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At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Regulation of maternal insulin-like growth factor I by placental growth hormone in pregnancy. Possible action of maternal IGF-I on fetal growth.

In normal and in pathological human pregnancies, a specific placental growth hormone variant, rather than placental lactogen, substitutes for the suppressed pituitary GH to stimulate the maternal insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). In pathological pregnancies with disorders of the feto-placental unit, low levels of placental GH hormone result in relatively low levels of maternal IGF-I. In normal pregnancies, the baby birth weight is positively correlated with maternal IGF-I values.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2002

Coordination of maternal directives with preschoolers' behavior: influence of maternal coordination training on dyadic activity and child compliance.

Investigated the impact of a specific intervention on child cooperation. The intervention was designed to increase maternal coordination with child behavior. Mothers assigned to the experimental condition were instructed on how to modulate the specificity of directives to their preschooler as a function of the child's moment-to-moment behavior. Mothers assigned to the control condition received no such training. Degree of maternal coordination was then assessed. Child compliance during a pick-up task was also assessed. Compared to controls, experimental mothers had significantly higher scores on several measures of maternal coordination and experimental children were significantly more compliant. The relation between parental coordination and child socialization is discussed.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2000

Pro-opiomelanocortin in human pregnancy: evolution of maternal plasma levels, concentrations in cord blood, amniotic fluid and at the feto-maternal interface.

OBJECTIVE: The human placenta normally expresses the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. The pattern and secretory kinetics of POMC and/or POMC-derived peptides by the placenta during gestation is still debated. We recently demonstrated that full length POMC was a normal product of the human placenta. The aim of our study was to establish its normal secretory kinetics and to explore its physiological relevance. DESIGN: In a prospective, longitudinal study, thirty normal pregnant women had monthly measurements of plasma POMC. In a cross-sectional study of 128 healthy pregnant women, plasma POMC and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) were concomitantly measured to assess their correlation. Finally, POMC levels were assessed in venous and arterial cord blood samples, in amniotic fluid and in retroplacental blood. METHODS: Plasma POMC was measured by a specific IRMA in unextracted blood or biological fluid. RESULTS: Plasma POMC became detectable by the 8th week of pregnancy and reached its maximum at around the 20th week, remaining stable thereafter. The relationship between POMC and gestation time (weeks) best fitted with a third degree polynomia curve. A significant negative correlation (P=0.01) was observed between plasma levels of POMC and hCG after adjustment for gestation time to take into account the dependence of both hormones on this parameter. POMC was not secreted into the fetal circulation at term, but was present in very high levels in amniotic fluid. The highest levels of POMC were present in the retroplacental blood where the values were 35 times higher than in maternal blood; by comparison, corticotrophin releasing hormone and ACTH values in this compartment were twice or equal to those in the maternal blood. CONCLUSION: Placental POMC secretion increases during the first half of pregnancy and reaches a plateau from the 20th week to delivery. The inverse correlation between POMC and hCG plasma levels, and very high POMC levels at the feto-maternal interface suggest a physiological role for this precursor during pregnancy.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1987

A study of maternal ECG characteristics before and during intravenous tocolysis with beta-sympathicomimetics. Effects of i.v. tocolysis on maternal ECG characteristics.

Severe maternal complications during beta-mimetic therapy have been reported. In a study of maternal complications related to intravenous tocolysis, which covering a period of 2 years, we paid special attention to the maternal ECG before and during treatment. There was a high prevalence of pretreatment ECG changes: tachycardia (23.6%), disorders of impulse conduction (43.6%), ST-depression (14.5%) and disorders of repolarization (43.6%). During intravenous beta-mimetic therapy there was an increase in the prevalence of tachycardia, prolonged QT-time and disorders of repolarization. We also studied the course in time of the different ECG characteristics during treatment. With regard to the ST-depression, a possible physiological adaptation to the beta-mimetic drug is described. We could not find this possible adaptation with regard to the other ECG characteristics. None of the women in the studied group showed clinical signs of myocardial ischemia, notwithstanding the high prevalence of ECG changes. We conclude that the ECG criteria for discontinuation of tocolytic therapy need re-evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Levels of L-T3 in maternal and foetal compartments following experimental modifications of the maternal thyroid state in rats.

In pregnant female rats, concentrations of tri-iodo-L-thyronine in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and placental tissue after 15, 18 and 20 days of gestation were measured by homologous radioimmune-analysis. The three experimental groups of pregnant rats were: 1) euthyroid (or control), 2) hypothyroid, provoked by iodine-deficient diet for two months before conception and during gestation, 3) hyperthyroid, provoked by subcutaneous injections of L-thyroxine during gestation. Maternal serum L-T3 was measured in order to check the thyroid state. Significant decreases in L-T3 concentrations were found at all stages of gestation in the amniotic fluid of hypothyroid group. The hormonal concentrations in the placental tissues were correlated with the different treatments (decreased in hypothyroid state and increased in hyperthyroid state). This could suggest that the transfer of maternal iodothyronines to the foetus influences its foetal thyroid development.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1991

Influence of laboratory test volume and geographic location on maternal alpha-fetoprotein results. Information from the College of American Pathologists Maternal alpha-fetoprotein Survey.

Using 1989 College of American Pathologists Maternal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Survey data, we found virtually no association between a laboratory's AFP test volume and the reliability of reported multiples of the median uncorrected for maternal weight, race, or diabetes. We also found no differences in AFP gestational age-specific medians across geographic regions of the United States. We did find that clinically important adjustments for maternal weight, race, and diabetes were made more frequently by laboratories with higher clinical AFP test volumes. Consequently, we believe that a minimum AFP test volume for satisfactory performance of AFP testing, as proposed by several professional organizations, cannot be justified on inability of laboratories with low AFP test volumes to quantify AFP in clinical specimens or calculated uncorrected multiples of the medians accurately. However, high-volume laboratories enhance clinical utility of the reported AFP results by making clinically important adjustments of their reported multiples of the medians, and they tend to provide more accurate clinical interpretations. Therefore, we recommend that efforts to improve the quality of AFP testing nationally should focus on improving the ability of laboratories to provide appropriate adjustments to and clinical interpretation of their AFP results, in addition to more traditional efforts directed toward quality control of the analytical aspects of the AFP assay.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed1984

The effect of maternal diet on maternal and fetal hepatic and brown adipose tissue lipogenesis and blood and tissue metabolites.

Both starvation of and feeding a high linoleic acid content diet to rats during late pregnancy resulted in (relative to stock diet fed controls) a decrease in maternal hepatic glycogen content and lipogenesis, reduced blood glucose levels and an increase in blood ketone levels whereas only fat feeding caused an increase in blood triglyceride levels and only starvation resulted in a decrease in the amount of brown adipose tissue. Maternal starvation resulted in decreased fetal body, liver and brown adipose tissue weights, diminished liver and brown adipose glycogen content and lipogenesis and lowered blood glucose levels. Both maternal fat feeding and starvation caused triglyceride accumulation in fetal liver, elevated blood ketone levels and an increased proportion of fetal liver and carcass fatty acids accounted for by linoleic acid.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Transcranial assessment of maternal cerebral blood flow velocity in normal vs. hypertensive states. Variations with maternal posture.

This study compared the effect of a change in maternal posture on maternal cerebral blood flow velocity assessed transcranially in normal vs. various hypertensive groups. Ten normotensive, 10 preeclamptic and 10 chronically hypertensive patients had maternal middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity assessed in three positions--left lateral decubitus, supine and sitting upright--using 2-mHz transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Comparison was then made of the effect of a change in posture on cerebral blood flow velocity in each group using analysis of variance with Student's t test for statistical significance. Normotensive and chronically hypertensive women showed minimal changes in MCA blood flow velocity, while preeclamptic women showed a 30% rise in all aspects of MCA blood flow velocity from the left lateral decubitus to sitting up. In preeclamptic women, MCA blood flow velocity, which showed a significant rise with changes in posture, was not accompanied by significant changes in blood pressure and so is not a secondary response to a change in cardiac output but may be a primary effect of local circulatory changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Serum immunoglobulin concentrations after feeding maternal colostrum or maternal colostrum plus colostral supplement to dairy calves.

Maternal colostrum or maternal colostrum plus colostral supplement, composed of a blend of lyophilized colostrum and dried whey, was fed to 32 Holstein calves as soon as possible after birth (mean +/- SEM = 2.0 +/- 0.2 hours) and, again, 12 hours later. Mean immunoglobulin concentration in colostrum was 59.2 mg/ml; mean immunoglobulin fraction in supplement was 11.4%. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, and at 28 and 56 days. Hour/treatment interactions were significant for total immunoglobulin, IgG1, and IgM concentrations. Immunoglobulin concentrations were highest at 12 hours (total immunoglobulin, IgG1, IgM) or 24 hours (IgG2) in calves fed colostrum plus supplement, whereas all immunoglobulin concentrations were highest at 24 hours in calves fed maternal colostrum only. Peak mean immunoglobulin concentrations did not differ between treatments. Supplementation of colostrum did not increase peak mean serum immunoglobulin concentration, but did alter the serum concentration-time profile from 12 to 72 hours after birth.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1997

The effect of chorionic villus sampling on the number of fetal cells isolated from maternal blood and on maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Fetal cells are present in the circulation of pregnant women and can be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and magnetic cell sorting. In the present study, maternal cell preparations were depleted for CD45- and CD14-positive cells and enriched for CD71-positive cells. The number of fetal nucleated cells was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization for X and Y chromosomes. Analysis of maternal blood samples taken before and after transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA-CVS) showed an increase in the number of fetal cells in 10 out of 19 male pregnancies after the invasive procedure. This cellular transfusion was found to correlate with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. TA-CVS-induced cellular transfusion may form a good in vivo system to optimize fetal cell isolation procedures and to study fetal cell dynamics and characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Maternal mortality and the problem of accessibility to obstetric care; the strategy of maternity waiting homes.

One of the major causes of maternal mortality is the distance and consequent delay in treatment of childbirth complications. Some developing countries are attempting to reduce delays in treatment by moving women at risk into maternity waiting homes (MWHs), located near a hospital, a few days prior to the date of confinement. This paper illustrates some typical examples of MWHs in different countries. The approach of MWHs is appropriate in some settings but it requires a high degree of coordination between peripheral prenatal care services and second and third level health care facilities. This study discusses some of the issues related to the successful functioning of MWHs, and provides an analytical framework for the planning, management and evaluation of these facilities.

Case Management↗
PubMed2002

Decisions about amniocentesis by advanced maternal age patients following maternal serum screening may not always correlate clinically with screening results: need for improvement in informed consent process.

We evaluated the prenatal diagnosis utilization patterns of advanced maternal age (AMA) patients who underwent serum screening to assess how screening results correlated with their decisions regarding amniocentesis. A 6-year review (1994-1999) of laboratory records identified 2,456 AMA patients who underwent multiple-marker serum screening. The relationship between screening results and patients' decisions on whether or not to undergo amniocentesis was assessed. Among the 841 AMA patients with positive screens, more than half (52%) declined amniocentesis. Of the 1,615 patients with negative serum screening results, 208 (13%) opted for amniocentesis. We concluded that decisions by AMA patients regarding amniocentesis may not always correlate clinically with maternal serum screening results. Possible explanations, including how the state of informed consent may or may not contribute to these decisions, are discussed. It is suggested that understanding the reasons for these decisions may identify opportunities for improving service delivery to all pregnant patients considering prenatal testing. Use of a questionnaire is proposed as one mechanism for gaining a clearer understanding of the possible factors contributing to AMA patient decisions.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effects of a maternity waiting home on adverse maternal outcomes and the validity of antenatal risk screening.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a maternity waiting home (MWH) on adverse maternal outcomes and the validity of antenatal risk criteria in predicting dystocia. METHOD: A hospital-based cohort study was conducted at a district hospital in Zimbabwe. Information on the presence of antenatal risk factors, stay at an MWH, and mode and outcome of delivery was collected for each woman delivering at the hospital during 1989-1991. RESULTS: The risk of obstructed labor was 16 times higher for those not attending an MWH (n = 2915) than for those who did attend an MWH (n = 1573) (1 vs. 0.06%, P < 0.005). Among the non-users, 0.3% suffered a ruptured uterus compared with none of the MWH users. The presence of any one of the antenatal risk criteria used in Zimbabwe had a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 51% and positive predictive value of 25% for predicting dystocia. CONCLUSION: MWHs and antenatal risk screening are policy options for safe motherhood programs in settings where emergency obstetric services are not easily accessible.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2000

Fluctuation of maternal and fetal free extracellular circulatory DNA in maternal plasma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether concentrations of free extracellular fetal circulatory DNA in maternal plasma are stable or fluctuate. METHODS: Consecutive blood samples were drawn from 13 healthy nonpregnant volunteers and from 16 healthy pregnant women over 3 days. DNA was isolated from the plasma fraction and quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: In nonpregnant controls the total amount of cell free DNA fluctuated by an average of 13.5-fold. In samples obtained from pregnant women the amount of maternal cell free DNA varied by an average of 21.5-fold. Because ten of those women were pregnant with male fetuses, the concentration of free fetal DNA in these cases was determined by a real-time PCR assay for the Y chromosome. The mean variation in free fetal DNA levels in male fetuses was 2.2-fold. CONCLUSION: The degree of variation in free fetal DNA concentrations observed in this study was similar to published values, so these results imply that care should be exercised when considering quantitation of this fetal material for potential diagnostic or screening purposes.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Maternal IgG1 and IgA antibody to V3 loop consensus sequence and maternal-infant HIV-1 transmission.

Maternal-infant transmission of HIV-1 occurs in 13-40% of pregnancies. Studies on transmission of maternal immunity to HIV antigens have used antigens from viruses not representative of clinical isolates and have been conflicting. Using a consensus peptide sequence based on HIV isolates found in Haiti, we found that Haitian mothers who transmitted infection to their offspring had significantly higher mean concentrations of IgG1 antibodies to the V3 loop of the primary neutralising domain of the viral envelope (gp 160) than non-transmitters (p = 0.02). Concentrations of IgA antibody to this domain were similar in transmitters and non-transmitters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

After graduation, what? An analysis of the job placements of graduates of public health maternal and child health training programs. Project of the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health.

OBJECTIVES: In 1995, the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH) decided that information about the employment status of program graduates was essential to attempts to improve MCH curricula. METHOD: ATMCH requested information from 13 MCH programs in schools of public health funded by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and 12 provided information about their master's degree graduates in the 1990-1994 period, including the year of graduation, degree, Bureau traineeship support, position held, and employing agency. RESULTS: The total number of graduates was 742. Four programs averaged less than 8 graduates per year (small); six, 10-16 (midsize); and two more than 22 (large). More than 90% of graduates received a M.P.H. In the 10 programs that provided data on Bureau support, 46% received traineeship support from the Bureau. Midsize programs had the largest percentage of graduates receiving traineeship support. Overall, 45% of graduates were in administrative positions, 32% were involved in patient care, 20% were in policy-analytic positions, and 3% in other positions. Forty-seven percent of program graduates entered into or continued in community-based agencies, 18% in government agencies, 17% in academic or research agencies, and 18% in other agencies. Program size was significantly associated with both position and the agency in which the graduate was employed. Bureau traineeship support was associated with employing agency. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests the need for changes in MCH curricula, enhanced education opportunities in specialty skill areas, and an ongoing survey of graduates of MCH programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Peripeduncular nucleus lesions in the rat: I. Effects on maternal aggression, lactation, and maternal behavior during pre- and postpartum periods.

Bilateral peripeduncular (PPN) lesions made on the seventh postpartum day (L7) with either radiofrequency (RF) current or N-methyl-d,l-aspartic acid (NMDA)/phosphate buffered saline (PBS) reduced maternal aggression (MA) and partially inhibited lactation without producing significant deficits in other items of maternal behavior (MB). RF-PPN lesions did not interfere with prolactin secretion, which suggests that there was deficient oxytocinergic activity. The deficit in MA was not due to interruption of afferent suckling input to the PPN: either thelectomizing females (day L6) or producing bilateral knifecuts in the mesencephalon (placed caudal to the level of the PPN; Day L7) had no effect on MA, but both procedures impaired lactation. Deficits in MA produced by RF-PPN lesions developed gradually between Days L4 and L7; lesions made either prepartum or on Day L1 did not impair MA or MB. Deficits in lactation first appeared after RF-PPN lesions on Day L1.

Aggression↗