarean section or other uterine surgeries and twin fetuses. Transvaginal ultrasound was done in first 48 hours after delivery, endometrial thickness echogenicity and uterine size was evaluated. Maternal age, parity, duration of labor and neonatal weight were evaluated. Then the mothers were followed for 6 weeks. The quality and the quantity of lochia discharge were asked by the phone.

Results: Lochial discharge last more than 6 weeks in 96 out of 160 (60%). One had less than 4 weeks. The uterus length, thickness, height and endometrial length did not show any relationship with the duration of lochial discharge, but endometrial strip thickness significantly correlated with the duration of lochial discharge period (P=0.04). None of clinical variables like the number of gravidity, parity, live birth or child birth weight, were correlated to the duration of lochia discharge period, but the labor time was correlated to the duration of lochia discharge period (P=0.04). Although both endometrial thickness and labor time in univariate analysis were correlated to the lochia duration time but this was true just for endometrial thickness in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: The endometrial thickness in first 48 hours after normal vaginal delivery could predict the duration of lochia discharge, there wasn’t any correlation between lochia discharge period and other ultrasound parameters.