Uterine contraction
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International consensus statement on the use of uterotonic agents during caesarean section Open
Summary It is routine to give a uterotonic drug following delivery of the neonate during caesarean section. However, there is much heterogeneity in the relevant research, which has largely been performed in low‐risk elective cases or women…
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Characterization and automatic classification of preterm and term uterine records Open
Predicting preterm birth is uncertain, and numerous scientists are searching for non-invasive methods to improve its predictability. Current researches are based on the analysis of ElectroHysteroGram (EHG) records, which contain informatio…
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A Randomized, Double-blinded Trial of a “Rule of Threes” Algorithm versus Continuous Infusion of Oxytocin during Elective Cesarean Delivery Open
Abstract In 60 women randomized to treatment at cesarean delivery, a single intravenous bolus of 3 IU at delivery was as effective as continuous, wide-open infusion of oxytocin, 30 IU/500 ml despite less total oxytocin delivered. Groups di…
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Uterine contractions in rodent models and humans Open
Aberrant uterine contractions can lead to preterm birth and other labour complications and are a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. To investigate the mechanisms underlying dysfunctional uterine contractions, researcher…
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Salvia sclarea L. Essential Oil Extract and Its Antioxidative Phytochemical Sclareol Inhibit Oxytocin-Induced Uterine Hypercontraction Dysmenorrhea Model by Inhibiting the Ca2+–MLCK–MLC20 Signaling Cascade: An Ex Vivo and In Vivo Study Open
Salvia sclarea essential oil is used as an aromatic therapy for dysmenorrhea. Sclareol—one of the natural products isolated from S. sclarea—displays anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities; however, researchers have not yet evaluated …
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Detection rate of fetal distress using contraction-dependent fetal heart rate variability analysis Open
Our results show that combining contraction-dependent HRV features with HRV features calculated over the entire fetal heart rate signal improves the detection rate of fetal distress.
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Bitter taste receptors as targets for tocolytics in preterm labor therapy Open
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, with few prevention and treatment options. Uterine contraction is a central feature of PTB, so gaining new insights into the mechanisms of this contraction and c…
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Maternal age effects on myometrial expression of contractile proteins, uterine gene expression, and contractile activity during labor in the rat Open
Advanced maternal age of first time pregnant mothers is associated with prolonged and dysfunctional labor and significant risk of emergency cesarean section. We investigated the influence of maternal age on myometrial contractility, expres…
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Pregnancy upregulates angiotensin type 2 receptor expression and increases blood flow in uterine arteries of rats† Open
Normal pregnancy is associated with decreased uterine vascular contraction and increased blood flow even though angiotensin II (AngII) levels are increased. AngII not only activates the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) to mediate vasocon…
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Oxytocin Receptor Antagonists, Atosiban and Nolasiban, Inhibit Prostaglandin F2α-induced Contractions and Inflammatory Responses in Human Myometrium Open
Oxytocin receptor antagonists (OTR-A) have been developed as tocolytics for the management of preterm labour due to the significant role of oxytocin (OT) in the onset of both term and preterm labour. Similar to OT, prostaglandins (PGs) pla…
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Identification of uterine pacemaker regions at the myometrial–placental interface in the rat Open
Key Points Coordinated contraction of the uterine smooth muscle is essential to parturition. Histologically and physiologically defined pacemaker structures have not been identified in uterine smooth muscle. Here we report combined electro…
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The Inhibitory Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Its Active Compound Oleocanthal on Prostaglandin-Induced Uterine Hypercontraction and Pain—Ex Vivo and In Vivo Study Open
Primary dysmenorrhea is a common occurrence in adolescent women and is a type of chronic inflammation. Dysmenorrhea is due to an increase in oxidative stress, which increases cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, increases the concentration…
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Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development Open
Discovery and characterization of novel pharmaceutical compounds or biochemical probes rely on robust and physiologically relevant assay systems. We describe methods to measure ex vivo myometrium contractility. This assay can be used to in…
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Differential expression of myometrial AP‐1 proteins during gestation and labour Open
Preterm labour (PTL) is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and postnatal morbidity. Contractions of the uterine muscle (myometrium) that determine the onset of labour depend on the expression of contraction‐associated proteins (CAPs, i…
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Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 are elevated in human preterm laboring uterine myometrium and exacerbate uterine contractility† Open
Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP2/9) have previously been shown to be elevated in serum and amniotic fluid from women undergoing preterm birth. We performed experiments to determine the effects of MMP2/9 on uterine contraction and bi…
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Physiological increases in lactate inhibit intracellular calcium transients, acidify myocytes and decrease force in term pregnant rat myometrium Open
Key points Lactate is increased in myometrial capillary blood from women in slow or non‐progressive labour (dystocia), suggesting that it is detrimental to uterine contractions. There are no studies of the effect of lactate on the myometri…
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HIF-1α is essential for the augmentation of myometrial contractility during labor Open
Uterine contraction is crucial for a successful labor and the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. It is enhanced by hypoxia; however, its underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. In this study, transcriptomes revealed that hypoxia-…
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Hydrogen Sulfide Contributes to Uterine Quiescence Through Inhibition of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB Signalling Pathway Open
H2S suppresses CAP expression and the inflammatory response and contributes to uterine quiescence by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway and downstream NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Thus, H2S contributes to uterine quiescence thr…
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Effectiveness of nifedipine in threatened preterm labor: a randomized trial Open
Nifedipine had a higher success rate for inhibiting threatened preterm contractions.
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Reciprocal Feedback Between miR-181a and E2/ERα in Myometrium Enhances Inflammation Leading to Labor Open
Context: The initiation of term and preterm labor is associated with an up-regulated inflammatory response in myometrium; however, the underlying signaling pathways remain incompletely defined. Objective: To define the regulatory mechanism…
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Mechanisms of thrombin-Induced myometrial contractions: Potential targets of progesterone Open
Intrauterine bleeding during pregnancy is a major risk factor for preterm birth. Thrombin, the most abundant coagulation factor in blood, is associated with uterine myometrial contraction. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism and …
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High-Throughput Screening of Myometrial Calcium-Mobilization to Identify Modulators of Uterine Contractility Open
The uterine myometrium (UT-myo) is a therapeutic target for preterm labor, labor induction, and postpartum hemorrhage. Stimulation of intracellular Ca2+-release in UT-myo cells by oxytocin is a final pathway controlling myometrial contract…
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Na+-Leak Channel, Non-Selective (NALCN) Regulates Myometrial Excitability and Facilitates Successful Parturition Open
Background/Aims: Uterine contractility is controlled by electrical signals generated by myometrial smooth muscle cells. Because aberrant electrical signaling may cause inefficient uterine contractions and poor reproductive outcomes, there …
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Electrohysterogram for ANN-Based Prediction of Imminent Labor in Women with Threatened Preterm Labor Undergoing Tocolytic Therapy Open
Threatened preterm labor (TPL) is the most common cause of hospitalization in the second half of pregnancy and entails high costs for health systems. Currently, no reliable labor proximity prediction techniques are available for clinical u…
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Automatic Contraction Detection Using Uterine Electromyography Open
Electrohysterography (EHG) is a promising technique for pregnancy monitoring and preterm risk evaluation. It allows for uterine contraction monitoring as early as the 20th gestational week, and it is a non-invasive technique based on recor…
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Progesterone inhibits contraction and increases TREK-1 potassium channel expression in late pregnant rat uterus Open
Uterus from late-pregnant rats (gestational day 19) was isolated, and uterine strips were prepared for isometric contraction measurement. Oxytocin-induced contraction was compared in uterine strips pretreated with different concentration o…
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Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling drives placental aging and can provoke preterm labor Open
Most cases of preterm labor have unknown cause, and the burden of preterm birth is immense. Placental aging has been proposed to promote labor onset, but specific mechanisms remain elusive. We report findings stemming from unbiased transcr…
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Using uterine activity to improve fetal heart rate variability analysis for detection of asphyxia during labor Open
During labor, uterine contractions can cause temporary oxygen deficiency for the fetus. In case of severe and prolonged oxygen deficiency this can lead to asphyxia. The currently used technique for detection of asphyxia, cardiotocography (…
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Development of Electrohysterogram Recording System for Monitoring Uterine Contraction Open
Uterine contraction (UC) is an important clinical indictor for monitoring uterine activity. The purpose of this study is to develop a portable electrohysterogram (EHG) recording system (called PregCare) for monitoring UCs with EHG signals.…
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Pirt Contributes to Uterine Contraction-Induced Pain in Mice Open
Uterine contraction-induced pain (UCP) represents a common and severe form of visceral pain. Nerve fibers that innervate uterine tissue express the transient receptor potential vanilloid channel 1 (TRPV1), which has been shown to be involv…