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Kjell A Salvesen

Publications and source records attributed to Kjell A Salvesen.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Fetal growth restriction is associated with reduced FasL expression by decidual cells.

The Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) system contributes to immune tolerance at the feto-maternal site and has been ascribed a role in implantation and placental development by regulating trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodelling. In the present study, we have examined FasL expression in decidual tissue from pregnancies with impaired placental development. Women with pre-eclampsia (PE) and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR) were enrolled as cases (n=33), and women with normal pregnancies were used as controls (n=27). Decidua basalis tissue was obtained by vacuum suction of the placental bed after delivery. FasL expression by extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) and decidual cells (DeCs), together with EVT apoptosis, were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Levels of soluble FasL in maternal serum and apoptosis-related gene expression in decidual tissue were determined. The proportion of FasL-expressing DeCs was high in controls (72.0+/-10.2%), with a significant reduction among cases (58.1+/-19.7%; p=0.002), especially in those with FGR (54.3+/-19.9%; p<0.001). EVTs had a lower proportion of FasL expression than DeCs, with a less pronounced reduction in cases compared to controls (10.9+/-3.9 and 8.3+/-4.0%, respectively; p=0.02). Decidual FasL expression correlated with placental growth. The EVT apoptosis rate did not differ between cases and controls (1.1+/-1.9 and 1.1+/-1.3%, respectively). These findings indicate a reduction of immune privilege in decidua of PE/FGR pregnancies by reduced FasL expression and that DeCs may have a central role in the Fas-FasL-based feto-maternal immune balance.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Epidemiological prenatal ultrasound studies.

Epidemiological studies have indicated no association between diagnostic ultrasound exposure during pregnancy and childhood malignancies. Diagnostic ultrasound imaging does not seem to influence birth weight, whereas frequent Doppler ultrasound was associated with reduced birth weight in one study. Most experts do not believe that ultrasound exposure during pregnancy is associated with reduced birth weight. There are no confirmed statistically significant associations between ultrasound and dyslexia and neurological development during childhood. However, two randomised controlled trials and two cohort studies have been unable to rule out a possible association between ultrasound and left-handedness among males.

Female↗
PubMed2006

Outcomes of pregnancy beyond 37 weeks of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate pregnancy outcomes by weeks of gestation. A second aim was to assess the outcomes in groups with spontaneous or induced labor. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies delivered after 37 weeks of pregnancy covering a well defined region in Norway from 1990 to 2001 (N = 27,514). Linear regression, chi 2 tests, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used. RESULTS: Maternal complications varied with gestational age, and were lowest at 39 weeks and highest postterm (cesarean delivery 12.3-21.6%, operative vaginal delivery 10.7-15.4%, maternal hemorrhage 9.7-14.6%). Poor neonatal outcome varied with gestational age only for spontaneous labors (Apgar at 5 minutes less than 7 1.0-2.3%, pH less than 7.10 3.4-5.2%), whereas induction of labor was a risk factor for delivery complications (odds ratio 1.3-2.8), independent of gestational weeks. CONCLUSION: Poor pregnancy outcomes vary with gestational age. Postterm pregnancy and induced labor are prognostic factors for poor outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Boy or girl?].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abortion, Legal↗
PubMed2005

[Why do some women only give birth to boys or to girls?].

BACKGROUND: There are more families with many children of only one sex than can be explained by unconditional probability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, covering more than 540,000 women with two, three and four births for the period 1967-2003, were used to study how the sex distributions of children already born affected the probability of a new birth and the sex of the next sibling. RESULTS: Women with two children of the same sex had a higher probability of having more children compared to women with two children of both sexes (RR=1.14, (1.14-1.15)). This also applied to mothers with three children (RR=1.15 (1.13-1.17)). The probability was highest for mothers with boys only. Multiple births and parity affected the probability of giving birth to a boy versus a girl, but the sex composition of already born siblings had no influence. INTERPRETATION: We have no evidence that some parents may have a probability of having a boy versus a girl that differs from the rest of the population. The fact that there are more siblings of only one sex is mainly behavioural; some mothers with only girls or only boys keep having more children in an attempt to receive a child of the opposite sex.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed2005

Serious foetal growth restriction is associated with reduced proportions of natural killer cells in decidua basalis.

Extravillous trophoblasts are major participants in placental development and remodelling of spiral arteries. Trophoblast invasion is regulated by maternal immune cells, and abnormal leucocyte subpopulation composition has been reported in implantation failure. In pre-eclampsia (PE), with or without foetal growth restriction (FGR), superficial trophoblast invasion and insufficient remodelling of spiral arteries are common findings. In the present study, we have compared spiral artery remodelling and leucocyte composition in decidual tissue from 30 cases (PE=8, FGR=5, PE + FGR=17) and 31 controls. Six histological remodelling criteria were established, and each pregnancy obtained a remodelling score. Numbers of natural killer (NK) cells (CD56+), T cells (CD3+) and activated (CD25+ or CD69+) leucocytes were determined and related to total leucocyte (CD45+) numbers in serial sections. Cases demonstrated significantly impaired spiral artery remodelling, inappropriate placental growth and reduced NK cell proportions, as compared to controls (P=0.02, P<0.001 and P=0.01, respectively). Reduced NK cell proportion was primarily found in pregnancies complicated by FGR, with or without PE, and a significant positive correlation was observed between NK cell proportion, trophoblast infiltration and placental growth. Our in vivo observations support the hypothesized association between NK cells, impaired placental development and pathogenesis of PE/FGR.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Polycystic ovarian syndrome and diabetes].

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine condition in women of fertile age. The syndrome is associated with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia and diabetes. This paper reviews the association between polycystic ovary syndrome and diabetes; implications for clinical practice are suggested. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The review is based on Medline searches, our own studies, and clinical experience. RESULTS: Polycystic ovary syndrome is present in one third of women with type 1 diabetes and in almost half of all women with type 2 diabetes. In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is considerably increased and gestational diabetes may occur in as many as 40%. In women with previous gestational diabetes, the risk of type 2 diabetes as well as polycystic ovarian syndrome is increased. INTERPRETATION: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes and should be followed up accordingly. Pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome should have an oral glucose tolerance test as soon as the pregnancy has been confirmed. The procedure should be repeated at gestational weeks 20 and 32. Treatment with metformin should be initiated in women with type 2 diabetes who want to conceive. For the same reason metformin may also be initiated in women with type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine a possible effect on labour of training the muscles of the pelvic floor during pregnancy. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Trondheim University Hospital and three outpatient physiotherapy clinics in a primary care setting. PARTICIPANTS: 301 healthy nulliparous women randomly allocated to a training group (148) or a control group (153). INTERVENTION: A structured training programme with exercises for the pelvic floor muscles between the 20th and 36th week of pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of the second stage of labour and number of deliveries lasting longer than 60 minutes of active pushing among women with spontaneous start of labour after 37 weeks of pregnancy with a singleton fetus in cephalic position. RESULTS: Women randomised to pelvic floor muscle training had a lower rate of prolonged second stage labour (24%, 95% confidence interval 16% to 33%; 22 out of 105 women were at risk (undelivered) at 60 minutes in the survival analysis) than women allocated to no training (38% (37/109), 28% to 47%). The duration of the second stage was not significantly shorter (40 minutes v 45 minutes, P = 0. 06). CONCLUSIONS: A structured training programme for the pelvic floor muscles is associated with fewer cases of active pushing in the second stage of labour lasting longer than 60 minutes.

Episiotomy↗
PubMed2002

Relationship of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in umbilical cord plasma to preeclampsia and infant birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preeclampsia influences insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), independent of its effect on birth weight. METHODS: Cord blood was collected in 12,804 consecutive deliveries. We identified 258 preeclamptic pregnancies that were subclassified as mild or severe and early or late. For comparison, 609 control pregnancies were selected. Fetal growth was expressed as the ratio between observed and expected birth weight, with adjustment for gestational age at birth. IGF-I, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 were measured in umbilical plasma. The contribution of preeclampsia and birth weight to each measured factor was assessed by multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Between mild preeclampsia and controls, there were no differences in IGF-I, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3. In severe and early onset preeclampsia, umbilical cord plasma IGF-I was approximately 50% lower, and IGFBP-1 was more than twice as high as in controls (both P <.01). At each birth weight level, IGF-I was lower and IGFBP-1 was higher in severe or early preeclampsia than among controls of similar weight. Birth weight and preeclampsia were, independent of each other, associated with IGF-I, whereas birth weight, but not preeclampsia, was associated with IGFBP-1, after adjustment for gestational age. CONCLUSION: Fetal growth restriction caused by severe or early preeclampsia is associated with lower umbilical levels of IGF-I than low birth weight caused by other conditions. Preeclampsia may contribute to the observed IGF-I reduction, either as part of the underlying causes of preeclampsia, or as a consequence of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

EFSUMB: safety tutorial: epidemiology of diagnostic ultrasound exposure during pregnancy-European committee for medical ultrasound safety (ECMUS).

The present paper summarizes some of the epidemiological studies of in utero ultrasound exposure and subsequent childhood development. Emphasis is placed on birth weight, childhood malignancies, neurological development, handedness and speech development. The epidemiological evidence does not indicate any association between diagnostic ultrasound exposure during pregnancy and reduced birth weight, childhood malignancies or neurological development. However, a statistically significant association between ultrasound and left-handedness among males has been found in three studies. Thus, there is still need for more research.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2002

Umbilical cord plasma leptin is increased in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare umbilical cord plasma leptin between infants of mothers who experienced preeclampsia and infants of control subjects and to study the relation between cord plasma leptin and infant obesity, as indicated by ponderal index. STUDY DESIGN: On the basis of a population of approximately 13,000 deliveries, we compared cord plasma leptin from preeclamptic (n = 256 women) and control pregnancies (n = 607 women) after taking the differences in gestational age and ponderal index into account. RESULTS: Cord plasma leptin increased strongly with gestational age, both in the preeclampsia group and the control subjects (P <.01), but at each gestational age the preeclampsia group had higher leptin levels than control subjects (P <.01). Adjustment for the higher ponderal index among control subjects (P <.05) did not alter the difference in leptin levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: We found higher levels of umbilical cord plasma leptin in infants of mothers who had preeclampsia (compared with infants of control subjects) after adjusting for differences in gestational age, gender, and infant ponderal index.

Adult↗