Increased placental expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 in preeclampsia

BackgroundThe endocannabinoid system plays a key role in female reproduction, including implantation, decidualization and placentation. In the present study, we aimed to analyze cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), CB2 and fatty acid amid hydrolase (FAAH) expressions and localization in normal and preeclamptic placenta, in order to determine whether placental endocannabinoid expression pattern differs between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.MethodsEighteen preeclamptic patients and 18 normotensive, healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies were involved in our case inverted question markcontrol study. We determined CB1, CB2 and FAAH expressions by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in placental samples collected directly after Cesarean section.ResultsCB1 expression semi-quantified by Western blotting was significantly higher in preeclamptic placenta, and these findings were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. CB1 immunoreactivity was markedly stronger in syncytiotrophoblasts, the mesenchymal core, decidua, villous capillary endothelial and smooth muscle cells, as well as in the amnion in preeclamptic samples compared to normal pregnancies. However, we did not find significant differences between preeclamptic and normal placenta in terms of CB2 and FAAH expressions and immunoreactivity.ConclusionsWe observed markedly higher expression of CB1 protein in preeclamptic placental tissue. Increased CB1 expression might cause abnormal decidualization and impair trophoblast invasion, thus being involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Nevertheless, we did not find significant differences between preeclamptic and normal placental tissue regarding CB2 and FAAH expressions. While the detailed pathogenesis of preeclampsia is still unclear, the endocannabinoid system could play a role in the development of the disease

Comparison of placental growth factor and fetal flow Doppler ultrasonography to identify fetal adverse outcomes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Failure to detect intrauterine growth restriction in women at high risk has been highlighted as a significant avoidable cause of serious fetal outcome. In this observational study we compare fetal flow using Doppler ultrasonography with a new test for placental growth factor (PlGF) to predict fetal adverse events. METHODS: Eighty-nine women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (24 with chronic hypertension, 17 with gestational hypertension, 12 with HELLP syndrome, 19 with preeclampsia and 17 with superimposed preeclampsia) were enrolled. A single maternal blood sample to measure free PlGF (Alere Triage) taken before 35 weeks of pregnancy was compared to the last Doppler ultrasound measurement of fetal flow before delivery. PlGF was classified as normal (PlGF>/=100 pg/ml), low (12<PlGF<100) or very low (PlGF</=12 pg/ml). A positive test for abnormal fetal flow was defined as either signs of centralisation of the fetal circulation or diastolic block or reverse flow in the umbilical artery or descending aorta; this was a criterion for delivery. Fetal outcomes were intrauterine growth restriction and birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy. RESULTS: In total 61/89 women had a preterm birth and 22 infants had IUGR. Of those who delivered preterm, 20/20 women with abnormal fetal flow and 36/41 (87.8%) women with normal fetal flow had low or very low PlGF. Of those infants with IUGR, 22/22 had low or very low maternal PlGF and 10/22 had abnormal fetal flow. CONCLUSIONS: PlGF may provide useful information before 35th gestational week to identify fetuses requiring urgent delivery, and those at risk of later adverse outcomes not identified by fetal flow Doppler ultrasonography

Akkreditáció az egészségügyben: [Accreditation in health care]

Absztrakt Az egészségügy és a gyógyítóeljárások rohamléptékű fejlődése mellett a XXI. században egyre inkább középpontba kerül az ellátás hatékonysága, az intézményi működés és a biztonságos betegellátás kérdésköre. A betegbiztonság növelésének tudományosan is bizonyítottan eredményes eszköze az akkreditáció, amely bár lassan több mint száz éve jelen levő eszköz az egészségügyben, robbanásszerű terjedése csak az 1990-es évektől indult meg. A közeli jövőben Magyarországon is elinduló, hazai fejlesztésű akkreditációs rendszer működtetésében és sikerében meghatározó tényező lesz az egészségügy szereplőinek támogatása és aktív részvétele – ez azonban nem várható el az alapvető célok és jellemzők ismerete nélkül. Bonyolítja az új rendszerben való eligazodást és ahhoz való viszonyulást a magyar ellátók által már jól ismert ISO tanúsítás jelenléte. Jelen összefoglaló rövid áttekintést kíván nyújtani az egészségügyi akkreditáció fejlődéséről, céljairól, működéséről és jelentőségéről, valamint a tanúsítással való hasonlóságokról és eltérésekről. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(4), 138–145

B7 Costimulation and Intracellular Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase Expression in Peripheral Blood of Healthy Pregnant and Pre-Eclamptic Women.

PROBLEM: We determined the frequency of activated (CD11b+) monocytes expressing B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, and B-7H2, and that of T cells and T helper cells expressing CD28, CTLA-4, PD-1, and ICOS in peripheral blood samples from normal pregnant (NP) and pre-eclamptic (PE) women. We also examined the intracellular expression of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). METHOD OF STUDY: We measured the expression of the above markers using flow-cytometry in peripheral blood samples from 20 NP and 20 PE women in the third trimester. RESULTS: The frequency of B7-1 and B7-2 expressing activated monocytes and that of IDO expressing T-lymphocytes was lower in PE than in NP. CONCLUSION: Lower expression of B7-1 and B7-2 proteins on peripheral monocytes in PE might indicate a secondary regulatory mechanism in response to the ongoing systemic maternal inflammation. IDO plays an important role in the pregnancy-specific immune tolerance, and might be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of PE

Decreased circulating anandamide levels in preeclampsia.

The endocannabinoid system has a key role in female reproduction, including implantation, decidualization and placentation. A growing number of studies indicate that placental and peripheral blood anandamide levels correlate closely with both spontaneous miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Anandamide has also been implicated in blood pressure regulation. In this study, we aimed to determine circulating anandamide levels in preeclampsia for the first time in the literature. Forty-three preeclamptic patients and 71 healthy pregnant women were involved in this case-control study. Serum anandamide concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. Serum total soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and biologically active placental growth factor (PlGF) levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. For statistical analyses, nonparametric methods were applied. Serum levels of anandamide were significantly lower in preeclamptic patients than in healthy pregnant women (0.75 (0.44-1.03) ng ml-1 vs. 1.30 (0.76-2.0) ng ml-1, P<0.001). Preeclamptic patients had significantly higher sFlt-1 levels (12 121 (7963-18 316) pg ml-1 vs. 2299 (1393-3179) pg ml-1, P<0.001) and significantly lower PlGF concentrations (71.2 (39.2-86.4) pg ml-1 vs. 256.8 (181.1-421.0) pg ml-1, P<0.001) as compared with healthy pregnant women. Serum anandamide concentrations did not correlate with serum levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF in our healthy pregnant and preeclamptic groups. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time in the literature that serum anandamide concentrations are decreased in women with preeclampsia. However, the cause and consequence of this observation remain to be determined.Hypertension Research advance online publication, 26 February 2015; doi:10.1038/hr.2015.20