Availability of COLLECT,a database for pregnancy and placental research studies worldwide

Cost and availability of a database often impede research while the lack of compatibility inhibits collaboration by making merging of databases difficult or impossible. The Global Pregnancy Collaboration (CoLab) has promoted harmonization of studies and standardized data collection to facilitate pregnancy and placental research. Its online database, COLLECT, allows collection of minimal and optimal clinical datasets to accompany basic and applied science studies and provides a placental sample inventory system. COLLECT is available free of charge in LMIC and for $100 per month in HIC. Data is the property of the investigator but with permission can be combined into larger studies across centers and countries.     

正常妊娠与重度子痫前期孕妇血常规参数的孕期变化对比

目的:比较重度子痫前期孕妇与正常妊娠孕妇在不同孕期下血常规参数的变化并分析其临床意义。方法:选择重度子痫前期孕妇100例为观察组,正常妊娠孕妇100例为对照组,对两组孕妇从妊娠12周起每隔4周进行血常规检查,比较两组的参数变化。结果:观察组与对照组的白细胞计数(WBC)、中性粒细胞比例(N)、淋巴细胞比例(L)在不同孕周间变化不明显,差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05)。相同孕周下两组WBC、N、L的差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05)。对照组的红细胞计数(RBC)、血红蛋白浓度(Hb)、血细胞比容(HCT)在整个妊娠过程中表现出先降低后升高的趋势。观察组RBC、Hb和HCT在不同孕周下没有表现出先降低后升高的趋势。RBC和Hb水平在孕16～35周高于对照组的同期水平,HCT水平在孕20-31周高于对照组的同期水平,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组与对照组血小板(PLT)水平在整个妊娠过程中均表现出缓慢下降的趋势,平均血小板体积(MPV)则呈现出逐步上升的趋势。观察组PLT在孕32～39周的水平低于同期对照组的水平,MPV在孕28～35周的水平高于同期对照组的水平,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:血常规参数在不同孕周中的变化可以大致反映孕妇的血容量、血黏度以及凝血状态的变化。有望帮助临床早期筛选出重度子痫前期孕妇,及时给予针对性的干预以减轻症状、延缓病情发展。     

Hypoproteinemia in the second trimester among patients with preeclampsia prior to the onset of clinical symptoms

Objective: To find a risk factor for “uncomplicated” preeclampsia (PE) comparing blood biochemical parameters between women with uncomplicated PE and healthy pregnant women in each trimester of pregnancy. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 83 cases of uncomplicated PE, selected from 434 patients with PE, disregarding subjects with other complications relevant to hypertension during pregnancy. The study was limited to women with PE occurring in the third trimester, and records of blood biochemical parameters were evaluated. Controls were recruited from 108 healthy volunteers with normal singleton pregnancies. Results: A significant decrease in total protein was observed in the uncomplicated PE group in the second trimester prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Hypoproteinemia during pregnancy may be a risk factor for this pathophysiology, and the maintenance of sufficient protein in early pregnancy could contribute to prophylaxis for women with uncomplicated PE.     

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in pregnancy induced hypertension

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to evaluate implication of pregnancy induced hypertension on maternal plasma lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein concentrations and lipid peroxidation products by a comparison of normal pregnancy vs. preeclampsia. DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-four women with preeclampsia and 32 healthy pregnant women (controls) in the third trimester were recruited for this study. RESULTS: In the preeclamptic group plasma total triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA) and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) were significantly increased, while plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly decreased compared to that of control group. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 (apo-A1) concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that preeclampsia share some metabolic characteristics with coronary artery disease such as dislipidemia and increased lipid peroxidation. However lipoprotein concentrations may be better biochemical markers of dislipidemia in the preeclamptic state than the corresponding apolipoproteins.     

Decreased adrenomedullin and total nitrite levels in breast milk of preeclamptic women

OBJECTIVE: To observe the adrenomedullin (AM) and total nitrite levels in the milk of preeclamptic and normal pregnant women. DESIGN AND METHODS: Fifteen women with preeclampsia and 15 normal pregnant women were included in the study. Total nitrite was quantitated by Griess reaction, while AM was measured by HPLC. RESULTS: The levels of AM and total nitrite in colostrum and 30th-day breast milk were decreased in preeclamptics. Total nitrite levels (micromol/l) were 56.09 +/- 11.18 vs. 82.20 +/- 12.01, P < 0.05, in colostrum of preeclamptics and controls, respectively. The level of total nitrite was 37.75 +/- 12.10 vs. 53.28 +/- 10.25, P < 0.05, in 30th-day milk of same patients. AM levels (pg/ml) were 11.18 +/- 1.11 vs. 16.59 +/- 1.24, P < 0.0001, in colostrum of preeclamptics and controls, respectively. In 30th-day milk of same patients, AM levels were 8.41 +/- 1.39 vs. 12.18 +/- 1.48, P < 0.005, respectively. CONCLUSION: This report shows for the first time that human milk has decreased levels of AM and total nitrite in preeclampsia.     

Placental insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies

OBJECTIVES: To assess the ligand binding characteristics of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors in normal and preeclamptic placentas. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was done cross sectionally in trophoblast membranes obtained from 10 normotensive and 9 preeclamptic pregnant women. The affinity and number of binding sites of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors were assessed by binding assays and Scatchard plot analysis. RESULTS: Placental and newborn birth weights were significantly (P < 0.001) lower in the preeclamptic group. The K(d) values of placental insulin receptors (IR) were significantly higher in the preeclamptic group than in the normotensive group (1.08 +/- 0.24 x 10(-9) vs. 0.81 +/- 0.13 x 10(-9) M, P < 0.01), without differences in the number of receptors. In contrast, no differences were observed in the affinity and the number of insulin-like growth factor I receptors (IGF-1R) between groups. Placental weight was associated negatively with the K(d) values of IR (P < 0.05) and positively with the number of placental IGF-1R (P < 0.05); while newborn birth weight was associated positively with the number of IGF-1R (P < 0.05). In addition, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure correlated significantly with K(d) values of placental IR (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that preeclampsia is associated with low placental IR affinity. In addition, this study suggests an association between the affinity of IR and number of IGF-1R with placental and/or fetal growth. Furthermore, high blood pressure may affect the affinity of placental IR, but not the affinity or number of placental IGF-1 receptors.