Novel appearance of placental nuclear monoamine oxidase: Biochemical and histochemical evidence for hyperserotonomic state in preeclampsia-eclampsia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the relevance of placental monoamine oxidase at the subcellular level in the etiology of the hyperserotonomic state in preeclampsia-eclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted on placentas from 20 normal pregnant women and 25 women with varied severity of preeclampsia-eclampsia. Placental serotonin and subcellular monoamine oxidase activity were determined. Histochemical localization of monoamine oxidase was done in placental sections and cell isolates. RESULTS: Placental serotonin increases with severity (r_systolic 0.84, r_diastolic 0.83) and monoamine oxidase decreases (r_systolic 0.86, r_diastolic 0.79). Placental monoamine oxidase showed marked changes in preeclampsia-eclampsia. Histochemical localization of monoamine oxidase showed diffused low activity evenly throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus of the syncytiotrophoblastic cells in preeclampsia-eclampsia; in contrast, normal placenta showed high activity in the cytoplasm without any activity in the nucleus of syncytiotrophoblastic cells. Detection of monoamine oxidase activity in nuclei of the placenta in preeclampsia-eclampsia is a novel finding. Monoamine oxidase activity at the subcellular level further strengthens this observation. A severity-dependent decrease was present in the nuclei of placentas with preeclampsia-eclampsia. The use of specific substrates and inhibitors revealed the presence of monoamine oxidase in mitochondria and nucleus. CONCLUSION: The study delineates an impaired catabolism of placental serotonin in preeclampsia-eclampsia. The novel appearance of monoamine oxidase in nuclei in proximity to its normal site and low activity resulting in a hyperserotonomic state may lead to preeclampsia-eclampsia. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;175:1543-50.)     

Levels of sulfhydryls and sulfhydryl-containing enzymes in brain,liver and testis of manganese treated rats

The effect of manganese on sulfhydryls and sulfhydryl-containing enzymes in brain, liver and testis of rats was investigated. Manganese produced lowering in the contents of non-protein sulfhydryl groups and inhibited the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase in these tissues. The contents of the metal increased significantly in brain, liver and testis of manganese administered rats. The significance of these findings is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung von Mangan auf Sulfhydrylgruppen und SH-enthaltende Enzyme in Gehirn, Leber und Hoden von Ratten wurde untersucht. Mangan verminderte den Gehalt an Nicht-Eiweiß-SH und hemmte die Glucose-6-phosphatdehydrogenase sowie die Glutathionreduktase in diesen Geweben. In Gehirn, Leber und Hoden der Mn-behandelten Tiere war der Mn-Gehalt signifikant erhöht.

     

Dedicated transpulmonic approach for the repair of Fallot's tetralogy

Background To share our initial experience with cases of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in whom transpulmonary artery route was exclusively used for repair of the defect. Material & Methods Twenty patients, 11 males and 9 females were carefully selected on the bases of anatomical configuration suitable for repair without trans annular patch. All underwent echocardiography. Angiocardiography was performed in patients. They had no other cardiac vascular anomaly. Results Of the 20 patients, there was one death following massive endotracheal bleeding. Four patients had low cardiac output and required prolonged inotropic support and recovered completely. All 19 survivors have been followed (1–56 months) are with echocardiography. There were no residual or recurrent ventricular septal defect (VSD), significant right ventricular (RV), outflow obstruction or tricuspid regurgitation. Four patient who underwent annualr enlargement have minimal pulmonary regurgitation. Conclusions In selected patients transpulmonic repair of TOF is feasible and safe.     

Saphenous vein patch plasty to correct saphenous graft and aortotomy mismatch

Mismatch of aortotomy and saphenous vein graft size occasionally occurs and can compromise the contour of the anastomosis thereby jeopardising its patency. We describe an alternative technique of saphenous vein patch plasty to overcome this complication by giving a more desirable hooded contour to the anastomosis. This results in improved graft patency, hemostasis and clinical outcome.     

Paneth cell alpha-defensins from rhesus macaque small intestine

Antimicrobial peptides are secreted by small intestinal Paneth cells as components of innate immunity. To investigate the role of alpha-defensins in enteric host defenses in nonhuman primates, alpha-defensin cDNAs were isolated, alpha-defensin peptides were purified from rhesus macaque small bowel, and the bactericidal activities of the peptides were measured. Six rhesus enteric alpha-defensin (RED) cDNAs, RED-1 to RED-6, were identified in a jejunum cDNA library; the deduced RED peptides exhibited extensive diversity relative to the primary structures of rhesus myeloid alpha-defensins. RED-4 was purified from monkey jejunum, and N-terminal peptide sequencing of putative RED-4 peptides identified two N termini, RTCYCRTGR. and TCYCRTGRC.; these corresponded to alternative N termini for the RED-4 molecules, as deduced from their molecular masses and RED cDNAs. In situ hybridization experiments localized RED mRNAs exclusively to small intestinal Paneth cells. Recombinant RED-1 to RED-4 were purified to homogeneity and shown to be microbicidal in the low micromolar range (相似文献   

Microencapsulated Genetically Engineered Lactobacillus plantarum 80 (pCBH1) for Bile Acid Deconjugation and Its Implication in Lowering Cholesterol

Cholesterol is known to be a major risk factor for coronary heartdisease (CHD). Current treatments for elevated blood cholesterolinclude dietary management, regular exercise, and drug therapywith fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, and statins. Suchtherapies, however, are often suboptimal and carry a risk forserious side effects. This study shows that microencapsulatedLactobacillus plantarum 80 (pCBH1) cells can efficientlybreak down and remove bile acids, and establishes a basis fortheir use in lowering blood serum cholesterol. Results show thatmicroencapsulated LP80 (pCBH1) is able to effectively break downthe conjugated bile acids glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA) andtaurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) with bile salt hydrolase (BSH)activities of 0.19 and 0.08μmol DCA/mg CDW/hrespectively. This article also summarizes the physiologicalinterrelationship between bile acids and cholesterol and predictsthe oral doses of microencapsulated Lactobacillusplantarum 80 (pCBH1) cells required for lowering cholesterol.