Altered expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 in placentas from women exposed to lead.

Experimental studies have shown that prenatal exposure to lead (Pb) produces morphological changes related to extracellular matrix remodelling. To analyse whether the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-2, MMP-9, and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2), are associated with morphological alterations found in placentas, the expression of these enzymes was evaluated by immunohistochemical and image analyses in placentas of women with histories of environmental exposure to Pb. The median maternal concentration of Pb in blood was 4.68 µg/dL (x = 5.85 ± 6.48 µg/dL). Significant differences related to the exposure to Pb were not detected in newborn or placenta weight. MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 were expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of placental villi. A significant increase in both MMP-2 and MMP-9 was observed in placentas of women with concentrations of Pb in blood ≥4.68 µg/dL (p = 0.01 and 0.03 for MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively) and decrease in TIMP-2 expression (p = 0.01) resulted in a significant increase in MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio (p < 0.01). Increased expression of MMPs may be induced to aid in repairing placental tissue damaged by the exposure to Pb and that TIMP-2 decreases its expression to permit tissue repair. Increased expression of MMPs may be important to consider as a mechanism for generating placental abnormalities and in the induction of preterm delivery or abortion.

[Antithrombin-III in preeclampsia-eclampsia. Pilot study]. / Antitrombina-III en la preeclampsia-eclampsia. Estudio piloto.

The functional levels of AT-III were determined to the following groups: A. Eleven healthy non pregnant women B. Thirteen healthy pregnant women (third trimester). C. Six preeclamptic patients. D. Five patients with eclampsia and/or HELP syndrome. The results were as follows: [table: see text] A different grade of DIC may explain the low activity of AT-III in preeclampsia and a more severe coagulation disorder in eclampsia and HELP syndrome. Our preliminary results encourage other prospective studies including larger populations to determine its usefulness as early diagnostic test and severity marker of the disease.

[D-dimer in different stages of pregnancy toxemia. A pilot study]. / Dímero-D en las diferentes etapas de la toxemia del embarazo. Estudio piloto.

We assayed D-Dimer levels in the different stages of preeclampsia. This test appears to be the most reliable for the probability of abnormal status in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Data were analyzed by dividing all cases in four groups: a.-Healthy non pregnan women (10 cases) 550 ng/ml mean levels. B.-Normal pregnant women (8 cases) 875 ng/ml mean levels. C.-Mild and severe preeclamptic patients (8 cases) 1625 ng/ml mean levels, and D.-Eclampsia and HELLP patients (6 cases) 3000 ng/ml. This results were statistical significant at level p < 0.05. It is believed that pregnancy is associated with "hypercoagulability" that it is enhance in toxemia cases. It is necessary to perform more studies with quantitative elisa techniques of D-Dimer, more cases and other markers of dic and endothelial cell injury.

[Cervico-uterine cancer and age]. / Cáncer cervicouterino y edad.

A retrospective study of 182 cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and 133 cases cases of in situ carcinoma, based on histological classification studies and their relation with mean age, during 1985-1994, is reported in a second level Hospital in Rio Blanco, Veracruz, Mexico. The mean age of invasive cervix carcinoma is 50.2 years and the mean age is not the same in the different clinical stages, stage I 45.1 years; stage II 48.6 years; stage III 54.9 years and stage IV 57.4 years. This finding maybe has clinical importance. The mean age of in situ carcinoma is 43.9 years, late when compare with other series in the literature. Plan some considerations about mass screening cervical cancer program in Mexico.