The present study investigated the early presence of inflammatory response in renal tissue of young offspring from diabetic mothers. The effect of L-arginine (L-arg) supplementation was also investigated. The offspring was divided into four groups: group CO (controls); group DO (diabetic offspring); group CA (CO receiving 2% L-arg solution) and group DA (DO receiving the 2% L-arg solution). Glycemia, arterial pressure and renal function were evaluated; gene and protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were also measured. Blood pressure levels were significantly increased in 2 and 6 month-old DO rats, whereas L-arg administration caused a significant decrease in the DA group, at both ages. DO rats showed a significantly blunted glycemic response to exogenous insulin. In 2 month-old DO animals, renal protein expression of pro-inflammatory molecules was significantly increased. At six months of age, we also observed an increase in gene expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, whereas L-arg supplementation prevented this increase at both ages. Our data suggest that activation of inflammatory pathways is present early in the kidney of DO rats, and that L-arg can attenuate the expression of these markers of tissue inflammation. Our results also reinforce the concept that intrauterine environmental factors are a fundamental determinant in the development of metabolic and vascular diseases later in life.

Background and aims:Maternal undernutrition can induce a range of fetal adaptations, which can lead to permanent alterations in adulthood. Interleukin (IL)-18 play an integral role in tubular injury and the development of renal dysfunction during a variety of inflammatory processes. In this work, we have investigated the impact of intrauterine undernutrition on the inflammatory markers, and the correlation of these markers with the renal dysfunction; the effect of L-arginine (L-arg)administration on those parameters also was investigated.

Introduction: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare heterogeneous disease that normally occurs in children under 15 years but can rarely be diagnosed in adulthood. It can affect any organ of the body, and a less favorable prognosis is expected when either liver, lung, spleen, or bone marrow are affected. Diabetes insipidus, from pituitary dysfunction, is one of the most common consequences that can develop anytime during the disease, and symptoms normally worsen during pregnancy. Pregnancy with this disease is uncommon, and when it occurs, a cesarean section is normally performed. Case Presentation: We report a 34-year-old pregnant woman (37 weeks and two days gestation) with the diagnosis of a disseminated LCH at the age of 30 who presented herself at the obstetrics emergency department due to respiratory distress. During pregnancy, her pulmonary function remained stable, and she was asymptomatic until the last two days before she was admitted. Labor was induced, with vaginal misoprostol, to achieve a vaginal birth with epidural analgesia. The child was born without complications, and the patient had an immediate clinical improvement. In the following three months, she remained asymptomatic without any worsening of her disease. Conclusions: In LCH, a cesarean section is the first choice in many cases due to pulmonary impairment. We concluded that early placement of an epidural catheter allows labor analgesia while safeguarding the possibility of an epidural anesthesia in case of urgent/emergent cesarean section. If pulmonary function remains stable, vaginal delivery is possible, thereby being less invasive and allowing for a faster recovery.

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Background and aims:Previous studies from our group have shown that maternal diabetes is an important cause of glomerular hypertrophy in the offpring (DO) and that hypertension linked to an impaiment in the vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation is early detected. The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of cytokines/chemokines in plasma and renal tissue from DO and the possible effect of L-arginine administration on those parameters.