ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: High thromboxane level evidence supports pivotal involvement of TxA2 in pathophysiology of pregnancy induced hypertension and provides a strong rationale for pursuing TxA2-blocking strategies in drug development. METHODS: The stable metabolites of TXA2 (Thromboxane B2) in maternal blood of 12 patients with mild preeclampsia, 4 patients with severe preeclampsia and 14 normal parturients were measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: TxB2 concentrations were not increased in mild preeclampsia (101 +/- 12 pg/mL, n=12) as compared with normal pregnancy (150 +/- 15 pg/mL, n=14), but they were significantly increased in severe preeclampsia (454 +/- 102 pg/mL, p<0.0001, n=4). CONCLUSION: Maternal plasma thromboxane is increased only in severe preeclampsia. Thus, increased thromboxane A2 biosynthesis correlates with disease severity and may have a pathogenetic role in pregnancy-induced hypertension. These findings provide a rationale for the use of aspirin in the treatment as well as in the prevention of this disorder.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Aspirin , Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Plasma , Pre-Eclampsia , Thromboxane A2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common causative agents of the sexual transmitted diseases, and the accurate diagnosis and early treatment are very important to prevent the transmission. So, we evaluated the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and QuickVue(TM) (Quidel Corp. San Diego, CA) EIA method as a routine clinical laboratory test. METHODS: The 80 cervical swab samples including pelvic inflammatory disease, cervicitis and tube-ovarian abscess were tested using PCR with plasmid specific primers T1, T2 and commercially available QuickVue(TM) EIA kit. RESULTS: The positivities of the PCR and QuickVue(TM) EIA test were 17.5% (14/80 samples) and 12.5% (10/80 samples), respectively. There were 95% (76/80 samples) of positive or negative result concordance rates and 5% (4/80 samples) of disconcordance between the two methods, in which showed PCR positive and EIA negative results. CONCLUSIONS: We assume that PCR and QuickVue(TM) method are highly confident as a routine clinical laboratory diagnostic test for C. trachomatis infection. But more careful interpretation of QuickVue(TM) EIA and the additional study for variable samples will be needed.
Subject(s)
Female , Abscess , Chlamydia trachomatis , Chlamydia , Diagnosis , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Pelvic Inflammatory Disease , Plasmids , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Uterine CervicitisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations and their effects on newborn birth weights, maternal body mass indices and fetal sex in term normotensive (NT) and preeclampsia (PE) women. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at delivery from 20 NT group and another 20 from PE group of at least 36 weeks of gestation. And the umbilical cord samples were also taken from their newborns at birth. Plasma leptin levels were determined in both groups using a human recombinant leptin 125-I radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations were 16.16+/-2.05 ng/ml and 7.11+/-1.01 ng/ml in NT group, 17.09+/-1.67 ng/ml and 8.55+/-6.63 ng/ml in PE group, and there was no statistical significances among them. The differences of leptin concentrations in maternal plasma and umbilical cord according to baby sex were not significant in both NT and PE groups. Plasma leptin concentrations were related with maternal weight gain and BMI in NT group and with body weight in PE group. The BMI and birth weights of the neonates have significant effects on the umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, no correlation was found between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. But maternal plasma leptin concentrations had positive correlations with maternal body weight, BMI, and body weight changes during pregnancy in both NT and PE groups. There were also positive correlations among umbilical cord leptin concentrations, BMI and birth weights of the neonates of NT and PE groups term. Therefore umbilical cord leptin is considered to be the index of fetal birth weight.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Birth Weight , Body Weight , Body Weight Changes , Fetal Blood , Fetal Weight , Leptin , Parturition , Plasma , Pre-Eclampsia , Radioimmunoassay , Umbilical Cord , Weight GainABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations and their effects on newborn birth weights, maternal body mass indices and fetal sex in term normotensive (NT) and preeclampsia (PE) women. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at delivery from 20 NT group and another 20 from PE group of at least 36 weeks of gestation. And the umbilical cord samples were also taken from their newborns at birth. Plasma leptin levels were determined in both groups using a human recombinant leptin 125-I radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations were 16.16+/-2.05 ng/ml and 7.11+/-1.01 ng/ml in NT group, 17.09+/-1.67 ng/ml and 8.55+/-6.63 ng/ml in PE group, and there was no statistical significances among them. The differences of leptin concentrations in maternal plasma and umbilical cord according to baby sex were not significant in both NT and PE groups. Plasma leptin concentrations were related with maternal weight gain and BMI in NT group and with body weight in PE group. The BMI and birth weights of the neonates have significant effects on the umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, no correlation was found between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. But maternal plasma leptin concentrations had positive correlations with maternal body weight, BMI, and body weight changes during pregnancy in both NT and PE groups. There were also positive correlations among umbilical cord leptin concentrations, BMI and birth weights of the neonates of NT and PE groups term. Therefore umbilical cord leptin is considered to be the index of fetal birth weight.