The Role of CD4(+)CD25(bright) Regulatory T Cells in the Maintenance of Pregnancy, Premature Rupture of Membranes, and Labor

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cell subset in peripheral blood caused by gestational age and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) with or without labor to verify the role of regulatory T cells in pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated regulatory T cell distribution in the peripheral blood of pregnancies during the first trimester (group I, n=2), the second trimester (group II, n=12), and the third trimester without PROM and labor (group III, n=15). In addition, we evaluated pregnancies in the third trimester complicated by PROM (group IV, n=4) and labor with no complication by PROM (Group V, n=5). Comparisons were made with non-pregnant controls (group VI, n=4) using flow cytometry. RESULTS: During uncomplicated pregnancy, the CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cell population decreased with advancing gestational age (group I=3.35+/-0.47, group II=2.91+/-1.44, group III=2.81+/-1.36, group VI=2.52+/-0.71, p=NS). When we compared group IV with group III and V to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cells with PROM, the CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cell population was significantly decreased in group IV compared to group III (p=0.001) and group V (p=0.026). CONCLUSION: The present results revealed that the regulatory T cell population increased in early pregnancy but decreased in pregnancies complicated by PROM, indicating that regulatory T cells might be related to the maintenance of pregnancy.

Prevalencia de colonización por Streptococcus agalactiae (grupo b) durante el embarazo pesquisado en medio de cultivo selectivo

Streptococcus agalactiae es el principal agente bacteriano responsable de la sepsis neonatal. Para evitar la infección perinatal se recomienda su pesquisa en la región vagino-anal durante el tercer trimestre, y tratamiento antibiótico durante el trabajo de parto en las gestantes colonizadas. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la prevalencia de colonización del Streptococcus agalactie en la población de embarazadas controladas en la maternidad del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, en el período comprendido entre el 1 de marzo y el 31 de mayo de 2003. Se tomó cultivo selectivo de Todd Hewitt, entre las 35 y 37 semanas de gestación a 185 embarazadas. Se determinó una prevalencia de colonización vagino-anal de 14,0 por ciento.

Comparative study of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M among neonates in caesarean section and vaginal delivery.

The present study comprised 50 cases of normal vaginal delivery and 50 cases of caesarean section. The cord blood level of immunoglobulin G was significantly higher in normal vaginal delivery cases than in caesarean section cases (mean level is 1653.2 +/- 443.1 mg/dl and 898.3 +/- 415.6 mg/dl respectively). The immunoglobulin G was low in cord blood but had higher concentration in all the 7 cases in study group who had fever with rigor in antenatal period. Thus the babies delivered with caesarean section had lower immunoglobulin level than normal vaginal delivery.

Evaluación tecnológica del parto de bajo riesgo en diferentes modelos de atención

Se presentan los resultados maternos hasta el mes post-parto de la evaluación tecnológica de tres modelos de atención del parto, con diferente nivel de complejidad, en 2313 gestantes de bajo riesgo obstétrico y similar nivel socio-económico, en Cali Colombia. Son estos resultados en conjunto con los del niño, objeto de otra publicación, los que determinan la escogencia del mejor modelo. Se hace énfasis en que las conclusiones comprende a modelos de atención en una población urbana y a muy corta distancia (5-10 minutos) del hospital de referencia