Alterations in the maternal peripheral microvascular response in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and the impact of fetal sex

Copyright © 2006 SAGE PublicationsObjective: Peripheral microvascular function is altered in preeclampsia (PE). Recent studies suggest that maternal physiology varies with fetal sex. We wanted to examine if there were sex-specific differences in maternal peripheral microvascular function in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by PE. Methods: Peripheral microvascular responses were examined using the noninvasive technique of laser Doppler flowmetry in normotensive healthy pregnant women and in women diagnosed with PE. We measured baseline perfusion, response to thermal hyperemia, post-occlusive reperfusion, and vasodilatation in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a potent vasodilator in human skin. Results: At 31 to 40 weeks' gestation those women with a male fetus exhibited increased vasodilatation in response to CRH (P <0.5) and greater baseline perfusion (P <.05) than those pregnant with a female fetus. PE women pregnant with a male fetus demonstrated a significantly reduced vasodilatation in response to CRH (P <.05), reduced baseline perfusion (P <.05), and reduced response to thermal hyperemia (P <.05) compared to normotensive women pregnant with a male fetus. Microvascular function was not significantly different between preeclamptic and normotensive women with a female fetus. Conclusion: These data show that there are differences in maternal peripheral microvascular function in relation to fetal sex.Michael J. Stark, L. Dierkx, V. L. Clifton and Ian M. R. Wrigh

Stem Cells Commitment on Graphene-Based Scaffolds

none8siIn the last years, a rapid development in production, and functionalization of graphene give rise to several products that have shown great potentials in many fields, such as nanoelectronics, energy technology, sensors, and catalysis. In this context we should not forget the biomedical application of graphene that became a new area with outstanding potential. The first study on graphene for biomedical applications has been performed by Dai in 2008 that reported the use of graphene oxide as an efficient nanocarrier for drug delivery. This pioneristic study opened the doors for the use of graphene in widespread biomedical applications such as drug/gene delivery, biological sensing and imaging, antibacterial materials, but also as biocompatible scaffold for cell culture and tissue engineering. The application of graphene-based scaffolds for tissue engineering applications is confirmed by the many exciting and intriguing literature reports over the last few years, that clearly confirm that graphene and its related substrates are excellent platforms for adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of various cells such as human Mesenchymal stem cells, human neuronal stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Since most of the papers on this fields are related to in vitro studies, several future in vivo investigations need to be conducted in order to lead to its utilization as implantable tissue engineering material.mixedBuggio, Maurizio; Tatullo, Marco; Sivolella, Stefano; Gardin, Chiara; Ferroni, Letizia; Mijiritsky, Eitan; Piattelli, Adriano; Zavan, BarbaraBuggio, Maurizio; Tatullo, Marco; Sivolella, Stefano; Gardin, Chiara; Ferroni, Letizia; Mijiritsky, Eitan; Piattelli, Adriano; Zavan, Barbar