Circulating angiogenic factors in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.

Background. Pre-eclampsia is an inflammatory disorder characterized by diffuse endothelial dysfunction possibly secondary to impaired trophoblast invasion of the spiral arteries during implantation. It is associated with alterations in maternal serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). We did a case–control study to ascertain whether pre-eclampsia is associated with changes in serum concentrations of VEGF, PlGF and sFlt-1 in Indian patients. Methods. Serum samples were obtained from 40 women with pre-eclampsia and 40 normotensive, non-proteinuric pregnant women. The levels of VEGF, PlGF and sFlt-1 were analysed using ELISA. Results. In the sera of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, the levels of sFlt-1 were significantly higher than those in the sera of normotensive, non-proteinuric pregnant women (median 11 295.25 v. 2936.2 pg/ml, p<0.0001), whereas there was a significant reduction in the levels of free VEGF (mean [SD] 170.53 [36.56] pg/ml v. 254.61 [47.39] pg/ml, p<0.0001) and PlGF (mean [SD] 236.77 [93.70] pg/ml v. 744.98 [168.55] pg/ml, p<0.0001). Conclusion. An increase in sFlt-1 levels and a simultaneous decrease in free VEGF and PlGF levels in the sera of women with pre-eclampsia as compared with normotensive, nonproteinuric pregnant women suggest that an imbalance between the levels of these pro- and anti-angiogenic factors may have a role to play in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

Mast cells in histoid lepromatous lesions

Ten patients with histoid lesions among the lepromatous leprosy cases, of both sexes in the age group of 35-65 years, were included in this study. Skin biopsy from the nodule with surrounding healthy skin of histoid lesion was taken. The biopsies were fixed in Susa solution and processed for light microscopy, 5-7u thick sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Toludine blue and Fite Faraco. Observations were made on the dermis to locate the mast cells and bacilli. Proliferation of mast cells and their degranulation were seen in the: histoid nodule as comparede to surrounding normal healt skin where the cells were mainly infact. The study further investigates the role of mast cells in the histopathogenesis of the disease.