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- Aghajanova, L., et al.
(författare)
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Stanniocalcin-1 in Human Endometrium
- 2015
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Ingår i: Fertility and Sterility. - 0015-0282 .- 1556-5653. ; 103:2, s. E6-E7
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 5. |
- Helmestam, Malin
(författare)
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Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Human Endometrial Endothelial Cells In Vitro
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Evidence from an abundant number of studies suggests that human female reproductive functions have become impaired over the past half century and that there might be a relationship between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and reduced fertility. It is, however, not known by what mechanisms EDCs affect different reproductive functions such as endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation and placentation.The endometrium is continuously changing its morphological and functional properties, responding to cyclic changes of oestrogen and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle. These changes include monthly preparation for embryo implantation through changed endometrial angiogenic activity and consequent changes in endometrial vasculature.Use of primary human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs) in this work was evaluated as a possible screening tool for effects caused by EDCs on human endometrial vasculature and subsequently on various endometrial functions.In this study HEEC and endometrial stromal cells were isolated. HEECs were grown in monocultures, and together with stromal cells in co-cultures, and exposed to endocrine active substances. These were cadmium, which has oestrogenic properties, tamoxifen, with anti-oestrogenic effects, mifepristone, which is an anti-progestin, and bisphenol A, with oestrogenic properties. The effects were evaluated by using proliferation and viability assays, migration and tube formation assays, quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunohistochemistry and western blot.Cadmium affected the expression of angiogenesis-related genes, and caused different effects in HEECs cultured alone vs. HEECs co-cultured with stromal cells. Tamoxifen altered the expression of angiogenesis-related genes and reduced HEEC migration, thus having an anti-angiogenic effect. Mifepristone caused reduced formation of tubular structures in tube-formation assays involving HEECs co-cultured with stromal cells. Bisphenol A promoted tube formation in co-cultured HEECs which was related to changes in the expression of several angiogenesis-related genes as well as up-regulated expression of VEGF-D protein.In conclusion, we showed that EDCs have the ability to induce changes in endometrial angiogenic activity in vitro and may thus disturb normal endometrial functions related to fertility and pregnancy. HEECs grown in vitro may provide valuable information on the effects of EDCs on human endometrial functions. However, this model is not suitable as a large-scale screening tool.
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- Jansson, Caroline, 1963-
(författare)
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Experiences of Miscarriage
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Experiences are unique and both men and women experience grief, anxiety, depressive symptoms after a miscarriage.The overall aim was to describe and measure experiences among women and men after a miscarriage.Study one was a qualitative study with interviews with Swedish midwives' and nurses' experiences of women's reactions after routine ultrasonographic diagnosis of a missed miscarriage.Study two concerned validation of "The revised impact of miscarriage scale" for Swedish conditions and a comparison of Swedish and American women's and men's experiences of miscarriage.Study three was a longitudinal study of Swedish women's and men's emotions.Study four was a longitudinal study, on women's feelings in relation to diagnosis and treatment.Scales about experiences, grief, and depressive symptom were used.The results showed that midwives perceived that the women had had a premonition of symptoms of a missed miscarriage and a follow-up was performed. The degree of consistency showed that the questionnaire can be used in a Swedish setting. The Swedish and American women and men scored similarly in two factors, and the women's experiences were more pronounced than the men's. Grief and depressive symptoms became reduced over time, while experiences persisted. No previous children, miscarriage or infertility treatment prior to miscarriage made the experience worse especially grief reaction. There was no difference between the two diagnosis groups in experiences one week after the miscarriage and their experience improved after four months. Women treated with misoprostol had more depressive symptoms than women treated with misoprostol and subsequent vacuum aspiration.In conclusion, care providers can confirm women's premonition of a missed miscarriage so a diagnosis can be set early in the pregnancy and they can do an individual follow-up. The high consistency between the countries in two factors show that RIMS is reliable for both women and men. Grief and depressive symptoms become reduced, while experiences persist. Previous miscarriage, lack of previous children and an infertility diagnosis can lead to negative feelings as grief. A diagnosis of miscarriage has a limited influence on experiences, and a shorter duration of treatment and treatment with misoprostol and subsequent vacuum aspiration led to a fewer depressive symptom.
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| 8. |
- Moberg, Christian, 1972-
(författare)
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The Human Endometrium : Studies on Angiogenesis and Endometriosis
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Angiogenesis is thought to play a pivotal role in the cycling endometrium. Coordinated by oestrogen and progesterone, endometrial blood vessel development is primarily mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), which promotes endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and protects ECs from induced apoptosis. Studying changes at transcript level in human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs) in response to mitogenic and inhibitory stimuli is one way towards understanding the regulation of physiological endometrial angiogenesis.Endometriosis, the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, is a common gynaecological disorder in women of reproductive age, often causing pelvic pain and reduced fertility. Chronic inflammation in the peritoneal environment and defective endometrial protein expression are some of the contributors to the complex pathophysiology of endometriosis. The aim of this work was to study the changes in the transcriptome induced by VEGF-A and partial serum deprivation in primary HEECs, and to investigate biochemical factors associated with subfertility and chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis patients.Exposing primary HEECs to VEGF-A, and serum withdrawal was found to regulate transcripts associated with survival, migration, apoptosis and progression through the cell cycle, when assessed using microarray technology and bioinformatic tools. A subset of 88 transcripts was reciprocally regulated under the two experimental conditions; thus probably important in HEEC biology.Higher endometrial epithelial staining scores of oestrogen receptor-α and reduced staining of progesterone receptors were seen in subfertile endometriosis patients. Lower levels of the receptivity biomarker leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor, as well as signs of dysregulated αB-crystallin expression and increased peritoneal fluid concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-6 were associated with reduced pregnancy rates.Endometriosis patients with chronic pelvic pain had higher levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in eutopic endometria and in endometriotic lesions compared with patients without chronic pain. The presence of chronic pelvic pain was also associated with increased concentrations of VIP and IL-6 in peritoneal fluid.The present results may constitute a basis for further investigation of regulatory pathways in endometrial angiogenesis as well as for studies of endometrial receptivity and pain in women with endometriosis.
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- Murto, Tiina, 1975-
(författare)
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Folate, Hormones and Infertility : Different factors affecting IVF pregnancy outcome
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Various hormones have been studied as regards prediction of pregnancy outcome after infertility treatment, but no ideal candidate has been found. Folate and genetic variations in folate metabolism have also been associated with infertility, but it remains unclear how these factors affect IVF pregnancy outcome. It is known that infertility is associated with active folic acid supplement use, but the effect of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on folic acid supplement use in infertile women has not been well investigated. The overall aim of this work was to obtain information on the prediction of live birth, and to study factors affecting the role of folate and folic acid intake in relation to IVF pregnancy outcome. Infertile women with various infertility diagnoses were studied. Healthy, fertile non-pregnant women were used as controls in three of the studies. Blood samples were taken for assay of eight different hormones, folate and homocysteine, and for genomic DNA extraction. A questionnaire was used to assess background data and use of folic acid supplements. Twenty-four-hour recall interviews were performed for validation of the questionnaire. The studied hormones were not good predictors of live birth. The best predictor was age of the women, together with ovulatory menstrual cycles, and thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) status. Well-educated women, high-status employed women, and married and infertile women used the most folic acid supplements. Infertile women had better folate status than fertile women. However, pregnancy outcome after infertility treatment was not dependent on folic acid intake, folate status, genetic variation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase or socioeconomic status. In conclusion, AMH levels vary less than those of other hormones during the menstrual cycle, and AMH could be used as a predictive marker of live birth together with age and ovulation. Folate might play a minor role in IVF pregnancy outcome, but the importance of folate as regards other health perspectives should not be forgotten.
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- Murto, Tiina, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors in relation to folic acid supplement use in infertile and fertile Swedish women
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors are considered to be associated with folic acid supplement use and intake in the general population, but studies on infertile women are lacking. When investigating dietary supplement intake, the validity of the assessment of reported supplement use and actual intake is crucial. The objective of the study was to investigate socioeconomic, lifestyle and dietary factors in relation to folic acid supplement use and folate status in infertile and fertile women. In addition, a sub-analysis was performed to validate the used questionnaire. Methods: In this observational study, 340 infertile women and 188 fertile women were investigated. A questionnaire was used to assess lifestyle and dietary habits and use of dietary supplements. Blood samples were obtained for analyses of plasma folate and homocysteine levels. 24-hour recall interviews were performed to validate the questionnaire. Results: Folic acid supplement use was related to marital status, educational level and employment status. Infertile women had significantly higher mean folic acid daily intake and better folate status. However, folate status did not correlate with socioeconomic or lifestyle factors. The infertile women were physically more active, smoked less and had better employment status, but they were also more obese than fertile women. Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were not related to in vitro fertilization outcome. Dietary data from the questionnaires showed good validity compared with the data from the 24-hour recall interviews, but data regarding folic acid supplement use showed only fair agreement between these methods. Conclusions: Highly educated, employed, married and infertile women were most prone to using folic acid supplements. Only a few socioeconomic and lifestyle factors differed between infertile and fertile women, and these were not related to folate status or IVF outcome. Methods other than a questionnaire are recommended when investigating folic acid supplement use.
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