Utility of Formulas Using Fetal Thigh Soft Tissue Thickness in Estimating Weight in Gastroschisis.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of the fetal thigh soft tissue thickness (STT) in calculating the estimated fetal weight (EFW) in fetuses with gastroschisis versus the standard formula of Hadlock et al (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985; 151:333-337) compared to the actual birth weight (ABW).

Methods: A retrospective study of neonates born with gastroschisis delivered at our institution was performed. Two reviewers measured the fetal thigh STT on saved images.

Interactions between NKG2x immunoreceptors and HLA-E ligands display overlapping affinities and thermodynamics.

The NKG2x/CD94 family of C-type lectin-like immunoreceptors (x = A, B, C, E, and H) mediates surveillance of MHC class Ia cell surface expression, often dysregulated during infection or tumorigenesis, by recognizing the MHC class Ib protein HLA-E that specifically presents peptides derived from class Ia leader sequences. In this study, we determine the affinities and interaction thermodynamics between three NKG2x/CD94 receptors (NKG2A, NKG2C, and NKG2E) and complexes of HLA-E with four representative peptides. Inhibitory NKG2A/CD94 and activating NKG2E/CD94 receptors bind HLA-E with indistinguishable affinities, but with significantly higher affinities than the activating NKG2C/CD94 receptor.

Siderocalin (Lcn 2) also binds carboxymycobactins, potentially defending against mycobacterial infections through iron sequestration.

Siderocalin, a member of the lipocalin family of binding proteins, is found in neutrophil granules, uterine secretions, and at markedly elevated levels in serum and synovium during bacterial infection; it is also secreted from epithelial cells in response to inflammation or tumorigenesis. Identification of high-affinity ligands, bacterial catecholate-type siderophores (such as enterochelin), suggested a possible function for siderocalin: an antibacterial agent, complementing the general antimicrobial innate immune system iron-depletion strategy, sequestering iron as ferric siderophore complexes. Supporting this hypothesis, siderocalin is a potent bacteriostatic agent in vitro under iron-limiting conditions and, when knocked out, renders mice remarkably susceptible to bacterial infection.