A delayed proinflammatory response of human preadipocytes to PCB126 is dependent on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Inflammation in adipose tissue is recognized as a causative factor in the development of type II diabetes. Adipocyte hypertrophy as well as bacterial...     

PCB126 blocks the thermogenic beiging response of adipocytes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Subcutaneous white adipose tissue is capable of becoming thermogenic in a process that is referred to as “beiging.” Beiging is associated...     

Maternal serum free beta hCG screening: Results of studies including 480 cases of down syndrome

The median maternal serum free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) multiple of the median (MOM) of 480 Down syndrome cases in the second trimester was 2·64, significantly greater than the reported median MOM of intact hCG (p<0·0001). In 234 of these cases from retrospective and prospective studies, the effectiveness of maternal serum free beta hCG was evaluated in combination with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and maternal age in second-trimester Down syndrome screening. Down syndrome detection in the gestational age range of 14–16 weeks was 82 per cent. In all gestational weeks (14–22), a 77·7 per cent Down syndrome detection rate was achieved. In prospective screening of 44 272 patients under the age of 35 years, 69 per cent of Down syndrome cases were detected (73 per cent in gestational weeks 14–16). The false-positive rate for the prospective study was 3·8 per cent. The use of free beta hCG combined with maternal serum AFP and maternal age-related risk for Down syndrome in a screening population (i.e., women under 35 years) yields an improved detection efficiency over other protocols.     

Prenatal diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary duct atresia

A rare case of extrahepatic biliary atresia was diagnosed by a combination of prenatal ultrasound and measurements of fetal digestive enzymes in amniotic fluid. Ultrasound at 15 and 18 weeks' gestation failed to detect the gall bladder, and amniotic fluid digestive enzyme values were below the fifth percentile. The patient decided to terminate the pregnancy. Post-abortal pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.