Reinstating Vacated Findings in Employment Discrimination Class Actions: Reconciling General Telephone Co. v. Falcon With Hill v. Western Electric Co.

Type 2 T-helper cell (Th2)-skewed immunity is associated with successful pregnancy and the ability to easily direct immune responses to a Th2-polarised profile may be an evolutionary benefit. The Th2-like immunity associated with allergic disease might generate favourable effects for the maintenance of pregnancy, but could also promote development of Th2-like immune responses and allergic disease in the offspring. The aim of this study was to explore, by using IgE as a stable proxy for Th2, the Th1/Th2 balance in allergic and non-allergic women by measuring allergen-specific and total IgE antibody levels in plasma during pregnancy and after delivery. Specific and total IgE antibody levels were determined by ImmunoCAP technology at five occasions during pregnancy (gestational weeks 10-12, 15-16, 25, 35 and 39), as well as at 2 and 12 months after delivery. Thirty-six women without and 20 women with allergic symptoms were included, of whom 13 were sensitised with allergic symptoms and 30 were non-sensitised without allergic symptoms. The levels of total IgE, but not allergen-specific IgE, were increased during early pregnancy when compared to 12 months after delivery in the sensitised women with allergic symptoms, but not in the non-sensitised women without allergic symptoms (pandlt;0.01). This increase in total IgE levels during early pregnancy only in the sensitised women with allergic symptoms indicates that allergy is associated with an enhanced Th2 deviation during pregnancy.Original Publication: Martina Sandberg, Anne Frykman, Yvonne Jonsson, Marie Persson, Jan Ernerudh, Göran Berg, Leif Matthiesen, Christina Ekerfelt and Maria Jenmalm, Total and allergen-specific IgE levels during and after pregnancy in relation to maternal allergy, 2009, JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, (81), 1, 82-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2009.04.003 Copyright: Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. http://www.elsevier.com/</p

Implied Contribution Under the Federal Securities Laws: A Reassessment

Exposure to a strong T-helper 2 (Th2)-like environment during fetal development may promote allergy development. Increased cord blood (CB) levels of the Th2-associated chemokine CCL22 were associated with allergy development during the first 2 y of life. The aim of the present study was to determine whether CB Th1- and Th2-associated chemokine levels are associated with allergy development during the first 6 y of life, allowing assessment of respiratory allergic symptoms usually developing in this period. The CB levels of cytokines, chemokines, and total IgE were determined in 56 children of 20 women with allergic symptoms and 36 women without allergic symptoms. Total IgE and allergen-specific IgE antibody levels were quantified at 6, 12, 24 mo, and 6 y of age. Increased CB CCL22 levels were associated with development of allergic sensitization and asthma and increased CCL17 levels with development of allergic symptoms, including asthma. Sensitized children with allergic symptoms showed higher CB CCL17 and CCL22 levels and higher ratios between these Th2-associated chemokines and the Th1-associated chemokine CXCL10 than nonsensitized children without allergic symptoms. A pronounced Th2 deviation at birth, reflected by increased CB CCL17 and CCL22 levels, and increased CCL22/CXCL10 and CCL17/CXCL10 ratios might promote allergy development later in life

Gene Expression Profiling of Human Decidual Macrophages: Evidence for Immunosuppressive Phenotype

Background: Although uterine macrophages are thought to play an important regulatory role at the maternal-fetal interface, their global gene expression profile is not known. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using micro-array comprising approximately 14,000 genes, the gene expression pattern of human first trimester decidual CD14+ monocytes/macrophages was characterized and compared with the expression profile of the corresponding cells in blood. Some of the key findings were confirmed by real time PCR or by secreted protein. A unique gene expression pattern intrinsic of first trimester decidual CD14+ cells was demonstrated. A large number of regulated genes were functionally related to immunomodulation and tissue remodelling, corroborating polarization patterns of differentiated macrophages mainly of the alternatively activated M2 phenotype. These include known M2 markers such as CCL-18, CD209, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, mannose receptor c type (MRC)-1 and fibronectin-1. Further, the selective up-regulation of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-2, alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGDS) provides new insights into the regulatory function of decidual macrophages in pregnancy that may have implications in pregnancy complications. Conclusions/Significance: The molecular characterization of decidual macrophages presents a unique transcriptional profile replete with important components for fetal immunoprotection and provides several clues for further studies of these cells.Original Publication:Charlotte Gustafsson (Lidström), Jenny Mjösberg, Andreas Matussek, Robert Geffers, Leif Matthiesen, Göran Berg, Surendra Sharma, Jan Buer and Jan Ernerudh, Gene expression profiling of human decidual macrophages: Evidence for immunosuppressive phenotype, 2008, PLoS ONE, (3), 4, e2078.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0002078Copyright: Public Library of Science (PLoS)http://www.plos.org

Association between 5 min Apgar scores and planned mode of delivery in diabetic pregnancies.

Objective. Due to the high incidence of neonatal complications in diabetic pregnancies, the aim of our study was to investigate whether elective cesarean section could prevent adverse neonatal outcome. Design. Population-based study. Setting. Data were extracted from the Swedish Medical Birth Registry. Population. All women (n=13 491) with diabetic pregnancies during the period 1990-2007. Methods. Neonatal outcome in diabetic pregnancies was compared after elective cesarean section at 38 completed gestational weeks with planned vaginal delivery at 39 completed weeks of gestation or later. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for Apgar scores <7 at 5 min after birth were calculated using multiple logistic regression. Main Outcome Measures. Apgar score <7 at 5 min after birth. Results. A significantly decreased risk of Apgar score <7 at 5 min after birth in the group who underwent an elective cesarean section at 38 completed gestational weeks was found compared with those who continued pregnancy to 39 completed weeks of gestation or more, irrespective of final mode of delivery. Conclusions. Our results indicate a protective effect of planned cesarean section on the risk of low Apgar scores in diabetic pregnancies

Multiple pregnancy failures: an immunological paradigm.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), three or more pregnancy losses prior to 20 weeks, occurs in about 1% of all pregnancies, 50% of RSA cases remain unexplained and unresolved. Recently, immune pathways have been implicated in the pathophysiology of RSA. Immune tolerance of the fetal-placental unit and placental angiogenesis are mandatory for a successful pregnancy outcome. Unscheduled dysregulation of the placental vasculature is thought to be the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying an array of pregnancy complications like infertility, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and fetal growth restriction and death. Investigations on mechanisms and management of RSA are mired by substandard design and lack of optimal randomized clinical trials and have resulted in disagreement on guidelines for evaluation and treatments for patients with multiple pregnancy losses of unknown etiology. The present review focuses on evidence-based research discussion with immunologic causes, and immune-regulatory therapies recommended for helping patients with a history of RSA. We highlight data that might support revalidation of low molecular weight heparin as a protective therapy in RSA. Newly launched growth factors, GM-CSF, and potentially novel agents to suppress inflammatory rejection, including regulatory T cells, human chorionic gonadotropin, and M-CSF/IL-10, may work in concert with tender-loving-care therapy and give hope to couples with multiple pregnancy losses

Is the incidence of recurrent pregnancy loss increasing?:a retrospective register-based study in Sweden

Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The prevalence of RPL defined as three or more consecutive miscarriages before gestation week 22, is often stated to be 1%. To our knowledge no study has estimated the incidence of RPL, which might be more informative and clinically relevant than the prevalence. Material and methods: This retrospective register-based study was conducted from 2003 until 2012 in Sweden with data provided by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. In all, 6852 women were registered with the diagnoses of RPL in the National Patient Register. The incidence of RPL is the number of new women receiving the RPL diagnosis per year in the numerator and population at risk in the denominator. Results: For each year, from 2003 to 2012, the incidence was calculated in two different risk populations: [1] all women aged 18–42 years, and [2] all women registered as being pregnant (deliveries or miscarriages). The average incidence in the study period was 53 per 100 000 (0.05%) in women aged 18–42 years and 650 per 100 000 (0.65%) in women who had achieved pregnancy in the period. The incidence of RPL in the two risk populations increased by 74 and 58%, respectively, during the study period. Conclusion: This study suggests that the incidence of RPL increased during the 10-year period studied. Causes can only be speculated upon in this study design, but might be associated with environmental changes, as the increase was fairly rapid

High cord blood levels of the T-helper 2-associated chemokines CCL17 and CCL22 precede allergy development during the first 6 years of life

Exposure to a strong T-helper 2 (Th2)-like environment during fetal development may promote allergy development. Increased cord blood (CB) levels of the Th2-associated chemokine CCL22 were associated with allergy development during the first 2 y of life. The aim of the present study was to determine whether CB Th1- and Th2-associated chemokine levels are associated with allergy development during the first 6 y of life, allowing assessment of respiratory allergic symptoms usually developing in this period. The CB levels of cytokines, chemokines, and total IgE were determined in 56 children of 20 women with allergic symptoms and 36 women without allergic symptoms. Total IgE and allergen-specific IgE antibody levels were quantified at 6, 12, 24 mo, and 6 y of age. Increased CB CCL22 levels were associated with development of allergic sensitization and asthma and increased CCL17 levels with development of allergic symptoms, including asthma. Sensitized children with allergic symptoms showed higher CB CCL17 and CCL22 levels and higher ratios between these Th2-associated chemokines and the Th1-associated chemokine CXCL10 than nonsensitized children without allergic symptoms. A pronounced Th2 deviation at birth, reflected by increased CB CCL17 and CCL22 levels, and increased CCL22/CXCL10 and CCL17/CXCL10 ratios might promote allergy development later in life

Copyright: Elsevier

Increased circulating paternal antigen-specifi

http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-20400 1 Cord blood cytokines and chemokines and development of allergic disease

N.B.: When citing this work, cite the original article. This is the pre-reviewed version of the following article

Cord blood cytokines and chemokines and development of allergic disease

Exposure to ubiquitous allergens early in life, even before birth, may influence the incidence of allergic diseases later in life. During pregnancy, the fetomaternal interface is surrounded by high levels of T-helper (Th)2-like cytokines, possibly favouring the development of Th2-like immune responses in the offspring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between cord blood (CB) IgE antibodies, Th1- and Th2-like cytokines and chemokines, maternal allergy and development of allergic disease during the first 2 yr of life in the offspring. The CB cytokine and chemokine levels from children of 20 allergic and 36 non-allergic women were determined by a multiplexed Luminex assay and ELISA. Total CB and maternal IgE antibody concentrations were quantified using ImmunoCAP technology. The maternal IgE levels during and after pregnancy correlated with CB IgE and Th2-associated macrophage-derived chemokine [MDC (CCL22)] levels. Development of allergic disease and sensitization was associated with increased CB IgE and MDC (CCL22) levels, as well as high ratios of MDC (CCL22) to Th1-associated interferon-gamma inducible protein 10 [IP-10 (CXCL10)] and interferon-gamma inducible T-cell alpha-chemoattractant [I-TAC (CXCL11) (n = 7 allergic vs. n = 25 non-allergic)]. The correlations between maternal IgE and CB IgE and MDC (CCL22) levels possibly indicate that the maternal immunity can affect the Th1/Th2 profile in the neonate. Development of allergic disease is associated with a more marked Th2-like deviation already at birth, shown as increased levels of CB IgE and MDC (CCL22) and higher ratios of MDC (CCL22) to IP-10 (CXCL10) and I-TAC (CXCL11).This is the pre-reviewed version of the following article: Martina Sandberg, Anne Frykman, Jan Ernerudh, Göran Berg, Leif Matthiesen, Christina Ekerfelt, Lennart Nilsson and Maria Jenmalm, Cord blood cytokines and chemokines and development of allergic disease, 2009, PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, (20), 6, 519-527. which has been published in final form at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.2008.00794.x Copyright: Blackwell Publishing Ltd http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/</p