The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, in cycles with a premature rise of serum progesterone. 25 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with (Group 1) and 25 ICSI cycles without a premature progesterone elevation (Group 2) were included. The cut-off value of serum progesterone on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration was 0.9 ng/ml. The indication for ICSI was male factor infertility exclusively. On the day of hCG injection, serum IL-6, VEGF and bFGF were significantly higher in Group 1 (7.7±24.5 pg/ml, 290.2±161.4 pg/ml and 15.7±8.2 ng/ml respectively) than in Group 2 (1.7±0.7 pg/ml, 175.2±92.1 pg/ml, and 9±1.6 ng/ml respectively). On the day of follicular puncture, serum cytokine concentrations were similar in the two groups. IL-6 intrafollicular concentrations were higher in Group 1 (14.7±20.7 pg/ml) than in Group 2 (9±9.3 pg/ml, p=0.031). There were no differences regarding the ICSI outcome. Patients with serum progesterone above 0.9 ng/ml, have elevated serum concentrations of IL-6, VEGF, and bFGF, as well as elevated intrafollicular concentrations of IL-6. The outcome of ICSI cycles is not associated with premature elevation of progesterone when the cut-off value is set at 0.9 ng/ml., N. Nikolettos, B. Asimakopoulos, F. Köster, B. Schöpper, Ch. Schulz, G. S. Caglar, A. Efthimiadou, O. Pagonopoulou, K. Diedrich, S. Al-Hasani., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
100 rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) modeling groups. The sham group after surgery was observed for 14 days. After MCAO, some rats received isometric contraction training (ICT) which was as follows: an atraumatic tourniquet was placed around left or right hind limb to achieve hind limb ischemia for 5 min, followed by 5 min of reperfusion, 4 cycles for one time, once a day, and five days per week. The MCAO modeling groups included the following four groups: i) a group only received MCAO, and was observed for seven days (MCAO-7d), ii) a group only received MCAO, and was observed for 14 days (MCAO-14d), iii) a group, after MCAO, received ICT for seven days (ICT-7d), and iv) a group, after MCAO, received ICT for 14 days (ICT-14d). Brain infarct area, behavioral outcomes, the number of neurons, apoptosis, cerebral edema and cerebral water content were assessed, respectively. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was assayed with RT-PCR, and protein expression of VEGF was quantified with western blot. compared with MCAO controls, cerebral infarction, neurological deficits and neuronal apoptosis were reduced significantly in the ICT groups, while the number of neurons was increased. Moreover, the mRNA expression of VEGF and protein expression of VEGF were enhanced after 1 and 2 weeks of ICT. ICT may promote angiogenesis and neuroprotection after ischemic stroke and this new remodeling method provide a novel strategy for rehabilitation of stroke patients.