Analysis of immunological markers associated with pregnancy and HIV-1 infection: relevance in perinatal transmission in HIV-1-infected pregnant women with low plasma viral load.

Problem: In HIV-1-infected pregnant women with low plasma viral load, risk factors associated with perinatal HIV-1 transmission are not clearly understood.

Method Of Study: We analyzed distribution of peripheral CD8 T-cell subsets, plasma cytokines and measured secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI) and myeloid-related protein (MRP)-8 levels in whole-blood and cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF) specimens obtained from 35 HIV-1-infected pregnant women (group 1), 12 HIV-1-infected non-pregnant women (group 2) and 15 HIV-1 uninfected pregnant women (group 3).

Results: The group 1 women had higher expression of CD38, human leukocyte antigen-DR and CD95 on CD8 T-cells and higher levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor.

Plasma levels of alpha-defensins 1-3 are an indicator of neutrophil activation in pregnant and post-partum women.

Aim: In severe preeclampsia and septic shock, excessively activated neutrophils are thought to injure tissue irreversibly. On the other hand, mild neutrophil activation is known to occur during normal pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine whether elevated plasma levels of alpha-defensins 1-3 could be used as an indicator of neutrophil activation in pregnant and post-partum women.

Re-evaluation of the true rate of hepatitis C virus mother-to-child transmission and its novel risk factors based on our two prospective studies.

Objective: To re-evaluate the true hepatitis C virus (HCV) mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rate and its novel risk factors.

Study Design: A comparative study based on our own two prospective studies done during the two periods, 'early' (1989-1994) and 'recent' (1995-2004).

Results: All carrier infants became HCV RNA-positive within 3 months after birth.

Outcome of prolapsed chorioamniotic membrane: relationship between the degree of herniation, infection, and pregnancy prolongation.

Our objective was to determine the outcome predictor of conservative bed rest therapy for prolapsed chorioamniotic membrane. We could perform tocolysis for 61 women, 41 of visible membrane (group A) and 20 of protruding membrane (group B). The duration of pregnancy prolongation and gestational age (in weeks) at delivery in group A were significantly larger than in group B ( p < 0.