Hip arthroplasty with high chromium and cobalt blood levels--Case report of a patient followed during pregnancy and lactation period.

Metal-on-metal arthroplasty may lead to elevated blood chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) levels (>7 μg/l). Since carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects have been suggested, there is concern of pregnancy hazards for women with this condition. The 34-year-old patient has had a unilateral hip replacement for seven years.

Pregnancy outcome after TNF-α inhibitor therapy during the first trimester: a prospective multicentre cohort study.

Aims: TNF-α inhibitors are considered relatively safe in pregnancy but experience is still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of major birth defects, spontaneous abortion, preterm birth and reduced birth weight after first trimester exposure to TNF-α inhibitors.

Methods: Pregnancy outcomes of women on adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol or golimumab were evaluated in a prospective observational cohort study and compared with outcomes of a non-exposed random sample.

Observational cohort study of pregnancy outcome after first-trimester exposure to fluoroquinolones.

Fluoroquinolones are avoided during pregnancy due to developmental toxicity in animals. The aim of this study was to assess the fetal risk after intrauterine fluoroquinolone exposure. We performed an observational study of a prospectively ascertained cohort of pregnant women exposed to a fluoroquinolone during the first trimester.

[Drug safety in pregnancy - the Embryotox project].

In many countries drug risk classifications tend to create the impression of a high level of risk, leading healthcare professionals and consumers to overestimate the actual risk when seeking a drug of choice or estimating the risk of a past exposure during pregnancy. In addition, there are insufficient human data for the majority of drugs used by women of reproductive age to precisely assess their prenatal risk or safety. The Berlin Institute for Clinical Teratology and Drug Risk Assessment in Pregnancy provides pertinent information in this field to healthcare professionals and pregnant women.

Angiotensin-II receptor 1 antagonist fetopathy--risk assessment, critical time period and vena cava thrombosis as a possible new feature.

Aims: Angiotensin-II receptor 1 antagonists (AT₁-antagonists) may cause severe and even lethal fetopathy in late pregnancy. However, exposure still occurs in spite of warnings in package leaflets. This study aimed to assess the risk of fetopathy, the sensitive time window, and possible new symptoms in prospective as well as retrospective cases with AT₁-antagonist treatment during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

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.

Regulation of vascular guanylyl cyclase by endothelial nitric oxide-dependent posttranslational modification.

In isolated cells, soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activity is regulated by exogenous nitric oxide (NO) via downregulation of expression and posttranslational S-nitrosylation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether such regulatory mechanism impact on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in a newly developed mouse strain carrying an endothelial-specific overexpression of eNOS (eNOS(++)). When compared with transgene negative controls (eNOS(n)), eNOS(++)-mice showed a 3.

Proatherogenic effects of estradiol in a model of accelerated atherosclerosis in ovariectomized ApoE-deficient mice.

Clinical studies revealed unfavorable effects of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women despite strong evidence for vasoprotective effects of estrogen in animal models. Therefore, an attempt was made to address adverse effects of estradiol on atherosclerosis, endothelial function, and thrombosis in a murine model of atherosclerosis. ApoE(-/-) mice were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) and substituted with placebo or 17-beta-Estradiol (E(2), 1.

Differential effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on thrombosis and atherosclerosis in mice.

Background And Purpose: The risk for cardiovascular events including venous and arterial disease and stroke is elevated after treatment with estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in postmenopausal women. Here, we have investigated the effect of MPA on arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis in a murine model of atherosclerosis.

Experimental Approach: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mice were bilaterally ovariectomized and treated with placebo, MPA (27.

Pharmacological induction of vascular extracellular superoxide dismutase expression in vivo.

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) treatment reduces progression of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction and decreases oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in rabbits. These effects are associated with decreased vascular superoxide production, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Previous studies demonstrated that endogenous nitric oxide could regulate the expression of extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) in conductance vessels in vivo.

Potential role of vasomotor effects of fibrinogen in bradykinin-induced angioedema.

Background: Although bradykinin is known to play a major role in the pathophysiology of hereditary and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)-induced angioedema, other factors acting as triggers or enhancers are likely important as well.

Objective: We hypothesized that fibrinogen might contribute to ACEi-induced angioedema (eg, through direct actions on vascular tone).

Methods: Plasma levels of fibrinogen were determined in 59 patients with acute angioedema.