Association between the markers of FIRS and the morphologic alterations in the liver of neonates autopsied in the perinatal period.

Markers of fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) can influence the morphologic alterations in liver of autopsied neonates. The IL-6, TNF-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP) expression in liver fragments were marked by immunohistochemistry and the intensity of steatosis, percentage of fibrosis, and the number of foci of extramedullary erythropoiesis were evaluated. The degree of steatosis correlated positively with IL-6 (p = 0.06), positively with CRP (p ≤ 0.001), and negatively with TNF-α (p = 0.06). The collagen percentage correlated positively with IL-6 (p = 0.055) and positively with TNF-α (p ≤ 0.001). Erythropoiesis correlated positively with IL-6 (p ≤ 0.001) and negatively with CRP (p = 0.00754). The analyzed markers of FIRS have an important role in triggering hepatic morphologic alterations.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and placental vascularization in cases of uterine blood flow restriction.

Studies report transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as a treatment for placental insufficiency. To induce utero-placental insufficiency in rats, the uterine artery was ligated. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was applied with a frequency of 80 Hz, pulse duration of 200 µs, and low intensity. Placental blood vessels were analyzed after immunohistochemistry. The number, caliber and area occupied by placental vessels, fetal weight and length, and placental volume were lower in cases stimulated by TENS. The interaction between ligation and stimulation by TENS was associated with reduction of all these measurements, suggesting that TENS use during pregnancy may have harmful effects on intra-uterine development.