1141610241Altered expression of HuR, an mRNA stabilizing protein, mediates aberrant Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF) expression in preeclampsia

Background:  Control of mRNA stability is an essential regulatory process in eukaryotic gene expression. HuR, a 3'UTR mRNA binding protein, can protect AU-rich mRNA from degradation in response to stresses. PlGF, an angiogenic growth factor, contains two consensus AU-rich sites suggesting that under normal conditions HuR may protect PlGF mRNA from degradation. Trophoblast expression of PlGF is significantly decreased in preeclampsia and by hypoxia in vitro . We hypothesize that decreased levels of cytoplasmic HuR may contribute to decreased PlGF expression in hypoxic and preeclamptic trophoblast.
Methods:  Western blots were used to determine relative effects of in vitro hypoxia on HuR protein expression and subcellular localization in trophoblast. Immunohistochemistry was used to compare HuR expression patterns in trophoblast of preeclamptic and normal placentae.
Results:  Cytoplasmic expression of HuR was decreased 1.4 fold in the cytoplasm and 1.2 fold in the nucleus of JEG3 cells. A shift in HuR was more apparent in primary trophoblast with a greater than 2-fold decrease in the cytoplasm and a 1.4 fold decrease in the nucleus following 24 hr of hypoxia. Immunohistochemical analyses detected HuR expression in near term trophoblast in situ . However, this technical approach did not detect a significant change in HuR expression between normal and preeclamptic trophoblast.
Conclusions:  HuR expression is decreased in hypoxic trophoblast, at least in vitro , which may provide a causal link to decreased PlGF mRNA expression. Down regulation of trophoblast PlGF expression is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology associated with preeclampsia including the relative lack of perfusion of the placenta and systemic renal effects.     

Otx genes and the genetic control of brain morphogenesis

Understanding the genetic mechanisms that control brain patterning in vertebrates represents a major challenge for developmental neurobiology. The cloning of genes likely to be involved in the organization of the brain and an analysis of their roles have revealed insights into the molecular pathways leading to neural induction, tissue specification, and regionalization of the brain. Among these genes, both Otx1 and Otx2, two murine homologs of the Drosophila orthodenticle (otd) gene, contribute to several steps in brain morphogenesis. Recent findings have demonstrated that Otx2 plays a major role in gastrulation and in the early specification of the anterior neural plate while Otx1 is mainly involved in corticogenesis, and Otx1 and Otx2 genes cooperate in such a way that a minimal level of OTX proteins are required for proper regionalization and subsequent patterning of the developing brain. Finally, experiments have shown functional equivalence between Drosophila otd and vertebrate Otx genes, suggesting a surprising conservation of function required in brain development throughout evolution.     

Knowledge and attitudes about otitis media risk: implications for prevention

OBJECTIVES: To investigate maternal knowledge and attitudes about otitis media (OM) risk, to estimate the prevalence of risk factors in the first year of life, and to identify barriers to the reduction of risk factors (eg, formula feeding, day care attendance, and exposure to passive smoke). METHODS: Questionnaires mailed to a systematic sample of 504 Minnesota women >/=18 years old identified through 1994 birth certificates. RESULTS: Eighty percent returned a completed survey. According to maternal report, 29% of infants (age 8 to 13 months) had recurrent OM (>/=3 episodes) and 2% had tympanostomy tubes. Forty-six percent attended day care, 29% had >/=1 smoking parent, and 49% breastfed for 相似文献   

前后路短节段固定融合治疗腰椎纵向劈裂骨折

目的：评价前后路短节段固定融合治疗腰椎纵向劈裂骨折的临床效果和安全性。方法：回顾性分析中南 大学湘雅二医院脊柱外科2005年3月至2013年5月采用的前后路短节段固定融合治疗的13例腰椎纵向劈裂骨折患者临床 资料,对所有患者的矫正情况进行随访,采用疼痛视觉模拟量表(visual analogue scale,VAS)评分、Oswestry功能障碍指 数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)对腰椎功能进行评估。结果：随访时间为24~60个月,平均42个月;手术时间185~300 min,平均248 min;术中失血量为600~1 500 mL,平均950 mL。所有患者术后均获得功能及自我形象的改善,在Cobb 角评估方面,术后2 d,12个月和末次随访测量Cobb角较手术前均有明显改善,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);VAS评 分和ODI评估术后2 d,12个月和末次随访测量结果较之术前均有改善, 差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后12个月与 末次随访的评估结果相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。根据美国脊髓损伤协会(ASIA)分级标准,在末次随访时,术 前8例D级患者中6例恢复至E级,其中3例未见进一步恢复;术前2例C级中1例恢复至D级,1例恢复至E级。所有病例 骨折均获愈合,愈合时间为3~6个月,平均4.5个月;术中3例有硬膜撕裂,术中给予修补;无神经血管损伤并发症病 例。结论：短节段伤椎置钉和旋棒复位是腰椎纵向劈裂不稳定骨折较好的手术选择。     

Predicting prostate cancer at rebiopsies in patients with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia: a study on 546 patients

The aim of this study was to analyse the factors that predict the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) after high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). Data from 546 patients with HGPIN submitted up to a 6-month series of three rebiopsies, according to an institutional protocol, were reviewed. PCa has been found in 174 cases (31.8%), in 116 cases at the first and in 58 cases at a further rebiopsy. The risk of finding PCa at the first rebiopsy was correlated with the PSA value and with an anomalous digital rectal examination (DRE) at the time of the initial biopsy; the risk at a subsequent rebiopsy was correlated to the number of cores with HGPIN, with a cutoff of four, and to the ratio with the total number of cores ('PIN density'), with a cutoff of 50%, at the time of initial biopsy. A tailored protocol of controls can be suggested: (a) higher PSA value and/or anomalous DRE: early extended or saturation rebiopsy; (b) number of cores with HGPIN ≥4 and/or PIN density ≥50%: delayed rebiopsy; and (c) no risk factors: PSA and DRE controls.