Abstract-Neutrophil activation and increased migration is associated with preeclampsia and is resolved after delivery.Preeclampsia is an inflammatory disorder where altered levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) have a pathogenic role. VEGF, by binding to FLT-1, induces leukocytic chemotaxis. We studied expression and function of FLT-1 in maternal neutrophils during preeclampsia and normal pregnancies. Analysis of maternal neutrophils showed the relationship between FLT-1 expression and week of gestation. Preeclamptic women express lower FLT-1 and sFLT-1 in neutrophils. In contrast, serum levels of sFLT-1 in patients with preeclampsia are increased and, therefore, inhibit upregulation of FLT-1 in neutrophils by neutralizing VEGF. VEGF-dependent FLT-1 expression is regulated by changing FLT-1-promoter activity. Promoter activity is decreased by sFLT-1. In vitro experiments demonstrated that migration of neutrophils is regulated by VEGF via FLT-1 and excess of sFLT-1. Thus, VEGF-dependent migration of neutrophils is decreased during preeclampsia as a consequence of excess circulating sFlt1. But, they still increase migration by fMLP and, therefore, migration of neutrophils from preeclamptic women is highly activated when compared with the normotensive group. In conclusion, besides being involved in inducing an antiangiogenic state in the serum, excess of sFLT-1 seems to prevent activated neutrophils from women with preeclampsia from additional migration by VEGF. We provide evidence that neutrophils may be involved in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. Key Words: migration Ⅲ neutrophils Ⅲ preeclampsia Ⅲ pregnancy Ⅲ VEGF receptor 1 P reeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of unknown etiology affecting 5% to 10% of all pregnancies. Pathophysological changes include elevated systemic vascular resistance, generalized vasoconstriction, activation of the coagulation cascade, maternal endothelial dysfunction, and a poorly perfused fetoplacental unit. 1 Preeclampsia is characterized by altered cytokine production 2 and marked neutrophil activation. 3-6 They release proteases and reactive oxygen species, which can cause vascular endothelial injury, inappropriate endothelial activation or transformation. 7-9 The latter processes are important for physiological adaptations during normal pregnancy creating a low-resistance arteriolar system, which allows adequate blood supply to the growing fetus. 10,11 Recently, case-control studies have shown associations between polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and preeclampsia. 12 VEGF is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis in vivo. 13 VEGF is expressed by different cells, eg, smooth muscle, endothelial cells, monocytes/macrophages, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). VEGF exerts its biological effects through Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT-1)/ VEGF receptor-1 and VEGF receptor-2 (FLK-1/KDR). 13 KDR is con...

The fatty acid composition of different plasma lipid fractions has been estimated in a 6-month-old girl with acrodermatitis enteropathica before and after zinc supplementation. Linoleic acid and its metabolites were extremely reduced in triglycerides and sterol-esters. In contrast, n-3-fatty acids were increased in sterol-esters and phospholipids. Zinc supplementation led to quick clinical improvement, and linoleic and arachidonic acid increased rapidly in triglycerides and sterol-esters to the values of healthy infants. Fatty acids of phospholipids remained relatively stable. Our findings could be explained by impaired enteral absorption of linoleic acid. Further attention should be directed to the supply and metabolism of essential fatty acids in acrodermatitis enteropathica.

Feuchteschäden am Mauerwerk alter Gebäude sind in den meisten Fällen durch Salze im Mauerwerk bedingt. Erhöhte Salzgehalte können außer zur erhöhten Feuchte im Laufe der Zeit zu dauerhaften Materialschädigungen und Ausblühungen an der Bauwerksoberfläche führen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein neues effizientes und schonendes Entsalzungs‐ und Trockenlegungsverfahren auf der Basis von textilen BIO‐Kompressen in Form von Textil‐Kunststoff‐Verbunden in Verbindung mit mikrobiologischen Wirkmechanismen vorgestellt. Bei dieser neuartigen “BIO‐Kompresse” werden natürliche mikrobielle Stoffwechselvorgänge denitrifizierender Bakterien ausgenutzt, die Nitrate unter anaeroben Bedingungen in der Kompresse zu Stickstoff umwandeln. An drei natürlich nitratbelasteten Probeobjekten in Mecklenburg‐Vorpommern wurden Einsätze der BIO‐Kompresse mit erfolgreichen Nitratreduzierungen getestet. Die Reduzierung des Nitratgehaltes im Mauerwerk wurde in verschiedenen Versuchsvarianten mit und ohne Applikation denitrifizierender Bakterienstämme untersucht. In einem Zeitraum von nur 6 Wochen konnten die Nitratkonzentrationen in den Probemauerwerken (Mauerwerksoberfläche) um 2 bis 3 M.‐% reduziert werden, das entsprach einer Verringerung der Nitratkonzentration um bis zu 80 %. Parallel dazu fanden Untersuchungen zur organischen Belastung des Mauerwerks (Bakterienanzahlen, Pilzbefall, zusätzliche Kohlenstoff‐ und Stickstoffbelastung) statt. Als Vorteil der Anwendung der BIO‐Kompresse ist hervorzuheben, daß es sich um ein schonendes, nicht invasives Verfahren mit guter Umweltverträglichkeit handelt. In Abwägung der Vor‐ und Nachteile kann die BIO‐Kompresse als Ergänzung derzeit auf dem Markt befindlicher und üblicher Verfahren betrachtet werden.