OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and abnormal bacterial vaginal flora in an infertile population and correlate with cervical cytokine production and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. STUDY DESIGN: In…
OBJECTIVE: Predisposing factors influencing recurrences of bacterial vaginosis (BV) or vaginitis from Candida remain unidentified for most women. As a component of studies to determine host susceptibility factors to genital tract infections…
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between pregnancy outcome and expression of the heat shock proteins (hsps) or hsp-antibody complexes of 60kD (hsp60), 70kD (hsp70), and 90kD (hsp90) in placental tissue and circulating antibodies to hsps was eval…
Heat shock proteins are among the first proteins produced by the zygote after fertilization. In addition, the maternal decidua also expresses heat shock proteins during the early stages of pregnancy. Autoimmunity to heat shock proteins is n…
PROBLEM: Heat shock proteins are expressed during early pregnancy and in peritoneal fluids from women with endometriosis. The relationship between a cell-mediated immune response to human 60-kDa heat shock protein (hsp60), spontaneous abort…
Proinflammatory cytokines and activated macrophages and T lymphocytes have been detected in peritoneal fluids of women with endometriosis and may impair fertility. Expression of the 60 kDa heat shock protein (hsp60) is one mechanism leading…