Caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage in lymphocytes from newborn babies of diabetic mothers with unbalanced glycaemic control.

Several epidemiological studies showed that gestational diabetes mellitus is the most frequent metabolic disorder of pregnancy, the pathogenesis of which has yet to be completely clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and processing of caspase 3 (Casp3) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in cord blood lymphocytes as markers of apoptosis in relation to glycaemic control during intrauterine life. Our results showed a specific positive correlation between the levels of active Casp3 (17-19 kDa) and the inactive form of PARP1 (89 kDa) in lymphocytes isolated from newborn babies of diabetic women with unbalanced glycaemic control, with a direct correlation between the activation of casp3 and the inactivation of PARP1, that makes lymphocytes unresponsive towards lipopolysaccharide stimulation, highlighting an altered functional response. Besides more studies are required to fully correlate the activation of the apoptotic process during the intrauterine life with the foetal health later in life, our study indicates that a cord blood lymphocyte, an easily accessible source, is informative about the activation of apoptotic stimuli in circulating cells of newborn babies in relation to the glycaemic control reached by the mother during pregnancy.

Renal echo-3D and microalbuminuria in children of diabetic mothers: a preliminary study.

Maternal diabetes has assumed epidemic relevance in recent years and animal studies have provided some evidence that it may cause abnormalities in renal development and a reduction in nephron endowment in the offspring; however, human data are lacking. The renal cortex contains ∼95% of the glomeruli and its volume could be taken as a surrogate measure of glomerular number; based on this assumption, we measured renal cortex volume and in addition, microalbuminuria in a homogeneous sample of 42 children of diabetic (pregestational, n = 13, and gestational, n = 29) mothers, compared with 21 healthy children born of non-diabetic mothers. The offspring of diabetic mothers showed a significant reduction of renal cortex volume and higher albumin excretion compared with controls, possibly attributable to a reduction in the number of nephrons and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Although further studies on a larger sample are necessary, our preliminary findings suggest that maternal diabetes may affect renal development with sequelae later in life, requiring closer monitoring and follow-up. Furthermore, the importance of strict maternal diabetes management and control must be emphasized.

[Poland's syndrome: presentation of two cases diagnosed during the neonatal period (author's transl)]. / La sindrome di Poland: presentazione di due casi osservati in età neonatale.

Two cases of Poland syndrome, diagnosed during the neonatal period, are reported. The children exhibited the following malformations: absence of the costosternal head of the pectoralis major, brachysyndactyly, hypoplasia of the upper limb. There were also other associated anomalies such as: Sprengel deformity in one case, hypoplasia of the lower limb and absence of a toe on the same site, in the other case. The authors point out the possibility of associating other multiple abnormalities and they examine the various pathogenic hypothesis presented in the literature.

[Amniotic band syndrome (author's transl)]. / La sindrome da briglie amniotiche.

The authors present a critical revision of the literature concerning the pathogenic hypotheses and the opinions, during the centuries, about the origin of the deformities caused by amniotic bands. Here they describe two cases of severe deformities caused by amniotic bands which can be classified in types I and V according to Onnipoff and Hall. In the first case the newborn died immediately after the birth: the other one lives in good health after multiple surgical operations. In accordance with the anatomical reports that were found using very specific techniques and methods, the authors are inclined to accept Torpin's hypothesis, which affirms that the initial moment of the series of events which causes the formation of the amniotic bands is the breakage of the amniotic sac.

Rubella in Umbria (Italy): serological assessment of immunity in adult women and congenital rubella detection after 1978.

Antibody to rubella virus was measured in 3655 serum samples collected during 1973-1979 from females of child bearing age in Umbria (Italy). The overall incidence of seronegatives was 24 percent (hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody less than 1:16), with a higher proportion of seronegatives in the first years studied (1973-1976). A history of rubella infection was shown to be an unreliable index of immunity. One case of rubella congenital syndrome was detected following laboratory screening of newborn babies after the rubella virus circulation in Umbria during 1978. The persistence of a risk associated with rubella virus in women living in Umbria indicates the importance and the urgency of the adoption of a full-scale rubella control campaign.

[Serological studies of the immunological condition versus rebulla virus in maternal and neonatal serum samples]. / Indagine sierologica sulla condizione immunitaria verso il virus della rosolia in coppie di sieri materno/neonatali, nell comune di Perugia.

In 116 serum pairs sampled from the mother and the newborn at delivery, the antibody level against Rubeola virus has been assessed haemagglutination inhibition test. Thirty one per cent of the mothers resulted not protected, as the antibody titer was below 1/16. A situation akin to that described in the same percentage of not protected women was 29,45%. In 19% of the newborns the antibody level against the virus proved higher than the mother's one by at least two dilution factors. Research work is in progress to try the reason of this result, as a possible consequence of different Ig classes or aspecific inhibitors involved.