Browsing by Author "Germain, AM"

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    Bile acids increase response and expression of human myometrial oxytocin receptor
    (MOSBY, INC, 2003) Germain, AM; Kato, S; Carvajal, JA; Valenzuela, GJ; Valdes, GL; Glasinovic, JC
    OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that during intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy bile acids activate the myometrial oxytocin receptor pathway.
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    Distribution of angiotensin-(1-7) and ACE2 in human placentas of normal and pathological pregnancies
    (W B SAUNDERS CO LTD, 2006) Valdes, G; Neves, LAA; Anton, L; Corthorn, J; Chacon, C; Germain, AM; Merrill, DC; Ferrario, CM; Sarao, R; Penninger, J; Brosnihan, KB
    This work was designed to study the expression of the vasodilator peptide angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] and its generating enzyme (ACE2) in the uteroplacental interface. Placentas were obtained from 11 early pregnancy failures (5 miscarriages and 6 ectopic pregnancies), 15 normotensive, and 10 preeclamptic gestations. In placental villi, the main sites of immunocytochemical expression of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 were the syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, endothelium and vascular smooth muscle of primary and secondary villi. Syncitial Ang-(1-7) expression in samples obtained from miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies was increased compared to normal term pregnancy [2.0 (2.0-2.25 for the 25 and 75% interquartile range) vs 1.3 (1.0-1.9), p < 0.01]. In the maternal stroma, Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 were expressed in the invading and intravascular trophoblast and in decidual cells in all 3 groups. Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 staining was also found in arterial and venous endothelium and smooth muscle of the umbilical cord. The expression of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 was similar in samples obtained from normal term or preeclamptic pregnancies, except for increased expression of ACE2 in umbilical arterial endothelium in preeclarmpsia [0.5 (0.5-0.8) vs 0.0 (0.0-0.0), p < 0.01]. The uteroplacental location of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 in pregnancy suggests an autocrine function of Ang-(1-7) in the vasoactive regulation that characterizes placentation and established pregnancy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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    Preterm labor: Placental pathology and clinical correlation
    (LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 1999) Germain, AM; Carvajal, J; Sanchez, M; Valenzuela, GJ; Tsunekawa, H; Chuaqui, B
    Objective: To determine the relevance of ischemia in the incidence of preterm labor. A second objective was to document perinatal outcomes for patients with preterm labor classified according to its clinical, functional, and pathologic characteristics (infectious, ischemic, mixed, or idiopathic).
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    Urinary kallikrein excretion in the human menstrual cycle, normal pregnancy and lactation
    (PARTHENON PUBLISHING GROUP, 1998) Valdes, G; Corthorn, J; Oyarzun, E; Berrios, C; Foradori, A; Germain, AM; Villarroel, L
    Objectives To evaluate the temporal pattern of active and total urinary kallikrein excretion during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation, and to associate changes in kallikrein excretion with those of ovarian and placental hormones.