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Network Member Profile

Current Field of Study

• Fetal physiology

Australian Collaborators

• Prof Euan Wallace, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria to examine the effects of glucocorticoids on placental blood flow in vitro (1 paper published)
• Dr Tony Perkins University of Queensland we are examining the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes in placentae collected from asthmatic pregnancies (2 papers published).
• Prof David Walker, Dept Physiology, Monash University examining placental glucocorticoid pathways in spiny mouse.
  

International Collaborators

• Professor John Challis and Dr Alison Holloway, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto Canada examining urocortin actions in the sheep fetal pituitary (abstract and 1 publication).
• Professor Terry Mayhew, University of Nottingham UK to examine the placental stereology of asthmatic placentae (2 abstracts and a paper in submission).
• Prof Stephen Mathews, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto Canada and Dr William Gibb University of Ottawa examining MDR gene in asthmatic placentae.
• A/Professor Isabella Caniggia and Prof Igor Jurisica of Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto, Canada examining gene expression in asthmatic placentae using microarray analysis and bioinformatics ( international grant application, 2 abstracts).
• Prof Nicholas Illsley and A.Prof Stacy Zamudio of New Jersey Medical Centre, NY, USA examining 11beta HSD 2 activity in placentae of high altitude pregnancies (1 abstract).
• Prof Martin Post, Sick Childrens Hospital, Toronto Canada examining GR receptor in placentae of asthmatic pregnancies.
• Dr Jeff Keelan, Liggins Institute, Auckland NZ examining inflammatory pathways in fetal membranes of asthmatic pregnancies.
• Prof Pawel Zarzycki, University of Kozsalin, Poland, examining fetal cord blood steroid profiles (1 paper published, 1 paper submitted).
  

Facilities

Biomolecular Research Facility - microarray - proteomic technology-MALDI-TOF, electron microscope, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, DNA sequencing, protein sequencing

Recent Publications

VC11. McLean M, Bowman M, Clifton V, Smith R, Grossman A. (2000) Expression of the heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide signalling system in human placenta. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85(6):2345 -2349. Impact Factor=5.78, Citations=26

VC12. Clifton VL, Qing G, Murphy VE, Schwartz J, Madsen G, Smith R. (2000) Localisation and characterization of urocortin during human pregnancy. Placenta 21(8):782-788. Impact factor=2.68. Citations=24

VC13. Gu Q, Clifton VL, Schwartz J, Madsen G, Sha J, Smith R 2001 Characterization of urocortin in human pregnancy. Chin Med J (Engl) 114:618-22

VC14. Clifton VL, Giles WB, Smith R, Bisits AT, Hempenstall P, Kessell CG, Gibson PG. 2001 Alterations of placental vascular function in asthmatic pregnancies. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 164:546-53 Impact factor=8.12, Citations=19

VC15. Holloway AC, Howe DC, Chan G, Clifton VL, Smith R, Challis JR 2002 Urocortin: a mechanism for the sustained activation of the HPA axis in the late-gestation ovine fetus? Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 283:E165-71 Impact factor=4.43, Citations=5

VC16. Clifton VL, Wallace EM, Smith R 2002 Short-term effects of glucocorticoids in the human fetal-placental circulation in vitro. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:2838-42
Impact factor=5.78, Citations=7

VC17. O'Dwyer DT, Clifton V, Hall A, Smith R, Robinson PJ, Crock PA 2002 Pituitary autoantibodies in lymphocytic hypophysitis target both gamma- and alpha-Enolase - a link with pregnancy? Arch Physiol Biochem 110:94-8.

VC18. Murphy VE, Zakar T, Smith R, Giles WB, Gibson PG, Clifton VL 2002 Reduced 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity is associated with decreased birth weight centile in pregnancies complicated by asthma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:1660-8
Impact factor=5.78, Citations=22

VC19. Clifton VL, Crompton R, Smith R, Wright IM 2002 Microvascular effects of CRH in human skin vary in relation to gender. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:267-70
Impact factor=5.78, Citations=13

VC20. Murphy VE, Gibson PG, Giles WB, Smith, R. and Clifton VL. 2003 Maternal asthma is associated with reduced female fetal growth. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 168:1317-23
Impact factor=8.12, Citations=27

VC21. Murphy VE, Clifton VL 2003 Alterations in human placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and 2 with gestational age and labour. Placenta 24:739-44
Impact factor=2.68. Citations=14

VC22. Crompton R, Clifton VL, Bisits AT, Read MA, Smith R, Wright IM 2003 Corticotropin-releasing hormone causes vasodilation in human skin via mast cell-dependent pathways. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:5427-32
Impact factor=5.78, Citations16

VC23. Johnson RF, Mitchell CM, Clifton V, Zakar T 2004 Regulation of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) gene activity, messenger ribonucleic acid processing, and protein abundance in the human chorion in late gestation and labor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89:5639-48. Impact factor=5.78 Citations=3.

VC24. Murphy VE, Johnson RF, Wang YC, Akinsanya K, Gibson PG, Smith R, Clifton VL 2005 The effect of maternal asthma on placental and cord blood protein profiles. J Soc Gynecol Investig 12:349-55. Impact factor=2.29, Citations=5

VC25. Clifton VL, Crompton R, Read MA, Gibson PG, Smith R, Wright IM 2005 Microvascular effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone in human skin vary in relation to estrogen concentration during the menstrual cycle. J Endocrinol 186:69-76. Impact factor=3.31. Citations=2

VC26. Vanderlelie J, Venardos K, Clifton VL, Gude NM, Clarke FM, Perkins AV 2005 Increased biological oxidation and reduced anti-oxidant enzyme activity in pre-eclamptic placentae. Placenta 26:53-8. Impact Factor 2.68. Citations =0

VC27. Murphy VE, Gibson PG, Talbot PI, Kessell CG, Clifton VL 2005 Asthma self-management skills and the use of asthma education during pregnancy. Eur Respir J 26:435-41. Impact Factor 3.09. Citations =4

VC28. Osei-Kumah A, Ammit AJ, Smith R, Ge Q, Clifton VL 2005 Inflammatory Mediator Release in Normal Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cells is Altered by Pregnant Maternal and Fetal Plasma Independent of Asthma. Placenta Epub ahead of print Oct 21 2005. Impact factor 2.68. Citations=1

VC29. Clifton VL, Vanderlelie J, Perkins AV 2005 Increased anti-oxidant enzyme activity and biological oxidation in placentae of pregnancies complicated by maternal asthma. Placenta 26:773-9. Impact factor 2.68

VC30. Murphy VE, Gibson P, Talbot PI, Clifton VL 2005 Severe Asthma Exacerbations During Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 106:1046-1054. Impact factor= 3.51. Citations=3

VC31. Murphy VE, Johnson RF, Wang YC Akinsanya K, Gibson PG, Smith R, Clifton VL 2006 Proteomic study of plasma proteins in pregnant women with asthma. Respirology 11:41-8. Impact factor=0.93 Citations=1

VC32. Clifton VL, Rennie N, Murphy VE 2006 Effect of inhaled glucocorticoid treatment on placental 11beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity and neonatal birth weight in pregnancies complicated by asthma. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (in press). Citation=3 Impact Factor =0.43

VC33. Zarzycki PK, Kulhanek KM, Smith R, Clifton VL 2006 Determination of steroids in human plasma using temperature-dependent inclusion chromatography for metabolomic investigations. J Chromatogr A 1104:203-8. Impact factor = 3.36

VC34. Murphy VE, Fittock R, Zarzycki P, Delahunty M, Smith R, Clifton VL 2007 Metabolism of synthetic steroids by the human placenta. Placenta 28:39-46. Impact factor 2.68

VC35 Stark MJ, Dierkx L, Clifton VL and Wright IMR 2006 Alterations in the maternal peripheral response in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and the impact of fetal sex. Journal of the Society of Gynecologic Investigation 13:573-578.

VC36 Hodyl, N.A, Walker, FR., Krivanek, KN., Clifton, VL., Hodgson, DM. (2007) Modelling prenatal bacterial infection; functional consequences of altered HPA development. Behavioural brain research (accepted Dec 2006, in press).

Reviews

VC37. Schwartz J, Revskoy S, Redei E, Clifton V, Smith R, Cherny R 2002 Corticotrophs and peptides. Arch Physiol Biochem 110:146-53.

VC38. Clifton VL, Murphy VE 2004 Maternal asthma as a model for examining fetal sex-specific effects on maternal physiology and placental mechanisms that regulate human fetal growth. Placenta 25 Suppl A:S45-52. Impact factor= 2.68

VC39. Murphy VE, Gibson PG, Smith R, Clifton VL 2005 Asthma during pregnancy: mechanisms and treatment implications. Eur Respir J 25:731-50. Impact Factor=3.096

VC40. Clifton VL 2005 (invited review) Sexually dimorphic effects of maternal asthma during pregnancy on placental glucocorticoid metabolism and fetal growth. Cell Tissue Res 322:63-71.

VC41. Murphy VE, Clifton VL, Gibson PG 2006 Asthma exacerbations during pregnancy: incidence and association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thorax 61:169-76. Impact Factor=5.04

VC42. Murphy VE, Smith R, Giles WB, Clifton VL 2006 Endocrine regulation of human fetal growth: the role of the mother, placenta and fetus. Endocr Rev 27:141-169. Impact Factor=18.12

VC43 Clifton VL 2006 (invited review) Maternal asthma during pregnancy and fetal outcomes: potential mechanisms and possible solutions. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol (in press accepted April 2006)

Book Chapters

VC44. Smith, R., Chan, E-C., Mesiano, S., Nicholson, R, Cheng, Y-H., Bowman, M., Clifton, V., Madsen, G., Fitter, J.T., Giles, W., and Bisits, A. (2000) Regulation of Parturition: The Role of CRH. (Chapter 24) Hormones and Women's Health: The Reproductive Years. Vol 1. Harwood Academic Publishers imprint, part of The Gordon and Breach Publishing Group.

VC45. Smith R, Mesiano S, Clifton V, Chan E-C, Zakar T, Nicholson R, Giles W, Bisits A. The Pathway To Human Birth. Ed. Carlos Simón. Cuadernos de Medicina Reproductiva, Editorial Médica Panamericana (peer reviewed) 2003 Volume 9, Number 2.

VC46. Smith R, Mesiano S, Nicholson R, Zakar T, Chan E-C, Bisits A, Clifton V, Giles W. Control of the Length of Gestation - Lessons from Women. Preterm Birth. Eds. Bennet and Thornton. Publisher: Royal College Obstetrics Gynecology. (peer reviewed) 2004 pp13-27.

VC47. Smith R, Mesiano S, Nicholson R, Clifton V, Zakar T, Chan E-C, Bisits A, Giles W. The Regulation of Human Parturition. In: Birth, Distress and Disease. Eds. Michael L Power, Jay Schulkin. Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK pp77-90 (peer reviewed) 2005

VC48. Murphy, V.E., Smith, R., Giles, W.B and Clifton V.L. 2006 The role of the mother, placenta, and fetus in the control of fetal growth during human pregnancy IN "Perinatal Programming: Early Life Determinants of Adult Health and Disease", eds D Hodgson and C. Coe. p 3-17 Taylor and Francis, UK,