Zhang J (zhang + j)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Association between periodontal disease, bacterial vaginosis, and sexual risk behaviours

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 10 2010
Emily Craig Zabor
Zabor EC, Klebanoff M, Yu K, Zhang J, Nansel T, Andrews W, Schwebke J, Jeffcoat M. Association between periodontal disease, bacterial vaginosis, and sexual risk behaviours. J Clin Periodontol 2010; 37: 888,893. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2010.01593.x. Abstract Background: Both periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study evaluated the association between periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis. Materials and Methods: Data from 3569 women enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Flora were used. Periodontal disease, defined as greater than three sites with ,4 mm attachment loss, was assessed by specially calibrated hygienists at baseline. Positive bacterial vaginosis status was based on a Nugent Gram stain score ,7. Pairs of independent variables were compared with Pearson's ,2 and risk ratios were calculated through log-binomial regression. Results: Twenty-eight per cent of women with bacterial vaginosis had periodontal disease compared with 22% without , corresponding to 1.29 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.47) times greater risk of periodontal disease among women with bacterial vaginosis. In adjusted analysis the risk ratio dropped to 1.23 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.40). Receptive oral sex with an uncircumcised partner was associated with 1.28 times (95% CI: 0.97, 1.69) the risk for periodontal disease compared with receptive oral sex with a circumcised partner, though the association is not statistically significant. Conclusions: In this population, there is a small but significant association between periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis and a possible trend between receptive oral sex with an uncircumcised partner and periodontal disease. [source]


Inflammatory profiles in nasal mucosa of patients with persistent vs intermittent allergic rhinitis

ALLERGY, Issue 9 2010
F. Liu
To cite this article: Liu F, Zhang J, Liu Y, Zhang N, Holtappels G, Lin P, Liu S, Bachert C. Inflammatory profiles in nasal mucosa of patients with persistent vs intermittent allergic rhinitis. Allergy 2010; 65: 1149,1157. Abstract Background:, To date there is little information on the inflammatory profiles of patients suffering from persistent (PER) and intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR). Also, it is not clear whether differences exist in eosinophilic inflammation and/or T-helper cell sub-populations and their markers. The aim of this study was to primarily evaluate the inflammatory profiles of patients with moderate/severe PER and IAR. Methods:, Inferior nasal turbinate tissue was obtained from 12 PER, 12 IAR and 12 nonallergic nonrhinitic (control) patients, and symptoms (visual analogue scales, VAS) and impairment of life was monitored. All tissues were assessed for eosinophil and mast cell numbers by immunohistochemistry; IL-5, ECP and IgE concentrations by immunoassay; mRNA for transcription factors GATA-3, T-bet, FOXP3 and RORc by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; and IgE-induced release of LTC4/D4/E4 and PGD2in vitro. Results:, Eosinophils and mast cells were significantly increased in patients with PER and patients with IAR compared to control subjects; by patients with PER demonstrating even significantly greater increase of both cell types than patients with IAR. Similarly, ECP IL-5, GATA-3 mRNA expression and IgE-induced release of LTC4/D4/E4 and PGD2 from mast cells were significantly increased in patients with PER compared to patients with IAR. In contrast, the expression of T-bet, FOXP3 or RORc mRNA was not significantly different in the PER, IAR or control patients. Conclusion:, The findings from the present study suggest that PER is characterized by a significantly greater eosinophilic and predominantly Th2 cell-mediated nasal inflammatory profile compared to IAR. [source]


REVIEW ARTICLE: Uterine NK Cells, Spiral Artery Modification and the Regulation of Blood Pressure During Mouse Pregnancy

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010
Suzanne D. Burke
Citation Burke SD, Barrette VF, Gravel J, Carter ALI, Hatta K, Zhang J, Chen Z, Leno-Durán E, Bianco J, Leonard S, Murrant C, Adams MA, Anne Croy B. Uterine NK cells, spiral artery modification and the regulation of blood pressure during mouse pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Reproductive success in mammals involves coordinated changes in the immune and cardiovascular as well as in the neuroendocrine and reproductive systems. This review addresses studies that identify potential links for NK cells and T cells with the local and systemic cardiovascular adaptations of pregnancy. The studies reviewed have utilized immunohistochemisty and in vivo analyses of vascular parameters by ultrasound, chronic monitoring of hemodynamics via radiotelemetric recording and intravital microscopy. At the uterine level, functional subsets of uterine natural killer cells were identified. These included subsets expressing molecules important for vasoregulation, in addition to those previously identified for angiogenesis. Spiral arteries showed conducted responses that could account for conceptus control of vasoactivity and mouse gestational blood pressure 5-phase pattern. Vascular immunology is an emerging transdisciplinary field, critical for both reproductive immunology and cardiovascular disease. [source]


Trends in Labor Induction in the United States: Is It True That What Goes Up Must Come Down?

BIRTH, Issue 2 2004
IN THE LITERATURE
Commentary on: Zhang J, Yancey MK, Henderson CE. U.S. national trends in labor induction, 1989,1998. J Reprod Med 2002;47:120,124. MacDorman MF, Mathews TJ, Martin JA, Malloy MH. Trends and characteristics of induced labour in the United States, 1989,98. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2002;16:263,273. Kozak LJ, Weeks JD. U.S. trends in obstetric procedures, 1990,2000. Birth 2002;29:157,161. Abstract:,Three recent studies examined the national trend in labor induction in the United States. All show a doubling in the rate of induction during the 1990s, although vital statistics data show a consistently higher trend than that obtained from national hospital discharge data. Neither data source adequately documents the full range of indications for induction, its timing, hospital staffing considerations, and other factors that may play a role. Although rates of induction of labor may be leveling off, despite a lack of scientific evidence for its widespread use, rates are likely to remain at current levels for the next few years. [source]