ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: During pregnancy, the impaired placental perfusion causes complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and fetal death in utero. In order to investigate the maternal and fetal response to the impaired placental perfusion, the author induced the impaired placental perfusion by the ligation of the rat uterine artery and investigated its effect on the expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the placenta and serum VEGF level. METHODS: The rats on day 15 of gestation were used for the experiment. They were divided into two groups. The control group consists of the 20 rats that underwent laparotomy without uterine artery ligation. The experimental group consists of the 20 rats that underwent laparotomy and the uterine artery ligation by silk on day 15 of gestation. On day 16, 17, 18 and 19 of gestation, the placental tissues were obtained. The mRNA expressions of the VEGF in the placenta were measured by the relative RT-PCR in the control and experimental group. The localization and intensity of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF in placenta were determined in both groups and the maternal serum levels of VEGF were also measured in both groups. RESULTS: The mRNA expressions of VEGF120 and VEGF164 were significantly increased 48 hours after the ligation (day 17 of gestation) but the mRNA expression of VEGF188 was not changed after the ligation. There was no difference in the location and intensity of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF in the placenta between control and experimental groups. The serum VEGF levels of control group were 9 times as high as those of non-pregnant rats. The significant increases of the serum VEGF levels were noted 48 and 72 hours after the ligation (day 17 and 18 of gestation) but the significant increase was not noted 96 hours after the ligation (day 19 of gestation) as compared to control group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated firstly that the experimentally induced reduction of placental perfusion increased expressions of VEGF in the placenta and maternal serum. The results support that the measurement of maternal serum VEGF levels in pregnancy may help the diagnosis of placental insufficiency.
Subject(s)
Animals , Pregnancy , Rats , Diagnosis , Fetal Death , Laparotomy , Ligation , Perfusion , Placenta , Placental Insufficiency , Pre-Eclampsia , RNA, Messenger , Silk , Uterine Artery , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor AABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: During pregnancy, the impaired placental perfusion causes complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and fetal death in utero. In order to investigate the maternal and fetal response to the impaired placental perfusion, the author induced the impaired placental perfusion by the ligation of the rat uterine artery and investigated its effect on the expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the placenta and serum VEGF level. METHODS: The rats on day 15 of gestation were used for the experiment. They were divided into two groups. The control group consists of the 20 rats that underwent laparotomy without uterine artery ligation. The experimental group consists of the 20 rats that underwent laparotomy and the uterine artery ligation by silk on day 15 of gestation. On day 16, 17, 18 and 19 of gestation, the placental tissues were obtained. The mRNA expressions of the VEGF in the placenta were measured by the relative RT-PCR in the control and experimental group. The localization and intensity of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF in placenta were determined in both groups and the maternal serum levels of VEGF were also measured in both groups. RESULTS: The mRNA expressions of VEGF120 and VEGF164 were significantly increased 48 hours after the ligation (day 17 of gestation) but the mRNA expression of VEGF188 was not changed after the ligation. There was no difference in the location and intensity of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF in the placenta between control and experimental groups. The serum VEGF levels of control group were 9 times as high as those of non-pregnant rats. The significant increases of the serum VEGF levels were noted 48 and 72 hours after the ligation (day 17 and 18 of gestation) but the significant increase was not noted 96 hours after the ligation (day 19 of gestation) as compared to control group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated firstly that the experimentally induced reduction of placental perfusion increased expressions of VEGF in the placenta and maternal serum. The results support that the measurement of maternal serum VEGF levels in pregnancy may help the diagnosis of placental insufficiency.
Subject(s)
Animals , Pregnancy , Rats , Diagnosis , Fetal Death , Laparotomy , Ligation , Perfusion , Placenta , Placental Insufficiency , Pre-Eclampsia , RNA, Messenger , Silk , Uterine Artery , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor AABSTRACT
Hantavirus infection occuring during pregnancy is rarely progressing to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is accompanied by thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, fever, oliguria, aggravation of bleeding, hematuria, lactacedemia. Pregnancy may have an unfavorable impact on the pathophysiologic characteristics of ARDS. The high oxygen demands of pregnancy are unable to be matched by oxygen delivery in ARDS and may predispose the patient to multiple organ failure, as well as fetal oxygen deprivation. We present the case with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome complicating pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Pregnancy , Fever , Hantavirus Infections , Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome , Orthohantavirus , Hematuria , Hemorrhage , Leukocytosis , Multiple Organ Failure , Oliguria , Oxygen , Respiratory Distress Syndrome , ThrombocytopeniaABSTRACT
The incidence of uterine prolapse during pregnancy is rare. A 34-year-old G3P1 was initially presented at 16 weeks 5days of gestation with a prolapse of the uterine cervix. The cervix was edematous and protruding beyond introitus. Management included bed rest, and the patient was discharged after several days with a vaginal pessary to help maintain cervical placement. At 35 weeks of gestation, the patient did not experience any further prolapse after the removal of the pessary. Pregnancy progressed to term with no further prolapse. She was readmitted at 38weeks 5days of gestation with spontaneous labor. She delivered a 3.36kg male with an Apgar score at 1 minute and at 5 minutes of 7 and 8 respectively. The patient's cervix remained prolapsed in the early postpartum period; however it was easily reduced prior to discharge. After puerperium, the patient's cervix remained prolapsed. She was fitted with a vaginal pessary for uterine support. We reported this case with related literature.