OBJECTIVES: In order to assess the effects of sera from severe preeclamptic patients on endothelial cell viability in vitro and endothelin-1 synthesis in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. METHODS: The cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with media containing 10% sera from women with either preeclamptic patients or normal pregnancies for 24 hours or 48 hours. After then, their viability was measured by colorimetric MTT{3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide} assay and their production of endothelin-1 was measured. We also measured the serum levels of endothelin-1 level in sera obtained from the normal and severe preeclamptic pregnancies. RESULTS: The calorimetric MTT assay revealed that after 24 hours, the absorbances in the media treated with normal pregnancies and severe preeclampsia sera were 0.0718+/-0.0078 and 0.0837+/-0.0129, respectively and after 48 hours, they were 0.1133+/-0.0103 and 0.1268+/-0.0186, respectively. Serum obtained from severe preeclampsia did not affect endothelial cell viability. 2. The serum mean levels of endothelin-1 in normal and severe preeclamptic pregnancies were 22.66+/-8.6 fmol/ml and 48.98+/-25.27 fmol/ml. The mean level in preeclamptic sera was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women. (P<0.05) 3. After 24 hours, the mean amount of endothelin-1 stimulated by normal pregnant and severe preeclamptic sera were 37.52+/-18.41 fmol/ml and 97.58+/-53.64 fmol/ml, respectively. The mean amount of endothelin-1 in preeclamptic sera-treated cells was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant sera-treated cells. (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The sera from severe preeclamptic women do not affect cell viability but act selectively on specific activation of their function such as endothelin-1 production. And it is necessary that the identification and isolation of the putative serum factor(s) will be performed to resolve the pathogenesis in future.
Cell Survival ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelin-1* ; Female ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells* ; Humans ; Humans* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

The nimodipine, calcium-channel blocker, is known to specific to brain tissue and effect on the ischemic stroke. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of nimodipine, we studied the 37 patients with Organic Brain Syndrome(OBS) who admitted to St. Mary's Hospital from January to August, 1989. We followed up for 12 weeks of their 18 items of neurologic outcome. The results and conclusion were as follows: 1) The pretreatment SCAG(Sandoz Clinical Assessment-Geriatric Scale) was used as a base-line measurement and the efficacy of the therapy was evaluated entirely in terms of changes in SCAG after 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks of treatment. The total score was changed with meaningful improvement(p<0.01). 2) Among the 18 items of symptoms, the confusion, the level of alertness, the memory and the orientation were the area that have showed the most improvement. 3) No effect on heart, blood chemistry or other side effect was noted during medication. 4) We also found that those improvement has no specific relation to age, sex and causes of OBS. These result indicate that nimodipine has a possible therapeutic benefit in patients with OBS, especially who have the symptoms of confusion and impaired recent memory. These result should encouraged us to do further study such as double blind placebo in order to clarify the genuine pharmacological efficacy.
Brain* ; Chemistry ; Heart ; Humans ; Memory ; Nimodipine* ; Stroke