Furthermore, the deviations of the absolute VAS values in individual patients for each descriptive pain term were significantly smaller with PAULA than with the standard VAS.”
“The infiltration of human myometrium and cervix with leukocytes and the formation of a pro-inflammatory environment within the uterus have been associated with the initiation of both term and preterm parturition. The mechanism regulating the onset of this pro-inflammatory cascade is not fully elucidated. We demonstrate that prokineticin 1 (PROK1) is up-regulated in human myometrium and

placenta during labor. The expression of Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor PROK1 receptor remains unchanged during labor and is abundantly expressed in the myometrium. Gene array analysis identified 65 genes up-regulated by PROK1 in human myometrium, mainly cytokines and chemokines, including IL-1, chemokine C-C motif ligand 3, and colony-stimulating factor 3. In addition, we demonstrate that PROK1 increases the expression of chemokine C-C motif ligand 20, IL-6, IL-8, prostaglandin

synthase 2, and prostaglandin HSP inhibitor drugs E, and F, secretion. The treatment of myometrial explants with 100 ng/naL of lipopolysaccharide up-regulates the expression of PROK1, PROK1 receptor, and inflammatory mediators. The infection of myometrial explants with lentiviral selleck screening library microRNA targeting PROK1, preceding treatment with lipopolysaccharide, reduces the expression of inflammatory genes. We propose that PROK1 is a novel inflammatory mediator that can contribute to the onset of human parturition at term and partially mediate premature onset of inflammatory

pathways during bacterial infection. (Ant J Patbol 2011, 179:2709-2719; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpatb.2011.08.029)”
“A multigene data set (12S, 16S, and COI mitochondrial DNA; 18S and 28S nuclear DNA) was analyzed by Bayesian inference to estimate the phylogeny of a sample of the clitellate family Enchytraeidae (86 species representing 14 nominal genera). Monophyly, as well as a basal dichotomy, of the family Enchytraeidae obtained maximum support, with one clade containing Hemienchytraeus and Achaeta, the other the remaining 12 genera analysed. The latter group is basally resolved in several well-supported clades. Lumbricillus and Crania are closely related. Bryodrilus, Oconnorella, Henlea and two species of Marionina (M. cf. riparia, and M. communis) form a well-supported clade. Cognettia is sister to Stercutus, and Cernosvitoviella sister to Mesenchytraeus, and the four together appear to be a monophyletic group. A large part of the taxonomically problematic Marionina appears to be a group not closely related to the type species (M. georgiana), and this group also includes Enchytronia.