Placenta-mediated pregnancy complications are not associated with fetal or paternal factor V Leiden mutation.

Objective: Maternal thrombophilia is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to elucidate the controversial role of fetal and paternal thrombophilia in the development of severe placenta-mediated pregnancy complications.

Study Design: The study group comprised 126 mothers, 72 fetuses and 58 fathers.

Intrauterine growth restriction and placental gene expression in severe preeclampsia, comparing early-onset and late-onset forms.

Objective: To evaluate placental gene expression in severe early- or late-onset preeclampsia with intrauterine growth restriction compared to controls.

Study Design: Chorionic villus sampling was conducted after cesarean section from the placentas of five women with early- or late-onset severe preeclampsia and five controls for each preeclampsia group. Microarray analysis was performed to identify gene expression differences between the groups.

Adiponectin induced placental cell apoptosis could be mediated via the ADIPOR1-receptor in pre-eclampsia with IUGR.

Aims: Adiponectin and leptin are members of the adipocytokine family. Adiponectin promotes and leptin inhibits apoptosis and both are regulators of angiogenesis. Adipocytokines and their receptors are expressed in the placenta, and in the pre-eclamptic (PE) mother the serum levels of both are higher than in healthy ones.

Altered expression of angiogenesis-related placental genes in pre-eclampsia associated with intrauterine growth restriction.

Aim: The normal endovascular invasion of trophoblast cells and spiral artery remodeling are impaired in pre-eclampsia. Neither the circulating factor secreted by the placenta nor the cause of the widespread endothelial dysfunction in pre-eclampsia has yet been identified. In an attempt to identify novel factors, we performed a gene expression profiling study of placental tissue from women with and without pre-eclampsia.

Fortified mineral water improves folate status and decreases plasma homocysteine concentration in pregnant women.

Objectives: There is no mandatory folic acid fortification of food in Finland. We investigated the effects of mineral water fortified with folic acid, vitamins B6, B12, D and calcium on serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations, serum vitamin B12 and plasma homocysteine concentrations in pregnancy.

Design: A randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel-group intervention study.