Are placental Fas and Fas ligand gene polymorphisms associated with preeclampsia?

Objective: Increased placental trophoblastic apoptosis has been reported in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Fas-Fas ligand is one of the major signal transduction pathways of apoptosis. The objective of this study was to determine if placental Fas and Fas ligand gene polymorphisms differ between patients with and without preeclampsia.

Does surfactant type cause a differential proinflammatory response in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome?

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare the pulmonary inflammatory response of premature infants with respiratory distress following instillation of one of two commonly available surfactant preparations.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized investigation of preterm infants who were less than 30 weeks of gestational age, weighed less than 1 kg at birth, and who qualified to receive surfactant. Infants with multiple congenital anomalies or whose mothers were taking anti-inflammatory medications were ineligible.

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (-670) of the maternal Fas gene is associated with intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: We sought to determine whether the Fas (-670) single-nucleotide polymorphism is associated with intrauterine growth restriction.

Study Design: Twenty-seven pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction in the absence of preeclampsia and 50 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies were studied. DNA was extracted from maternal and infant buccal smears and allelic discrimination was performed for Fas (-670).

Delivery of gastroschisis patients before 37 weeks of gestation is associated with increased morbidities.

Background: Despite advances in the care of neonates with gastroschisis, patients present with significant morbidities. Preterm delivery of neonates with gastroschisis is often advocated to avoid the intestinal damage that may be sustained with prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid. However, preterm delivery may impose additional morbidities to this disease process.