Soluble form of the scavenger receptor for hemoglobin (sCD163) in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes

Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is responsible for approximately 30% of all preterm deliveries. Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) has been found in 50-80% of PPROM cases and is associated with higher rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcome. The scavenger receptor for hemoglobin (CD163) is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed almost exclusively on monocytes and macrophages. Its main function is the binding of hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. CD163 also serves as a surface receptor that recognizes intact bacteria and triggers cytokine production function. Moreover, it participates in the late down-regulatory phase of both acute and chronic inflammation. The soluble form of CD163 (sCD163) most likely represents the extracellular domain of CD163, which can be shed from the surface and released into the body fluid. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate sCD163 in pregnancy complicated by PPROM and relationships with HCA and funisitis. The first specific aim was to determine amniotic fluid sCD163 levels in uncomplicated pregnancies. Amniotic fluid samples were taken from 31 women who underwent amniocentesis for genetic testing in the second trimester, as well as from 32 women at term, 21 of whom had and 11 of whom did not have uterine contractions. The sCD163 levels in..

Epidemiology, key events and media attention during the A/H1N1 pandemic in Czech Republic.

<p>Detailed data on the (i) number of new A/H1N1 cases per week, (ii) reported number of confirmed A/H1N1 deaths and (iii) media attention are provided in the supplementary file ‘<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.s001" target="_blank">S1 Data’</a>. Data on vaccination coverage was taken from Mereckiene et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.ref004" target="_blank">4</a>] and data on risk perception from the Flash Eurobarometer survey [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.ref025" target="_blank">25</a>]. Data on key events are provided in ‘<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.s002" target="_blank">S1 File’</a>.</p

Epidemiology, key events and media attention during the A/H1N1 pandemic in Germany.

<p>Detailed data on the (i) number of new A/H1N1 cases per week, (ii) reported number of confirmed A/H1N1 deaths, (iii) media attention and (iv) vaccination uptake are provided in ‘<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.s001" target="_blank">S1 Data’</a>. Data on vaccination coverage was taken from Mereckiene et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.ref004" target="_blank">4</a>] and data on risk perception from the Flash Eurobarometer survey [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.ref025" target="_blank">25</a>]. Data on key events are provided in ‘<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0151258#pone.0151258.s002" target="_blank">S1 File’</a>.</p