PubMed · 15422420
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
C H G MACAFEE. 1950. Hydramnios.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1950.tb05226.x
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
A localized intrauterine inflammatory response is often associated with the initiation of normal human parturition, whereas infection causes a similar but more florid response initiating preterm labor. Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) is expressed in the human fetal membranes and is up-regulated by labor, severe infection and inflammatory stimuli. The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1 in the response of PBEF to an inflammatory stimulus and compare it with IL-8. The results showed that this treatment of amniotic epithelial-like cells (WISH) and primary amniotic epithelial cells increased expression of PBEF and IL-8, but IL-8 responded 100-fold more than PBEF. IL-1beta treatment together with a panel of NF-kappaB and AP-1 inhibitors demonstrated the involvement of these transcription factors in the up-regulation of PBEF. These data show that an inflammatory stimulus in the fetal membranes inducing NF-kappaB and AP-1 would up-regulate PBEF as well as IL-8.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the association between unequal placental sharing and birth weight discordance in monochorionic/diamniotic twin pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: The study comprised a prospective cohort of monochorionic/diamniotic twin pregnancies who were delivered in Kaiser Permanente-Northern California, 1997-2003. Dye injection studies of fresh postpartum placentas were performed. Placental sharing, cord insertion combinations, vascular anastomoses, gestational age, and birth weights were recorded. Statistical comparisons of birth weight and gestational age were made with the Student t test. Rates of birth weight discordance were compared with the chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression models analyzed the relationship between variables of interest. RESULTS: Mean birth weights for larger and smaller twins were 2400 g and 2109 g, respectively. Twenty-two percent of the monochorionic/diamniotic twin pairs had birth weight discordance > or = 20%, and 8% of these pairs had twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Monochorionic/diamniotic twin pairs with unequal placental sharing had a 9.8 times greater likelihood of birth weight discordance (95% CI, 5.4-17.9) as compared with those pairs with equal placental sharing. CONCLUSION: Unequal placental sharing is a significant risk factor for birth weight discordance in monochorionic/diamniotic twins. Antenatal diagnosis of unequal placental sharing would enable improved counseling in the setting of monochorionic/diamniotic twins.
In this study we tested the ability of monkey amniotic epithelial cells (MAEC) to take up and decarboxylate l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) by incubating the cells in buffer containing l-DOPA under different experimental conditions followed by assaying cellular dopamine (DA) content using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Cellular contents of DA were significantly increased in a time- and l-DOPA-concentration-dependent manner, suggesting the uptake of l-DOPA by MAEC and indicating the presence of aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). This was confirmed by the decreased DA content in the presence of benserazide, an AADC inhibitor. Neither d-DOPA nor DA uptake blockers such as mazindol and GBR 12935 significantly affected l-DOPA uptake and hence DA levels. Further, synthesis of DA from l-DOPA was decreased in the presence of the amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan, whereas the amino acids glycine and proline were without any significant effect. These findings suggest that MAEC have the capacity to selectively take up and decarboxylate l-DOPA with subsequent production of DA.