Serum From Preeclamptic Women Triggers Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway and Expression of Angiogenic Factors in Trophoblast Cells.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disease of pregnancy-associated with placental cell death and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. It is unknown whether systemic factors aggravate placental dysfunction. We investigated whether serum factors in pregnant women with PE activate ER stress and unfolded protein responses (UPRs) in placental explants and trophoblast cells lineage.

Odor characterization of post-consumer and recycled automotive polypropylene by different sensory evaluation methods and instrumental analysis.

Despite the growing interest of the automotive industry in using recycled polymers, their undesired odor is limiting their application in vehicles' interior components. To get deeper insights into its causes, this study aimed at characterizing the odor of post-consumer and recycled automotive polypropylene with different contents of talc and an anti-fogging additive. Samples were evaluated by different sensory methods currently applied by the automotive industry (GMW 3205 and VDA 270), which confirmed, that they are not feasible for reuse in interior automotive applications.

Recycling of viscose yarn waste through one-step extraction of nanocellulose.

Textile manufacturing industries generate large amounts of viscose yarn waste (VW) that causes serious environmental pollution. In this study, VW was used as raw material to successfully extract nanocellulose (NC) in a facile one-step extraction process, without any pretreatment. Different hydrolysis reaction times (5-60 min) were employed, and the extracted material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, atomic force microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis.

Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals from pineapple crown waste and their potential uses.

Pineapple crown is an important source of cellulose that is still going to waste because of the lack of knowledge about their economic uses. The isolation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from pineapple crown leaf (PCL) wastes arises as an important alternative to use PCL wastes in high value-added applications, and has not been reported yet. In this study, CNC were successfully extracted from PCL wastes using chemical treatments followed by acid hydrolysis using sulfuric acid.

Circular Dichroism of Chiral Nematic Films of Cellulose Nanocrystals Loaded with Plasmonic Nanoparticles.

In the search for induced chiral plasmonic activity, cholesteric films formed by cellulose nanocrystals have attracted great interest as potential hosts for plasmonic nanoparticles. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the composite films exhibit two peaks, one of which is ascribed to the cholesteric host and the other one to plasmonic chiroptical activity of the plasmonic nanoparticles. Here we report the results of comprehensive studies of extinction and CD properties of composite films formed by different types of cellulose nanocrystals and different types of plasmonic nanoparticles.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity in placental compartments of renal-transplanted pregnant women.

Problem: Immunosuppressive drugs change gestational IDO activity at the maternal-fetal interface.

Method Of Study: Analysis of placental IDO expression and activity, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and IL-10 expression and NFkB activity in renal transplant recipient women under immunosuppressive treatment.

Results: We demonstrated a significant reduction in IDO activity (P = 0.

The term basal plate of the human placenta as a source of functional extravillous trophoblast cells.

Background: Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells are of pivotal importance in human embryo implantation and homeostasis of the maternal fetal interface. Invasion of the endometrium by EVT contributes to placental anchorage, spiral artery remodeling, immunological defense, tolerogenic responses, and several collaborative cross talks involved in establishing and maintaining a successful pregnancy. We report here an improved protocol for the isolation of fully differentiated EVT cells from the basal plate of the human term placenta.

Compartmentalization of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in renal-transplanted pregnant women.

Objective: We evaluated whether chronic exposure to immunosuppression in transplant recipients modulate the placental inflammatory cytokine levels associated to gestational tolerance mechanisms.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 12 renal transplanted pregnant under immunosuppressive regimen treatment and 10 healthy women in second/third trimester of gestation. Term placental tissues (decidua and chorionic villi) were also obtained after elective caesarean.

Endothelial dysfunction assessed by brachial artery ultrasound in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Purpose: Noninvasive evaluation of endothelial function may be accomplished by ultrasound assessment of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. This study aims to investigate the role of FMD analysis on intrahospital prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Methods: Adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe sepsis or septic shock were consecutively included.

Ventricular dysfunction and dilation in severe sepsis and septic shock: relation to endothelial function and mortality.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate echocardiography-based indices of myocardial function and markers of vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the early phases of severe sepsis.

Material And Methods: Forty-five adult patients (67% women; age 51 ± 18 years; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System II score, 23 ± 7) admitted to the intensive care unit up to 24 hours after fulfilling criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock were studied. Clinical, laboratorial (endothelin 1 [ET1], vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1), and echocardiographic data were collected within the first 24 hours and again 72 hours and 7 days after admission.