29 research outputs found
Continuous subcutaneous hydrocortisone infusion in a woman with secondary adrenal insufficiency
No full textFunctional Profiles of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Obese/Diabetic Versus Healthy Women
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Background: Adult human mesenchymal stem cells retrieved, from the post-partum human
umbilical cord Wharton jelly (hUCMS), have recently gained growing interest due to their morphological
and functional properties.
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Objective: The main purpose of our work was to examine morphology and functional properties of
hUCMS retrieved from healthy women as compared to those with obesity, or gestational or type 2 diabetes
mellitus, under fair metabolic control. Possible differences between groups could shed light into
the potential use of these cells for the cell therapy of a variety of diseases, regardless of the obesity/
diabetes status of the donor mothers. Additionally, information on how the maternal disease may
affect the cord-derived stem cells, hence possibly newborn children would be important.
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Methods: We have studied obese/diabetic or normal donor post-partum umbilical cord-derived
hUCMS, either in basal or during differentiation protocols into several cell phenotypes and the definitive
endoderm. Immunomodulatory properties of these cells, in terms of inhibition of activated lymphocyte
proliferation, also was examined.
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Results: According to our preliminary results, there are functional differences, as assessed by cell and
molecular assays, in terms of both, differentiation and immunomodulatory potential, between the cells
derived from normal as compared to obese/diabetic mothers.
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Conclusion: The findings seemingly indicate that the uterine environment of obese/diabetic mothers is
quite distant from normal, regardless of metabolic control. Hence hUCMS extracted from
obese/diabetic mothers do not appear to be suitable for cell therapy clinical protocols but more studies
are required.
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Awareness about diabetes and pregnancy among diabetes specialists and fellows: the YoSID Diabetes and Pregnancy Project
No full textUse of insulin detemir in pregnancy: a report on 10 type 1 diabetic women
No full textSomalia has suffered a massive internal population displacement and exodus that began in 1988 and is still ongoing during the prolonged and intermittent civil war. This review looks at the burden of HIV infection in Somali and the impact of civil war on its epidemiology. Serosurveys have indicated that HIV was not present in Somalia before the civil war and to date Somalia has had an HIV prevalence markedly below that of its neighbours. However, due to the ongoing war HIV sentinel surveillance cannot reach most of the affected areas in Somalia and the current HIV infection problem may be greater than the figures indicate
Caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage in lymphocytes from newborn babies of diabetic mothers with unbalanced glycaemic control
No full textSeveral epidemiological studies showed that gestational diabetes mellitus is the most frequent metabolic disorder of pregnancy, the pathogenesis of which has yet to be completely clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and processing of caspase 3 (Casp3) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in cord blood lymphocytes as markers of apoptosis in relation to glycaemic control during intrauterine life. Our results showed a specific positive correlation between the levels of active Casp3 (17-19kDa) and the inactive form of PARP1 (89kDa) in lymphocytes isolated from newborn babies of diabetic women with unbalanced glycaemic control, with a direct correlation between the activation of casp3 and the inactivation of PARP1, that makes lymphocytes unresponsive towards lipopolysaccharide stimulation, highlighting an altered functional response. Besides more studies are required to fully correlate the activation of the apoptotic process during the intrauterine life with the foetal health later in life, our study indicates that a cord blood lymphocyte, an easily accessible source, is informative about the activation of apoptotic stimuli in circulating cells of newborn babies in relation to the glycaemic control reached by the mother during pregnancy. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Body mass index associated to rs2021966 ENPP1 polymorphism increases the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus
No full textGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition of impaired glucose tolerance occurring in 1-14% of all pregnancies. This wide range reflects pathological involvement of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and maternal weight as risk factors. This study evaluated the association of genetic component and maternal factors to identify women with higher risk of developing GDM. About 240 pregnant women characterized by negative Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (-OGTT) and 38 with positive OGGT (+OGTT) were enrolled. SNPs for ENPP1, NRF1, VEGFA, CEBPA, and PIK3R1 were analyzed by SNP genotyping. An association study was performed and differences in genotype and allele frequencies between cases and controls were analyzed by χ2 test. +OGTT was associated to high values of pre-gestational body mass index (BMI) and age. SNP for ENPP1 gene was associated to +OGTT, while genetic variants for other genes did not correlate to GDM. ENPP1 homozygous for A allele and heterozygous showed altered frequencies in +OGTT when compared with -OGTT. Association of both pre-gestational BMI and age with AA homozygous genotype increased significantly the risk to +OGTT. Our results demonstrate that correlation of age and pre-gestational BMI with homozygous for A allele increased significantly the risk of impaired glucose tolerance and GDM
Caspase 3 mediated PARP cleavage in lymphocytes from newborn babies of diabetic mothers
No full textSeveral epidemiological studies showed that gestational diabetes mellitus is the most frequent metabolic disorder of pregnancy, the pathogenesis of which has yet to be completely clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and processing of caspase 3 (Casp3) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in cord blood lymphocytes as markers of apoptosis in relation to glycaemic control during intrauterine life. Our results showed a specific positive correlation between the levels of active Casp3 (17-19 kDa) and the inactive form of PARP1 (89 kDa) in lymphocytes isolated from newborn babies of diabetic women with unbalanced glycaemic control, with a direct correlation between the activation of casp3 and the inactivation of PARP1, that makes lymphocytes unresponsive towards lipopolysaccharide stimulation, highlighting an altered functional response. Besides more studies are required to fully correlate the activation of the apoptotic process during the intrauterine life with the foetal health later in life, our study indicates that a cord blood lymphocyte, an easily accessible source, is informative about the activation of apoptotic stimuli in circulating cells of newborn babies in relation to the glycaemic control reached by the mother during pregnancy
The Spirit Of Water
No full textThis book describes a research project begun by the author in 2015 and co-authored by the chiefs of the KhoiSan peoples living in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa, aided by staff and students at Nelson Mandela University. The scope of the project was to investigate methods and procedures that could help re-establish the link between the Indigenous communities and their ‘forgotten’ heritage sites due to the colonial segregations. Making use of a participatory and interdisciplinary method we explored the tangible and intangible heritage of the Eastern Cape province, with particular attention to the remains of precolonial fish traps located along the shoreline. Included also are important testimonies from the KhoiSan chiefs who, alongside the author, led the project
Aportes de la Pontificia Academia para la Vida (PAV) al desarrollo de la bioética
No full textResumen: El autor, Oficial de Estudio de la Pontificia Academia para la Vida (PAV), detalla en el presente artículo, los aportes realizados por la Academia al desarrollo de esta nueva disciplina que es la Bioética. Su objetivo ha sido siempre salvaguardar la naturaleza y la dignidad del ser humano ante la amenaza de un mal entendido “progreso científico y cultural” que muchas veces atenta contra éstas. La Pontificia Academia para la Vida se nutre del Magisterio de la Iglesia y apuesta constantemente al diálogo fecundo entre fe y razón.Abstract: The author, Officer of Study of the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV, Spanish acronym) details in this article the contribution made to the development of this new discipline known as Bioethics by said Academy. To preserve human nature and dignity against the threats posed by certain scientific and cultural progress, which in many occasions attempts against them, has always been its objective. PAV develops its task in the Church Magistracy´s light tending to a permanent and nurturing dialogue between faith and reason
Guidelines for the screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes in Italy from 2010 to 2019: critical issues and the potential for improvement
No full textIn 2010, Italian health professionals rapidly implemented the one-step screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on a 75 g OGTT, to comply with the diagnostic criteria proposed by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG). The change was promoted by the two main Italian scientific societies of diabetology, Associazione Medici Diabetologi (AMD) and Società Italiana di Diabetologia (SID), and it took just a few months for the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, together with several scientific societies, to revise the criteria and include them in the National Guidelines System. Over the last 9 years, the implementation of these guidelines has shown some benefits and some drawbacks
