VEGF, eNOS, and ABCB1 genetic polymorphisms may increase the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

We investigated the associations between vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 transporter (ABCB1) polymorphisms and the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Published studies were reviewed and analyzed based on predefined selection criteria. The strength of the association between VEGF, eNOS, and ABCB1 polymorphisms and ONFH risk was evaluated based on the odds ratio with corresponding 95%CIs. Meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis 2.0 software. A total of 135 relevant articles were retrieved, of which 10 studies met the selection criteria, and included a total of 1025 patients with ONFH and 1730 healthy controls. The meta-analysis study results revealed that the VEGF rs2010963 G>C polymorphism increased the risk of ONFH, while the VEGF rs2010963 G>C and ABCB1 rs1045642 C>T polymorphisms increased the risk of ONFH under the allele model. In conclusion, the VEGF, eNOS, and ABCB1 polymorphisms may contribute to ONFH, but further studies including larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the results.

Gender difference in protein expression of vascular wall in mice exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia: a preliminary study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as systemic arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac sudden death. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in OSA is thought to be induced primarily by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), a specific pattern of change in oxygenation during sleep. However, the underlying mechanisms of CIH-induced vasculature injury and gender differences are not well documented. The iTRAQ Quantitative Proteomic method enables analysis of a number of different proteins among several groups. Thus, we explored gender differences in protein expression in the vascular walls of mice exposed to CIH. C57BL/6J mice of each gender were exposed to CIH with a fractional inspired O2 (FiO2) nadir of 5% or control, with a treatment time of 8 h/day for 28 days. Differential proteins related to CIH-induced vascular injury between genders were identified using iTRAQ proteomic technology. A total of 163 proteins were identified, of which 34 showed significant differences between genders, which may correlate with vascular injury by CIH. Twenty up-regulated proteins and 14 downregulated proteins were observed in female mice compared with male mice. We identified different vascular proteins expressed under CIH between genders, suggesting that these proteins may be biomarkers of vascular injury by CIH.

A ring system detected around the Centaur (10199) Chariklo.

Hitherto, rings have been found exclusively around the four giant planets in the Solar System. Rings are natural laboratories in which to study dynamical processes analogous to those that take place during the formation of planetary systems and galaxies. Their presence also tells us about the origin and evolution of the body they encircle. Here we report observations of a multichord stellar occultation that revealed the presence of a ring system around (10199) Chariklo, which is a Centaur--that is, one of a class of small objects orbiting primarily between Jupiter and Neptune--with an equivalent radius of 124 ± 9 kilometres (ref. 2). There are two dense rings, with respective widths of about 7 and 3 kilometres, optical depths of 0.4 and 0.06, and orbital radii of 391 and 405 kilometres. The present orientation of the ring is consistent with an edge-on geometry in 2008, which provides a simple explanation for the dimming of the Chariklo system between 1997 and 2008, and for the gradual disappearance of ice and other absorption features in its spectrum over the same period. This implies that the rings are partly composed of water ice. They may be the remnants of a debris disk, possibly confined by embedded, kilometre-sized satellites.

Safety, efficacy, and acceptability of medical abortion in China, Cuba, and India: a comparative trial of mifepristone-misoprostol versus surgical abortion.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated safety, efficacy, and acceptability of an oral regimen of medical abortion compared with surgical abortion in three developing countries. STUDY DESIGN: Women (n = 1373) with amenorrhea < or = 56 days chose either surgical abortion (as provided routinely) or 600 mg of mifepristone followed after 48 hours by 400 micrograms of misoprostol. This is the appropriate design for studying safety, efficacy, and acceptability among women selecting medical abortion over available surgical services. RESULTS: The medical regimen had more side effects, particularly bleeding, than did surgical abortion but very few serious side effects. Failure rates for medical abortion, although low, exceeded those for surgical abortion: 8.6% versus 0.4% (China), 16.0% versus 4.0% (Cuba), and 5.2% versus 0% (India). Nearly half of failures among medical clients were not true drug failures, however, but surgical interventions not medically necessary (acceptability failures or misdiagnoses). Women were satisfied with either method, but more preferred medical abortion. CONCLUSION: Medical abortion can be safe, efficacious, and acceptable in developing countries.

PIP: A multi-center comparative study of medical compared to surgical abortion confirmed that medical abortion can be safe, effective, and acceptable in developing countries. A total of 1373 women from medical centers in China, Cuba, and India with pregnancies of 56 days' gestation or less were given the choice of surgical abortion or 600 mg of mifepristone followed after 48 hours by 400 mcg of misoprostol. Since the majority selected medical abortion, researchers in China and Cuba assigned some of these women to the surgical group to equalize the size of the two groups. The surgical abortion failure rates in China, Cuba, and India were 0.4%, 4%, and 0%, respectively, while the failure rates for medical abortion were 8.6%, 16.0%, and 5.2%, respectively. In all sites, both medical failures (an adverse effect resulting in a medically indicated surgical intervention) and acceptability failures (failure to complete the entire regimen) contributed substantially to the gross failure rates for medical abortion. Medical abortion failure rates increased with gestational age. Although cramping, nausea, and vomiting were more frequent among women in the medical abortion group and bleeding was heavier, general assessments of well-being reported at exit interviews did not differ between the two treatment groups at any site. Regardless of abortion method, the majority of women were either satisfied or highly satisfied with the procedure. In all countries, a higher number of medical than surgical abortion patients indicated they would opt again for the same procedure. Neither the bleeding pattern nor the higher failure rate associated with medical abortion justify withholding this option from women in developing countries.