The Identification of Immune-Related Plasma Proteins Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Delivery and Intra-Amniotic Infection in Women with Premature Cervical Dilation or an Asymptomatic Short Cervix

BACKGROUND@#We aimed to investigate whether various immune-related plasma proteins, alone or in combination with conventional clinical risk factors, can predict spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) and intra-amniotic infection in women with premature cervical dilation or a short cervix (≤ 25 mm).@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included 80 asymptomatic women with premature cervical dilation (n = 50) or a short cervix (n = 30), who underwent amniocentesis at 17–29 weeks. Amniotic fluid (AF) was cultured, and maternal plasma was assayed for interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, and complements C3a and C5a, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The primary outcome measures were SPTD at < 32 weeks and positive AF cultures.@*RESULTS@#The plasma levels of IL-6, C3a, and C5a, but not of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, were significantly higher in women with SPTD at < 32 weeks than in those who delivered at ≥ 32 weeks. The women who delivered at < 32 weeks had more advanced cervical dilatation, and higher rates of antibiotic and tocolytic administration and were less likely to be given vaginal progesterone than those who delivered at ≥ 32 weeks. Using a stepwise regression analysis, a combined prediction model was developed, which included the plasma IL-6 and C3a levels, and cervical dilatation (area under the curve [AUC], 0.901). The AUC for this model was significantly greater than that for any single variable included in the predictive model. In the univariate analysis, plasma IL-6 level was the only significant predictor of intra-amniotic infection.@*CONCLUSION@#In women with premature cervical dilation or a short cervix, maternal plasma IL-6, C3a, and C5a levels could be useful non-invasive predictors of SPTD at < 32 weeks. A combination of these biomarkers and conventional clinical factors may clearly improve the predictability for SPTD, as compared with the biomarkers alone. An increased plasma level of IL-6 predicted intra-amniotic infection.

The Identification of Immune-Related Plasma Proteins Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Delivery and Intra-Amniotic Infection in Women with Premature Cervical Dilation or an Asymptomatic Short Cervix

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate whether various immune-related plasma proteins, alone or in combination with conventional clinical risk factors, can predict spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) and intra-amniotic infection in women with premature cervical dilation or a short cervix (≤ 25 mm).METHODS: This retrospective study included 80 asymptomatic women with premature cervical dilation (n = 50) or a short cervix (n = 30), who underwent amniocentesis at 17–29 weeks. Amniotic fluid (AF) was cultured, and maternal plasma was assayed for interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, and complements C3a and C5a, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The primary outcome measures were SPTD at < 32 weeks and positive AF cultures.RESULTS: The plasma levels of IL-6, C3a, and C5a, but not of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, were significantly higher in women with SPTD at < 32 weeks than in those who delivered at ≥ 32 weeks. The women who delivered at < 32 weeks had more advanced cervical dilatation, and higher rates of antibiotic and tocolytic administration and were less likely to be given vaginal progesterone than those who delivered at ≥ 32 weeks. Using a stepwise regression analysis, a combined prediction model was developed, which included the plasma IL-6 and C3a levels, and cervical dilatation (area under the curve [AUC], 0.901). The AUC for this model was significantly greater than that for any single variable included in the predictive model. In the univariate analysis, plasma IL-6 level was the only significant predictor of intra-amniotic infection.CONCLUSION: In women with premature cervical dilation or a short cervix, maternal plasma IL-6, C3a, and C5a levels could be useful non-invasive predictors of SPTD at < 32 weeks. A combination of these biomarkers and conventional clinical factors may clearly improve the predictability for SPTD, as compared with the biomarkers alone. An increased plasma level of IL-6 predicted intra-amniotic infection.

The Identification of Immune-Related Plasma Proteins Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Delivery and Intra-Amniotic Infection in Women with Premature Cervical Dilation or an Asymptomatic Short Cervix

BACKGROUND@#We aimed to investigate whether various immune-related plasma proteins, alone or in combination with conventional clinical risk factors, can predict spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) and intra-amniotic infection in women with premature cervical dilation or a short cervix (≤ 25 mm).@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included 80 asymptomatic women with premature cervical dilation (n = 50) or a short cervix (n = 30), who underwent amniocentesis at 17–29 weeks. Amniotic fluid (AF) was cultured, and maternal plasma was assayed for interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, and complements C3a and C5a, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The primary outcome measures were SPTD at < 32 weeks and positive AF cultures.@*RESULTS@#The plasma levels of IL-6, C3a, and C5a, but not of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, were significantly higher in women with SPTD at < 32 weeks than in those who delivered at ≥ 32 weeks. The women who delivered at < 32 weeks had more advanced cervical dilatation, and higher rates of antibiotic and tocolytic administration and were less likely to be given vaginal progesterone than those who delivered at ≥ 32 weeks. Using a stepwise regression analysis, a combined prediction model was developed, which included the plasma IL-6 and C3a levels, and cervical dilatation (area under the curve [AUC], 0.901). The AUC for this model was significantly greater than that for any single variable included in the predictive model. In the univariate analysis, plasma IL-6 level was the only significant predictor of intra-amniotic infection.@*CONCLUSION@#In women with premature cervical dilation or a short cervix, maternal plasma IL-6, C3a, and C5a levels could be useful non-invasive predictors of SPTD at < 32 weeks. A combination of these biomarkers and conventional clinical factors may clearly improve the predictability for SPTD, as compared with the biomarkers alone. An increased plasma level of IL-6 predicted intra-amniotic infection.

Complement C3a, But Not C5a, Levels in Amniotic Fluid Are Associated with Intra-amniotic Infection and/or Inflammation and Preterm Delivery in Women with Cervical Insufficiency or an Asymptomatic Short Cervix (≤ 25 mm)

BACKGROUND: We aimed to estimate whether elevated levels of complement C3a and C5a in amniotic fluid (AF) are independently associated with increased risks of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation (IAI) and spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) in women with cervical insufficiency or a short cervix (≤ 25 mm). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 96 consecutive women with cervical insufficiency (n = 62) or a short cervix (n = 34) at 17 to 27 weeks, and who underwent an amniocentesis. AF was cultured and analyzed for C3a and C5a by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The primary outcome measures were IAI (defined as a positive AF culture and/or an elevated AF interleukin-6 level [≥ 7.6 ng/mL]) and SPTD at < 32 weeks. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, AF level of C3a was the only variable significantly associated with IAI, whereas C5a level in AF and serum C-reactive protein level were not associated with IAI. Using SPTD at < 32 weeks as the outcome variable in logistic regression, elevated AF levels of C3a were associated with increased risk of SPTD at < 32 weeks after adjusting for other baseline confounders, whereas elevated AF levels of C5a were not. CONCLUSION: In women with cervical insufficiency or a short cervix, elevated AF level of C3a, but not C5a, is independently associated with increased risks of IAI and SPTD at < 32 weeks. These findings suggest that subclinical IAI or SPTD in the context of cervical insufficiency is related to activation of complement system in AF.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β and cyclin D1 expression in cervical carcinogenesis

OBJECTIVE: Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is a pluripotent protein kinase involved in the development of cancers through regulation of numerous oncogenic molecules. Cyclin D1, an important regulator of G1 to S phase transition in various cells, is one of target proteins that GSK3β regulate. Our objective was to assess the expression of GSK3β and cyclin D1 in cervical neoplasm of different histologic grades and to identify their correlation in cervical carcinogenesis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of GSK3β and cyclin D1 was performed in a total of 137 patients with 12 normal, 62 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (31 CIN1 and 31 CIN3) and 63 invasive cancers including 56 squamous cell carcinomas and 7 adenocarcinomas. RESULTS: The expression of GSK3β increased in parallel with the lesion grade, while that of cyclin D1 decreased with severity of the lesion (P<0.001). There was a significant inverse correlation between GSK3β and cyclin D1 expression in overall cervical neoplasia (Φ=-0.413, P<0.001). GSK3β expression was higher in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma (P=0.049). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the expressional increase in GSK3β plays a role in cervical carcinogenesis and has inverse correlation with cyclin D1 expression in this process. In addition, GSK3β expression appears to be associated with the histologic type of cervical cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma.

Synovectomy of the Rheumatoid Knee Using Intra-articular Injection of 165Dy Hydroxide Macroaggregates / 대한정형외과학회잡지

165Dy Hydroxide Macroaggregates(165Dy HMA) has a short half life(2.3 hours) and a size range of 3-5µm that give the advantage of reduced leakage and a shorter hospital stay. This report will show the results of a prospective open study on the efficacy and safety of 165Dy HMA in 178 knees of 141 patients with chronic synovitis refractory to conventional antirheumatic therapy. The final global assessment was classified as good, fair or poor. Extra-articular leakage of 165Dy HMA was determined by the scintigraphic evaluation of liver, groin and knee joints. The optimum radiation dose was 250 mCi. The mean follow up periods were 32.4(14-112) weeks. Thirty seven percent of the knees showed good results, 48% fair results and 15% poor results. In the knees with stage I radiographic changes, 82% showed improvement including 32% of the patients with good results. In the knees with stage II radiographic changes, 90% showed improvement including 42% of the patients with good results. The mean period of improvement for the 158 knees that responded to treatment was 41.4(24-106) weeks. Leakage of radioactivity from the injected joint was minimal. Adverse reactions were rare(radiation burn : 4 cases, transient postinjection swelling : 14 cases). In conclusion, 165Dy HMA radiation synovectomy is a safe and useful therapy for chromic synovitis of the rheumatoid knees.