MicroRNAs targeting VEGF are related to vascular dysfunction in preeclampsia.

In preeclampsia (PE), pre-existent maternal endothelial dysfunction leads to impaired placentation and vascular maladaptation. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway is essential in the placentation process and VEGF expression is regulated through post-transcriptional modification by microRNAs (miRNAs). We investigated the expression of VEGF-related circulating miR-16, miR-29b, miR-126, miR-155 and miR-200c in PE vs healthy pregnancies (HPs), and their relation with vascular function, oxidative stress (OS) and systemic inflammation.

Cervicovaginal cellular angiofibroma.

Cellular angiofibroma is a rare type of benign mesenchymal tumour that arises mostly in middle-aged women. It needs to be distinguished from other neoplasms and has a predilection for the vulvovaginal region. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a cervical cellular angiofibroma.

Low-flow mediated constriction as a marker of endothelial function in healthy pregnancy and preeclampsia: A pilot study.

Objectives: Overwhelming clinical evidence exists on disturbed vascular and endothelial function in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE). In a non-pregnant (NP) population, L-FMC (low-flow mediated constriction) provides insight in the 'resting' endothelial capacity in contrast to the gold standard of flow mediated dilatation (FMD), reflecting endothelial nitric oxide bioavailability.

Study Design: Longitudinal follow-up of 100 healthy pregnant (HP) women, 33 PE women and 16 NP controls with non-invasive vascular assessments.

Oxidative stress in healthy pregnancy and preeclampsia is linked to chronic inflammation, iron status and vascular function.

Background: During normal pregnancy, placental oxidative stress (OS) is present during all three trimesters and is necessary to obtain normal cell function. However, if OS reaches a certain level, pregnancy complications might arise. In preeclampsia (PE), a dangerous pregnancy specific hypertensive disorder, OS induced in the ischemic placenta causes a systemic inflammatory response and activates maternal endothelial cells.

Intrapartum ultrasound: viewpoint of midwives and parturient women and reproducibility.

Introduction: Vaginal examination (VE) is known to be subjective in interpretation and is considered uncomfortable by many women. Intrapartum ultrasound aims to be more objective and less invasive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of introducing intrapartum ultrasound to both midwives and parturients.

Oxidative stress and endothelial function in normal pregnancy versus pre-eclampsia, a combined longitudinal and case control study.

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is related to an impaired endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction accounts for altered vascular reactivity, activation of the coagulation cascade and loss of vascular integrity. Impaired endothelial function originates from production of inflammatory and cytotoxic factors by the ischemic placenta and results in systemic oxidative stress (OS) and an altered bioavailability of nitric oxide (•NO).

Flow-mediated dilation and peripheral arterial tonometry are disturbed in preeclampsia and reflect different aspects of endothelial function.

Endothelial function and arterial stiffness are known to be altered in preeclamptic pregnancies. Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the best technique for assessing vascular function in pregnancy. In this study, we made a comprehensive evaluation of in vivo vascular function [including flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), and arterial stiffness] in preeclamptic patients and compared them with normal pregnancies.