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PubMed2001

Seasonal reproduction and host infestation rates for nycteribiids of the large bentwing bat.

Large numbers of the nycteribiid species Nycteribia parilis vicaria Maa, Penicillidia (Penicillidia) oceanica Bigot and Penicillidia (Penicillidia) Maa (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) were collected from the bat Miniopterus schreibersii Kuhl (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) during a study on this bat's population genetics conducted largely in southern Australia. Bats were trapped in all seasons and at a number of locations throughout the ranges of the nycteribiids. Nycteribia parilis vicaria was the most common species captured. Gravid females of the three species were trapped in spring and summer and gravid female P. (P.) oceanica and N. parilis vicaria were trapped in autumn. Newly emerged adults of P. (P.) oceanica and N. parilis vicaria were captured in spring and autumn. Nycteribiid loads for individual bats were low, and there was no direct evidence of a detrimental effect on bats.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effects of decomposition on carcass attendance in a guild of carrion-breeding flies.

Many forensically important calliphorids, sarcophagids and muscids (Diptera) oviposit or larviposit on corpses only during the early stages of decomposition, yet individuals may attend bodies throughout decay. A field study was conducted to investigate how patterns of carcass use and attendance by some fly species are affected by decomposition. Five fly traps were placed in the forest and baited with whole, fresh piglet carcasses. Piglets decomposed in traps throughout the experiment, and all were skeletonized within 6 days. Flies were trapped at both early and late decomposition stages, and the species and population structures of trap catches were compared. More flies attended carcasses early rather than late in decay. For all species, flies attending early were mainly gravid females, but few gravid females attended late in decay. No females ovi- or larviposited late in decay, whereas females of all fly species deposited offspring early in decay. The number of males trapped of each species correlated positively with the number of females with eggs at early development stages. Observations were made of fly predation by European wasps Vespula germanica Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) and jumper ants Myrmecia pilosula Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) throughout the experiment. There was a higher risk for smaller fly species of being killed following predator attack. Ants and wasps attacked smaller fly species, whereas only wasps attacked larger fly species.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Genetic parentage assessment in the crayfish Orconectes placidus, a high-fecundity invertebrate with extended maternal brood care.

Microsatellite data have recently been introduced in the context of genetic maternity and paternity assignments in high-fecundity fish species with single-parent-tended broods. Here we extend such analyses to an aquatic invertebrate, the crayfish Orconectes placidus, in which gravid females carry large numbers of offspring. Genetic parentage analyses of more than 900 progeny from 15 wild crayfish broods revealed that gravid females were invariably the exclusive dams of the offspring they tended (i.e. there was no allomaternal care), and that most of the females had mated with multiple (usually two) males who contributed sometimes highly skewed numbers of offspring to a brood. Within any multiply sired brood, the unhatched eggs (or the hatched juveniles) from different fathers were randomly distributed across the mother's brood space. All of these genetic findings are discussed in the light of observations on the mating behaviours and reproductive biology of crayfish.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Premature contractions: possible influence of sonographic measurement of cervical length on clinical management.

In a retrospective case control study with historical controls, the influence of the introduction of vaginal sonographic cervical length measurement on the utilization of hospital services and pregnancy outcome of gravid women at risk of preterm delivery was examined. Prior to the introduction of vaginal ultrasonography to measure cervical length, we registered 76 hospitalizations totalling 1827 hospitalization days due to premature cervical ripening and/or premature labor in 1991 and 1992. In 1994 and 1995, after vaginal ultrasonography was introduced and intravenous tocolysis was limited to cases with cervical shortening to less than 3 cm, there were 64 admissions resulting in just 869 hospitalization days. Long-term hospitalizations (over 10 days) were reduced from 55 to 25 cases (p < 0.0001) and the median length of hospital stay decreased from 18 to 8 days (p < 0.0001). The number of preterm births (< or = 37 weeks) remained stable: 12 cases in 1991-1992 and 13 cases in 1994-1995. In conclusion, vaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length provides an objective criterion for cervical shortening with premature labor. The method could therefore be a suitable means of reducing unnecessary therapeutic interventions in gravid women with premature contractions and/or cervical dilatation. A prospective randomized trial to confirm these findings is suggested.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma exchange in the treatment of hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Plasma exchange has become a widely used therapeutic tool in the treatment of immune-mediated disease. This technique has been applied to the treatment of gravid women whose high antibody titers and past history of stillbirths indicate a significant possibility of fetal loss due to HDN. The procedure was effective in decreasing both antibody titer and the quantity of antibody in four of five patients. In one other case, the antibody titer rose toward the end of the pregnancy; however, the quantity of anti-D remained low. The IgG:IgM ratio and the subclass specificity of IgG did not significantly change with treatment. Hematologic monitoring also indicated no adverse effects, and three of the five women delivered viable fetuses. Two of the other women produced infants only moderately affected by HDN but stillborn within days of intrauterine transfusion. The results indicate that plasma exchange is a useful therapeutic consideration in the sensitized gravid women.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed2002

Anthobothrium galeorhini n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) a parasite of Galeorhinus galeus (Triakidae) from the Argentine coast.

Anthobothrium galeorhini n. sp. (Eucestoda: Phyllobothriidae) collected from the spiral intestine of Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus, 1758) at the Puerto Madryn (Atlantic coastal region) is described. The new species differs from A. cornucopia as described by Euzet (1959) by the size of body, bothridia, gravid proglottids and eggs; by the neck length and by the different number of testes and proglottids. The size of bothridia and the gravid proglottids, the cirrus length and the number of testes allow differentiating the species here proposed from A. laciniatum Linton, 1890 as described by Euzel (1959). The body and cirrus sac size, the bothridia shape and the number of testes separate the species here described from A. parvum Stossich, 1895 as described by Yamaguti (1952). The anatomic differences between the cestode described by Arandas Rego (1977) and located laxonomycally under the name Anthobothrium laciniatum are listed and the systematic position of the cestode is discussed. Species parasitic of skates listed in scientific literature must be taxonomically reaccommodated, since their characteristics are not consistent with the diagnosis of Anthobothrium.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Rileyella petauri gen. nov., sp. nov. (Pentastomida: Cephalobaenida) from the lungs and nasal sinus of Petaurus breviceps (Marsupialia: Petauridae) in Australia.

A new cephalobaenid pentastome, Rileyella petauri gen: nov., sp. nov. from the lungs and nasal sinus of the petaurid marsupial, Petaurus breviceps, is described. It is the smallest adult pentastome known to date, represents the first record of a mammal as the definitive host of a cephalobaenid and may represent the only pentastome known to inhabit the lungs of a mammal through all its instars, with the exception of patent females. Adult males, non-gravid females and nymphs moulting to adults occur in the lungs; gravid females occur in the nasal sinus. R. petauri is minute and possesses morphological features primarily of the Cephalobaenida but the glands in the cephalothorax and the morphology of the copulatory spicules are similar to some members of the remaining pentastomid order, the Porocephalida. This unusual combination of features distinguish the new genus from other genera in the Cephalobaenida. The occurrence of only seven fully-formed larvae in eggs in the uterus, each representing about 10% of the length of the patent female, and her presence in the nasal sinus of a dependent juvenile P. breviceps (36 gm) implies a direct life cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The feasibility of a randomized clinical perinatal trial: maternal magnesium sulfate for the prevention of cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: Because recent epidemiologic data suggest an association between maternal magnesium sulfate use and a decreased risk of cerebral palsy in infants who survive preterm birth, we investigated the feasibility of a randomized trial of intrapartum maternally administered magnesium sulfate to prevent cerebral palsy in children who were born before term. STUDY DESIGN: On the basis of a literature review, we calculated cumulative rates of delivery, neonatal survival, and cerebral palsy for progressively longer gestational age intervals beginning at 24 weeks' gestation. Sample size estimates with two-tailed chi 2 tests without Yates' correction (alpha = 0.05, beta = 0.2, 50% effect size) for a clinical trial were calculated for these rates. RESULTS: In the 4-week interval from 24 weeks 0 days to 27 weeks 6 days the minimum number of neonates required to conduct a randomized trial would be 1189. Loss to follow-up of neonates, maternal ineligibility, and failure of enrollment would substantially increase the number of necessary gravid women delivered in the 4-week interval to complete such a trial, such that 1 million pregnancies would be required to generate the necessary number of eligible gravid women. Shorter gestational age intervals (e.g., 24 weeks 0 days to 25 weeks 6 days) required fewer neonates (n = 729) but more pregnancies (n = 1.5 million). Because of the decreasing prevalence of cerebral palsy at higher gestational ages, extending the gestational age interval (e.g., to 29 weeks 6 days) markedly increased the minimum number of neonates to 1982 but only slightly decreased the necessary number of pregnancies, to 900,000. CONCLUSIONS: A randomized trial of maternally administered intrapartum magnesium sulfate to reduce the rate of cerebral palsy in surviving preterm neonates would be a formidable undertaking, requiring a concerted multicentered effort.

Cerebral Palsy↗
PubMed1996

Effects of pregnancy on femoral microvascular responses in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that augmented basal and vasodilator agonist-stimulated synthesis of endothelium-derived nitric oxide would blunt vasoconstrictor-induced contraction and enhance relaxation in isolated femoral resistance vessels from pregnant rats. STUDY DESIGN: Potassium chloride-, phenylephrine-, and angiotensin II-induced contraction and acetylcholine-induced relaxation were assessed in small (approximately 240 microns diameter) femoral resistance arteries from gravid and virgin animals studied under isometric conditions; the effects of potassium chloride, phenylephrine, and acetylcholine were also studied in the presence of nitroarginine. RESULTS: Maximal vasoconstriction was similar in vessels from virgin and pregnant rats, whereas phenylephrine potency was slightly enhanced in vessels from gravid animals. Nitroarginine augmented contraction in both groups but with greater effect on phenylephrine potency and on submaximal potassium chloride contractions in virgins. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation did not differ between groups and was similarly, but only partially, inhibited by nitroarginine. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy does not result in vasoconstrictor resistance, increased basal nitric oxide synthesis, or augmented agonist-stimulated endothelium-dependent relaxation in this particular isolated rat microvascular preparation. Further, endothelium-dependent relaxation of these vessels depends only partly on nitric oxide.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of first trimester placental volume and second trimester uterine artery Doppler flow.

Uterine artery Doppler examination can identify impaired trophoblast invasion in the second trimester of pregnancy. High resistance and an early diastolic 'notch' show insufficient physiological conversion of the spiral arteries. Uterine artery Doppler is routinely performed between 22-24 weeks which is relatively late for treatment. In this study we wanted to find out whether women with increased uterine blood flow resistance at 22 weeks already have reduced placental volumes in the first trimester measured with 3D sonography.A total of 1060 women with singleton pregnancies had three dimensional (3D) volume measurements of their placentae between 11-13 weeks and uterine Doppler scans between 21-22 weeks. Stepwise logistic and linear regression analyses were used to show a correlation between placental volume (PV) and a CRL dependent placental quotient (PQ) with uterine perfusion parameters. Uterine perfusion at 21-22 weeks depends significantly on PV or PQ at 11-13 weeks (P< 0.0001 for both) and smoking behaviour (P=0.006). The occurrence of a notch also depends significantly on PV and PQ (P< 0.0001 for both) and also on gravidity (P< 0.0001) and age (P=0.0007) as well as on smoking behaviour (P=0.0094). PV and PQ did not show any dependency on age, gravidity, BMI or smoking habits. Placentae of women with high resistance uterine perfusion in the second trimester are already remarkably small in the first trimester. Placental volumetry is probably an efficient method for early and simple identification of impaired trophoblast invasion.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Strangulation of the duodenum by the uterus during late pregnancy in two cows.

Two Swiss Braunvieh cows in late pregnancy underwent surgery because of a rare form of ileus due to strangulation of the duodenum at its caudal flexure by the gravid uterus. The whole uterus had passed through a gap between the mesoduodenum and duodenum and with increasing weight had led to strangulation of the duodenum. This was possible since the mesoduodenum and both walls of the greater omentum adjacent to its caudal edge were not connected with the duodenum, probably due to a congenital inhibitory malformation. A transsection and an end-to-end anastomosis of the duodenum were necessary in both cases since it was impossible to retract the gravid uterus through the defect. Postoperative recovering was uneventful in both cows, which were discharged after seven and five days respectively and calved normally about two months later.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1995

Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during bone marrow harvesting in pregnancy.

To date, our computer-assisted search failed to report any case involving a gravid patient donating her bone marrow for harvesting. It is known that bone marrow harvesting causes a significant decrease in the donor's blood volume and therefore this can be potentially detrimental to both the mother and the fetus. We report the first case of the gravid donor in which fetal heart rate (FHR) during bone marrow harvesting has been studied. Decreased beat to beat variability and disappearance of accelerations were noted. The FHR returned to normal shortly after the procedure was terminated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Number of pregnancies and the subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Whether increasing parity or gravidity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease has been debated, but the question remains unresolved. METHODS: We tested the association between the number of pregnancies and a variety of cardiovascular end points in two groups of women who had completed childbearing. One group comprised 2357 women who were followed for 28 years through the Framingham Heart Study, and the other 2533 women followed for at least 12 years through the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey National Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS). RESULTS: The rates of coronary heart disease were higher among multigravid women than among women who had never been pregnant, in both the Framingham Heart Study and the NHEFS, but in both studies, the higher rates were statistically significant only in women with six or more pregnancies. For the women in the Framingham Study, the rate ratio adjusted for age and educational level in the group with six or more pregnancies (as compared with women who had never been pregnant) was 1.6 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.2). For the women in the NHEFS, the same adjusted rate ratio was 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 1.9). Adjustments for other known cardiovascular risk factors, including weight, did not markedly alter this risk. The rate of total cardiovascular disease was also significantly higher among multigravid women in the Framingham Study than in the women who had never been pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: In two prospective American studies, having six or more pregnancies was associated with a small but consistent increase in the risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Whether gravidity itself or some other unmeasured factor accounts for the increase in risk that we observed requires further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Pregnancy-induced alterations of uterine arteriolar reactivity in the rat: observations with a new in vivo microcirculatory preparation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare reactivity of uterine arterioles in vivo between virgin and gravid rats. STUDY DESIGN: In anesthetized gravid and virgin rats circumferential arterioles were observed by videomicroscopy while vasoactive agonists were suffused over the uterus. Arteriolar diameter changes were compared. RESULTS: Resting and maximum diameters of circumferential arterioles were significantly larger in pregnant animals. Sensitivity to acetylcholine was greater in pregnant animals than in virgin animals (50% effective concentration, 7.1 +/- 0.17 negative log mol/L vs 6.1 +/- 0.32 negative log mol/L), whereas that to phenylephrine was less (50% effective concentration, 5.3 +/- 0.11 negative log mol/L vs 6.0 +/- 0.17 negative log mol/L). Angiotensin II-induced constriction was significantly reduced in pregnant rats only at lower concentrations. Serotonin significantly dilated arterioles in virgin rats (76% +/- 3% of maximum) but caused significant arteriolar constriction in pregnant animals (65% +/- 4% of maximum). CONCLUSION: The in vivo uterine microcirculatory preparation allows measurement of resistance vessels in the intact animal. Although these results differ from some previous reports, differences may be attributable to vessel location or to in vivo versus in vitro conditions.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2002

Down syndrome and cell-free fetal DNA in archived maternal serum.

OBJECTIVE: Increased levels of cell-free fetal DNA (f-DNA) in the maternal circulation are a potential noninvasive marker for fetal Down syndrome. Our objectives were to (1) determine whether f-DNA could be quantified by using archived serum and amniotic fluid, (2) examine whether serum f-DNA levels are elevated in Down syndrome pregnancies in a case-control series matched for gestational age and duration of sample storage, and (3) determine whether f-DNA levels are elevated in the amniotic fluid of Down syndrome fetuses. STUDY DESIGN: Eleven serum and six amniotic fluid samples previously collected and stored at -20 degrees C from gravid women carrying a 47,XY,+21 fetus were each paired with five matched control samples of identical specimen type from gravid women carrying a presumed euploid male fetus. f-DNA concentration was quantified blindly by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification for a Y-chromosome sequence. Matched rank-sum analysis and analysis of variance were used for analysis. RESULTS: The mean observed rank of 5.0 in the Down syndrome group was significantly higher than expected (P </=.005). Adjusted mean serum f-DNA concentrations were 41.2 genomic equivalents (GE) per milliliter for the Down syndrome cases and 24.2 GE/mL for the euploid controls (P =.002). Differences among amniotic fluid samples were not statistically significant. There was a suggestion of a sample storage effect on f-DNA concentration on the order of -0.66 GE/mL per month (P =.071). CONCLUSION: Down syndrome pregnancies exhibit 1.7-fold higher levels of maternal serum cell-free f-DNA compared with matched controls. No such association is observed in amniotic fluid. Archived serum appears to be a useful source of clinical material for retrospective analyses but may require controlling for the duration of sample storage.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed2003

Placenta previa in singleton and twin births in the United States, 1989 through 1998: a comparison of risk factor profiles and associated conditions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare risk factor profiles for placenta previa between singleton and twin live births. STUDY DESIGN: This cohort study was based on United States natality data files (1989 through 1998) and comprised 37,956,020 singleton births and 961,578 twin births. Women who were diagnosed with placenta previa were included only if they were delivered by cesarean delivery. Risk factors for placenta previa that were examined included sociodemographic (age, gravidity, education, marital status, and race), behavioral (prenatal care, smoking, and alcohol use), previous preterm birth, and medical and obstetric factors. Effect modification between maternal age and gravidity and the dose-response relationship with number of cigarettes smoked/day on placenta previa risk were also evaluated. RESULTS: The rate of placenta previa was 40% higher among twin births (3.9 per 1,000 live births, n = 3,793 births) than among singleton births (2.8 per 1,000 live births, n = 104,754 births). Comparison of risk factors for placenta previa between the singleton and twin births revealed fairly similar risk factor profiles. Compared with primigravid women <20 years old, the risk for placenta previa increased by advancing age and by increasing number of pregnancies among both singleton and twin births. The number of cigarettes smoked per day also showed a dose-response trend for placenta previa risk in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The increased rate of placenta previa among twin births underscores the need to monitor carefully such pregnancies with heightened suspicion and awareness for the development of this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Maternal and transplacental pharmacokinetics of azithromycin.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of orally administered azithromycin in the term gravid woman. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty women who were scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were enrolled prospectively and received 1 g of oral azithromycin at either 6, 12, 24, 72, or 168 hours before the operation. All women received spinal anesthesia, at which time a sample of cerebrospinal fluid was obtained for analysis. Maternal serum and urine were obtained immediately before the operation. Intraoperatively, samples of myometrium, maternal adipose tissue, placenta, amniotic fluid, and umbilical arterial and venous cord blood were obtained. Azithromycin levels were determined quantitatively with high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. RESULTS: All participants tolerated the preoperative azithromycin without significant adverse reactions. Peak maternal serum azithromycin levels occurred within 6 hours of drug administration. Although high serum levels of azithromycin were reached early, a rapid decline in drug concentration was noted over the initial 24 hours after the drug administration (6-hour: 311 ng/mL; 24-hour: 63 ng/mL). In contrast, azithromycin levels in myometrial, adipose, and placental tissue were higher (>500 ng/mL) and sustained for up to 72 hours after administration. High urine levels of azithromycin (>5000 ng/mL) were noted similarly during the initial 72 hours after drug administration. Umbilical arterial and venous serum azithromycin levels were low (19-38 ng/mL) during the first 72 hours. Amniotic fluid levels were highest at 6 hours (151 ng/mL) and declined rapidly. Maternal cerebrospinal azithromycin concentrations were undetectable for all time points. CONCLUSION: Azithromycin has a rapid serum half-life in the term gravid woman with a prolonged half-life and high-sustained antibiotic levels noted within myometrium, adipose, and placental tissue. Given the broad antimicrobial spectrum and placental penetration, azithromycin may have potential use for the treatment of perinatal infections.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

Systemic administration of betamethasone delays endotoxin-induced preterm labor in the murine model.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the administration of betamethasone decreases the endotoxin-induced preterm parturition rate and inhibits the risk of cytokines in the murine model. STUDY DESIGN: Endotoxin was administered intraperitoneally at gestational day 15 (75% of gestation). In phase I, the duration of gestation was measured in 36 gravid C3H/HeOu mice that were equally divided into four treatment groups: control, endotoxin only, and two different dose regimens of betamethasone followed by endotoxin. In phase II, maternal serum and amniotic fluid concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-1alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6) were measured at 4 hours after endotoxin injection in 44 gravid mice divided equally in the four treatment groups. RESULTS: The group that was exposed only to endotoxin was delivered at a significantly earlier gestational age compared with the control group (16.2 +/- 0.4 days vs 19.6 +/- 0.2 days; P <.01). The two groups that were pretreated with betamethasone before the endotoxin were delivered at gestational ages similar to the control group. There was a marked increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels in amniotic fluid of mice that were treated with endotoxin only compared with the control group (P <.001). No difference in cytokine levels was found in those mice that were premedicated with betamethasone compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Antenatal administration of betamethasone to mice delayed preterm parturition that was induced by endotoxin. Elevations of amniotic fluid cytokine concentrations that were observed with endotoxin were not observed with pretreatment with betamethasone.

Amniotic Fluid↗