The results on the unchanged pattern of adhesion molecule expression in pre-eclampsia suggests that there is no major change in the adhesive properties of the endothelium of the placental bed in pre-eclampsia. ( Jaakkola, K. et al. Pre-eclampsia does not change the adhesion molecule status in the placental bed. PLACENTA 2000;21:133-141)
We describe a mutation in the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), S810L that causes early-onset hypertension that is markedly exacerbated in pregnancy. This mutation results in constitutive MR activity and alters receptor specificity, with progesterone and other steroids lacking 21-hydroxyl groups, normally MR antagonists, becoming potent agonists. (Geller, D.S., et al. Activating mineralocorticoid receptor mutation in hypertension exacerbated by pregnancy. SCIENCE 2000;289:119-123.)
Many human fetuses have to adapt to a limited supply of nutrients. In doing so, they permanently change their structure and metabolism. These programmed changes may be the origins of a number of diseases in later life, including coronary heart disease, hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes. (Osmond, C and Barker, DJP. Fetal, infant, and childhood growth are predictors of coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension in adult men and women. Environ Health Perspect 2000;108 (Suppl 3):545-553.)
In this paper we have presented some examples which show the usefulness of fractal analysis in the characterization of biomedical images. Although perfect fractality is rarely reached in natural objects, many of them present manifest fractal-like features. However, with a certain caution, such as an observation on a wide range of scales, this does not exclude the use of fractal analysis. Hence, the blind use of these tools can lead to a misinterpretation of the phenomenon studied. (Heymans, O. et al. Is fractal geometry useful in medicine and biomedical sciences. Med. Hypoth. 2000:54:360-366)
There is a significant association of pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension with large-for-gestational-age infants, in addition to a significant association with low-birth-weight and small for gestational age infants. This study challenges the currently held belief that reduced uteroplacental perfusion is the unique pathophysiologic process in pre-eclampsia. (Xiong, X et al Association of preeclampsia with high birth weight for gestational age. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:148-55).
There are strong correlations between glomerular number (direct) and size (inverse) with LBW in this cohort. Endowment with decreased nephron numbers may be a risk factor for hypertension and the rate of progression of renal disease. (Ma�alich R. et al. Relationship between weight at birth and the number and size of renal glomeruli in humans: A histomorphometric study. Kidney International 2000;58:770-3).
The material can be summarized as follows:
1.- Fetal cells circulate in the blood of pregnant women in most (normal) gestations, they are low in number, are highly differentiated and can be used for non-invasive genetic diagnosis.
2.- A large transfusion occurs at the time of delivery whether the deliveery is a natural one at term or an elective termination of pregnancy. With this major transfusion at delivery, cells with proliferative potential are transferred. These cells then circulate but also must be capable of differentiation and migration to organs
(Bianchi, DW Fetal cells in the mother; from genetic diagnosis to diseases associated with fetal cell microchimerism. Europ J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2000;92:103-8)
(Check also, Aractingi, S. et al Microchimerism in human diseases. Immunology Today 2000;21(3):116-8).
Sorry, but we have not found significant issues to include in this section. Hope things will change soon and we will update it.
JULY 2001.
News of the week. Scientific Publishing. Journals offered free to poorest nations. (Science 2001;293:189. July 13, 2001). Researchers and doctors in poorest nations will get free or low-priced electronic access to nearly 1000 biomedical journals. The three year pilot project set to begin early next year "is perhaps the biggest step towards reducing the health information gap between rich and poor countries". Thus very small and limited services, such as it has been offered here through ECLAMPSIA CD (Refs) will no longer be necessary. (eds. note).
OCTOBER 2001.
The results call into question the importance of oxidative stress in the disease and the biochemical rationale for clinical trials of antioxidants to prevent and treat pre-eclampsia. To address this issue we assessed the generation of the major urinary isoprostane, 8,12-iso-iPF2a-VI in 29 women who developed severe pre-eclampsia. Regan, LC et al. No evidence for lipid peroxidation in severe pre-eclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:572-8.
The puzzle of complex diseases. SCIENCE 2002;296:685-703 (see in particular)
Balancing life-style and genomics research for disease prevention. By, WC Willet
Complex disease and the new clinical sciences. By J. Rees.
Maneuvering in the complex path from genotype to phenotype. By, R. Strohman
Do women, and their babies, benefit from magnesium sulphate?
The MAGPIE collaborative trial. LANCET 2002;359:1877-90. See summary.
Some very interesting questions and comments regarding the MAGPIE trial can be
found in issue of October 26, 2002, The Lancet (correspondence) including a short
assessment by Baha M Sibai. Click here.
The polypill controversy. Here we have two jewels; a true one and a false one. You must read it because very rarely you can find two jewels as important for bio Medicine as these two extensive articles appearing in BMJ June 27, 2003. Click here to go to the texts.
Increased levels of sFlt-1 and reduced levels of PlGF predict the subsequent development of preeclampsia ( NEJM 2004;350:672-83. Levine RJ, Maynard SE, Qian C et al.)
sFlt-1 also called soluble VEGF receptor-1 is an anti-angiogenic protein that adheres to the receptor binding domains of the PlGF and the VEGF preventing their interaction with endothelial receptors on the cell surface and thereby inducing endothelial dysfunction.