Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 11, Issue 6, 2005

Since cervical incompetence was introduced in the English literature in 1678, our understanding and obstetric management of this clinical entity, have changed tremendously over the years. This review shows the historical perspective of the development of cervical incompetence as a distinct clinical entity and an all or nothing phenomenon to cervical incompetence as part of a spectrum leading to preterm delivery, which can Read More

Preeclampsia still ranks as one of obstetrics major problems. Clinicians typically encounter preeclampsia as maternal disease with variable degrees of fetal involvement. More and more the unique immunogenetic maternalpaternal relationship is appreciated, and as such also the specific ‘genetic conflict’ that is characteristic of haemochorial placentation. From that perspective preeclampsia can also been seen as a disease of an i Read More

New knowledge of placental development and function suggests that several common complications of pregnancy could share a similar origin. It is suggested that impaired placental development in early pregnancy may lead to placental oxidative stress and subsequently to the maternal syndromes such as recurrent early pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. Oxidative stress has been most extensively investigated in pre-ecl Read More

Preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and placental abruption greatly contribute to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Thrombophilia is an inherited or acquired condition that predisposes individuals to venous and/or arterial thrombosis. Recently, three important inherited thrombophilias have been discovered. An inherited mutation in the gene coding for coagulation factor V (factor V Leiden), and Read More

Hypertension is the most common medical disorder during pregnancy [1]. Approximately 70 percent of women diagnosed with hypertension during pregnancy will have gestational hypertension-preeclampsia. The term gestational hypertension-preeclampsia is used to describe a wide spectrum of patients who may have only mild elevation in blood pressure to those with severe hypertension with various organ dysfunctions (acut Read More

Early postpartum hemorrhage remains a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Postpartum hemorrhage is most commonly due to uterine atony and often responds to medical treatments such as administration of uterotonic drugs, alone or in combination with uterine massage or bimanual compression. As the incidence of cesarean section continues to rise, the problem of placenta previa and accreta is likely to Read More

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common pathogenic bacterial infections, colonising an estimated half of all humans. It is associated with the development of serious gastroduodenal disease - including peptic ulcers, gastric lymphoma and acute chronic gastritis. Current recommended regimes are not wholly effective and patient compliance, side-effects and bacterial resistance can be problematic. Drug delivery to the s Read More

Acute intoxication due to alcohol consumption has been known to elicit reversible skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction, or “alcoholic myopathy and cardiomyopathy”. Sometimes, irreversible muscle damage can be induced after heavy alcohol drinking. Many researchers have proposed that acetaldehyde, the major oxidised product of alcohol, may be a primary factor underlying alcohol-induced muscle dysfunction. Because Read More

Vaccines delivered through mucosal surfaces are increasingly studied because of their properties to effectively induce mucosal immune responses, are cheap, easily administrable and suitable for mass vaccinations. The prospects of development of edible and intranasally administered (perhaps through nose drops or spray) vaccines are inciting a lot of interest and generating many studies. One major obstacle is to be able to ind Read More