Confronting the loss of a loved one leads us to the core questions of human existence. Bereaved parents have to deal with the rupture of a widely shared concept of what is perceived to be the natural ...course of life and are forced into meaning reconstruction.
This study aims to expand upon existing work concerning specific themes of meaning reconstruction in a sample of bereaved parents. More specifically, the relationship between meaning reconstruction, complicated grief, and posttraumatic growth was analyzed, with special attention focused on traumatic and unexpected losses.
In a mixed methods approach, themes of meaning reconstruction (sense-making and benefit-finding) were assessed in in-depth interviews with a total of 30 bereaved parents. Posttraumatic growth and complicated grief were assessed using standardized questionnaires, and qualitative and quantitative results were then merged using data transformation methods.
In total 42 themes of meaning reconstruction were abstracted from oral material. It was shown that sense-making themes ranged from causal explanations to complex philosophical beliefs about life and death. Benefit-finding themes contained thoughts about personal improvement as well as descriptions about social actions. Significant correlations were found between the extent of sense-making and posttraumatic growth scores (r
s
=0.54, r
s
=0.49; p<0.01), especially when the death was traumatic or unexpected (r
s
=0.67, r
s
=0.63; p<0.01). However, analysis revealed no significant correlation with complicated grief. Overall results corroborate meaning reconstruction themes and the importance of meaning reconstruction for posttraumatic growth.
Transplantation represents the treatment of choice for many end-stage diseases but is limited by the shortage of healthy donor organs. Ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has the potential ...to extend the donor pool by facilitating the use of marginal quality organs such as those from donors after cardiac death (DCD) and extended criteria donors (ECD). NMP provides a platform for organ quality assessment but also offers the opportunity to treat and eventually regenerate organs during the perfusion process prior to transplantation. Due to their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and regenerative capacity, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as an interesting tool in this model system. Only a limited number of studies have reported on the use of MSCs during ex situ machine perfusion so far with a focus on feasibility and safety aspects. At this point, no clinical benefits have been conclusively demonstrated, and studies with controlled transplantation set-ups are urgently warranted to elucidate favorable effects of MSCs in order to improve organs during ex situ machine perfusion.
One of the causes of preeclampsia (PE) is due to an imbalance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, as well as hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. Previous studies have already ...revealed the involvement of the neuropeptides galanin (GAL) and oxytocin (OXT) in inflammatory processes and their modulatory role with respect to the autonomous system 1, 2. Despite those findings, evidence for a relation of these hormones in the pathogenesis of PE is missing so far.
Aim of the study is to characterise the above mentioned peptide systems regarding their expression patterns in the placenta, umbilical cord and plasma of PE patients and healthy controls.
Placental (maternal and fetal side) and umbilical cord tissues have been collected during caesarean section from control and PE patients. Furthermore blood samples have been taken at the day of the surgery and four days postpartum. Biopsies have been analysed for the expression of GAL, GAL1,3- and OXT-receptors (GAL1, GAL3, OXTR). Additionally, differentiated analysis of maternal and fetal tissue was performed to reveal potential different expression patterns.
Preliminary results of the IHC revealed a clear expression of GAL3 in trophoblasts of PE placentas, whereas controls showed an increase expression of GAL3 on endothelial cells. Moreover an increased expression of GAL1 and GAL on endothelial cells has been detected in controls compared to PE. Different patterns were also visible regarding the OXTR with higher expression levels in controls compared to PE. Furthermore, PE placentas showed local expression differences (fetal > maternal side), which was not apparent in controls.
The different expression patterns of the GAL-system and the OXTR still have to be verified by Western Blot analyses, qPCR and IHC. However, their preliminary detection in placental tissue could be a first hint regarding the involvement of those systems in the inflammatory processes of PE.
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