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Preeclampsia (PE) occurs specifically during pregnancy characterized by new-onset hypertension. The pathogenesis of PE was complicated, and inflammation may be central to the pathogenesis of PE. Ferulic acid (FA) is recognized to prevent cell damage and apoptosis induced by oxidative stress and inflammation. In our study, we used NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced rat model of PE to investigate whether FA improved PE and its possible mechanism. We found that FA significantly reduced blood pressure, urine volume, and urinary protein level in rats with PE. Meanwhile, FA decreased L-NAME induced higher expression of circulating TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β and PlGF, it reduced placental TNF-α and NF-κB p65. Furthermore, FA rescued L-NAME induced decreasing expression of IL-4 and IL-10 expression in the circulation and placenta of rats. FA also ameliorated placental apoptosis in L-NAME induced rats by increasing Bcl-2 whereas decreasing Bax expression in placenta. It suggested FA as a potential candidate for the treatment of various disorders including L-NAME induced preeclampsia in rats through decreasing placental inflammation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe our experience with the diagnosis and management of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP)., Study Design: The medical records of pregnant women with AFLP were reviewed for symptoms, laboratory findings, treatment, and maternal and fetal outcomes during a 10-year period between January 2003 and December 2013., Results: During the study period 15 women had AFLP as their discharge diagnosis. The mean gestational age at onset was 36 ± 1 weeks. Eleven cases were primigravidas, and 2 had multiple gestations. All patients presented with nausea, vomiting, and epigastric distress followed by jaundice in the third trimester of pregnancy. Raised transaminases and serum bilirubin as well as coagulopathy were found in all patients (100%), while hypoglycemia was found in 8 patients (53%). Ultrasound examination showed enhanced echo or fatty liver in 11 patients. Maternal morbidity included hepatic encephalopathy (n = 1), renal failure (n = 3), ascites (n = 6), hypoglycemia (n = 8), postpartum hemorrhage (n = 6), upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (n = 1), and preeclampsia (n = 1). Emergency cesarean section was performed in 12 cases and supracervical hysterectomy was performed in 1 patient due to postpartum hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC); all patients survived. All neonates survived except for 2 fetal death cases before admission., Conclusion: Early diagnosis and prompt progressive management, including early termination of pregnancy and comprehensive supportive care, are crucial for improving the prognoses of both mother and newborn.

Background: Exaggerated placental site (EPS) reaction is defined as exuberant infiltration of the endometrium and myometrium at the implantation site by intermediate trophoblastic cells. It is a relatively rare, benign lesion related to pregnancy. The diagnosis of EPS depends mainly on pathologic findings, and it should be distinguished from placental site trophoblastic tumor, placental site nodule and choriocarcinoma., Case: We present a case of EPS which led clinically to postpartum hemorrhage. During cesarean delivery uterine atony persisted despite pharmacological and surgical intervention. Finally, supracervical hysterectomy was performed due to severe postpartum hemorrhage., Conclusion: When postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine inertia is unresponsive to conventional management, EPS should be considered. Besides timely recognition and intervention with appropriate maneuvers, hysterectomy should be performed as soon as possible to avoid further obstetrical shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Objective: To study the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) of hEST2 (AODN) on telomerase activity and proliferation in ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and COC1., Methods: Antisense and sense human telomerse catalytic sub-unit (hEST2) phosphorothioate (SODN) and random ODN were designed, synthesized and transfected into SKOV3 and COC1 cells by lipofectamine. The expression of hEST2 mRNA and telomerase activity in SKOV3 and COC1 were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and telomeric repeat amplification protocol before and after transfection. The proliferation and growth in SKOV3 and COC1 were also investigated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and growth curve before and after transfection., Results: AODN could down-regulate the expression of hEST2 mRNA, inhibit telomerase activity and proliferation of ovarian cell lines. The efficiency depends on dose and period of administration. At 48 h, 30 micromol/L AODN had the highest activity. The expression of hEST2 mRNA were declined 54.6% and 44.6% in SKOV3 and COC1 respectively. And also the inhibition of telomerase activity were 47.9% and 42.7% respectively in the two cell lines., Conclusions: AODN of hEST2 clearly inhibited the proliferation of ovarian cancer cell lines. hEST2 may thus be a new target of gene therapy in ovarian carcinoma.