A KEL gene encoding serine at position 193 of the Kell glycoprotein results in expression of KEL1 antigen

BACKGROUND: The KEL2/KEL1 (k/K) blood group polymorphism represents 578C>T in the KEL gene and Thr193Met in the Kell glycoprotein. Anti-KEL1 can cause severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Molecular genotyping for KEL*1 is routinely used for assessing whether a fetus is at risk. Red blood cells (RBCs) from a KEL:1 blood donor (D1) were found to have abnormal KEL1 expression during evaluation of anti-KEL1 reagents. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Kell genotyping methods, including KEL exon 6 direct sequencing, were applied. KEL cDNA from D1 was sequenced. Flow cytometry was used to assess KEL1 and KEL2 RBC expression. RESULTS: RBCs from the donor, her mother, and an unrelated donor gave weak or negative reactions with some anti-KEL1 reagents. Other Kell-system antigens appeared normal. The three individuals were homozygous for KEL C578 (KEL*2) but heterozygous for a 577A>T transversion, encoding Ser193. They appeared to be KEL*2 homozygotes by routine genotyping methods. Flow cytometry revealed weak KEL1 expression and normal KEL2, similar to that of KEL*2 homozygotes. CONCLUSION: Ser193 in the Kell glycoprotein appears to result in expression of abnormal KEL1, in addition to KEL2. The mutation is not detected by routine Kell genotyping methods and, because of unpredicted KEL1 expression, could lead to a misdiagnosis.

Serum markers for predicting pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy-specific disorder, contributes substantially to perinatal morbidity and mortality of both, mother and newborn. An increasing number of biochemical agents were evaluated as markers for predicting pre-eclampsia. None of them has been proved to be of clinical value yet. Much effort has been put into assessing novel potential markers and their combination with other screening methods such as Doppler sonography. The purpose of this review is to reflect the current knowledge of serum markers for predicting pre-eclampsia. So far, the most promising serum markers are placental protein 13 (PP-13), as well as soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PIGF) and soluble endoglin (sEng). These markers allow screening at a relatively early stage and, most importantly, show relatively high predictive values and improved diagnostic performance if combined with first trimester Doppler sonography. Large-scale prospective studies, assessing these markers, are important to justify their clinical use in view of early intervention to prevent pre-eclampsia in the future.

Anaesthesia for castration of piglets: comparison between intranasal and intramuscular application of ketamine, climazolam and azaperone

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of an anaesthetic combination given either intramuscularly (IM) or intranasally (IN) for castration of piglets. Forty piglets aged 4 to 7 days were randomly assigned to receive a mixture of ketamine 15 mg kg-1, climazolam 1.5 mg kg-1 and azaperone 1.0 mg kg-1, IN or IM, 10 minutes prior to castration. Physiological parameters were measured. Castration was videotaped for evaluation by 3 independent observers using a scoring system. Reaction and vocalization to the skin incision and cutting of spermatic cord was evaluated and scored (0 = no reaction, 16 = strong reaction). The IN group had a significantly higher (P < 0.01) castration score, compared to the IM group. There was an association between castration score and room temperature in the IN group (with temperatures below 18 "C associated with a higher castration scores (P < 0.001). Heart rate was significantly higher 10 minutes after castration in the IN group (P < 0.05). Respiratory rate was significantly higher in the IM group at time points -5, -1, 10, 20 and 30 (P < 0.05).The IN group was walking significantly (P < 0.0001) faster than the IM group. In conclusion, this combination provides effective anaesthesia for routine castration of newborn piglets when administered IM. IN administration provided shorter recovery times but had significantly higher castration scores.

Canine distemper virus infection of primary hippocampal cells induces increase in extracellular glutamate and neurodegeneration

The canine distemper virus (CDV) belongs to the Morbillivirus genus which includes important human pathogens like the closely related measles virus. CDV infection can reach the nervous system where it causes serious malfunctions. Although this pathology is well described, the molecular events in brain infection are still poorly understood. Here we studied infection in vitro by CDV using a model of dissociated cell cultures from newborn rat hippocampus. We used a recombinant CDV closely related to the neurovirulent A75/17 which also expresses the enhanced green fluorescent protein. We found that infected neurons and astrocytes could be clearly detected, and that infection spreads only slowly to neighboring cells. Interestingly, this infection causes a massive cell death of neurons, which includes also non-infected neurons. Antagonists of NMDA-type or alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propinate (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors could slow down this neuron loss, indicating an involvement of the glutamatergic system in the induction of cell death in infected and non-infected cells. Finally, we show that, following CDV infection, there is a steady increase in extracellular glutamate in infected cultures. These results indicate that CDV infection induces excitotoxic insults on neurons via glutamatergic signaling.

Akupunkturpunkte am Ohr bei neugeborenen Drillingen

Die vorliegende Kasuistik beschreibt die gefundenen Ohr-Akupunkturpunkte bei frühgeborenen bichorial triamnioten Drillingen im Alter von 31 Wochen und 2 Tagen. Die Schwangerschaft ist durch IVF entstanden und wurde wegen einer Präeklampsie per Sectio beendet. Die Drillinge wurden am 17. Lebenstag mit dem Svesa Pointselektor 1 070 auf elektrisch aktive Akupunkturpunkte am Ohr untersucht. Je schlechter der klinische Zustand des Neugeborenen, desto mehr Akupunkturpunkte konnten am Ohr gefunden werden. Die identifizierten Reflexzonen/Akupunkturpunkte am Ohr zeigen zum Teil Übereinstimmungen mit der Pathologie im Körper und dem klinischen Zustand des Neugeborenen. Der Schwerpunkt lag bei Organpunkten, was mit dem entsprechenden klinischen Zustand des Organs korrelierte. Psychische Punkte wurden nicht gefunden.

Pseudodominant Inheritance of Goitrous Congenital Hypothyroidism Caused by TPO Mutations: Molecular and in Silico Studies

Context and Objective: Most cases of goitrous congenital hypothyroidism (CH) from thyroid dyshormonogenesis 1) follow a recessive mode of inheritance and 2) are due to mutations in the thyroid peroxidase gene (TPO). We report the genetic mechanism underlying the apparently dominant inheritance of goitrous CH in a nonconsanguineous family of French Canadian origin. Design, Setting, and Participants: Two brothers identified by newborn TSH screening had severe hypothyroidism and a goiter with increased (99m)Tc uptake. The mother was euthyroid, but the father and two paternal uncles had also been diagnosed with goitrous CH. After having excluded PAX8 gene mutations, we hypothesized that the underlying defect could be TPO mutations. Results: Both compound heterozygous siblings had inherited a mutant TPO allele carried by their mother (c.1496delC; p.Pro499Argfs2X), and from their father, one brother had inherited a missense mutation (c.1978C-->G; p.Gln660Glu) and the other an insertion (c.1955insT; p.Phe653Valfs15X). The thyroid gland of one uncle who is a compound heterozygote for TPO mutations (p.Phe653Valfs15X/p.Gln660Glu) was removed because of concurrent multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A. Immunohistochemistry revealed normal TPO staining, implying that Gln660Glu TPO is expressed properly. Modeling of this mutant in silico suggests that its three-dimensional structure is conserved, whereas the electrostatic binding energy between the Gln660Glu TPO and its heme group becomes repulsive. Conclusion: We report a pedigree presenting with pseudodominant goitrous CH due to segregation of three different TPO mutations. Although goitrous CH generally follows a recessive mode of inheritance, the high frequency of TPO mutations carriers may lead to pseudodominant inheritance.

Neonatal macrocephaly: cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor or neuroblastoma as an infrequent cause--a case report and review of the literature

We report a male term newborn presenting with a congenital macrocephaly 3.5 standard deviations above the median, with a wide and tense anterior fontanel, splayed calvarial sutures, and muscular hypotonia. Antenatal head circumferences were repeatedly below the median. A postnatal head ultrasound showed a large right intracerebral mass with right lateral ventricle compression, right temporal horn dilation, and right frontal horn enlargement with lateral displacement. Additional imaging by computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging was performed. A decompression was performed and histology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology supported the diagnosis of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor. A MYCN gene amplification assay remained negative. The incidence of neonatal brain tumors is between 1.4 and 4.1/100,000 live births. Their most common presentation is macrocephaly, hydrocephalus, stillbirth, or diagnosis by pre- or postnatal imaging. Although hydrocephaly and intra- or extracranial hemorrhage are the most frequent causes of congenital macrocephaly, this should be initially investigated by head ultrasound. A suspected malignancy will be confirmed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology.

Abnormal collagen fibrils in cartilage of matrilin-1/matrilin-3-deficient mice

Matrilins are oligomeric extracellular matrix adaptor proteins mediating interactions between collagen fibrils and other matrix constituents. All four matrilins are expressed in cartilage and mutations in the human gene encoding matrilin-3 (MATN3) are associated with different forms of chondrodysplasia. Surprisingly, however, Matn3-null as well as Matn1- and Matn2-null mice do not show an overt skeletal phenotype, suggesting a dominant negative pathomechanism for the human disorders and redundancy/compensation among the family members in the knock-out situation. Here, we show that mice lacking both matrilin-1 and matrilin-3 develop an apparently normal skeleton, but exhibit biochemical and ultrastructural abnormalities of the knee joint cartilage. At the protein level, an altered SDS-PAGE band pattern and a clear up-regulation of the homotrimeric form of matrilin-4 were evident in newborn Matn1/Matn3 and Matn1 knock-out mice, but not in Matn3-null mice. The ultrastructure of the cartilage matrix after conventional chemical fixation was grossly normal; however, electron microscopy of high pressure frozen and freeze-substituted samples, revealed two consistent observations: 1) moderately increased collagen fibril diameters throughout the epiphysis and the growth plate in both single and double mutants; and 2) increased collagen volume density in Matn1(-/-)/Matn3(-/-) and Matn3(-/-) mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that matrilin-1 and matrilin-3 modulate collagen fibrillogenesis in cartilage and provide evidence that biochemical compensation might exist between matrilins.

[Infections in pregnancy]

Infections in pregnancy may complicate its course and harm the fetus or newborn after vertical transmission. Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is mandatory in pregnant women given the high risk of secondary pyelonephritis. Intraamniotic infection usually arises by the ascending route and is associated with premature rupture of membranes. Vaginal infections promote preterm labour or premature rupture of membranes and may be transmitted to the child during labour. They must therefore be treated although they often cause little discomfort to the pregnant woman. Systemic infections due to viral, protozoal and bacterial pathogens may be transmitted transplacentally and cause embryopathies, fetopathies or neonatal infections. Depending on the responsible agent the negative impact on the course of pregnancy and on the fetus' or neonate's health can be prevented or reduced by prophylactic or therapeutic interventions.

[Antiretroviral therapy and pregnancy]

Whereas the perinatal transmission rate with untreated HIV positive women is around 30%, the results of Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group in 1994 showed a reduction by nearly 70% with Zidovudin chemoprophylaxis. The transmission rate can even be reduced to under 2%, if a cesarean section before onset of labour and before premature rupture of membranes is done in addition. An individualized, optimal antiretroviral combination therapy, ideally introduced in the second trimenon (in special cases even already in the first trimenon), is of great importance. As a further strategy of prevention of perinatal transmission, intravenous Zidovudin chemoprophylaxis should be given in addition to the mother during labour and to the newborn during the first six weeks of life. Besides very few exceptions, long-term data after intrauterine administration of antiretroviral therapy do not show any teratogen or other long term consequences to date. The situation in developing countries is very critical with still high transmission rates because of the lack of antiretroviral therapy due to logistical reasons and costs and the need of breastfeeding. For these reasons, more and more feasible short protocols are developed with at least fifty percent reduction of neonatal transmission rates.

Inhibition of iodine organification and regulation of follicular size in rat thyroid tissue in vitro

The factors mediating the accumulation of thyroglobulin are of great importance to the understanding of the pathogenesis of human and experimentally induced colloid goiters. To elucidate further the underlying cellular mechanism, thyroid fragments from newborn rats were incorporated into semisolid alginate beads and were cultured as three-dimensional organoids for up to 21 d. In five parallel cultures, the medium contained either no supplements (group A), Nal (group B), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (group C), Nal plus TSH in the same concentrations as B and C (group D), or Nal and TSH (as in group D) plus methimazole (MMI, group E). The thyroid organoids maintained morphological integrity, functional activity, and ability to proliferate in vitro. Addition of iodine to the cultures significantly increased mean (+/-SEM) follicular diameters from 19.5 +/- 0.7 microm in controls to 33.9 +/- 2.2 microm (p < 0.0001) when NaI was added alone (group B), and 30.4 +/- 1.7 microm (p < 0.0001) when combined with TSH (group D). The effect of NaI on follicular size was abolished by MMI (group E, follicular diameter 23.5 +/- 1.3 microm). The results presented support the recent finding, using a rat colloid goiter model, that not only TSH but also iodine organification or its inhibition are important factors in modulating follicular morphology.

[Pre-eclampsia and its psychosocial sequelae]

In the present work some psychosomatic conditions in the setting of preeclampsia are described. The important psychosocial consequences for women suffering from this disease and the drawback for their partners will be elucidated. Preeclampsia as a disease including hypertension, proteinuria and generalized edema is often associted with generalized seizures occuring most commonly at the end of the second trimenon of pregnancy. The disease bears a heavy risk for the mothers as well as for her unborn child. Until now the exact pathophysiological basis of the disease has not been entirely elucidated. For the pregnant woman and her psychosocial surrounding the outbreak of the disease is in most cases unexpected. During development of the disease she has to face a role change from a so far normal pregnancy to a high-risk situation. This may change also the attitude to the unborn child by herself and her partner. The preterm delivery induced therapeutically, together with the succeeding problems for the newborn complete the high psychosocial stress related to the entire situation. Therefore it is useful and important to offer psychosocial support to the mother as well as to her parter during the illness and the time after delivery.

Air pollution during pregnancy and lung function in newborns: a birth cohort study

Post-natal exposure to air pollution is associated with diminished lung growth during school age. The current authors aimed to determine whether pre-natal exposure to air pollution is associated with lung function changes in the newborn. In a prospective birth cohort of 241 healthy term-born neonates, tidal breathing, lung volume, ventilation inhomogeneity and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) were measured during unsedated sleep at age 5 weeks. Maternal exposure to particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm (PM(10)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) and ozone (O(3)), and distance to major roads were estimated during pregnancy. The association between these exposures and lung function was assessed using linear regression. Minute ventilation was higher in infants with higher pre-natal PM(10) exposure (24.9 mL x min(-1) per microg x m(-3) PM(10)). The eNO was increased in infants with higher pre-natal NO(2) exposure (0.98 ppb per microg x m(-3) NO(2)). Post-natal exposure to air pollution did not modify these findings. No association was found for pre-natal exposure to O(3) and lung function parameters. The present results suggest that pre-natal exposure to air pollution might be associated with higher respiratory need and airway inflammation in newborns. Such alterations during early lung development may be important regarding long-term respiratory morbidity.

Cardiomegaly in a premature neonate after venous umbilical catheterization

Umbilical venous catheters allow rapid central access in neonates, but may be associated with various complications. We present a case of a newborn with pericardial effusion following umbilical venous catheterization. An extremely low birth weight infant was intubated for respiratory distress syndrome and had umbilical venous and arterial lines in place. Massive cardiomegaly was noted on the subsequent chest X-ray. Echocardiography revealed a large pericardial effusion without signs of tamponade. After removing the catheter, the effusion gradually resolved. While pericardial effusion is a well-known complication of percutaneous long central lines, only a few case reports have documented sudden cardiovascular compromise associated with umbilical venous catheters. Pericardial effusion may be asymptomatic and should be suspected in infants with central catheters and progressive cardiomegaly. The prompt removal of catheters and, if signs of cardiac tamponade are present, emergency pericardiocentesis may prove to be life-saving.

Is there a correlation between venlafaxine therapy during pregnancy and a higher incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis?

BACKGROUND: Novel antidepressant drugs are increasingly used by women of child bearing age. However, potentially harmful effects on fetus and newborn remain unknown. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: We present preterm twins whose mother was treated with venlafaxine, a nonselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, throughout pregnancy until delivery. The twins developed neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. CONCLUSION: The question whether there might be a correlation between maternal serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis is discussed.