Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Preeclampsia And Micrornas, Eric J. Devor, Donna A. Santillan, Mark K. Santillan

Mark K. Santillan

Preeclampsia is a critical gestational condition that threatens the life of both mother and child. One of the most serious aspects of preeclampsia hampering both clinical management and scientific understanding is that there are, as yet, no early warning signs or risk markers. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), tiny post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, offers potentially fertile ground for developing such markers. The current state of knowledge about miRNAs in preeclampsia is presented along with information regarding miRNA detection in peripheral fluids that could lead to minimally invasive risk assessment.

The Effects Of Preeclampsia On Signaling To Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells, Donna A. Santillan, Wendy S. Hamilton, Ashley Christensen, Katelyn M. Talcott, Lindsay K. Gravatt, Mark K. Santillan, Stephen K. Hunter

Mark K. Santillan

Background: The role of the microenvironment is important in cell differentiation. The effect of placental disease on the growth and differentiation and hematopoietic stem cells has not been well-studied.

Methods: Enzyme linked immunoassay was used to measure erythropoietin and osteopontin in plasma from umbilical cord blood of children born to normotensive and preeclamptic women. Additionally, CD34+ cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and grown in complete methylcellulose media. Colony types were identified and enumerated.

Results: Differences in the concentration of erythropoietin in the cord blood between the controls and the preeclamptics approached significance (P = 0.067) using a Mann-Whitney …

Cell Encapsulation As A Potential Nondietary Therapy For Maternal Phenylketonuria, Donna Santillan, Mark Santillan, Stephen Hunter

Mark K. Santillan

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to determine whether cells overexpressing phenylalanine (Phe) hydroxylase (PAH) can significantly reduce Phe in vitro for potential use as a therapy for preventing maternal phenylketonuria. STUDY DESIGN: Human 293T and WRL68 cell lines were transiently and stably transfected to overexpress PAH. Cells were encapsulated within microspheres of sodium alginate. Timed measurements of Phe in media were performed using tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Both nonencapsulated and encapsulated transiently transfected cells overexpressing PAH significantly reduced the Phe concentration in media by approximately 50% in comparison to mock-transfected cells. Cell line clones stably expressing PAH significantly …

"Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place: Obesity And Delivery Decisions", Mark Santillan

Mark K. Santillan

The incidence of obesity has achieved epidemic proportions. The increase in the proportion of women gaining more than 40 pounds during pregnancy and the related increased perinatal morbidity demonstrates how obesity has affected the reproductive outcomes for women. Individualized counseling and preparation for the needs of an obese woman in labor are at the cornerstone of managing obese women in labor and delivery.

The Influence Of Fetal Sex On Patterns Of Change In Anti-Mullerian Hormone During Pregnancy, Ryan Empey, Donna Santillan, Mark Santillan, Eric Tyler, Stephen Hunter, Elaine Smith, Barbara Stegmann

Mark K. Santillan

Maternal anti-mullerian hormone declines sharply between 13-15 weeks, likely as a result of feto-placental signaling. Fetal AMH levels are known to be widely disparate after the first trimester, with high levels in male and absent levels in female. However, it is unclear as to whether differing fetal AMH levels influence the pattern of change of maternal AMH. Our objective was to examine AMH throughout gestation to determine if the maternal concentration varies according to the gender of the fetus.

From Molecules To Medicine: A Future Cure For Preeclampsia?, Mark Santillan, Donna Santillan, Curt Sigmund, Stephen Hunter

Mark K. Santillan

In the United States, preeclampsia (PreE) affects 5-7% of all pregnancies, yet represents 15% of all maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. PreE causes fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, fetal death, and maternal seizures, stroke, cerebrovascular hemorrhage and death. It has immediate and potentially long-term effects on both the fetus and mother. To date, the molecular pathogenesis of PreE is largely unknown. Multiple pathways, including dysfunctional angiogenesis, inappropriate placentation, oxidative stress and an altered immunological milieu have been proposed as key players in the development of PreE. In addition, genetic factors in all of these pathways are essential components in the etiology of …

Non-Invasive Fetal Genome Sequencing: Opportunities And Challenges., Holly Tabor, Jeffrey Murray, Hilary Gammill, Jacob Kitzman, Matthew Snyder, Mario Ventura, Alexandra Lewis, Ruolan Qiu, Lavone Simmons, Craig Rubens, Mark Santillan, Evan Eichler, Edith Cheng, Michael Bamshad, Jay Shendure

Mark K. Santillan

No abstract provided.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Concentration Levels In Maternal Plasma During The First, Second And Third Trimester Of Pregnancy, Kelin Schultz, Barbara Stegmann, Mark Santillan, Donna Santillan, Elaine Smith, Bradley J. Van Voorhis

Mark K. Santillan

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) drops rapidly in pregnancy but Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) has not been shown to drop until about 12 weeks. Since the follicles that secrete AMH are thought to be FSH independent, AMH levels should slowly decline in the absence of FSH because when the follicles reach FSH dependence, they would die off. A study has presented data that suggests a decline in AMH levels suddenly starts at 12 weeks gestation. The present study agrees with a decline in AMH after the first trimester. There is a sharp decline in AMH at 12-16 weeks gestation indicating that the follicular …