Placental growth factor: a predictive marker for preeclampsia?

Background: An imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Serum levels of placental growth factor (PLGF), a factor promoting angiogenesis, in patients with preeclampsia are significantly lower than in nonpreeclamptic pregnancies. This study was designed to answer the question whether the measurement of PLGF at the beginning of the second trimester might be a predictive factor for the appearance of preeclampsia.

Altered angiogenesis in preeclampsia: evaluation of a new test system for measuring placental growth factor.

Background: Decreased concentrations of the circulating angiogenic factors, free placental growth factor (PLGF) and free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and increased concentrations of the anti-angiogenic factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) have been observed during clinical preeclampsia. We established a new PLGF-ELISA kit for the measurement of PLGF in sera. In the present study, we demonstrated the assay characteristics by measurement of PLGF expression in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies as compared to an established research kit.

[Sonography of malignant ovarian tumors].

For the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of malignant tumors of the ovaries, transvaginal ultrasound is currently the preferred method. Ultrasound is indispensable for the pre-operative assessment of the biological significance of an ovarian tumor. With its aid,the indication for a surgical procedure can be established with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity and, where appropriate, the therapeutic approach definitively established.

[Sports and pregnancy].

Unlabelled: MATERNAL ASPECTS: Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in pregnant women generally don't differ from those in nonpregnant women. Impairment of the cabability of the uteroplacental unit to maintain a sufficient oxygen and substrate supply to the fetus should be avoided by performing exercise in a submaximal range. Increase in body weight, a shift of the center of gravidity, and the ligamentous laxity in pregnancy lead to a certain joint instability and consecutively to an increased risk of injury.

In vivo assessment of gene delivery to keratinocytes by lentiviral vectors.

For skin gene therapy, introduction of a desired gene into keratinocyte progenitor or stem cells could overcome the problem of achieving persistent gene expression in a significant percentage of keratinocytes. Although keratinocyte stem cells have not yet been completely characterized and purified for gene targeting purposes, lentiviral vectors may be superior to retroviral vectors at gene introduction into these stem cells, which are believed to divide and cycle slowly. Our initial in vitro studies demonstrate that lentiviral vectors are able to efficiently transduce nondividing keratinocytes, unlike retroviral vectors, and do not require the lentiviral accessory genes for keratinocyte transduction.