Background and Aims: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among pregnant women and major predisposing factors for pyelonephritis linked to obstetrical complications including preterm labour and low infants’ bir...Background and Aims: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among pregnant women and major predisposing factors for pyelonephritis linked to obstetrical complications including preterm labour and low infants’ birth weights. This study sought to determine the relationship(s) between pregnancy trimesters, UTIs and changes in progesterone levels among pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 2016 at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) antenatal clinic which is a referral facility that attends to patients from most Counties in western region of Kenya. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect blood and urine specimens from 78 participants. Blood was used to determine progesterone levels using ELISA technique and urine cultures with bacterial colony counts ≥ 10<sup>5</sup> were appropriately identified to species level. Trimester periods and participants’ demographic information were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Results: Culture results showed that the most abundant bacterial species isolated in urine from the pregnant women was Escherechia coli (63.7%). The more affected age-group was women between 30 - 39 years during trimester three, suggesting that bacterial colonization of genital track occurred more frequently in older compared to the younger women. There was an exponential increase in progesterone levels among the pregnant women during trimester three compared to other trimesters, although these increases occurred independent of age. However, high levels of progesterone among pregnant women in third trimester corresponded with increased number of E. coli causing UTI. Conclusion: The results showed that progesterone levels increase with trimester and the most prevalent bacteria associated with this was E. coli even though age and increase in progesterone levels had no significant impact on E. coli infection.展开更多
Objective: Comparison of vaginal progesterone (VP) versus VP and intermittent intramuscular progesterone (IMP) use in frozen/thawed blastocyst transfer cycles. Study Design: A single center retrospective analyses of 4...Objective: Comparison of vaginal progesterone (VP) versus VP and intermittent intramuscular progesterone (IMP) use in frozen/thawed blastocyst transfer cycles. Study Design: A single center retrospective analyses of 470 elective FET cycles which were performed between January 2015 and September 2019 were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups. Control group was consisted of VP (n = 272), the study group was consisted of VP plus IMP (n = 198) users. Results: The number of transfer attempts in control and study groups was 272 and 198, respectively. Age (29.8 ± 4 vs 30.6 ± 4;p = 0.09), BMI (22 ± 2 vs 21.9 ± 3;p = 0.79) and the number of transferred embryos (1.4 ± 0.5 vs 1.4 ± 0.5;p = 0.48) were comparable between groups. Altough, implantation rates (43.7% vs 43.6%;p = 0.9), ectopic pregnancy (0.8% vs 0.3%;p = 0.46) and abortion rates (8.2% vs 4.8%;p = 0.07) were similar. Biochemical pregnancy rate (8.4% vs 3.4% p = 0.01) in control group and ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) (27.9% vs 38.1%;p = 0.005) in study group were significantly higher. Conclusion: Within the FET cycles in which good quality blastocyst are being transferred additional IMP supplementation to VP may increase OPR while reducing the biochemical pregnancy rate.展开更多
This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between nutrition,the gut microbiome,steroid hormones,and Parkinson's disease within the context of the gut-brain axis.The gut-brain axis plays a pivot...This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between nutrition,the gut microbiome,steroid hormones,and Parkinson's disease within the context of the gut-brain axis.The gut-brain axis plays a pivotal role in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease,encompassing diverse components such as the gut microbiota,immune system,metabolism,and neural pathways.The gut microbiome,profoundly influenced by dietary factors,emerges as a key player.Nutrition during the first 1000 days of life shapes the gut microbiota composition,influencing immune responses and impacting both child development and adult health.High-fat,high-sugar diets can disrupt this delicate balance,contributing to inflammation and immune dysfunction.Exploring nutritional strategies,the Mediterranean diet's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties show promise in reducing Parkinson's disease risk.Microbiome-targeted dietary approaches and the ketogenic diet hold the potential in improving brain disorders.Beyond nutrition,emerging research uncovers potential interactions between steroid hormones,nutrition,and Parkinson's disease.Progesterone,with its anti-inflammatory properties and presence in the nervous system,offers a novel option for Parkinson's disease therapy.Its ability to enhance neuroprotection within the enteric nervous system presents exciting prospects.The review addresses the hypothesis thatα-synuclein aggregates originate from the gut and may enter the brain via the vagus nerve.Gastrointestinal symptoms preceding motor symptoms support this hypothesis.Dysfunctional gut-brain signaling during gut dysbiosis contributes to inflammation and neurotransmitter imbalances,emphasizing the potential of microbiota-based interventions.In summary,this review uncovers the complex web of interactions between nutrition,the gut microbiome,steroid hormones,and Parkinson's disease within the gut-brain axis framework.Understanding these connections not only offers novel therapeutic insights but also illuminates the origins of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.展开更多
文摘Background and Aims: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among pregnant women and major predisposing factors for pyelonephritis linked to obstetrical complications including preterm labour and low infants’ birth weights. This study sought to determine the relationship(s) between pregnancy trimesters, UTIs and changes in progesterone levels among pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 2016 at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) antenatal clinic which is a referral facility that attends to patients from most Counties in western region of Kenya. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect blood and urine specimens from 78 participants. Blood was used to determine progesterone levels using ELISA technique and urine cultures with bacterial colony counts ≥ 10<sup>5</sup> were appropriately identified to species level. Trimester periods and participants’ demographic information were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Results: Culture results showed that the most abundant bacterial species isolated in urine from the pregnant women was Escherechia coli (63.7%). The more affected age-group was women between 30 - 39 years during trimester three, suggesting that bacterial colonization of genital track occurred more frequently in older compared to the younger women. There was an exponential increase in progesterone levels among the pregnant women during trimester three compared to other trimesters, although these increases occurred independent of age. However, high levels of progesterone among pregnant women in third trimester corresponded with increased number of E. coli causing UTI. Conclusion: The results showed that progesterone levels increase with trimester and the most prevalent bacteria associated with this was E. coli even though age and increase in progesterone levels had no significant impact on E. coli infection.
文摘Objective: Comparison of vaginal progesterone (VP) versus VP and intermittent intramuscular progesterone (IMP) use in frozen/thawed blastocyst transfer cycles. Study Design: A single center retrospective analyses of 470 elective FET cycles which were performed between January 2015 and September 2019 were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups. Control group was consisted of VP (n = 272), the study group was consisted of VP plus IMP (n = 198) users. Results: The number of transfer attempts in control and study groups was 272 and 198, respectively. Age (29.8 ± 4 vs 30.6 ± 4;p = 0.09), BMI (22 ± 2 vs 21.9 ± 3;p = 0.79) and the number of transferred embryos (1.4 ± 0.5 vs 1.4 ± 0.5;p = 0.48) were comparable between groups. Altough, implantation rates (43.7% vs 43.6%;p = 0.9), ectopic pregnancy (0.8% vs 0.3%;p = 0.46) and abortion rates (8.2% vs 4.8%;p = 0.07) were similar. Biochemical pregnancy rate (8.4% vs 3.4% p = 0.01) in control group and ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) (27.9% vs 38.1%;p = 0.005) in study group were significantly higher. Conclusion: Within the FET cycles in which good quality blastocyst are being transferred additional IMP supplementation to VP may increase OPR while reducing the biochemical pregnancy rate.
文摘This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between nutrition,the gut microbiome,steroid hormones,and Parkinson's disease within the context of the gut-brain axis.The gut-brain axis plays a pivotal role in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease,encompassing diverse components such as the gut microbiota,immune system,metabolism,and neural pathways.The gut microbiome,profoundly influenced by dietary factors,emerges as a key player.Nutrition during the first 1000 days of life shapes the gut microbiota composition,influencing immune responses and impacting both child development and adult health.High-fat,high-sugar diets can disrupt this delicate balance,contributing to inflammation and immune dysfunction.Exploring nutritional strategies,the Mediterranean diet's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties show promise in reducing Parkinson's disease risk.Microbiome-targeted dietary approaches and the ketogenic diet hold the potential in improving brain disorders.Beyond nutrition,emerging research uncovers potential interactions between steroid hormones,nutrition,and Parkinson's disease.Progesterone,with its anti-inflammatory properties and presence in the nervous system,offers a novel option for Parkinson's disease therapy.Its ability to enhance neuroprotection within the enteric nervous system presents exciting prospects.The review addresses the hypothesis thatα-synuclein aggregates originate from the gut and may enter the brain via the vagus nerve.Gastrointestinal symptoms preceding motor symptoms support this hypothesis.Dysfunctional gut-brain signaling during gut dysbiosis contributes to inflammation and neurotransmitter imbalances,emphasizing the potential of microbiota-based interventions.In summary,this review uncovers the complex web of interactions between nutrition,the gut microbiome,steroid hormones,and Parkinson's disease within the gut-brain axis framework.Understanding these connections not only offers novel therapeutic insights but also illuminates the origins of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
