OBJECTIVE: To identify and localize the Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF) mRNA in term placentas and to determine whether there are any differences in the expression of PlGF mRNA in the placentas between normal and preeclamptic pregnancy. METHODS: Northern blot and In situ hybridization with 5 cases of preeclamptic placentas and 8 cases of normal controls RESULTS: In Northern blot analysis and In situ hybridization, PlGF2 mRNA (1.7 kb) band was identified and showed significant decrease in density in preeclamptic placentas compared to that of normal controls. PlGF mRNA was mainly expressed in the syncytial membrane of villous trophoblast, and in the perivascular tissue surrounding the vasculature of stem villi. CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of PlGF mRNA in preeclamptic placentas could have some unfavorable influences on trophoblast and endothelial function, thereby may play a role to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Blotting, Northern ; In Situ Hybridization ; Membranes ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger* ; Trophoblasts

PURPOSE: To compare the variable inflammatory parameters of acute pyelonephritis patients treated with inpatient therapy at 13 hospitals, according to the age and gender distributions. MATERIALS AND MATHODS: A total of 3,544 medical records of patients with confirmed acute pyelonephritis, and admitted to hospital between January 2000 and December 2005, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 43.2+/-16.2 years old, with a male:female ratio of 1 : 5.1. The average duration of hospital admission was 7.9+/-5.3 days. Underlying diseases were found in 23.0% (749/3,252 patient), largely due to diabetes (35.1%). Radiological abnormal findings were found in 13.7%. The leukocyte count, ratio of segmented form, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein, pyuria, positive blood culture, positive urine culture were 11,014+/-5,778/mm(3), 74.8+/-14.5%, 44.0+/-32.0 mm/hr, 12.4+/-9.3mg/dl, 83.9%, 10.5% and 46.7%, respectively. E. coli grow in 79% of the urine culture positive patients. In a comparison of 3 age groups (<40 years, 40-60 years, >61 years), the elderly patients had a greater number of underlying diseases and more pathogens in cultured blood. When divided into males and females, the elderly male patients had more pathogen in cultured urine, but contrary to the male patients, the elderly female patients had elevated leukocyte count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Also, the old patient group had more resistance to ampicillin when they had E. coli as the uropathogen (p=0.021). Patients with higher ESR required longer hospital admission periods. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that variable clinical parameters of acute pyelonephritis patients treated with inpatient therapy differed according to both gender and age group in Korea. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account in the treatment plan.
Aged ; Ampicillin ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pyelonephritis* ; Pyuria ; Retrospective Studies