SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Gravidity”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,261 records · Page 70Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Escaping senescence: demographic data from the three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis).

Two criteria have been proposed for the demonstration of negligible senescence. These include (1) no increase in age-related mortality and (2) negligible functional impairments with age. Although researchers have suspected turtles to exhibit negligible senescence, this has been largely based on the former rather than the latter criteria for which scant evidence is available. Using a long-term study on a population of three-toed box turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) in Cole County, Missouri, I combine known minimum age ranges and reproductive evidence to demonstrate their apparent escape from senescence. During 1998 and 1999, eight females >60 years of age were found gravid. The oldest of these is estimated to be at least 65-74 years of age. Of females >60 years, the mean clutch size and the proportion gravid were greater, although not significantly different, when compared to females <60 years. These findings indicate that the reproductive function in these turtles does not become impaired with age, thus supporting the second criteria for demonstrating negligible senescence.

Aging↗

PubMed2000

Prenatal development of ovine fetus.

From 39 gravid ovine genitalia in various stages of gestation, collected from a local slaughter house in Srinagar city, 37 and 4 fetuses were obtained from single and twin pregnancies, respectively. The genitalia collected were divided into four stages of gestation as: Stage- I (30-60 days); Stage-II (61-90 days); Stage-III (91-120 days); and Stage-IV (120 days to term).Various measurements of gravid genitalia, like diameter of pregnant horn, size of ovaries, consistency of corpus luteum, volume of fetal fluids, diameter of largest cotyledon, crown anus length and length of long bones were recorded. The largest diameter of pregnant horn averaged 8.1+/-1.2, 13.9+/-0.09, 17.8+/-0.04 and 23.2+/-0.06cm at stages-I, II, III and IV, respectively. The length of ovaries recorded was 1.4+/-0.03, 1.7+/-0.06, 1.6+/-0.06 and 2.0+/-0.2cm at the four stages of gestation, respectively. The breadth of ovaries varied from 1.0+/-0.03, 1.2+/-0.03, 1.2+/-0.05 and 1.5+/-0.02cm at the four stages of gestation, respectively. The thickness of ovaries at the four stages of gestation were 0.7+/-0.02, 0.8+/-0.03, 0.8+/-0.03 and 0.9+/-0.06cm, respectively. The volume of fetal fluids at the four stages of gestation recorded was 64+/-15, 256+/-34, 287+/-25 and 502+/-29ml in allantoic fluid and 22+/-6, 128+/-50, 304+/-22 and 353+/-51ml in amniotic fluid, respectively. The mean crown anus length observed with advancing stages of gestation was 6.7+/-0.9, 10.1+/-1.3, 31.5+/-0.09 and 46+/-1.2cm, respectively. The mean observed length of Radium from Stage-I to Stage-IV were 1.6+/-0.6, 2.6+/-0.03, 5.5+/-0.2 and 8.9+/-0.03cm, respectively, while that of Tibia was 2.1+/-0.1, 3.4+/-0.4, 7.3+/-0.3 and 12+/-0.3cm, respectively.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

Disturbances of palatogenesis and their prophylaxis in animal experiments.

The goal of this study using experimental animals was to induce disturbances of palatogenesis which are comparable to human maxillary clefts. Simultaneously, an in vivo method of testing presumed antiteratogenic substances is presented. 13 gravid Wistar rats bearing 98 fetuses received 200 mg/kg of procarbazine on day 14 post conception (p. c.) to induce malformations. 7 of these gravid animals, bearing 48 fetuses, additionally received 200 mg/kg thiamine daily from day 13-19 p. c. to prevent malformations. On day 20 p. c., the fetuses were teratologically screened: all fetuses were externally examined, the skeletons of 1/3 were visualized using cartilage/bone staining methods, and the heads of 2/3 were histologically examined in 24 sequential frontal sections. At birth, the procarbazine-damaged fetuses exhibited a high rate of cleft palate, primarily involving the secondary palate (94%), which was accompanied by retardation and delayed ossification of the viscerocranium. 66% of the fetuses showed pronounced brachygenia. The disturbances of palatogenesis were frequently accompanied by disturbed odontogenesis, which chiefly manifested itself near the cleft of the frontal maxilla as a reduction in size (63%), retardation (38%) or absence (31%) of the tooth germ. In the trial group additionally treated with thiamine, the findings did not differ significantly from these. The animal model presented here proved suitable for studying palatogenesis and localization-specific testing of substances presumed to have antiteratogenic effects. A prophylactic effect of thiamine initially tested as a highly-dosed monotherapy was not verifiable.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

PubMed2000

Prior hrt use, ethnicity and mammographic density.

PURPOSE: Mammographic density has been strongly associated with breast cancer risk in several studies. To clarify possible pathogenic mechanisms underlying this relationship, we assessed factors affecting mammographic density in postmenopausal women.METHODS: Percent density (PD) was measured on pre-randomization mammograms from 425 participants in the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial; no women were currently using HRT. Trained observers used a previously validated computer-assisted thresholding technique to measure PD (ratio of dense areas to breast area) on craniocaudal films. Univariate relationships were assessed between PD and age, parity, education, history of HRT use, age at first birth, abortion history, alcohol use, serum cholesterol, physical activity, smoking, dietary fat intake, body-mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of PD (log transformed), controlling for confounders.RESULTS: PD ranged from 0-60% with mean 8%. Age, gravidity, BMI, and WHR were negatively associated with PD. Mean PD in the highest tertiles of BMI and WHR was nearly half that in the lowest. Ethnicity (50% white, 28% black, and 19% Hispanic) and hysterectomy status (50% had intact uterus) were unassociated with PD. Controlling for age, BMI, WHR, smoking, hysterectomy status, prior HRT, and nulliparity, mean PD differed significantly by ethnicity, with black women having highest PD. However, the effect of prior HRT use differed by uterine status. In women with uteri intact, ethnicity, but not prior HRT use, was related to PD after controlling for age, BMI, and WHR. In hysterectomized women, ethnicity was unrelated to PD, while previous HRT was associated with lower PD.CONCLUSIONS: Gravidity, ethnicity and body shape and size are associated with mammographic density in postmenopausal women. Previous hormone use predicts lower PD, but only among hysterectomized women. This may be due to the higher frequency of oophorectomies in this group, which may lower PD and increase likelihood of HRT use. Planned analyses of entire sample of 1050 women will clarify the effect of these and other factors on density, and on density change in followup mammograms.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A placebo-controlled, blinded comparison between betamethasone and dexamethasone to enhance lung maturation in the fetal mouse.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of betamethasone and dexamethasone used to enhance lung maturity of the fetal mouse. METHODS: Adult CD-1 mice were administered a single dose of either a placebo or different strengths of betamethasone (0.01, 0.025, or 0.10 mg) or dexamethasone (0.025 or 0.10 mg) on day 14.0 (74%) of gestation. The eight gravid mice in each treatment cohort were killed on day 16.5 to assess fetal lung maturity (histologic changes and respiratory patterns) in a blinded manner. Another ten gravid mice in each treatment group were allowed to deliver spontaneously to assess perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with the effects from placebo exposure, the 0.10-mg doses of both betamethasone and dexamethasone demonstrated enhanced histologic maturational changes and improved neonatal respiratory efforts. Betamethasone was twofold to threefold more potent than dexamethasone. The fetal crown-rump lengths and the fetal body, lung, and heart weights were indistinguishable among the three treatment groups. Compared with the fetal liver weight in the placebo group (55.0 +/- 2.2 mg), the liver was less heavy after exposure to 0.10 mg of betamethasone (45.6 +/- 2.0 mg; P < .005), 0.025 mg of dexamethasone (47.6 +/- 1.7 mg; P < .02), or 0.10 mg of dexamethasone (43.8 +/- 1.5 mg; P < .001). No significant differences were observed between the 0.10-mg treatments of either corticosteroid and placebo for the duration of gestation, litter size, survival rate, birth weights, or weight gains to postnatal day 26. CONCLUSION: A single subcutaneous dose of 0.10 mg of betamethasone was twofold to threefold more potent than dexamethasone in accelerating fetal lung maturity without impairing fetal survival or weight gain. The unexpected finding of a reduced fetal liver weight with either corticosteroid warrants clinical correlation.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Prevalence and predictors of low sexual assertiveness

Background: Personal beliefs about sexual attitudes and rights likely affect reproductive health behaviors. We examined the prevalence and predictors of low sexual assertiveness (SA) among sexually active females across three age groups (14-17 yo, 18-21 yo, and 22-26 yo).Methods: 904 white, black, and Mexican-American females presenting at community-based family planning clinics in Southeast Texas between April 1997 and February 1998 completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire that assessed demographic and reproductive characteristics, dating behaviors, mental health measures and occurrence of physical and sexual assault. Subjects also completed a sexual assertiveness scale that assessed one's right to make various reproductive health decisions and sexual communications to partners. A total SA score was obtained by summing the 13 items; scores were then dichotomized so those scoring in the lowest quartile could be compared to the others. Data were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression stratified by age group (244 aged 14-17; 392 aged 18-21; and 268 aged 22-26).Results: 27% of subjects aged 14-17, 22% aged 18-21, and 17% aged 22-26 were identified as having low SA. For 14-17 years olds, logistic regression analyses revealed that those with low SA as compared to adequate SA were significantly more likely to be Mexican American (OR = 4.8) or black (OR = 3.1) than white, to have hand </= 1 dating partner in the last 12 months (OR = 1.8), and to report inconsistent birth control in last 12 months (OR = 2.0). Among 18-21 years olds, low (SA) was related to reporting forced sexual contact in the last 12 months (OR = 5.2), moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (OR = 3. 0), no history of physical abuse (OR = 2.5), believing that your partner is monogomous (OR = 2.6), married or living with a male partner (OR = 2.1), </= 3 lifetime sexual partners (OR = 1.8), not using alcohol before sex (OR = 1.8), and gravidity >/= 1 (OR = 1.8). Among 22-26 years olds, low SA was associated with gravidity >/= 1 (OR = 2.8), being a high school dropout (OR = 2.1), and inconsistent birth control use in the last 12 months (OR = 1.9).Conclusions: These data suggest that 1 in 4 sexually active women report low SA and for two age groups these attitudes are associated with inconsistent contraception. Among 18-21 years olds, low SA is also associated with forced sexual contact and depressive symptoms. Thus, efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy and unwanted sexual contact may be more effective if individual levels of SA are taken into account.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

[Uterine rupture of the unscarred uterus. About 28 cases].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the etiologic factors explaining the appearance of uterine rupture on unscarred gravid uterus and to value the maternal and foetal prognosis of this complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors report a study of 28 cases of uterine rupture on unscarred gravid uterus, recorded between January 1989 and December 1997, at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. RESULTS: Out of the 72283 deliveries during the study period, there were 28 ruptured uteri of unscarred uterus giving a hospital incidence of one in 2581 deliveries. Multiparity, neglected labour dystocia and obstetric procedure were the common etiologic factors accused in the occurring of this complication. To be added to these factors: the low socio-economic status of the patients and lack of antenatal care. The surgical management was conservative (repair) in 19 cases (67.9%); hysterectomy was indicated in nine cases (32.1%). Maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality were important: we deplore two maternal deaths (7.1%) and seven fetal deaths (24.1%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Uterine rupture on unscarred uterus is a relatively rare complication of the pregnancy. However, its incidence remains high in developing countries. Its occurrence is significantly associated with grandmultiparity, lack of antenatal care and low socio-economic status of the patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Endocrine-mediated effects of UV-A irradiation on grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) reproduction.

Although much is known regarding photoperiodic effects on crustacean egg production, the effects of ultraviolet (UV) light on reproduction has not been investigated. Likewise, little is known concerning the interaction between UV and xenobiotic exposure on crustacean reproductive cycles. In this study, male and female grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, were exposed to sublethal concentrations of endosulfan (200 ng/l and 400 ng/l ES) under both white fluorescent (WF) and UV-A (315-400 nm) light conditions for 50 days in laboratory bioassays. Female endocrine (vitellogenin, ecdysteroids, and cholesterol), reproductive (percent gravid, clutch size), and embryo (days to hatch, hatching success, and hatching survival) responses were assessed. UV-exposure alone caused a significant (>4-fold) increase in total Palaemonetes pugio female egg production over the course of 50 days. Exposure to ES and UV significantly lowered the percentage of gravid females relative to UV controls, whereas ES-exposed shrimp under WF lighting did not exhibit these trends. Although higher vitellogenin concentrations and lower ecdysteroid titers were correlated with increased female egg production, cholesterol titers only exhibited a dose-dependent change when exposed to ES. Embryos from females exposed to UV had significantly lower ecdysteroid titers and shorter hatching times but there were no differences in embryo vitellogenin concentrations, hatching success, or hatching survival. These results indicate that UV-A exposure has a pronounced effect on grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) reproduction and is likely mediated through 5-hydroxytrptamine (5-HT)-related neuroendocrine pathways. The implications for decapod aquaculture and evaluating chronic contaminant effects are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Racial differences among reasons for participating in research of pregnancy outcomes: the right from the start experience.

BACKGROUND: Historically, racial minorities and women are less likely to participate in medical research than are whites and men. Although much is known about barriers to enrollment for those who decline to participate, much less is known about factors that motivate those who choose to enroll. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the reasons for participation in pregnancy outcomes research and determines whether these reasons varied by race. METHODS: Right From The Start is an ongoing prospective cohort study. Pregnant women aged >or=18 years, who enrolled in and completed the study between December 2000 and June 2003, were interviewed by telephone at the conclusion of their participation and asked about motivators for enrolling. Univariate and bivariate statistics were used to determine the relationship between self-identified race and main reason for participating in the study. Logistic regression was used to adjust for the influence of age, gravidity, education, marital status, and income. RESULTS: A total of 1106 women were interviewed: 735 (66.5%) whites; 285 (25.8%) blacks; 30 (2.7%) Hispanics; and 56 (5.1%) others (Asians, Pacific Islanders). Black women listed a free ultrasound (73/247, 29.6%), contribution to medical knowledge (60/247, 24.3%), wanting to learn about pregnancy health (46/247, 18.6%), and concern about pregnancy health (30.247, 12.1%) as their main reason for participation. Black women were significantly less likely than white women to cite contribution to medical knowledge as the main reason for participation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.36-0.63). Blacks were more likely than whites to list wanting to learn about pregnancy health (OR = 3.12; 95% CI, 1.88-5.55) or concern about pregnancy health (OR = 3.0; 95% CI, 1.56-5.94), even after adjusting for age, gravidity, pregnancy loss, education, marital status, and income. CONCLUSIONS: Access to free pregnancy ultrasounds and contribution to medical knowledge were important motivators for both white and black women. However, whereas black women were more likely to report concerns about pregnancy health or pregnancy health education as the main reason for participation, white women were more likely to report a desire to contribute to medical knowledge.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Onchocerciasis in British cattle: a study of Onchocerca gutturosa and O. lienalis in North Wales.

Onchocerca gutturosa and O. lienalis infections in British cattle were studied by examination of cattle post-mortem originating from North Wales and Cheshire (north west England). In 463 adult animals, the microfilarial (mf) prevalence was 28.5%. In 95.3% of the mf infected animals, gravid worms could not be found at either the ligamentum nuchae or the gastro-splenic omentum. Dermal mf at the head were identified as O. gutturosa on the basis of their highly significant association with the presence of gravid O. gutturosa at the ligamentum nuchae, which were found in only 3.2% of cattle. Mfs were isolated from different skin sites and from adult worms and a minimum of 10 mfs from each isolate were examined for width and acid phosphatase (AP) staining pattern. The width of O. gutturosa dermal mf was less than 4 micron (4 isolations), narrower than that of putative O. lienalis mf isolated from umbilical skin of cattle without evidence of O. gutturosa, which were in 20/22 isolations greater than 4 micron wide. The dermal mf were also distinguished on the basis of different AP staining patterns which, for each species, correlated closely with that of hatched intrauterine mf from their respective adult female worms. Based on the criteria of morphology and AP staining patterns the mf species prevalences in the survey population were estimated as O. lienalis 24.1% and O. gutturosa 2.2%, with a further 2.2% of cattle infected with both species. The results indicate that the predilection site of adult O. lienalis is not the gastro-splenic omentum. In North Wales, the distribution of the two species was different; O. lienalis was widely distributed in all cattle rearing areas both lowland and upland, whereas O. gutturosa was largely restricted to valleys close to major rivers.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1990

Establishment, development and fecundity of Taenia crassiceps in the intestine of prednisolone-treated Mongolian gerbils and inbred mice.

Worm establishment, development and fecundity of Taenia crassiceps in the intestine of prednisolone (PTBA)-treated, 15- and 4-week-old Mongolian gerbils and 9-week-old inbred mice of 4 strains (AKR/J, BALB/cAn, B10D2/oSn and C57BL/KsJ) were investigated following oral administration of metacestodes. Gerbils were divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each according to the host age and commencement day of PTBA-treatment (day -13, -7 or 0 relative to infection). Worm recovery from the intestine on day 35 postinfection was not affected by host age, but fewer worms were recovered the earlier the commencement of PTBA-treatment. Worm size, determined by wet weight, total length and proglottis number, correlated inversely with worm burden, suggesting they were affected by the crowding effect. Proglottides were released normally in the faeces but were markedly depressed in all groups except for that of young gerbils. Furthermore, egg production and its development in gravid proglottides were markedly depressed in all groups. In PTBA-treated mice of 4 strains, sexually mature but not gravid worms were recovered from all mice of the AKR/J strain on days 20-32 postinfection, but none or few worms from the intestine of the others. PTBA-treatment did not inhibit all protective host defence mechanism(s) in the unnatural or alternative rodent definitive host of T. crassiceps.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Colonization and establishment of Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) in an isolated English river.

The successful colonization, establishment and spread of Pomphorhynchus laevis in a small, isolated, Devon river 128 km from the parasite's nearest focus in Dorset was followed over 11 years from 1985. The parasite was first detected in Anguilla anguilla and Platichthys flesus in 1988: by 1995 it had attained prevalence levels of 22.6% in A. anguilla and 43.6% in P. flesus and also occurred in 100% Salmo trutta, 50% Cottus gobio and Noemacheilus barbatulus. As judged by prevalence, abundance, proportion of females gravid and weight of gravid females, S. trutta was the preferred definitive host although C. gobio was a suitable host and may play a role in cycling the parasite: the other three species were unsuitable hosts. The intermediate host was the freshwater Gammarus pulex: the euryhaline G. zaddachi was not infected. On biological grounds, the P. laevis could be assigned to the English freshwater strain and was almost certainly introduced to the river by anthropochore stocking of S. trutta from a Dorset hatchery. The findings demonstrate conclusively that the English strain of P. laevis can colonize and establish in a new locality from which Leuciscus cephalus and Barbus barbus, its normal preferred hosts, are absent and use S. trutta instead. The results also confirm that P. laevis is a poor natural colonizer and appears always to be introduced to new localities by anthropochore transfers of fish. The implications of these conclusions for understanding the present distribution of P. laevis are discussed and it is considered that they provide direct evidence in support of the hypothesis that P. laevis was introduced to Ireland from England and subsequently adapted to use of S. trutta and G. duebeni there.

Acanthocephala↗

PubMed1996

Establishment, survival and site selection of the cestode Eubothrium crassum in brown trout, Salmo trutta.

Population dynamics, site selection, growth and maturation of the cestode Eubothrium crassum in a natural population of Salmo trutta in a small lake were studied over a period of 1 year, the life-span of a cohort in fish. Infection of fish commenced in spring but peaked in July. Small, plerocerciform parasites initially located in the intestine, but then some moved into the pyloric caecae whilst others, the majority in heavy infections, were lost from the fish causing a fall in abundance from 460 to 10 over 2 months. This mortality was density dependent. Initially, parasites were distributed more evenly throughout the caecae but as time increased larger parasites were found preferentially in the anterior caecae before moving back into the intestine when gravid, preparatory to being lost in the following summer. Only a small proportion of the infrapopulation became gravid. Although the proportion of caecae occupied was initially density dependent, by the time of maturation several preferred anterior caecae remained unoccupied and mean intensity always exceeded unity. Neither growth nor maturation was affected by intraspecific competition. It was concluded that caecal availability did not set a limit or threshold of infrapopulation density, and in this respect E. crassum-S. trutta differed from some acanthocephalan-fish systems but was similar to others. Heavy infection followed by heavy mortality appeared to be typical of this parasite-host system in other localities, and of several other cestode-fish systems. The implications of this for population regulation are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Prevalence of HIV, syphilis and genital chlamydial infection among women in north-west Ethiopia.

The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among women visiting antenatal (ANC) and gynaecological clinics in Gondar, north-west Ethiopia, was investigated. Between April and August 1995, 728 women consented to enter the study. Prevalence rates were 5.9% (41/693) for chlamydial antigen in cervix, 18.8% (113/600) for syphilis (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay [TPHA]) and 25.3% (150/593) for HIV. Active syphilis (RPR)+, TPHA+ was detected in 74% (44/597). HIV infection rate was higher among women with higher age of first marriage and low gravidity. It was significantly associated with young age, urban residence, and presence of genital ulcer (odds ratio [OR] = 6.3), and lymphadenopathy (OR = 2.8) on examination. Women seropositive for syphilis had married at an earlier age, were significantly older and had changed husbands. Low gravidity and age < 30 were independently significant risk factors for cervical chlamydial antigen positivity which was predominantly asymptomatic. Significant association was observed between HIV infection and syphilis (OR = 2.6). Active syphilis was associated with chlamydial (OR = 3.4) and HIV infection (OR = 4.1). The rate of 23.4% and 15.1% of HIV seropositivity among ANC attenders and rural women respectively is an indicator of the rapid progression of the HIV epidemic in the area.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Effect of conspecific and heterospecific feces on foraging and oviposition of two predatory ladybirds: role of fecal cues in predator avoidance.

Growing evidence suggests a flow of chemical information from higher to lower trophic levels that affects foraging and oviposition of 'prey' in response to potential risks from predators. This was investigated in two species of ladybird predators of aphid, Harmonia axyridis and Propylea japonica. H. axyridis is known to be the stronger intraguild predator and P. japonica to be the more frequent intraguild prey in interactions of these two species. These ladybirds share aphid prey on mugworts, hibiscus, and Italian ryegrasses in fields of northern Japan but largely avoid each other on the same plant. Fecal cues of these ladybird predators were found to contribute in their assessment of predation risk from conspecific and heterospecific competitors in common habitats. Gravid females of H. axyridis reduced rates of feeding and oviposition when exposed to feces of conspecifics, but not when exposed to feces of P. japonica. In contrast, gravid females of P. japonica reduced feeding and oviposition when exposed to feces of both H. axyridis and its own species. Females of both ladybird species exhibited similar behavior in response to water extracts of feces. For P. japonica, the influence of heterospecific feces was greater than that of conspecific feces. Our results demonstrate that feces of ladybirds contain odors that have the potential to deter the feeding and oviposition activities of conspecific as well as heterospecific ladybirds. Such deterrence allows these insects to avoid predation risk. Differences in responses of the two predators are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The genus Biuterina Fuhrmann, 1902 (Cestoda, Paruterinidae) in the Old World: redescriptions of three species from Palaearctic Passeriformes.

The syntypes of Biuterina passerina Fuhrmann, 1908 from Alauda arvensis and Galerida cristata (Passeriformes, Alaudidae) from an unknown locality are redescribed. B. fuhrmanni Schmelz, 1941 is redescribed on the basis of its syntypes from Emberiza aureola from China; its type-material contains, in addition to a scolex and pre-gravid and gravid fragments of Biuterina, fragments of mature proglottides from a dilepidid cestode, which were erroneously used in the original description. Specimens, which correspond morphologically to B. clerci Spasskii, 1946, from Miliaria calandra, E. citrinella and E. cirlus from Bulgaria and from E. citrinella from the Czech Republic, are studied. The synonymy of B. clerci with B. passerina is rejected; however, it is recognised as a synonym of B. fuhrmanni. Available data suggest that B. passerina is a specific parasite of birds of the family Alaudidae, while B. fuhrmanni is specific to the Emberizidae. B. collurionis Matevosyan, 1950 is considered a species inquirenda, pending confirmation of apparent differences from B. passerina and B. fuhrmanni based on further material. Biuterina cordifera Murai & Sulgostowska, 1983 is redescribed on the basis of specimens, previously identified by Rysavý (1965) as B. triangula (Krabbe, 1869), from Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Muscicapidae, Sylviinae) in the Czech Republic (new geographical record) and from Erithacus megarhynchos (Muscicapidae, Turdinae) in Bulgaria (new host and geographical records).

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Does the first pregnancy precipitate age-related fat deposition?

Excessive accumulation of fat in women of childbearing age is a concern, since obesity is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Deposition of fat during pregnancy, which is not metabolized during lactation, may contribute. However, the individual effects of age and gravidity on fat accumulation have not been disentangled. Based on multiple linear regression analysis of anthropometric data from 1113 pregnant women from Zimbabwe, we found evidence to suggest that fat deposition is an effect of age rather than gravidity that is precipitated by the first pregnancy.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1993

Expression of the three endothelin genes and plasma levels of endothelin in pre-eclamptic and normal gestations.

1. Maternal vasoconstriction and fetal growth retardation are part of the syndrome of pre-eclampsia and are thought to be related to placental insufficiency. There is evidence to suggest that the powerfully vasoactive endothelin peptides might be involved in the pathogenesis. 2. The production of endothelins appears to be regulated mainly by modulation of mRNA levels, and they are thought to exert their effects locally, rather than systemically. Hence, the measurement of endothelin mRNA levels in tissues would be expected to reflect the activity of the endothelin systems. 3. RNAase protection assays, using specific antisense probes capable of distinguishing between the endothelin mRNA isoforms, have been used to examine the expression of the three endothelin genes in placental villous tissue, amniotic membrane and myometrium. Samples were taken from 15 pre-eclamptic women and from 14 women with normal gestations. Myometrium was taken at hysterectomy from five non-pregnant women as an additional control. Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive endothelin [endothelin-1, endothelin-2 and big endothelin (not distinguished)] were measured in samples taken concurrently from uterine vein and peripheral blood during surgery in ten patients. 4. The level of endothelin-1 mRNA in placental villous tissue was significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women (32 weeks gestation) than in control subjects (38 weeks gestation) (1.85 +/- 0.26 versus 0.52 +/- 0.09 arbitrary units, means +/- SEM, P < 0.001) and in gravid than in non-gravid myometrium (P < 0.001). Endothelin-2 was not expressed in villous tissue, but was expressed in amniotic membrane and myometrium, with relatively little difference between pre-eclamptic and control groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗