Objectives: To assess the performance of screening for preeclampsia (PE) by mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 11-13 and at 20-24 weeks' gestation. Methods: MAP was measured at 11-13 and 20-24 weeks in 17,383 singleton pregnancies, including 70 with early PE, requiring delivery <34 weeks' gestation, 143 with preterm PE, delivering <37 weeks and 537 with total PE. MAP was expressed as multiple of the median (MoM) after adjustment for maternal characteristics and corrected for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The performance of screening for PE by maternal characteristics and MAP MoM at 11-13 weeks (MAP-1), MAP MoM at 20-24 weeks (MAP-2) and their combination was evaluated. Results: In screening by maternal characteristics and MAP-1, at a false-positive rate (FPR) of 10%, the detection rates (DR) of early PE, preterm PE and total PE were 74.3, 62.9 and 49.3%, respectively; the DR at FPR of 5% were 52.9, 42.7 and 35.8%. In screening by MAP-1 and MAP-2 the DR at FPR of 10%, were 84.3, 65.7 and 52.5%; the DR at FPR of 5% were 60.0, 49.7 and 37.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Performance of screening for PE by MAP is best when measurements are taken at both 11-13 and 20-24 weeks' gestation than at only one of these gestational ranges.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate placental 11B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11B-HSD-2) mRNA levels in intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses (IUGR) as compared with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses according to clinical criteria. Material and Methods: Placental levels of 11B-HSD-2 mRNA levels were measured in SGA (birth weight <10th centile) and gestational-age-matched, appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) births. SGA was classified as IUGR (birth weight <3rd centile or <10th percentile with abnormal uterine artery Doppler or cerebroplacental ratio) or non-IUGR SGA. After RNA extraction, mRNA levels were determined by reverse transcription and quantitative PCR. Results: A total of 38 placentas were analyzed (20 AGA and 18 SGA). Among the SGA pregnancies, 13 qualified as IUGR. The activity of 11B-HSD-2 in IUGR pregnancies [0.105 (SD 0.328)] was significantly reduced compared to non-IUGR SGA [0.304 (SD 0.261); p = 0.018] and AGA [0.294 (SD 0.328); p = 0.001]. These differences remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders (such as smoking or maternal cortisol levels). Activity levels did not significantly differ between non-IUGR SGA and AGA. Discussion: IUGR fetuses had reduced 11B-HSD-2 activity in comparison with SGA and normally grown fetuses. This finding provides opportunities to develop new placental biomarkers for the phenotypic characterization of fetal smallness.

Neither netobimin (NTB) nor its metabolite albendazole (ABZ) were found in plasma after an oral administration of 20 mg/kg of NTB to pregnant ewes during the last third of gestation. ABZ metabolites, albendazole sulphoxide (ABZSO) and albendazole sulphone (ABZSO2) were found in plasma 30 min and 2 h, respectively, after administration. The maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) of ABZSO was detected at 11.6 +/- 1.0 h and for ABZSO2 at 16.5 +/- 2.3 h. The plasma levels of the latter remained constant for 36 h, and decreased as ABZSO was removed from the blood. Jugular plasma levels of both metabolites did not differ significantly from those observed in the ovarian vein, suggesting that there were no exchanges between foetal and placental tissues. Both metabolite concentrations were similar in the umbilical vein and artery and in the amniotic and allantoic fluids, their values were half the maternal plasma concentration, leading to the conclusion that there was transplacental movement of metabolites. Both metabolites reached the foetus and could be responsible for the teratogenicity of NTB in sheep.

Recent studies have focused on understanding the role of the gut microbiota and its production of active metabolites in hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). Urolithin A (UA) is a natural compound produced by gut microbiota from ellagic acid that has a positive influence on the regulation of biological functions and several physiological processes. Thus its effect has been reported as beneficial in numerous diseases, including cancer.