Early human development
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Early human development · Nov 2012
Maternal preeclampsia is associated with increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. ⋯ Maternal preeclampsia may be an important risk factor for the development of NEC in premature infants as NEC incidence and severity of NEC were found to be significantly higher in premature infants born to preeclamptic mothers. The onset of NEC was significantly earlier and duration of NEC was longer in these infants.
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Early human development · Sep 2012
Glucose metabolism soon after birth in very premature infants with small- and appropriate-for-gestational-age birth weights.
The intrauterine environment affects the development of insulin resistance in adulthood. To determine the influence of foetal growth restriction on glucose metabolism, we assessed indices of insulin sensitivity soon after birth in very premature infants. Blood samples were collected at birth from 52 premature infants with a gestational age of ≤31 weeks, who were divided into a group whose birth weight was small for their gestational age (SGA group, n=19) and a group whose birth weight was appropriate for their gestational age (AGA group, n=33). Blood glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) levels were measured in both groups. Furthermore, the quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI) was also calculated. Correlations between these indices and glucose metabolism and the standard deviation (SD) score for birth weight were also determined. The levels of insulin and CPR were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the SGA group than in the AGA group. The QUICKI was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the SGA group compared with the AGA group. The SD score for birth weight was correlated with the QUICKI (p<0.01), the serum insulin level (p<0.05) and the CPR level (p<0.05) in all 52 infants. ⋯ In very premature infants, poor foetal growth may impair foetal insulin secretion and affect the QUICKI at birth.
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Early human development · Sep 2012
Relationship between glutamate, GOT and GPT levels in maternal and fetal blood: a potential mechanism for fetal neuroprotection.
Excess glutamate in the brain is thought to be implicated in the pathophysiology of fetal anoxic brain injury, yet little is known about the mechanisms by which glutamate is regulated in the fetal brain. This study examines whether there are differences between maternal and fetal glutamate concentrations, and whether a correlation between them exists. ⋯ This study demonstrated that higher baseline concentrations of blood glutamate are present in fetal blood compared with maternal blood, and this was associated with elevated GOT, but not GPT levels. An association was observed between maternal and fetal blood glutamate levels.
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Early human development · Aug 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialIs it a safe practice to administer oxygen during uncomplicated delivery: a randomized controlled trial?
Newborns exposed to oxygen suffer from an oxidative stress with significant alterations in the concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSSG). ⋯ Maternal exposure to oxygen during delivery is not associated with changes in umbilical cord SOD or GSSG. Further studies are needed to explore mechanisms responsible for the need of resuscitation in the oxygen group.
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Early human development · Aug 2012
Third trimester fetal pulmonary artery Doppler blood flow velocity characteristics following prenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure.
There have been contradictory reports on the risks of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) in infants exposed to SSRIs in utero. However, there has been no assessment of fetal pulmonary arterial dynamics in such pregnancies. AIMS AND SUBJECTS: To measure fetal right pulmonary artery (RPA) variables using Doppler ultrasound at 36 weeks gestation in fetuses of mothers taking SSRI antidepressants (n=23) and in a control, normal pregnancy group (n=35). ⋯ In SSRI-exposed infants with transient postnatal respiratory difficulties, fetal RPA flow in increased, likely due to partial constriction of the ductus arteriosus. However, this was not associated with PPHN.