Justyna Teliga-Czajkowska

Antenatal steroids: can we optimize the dose?

Purpose of review The beneficial effects of antenatal steroids in women at risk of preterm birth are evident. A dose of 24u200amg appears sufficient, but there are insufficient data to recommend betamethasone or dexamethasone, a single steroid dose, the optimal interval between doses and repeated courses, the gestational age at which treatment is beneficial and the long-term effects of steroid treatment. This review addresses these aspects of antenatal steroid treatment. Recent findings Although the 12-h and 24-h dosing intervals are equivalent with respect to prevention of respiratory distress syndrome, the former enables the completion of treatment in 50% more neonates delivered prematurely. Reducing the single steroid dose in patients at risk for premature birth reduces the associated maternal side effects. An inverse relationship has been demonstrated between the number of corticosteroid courses and foetal growth. The reduced size of exposed foetuses has been attributed to birth at earlier gestational ages and decreased foetal growth. Evidence suggests that antenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids in term-born children has long-lasting effects, which may have important implications in the recommendation of steroids before elective caesarean at term. Summary The short-term and long-term effects of the dosage regimen on the pregnant mother and foetus remain unclear.

Potentialization of N-a-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) cytotoxic activity by 2-(1-adamantylamino)-6-methylpyridine (AdAMP) in human ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVESnTNF is one of the key cytokines involved in cancer development. TNF signaling can result in both stimulating and inhibitory signals that can result in opposite biological effects in cancerogenesis. 2-(1-adamantylamino)-6-methylpyridine (AdAMP) enhances TNF secretion whereas N-a-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) is a NF-κB inhibitor potentially stimulating proapoptotic TNF signals. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of TPCK in combination with AdAMP on human ovarian cells.nnnMATERIAL AND METHODSnCAOV-1 human ovarian cell line was incubated with TPCK and AdAMP for 24 hours. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated in a crystal violet assay. A monoclonal antibody against TNF, Infliximab, was added to examine the possible mechanism of interactions.nnnRESULTSnDepending on concentration, AdAMP potentialized cytotoxic activity of TPCK or had a synergistic effect with TPCK. Infliximab did not reverse cytotoxicity of AdAMP and TPCK and in some cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic concentrations even enhanced their cytotoxicity.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAdAMP and TPCK cytotoxicity seems to be dependent on TNF signaling, however, the exact mechanism of interactions remains unclear.

Fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

1Katedra i Klinika Reumatologii i Układowych Chorób Tkanki Łącznej, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie 2Klinika Reumatologii i Chorób Wewnętrznych, Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Szczecin 3Klinika Chorób Tkanki Łącznej, Instytut Reumatologii, Warszawa 4 Centrum Onkologii – Instytut im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie, Warszawa 5Zakład Dydaktyki Ginekologiczno-Położniczej, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny 6 Katedra i Klinika Reumatologii i Chorób Wewnętrznych, Uniwersytet Medyczny, Wrocław 1Chair and Department of Rheumatology and Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin 2Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases, Pomeranian Medical University 3Department of Connective Tissue Diseases, Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw 4Centre of Oncology, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute in Warsaw 5Gynaecology and Obstetrics Didactic Division, Warsaw Medical University 6Chair and Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Wrocław