OBJECTIVE: The changes of the production of nitric oxide in preeclampsia are still controversial. To determine the changes of nitric oxide production in preeclamptic pregnancies, NOS activity and eNOS and iNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae were compared with those in normal placentae, and to determine the changes of nitirc oxide production according to the sites of placenta, NOS activity and eNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae were also compared with those in normal placentae. METHODS: Human placentae were obtained from 15 normal and 15 preeclamptic pregnant women at the time of cesarean section. NOS activity was assessed by measuring the conversion of [3H]-arginine into [3H]-citrulline. The eNOS and iNOS expression were assessed by using western blot analysis. Data were analyzed by Student t-test and paired t-test where appropriate. RESULTS: The NOS activity(judged by measurement of [3H]-citrulline production) was significantly increased in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(P<0.05). In normal and preeclamptic pregnant placentae, the NOS activity in main stem villi was increased compared to that in terminal villi. However, the difference of NOS activity between main stem villi and terminal villi was not significant(P>0.05). Quantification of the autoradiographic images demonstrated that the integrated optical density of the immunoreactive bands of eNOS were significantly lower in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(p<0.05). Conversely, the integrated optical densities of the bands of iNOS were significantly higher in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the eNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae was lower than that in normal placentae, the NOS activity was significantly higher in preeclamptic placentae than that in normal in this study. These are result from increased production of iNOS in the compensatory mechanisms for the decreased nitric oxide production in pre-eclamptic placentae.
Blotting, Western ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes of nitric oxide production in preeclampsia, the concentration of nitric oxide metabolite, nitrite, was measured in umbilical vein after perfusing plasma from normal pregnant women and preeclamptic pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 15 normal and 15 preeclamptic umbilical cords were obtained at the time of cesarean section. Two pieces of umbilical cord in equal length(20 cm in length) were prepared from each umbilical cord. Two pieces of umbilical cord were connected in parallel in a perfusion chamber. One piece of umbilical cord was perfused sequentially for 20-minutes' interval with the perfusates in the order of cord buffer, cord buffer including 15% normal pregnant serum, 15% normal pregnant serum with histamine(10-5mol/L), 15% normal pregnant serum with calcium ionophore A23187(5 mol/L) and the other one was perfused exactly same way using 15% preeclamptic serum instead of 15% normal pregnant serum. All the perfusates used were gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 and warmed to 37degree C. Perfusates were collected in eppendorf tube and freezed at -70degree C until assayed. NO was measured by means of Greiss reaction. one way ANOVA and paired t-test were used where appropriate and p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: NO production in normal umbilical cords was not different regardless of perfusate. Although adding histamine and calcium ionophore, the NO production was slightly increased but statistically not significant in both groups. NO production in preeclamtic umbilical cords was significantly increased with 15% preclamptic serum(15% normal serum vs. 15% preeclamptic serum; 0.060+/-0.016microgram/ml/min vs 0.075+/-0.014microgram/ml/min, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The preeclamptic sera may not affect the production of NO in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The biologic significance of increased NO production in preeclamptic umbilical cord with perfusing preeclamptic serum is unknown, but it might be compensation for the vasoconstriction of preeclampsia.
Calcium ; Cesarean Section ; Compensation and Redress ; Female ; Histamine ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide* ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Umbilical Cord ; Umbilical Veins ; Vasoconstriction

No abstract available.
Ascites*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Heart Diseases* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Trisomy* ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether twin discordancy is a risk factor for adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: Three hundred and seventy-five twin gestations over 28 weeks of gestation were included in this retrospective study. Medical records of mothers and infants were reviewed. Pregnancies were divided into 2 groups according to the birth weight discordancy(%) between twin neonates(group I;less than 25%, group II;25% or more). Birth weight discordancy was calculated from following formula; (birth weight of larger twin-birth weight of smaller twin)/birth weight of larger twin x 100. Perinatal and neonatal outcomes in group I and II were compared with each other. Also, difference in the outcomes between the smaller and larger twins of group II was evaluated. To evaluate whether birth weight discordancy is an independent variable in predicting poor perinatal and neonatal outcomes, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Thirty-seven gestations(9.9%) were documented to belong to group II. Group II showed significantly higher incidence of preeclampsia, placenta previa, and small for gestational age infants(p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). The group also showed higher incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes(admission to neonatal intensive care unit, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, congenital anomaly, neonatal death, p<0.01). Outcomes of the larger and smaller twins of group II were not significantly different with each other except small for gestational age infants(p<0.005). However, birth weight discordancy was not an independent variable in predicting adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Fetal growth discordancy of 25% or more should be regarded as a risk factor for adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes in twin gestations. However it is not an independent factor in predicting adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Mothers ; Placenta Previa ; Pneumonia ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Sepsis

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Premature Birth*

No abstract available.
Amnion* ; Cyclooxygenase 2*

No abstract available.