Altered levels of placental miR-338-3p and miR-518b are associated with acute chorioamnionitis and IL6 genotype.

Placental-derived miRNAs are attractive candidates as biomarkers of placental health, but their associations with specific pathologies, such as acute chorioamnionitis (aCA), are not well explored. Samples of chorionic villi from 57 placentas (33 aCA and 24 non-aCA) were analyzed. Expression was quantified for six candidate miRNAs (miR-146a, miR-210, miR-223, miR-338-3p, miR-411, and miR-518b), using quantitative real-time PCR.

Review: placental biomarkers for assessing fetal health.

The placenta is a multifunctional organ that regulates key aspects of pregnancy maintenance and fetal development. As the placenta is in direct contact with maternal blood, cellular products (DNA, RNA, proteins, etc.) from the placenta can enter maternal circulation by a variety of ways.

Cell-Free Placental DNA in Maternal Plasma in Relation to Placental Health and Function.

Background: While cell-free placental DNA (cfp-DNA) increases in response to certain pathological conditions, confounding variables, such as placental size, may also contribute to its release. Furthermore, the relationship between cfp-DNA and maternal serum proteins has not been well investigated.

Objective: To analyze plasma cfp-DNA levels and correlate with measurable placental parameters, maternal serum proteins, or pathologic conditions reflecting placental dysfunction.

A Preliminary Genome-Wide Association Study of Acute Mountain Sickness Susceptibility in a Group of Nepalese Pilgrims Ascending to 4380 m.

There is significant interindividual variation in acute mountain sickness (AMS) susceptibility in humans. To identify genes related to AMS susceptibility, we used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to simultaneously test associations between genetic variants dispersed throughout the genome and the presence and severity of AMS. DNA samples were collected from subjects who ascended rapidly to Gosainkunda, Nepal (4380 m), as part of the 2005, 2010, and 2012 Janai Purnima festivals.

Informational Theory of Aging: The Life Extension Method Based on the Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The method of lifespan extension that is a practical application of the informational theory of aging is proposed. In this theory, the degradation (error accumulation) of the genetic information in cells is considered a main cause of aging. According to it, our method is based on the transplantation of genetically identical (or similar) stem cells with the lower number of genomic errors to the old recipients.