IFPA Meeting 2012 Workshop Report III: Trophoblast deportation,gestational trophoblastic disease,placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction,trophoblast over-invasion and accreta-related pathologies,placental thrombosis and fibrinolysis

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting as they allow for discussion of specialized topics. At IFPA meeting 2012 there were twelve themed workshops, five of which are summarized in this report. These workshops related to various aspects of placental biology but collectively covered areas of clinical research and pregnancy disorders: 1) trophoblast deportation; 2) gestational trophoblastic disease; 3) placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction; 4) trophoblast overinvasion and accreta-related pathologies; 5) placental thrombosis and fibrinolysis.     

Einfluss des Parasympathicusreizenden Giftes „Acetylcholin“ auf das Knochenmark

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The role of leukocyte depletion by in vivo use of leukocyte filter in lung preservation after warm ischemia

The oxygen metabolites of leukocytes have been implicated as playing the central role in reperfusion injury of preserved lung for transplantation. Furthermore, it is still unknown how leukotrienes take part in this process. Twelve mongrel dogs were used, divided into two groups. In group A, left thoracotomy and hilar stripping of the left lung was performed under anesthesia. During warm ischemia (two hours) and reperfusion (two hours), a filter was used three times between the femoral artery and vein, and quantitative in vivo blood filtration was performed. In group B, warm ischemia and reperfusion was done in the same fashion without filtration. As for tissue free radical assay, lipid peroxidation products were measured by means of thiobarbituric acid. Tissue leukotriene B4 and C4 levels were measured by radio immunoassay. In addition, peripheral blood count and tissue wet/dry ratio were analyzed. Significant leukocyte depletion of peripheral blood with leukocyte efflux from reperfused lung was observed in group A. Significant increase of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) titers after reperfusion was observed in group B, whereas no significant fluctuation of tissue MDA titers was noted in group A. Concerning leukotriene B4 and C4, no significant increase was observed in either group. Tissue damage estimated by lung wet/dry ratio was considered to be controlled in group A compared with group B. Thus, the authors conclude that in vivo use of a leukocyte filter is efficient in removal of peripheral blood leukocytes and in preservation of reperfused lung after warm ischemia and that oxygen metabolites of leukocytes are considered to play a role in tissue damage in this process.     

Rare association of tetralogy of Fallot and aortic valve stenosis. Autopsy findings after failed balloon aortic valvuloplasty.

We report the case of a neonate with a rare association of tetralogy of Fallot and aortic valve stenosis, who died following percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. Postmortem examination confirmed a tetralogy of Fallot morphology with a markedly hypoplastic pulmonary tree, hypertrophy of both ventricles, and a thickened and dysplastic aortic valve. Valvuloplasty was not effective despite the presence of a fissure in the cusp. The findings suggest that the left ventricular impairment and associated anomalies, with or without a dysplastic valve may contribute to the failure of balloon valvuloplasty in neonates with critical aortic valve stenosis.     

Demonstration of the reentrant circuit of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia: direct evidence for macroreentry as the underlying mechanism

The exact reentrant circuit of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) remains unclear. This case report demonstrates the reentrant circuit of ILVT. A 20-pole electrode catheter was placed along the left posterior fascicle during electrophysiologic study. ILVT was reproducibly induced by programmed ventricular stimulation. During the tachycardia, sequential diastolic potentials bridging the entire diastolic period were observed in the recordings from the electrodes positioned from left ventricular mid-septum to inferoapical septum. The slow conduction zone appeared to be composed of a false tendon in this patient. Entrainment of the ILVT from the right ventricular outflow tract at a different pacing cycle length revealed that a dominant conduction delay occurred at the proximal site of the slow conduction zone. Entrainment studies from several sites on the left ventricular septum confirmed that these sites where sequential electrical activity was recorded were included within the reentrant circuit. However, the left posterior fascicle itself seemed to be a bystander. This report provides the direct evidence of macroreentry as the underlying mechanism of this ILVT, adjacent to the left posterior fascicle.     

Acute leukemia with the phenotype of a natural killer/T cell bipotential precursor

 An acute leukemia with an unusual immunophenotype developed in a 17-year-old girl. At the initial presentation, extramedullary involvement was not evident, but with advancing disease, massive splenomegaly and an osteolytic rib tumor developed. The disease was aggressive and refractory to intensive chemotherapeutic regimens for myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, and the patient died 3 months after the initial presentation. The leukemic cells were of irregular shape and variable size; they had deeply indented or bi-lobed nuclei and relatively fine, azurophilic granules in their cytoplasm. They were positive for acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase in granular staining, but they were negative for myeloperoxidase. The leukemic cells had a unique immunophenotype: it was positive for T-cell antigens (CD1a, CD2, cytoplasmic CD3, CD4), myeloid antigens (CD13 and CD33), NK-cell antigen (CD56), CD19 and CD30. DNA analysis revealed no gene rearrangement in the T-cell receptor β, γ and δ, or immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. The leukemic cells of our patient are thought to have arisen from the transformation of a putative precursor cell common to both the T- and NK-cell lineage in the bone marrow. The current literature on precursor NK-cell malignancy is reviewed, and its clinicopathological feature is discussed. Received: 29 April 1998 / Accepted: 28 August 1998     

Early abnormality detected by speckle-tracking echocardiography in a patient with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis

A 56-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of respiratory symptoms. Her admission ECG showed normal sinus rhythm and standard echocardiographic evaluation showed no structural or functional abnormalities. She was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis by imaging modalities and mediastinum lymph node biopsy. In this case, 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) demonstrated abnormal regional myocardial function and delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high intensity area in the same segments. This case suggests that STE is potentially useful for the detection of cardiac sarcoidosis in the early phase.     

Examination of bond strength and mechanical properties of Y-TZP zirconia ceramics with different surface modifications

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of surface modifications on the bond strength between veneering porcelains and Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP). In a bond strength tests, the effect of control, 70 μm alumina-sandblasting, 30 μm and 110 μm silica-coating of the Y-TZP surface on bonding were evaluated with veneering porcelains. In addition, the effect of surface modification on the flexural strength of Y-TZP was also evaluated. The data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. All specimens showed bond strength values in excess of 25 MPa, the minimum allowed by ISO9693. In addition, significantly differences were found between the control and the 30 μm silica-coated. On the other hand the flexural strength of Y-TZP does not significantly difference for any surface modification. These results indicate that silica-coating may provide an effective pre-treatment for this enhancement of the bond strength while maintaining the strength of Y-TZP.     

Review of Cognitive Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Performance on Six Subtests on Four Versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - This study was a systematic review of research using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to...