Effects of medical causes, role concepts and treatment stages on quality of life in involuntary childless men.

Goal of this study was to investigate differences in quality of life in men contingent upon various fertility treatment stages, infertility causes and adoption of roles. A quantitative study with n = 115 men in three German fertility centres was devised. Participants completed a standardised, fertility-specific questionnaire devised for men (TLMK), sociodemographic and role items. Men having experienced severe medical conditions, for example cancer, reported significant higher quality of life compared to men with other infertility reasons [F(1,56) = 12.77, P = 0.001]. Furthermore, allocating participants into distinctive groups by means of kind and duration of treatment revealed significant group differences [F(2,111) = 4.94, P = 0.009], with quality of life decreasing with the use of more invasive fertility methods. A higher satisfaction with life was also stated by men adopting many tasks in the treatment process. The high quality of life displayed by men having experienced severe medical conditions contains valuable and far-reaching information about possible resilience factors that need to be researched more in detail. The finding of decreasing quality of life in men with the use of more invasive methods in treatment applies for increased psychosocial services in fertility clinics.

Serum levels of the adipokine zinc-α2-glycoprotein are increased in preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with facets of the metabolic syndrome and an increased future metabolic and cardiovascular risk for mother and newborn. Recently, zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) has been proposed as a new adipokine involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. AIM: In the current study, we investigated ZAG serum levels in PE patients as compared to healthy gestational age-matched controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We quantified serum concentrations of ZAG in patients with PE (no.=37) as compared to healthy gestational age-matched controls (no.=37) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, association of this adipokine with renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation was studied. RESULTS: Median serum ZAG levels were 1.4-fold higher in PE patients (58.8 mg/l) as compared to controls (41.9 mg/l) (p<0.01). Furthermore, circulating ZAG was positively correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine, triglycerides, and leptin in univariate analyses. In multiple regression analysis, creatinine remained independently associated with ZAG. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that maternal ZAG serum concentrations are significantly increased in PE. Furthermore, renal function is an independent predictor of circulating ZAG.

[Use of angiogenic factors (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio) to confirm the diagnosis of preeclampsia in clinical routine: first experience]. / Angiogene Faktoren zur Diagnosesicherung bei Präeklampsie in der klinischen Routine: erste Erfahrungen.

INTRODUCTION: In the clinical routine, the diagnosis of preeclampsia is often challenging. Not all pregnant women with signs and symptoms of preeclampsia develop the disease. Recently, the assessment of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in the serum of pregnant women has been proposed as an aid in the diagnosis of preeclampsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective, monocentric case-control study, we reviewed 30 cases of patients who presented with the clinical symptoms of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the delivery ward. Next to the standard diagnostic algorithm for preeclampsia, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was determined using the automated Elecsys® platform. RESULTS: In 12/30 cases (40%), the diagnosis of a hypertensive pregnancy disorder was confirmed with an sFlt1/PlGF ratio of >85. In 18/30 (60%) cases, a ratio <85 excluded the diagnosis of preeclampsia at the time of presentation and allowed an adaptation of the patient's surveillance programme. CONCLUSION: In the clinical setting of "suspected preeclampsia", determination of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio can serve as an aid in the diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The reliable exclusion of the diagnosis "preeclampsia" can help in an appropriate and cost-effective management of patients with signs and symptoms of the disease.

[Angiogenic factors and their role in pathogenesis and prediction of preeclampsia]. / Angiogene Faktoren und ihre Rolle in der Entstehung und Vorhersage der Präeklampsie.

Angiogenic factors like placental growth factor (PlGF) and its anti-angiogenic antagonists soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) and soluble endoglin (sEng) are closely related to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The discovery and investigation of these angiogenic factors could characterize important pathogenetic mediators of preeclampsia or even the cause for placental dysfunctions. These anti-angiogenic proteins are dramatically elevated in maternal circulation weeks prior to the onset of the syndrome preeclampsia. Since it is known that altered maternal sFlt1, sEng and PlGF levels are detectable weeks prior to the onset of these pregnancy complications, it was the aim of the study to investigate the predictive value of these markers in high-risk second trimester pregnancies characterized by abnormal uterine perfusion. Using both factors, sFlt1 and PlGF, early-onset preeclampsia can be predicted with 83% sensitivity and 95% specificity. Combined analysis of sEng and sFlt1 is able to predict early-onset PE even with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93.3%. This shows, that the concurrent measurement of uterine perfusion and angiogenic factors allows an efficient prediction of early-onset pregnancy complications, particularly preeclampsia. The next step will be the development of therapeutic tools that have positive impact on the clinical symptoms via the inhibition of sFlt1 and or sEng.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor has impact on murine placentation.

Impaired placentation is a key step in the pathogenesis of important pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. A role of angiotensin II in placental development can be assumed from the expression of angiotensin receptors on trophoblast from the earliest stages of pregnancy. To understand the role of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors in placental development, we investigated placentae of AT1a-deficient mice early in pregnancy (day 13 postconception). The number of alive newborns was significantly reduced in AT1a-deficient mice caused by placental malformations in 30% of all utero-placental units. Importantly, no embryonic structure was observable within the uterine segments harboring the malformed placentae. Immunohistochemistry with an antibody against murine betahCG-equivalent stained homogeneously in almost all cells in the altered placentae indicating still an endocrine-active trophoblast. However, the typical structure of the murine wild-type placenta in spongiotrophoblast, giant cells, and labyrinth was abolished in malformed placental tissue deficient in the AT1a receptor. Recent epidemiological studies revealed the detrimental effect of an AT1 blockade for fetal outcome due to renal malformations and a reduced birth weight. For the latter, our findings provide an early mechanistic explanation. The lack in AT1 stimulation causes an impaired trophoblast maturation leading to impaired placental function.

Efficacy and Effects of Parenteral Pethidine or Meptazinol and Regional Analgesia for Pain Relief during Delivery. A Comparative Observational Study.

Background: Peripartum anesthesia may consist of parenteral opioids and/or regional analgesia. There is only limited data in the literature comparing both methods in daily obstetric practice. This observational study investigated the opioids pethidine and meptazinol as well as regional analgesics with regard to their administration, efficacy, side effects and subjective maternal satisfaction with therapy. The rates of secondary regional analgesia administration after administration of the respective opioid served as a means of evaluating treatment. Methods: This study collected data on pain management during vaginal delivery in a German university hospital over a twelve month period. Severity of pain was measured intrapartum using a numerical rating scale. Maternal, neonatal and delivery-related data were obtained postpartum from the clinical records and from the mothers using a questionnaire. Results: The study is based on data obtained from 449 deliveries. Pain relief achieved by the administration of pethidine and meptazinol was similarly low; maternal satisfaction with the respective therapy was high. Meptazinol was usually administered intravenously (83 % vs. 6 %; p < 0.001), repeatedly (27 % vs. 6 %; p < 0.001) and closer to the birth (1.9 ± 2.7 h vs. 2.6 ± 2.8 h; p < 0.05) compared to pethidine. Secondary regional analgesia was more common after the administration of pethidine (16 % vs. 8 %; p < 0.05). Regional analgesia resulted in greater pain relief compared to opioid therapy (78 % vs. 24 % after 30 min; p < 0.001) and was associated with longer times to delivery (7.6 ± 2.5 h vs. 5.7 ± 2.5 h; p < 0.001) and higher levels of maternal satisfaction with therapy (6.1 ± 1.2 vs. 4.8 ± 1.6 on a 7-point scale; p < 0.001). Conclusion: In daily clinical practice, meptazinol can be adapted more readily to changes during birth and requires less secondary analgesia. Regional neuraxial analgesia was found to be an efficacious and safe way of managing labor pain.