ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: System A amino acid transporter activity is reduced in placentas from small-for-gestational-age (SGA) compared to normal pregnancies. We compared the expression of the system A transporters between preeclamptic and control and between small-for-gestational-age and controls pregnancies. METHODS: We used placental samples from 18 preeclamptic pregnancies matched with 17 normal pregnancies and from 16 SGA pregnancies matched with 15 different normal pregnancies. Using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we quantified the mRNA for two system A subtype target genes ATA1 and ATA2 as well as beta-actin for normalization. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of mRNA for ATA1 or ATA2 transporters between preeclamptic and their controls or SGA pregnancies and their controls. CONCLUSIONS: Despite previous studies reporting reduced activity for system A transporters in small-for-gestational-age pregnancies, we found no difference in steady-state concentrations of the mRNA, of the system A transporters among preeclamptic, SGA, and normal control pregnancies. These results do not exclude differences in actual protein levels or activity of the amino acid transporters, which warrant further study.
Subject(s)
Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism , Placenta/metabolism , Pre-Eclampsia/diagnosis , Pregnancy Outcome , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Base Sequence , Case-Control Studies , Female , Gestational Age , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Small for Gestational Age , Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Parity , Pre-Eclampsia/metabolism , Pregnancy , Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A/metabolism , Prenatal Care , Probability , Reference Values , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Sampling Studies , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance is greater and obesity is more common in women with preeclampsia. The Trp64Arg polymorphism in the beta(3)-adrenergic receptor is associated with these metabolic changes. This study investigated whether the Trp64Arg polymorphism is more common in women with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: beta(3)-Adrenergic receptor genotypes were determined in 177 women with a history of preeclampsia and in 179 normal pregnancies. We also compared prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), length of gestation, baby weight percentile, and glucose values during an oral tolerance test in women with and without the polymorphism. RESULTS: The genotypes and allele frequency did not differ significantly between women with preeclamptic and normal pregnancies (P=.17). Women with and without the polymorphism had similar prepregnancy BMI, glucose at 1-hour screening, gestational age at delivery, and adjusted baby weight. CONCLUSION: The Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta(3)-receptor does not predispose to preeclampsia, and it is it not associated with obesity and carbohydrate intolerance in a population of young pregnant women.
Subject(s)
Polymorphism, Genetic , Pre-Eclampsia/genetics , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3/genetics , Adult , Alleles , Arginine , Birth Weight , Blood Glucose/analysis , Body Mass Index , Case-Control Studies , Delivery, Obstetric , Female , Gene Frequency , Genotype , Gestational Age , Homozygote , Humans , Pregnancy , TryptophanABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent reports raise the possibility that olanzapine, which commonly causes weight gain in non-eating-disordered subjects, assisted weight gain and mood during refeeding in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. METHODS: Eighteen AN subjects who engaged in open treatment with olanzapine were retrospectively questioned about their response. RESULTS: Subjects reported a significant reduction in anxiety, difficulty eating, and core eating disorder symptoms after taking olanzapine. DISCUSSION: These data lend support to the possibility that olanzapine may be useful in AN patients. CONCLUSION: A controlled trial is necessary to prove that olanzapine is efficacious.
