title: Decreases in adrenomedullin expression and ciliary beat frequency in the nasal epithelium in tubal pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study adrenomedullin (ADM) expression and its relation to ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in the nasal mucociliated epithelium in tubal ectopic pregnancy (tEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with tEP and normal intrauterine pregnancy matched for age and gestational age were recruited. Healthy nonpregnant women were also recruited as nonpregnant controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasal epithelial brushing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adrenomedullin expression in nasal epithelium (measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, plasma ADM concentration (measured by ELISA), and CBF (measured by photometric method).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have demonstrated a similar decrease in ADM expression and CBF in the nasal mucociliated epithelium, as well as in plasma ADM concentration, in women with tEP compared with normal pregnant women. Adrenomedullin up-regulates nasal CBF via the ADM receptor, as in the oviduct. There is significant correlation between nasal and oviductal CBF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal epithelium ADM and CBF, as well as plasma ADM, are possible predictors of women at risk of tEP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. owaisum@hku.hk
authors.forename: Wai Sum
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: O
authors.forename: Hang Wun Raymond
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Su-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Annie Nga Yin
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Ernest Hung Yu
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: William Shu Biu
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: James Chung-Man
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Fai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C507862:ADM protein, human; D053607:Adrenomedullin
keywords: Adrenomedullin; ciliary beat frequency; nasal ciliated epithelium; tubal ectopic pregnancy