Is there an association between liver type fatty acid binding protein and severity of preeclampsia?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the level of liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) in women with preeclampsia. METHOD: A case-control study was conducted in 90 pregnant women who were divided into the following three groups: normal pregnancy (n = 30), mild-moderate preeclampsia (n = 30), and severe preeclampsia (n = 30). Maternal blood samples were obtained during an antenatal clinic visit in normal pregnant women, and at the time of diagnosis in women with preeclampsia. Serum LFABP levels were measured by the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. RESULTS: Serum LFABP level was significantly higher in severe and mild-moderate preeclampsia groups than normal pregnancy group (1,709.90 ± 94.82, 1,614.93 ± 118.22, and 1,532.36 ± 140.98 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the severity of preeclampsia was correlated with LFABP level [unadjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.008 (1.003-1.012), p < 0.001 and LDH 1.063 (1.029-1.099), p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum LFABP level appears to be correlated with the severity of the preeclampsia and can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Effects of repeated propranolol administration in a rat model of surgically induced endometriosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether propranolol has an inhibitory effect on the angiogenesis of endometriosis in an experimental rat model or not. STUDY DESIGN: This was an experimental animal model study. Twenty-four female Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were used to create a model for surgical induction of endometriosis. Two rats died during the surgeries. The rats were randomly divided into treatment (n=11) and control groups (n=10), which were treated with daily intraperitoneal propranolol (10 mg/kg) and saline (2 mL), respectively. Study duration was 8 weeks. The volumes and histopathological findings of the implants, and immunochemistry for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 were evaluated. RESULTS: Viable endometriotic implants were created in all animals. In the propranolol-treated group, the mean implant volume significantly decreased after treatment (142.5 vs. 32.1 mm(3), respectively; p=0.008), while the mean implant volume significantly increased in the control group (141.0 vs. 174.2 mm(3), respectively; p=0.009). There were also significant reductions in VEGF immunoreactivity scores and both stroma and epithelium MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunoreactivity scores in the propranolol-treated group compared with the control group (p<0.005 for all scores). CONCLUSIONS: Propranolol may suppress endometrial tissue by its antiangiogenic activity through inhibitory actions on VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Therefore, propranolol is a promising candidate drug for effective treatment of patients with endometriosis, which needs to be confirmed with further studies.