Detection and characterization of placental microRNAs in maternal plasma

BACKGROUND: The discovery of circulating fetal nucleic acids in maternal plasma has opened up new possibilities for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small RNAs, have been intensely investigated recently because of their important regulatory role in gene expression. Because nucleic acids of placental origin are released into maternal plasma, we hypothesized that miRNAs produced by the placenta would also be released into maternal plasma. METHODS: We systematically searched for placental miRNAs in maternal plasma to identify miRNAs that were at high concentrations in placentas compared with maternal blood cells and then investigated the stability and filterability of this novel class of pregnancy-associated markers in maternal plasma. RESULTS: In a panel of TaqMan MicroRNA Assays available for 157 well-established miRNAs, 17 occurred at concentrations >10-fold higher in the placentas than in maternal blood cells and were undetectable in postdelivery maternal plasma. The 4 most abundant of these placental miRNAs (miR-141, miR-149, miR-299-5p, and miR-135b) were detectable in maternal plasma during pregnancy and showed reduced detection rates in postdelivery plasma. The plasma concentration of miR-141 increased as pregnancy progressed into the third trimester. Compared with mRNA encoded by CSH1 [chorionic somatomammotropin hormone 1 (placental lactogen)], miR-141 was even more stable in maternal plasma, and its concentration did not decrease after filtration. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated the existence of placental miRNAs in maternal plasma and provide some information on their stability and physical nature. These findings open up a new class of molecular markers for pregnancy monitoring.     

Replacing liquid with solid dosage forms in pediatric practice: Feasibility and economic impact from a hospital-based study

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Functional Electrical Stimulation—A New Therapeutic Approach to Enhance Exercise Intensity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: A Randomized,Controlled Crossover Trial

Objective

To evaluate the effect of quadriceps functional electrical stimulation (FES)-cycling on exertional oxygen uptake ($\dot{\text{V}}$o₂) compared with placebo FES-cycling in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

视网膜光凝术联合中药治疗糖尿病性视网膜病变

目的:探讨口服滋阴凉血散瘀汤联合激光治疗糖尿病性视网膜病变的临床疗效。方法:采用口服滋阴凉血散瘀汤联合视网膜光凝治疗糖尿病性视网膜病变患者,以单纯视网膜光凝为对照组,对比两组患者在治疗后1,6,12mo的视力、视野及新生血管的变化情况。结果:口服滋阴凉血散瘀汤联合光凝治疗组患者12mo时视力提高(62.3%vs43.1%,P=0.037),视野改变(17.0±3.7vs14.9±3.7,P=0.002)及新生血管退缩情况(67.2%vs48.3%,P=0.036)均优于对照组患者。结论:滋阴凉血散瘀汤联合激光治疗糖尿病性视网膜病变较单纯激光治疗更有效。     

New microbiologic diagnostic techniques in infective endocarditis

The new techniques used for identifying causal germs in infective endocarditis are reviewed. Techniques such as polymerase chain reaction are now used to identify previously unrecognised germs. Choosing the appropriate microbiologic technique requires close collaboration between clinicians and microbiologists.     

Infection with hepatitis E virus in kidney transplant recipients in southeastern France

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging cause of acute hepatitis in Europe, particularly in southern France, and HEV is a new causative agent of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in immunocompromised patients. However, the data regarding HEV infection after kidney transplantation are still scarce with respect to the clinical issues that have been raised, and no study has specifically focused on kidney transplant recipients. This study described the clinical features and outcomes of HEV infections in a cohort of kidney transplant recipients living in southeastern France. The epidemiological, clinical, and virological characteristics of HEV infections diagnosed by PCR over a 53‐month period were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 1,350 kidney transplant recipients monitored at the Marseille University Hospital. Sixteen HEV infections were diagnosed, all of which were autochthonous and involved genotype 3 viruses (HEV‐3). Chronic infections occurred in 80% of these patients and resolved in half of the cases after a median time of 39 months. The rate of HEV clearance was 54% after a decrease in the dose of immunosuppressants. One patient developed liver cirrhosis 14 months after infection and experienced acute rejection after a decrease in the dose of immunosuppressants. Autochthonous HEV‐3 infections in kidney transplant recipients progress to chronicity in most cases and might be complicated by early liver cirrhosis. Chronic HEV infection can resolve following the reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, but ribavirin may be required if reduction of the immunosuppressant dose is not associated with HEV clearance or is inappropriate for the patient management. J. Med. Virol. 85:462–471, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.