Study on prevention effect of Zishen Yutai pill combined with progesterone for threatened abortion in rats

Objective:To observe preventive and therapeutic effects and the mechanism of actions on Zishen Yutai pill combined with progesterone on threatened abortion in rats.Methods:After pregnancy,50 SPF female SD rats were selected and divided into control group,model group,progesterone group,Zishen Yutai pill group,and progesterone plus Zishen Yutai pill group(combination group),with 10 rats in each group.The rats of control group and abortion model group were lavaged with 2 mL/kg normal saline on pregnancy day 1 for continuous 10 days.Rats in Zishen Yutai pill group were given 1.575 g/kg/d of Zishen Yutai pill for intragastric administration for continuous 10 days.Rats in progesterone group were given intramuscular injection treatment of 0.1 mL/d progestin,continuous for 10 days.Rats in combination group were given injection therapy of aqueous solution of Zishen Yutai pill for continuous 10 days,and other treatments were the same as previous two groups.Abortion model were established then and live births,numbers of abortion and average rate of abortion were compared between the five groups.Peripheral blood was collected to detect the estradiol(E2) and progestational hormone(P),and obtain ratio of Th1/Th2 cytokines(IL-2,INF-γ,IL-4,IL-10).Results:Significant more live births of rats were found in the control group compared with other four groups(P<0.05).The numbers of live births of the rats in abortion model group were significantly less than that of progesterone group,Zishen Yutai pill group and joint group(P<0.05).The numbers of live births of rats in joint group were significant more than that of progesterone group and Zishen Yutai pill group.The serum E2 level of P of rats in the control group,progesterone group,Zishen Yutai pill group and joint group were significant higher than that of abortion model group(P<0.05).Serum levels of E2 and P of rats in the control group,progesterone group,Zishen Yutai pill group and joint group were not significant different(P>0.05) but these levels in the control group and Zishen Yutai pill group were significant lower than that of progesterone group and joint group(P<0.05).The maternal-fetal interface IL-4/IL-2,IL-10 / IL-2 of model group were balanced deviating to Th1,while the IL-4/IL-2,IL-10/IL-2 of progesterone group,Zishen Yutai pill group and joint group were balanced deviating to Th2,and joint group' deviation was better than progesterone group and Zishen Yutai pill group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Zishen Yutai pill combined with progesterone has a significant control effect for threatened abortion,which can obviously increase contents of maternal serums E2 and P,and regulate the Thl/Th2 balance with a remarkable effect.

Conservation-oriented restoration—a two for one method to restore both threatened species and their habitats

There is an urgent need for a new conservation approach as mere designation of protected areas, the primary approach to conserving biodiversity, revealed its low conservation efficiency and inability to cope with numerous challenges faced by nature in the Anthropocene. The paper discusses the new concept, which proposes that ecological restoration becomes an integral part of conservation planning and implementation, and is done using threatened plant species that are introduced not only into locations where they currently grow or grew in the recent past, but also into suitable locations within their potential distribution range. This new concept is called conservation-oriented restoration to distinguish it from the traditional restoration. Although the number of restoration projects focusing on recreation of once existing natural habitats is instantly growing, the majority of ecological restoration projects, in contrast to conservation-oriented restoration, have predominantly utilitarian goals, e.g.improvement or air quality, erosion control or soil replenishment. Conservation-oriented restoration should not be seen as an alternative either to the latter, or to the conservation dealing with particular threatened species(species-targeted conservation). These three conservation approaches, traditional ecological restoration, species-targeted conservation, and conservation-oriented restoration differ not only in broadly defined goals and attributes of their targets, but also in the types of ecosystems they are applicable to, and complement each other in combating global deterioration of the environment and biodiversity loss.

Species diversity in restoration plantings: Important factors for increasing the diversity of threatened tree species in the restoration of the Araucaria forest ecosystem

The Araucaria forest ecosystem in southern Brazil is highly threatened: less than one percent of the original forest remains, and what is left is a fragmented agro-mosaic of mostly early-to-late secondary forest patches among high-yield agriculture and timber monocultures. Forest restoration initiatives in this region aim to restore degraded areas, however the limited number of species used in restoration projects represents a missed opportunity for species-rich plantings. High diversity plantings represent a larger number of functional groups and provide a targeted conservation strategy for the high number of threatened species within this ecosystem. This study interviewed nurseries(Ns) and restoration practitioners(RPs) in Parana and Santa Catarina states to identify what species are being cultivated and planted, and what factors are driving the species selection process. An average of 20 species were reportedly used in restoration plantings, most of which are common, widespread species. Baseline data confirms that Ns and RPs have disproportionately low occurrences of threatened species in their inventories and plantings, supporting findings from previous research. Questionnaire responses reveal that opportunities for seed acquisition are an extremely important factor in order for nurseries to increase their diversity of cultivated species. Results also suggest that facilitating speciesrich plantings for restoration practitioners would only be feasible if it did not increase the time required to complete planting projects, as it would minimize their ability to keep costs low. This study proposes solutions for increasing the number of species used in restoration practicedsuch as developing a comprehensive species list, fostering knowledge-sharing between actors, creating seed sharing programs, and increasing coordination of planting projects. Long-term strategies involve complimenting traditional ex situ approaches with emerging inter-situ and quasi in situ conservation strategies which simultaneously provide long-term preservation of genetic diversity and increase seed production of target species.

Plant micro-reserves in Valencia(E. Spain):A model to preserve threatened flora in China?

The Valencian Community(eastern Spain) was the pioneer territory establishing plant micro-reserves(PMRs). Its model to protect small sites for endemic and endangered plants has been exported to several countries around the globe. This paper highlights 1) the role of PMRs to complement the protection provided by large protected areas, 2) how the establishment of PMRs fosters the increase of floristic knowledge, and 3)the fact that continuous monitoring of PMRs also yields new records of endangered species found within the same PMRs. The flexibility of the PMR approach-it can be adapted to other national and regional legislationsallows its transfer to other rich-biodiversity regions and countries such as China.

Routine Progesterone Supplementation in Threatened Abortion: Is It a Sound Practice?

Aim: To evaluate the benefits and hazards of routine progesterone supplementation in threatened abortion and whether it is a sound practice or not. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tanta University in the period from January 2018 to December 2018. Eligible patients (n = 190) were randomly allocated into 2 groups: study group who will receive progesterone supplementation (prog. group) and control group who will receive no treatment (place. group). Results: No significant differences were found between both groups regarding all demographic data and pregnancy characteristics. Abortions were higher in place. group 17 (23.94%) than in prog. group 12 (16.44%) with no significant difference p value = 0.263. The incidence of preterm labour was also higher in the place. group 22 (30.99%) in comparison to the prog. group 17 (23.29%) with no significant difference p value = 0.300. Conclusion: Progesterone supplementation in threatened abortion was not beneficial although it reduced abortion and preterm labour rates.

Predicting adverse maternal and perinatal outcome after threatened miscarriage

Objectives: Threatened miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy, occurring in 20% - 25% of ongoing pregnancies. The purpose is to study maternal and perinatal outcome in women with threatened miscarriage. Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a period of 20 months in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pannadhay Mahila Chikitsalaya, a tertiary care center in Udaipur, India. It included a cohort of pregnant patients with a history of threatened miscarriage during the first twenty weeks of pregnancy. They were registered, followed up prospectively at antenatal clinics and delivered in the same hospital. For the purpose of comparison, another group of booked patients (controls) without a history of threatened miscarriage were recruited, similarly scanned and followed throughout pregnancy and labour. All women were matched for age, parity, social class, BMI and gestational age at booking. Discrete variables were taken as counts (or frequencies) and were evaluated by Chi-square test. Continuous variables with normal distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and were compared by unpaired Student’s t test. Data were fed into a Microsoft Excel worksheet and were analyzed by using the SPSS ver.17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). p-value > 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 62 cases, 13 (21%) patients spontaneously aborted after diagnosis of threatened miscarriage. Women with threatened miscarriage had a significantly higher incidence of low lying placenta (p = 0.02) when compared with those without firsttrimester bleeding. They were more likely to experience PROM (p = 0.02), preterm delivery (p = 0.02) and to have babies with low Birthweight (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Pregnancies complicated by threatened miscarriage are at a higher risk for obstetric complications.

Species Diversity and Population Status of Threatened Plants in Different Landscape Elements of the Rohtang Pass,Western Himalaya

This paper highlights the quantitative estimates of plant species diversity and ecosystems of the Rohtang Pass,which is one of the most preferred visiting spots by tourists in Himachal Pradesh (H.P.),India. In spite of high pressure of anthropogenic activities,the Rohtang Pass still harbours a variety of flowering plants with economic value,including various medicinal herbs. In order to observe species diversity in different landscape elements (LSEs),ground surveys were conducted in nine unique LSEs within the elevation range between 3624 m and 4332 m. Plant community structure in each LSE was studied using stratified random sampling where a total 56 quadrats of 1 m2 in size for herbs and 7 quadrats of 25 m2 for shrubs were made. Of the total 50 plant species belonging to 15 families recorded in different random quadrats,24 species were found of medicinal value. Maximum species richness (18) and value of Shannon diversity (H'=2.2648) were observed on northeast-facing slope in Picrorhiza kurrooa dominated LSE in moist area,followed by Rheum emodi LSE (species richness = 17 and H' = 2.4141) distributed on south-facing slope. Maximum values of species richness and Shannon diversity in Rheum emodi LSE were observed between 8 ～ 12 and 1.4797 ～ 2.1911,respectively. Rhododendron anthopogon dominated LSE on northwest-facing slope was found least diverse in terms of species richness where the Simpson index of dominance (D) was 0.4205. The species were equal in abundance in P. kurrooa LSE on east-facing slope and Pleurospermum candollii LSE on north-facing slope,showing the maximum similarity in terms of species distribution between the two LSEs. Low turnover of species across common LSEs gives an idea regarding their limited distribution. Five species of threatened category according to the IUCN criteria were observed in seven LSEs. The largest population of threatened medicinal plants was recorded on northeast and northwest-facing slopes where population density of Bergenia stracheyi (29.25 individuals/m2),Picrorhiza kurrooa (19.83 individuals/m2) and Rhododendron anthopogon (26.23 individuals/25m2) was highest. Aconitum heterophyllum was recorded for the lowest density (1 individual/m2). It was observed that the distribution of medicinal plants was very habitat-specific. Lower soil pH in most of the LSEs reflected its acidic nature. A significant positive correlation of Shannon diversity was found with soil organic matter,carbon content available and total nitrogen. Considering the continuous pressure of anthropogenic activities,this paper suggests effective ecotourism planning and plant conservation mechanisms to protect valuable plant bioresource at the Rohtang Pass.

Clinical application of Bushen Jianpi Gutai Decoction in threatened abortion

Objective:To discuss the clinical application of the"seven,five and three"odd-numbered law theory and analyze the effect on serum sex hormone level.Methods:A total of 100 patients with early threatened abortion admitted from January 2021 to October 2021 were randomly divided into study group and control group,with 50 patients in each group.Patients in the control group were treated with dydrogesterone tablets,while patients in the study group were treated with Bushen JianpiGutai Decoction combined with dydrogesterone tablets.Clinical efficacy and progesterone level before and after treatment were observed and compared between the two groups,as well as clinical symptom relief time of the two groups,including hemostasis time,abdominal pain relief time and lumbar acid relief time,and sex hormone level of the two groups were observed and compared.Results:The clinical efficacy was significantly better than control patients(P<0.05),no significant difference in progesterone level comparison before treatment(P>0.05),significantly better than control patients(P<0.05),hemostasis,abdominal pain remission and waist acid remission were significantly shorter than control patients(P<0.05),and both significantly better sex hormone levels after treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion:Traditional Chinese medicine has certain advantages in the treatment of threatened abortion,odd-numbered law theoryguidesthe regulation of Yin and Yang in the female menstrual cycle and reproductive function is mainly the regular change of Yin and Yang.Under the guidance of"seven,five,three"odd-numbered law theoryof Traditional Chinese medicine master Xia Guicheng,master the key date and the best time of its transformation,regulate Yin and Yang in the female body,to prevent the occurrence and development of menstrual diseases and adverse childbirth.Bushen Jianpi Gutai decoction can effectively treat threatened abortion,significantly improve the clinical symptoms,improve the level of serum sex hormone,worthy of clinical promotion.

Recovery of threatened plant species and their habitats in the biodiversity hotspot of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region

The Southwest Australian Floristic Region(SWAFR) is a global biodiversity hotspot with high plant diversity and endemism and a broad range of threatening processes. An outcome of this is a high proportion of rare and threatened plant species. Ongoing discovery and taxonomic description of new species, many of which are rare, increases the challenges for recovery of threatened species and prioritisation of conservation actions. Current conservation of this diverse flora is based on integrated and scientific evidence-based management. Here we present an overview of current approaches to the conservation of threatened flora in the SWAFR with a focus on active management through recovery and restoration that is integrated with targeted research. Key threats include disease, fragmentation, invasive weeds, altered fire regimes, grazing, altered hydro-ecology and climate change. We highlight the integrated approach to management of threats and recovery of species with four case studies of threatened flora recovery projects that illustrate the breadth of interventions ranging from In situ management to conservation reintroductions and restoration of threatened species habitats. Our review and case studies emphasise that despite the scale of the challenge, a scientific understanding of threats and their impacts enables effective conservation actions to arrest decline and enhance recovery of threatened species and habitats.

Recovering threatened plant species and their habitats: The need for integrated action

As an introduction to the Special Issue on the restoration of threatened plant species and their habitats,this editorial shows how the various papers in the issue address the range of in situ interventions involved in species population management and restoration of their habitat, together with examples of case studies implementing these actions. It stresses the need for integrating these various interventions.It highlights the importance of protected areas in providing a degree of protection for threatened species but also the need to complement this with actions at the species level to ensure the effective conservation and long term persistence of these species. It emphasizes that ecological restoration is a complement to, not a substitute for conservation, and that the balance of effort and allocation of resources between them is a key issue.

A clinical protocol: A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial on the effect of traditional Chinese medicine formula Shoutai Pill in the treatment of threatened abortion

for about 20%of all clinically confirmed pregnancy.It is the main cause of early abortion.Vaginal bleeding is the main clinical manifestation,which seriously affects the mental health and quality of life of pregnant women.Currently,there is effective treatment for this condition.A recent meta-analysis showed that Shoutai Pill(ST Pill),a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)formula,can effectively decrease the rate of threatened abortion.However,high heterogeneity was found among the studies included in the meta-analysis,this conclusion on the efficacy of TCM is not definitive.Although several have been conducted,some of them do not describe randomization and blinding methods.To address these problems,this article proposes an improved clinical treatment scheme based on ST Pill,which is to be tested through a well-designed randomized controlled trial,for the treatment of threatened abortion.Methods:This is a double-blinded,randomized,placebo-controlled trial to be conducted in a public Three-A hospital in China's Mainland.A total of 200 people will be enrolled.Using computer-generated random numbers,the participants will be randomly divided into two groups at a ratio of 1:1(treatment group(treated with ST Pill group)and placebo group).Both groups will receive medication to the end of the 20th gestational week or 1 week after vaginal bleeding stops,depending on which is longer.Participants in the treatment group will be treated with ST Pill(20 pills/time,once a day),and those in the placebo group will receive a placebo drug which is similar in appearance and smell with ST Pill.The main observation index is the live birth rate.Discussion:Although the efficacy of ST Pill in threatened abortion is well-known,no study has tested its efficacy through a double-blinded,randomized trials.Therefore,there is an urgent need for a standardized randomized double-blinded controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ST Pill.ST Pill is likely to be a convenient and effective TCM pill for the prevention of threatened abortion.

What is the destiny of a threatened fish, Ptychobarbus chungtienensis, now that non-native weatherfishes have been introduced into Bita Lake, Shangri-La？

Biological invasion is a pervasive negative force of global change, especially in its effects on sensitive freshwater ecosystems. Even protected areas are usually not immune. Ptychobarbus chungtienensis is a threatened freshwater fish now almost confined to Bita Lake, in the Shangri-La region of Yunnan province, China. Its existence is threatened by the introduction of non-native weatherfishes （Misgumus anguillicaudatus and Paramisgurnus dabryanus） by an unusual method known as ＇prayer animal release＇ Periodic surveys revealed the ratio of invasive weatherfishes to P. chungtienensis has been increasing since the former species was first recorded from the lake in August, 2009. Ptychobarbus chungtienensis shows low genetic diversity in the relict Lake Bita population. Weatherfishes, however, have highly successful survival strategies. The degree of dietary overlap between the species is alarming and perhaps critical if food is found to be a limiting factor.

Distribution and conservation of near threatened plants in China

Plants classified as Near Threatened(NT) are at high risk of becoming threatened because of anthropogenic interference and climate change.Especially in conservation efforts,such species have however long been overlooked.Here,we obtained 98,419 precise occurrence points for 2442 NT plants in China,and used species richness,species complementarity,and weighted endemism that consider all,endemic and narrow-ranged species in order to identify the diversity hotspots of NT plants.Then we evaluated the conservation effectiveness of current nature reserves for them.Our results indicate that the diversity hotspots of NT plants were mainly confined to southwestern and southern China,and only 35.87% of hotspots and 71.5% of species were protected by nature reserves.Numerous hotspots in southwestern China(e.g.,Sichuan,Yunnan,Guangxi,and Hainan) were identified as conservation gaps.Given that NT plants include large proportions of endemic and narrow-ranged species,they represent an important value in conservation priority.So,more conservation efforts in the future should be tilted towards NT plants.Additionally,when comparing with the recently updated NT list,there are already 87 species raised to threatened categories,while 328 species were lowered to least concern,56 species were now categorized as data deficient,and 119 species considered as uncertain due to changes of scientific names.It is essential to carry out a continuous assessment of species’ threatened categories to realize targeting conservation.

Effects of patch size, disturbances on diversity and structural traits of tropical semi-evergreen forest in the lowland Indo Burma hotspot: implication on conservation of the threatened tree species

Information on geographic distribution, population and threat status of most globally red listed species in the Indo Burma zone are inadequate. Given the increase in the prevalence of isolated forest patches in the part of this hotspot, evaluation is necessary on how size of the remnant forest patches and on-going disturbances affects structure and diversity of remaining habitats including the population of some globally threatened tree species. Quantitative vegetation inventory by 500 m long and lO m wide （0.5 ha） line transects were randomly set in nine fragmented tropical semi-evergreen forest patches in Tripura, Northeast India. The studied forests patches grouped into small, medium and large based on their respected sizes. Spatial variability was analysed in woody species diversity and structure along the patch size gradients and their response to both patch size and anthropogenic disturbances. Out of 167 species, 13 identified as red-listed species by IUCN under the present inventory. Most of the diversity and structural parameters showed statistically significant positive response with the forest patch size, except for stand dominance, disturbance, sapling density and number of aggregated distribution pattern decreased when patch size increased. In addition, most of the diversity and structural attributes showed negative response with disturbances. Present baseline data would serve as an effective tool for management and protection of this important forest type. Future habitat restoration programme and strategies for relocation of additional population and re-introduction of those globally threatened trees are recommended.

The Bird Community in a Threatened Coastal Lagoon in Southeastern Brazil

We provide a list of bird species for Ribeira lagoon, a protected area in Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Data were obtained in monthly surveys in points along a continuous transect, between August 2008 and July 2009, and 21 ad libitum observations. In total, 174 species were listed, including 121 land birds and 53 waterbirds. Of these, 11 are considered threatened at regional level. Waterbird richness was significantly higher in the dry season (April to September) than in the rainy season (October to March), whereas land bird richness remained constant. However, land bird richness varied throughout the year, with the highest value in February 2009 (77 species) and the lowest in May 2009 (41 species). The species listed account for 23% of the total of 745 bird species listed for Rio de Janeiro, and for 49% of 108 waterbirds recorded for the state.

Plasma β-Endorphin Levels in Women with Early Threatened Abortion before and after the Treatment of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine

To observe plasm a β-endorphin (β-EP) and gonadotrophin releasing horm one (GnRH), hum an chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), progesterone (P4) levelsin w om en w ith early threatened abortion and w ith a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). Tw enty patientsw ith threatened abortion at7～8 w eeksof gestation w ere re- cruited, allof them had a history of 3 or m ore recurrentunexplained abortions. They w ere treated w ith psychologicalconsultation accompanied by traditionalChinese herbs. Blood samples w ere taken to m easure β-EP, GnRH, hCG and P4 levels by radioim - m unoassay (RIA). The treatm ents w ere continued till10～12 w eeks, blood w astaken during this period to compare changes in these peptides / horm ones. Tw enty norm al pregnantw om en at7～8 and 10～12 w eeksand 20 patientsw ith incompleteabortion at 10～12 w eeksw ererecruited for comparativestudies. Results: (1) In norm alpregnant w om en, plasm a β-EP, GnRH, hCGand P4 levelsat10～12 w eeksw ere significantly higher than thatat7～8 w eeks (P< 0.01). (2) In patients w ith threatened abortion and a history of RSA, plasm a β-EP levels at7～8 w eeks w ere significantly higher than those of norm al pregnantw om en (P< 0.01); on the contrary, plasm a GnRH, hCGand P4 levelsin these patientsw ere significantly low er than thosein norm alcases (P< 0.01). After treatm ent, 16 of the 20 patients succeeded in m aintaining their pregnancies, the levels of the four plasm a contents at10～12 w eeks w ere sim ilar to thosein norm alpregnantw om en (P> 0.05). (3) Plasm a β-EPlevelsin patientsw ith incomplete abortionsat10～12 w eeksw ere dram atically higher and GnRH, hCGand P4 levelsw ere low er than in norm alpregnantw om en (P< 0.01). β-EP m ightplay a role in the pathophysiology of spontaneousabortion.

Ecology and Conservation Status of Threatened Orchid <i>Dactylorhiza hatagirea</i>(D. Don) Soo in Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, commonly known as “Panchaunle”, is an important medicinal plant species distributed throughout the Himalaya region. The present work was conducted in order to assess its availability in natural habitats because of its medicinal properties, cultural significance and declining population density. The work focused primarily on its ecological features and conservation status. The density of D. hatagirea was found to be 2.18 individuals·m-2 with frequency and abundance being 81.81% and 2.67 individuals·m-2, respectively. We considered grazing, trampling, number of cattle and distance to settlement as anthropogenic factors. While grazing and trampling were shown to have a significant, negative impact on population density, we observed no significant change in the number of the species with respect to number of cattle and distance to settlement. We conclude that the species is threatened and that anthropogenic factors have a significant effect on its habitation in the study area.

Network pharmacology of threatened abortion treated by ShouTaiWan

Objective: To explore the mechanism of ShouTaiWan's intervention in the treatment of Threatened Abortion based on Network Pharmacology. Methods: The effective active ingredients and targets in ShouTaiWan were obtained by searching in TCMSP database, BATMAN-TCM database and Uniprot database. The target of threatened abortion was obtained by searching for 'threatened abortion' in GeneCards. And the co-target gene of ShouTaiWan and threaten abortion can be obtained through the use of gene mapping in Venn diagram. Then an interaction network "disease-drug-target" can be constructed through a software called Cytoscape. Upload the Co-targeted gene to the STRING database to construct the protein interaction network map (PPI) , which would be screened for the key genes by using R language. Finally, used the R language to analyze gene ontology (GO) enrichment and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Result: It is predicted that 21 effective active ingredients for the treatment of threatened abortion and 89 common effective targets are expected. Quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, and isorhamnetin were the most effective components. As for the targets, prostaglandin endoperoxidase receptor (PTGS2), progesterone receptor (PGR), prostaglandin endoperoxidase receptor 1 (PTGS1), and Peroxisome proliferator activates receptor gamma (PPARG) were the most effective ones. The core targets in PPI network are Interleukin-6 (IL-6), protein kinase (AKT1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), etc. GO enrichment analysis shows that the activity of cytokines, regulatory functions, nuclear protein receptors and transcription of genes would be affected. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis illustrates that advanced glycation end products-receptor for AGE (AGE-RAGE) pathways are of the highest significance, followed by the fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis pathways. Conclusion: ShouTaiWan can achieve anti-inflammatory, increase vascular permeability,improve endometrial receptivity and other aspects of regulation to treat threatened abortion and embryo implantation through regulating cytokine.

Cervical Length Estimation and Cervicovaginal Fluid for Placental <i>α</i>-Microglobulin 1 Testing to Screen Women Had Threatened Preterm Labor for Time till Spontaneous Labor

Objectives: Evaluation of diagnostic performance of rapid testing of cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF) for fetal fibronectin (FFN) and placental α-microglobulin 1 (PAMG-1) as screening of women presented by threatened preterm labor (TPTL) with intact membranes for duration till getting spontaneous labor (SL). Patients & Methods: 37 women presenting with TPTL underwent CVF samplings before digital examination and then underwent transvaginal ultrasonography for estimation of cervical length (CL). All women received fluid and anxiolytic therapy and if uterine contractions persisted, all had received tocolytic therapy with oral nifedipine or intravenous magnesium sulphate according to requirements. Incidence of SL within Results: Incidence of SL was 13.5%, 35.2% and 51.3% within 48-hr, 2 - 7 and 7 - 14 days, respectively. Duration till labor after sampling was positively correlated with CL, while was negatively correlated with positive FFN and PAMG-1 tests. Positive FFN test had high specificity, while positive PAMG-1 test had high sensitivity for labor within 7 days. Regression analysis defined short CL and positive PAMG-1 test as significant predictors for short duration till SL. ROC curve analysis defined short cervix and positive PAMG-1 test as significant predictors for labor within 48-hr and within 2 - 7 days respectively and combined negative PAMG-1 test and CL of 20 - 25 mm were significant predictors for labor within 7 - 14 days. Conclusion: PAMG-1 test had high specificity, if positive, for predicting SL and high NPP, if negative, for excluding labor within 7 days, so it can be used as rapid adjuvant to clinical evaluation to help management decision-making. Moreover, PAMG-1 test is recommended screening test for being easy-to-use bedside test, provides rapid results, can be used after vaginal exam and coitus and does not require a speculum examination or specialized equipment to analyze results.

Noninvasive alternatives for DNA collection from threatened rodents

Many rodent species are currently under conservation threat. However, population monitoring and status assessment are extremely challenging because of small body size, low abundance and elusive behavior of rodents. Furthermore, invasive methods of capture and tissue collection commonly used to address such studies can induce an unacceptable amount of stress to sensitive species. As a result, noninvasive techniques have become more widely used, but relatively few studies have applied noninvasive techniques to rodents. Here we present two noninvasive alternatives for the collection of DNA from Franklin’s ground squirrels (Poliocitellus franklinii). We compared the quantity, purity and degradation of DNA extracted from plucked hair and fecal pellets to tail snip tissues. We recovered more DNA from tail snips than either plucked hair or fecal pellets. Both hair and fecal pellets recovered DNA with purity ratios similar to tail snips. As expected, DNA recovered from fecal pellets exhibited a high degree of degradation compared to hair and tail tissues. Careful planning of field and laboratory protocols is therefore necessary to compensate for challenges associated with noninvasive tissue types. While there is no tissue that can universally be applied to all research projects, both hair and feces are viable alternatives to traditional invasive procedures and can be applied to threatened and endangered rodent species.