研究:新方法来“停止”早产
文章来源:未知 文章作者:meng 发布时间:2009-10-23 06:41 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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A drug used to treat cancer can stop contractions1 and may prevent premature2 labour, researchers say.

研究人员称,一种治疗癌症的药物可以停止子宫收缩并防止早产。

Premature birth rates are rising in the UK
Premature birth rates are rising in the UK

The Newcastle University team tested the drug Trichostatin A on tissue taken from 36 women undergoing a caesarean(剖腹产).

The researchers said the therapy worked by increasing the levels of a protein that controls muscle relaxation3.

One expert said with rates of premature births rising - there are 50,000 a year in the UK - a new treatment was badly needed.

Preterm labour and birth continue to be the single biggest cause of death in infants in the developed world and around 1,500 babies die in the UK every year.

A number of drugs are used to try to stop early labour, but most have serious side effects.

Trichostatin A (TSA) is known to promote the death of cancer cells.

The researchers got permission to take samples of the muscles of women undergoing caesarean sections at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, the Cellular4 and Molecular5 Medicine journal reported.

Contractions

They exposed the muscle to TSA and measured the effects on both spontaneous contractions and those induced by the labour drug, oxytocin(催产素).

They found an average 46% reduction in contractions for the spontaneously contracting tissue and an average 54% reduction in the oxytocin induced(感应的) contractions.

It has been previously6 shown that a protein kinase A(蛋白激酶A) (PKA) is involved in controlling the relaxation of the uterus(子宫) during pregnancy7.

The researchers showed that TSA increased the levels of a protein sub-unit of PKA.

Professor Nick Europe-Finner, who led the research, said: "We will not give this drug to a patient because it can damage as many as 10% of the genes8 in a cell.

"But it does show us that other more specific agents that act on the same enzymes9(酵素) but only one at a time are worth investigating."

New treatment

Dr Yolande Harley, deputy director of research at Action Medical Research which funded the study, said: "This project has uncovered some of the molecular pathways that regulate uterine contractions and so could be linked to premature birth.

"It could have a role in preventing premature birth - finding a new treatment for early labour would be a major step forward."

Professor Jane Norman, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG), said: "At the moment, it's not possible to treat preterm labour effectively. We only have drugs that delay it by 24 hours or so - not enough to deliver the baby safely.

"One of the interesting things about this research is that they are using a new kind of drug - the drugs we are currently using have been around for a long time.

"And they are targeting pathways we have not known about before.

"When you consider that preterm birth rates are rising in all four countries of the UK a new more effective drug is badly needed."



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1 contractions 322669f84f436ca5d7fcc2d36731876a     
n.收缩( contraction的名词复数 );缩减;缩略词;(分娩时)子宫收缩
参考例句:
  • Contractions are much more common in speech than in writing. 缩略词在口语里比在书写中常见得多。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Muscle contractions are powered by the chemical adenosine triphosphate(ATP ). 肌肉收缩是由化学物质三磷酸腺苷(ATP)提供动力的。 来自辞典例句
2 premature FPfxV     
adj.比预期时间早的;不成熟的,仓促的
参考例句:
  • It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
  • The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。
3 relaxation MVmxj     
n.松弛,放松;休息;消遣;娱乐
参考例句:
  • The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
  • She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。
4 cellular aU1yo     
adj.移动的;细胞的,由细胞组成的
参考例句:
  • She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
  • Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。
5 molecular mE9xh     
adj.分子的;克分子的
参考例句:
  • The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
  • For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时,分子的碰撞就停止了。
6 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
7 pregnancy lPwxP     
n.怀孕,怀孕期
参考例句:
  • Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
  • Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。
8 genes 01914f8eac35d7e14afa065217edd8c0     
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因,所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪
9 enzymes 7881ad8ce9c83424f7874e70266ed2d8     
n. 酶,酵素
参考例句:
  • It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
  • Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。
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