This study explored the possibility that upregulation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (Hif-1)-responsive genes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) would promote and stabilize HUVEC formation into inchoate vascular beds within artificial collagen gels. This experiment was designed to explore the above possibility by sub-cloning Hif-1[alpha], the related chimeric construct Hif-1[alpha]/VP16, and the marker gene dsRed into retroviral expression vectors, producing retroviral vectors containing these genes, and stably transducing HUVEC using these retroviruses. Transduced HUVEC were to be observed in cell culture as well as after implantation into artificial collagen gels that have previously supported vascular bed formation by HUVEC. Our results show, preliminarily, that HUVEC transduced with Hif-1[alpha]/VP16 go into cell-cycle arrest. Attempts to transduce HUVEC with Hif-1[alpha] failed to achieve high enough transduction efficiency to determine the cells angiogenic potential. This study concluded that more experiments need to be conducted to better characterize the effects of hypoxia-responsive gene upregulation in controlling HUVEC angiogenesis and cell-cycle signaling and that straightforward transduction of HUVEC by Hif-1[alpha]/VP16 is probably not sufficient, in itself, to induce in vitro vascular bed formation.

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo, realizado em gestantes de alto risco com diagnóstico de insuficiência placentária, tem como objetivo avaliar o fluxo sanguíneo fetal na veia portal esquerda (VPE), veia umbilical (VU) e ducto venoso (DV), e estabelecer quais parâmetros associam-se com a acidemia fetal no nascimento. MÉTODO: Pesquisa prospectiva envolvendo 58 gestantes, classificadas segundo a presença ou ausência do diagnóstico de acidemia no nascimento, de acordo com o pH no sangue da artéria umbilical, constituindo-se de: Grupo I: 26 casos (acidemia pH<7,20) e Grupo II: 32 casos (pH normal pH7,20). Foram excluídos da pesquisa os casos com diagnóstico pós-natal de anomalia do RN e aqueles em que não se obteve a mensuração do pH no nascimento. As seguintes variáveis dopplervelocimétricas da VPE e VU foram comparadas entre os grupos: escore-zeta da TAMxV (time averaged maximum velocity) (cm/s), Q/Kg (fluxo sanguíneo por Kg de peso fetal) (ml/min/kg) e presença de pulsatilidade; e o escore-zeta do índice de pulsatilidade para veias (IPV) do DV. RESULTADOS: O escore-zeta da TAMxV (rho=0,392, P=0,002) e o Q/Kg da VPE (rho=0,274, P=0,037), o escore-zeta do IPV do DV (rho=-0,377, P=0,004) e o Q/Kg da VU (rho=0,261, P=0,048) apresentaram correlação significativa com o pH no nascimento. Realizando-se a análise de regressão logística multivariada, as variáveis independentes que restaram no modelo final para a ocorrência de acidemia no nascimento (pH<7,20) foram: escore-zeta da TAMxV da VPE (OR=0,41; IC95% 0,25 a 0,71; P=0,001) e fluxo reverso na VPE (OR=0,004; IC95% 0,00 a 0,15; P=0,003), ambas demonstrando efeito protetor para acidemia. Com o presente modelo, constatou-se que 74,1% dos casos são corretamente classificados para acidemia no nascimento. CONCLUSÕES: pela análise do Doppler venoso fetal na insuficiência placentária constatou-se que a acidemia no nascimento (pH<7,20) está associada de forma independente com o fluxo reverso na VPE e com o escore-zeta da TAMxV da VPE, ambos demonstrando efeito protetor com redução do risco para a acidemia / OBJECTIVE: This study, conducted in high-risk pregnancies with placental insufficiency, aims to avaliate blood flow in the fetal left portal vein (LPV), umbilical vein (UV) and ductus venosus (DV), and establish which parameters are associated with acidemia at birth. METHOD: A prospective research involving 58 pregnant women, classified according to the presence or absence of the diagnosis of fetal acidosis at birth, according to pH in the blood of the umbilical artery, consisting of: Group I: 26 cases (acidemia, pH <7,20) and Group II: 32 cases (normal pH, pH 7,20). Exclusion criteria were patients who had postnatal diagnosis of abnormality of the newborn and those in which the pH measurement was not obtained at birth. The following Doppler variables of LPV and UV were compared between the groups: TAMxV (Time Averaged Maximum Velocity) (cm/s) zeta-score, Q/kg (blood flow per kg of fetal weight) (ml/min/kg) and presence of pulsatility; and DV pulsality index for veins (PIV) zetascore. RESULTS: LPV TAMxV zeta-score (rho=0.392, P=0.002) and Q/kg (rho=0.274, P=0.037), DV PIV zeta-score (rho=-0.377, P=0.004) and UV Q/kg (rho=0.261, P=0.048) showed significant correlation with pH at birth. Performing the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent variables that remained in the final model were: TAMxV of LPV zeta-score (OR=0.41; IC95% 0.25 a 0.71; P=0.001) and reverse flow in LPV (OR=0.004; IC95% 0.00 a 0.15; P=0.003), both showing a protective effect to reduce the risk of acidemia. With this model, it was found that 74,1% of cases are correctly classified to birth acidemia. CONCLUSION: by analysis of fetal venous Doppler in placental insufficiency we found that acidemia at birth (pH <7.20) is independently associated with reverse flow in the LPV and LPV TAMxV z-score, both showing a protective effect with reduced risk for the event

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo, realizado em gestantes de alto risco com diagnóstico de insuficiência placentária, tem como objetivo avaliar o fluxo sanguíneo fetal na veia portal esquerda (VPE), veia umbilical (VU) e ducto venoso (DV), e estabelecer quais parâmetros associam-se com a acidemia fetal no nascimento. MÉTODO: Pesquisa prospectiva envolvendo 58 gestantes, classificadas segundo a presença ou ausência do diagnóstico de acidemia no nascimento, de acordo com o pH no sangue da artéria umbilical, constituindo-se de: Grupo I: 26 casos (acidemia pH<7,20) e Grupo II: 32 casos (pH normal pH7,20). Foram excluídos da pesquisa os casos com diagnóstico pós-natal de anomalia do RN e aqueles em que não se obteve a mensuração do pH no nascimento. As seguintes variáveis dopplervelocimétricas da VPE e VU foram comparadas entre os grupos: escore-zeta da TAMxV (time averaged maximum velocity) (cm/s), Q/Kg (fluxo sanguíneo por Kg de peso fetal) (ml/min/kg) e presença de pulsatilidade; e o escore-zeta do índice de pulsatilidade para veias (IPV) do DV. RESULTADOS: O escore-zeta da TAMxV (rho=0,392, P=0,002) e o Q/Kg da VPE (rho=0,274, P=0,037), o escore-zeta do IPV do DV (rho=-0,377, P=0,004) e o Q/Kg da VU (rho=0,261, P=0,048) apresentaram correlação significativa com o pH no nascimento. Realizando-se a análise de regressão logística multivariada, as variáveis independentes que restaram no modelo final para a ocorrência de acidemia no nascimento (pH<7,20) foram: escore-zeta da TAMxV da VPE (OR=0,41; IC95% 0,25 a 0,71; P=0,001) e fluxo reverso na VPE (OR=0,004; IC95% 0,00 a 0,15; P=0,003), ambas demonstrando efeito protetor para acidemia. Com o presente modelo, constatou-se que 74,1% dos casos são corretamente classificados para acidemia no nascimento. CONCLUSÕES: pela análise do Doppler venoso fetal na insuficiência placentária constatou-se que a acidemia no nascimento (pH<7,20) está associada de forma independente com o fluxo reverso na VPE e com o escore-zeta da TAMxV da VPE, ambos demonstrando efeito protetor com redução do risco para a acidemia / OBJECTIVE: This study, conducted in high-risk pregnancies with placental insufficiency, aims to avaliate blood flow in the fetal left portal vein (LPV), umbilical vein (UV) and ductus venosus (DV), and establish which parameters are associated with acidemia at birth. METHOD: A prospective research involving 58 pregnant women, classified according to the presence or absence of the diagnosis of fetal acidosis at birth, according to pH in the blood of the umbilical artery, consisting of: Group I: 26 cases (acidemia, pH <7,20) and Group II: 32 cases (normal pH, pH 7,20). Exclusion criteria were patients who had postnatal diagnosis of abnormality of the newborn and those in which the pH measurement was not obtained at birth. The following Doppler variables of LPV and UV were compared between the groups: TAMxV (Time Averaged Maximum Velocity) (cm/s) zeta-score, Q/kg (blood flow per kg of fetal weight) (ml/min/kg) and presence of pulsatility; and DV pulsality index for veins (PIV) zetascore. RESULTS: LPV TAMxV zeta-score (rho=0.392, P=0.002) and Q/kg (rho=0.274, P=0.037), DV PIV zeta-score (rho=-0.377, P=0.004) and UV Q/kg (rho=0.261, P=0.048) showed significant correlation with pH at birth. Performing the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent variables that remained in the final model were: TAMxV of LPV zeta-score (OR=0.41; IC95% 0.25 a 0.71; P=0.001) and reverse flow in LPV (OR=0.004; IC95% 0.00 a 0.15; P=0.003), both showing a protective effect to reduce the risk of acidemia. With this model, it was found that 74,1% of cases are correctly classified to birth acidemia. CONCLUSION: by analysis of fetal venous Doppler in placental insufficiency we found that acidemia at birth (pH <7.20) is independently associated with reverse flow in the LPV and LPV TAMxV z-score, both showing a protective effect with reduced risk for the event

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), the main ligand for the endothelial cell (EC)-selective Tie-2 receptors, promotes survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation of these cells. Despite its importance in various aspects of vascular biology, the mechanisms of action of the Ang-1/Tie-2 receptor pathway have not been fully explored. / To identify the downstream modulators of Ang-1, we evaluated changes in the transcriptome of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with Ang-1 protein for four hours by employing the oligonucleotide rnicroarray technology. Eighty-six genes were significantly upregulated by this treatment and forty-nine genes were significantly downregulated. These genes are involved in the regulation of cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, transcription and differentiation. Furthermore, we found that the Erk1/2, PI3-Kinase and mTOR pathways are implicated in promoting gene expression in HUVECs in response to Ang-1. Analysis of the microarray data employing the Ingenuity Pathways analysis software to place the regulated genes in the context of biological networks revealed several highly connected nodes including the chemokine Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the transcription factor Early growth response-1 (Egr-1). Due to the importance of these genes in promoting angiogenesis, we decided to evaluate their roles in Ang-1/Tie-2 receptor signaling and biological effects. / Ang-1 induced IL-8 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in ECs through both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. To study the functional role of Ang-1-induced IL-8, we generated HUVECs that overexpress Ang-1. In these cells, neutralizing IL-8 significantly reduced EC proliferation and migration. IL-8 promoter activity experiments and gel shift assays revealed the involvement of the transcription factor AP-1 in Ang-1-induced IL-8. Ang-1 stimulated the phosphorylation of c-Jun through activation of Erk1/2, JNK and PI-3 kinase pathways. Similarly, Ang-1 provoked the expression and DNA binding of Egr-1 in HUVECs. Employing siRNA and DNAzyme to specifically knock-down Egr-1, we found that Ang-1-induced Egr-1 also promotes EC proliferation and migration. / We conclude that Ang-1 provokes a coordinated response intended to promote EC survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis and to inhibit EC apoptosis. Ang-1 induces EC proliferation and migration in part through the secretion of the soluble mediator Interleukin-8 and through induction of the transcription factor Egr-1.

No description available.

OBJETIVO: Determinar os valores de referência, e examinar a correlação da área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical, e de seus componentes, com a idade gestacional (IG), em gestações gemelares. Examinar a correlação da área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical com o peso fetal estimado (PFE). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo longitudinal envolvendo gestações gemelares dicoriônicas, não complicadas. Medidas ultrassonográficas das áreas de secção transversa do cordão umbilical (ASTCU), da veia (AVU) e artérias umbilicais (AAU), e da geleia de Wharton (AGW) foram obtidas em plano adjacente, próximo ao abdômen fetal, a cada três semanas. A correlação entre os parâmetros avaliados e a idade gestacional foi investigada por meio de modelo de regressão polinomial hierárquica, levando-se em consideração a variância segundo a idade gestacional, entre medidas obtidas em fetos da mesma gestação e, entre diferentes gestações. Para cada parâmetro estudado, foram calculados os valores correspondentes aos percentis 5, 10, 50, 90 e 95, para cada semana gestacional. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 334 avaliações ultrassonográficas em 44 gestações gemelares, entre 18 e 33 semanas (média: 3,8 ± 0,7 exames/gestação; intervalo médio entre exames: 3,3 ± 0,9 semanas). Os valores log-transformados de todos os parâmetros avaliados apresentaram correlação significativa (p<0,001) com a idade gestacional: Log(ASTCU) = - 2,287498 + 0,149298 x IG - 0,002302 x IG2, desvio-padrão DP = 0,113, R2 = 0,65; Log (AVU) = - 2,721487 + 0,119853 x IG - 0,001507 x IG2, DP=0,165, R2 = 0,58; Log (AAU) = - 4,223546 + 0,195454 x IG - 0,003080 x IG2, DP=0,163, R2 = 0,57; Log (AGW) = - 2,511648 + 0,157737 x IG - 0,002564 x IG2, DP=0,123, R2 = 0,55. A área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical apresentou correlação significativa com o peso fetal estimado (Log (ASTCU) = -1,602447 + 0,554502 x Log (PFE), R2 = 0,65, p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Em gestações gemelares dicoriônicas, a área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical, e de seus componentes, mostram correlação positiva e significativa com a idade gestacional. A área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical também correlaciona-se significativamente com o peso fetal estimado / OBJECTIVE: To determine reference values, and examine the correlation between the cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord, and its components, with gestational age (GA) in twin pregnancies. To examine the correlation between the cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord with the estimated fetal weight (EFW). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study involving uncomplicated dichorionic twin pregnancies. Sonographic measurements of the cross-sectional areas of the umbilical cord (UCCSA), umbilical vein (UVA) and arteries (UAA) and Wharton\'s jelly (WGA) were obtained in a plane adjacent to the fetal abdomen, every three weeks. The correlation between these parameters and gestational age was examined with hierarchical polynomial regression analysis. This modeling took into account the variance according to gestational age, fetuses within the same pregnancy and changes across different pregnancies. For each parameter, 5th, 10th, 50th, 90th and 95th centiles were calculated for each gestational week. RESULTS: 334 ultrasound scans were performed in 44 twin pregnancies, between 18 and 33 weeks (mean: 3.8 ± 0.7 scans/pregnancy, mean interval between scans: 3.3 ± 0.9 weeks). All umbilical cord log-transformed values showed a significant correlation (p < 0.001) with gestational age: Log (UCCSA) = - 2.287498 + 0.149298 x GA - 0.002302 x IG2, SD = standard deviation 0.113, R2 = 0.65, Log (UVA) = - 2.721487 + 0.119853 x GA - 0.001507 x IG2, SD = 0.165, R2 = 0.58, Log (UAA) = - 4.223546 + IG x 0.195454 - 0.003080 x IG2, SD = 0.163, R2 = 0.57, Log (WGA) = - 2.511648 + 0.157737 x GA - 0.002564 x IG2 , SD = 0.123, R2 = 0.55. The cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord also correlated significantly with the estimated fetal weight (Log (UCCSA) = -1.602447 + 0.554502 x Log (EFW), R2 = 0.65, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In dichorionic twin pregnancies, the cross-sectional areas of the umbilical cord, and its components, show a positive and significant correlation with gestational age. The cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord also has correlates significantly with the estimated fetal weight

OBJETIVO: Determinar os valores de referência, e examinar a correlação da área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical, e de seus componentes, com a idade gestacional (IG), em gestações gemelares. Examinar a correlação da área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical com o peso fetal estimado (PFE). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo longitudinal envolvendo gestações gemelares dicoriônicas, não complicadas. Medidas ultrassonográficas das áreas de secção transversa do cordão umbilical (ASTCU), da veia (AVU) e artérias umbilicais (AAU), e da geleia de Wharton (AGW) foram obtidas em plano adjacente, próximo ao abdômen fetal, a cada três semanas. A correlação entre os parâmetros avaliados e a idade gestacional foi investigada por meio de modelo de regressão polinomial hierárquica, levando-se em consideração a variância segundo a idade gestacional, entre medidas obtidas em fetos da mesma gestação e, entre diferentes gestações. Para cada parâmetro estudado, foram calculados os valores correspondentes aos percentis 5, 10, 50, 90 e 95, para cada semana gestacional. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 334 avaliações ultrassonográficas em 44 gestações gemelares, entre 18 e 33 semanas (média: 3,8 ± 0,7 exames/gestação; intervalo médio entre exames: 3,3 ± 0,9 semanas). Os valores log-transformados de todos os parâmetros avaliados apresentaram correlação significativa (p<0,001) com a idade gestacional: Log(ASTCU) = - 2,287498 + 0,149298 x IG - 0,002302 x IG2, desvio-padrão DP = 0,113, R2 = 0,65; Log (AVU) = - 2,721487 + 0,119853 x IG - 0,001507 x IG2, DP=0,165, R2 = 0,58; Log (AAU) = - 4,223546 + 0,195454 x IG - 0,003080 x IG2, DP=0,163, R2 = 0,57; Log (AGW) = - 2,511648 + 0,157737 x IG - 0,002564 x IG2, DP=0,123, R2 = 0,55. A área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical apresentou correlação significativa com o peso fetal estimado (Log (ASTCU) = -1,602447 + 0,554502 x Log (PFE), R2 = 0,65, p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Em gestações gemelares dicoriônicas, a área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical, e de seus componentes, mostram correlação positiva e significativa com a idade gestacional. A área de secção transversa do cordão umbilical também correlaciona-se significativamente com o peso fetal estimado / OBJECTIVE: To determine reference values, and examine the correlation between the cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord, and its components, with gestational age (GA) in twin pregnancies. To examine the correlation between the cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord with the estimated fetal weight (EFW). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study involving uncomplicated dichorionic twin pregnancies. Sonographic measurements of the cross-sectional areas of the umbilical cord (UCCSA), umbilical vein (UVA) and arteries (UAA) and Wharton\'s jelly (WGA) were obtained in a plane adjacent to the fetal abdomen, every three weeks. The correlation between these parameters and gestational age was examined with hierarchical polynomial regression analysis. This modeling took into account the variance according to gestational age, fetuses within the same pregnancy and changes across different pregnancies. For each parameter, 5th, 10th, 50th, 90th and 95th centiles were calculated for each gestational week. RESULTS: 334 ultrasound scans were performed in 44 twin pregnancies, between 18 and 33 weeks (mean: 3.8 ± 0.7 scans/pregnancy, mean interval between scans: 3.3 ± 0.9 weeks). All umbilical cord log-transformed values showed a significant correlation (p < 0.001) with gestational age: Log (UCCSA) = - 2.287498 + 0.149298 x GA - 0.002302 x IG2, SD = standard deviation 0.113, R2 = 0.65, Log (UVA) = - 2.721487 + 0.119853 x GA - 0.001507 x IG2, SD = 0.165, R2 = 0.58, Log (UAA) = - 4.223546 + IG x 0.195454 - 0.003080 x IG2, SD = 0.163, R2 = 0.57, Log (WGA) = - 2.511648 + 0.157737 x GA - 0.002564 x IG2 , SD = 0.123, R2 = 0.55. The cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord also correlated significantly with the estimated fetal weight (Log (UCCSA) = -1.602447 + 0.554502 x Log (EFW), R2 = 0.65, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In dichorionic twin pregnancies, the cross-sectional areas of the umbilical cord, and its components, show a positive and significant correlation with gestational age. The cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord also has correlates significantly with the estimated fetal weight

No / Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is known to be associated with fetal endothelial dysfunction, however, the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study examines the effect of maternal diabetes on fetal endothelial function and gene expression under physiological glucose conditions (5 mM). Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) isolated from diabetic mothers (d.HUVEC) grew more slowly than HUVEC isolated from healthy mothers (c.HUVEC) and had delayed doubling time despite increased levels of total vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and protein production as determined by real-time PCR and ELISA respectively. Using western blot, the levels of antiproliferative VEGF165b isoform were increased in d.HUVEC relative to c.HUVEC. Successful VEGF165b knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in increased proliferation of d.HUVEC measured by MTT, compared with negative siRNA control, to similar levels measured in c.HUVEC. In addition, d.HUVEC generated excess levels of ROS as revealed by 2',7' Dichlorodihydrofluorescein Diacetate (DCFH-DA) and Nitrotetrazolium blue (NBT). Using microarray, 102 genes were differentially overexpressed between d.HUVEC versus c.HUVEC (>1.5-fold change; P < 0.05). Functional clustering analysis of these differentially expressed genes revealed participation in inflammatory responses (including adhesion) which may be related to pathological outcomes. Of these genes, ICAM-1 was validated as upregulated, confirming microarray results. Additional confirmatory immunofluorescence staining revealed increased protein expression of ICAM-1 compared with c.HUVEC which was reduced by vitamin C treatment (100 muM). Thus, maternal diabetes induces persistent alterations in fetal endothelial function and gene expression following glucose normalization and antioxidant treatment could help reverse endothelium dysfunction.