Atypical antipsychotic drugs and pregnancy outcome: a prospective, cohort study.

Women of childbearing age are often affected with psychotic disorders, requiring the use of antipsychotic medication during pregnancy. In the present study, we prospectively followed the pregnancies of 561 women exposed to second-generation antipsychotic agents (SGAs; study cohort) and compared these to 284 pregnant women exposed to first-generation antipsychotic agents (FGAs; comparison cohort I) and to 1122 pregnant women using drugs known as not harmful to the unborn (comparison cohort II). Subjects were enrolled through the Institute's consultation service.

Case report: High chromium and cobalt levels in a pregnant patient with bilateral metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties.

Background: Metal-on-metal bearings frequently are used in young patients leading to the concern that disseminated metals such as chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) as the main constituents could affect pregnancies.

Case Description: We describe a 41-year-old patient with bilateral metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties, a recurrent pseudotumor, and extremely high blood levels (Cr 39 μg/L, Co 138 μg/L) at 12 gestational weeks. At different gestational weeks, maternal blood, aspirate of the pseudotumor, and amniotic fluid were analyzed for Cr and Co.

A(H1N1)v2009: a controlled observational prospective cohort study on vaccine safety in pregnancy.

Background: A(H1N1)v2009 influenza vaccination of pregnant women was a challenge for health care providers, as little safety data were available.

Methods: We prospectively followed the pregnancies of women who were vaccinated at any time during pregnancy or ≤ 4 weeks prior to conception and compared these outcomes to a control cohort matched by the estimated date of birth. Primary endpoints: rate of spontaneous abortion and major malformations.

Lysophosphatidylcholine pretreatment reduces VLA-4 and P-Selectin-mediated b16.f10 melanoma cell adhesion in vitro and inhibits metastasis-like lung invasion in vivo.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) is an important intermediate in degradation and biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Reduced plasma LysoPC levels observed in patients with advanced cancer indicate a deregulation of LysoPC metabolism in metastasis. Recent data showed strong antimetastatic effects of liposomes consisting of saturated PC in a murine pancreatic metastasis model.

Binding between heparin and the integrin VLA-4.

Heparin possesses antimetastatic effects that were related to various molecular mechanisms beyond anticoagulant activities. The ability of heparin to interfere with the function of adhesion receptors in the metastatic course appears as a promising therapeutic approach. This refers to numerous findings that heparin attenuates metastasis in a selectin-dependent manner.

Melanoma cell adhesion can be blocked by heparin in vitro: suggestion of VLA-4 as a novel target for antimetastatic approaches.

The clinical benefit of heparin in cancer patients to prolong survival can be attributed to non-anticoagulant mechanisms. Since adhesion molecules are crucially involved in tumour cell metastasis, their inhibition offers an attractive approach for interfering with the metastatic cascade. Heparin is known to attenuate metastasis in a selectin-dependent manner and possesses a variety of additional effects that are thought to influence tumour cell dissemination, proliferation, and angiogenesis.

PS3, a semisynthetic beta-1,3-glucan sulfate, diminishes contact hypersensitivity responses through inhibition of L- and P-selectin functions.

Leukocyte extravasation is initiated by an interaction of selectin adhesion molecules and appropriate carbohydrate ligands. Targeting those interactions seems a promising approach to treat chronic inflammation. We developed a beta-1, 3-glucan sulfate (PS3) with inhibitory activity toward L and P-selectins under static conditions.

Pure rotational spectra of PbSe and PbTe: potential function, Born-Oppenheimer breakdown, field shift effect and magnetic shielding.

The pure rotational spectra of 41 isotopic species of PbSe and PbTe have been measured in their X 1Sigma+ electronic state with a resonator pulsed-jet Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The molecules were prepared by laser ablation of suitable target rods and stabilised in supersonic jets of noble gas. Global multi-isotopologue analyses yielded spectroscopic Dunham parameters Y01, Y11, Y21, Y31, Y02, and Y12 for both species, as well as effective Born-Oppenheimer breakdown (BOB) coefficients delta01 for Pb, Se and Te.

Kinetic analysis of heparin and glucan sulfates binding to P-selectin and its impact on the general understanding of selectin inhibition.

P-Selectin, expressed on activated endothelial cells and platelets, is a high kinetic adhesion receptor involved in leukocyte rolling of the inflammatory response, or in tumor cell binding in the course of metastasis. Thus, P-selectin inhibition is a promising therapeutic target. The anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic activities of heparin have partly been related to the inhibition of P-selectin binding.

The influence of various structural parameters of semisynthetic sulfated polysaccharides on the P-selectin inhibitory capacity.

Selectin-mediated leukocyte rolling along the endothelium is of key importance for maintaining the cellular immune response. The anti-inflammatory activities of heparin have partly been related to inhibition of P-selectin binding. Heparin, however, suffers from its heterogeneous variable structure, the animal origin and multiple in vivo effects.