Decidual NK (dNK) cells, a distinct type of NK cell, are thought to regulate uterine spiral artery remodeling, a process that allows for increased blood delivery to the fetal-placental unit. Impairment of uterine spiral artery remodeling is associated with decreased placental perfusion, increased uterine artery resistance, and obstetric complications such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth...

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between maternal placental Doppler velocimetry, levels of the maternal glucose, and clinical signs of vasculopathy in pregnancy complicated by pregestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective study of 155 pregestational diabetic women between the 22nd and 40th weeks of pregnancy, categorized in White classificat...

OBJECTIVE To summarize the evidence on short-, mid-, and long-term results up to 5 years of uterine artery embolization in comparison to surgery. STUDY DESIGN We searched the CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for randomized clinical trials comparing uterine artery embolization with hysterectomy/myomectomy in premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding caused by symptomatic uterine f...

BACKGROUND Abnormal uterine artery Doppler indices are associated with pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Poor trophoblast invasion may be a consequence of, or be associated with, abnormal Doppler indices. OBJECTIVE To evaluate in vitro trophoblast function following exposure to first-trimester serum from pregnancies with high uterine artery Dop...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of uterine artery Doppler imaging at 22-24 weeks of gestation for adverse pregnancy outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective study in which uterine artery Doppler was performed at 22-24 weeks of gestation in 165 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies. A pulsatility index (PI) more than 1.45 or bilateral uterin...

OBJECTIVE Minimally invasive methods are used as alternatives to treat leiomyomas and include uterine artery embolization, which has emerged as a safe, effective method. This study aims to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging predictors for a reduction in leiomyoma volume in patients undergoing uterine artery embolization. METHODS This prospective longitudinal study was performed at a univ...

To investigate the effectiveness of laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion combined with myomectomy for uterine fibroids. From August 2008 to August 2009, forty-eight women with uterine fibroids desiring to preserve their uteri underwent laparoscopic myomectomy. Among them, 18 women received laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion before uterine myomectomy while the others received laparoscopic my...

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) contributes to estradiol-17beta (E(2)beta)-induced uterine vasodilation, but additional mechanisms are involved, and the cellular pathways remain unclear. We determined if 1) uterine artery myocytes express potassium channels, 2) E(2)beta activates these channels, and 3) channel blockade plus NOS inhibition alters E(2)beta-induced uterine vasodilation. Studies of cel...