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Identification of embryo implantation-related proteins Mitra Arianmanesh Embryo implantation is a complex process involving an active dialogue between the endometrium and embryo. Tightly controlled communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary, corpus luteum (CL), endometrium and embryo is essential for implantation. Unravelling molecules involved in embryo implantation is essential since implantation failure is one of the main causes of female infertility. Therefore, identification of molecular events during embryo implantation may result in enhancing implantation rates in both natural and assisted reproductive cycles, improving contraceptive design and reducing the rate of multiple pregnancies following embryo transfer in IVF cycles. Thus, in this study, sheep was used as an animal model in order to study endometrial, corpus luteal and plasma proteome changes during embryo implantation and early pregnancy. Endometrium, CLs and plasma were harvested from cyclic ewes on days 12 and 16 of the oestrous cycle (n=4 ewes/group) and from pregnant ewes on days 12, 16 and 20 of pregnancy (n=4 ewes/group). Furthermore, ovine endometrium were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant horns on days 16 (n=4) and 20 (n=4) of pregnancy to compare endometrial protein profiles of the gravid horn (in the presence of the conceptus) with the non-gravid horn (in the absence of the conceptus) in response to the conceptus to elucidate local embryo-endometrial signalling. 2DE gel, LC-MS/MS, Western blot, IHC and qRT-PCR were employed to quantify implantation processes. This study has identified proteins in the CL and endometrium with involvement in biological pathways that are fundamental for embryo implantation and gestation. In addition, it was found that the implanting embryo is capable of regulating the expression of endometrial proteins to establish an ideal environment for its implantation and establishment of pregnancy. These findings provide an addition to the field and a solid base for targeted studies to improve our understanding of implantation and its regulation.

Division of Nephrology Department of Internal Medicine School of Clinical Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences University of Witwatersrand 7th June, 2017 / Objective Renal transplantation is the ideal therapeutic option for patients that reach end-stage renal failure. However, patients require long term immunosuppression following surgical transplantation to prevent graft rejection [1,2,4]. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) had proven to be an effective immunosuppressant in transplant patients[8,9,10], although it is associated with an increase in gastrointestinal adverse effects, which may result in dose adjustment or termination of use [22]. There is a paucity of data regarding gastrointestinal side effects of MMF in South Africa. This study attempts to describe the incidence of gastrointestinal complications, incidence of dose adjustment and discontinuation of MMF due to side effects, to compare the incidence of GI complications between those that had prior gastrointestinal ailments and those that had no prior gastrointestinal ailments and finally to determine possible risk factors (age, gender, ethnicity, donor type, pre-transplant GI diagnosis, pre-transplant diabetes and combination of MMF with tacrolimus) of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Method Data was collected retrospectively from the file records of the renal transplant unit at CMJAH (Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital) on adult patients who had received kidney transplants between 1998 and 2010 and who had received MMF as part of the immunosuppressive regimen for at least the one year post-transplant. Relevant data was captured in an anonymous fashion on a collection sheet. Descriptive analysis of the data was carried out. Time-to-event data were analysed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The assessment of the effect of prior gastrointestinal ailments, as well as risk factors, was carried out by Cox Proportional Hazards regression to estimate the Hazard Ratios. Results A total of 188 patients were included in the study group, which comprised 65.4% males and 32.4% females (2.1% missing data). The mean age at transplant was 38.1 years. The patients were predominantly black (69.1%). Donors were predominantly deceased donors. Of the 24.5% of donors who were living donors, 76.1% were related living donors, while the rest were non-related living donors. The majority of patients (82%) were induced with MMF dose of 2 grams per day. After 5 years, 13.8% of patients discontinued MMF while 86.2% of the patients were still on MMF. 48.1% had a dose adjustment due to gastrointestinal side effects. 61% of patients had had a diarrhoeal adverse event by 5 years. 21.8% of the patients had gastrointestinal side effects other than diarrhoea by 5 years. The combination of tacrolimus and MMF was found to be a significant risk factor for diarrhoeal adverse events (Hazard Ratio 1.82; 95% CI 1.21-2.73). Having a living donor graft reduced the chance of non-diarrhoeal gastrointestinal adverse event (Hazard Ratio 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.84, p<0.02). A trend towards significance was seen in living donors having less diarrhoeal events although it did not reach statistical significance (Hazard Ratio 1.32; 95% CI 0.87-2.00, p=0.20). Conclusion As far as the authors are aware, this is the first local study on MMF and GIT adverse effect. We found the combination of MMF and tacrolimus is associated with increased risk of having diarrhoeal adverse events, which is consistent with international data[34,35]. Living donor graft is associated with a lower risk of developing non-diarrhoeal gastrointestinal events. Although non-significant, data suggest the same trend favoring living donor graft with regards to diarrhoeal events. / MT2017

University of Macau / Faculty of Health Sciences

by Dai Kang Sheng. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 127-130.

by Yurianto Henry. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-93). / ABSTRACT --- p.I / ACKNOWLADGEMENT --- p.IV / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.V / Chapter CHAPTER 1 - --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 - --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1. --- Bone transplantation and implant --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- "Bone graft, implants and their derivatives" --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.1.1. --- Survival of donor cells --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.1.2. --- Osteoclasts --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.1.3. --- Revascularization --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.1.4. --- Differentiation of new bone cells by induction --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Phases of bone graft incorporation --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2. --- Preparation and properties of calcium phosphate biomaterials --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Drying and sintering of wet slurries --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Crystal and chemical factors --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Factor governing bioresorbability --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- Mineral composition --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- Mechanical property of calcium phosphate ceramics --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.6. --- Basic biologic profile of calcium phosphate implant material --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.7. --- Osteoinduction --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 - --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1. --- Animal study --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Animal selection --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Material --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2. --- Methods --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Operation --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Hystology --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.3. --- Quantitative analysis method --- p.57 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 - --- RESULTS --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1. --- Cortical bone --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.1. --- Role of periosteum in bone healing --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2. --- Cancellous bone --- p.75 / Chapter CHAPTER 5- --- DISCUSSION --- p.78 / Appendix --- p.86 / References --- p.88