From molecules to neural morphology: understanding neuroinflammation in autism spectrum condition

Growing evidence points toward a critical role for early (prenatal) atypical neurodevelopmental processes in the aetiology of autism spectrum condition (ASC). One such process that could impact early neural development is inflammation. We review the evidence for atypical expression of molecular markers in the amniotic fluid, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the brain parenchyma that suggest a role for inflammation in the emergence of ASC. This is complemented with a number of neuroimaging and neuropathological studies describing microglial activation. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Cervical Lactobacillus and leukocyte infiltration in preterm premature rupture of membranes

Objectives: To evaluate the possible association between microorganisms present in the cervical secretions and amniotic fluid of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and histologic chorioamnionitis. Methods: Thirty-seven pregnant women with PPROM and 21 healthy pregnant women were studied. Secretions from the cervical canal and amniotic fluid were collected to isolate microorganisms present in the genital tract. Cervical smears were Gram stained and evaluated microscopically. At delivery, chorioamniotic membranes were collected for histopathologic analysis. Results: Microscopic examination of the cervical secretion smears obtained from the PPROM group showed a low rate of Lactobacillus species, large numbers of leukocytes, and a wide diversity of microorganisms compared with the control group. The PPROM group presented an 80% rate of chorioamnionitis. Staphylococcus aureus isolation in cervical secretion was associated with intense inflammatory infiltrate in the membranes and might play a role in the pathogenesis of PPROM. Conclusions: the low colonization of cervical flora by Lactobacillus species associated with an intense leukocyte infiltrate detected in Gram-stained cervical smears can be considered a rapid method of detecting chorioamnionitis in pregnant women with PPROM. (C) 2003 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier B.V. Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isolamento, caracterização e diferenciação de células-tronco mesenquimais do líquido amniótico equino obtido em diferentes idades gestacionais

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fetal and maternal lesions of cyanide dosing to pregnant goats

The present work evaluated the pathological effects in both dams and their fetuses of cyanide ingestion during pregnancy using goat as animal model. From the Day 24 of pregnancy, three pregnant goats were dosed by gavage with 3.0 mg KCN/kg bw/day, and two others received only tap water. All dams were euthanized and necropsied at Day 120 of pregnancy. The fetuses were examined carefully for gross abnormalities. Determinations of cyanide and thiocyanate were performed in maternal and fetal blood and in amniotic fluid. Samples of several organs were collected for histopathologic evaluation. No clinical changes were seen in any animal throughout the pregnancy. No malformations or dead fetuses were observed: however, placenta from one treated goat presented increased cotyledon surface area occupied by vascular lumina. Histological lesions in KCN-treated dams consisted of vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, increased number of vacuoles on thyroid follicular colloid. and spongiosis of cerebral, internal capsule, and cerebellar peduncles tracts. Fetuses from these mothers showed vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, and spheroids in the cerebellar white matter. Levels of cyanide and thiocyanate were higher in maternal than fetal blood, which suggests that these substances were largely but not freely transferred from mothers to fetuses. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Blood parameters of chicks from eggs injected with ascorbic acid and subjected to thermal stress

This study was aimed to verify if chicks from eggs injected with ascorbic acid and subjected to thermal stress would have higher immunity than chicks from incubation at thermoneutrality without injection of ascorbic acid. The parameters evaluated were temperature on oxygen saturation in hemoglobin, glucose, number of erythrocytes, hematocrit rate and number of hemoglobins of newly hatched male chicks, hatched from eggs injected with ascorbic acid (AA) and subjected to thermal stress during incubation. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 5 (application levels of ascorbic acid) x 2 (incubation temperatures). The data were subjected to analysis of variance using the General Linear Model procedure (GLM) of SAS ®. For the parameters (number of erythrocytes, rate of hematrocit and values of hemoglobin), there was significant interaction (p <0.05) between treatments in egg and incubation temperatures. Analyzing the interactions for these parameters, it was observed that the application of 0% ascorbic acid in egg minimized the effect of heat stress when compared with treatment without injection. The application of ascorbic acid levels in eggs incubated under heat stress failed to maximize the immunity of newly hatched chicks. It is assumed that the increased liquid in the amniotic fluid, in those embryos injected with water, favored the lower heat conductance for these embryos, thus helping in their development in relation to immunity. Considering that hemoglobin is related to the transport of gases, these data suggest that increasing the concentration of AA solution inoculated may influence the respiratory rates of eggs.

Interleucina 1β e interleucina 6 no líquido amniótico: relação com invasão microbiana da cavidade ammniótica em gestantes em trabalho de parto prematuro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Trial controlado e randomizado da hidratação oral materna com solução isotônica e água no aumento do índice de líquido amniótico em gestantes com normodramnia

Pós-graduação em Ginecologia, Obstetrícia e Mastologia - FMB

Expressão e localização de receptores Toll-like -1, -2, -4 e -6 em membranas corioamnióticas de gestações complicadas por corioamnionite histológica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Associação entre presença de Mycoplasma hominis e Ureaplasma urealyticum e níveis de citocinas pró e antiinflamatórias no líquido amniótico de gestação de termo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quantificação de citocinas no líquido amniótico de bezerros nelore oriundos de produção in vitro, tranferência de embrião e inseminação artificial colhido no momento do parto

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tipificação citológica do líquido amniótico no momento do parto de bezerros Nelore oriundos de produção In Vitro, transferência de embrião e inseminação artificial

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Avaliação ultrassonográfica de parâmetros do crescimento fetal: relação com a hiperglicemia materna

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Maturidade pulmonar fetal em gestações complicadas por diabete ou hiperglicemia leve

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Infecção transplacentária e intrauterina por Brucella abortus em búfalos (Bubalus bubalis)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a presença de Brucella abortus e as lesões causadas por esse agente nos anexos fetais e nos fetos de búfalas. Para isso, 20 búfalas em diversos meses de gestação, sorologicamente positivas para brucelose, foram submetidas ao abate sanitário. A idade fetal foi determinada através de exames ultrassonográficos associados à mensuração dos fetos durante a necropsia. Do útero fechado desses animais foram coletadas amostras para histopatologia e qPCR. A partir do segundo mês de gestação foi possível detectar a presença de DNA de B. abortus em líquido amniótico, líquido alantoide e em útero e, a partir do quinto mês, na placenta, coração, baço, rim, pulmão, intestino, fígado e linfonodos dos fetos. Os principais achados anatomopatológicos foram placentite fibrinopurulenta necrótica e endometrite supurativa crônica.

Composição bioquímica e hormonal do líquido ammniotico de fetos bovinos oriundos de inseminação artificial(IA), transferência de embriões(TE) e produção in vitro(PIV)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)