Vision Research and Brain Affects

  So as you already know, part of the diagnosis of Preeclampsia is protein found in the urine. It is also found in the placenta and blood levels. A Stanford University professor, Dr. Nihar R. Nayak and his team are doing research to better understand the role of certain placental proteins in the development of Preeclampsia.  His 2011 Vision Grant Research Project main goal is to find how proteins act in the placenta during Preeclampsia and used a mouse model system while testing various therapeutic approaches to Preeclampsia. His team also developed a way to study how genes act in the placentas of mice. Genes play an important role in placental development during pregnancy. Their hope is that with these new discoveries that this will be a better way to see and identify abnormal genes which will in return, help researchers learn about why protein levels tend to be higher in a Preeclampsia pregnancy than a normal pregnancy.

A protein called sFlt-1 is found in the blood at a higher level when a woman has preeclampsia. Understanding this protein will have a direct impact on the design of  clinical therapies for Preeclampsia. They are testing this on the mice by completely removing the sFlt-1 protein from the placenta by telling it to not make this protein at all. Another protein called VEGF also acts in higher levels during a preeclamptic pregnancy.

The study should be concluded at the end of the year and sent off for publication.

Next time I'll discuss National preeclampsia month and can preeclampsia affect the mother's brain too?







Works Cited:

Administrator. "Vision Grant Researcher Reports Successful Methodology to Study Placental Proteins." Vision Grant Researcher Reports Successful Methodology to Study Placental Proteins. Preeclampsia Foundation, 30 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.preeclampsia.org/component/lyftenbloggie/2012/09/30/152-vision-grant-researcher-reports-successful-methodology-to-study-placental-proteins>.

Pre-Eclampsa-what?! A Medical Breakdown

So since you now my own history and passion for Preeclampsia I may start giving you what I know you're just dying for and that's the medical facts and some medical research. For starters, back in the day Preeclampsia was called Toxemia and is a disease found in pregnant women typically in their 2nd or 3rd trimester of gestation of high blood pressure (140/90) and protein found in the urine. This causes swelling in the feet, legs, and hands and is a severe risk for the mother and baby and a rare risk cause deaths. The reason why it's called PRE-Eclampsia is because this happens before the baby is born and after the baby is born within the first 24 hours the mother will end up getting Eclampsia and have seizures. Sadly, there is no other way to cure Preeclampsia except to deliver the child which is risky if the baby is not fully developed. The real way OB/GYN doctors are preventing any further damage is regular visits to the doctor and knowing the symptoms as well as a healthy diet.

Along with high blood pressure and protein there are many other symptoms of Preeclampsia which includes, loss of blood flow to the uterus, improper functioning placenta, severe headaches, dizziness, rapid weight gain, sudden change in vision (or floaters), abdominal pain, and organ failure.

Since there has yet to be a true reason or cause for catching Preeclampsia doctors can see trends and certain ties to this unsolved puzzle. Poor nutrition, higher body fat percent, history of high blood pressure, and bad blood flow to the uterus are certain causes that contribute to Preeclampsia. Typically these cases are seen in first time mothers, teen mothers, obese women, pregnant women over the age of 40, previous cases in mother or sister, and possibly genetics. Having a history of Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis have also been considered as certain medical conditions that could effect Preeclampsia. A study done by the Department of obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine says that a number of reports indicated that Preeclampsia is associated with elevated blood levels of Lipid Peroxidation products. In view of it's destructive characteristics lipid peroxidation might contribute to pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

So to break it down, this stuff can be no joke to not only the mother's body but the babies as well. It can be prevented long enough to have a full term baby, but usually after 32 weeks gestation the blood pressure gets too risky for the doctor's.  Just remember what I said in my second post that there are     76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year around the world. What if you had this disease and didn't even know it? What kind of elements could help subside the effects of pre-eclampsia? I'll show you in my next post!

Work Cited:

 "Lipid Peroxidation in Pregnancy: New Perspectives on Preeclampsua." Lipid Peroxidation in Pregnancy: New Perspectives on Preeclampsia. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/2679100/reload=0;jsessionid=T92JPKDvx0BDc1gbV0Jx.6>.

 "Preeclampsia & Eclampsia: Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, and Treatment." WebMD. WebMD, 01 Jan. 0000. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/preeclampsia-eclampsia>.