Follow-up study of male and female offspring of DES-treated mothers a preliminary report.

This is a follow-up study of male and female offspring of mothers who were part of a double-blind placebo controlled investigation during the years 1951-1952, originally aimed at determining the usefulness of DES administration in maintaining pregnancy. So far, 84 DES-exposed females, 43 female controls, 42 DES-exposed males and 37 male controls have been examined. Circumferential ridges of the vagina and cervix were seen in 39% of the DES-exposed females but in none of the controls. Colposcopy revealed vaginal epitheleal changes in 78% of the DES-exposed females 2% of the female controls. Cytology proved to be reliable as a screening test for vaginal epithelial changes in the DES-exposed female. Urine cytology was negative for tumor cells in all patients. The main abnormal finding in the DES-exposed males was that cysts in the epididymis were detected in 10%. No cases of cancer were observed in either the male or female offspring.     

Fluorescent body distribution in spermatozoa in the male with exclusively female offspring

Fluorescent (F) body distribution was determined in a group of men who did not have a fertility problem, but rather had fathered exclusively female offspring. The study was designed to analyze spermatozoa for the frequency of zero F-body (X-bearing) and one F-body (Y-bearing) spermatozoa. Semen samples were separated (processed) for Y-bearing spermatozoa enrichment and reanalyzed for fluorescent body distribution. The study consisted of 50 control (10 males) samples (unprocessed), 35 preseparation (35 patients) samples (unprocessed), and 18 postseparation (18 patients) samples (processed). A significantly higher frequency (P less than 0.05) of zero F-body spermatozoa were observed in the preseparation samples when compared with the control samples. The presence of more spermatozoa without fluorescent body correlates with the occurrence of more female births.     

Differential oxidative stress levels in mothers with preeclampsia delivering male and female babies

Objectives: Increased oxidative stress is known to be associated with pregnancy complications like preeclampsia (PE). We hypothesize that increased maternal oxidative stress may differentially affect/program the pregnancy outcome during early postnatal periods in male and female babies.

Materials and methods: One-hundred three healthy pregnant women (gestation ≥37 weeks) were recruited for the normotensive control (NC) group and 57 women with term-preeclampsia (T-PE; gestation ≥37 weeks) and 28 women with preterm-preeclampsia (PT-PE; gestation <37 weeks) were also recruited. All infants were followed for anthropometric measurements until six months of age.

Results: Higher maternal plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were observed in both T-PE and PT-PE groups. Higher maternal levels of MDA and GPx were seen in mothers delivering male babies in T-PE and PT-PE groups, respectively, as compared to mothers delivering female babies. Babies born to mothers with PT-PE showed poor growth and development on all the anthropometric parameters compared to those born to mothers with T-PE and NC.

Conclusion: The altered levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in mothers with PE delivering male babies suggest that they may be at higher risk for developing metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders than female babies.     

Follow-up study of children whose mothers were treated with warfarin during pregnancy

Summary. Twenty-two children whose mothers took the oral coumarin anticoagulant warfarin during pregnancy were seen, to assess their physical and mental development; a comparison was made with matched controls. No significant difference was observed between the study group and controls, nor within the study group according to the period of gestation when their mothers took warfarin.     

Follow-up study of children whose mothers were treated with warfarin during pregnancy

Twenty-two children whose mothers took the oral coumarin anticoagulant warfarin during pregnancy were seen, to assess their physical and mental development; a comparison was made with matched controls. No significant difference was observed between the study group and controls, nor within the study group according to the period of gestation when their mothers took warfarin.     

Follow-up of infants exposed to hydroxychloroquine given to mothers during pregnancy and lactation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of hydroxychloroquine treatment during pregnancy and lactation on babies of mothers affected by rheumatic diseases. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 40 infants born from mothers affected by rheumatic diseases and treated with hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Main outcome measures at birth were incidence of prematurity, congenital malformations and neonatal infections. Of these babies, including 13 who were breast-fed, 24 were followed up during early infancy for visual function and neurodevelopmental outcome. RESULTS: Preterm delivery was the main complication (20.5%). No significant congenital malformations or neonatal infections were detected. All infants, including those who were breast-fed, had normal visual function and neurodevelopmental outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxychloroquine treatment during gestation and lactation appeared to be safe. The relatively high incidence of preterm deliveries may reflect the maternal disease state.     

Neuropsychiatric manifestations of latent toxoplasmosis on mothers and their offspring

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. It is estimated that approximately one-third of the world’s population is latently infected. Infection generally occurs via oral the route and maternal transmission. Damage of the central nervous system is one of the most serious consequences of congenital toxoplasmosis. Moreover, recent investigations proposed that acute and sub-acute congenital toxoplasmosis as well as latent toxoplasmosis during pregnancy; play various roles in the etiology of different neuropsychiatric disorders in mothers and their offspring. This paper reviews new findings about the role of latent toxoplasmosis in the etiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders in mothers and their offspring.     

Experimental models for the study of female and male sexual function

IntroductionSignificant progress has been made in the understanding of physiological and pharmacological mechanisms of human sexual functioning through preclinical research in animal models.AimTo provide an evidence-based documentation of the experimental models evaluating male and female sexual function for useful clinical translation.MethodsConsensus discussion over the past 18 months leading to summarized views of seven experts from six countries.Main Outcome MeasureReport was based on the critical analysis of scientific information available in literature and subcommittee presentations, discussions, and exchanges of ideas and feedback.ResultsFundamental research in animal models has led to considerable understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying desire, arousal, genital, and other sexual responses and the design of rational pharmacological treatments for certain sexual dysfunctions in the male and female. Tissue and cellular in vitro systems have provided critical information on the in vivo interactions and modulations in the presence and absence of chemical, biological, vascular, neurologic, endocrine, and genetic inputs. The animal models seem indispensable for elucidating the biophysiological and etiopathological aspects of male and female sexual disorders.ConclusionsUseful insights into the human experience have been derived from basic research in ways that are far more difficult to obtain in humans, both scientifically and ethically. The animal model with a good predictive value can be used as a successful preclinical tool so long as the functional end points are homologous or analogous. The key issue is whether further evaluations are warranted to extrapolate the results in a clinical setting. Giuliano F, Pfaus J, Balasubramanian S, Hedlund P, Hisasue S, Marson L, and Wallen K. Experimental models for the study of female and male sexual function.     

Preliminary study of embryo development following assessment of male and female gametes

Gamete characteristics are likely to contribute to embryo development. In this preliminary study, early parameters were assessed in embryos generated following microinjection of hyaluronan-bound and unbound spermatozoa into 176 sibling oocytes, which had themselves been assessed using a polarizing light microscope imaging system. The fertilization and early cleavage rates, and day 3 embryo quality did not differ when oocytes displaying similar characteristics were inseminated with either bound or unbound sperm. Regardless of the binding characteristics of the sperm, early embryos displaying good and poor quality derived from oocytes displaying visible spindles and similar characteristics. These results indicate that early embryo developmental characteristics were independent from the hyaluronic acid binding capacity of the sperm when oocytes displayed a visible spindle.     

LAS对雄性小鼠及其子代生精功能毒性作用的研究

目的:探讨十二烷基苯磺酸钠(LAS)对雄性小鼠及其子代雄性小鼠生精功能的毒性作用。方法:将120只昆明种雄性小鼠随机分为4组,每组30只。实验A组:小鼠经灌胃方式染毒LAS(630mg/kg,1/2LD50),每天1次,连续8周后与正常雌鼠交配(交配比例1∶1)。实验B组:小鼠经灌胃方式染毒LAS,每天1次,连续8周,停止染毒4周后与正常雌鼠交配(交配比例1∶1)。两组交配后雄性小鼠即拉颈处死。实验A、B组的对照组分别为a、b组,以生理盐水灌胃后与正常雌鼠交配。4组所生子代雄性小鼠分别为A1、B1,a1、b1,养至6～8周后处死。比较各组小鼠的体重,睾丸重量,精子密度、活力及形态,睾丸的组织学结构和超微结构。结果:与对照组比较,实验组雄性小鼠及其子代雄性小鼠的精子密度、活率显著下降,畸形率显著升高;雄性小鼠精细小管内的各级精母细胞和精子细胞数量减少,生精细胞排列紊乱;精细小管内的间质细胞、支持细胞、精原细胞内线粒体出现不同程度嵴断裂,空泡样改变及髓样变,破坏广泛。停止染毒后4周,上述异常改变未见明显恢复。结论:LAS对雄性小鼠生精功能具有明显的毒性作用,且该毒性作用在停止染毒后的短时期内不能恢复。     

Long-term outcomes in mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus and their offspring

Mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at high lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The magnitude of risk for cardiovascular disease after GDM is less well established. Recently, intervention trials using lifestyle modification or medications used to treat type 2 DM have successfully prevented/delayed development of DM in women after GDM. Offspring of mothers with GDM are at risk for development of obesity and abnormal glucose metabolism during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Factors responsible for these risks are not fully understood. Having fetal hyperinsulinism is a risk factor for development of both obesity and abnormal glucose metabolism, and might be implicated in pathophysiology. It remains to be established whether the long-term effects of exposure to diabetes mellitus during intrauterine development can be prevented.