Antiphospholipid and antioangiogenic activity in females with recurrent miscarriage and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombosis, fetal losses and thrombocytopenia associated to antiphospholipid antibodies. They are directed to phospholipids, such as cardiolipins (anticardiolipin) and lupus anticoagulant or to complexes formed by phospholipids and protein cofactors, such as ß2 glycoprotein 1 (a-ß2GP1) and annexin V (a-annexin V). These auto-antibodies may be considered as a family of antibodies involved in thrombotic events and antiphospholipid activity. On the other hand, some proangiogenic factors are involved in the normal development of placental vasculature, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor. Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor in its soluble form (sVEGFR-1) has been associated to a higher antiangiogenic activity. Our aim was to analyse the association between anticardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant, a-ß2GP1, a-annexin V and sVEGFR-1 with recurrent miscarriage before week 10 of gestation in females with antiphospholipid syndrome. Methods We studied 24 females (primary or secondary antiphospholipid syndrome), who were divided into two groups: females with recurrent miscarriage before week 10 of gestation (M; n = 12) and females with no history of fetal loss (NM; n = 12). Anticardiolipin, a-ß2GP1, a-annexin V and sVEGF-R1 concentrations were assessed by ELISA, while lupus anticoagulant was assessed by screening and confirmatory tests. Results A significant association was observed between the number of positive biomarkers and the belonging group ( P < 0.05). Besides, a positive result for lupus anticoagulant and a-ß2GP1 was found to be significantly associated to the M group ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Lupus anticoagulant and a-ß2GP1 may be implicated in pregnancies complicated by recurrent miscarriage in females with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Anticuerpos anti-anexina V y otros marcadores de actividad antifosfolip¿¬dica en mujeres abortadoras recurrentes con enfermedades autoinmunes / Anti-annexi V antibodies and other markers of antiphospholipid activity in women with recurrent miscarriage with autoinmune diseases

Los anticuerpos (Ac) antifosfolip¿¬dicos componen una familia de auto Ac involucrada en eventos tromb¿«ticos que participar¿¬an de la actividad antifosfolip¿¬dica (AAF). La probabilidad de aborto en una paciente con estos Ac es del 91%. Se ha sugerido la existencia de un nuevo cofactor: la anexina V, altamente expresada en el sinciciotrofoblasto placentario, originando Ac que podr¿¬an estar implicados en las p¿ªrdidas fetales recurrentes. Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la asociaci¿«n entre los Ac anti-anexina V y otros indicadores de AAF [anticardiolipina(ACA), anti-ªÂ2 glicoprote¿¬na 1 (a-ªÂ2GP1) o anticoagulante l¿²pico (AL)] en mujeres con enfermedades autoinmunes y repetidas p¿ªrdidas fetales. Se incluyeron 25 mujeres abortadoras recurrentes con lupus eritematoso sist¿ªmico y/o s¿¬ndrome antifosfolip¿¬dico (A) y un grupo control de 33 mujeres con las patolog¿¬as mencionadas anteriormente, no abortadoras (NA). Se determinaron los niveles de anti-anexina V, ACA y de a-ªÂ2GP1 por ELISA. El AL se evidenci¿« con pruebas de screening y confirmatorias. El 96% del grupo A present¿« AAF positiva y el 4% niveles elevados de Ac a-anexina V. El grupo NA mostr¿« AAF en el 70% de los casos y niveles elevados de Ac a-anexina V en un 3%. Se puede concluir que no existe asociaci¿«n entre Ac anti-anexina V y los indicadores de AAF.(AU)

Anticuerpos anti-anexina V y otros marcadores de actividad antifosfolip¨ªdica en mujeres abortadoras recurrentes con enfermedades autoinmunes / Anti-annexi V antibodies and other markers of antiphospholipid activity in women with recurrent miscarriage with autoinmune diseases

Los anticuerpos (Ac) antifosfolip¨ªdicos componen una familia de auto Ac involucrada en eventos tromb¨®ticos que participar¨ªan de la actividad antifosfolip¨ªdica (AAF). La probabilidad de aborto en una paciente con estos Ac es del 91%. Se ha sugerido la existencia de un nuevo cofactor: la anexina V, altamente expresada en el sinciciotrofoblasto placentario, originando Ac que podr¨ªan estar implicados en las p¨¦rdidas fetales recurrentes. Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la asociaci¨®n entre los Ac anti-anexina V y otros indicadores de AAF [anticardiolipina(ACA), anti-¦Â2 glicoprote¨ªna 1 (a-¦Â2GP1) o anticoagulante l¨²pico (AL)] en mujeres con enfermedades autoinmunes y repetidas p¨¦rdidas fetales. Se incluyeron 25 mujeres abortadoras recurrentes con lupus eritematoso sist¨¦mico y/o s¨ªndrome antifosfolip¨ªdico (A) y un grupo control de 33 mujeres con las patolog¨ªas mencionadas anteriormente, no abortadoras (NA). Se determinaron los niveles de anti-anexina V, ACA y de a-¦Â2GP1 por ELISA. El AL se evidenci¨® con pruebas de screening y confirmatorias. El 96% del grupo A present¨® AAF positiva y el 4% niveles elevados de Ac a-anexina V. El grupo NA mostr¨® AAF en el 70% de los casos y niveles elevados de Ac a-anexina V en un 3%. Se puede concluir que no existe asociaci¨®n entre Ac anti-anexina V y los indicadores de AAF.

A test field for the second-order advantage in bilinear least-squares and parallel factor analyses: fluorescence determination of ciprofloxacin in human urine.

The analytical performances of two algorithms, the recently introduced bilinear least-squares (BLLS) and the popular parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), are compared as regards second-order fluorescence data recorded for the determination of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin in human urine samples. The applied chemometric methodologies employ different strategies for exploiting the so-called second-order advantage, which allows one to obtain individual concentrations of calibrated analytes in the presence of any number of uncalibrated (urine) components. Analysis of a spiked urine test set (in the analyte concentration range 0-200 mg L(-1)) showed that BLLS provides results of slightly better quality than PARAFAC. Satisfactory results have been obtained on comparing the concentrations predicted for a series of real urine samples with those furnished by liquid chromatography. The limit of detection of the fluorescence-based methods is approximately 5 mg L(-1).

A validated spectrofluorometric method for the determination of celecoxib in capsules.

A rapid, selective, sensitive and simple fluorescence method was developed for the direct determination of celecoxib in capsules. The capsules were emptied, pulverized and dissolved in either ethanol or acetonitrile, sonicated and filtered. Direct fluorescence emission was measured at 355+/-5 nm (exciting at 272 nm). The method was fully validated and the recoveries were excellent, even in presence of excipients.

Spectrofluorometric determination of naproxen in tablets.

A rapid, selective, sensitive and simple fluorescence method was developed for the direct determination of naproxen in tablets. The tablets were triturated, dissolved in either NH(3) or NaOH solution, sonicated, filtered and then direct fluorescence emission was read at 353 nm (exciting at 271 nm). In order to validate the method the results were compared with those obtained by the USP XXIV NF 19 Pharmacopeia reference method (high performance liquid chromatography). The slope, intercept and variances which are associated with the regression coefficient calculated with bivariate least square (BLS) regression indicate that both methods are statistically comparable. The recoveries were excellent, except in tablets containing the antibiotic tetracycline. In this latter case a correction procedure is necessary.

Livedo reticularis: qué hace usted? / Livedo reticulares: what do you do?

Objetivo: Se intenta proponer un modelo de razonamiento diagnóstico que pueda orientar al dermatólogo ante un paciente con livedo reticularis durante su primera consulta. Material y método: se presentan 10 pacientes con livedo reticularis y distintas patologías asociadas. Resultados y conclusión: la livedo reticularis puede ser la única manifestación de un proceso patológico que diagnosticado a tiempo permita un tratamiento oportuno para el paciente y una mejor calidad de vida. El estudio racional de estos pacientes evitará incurrir en errores o excesos a la hora de solicitar estudios complementarios y facilitará, de esta manera, el diagnóstico de las distintas entidades clínicas asociadas

Livedo reticularis: qué hace usted? / Livedo reticulares: what do you do?

Objetivo: Se intenta proponer un modelo de razonamiento diagnóstico que pueda orientar al dermatólogo ante un paciente con livedo reticularis durante su primera consulta. Material y método: se presentan 10 pacientes con livedo reticularis y distintas patologías asociadas. Resultados y conclusión: la livedo reticularis puede ser la única manifestación de un proceso patológico que diagnosticado a tiempo permita un tratamiento oportuno para el paciente y una mejor calidad de vida. El estudio racional de estos pacientes evitará incurrir en errores o excesos a la hora de solicitar estudios complementarios y facilitará, de esta manera, el diagnóstico de las distintas entidades clínicas asociadas (AU)