Endothelial function,regulation of angiogenesis and embryonic central hemodynamics in ART-conceived pregnancies

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the concentrations of pro- and anti-angiogenic growth factors, nitric oxide (NO) stable metabolites in maternal serum and embryonic left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation time (IRT, ms) during the first trimester in two groups of women: with pregnancy conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART, n?=?39) and normally conceived (control group, n?=?68) pregnancy. The concentration of vasoconstrictor endothelin 1 was 45.5 times more in ART than in control group. On the contrary, the concentrations of NO stable metabolites in ART were 1.9 times less than in control women. The assessment of angiogenic suppressors in ART women demonstrates the decrease in s-endoglin concentration was 1.6 times and in soluble receptor to vascular endothelial growth factor concentration was 2.0 times in comparison with control group. There was a significant increase in LV IRT in ART embryos in comparison to control ones. These data suggest significant changes in pro- anti-angiogenic factors balance and increase in vascular impedance in ART-conceived embryos.     

Coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) is a technique in clinical evolution. Current clinical applications include assessment for coronary anomalies, aneurysms, bypass graft patency, and, in experienced centers, the exclusion of proximal and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). As local expertise increases and more extensive multicenter data become available, additional applications will be established. CMRA promises to supplement and in some cases obviate the need for X-ray contrast angiography, and to expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of CAD. Zusammenfassung Die Magnetresonanzangiographie der Koronargefäße (CMRA) ist eine sich ständig weiterentwickelnde Technik. Etablierte Anwendungen sind zurzeit die Beurteilung von koronaren Anomalien, Aneurysmen und der Durchgängigkeit von Bypasses. Auch der Ausschluss proximaler Koronarstenosen und einer koronaren Mehrgefäßerkrankung ist in einigen spezialisierten Zentren möglich. Mit zunehmender Erfahrung der jeweiligen Anwender und der Verfügbarkeit von Ergebnissen großer multizentrischer Studien können zukünftig weitere klinische Anwendungen etabliert werden. In der Zukunft könnte die CMRA ergänzende Informationen zur Indikationsstellung einer konventionellen Röntgenangiographie bringen und in einigen Fällen diese Untersuchung sogar ersetzen. Die CMRA wird unseren Einblick in die Pathophysiologie der koronaren Herzerkrankung sicher erweitern.     

Utility of exhaled nitric oxide as a noninvasive biomarker of lung inflammation in a disease model.

There is a great deal of interest in developing less invasive markers for monitoring airway inflammation and the effect of possible novel anti-inflammatory therapies that may take time to impact on disease pathology. Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) has been shown to be a reproducible, noninvasive indicator of the inflammatory status of the airway in the clinic. The aim of the present study was to determine the usefulness of measuring eNO as a marker of the anti-inflammatory impact of glucocorticoid and an inhibitor of kappaB kinase-2 (IKK-2) inhibitor 2-[(aminocarbonyl)amino]-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-thiophenecarboxamide (TPCA-1), in a pre-clinical model of airway inflammation. Rats were given vehicle, budesonide or TPCA-1 prior to exposure to lipopolysaccharide, previously shown to induce an increase in eNO and airway neutrophilia/eosinophilia. Comparison of the effect of the two compounds on inflammatory components demonstrated a significant correlation between the impact on eNO and inflammatory cell burden in the airway. The current study demonstrates the usefulness of profiling potential disease-modifying therapies on exhaled nitric oxide levels and the way in which an effect on this noninvasive biomarker relates to effects on pathological parameters such as lung cellularity. Information from studies such as the current one would suggest that the measurement of exhaled nitric oxide has potential for monitoring inflammatory status in lung tissue.     

Role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor p75 in cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation and emphysema.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by a local pulmonary inflammatory response to respiratory pollutants and by systemic inflammation. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been implicated in systemic effects of COPD and operates by binding the p55 (R1) and p75 (R2) TNF-alpha receptors. To investigate the contribution of each TNF-alpha receptor in the pathogenesis of COPD, the present study examined the effects of chronic air or cigarette smoke (CS) exposure in TNF-alpha R1 knockout (KO) mice, TNF-alpha R2 KO mice and wild type (WT) mice. CS was found to significantly increase the protein levels of soluble TNF-alpha R1 (by four-fold) and TNF-alpha R2 (by 10-fold) in the bronchoalveolar lavage of WT mice. After 3 months, CS induced a prominent pulmonary inflammatory cell influx in WT and TNF-alpha R1 KO mice. In TNF-alpha R2 KO mice, CS-induced pulmonary inflammation was clearly attenuated. After 6 months, no emphysema was observed in CS-exposed TNF-alpha R2 KO mice in contrast to WT and TNF-alpha R1 KO mice. CS-exposed WT and TNF-alpha R1 KO mice failed to gain weight, whereas the body mass of TNF-alpha R2 KO mice was not affected. These current findings suggest that both tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptors contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor-2 is the most active receptor in the development of inflammation, emphysema and systemic weight loss in this murine model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.     

The effect of nadroparine on coagulation mechanisms: ultrastructural analysis.

Low molecular weight heparins are widely used in the prophylaxis and treatment of thrombotic disorders. The effect of low molecular weight heparins on coagulation was examined ultrastructurally in an animal model. A test and a control group was formed, each consisting of five rabbits. Nadroparine (225 Institute of Chaoy Unit/kg twice daily) was applied to the test group for 10 days. The control group received 1 ml saline solution subcutaneously. Blood and vascular tissue samples collected at the end of the 10th day were evaluated under a JEM 100 B electron microscope. Platelet degranulation and agglutination was observed in the control group. Fibrin materials were detected in the cytoplasms and surroundings of degranulated platelets. Erythrocyte accumulation was remarkable on the vascular endothelium with intact coagulation periods. In the test group, outer membranes of platelets, hyalomere, and granular structures in the granulomeres were detected to be nearly intact. There were rare erythrocytes in the large vascular lumens. The aggregation phase had occurred but no agglutination was detected. Nadroparine seems to preserve consistency of lipoprotein membranes of platelets and granular structures containing enzymes, which contribute to the coagulation mechanisms.     

Case Report: Second case of a successful pregnancy in maternal isovaleric acidaemia

Summary: A female patient with isovaleric acidaemia had a successful outcome from pregnancy.     

Sensitive skin: correlation with skin surface microrelief appearance

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sensitive skin is a condition associated with reduced tolerance to environmental factors and/or the application of topical products, such as cosmetics. Its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated and few data are available on its prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlation between objective sensitivity and skin surface microrelief. METHODS: During an epidemiological survey conducted for a campaign promoted by International Society of Plastic Dermatology in Italy, 243 adult healthy subjects of both sexes with no evident dermatological disorder but positive to the lactic acid stinging test, were submitted to cyanoacrylate stratum corneum stripping from the volar forearm for the determination of the irregularity of the skin surface microrelief (irregularity skin index (ISI)). RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between intensity of symptoms in stingers and ISI (r(s)=-0.47; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitive skin is common in the healthy population. ISI can contribute towards the identification of subjects with sensitive skin and the development of more specific skin treatments for this prevalent condition.     

Psoriasis confined strictly to vitiligo areas – a Koebner‐like phenomenon?

Vitiligo and psoriasis are both common skin disorders. However, psoriasis strictly confined to pre-existing vitiligo areas is rare and suggests a causal relationship. We report here on two patients with a strict anatomical colocalization of vitiligo and psoriasis. The histopathological examinations showed typical changes for both diseases together with a dense infiltrate of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. By immunohistochemistry, intracytoplasmatic granzyme B and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected within the T-cell population, suggesting the functional activity of these cells and the creation of a local T helper 1 (Th1)-cytokine milieu. Additionally, in one patient we could identify anti-melanocytic T cells by tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) analysis. These skin-infiltrating lymphocytes might trigger, by the local production of Th-1 cytokines such as TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the eruption of psoriatic plaques in patients with a genetic predisposition for psoriasis.