An Animal Model for the Study of the Function of Pregnancy-Specific Beta1 Glycoprotein and Pregnancy Zone Protein: A Review*

ABSTRACT: Two pregnancy-associated murine proteins, PAMP-1 and PAMP-2, have been found to be immunologically cross-reacting analogues to the human proteins pregnancy zone protein (PZP) and pregnancy-specific beta₁-glycoprotien (SP-1), respectively. In this study, the physiochemical and biological properties of the proteins are compared and the effect on pregnancy of administration of monospecific antibodies against the proteins is reported.     

Fetal heart rate and umbilico-placental Doppler flow velocity waveforms in early pregnancies with a chromosomal abnormality and/or an increased nuchal translucency thickness

Fetal heart rate, umbilical artery pulsatility index, end-diastolicflow,nuchal translucency thickness and placental thickness were recordedin 250 women with a viable singleton pregnancy undergoing chorionicvillous sampling for fetal karyotyping at 11–14 weeksof gestation. The fetal karyotype was normal in 210 cases andabnormal in 40, including 21 with trisomy 21, 13 with trisomy18, three with triploidy, two with monosomy X and one with trisomy13. A total of 52 fetuses with a normal karyotype had a nuchaltranslucency 3 mm and were considered separately. There wasa stable and significant increase in the mean fetal heart ratein trisomy 21 pregnancies compared to controls. No significantdifference was found for the other variables between the groups.In chromosomally normal fetuses with an increased nuchal thickness,the development of fetal heart rate and compliance of the umbilico-placentalcirculation were within the normal ranges. Some fetuses withtrisomy 18 or triploidy had an increased resistance to bloodflow in the umbilical artery, which was probably due to abnormalplacental development.     

妊高征患者淋巴细胞β_2－肾上腺素能受体结合量改变及与新生儿体重关系的研究

应用放射配体结合分析，测定４０例正常晚期妊娠妇女及４０例妊高征妇女外周血淋巴细胞β_２－肾上腺素能受体（β_２－ＡＲ）结合量，并测定两组妇女分娩的新生儿体重。结果为：１．正常晚期妊娠妇女外周淋巴细胞β_２－ＡＲ结合量明显降低，妊高征妇女β_２－ＡＲ结合量降低更显著；２．妊高征孕妇组的新生儿出生体重明显低于正常妊娠组的新生儿体重；３．孕妇β_２－ＡＲ结合量与新生儿出生体重呈明显正相关，提示好高征与机体β_２－ＡＲ结合量下降有关，β_２－ＡＲ改变影响胎儿生长发育。     

Concentrations of serum total protein and protein fractions during diestrus and pregnancy in Makuii ewes

The aim of this study was to determine the blood protein changes during different stages of pregnancy and to compare with prepregnancy diestrus in ewes. A total of 90 blood samples were taken from ten Makuii ewes (the native sheep breed in Iran) at diestrus and on days 8, 14, 28, 45, 60, 90, 125, and 145 of pregnancy. Serum protein electrophoresis of samples exhibited four fractions: albumin, α, β, and γ fractions in Makuii ewes, which in α- and γ-globulin bands were divided to α1 and α2; and γ1 and γ2, respectively. The mean concentrations (in gram per deciliter) of total serum proteins, albumin, α1-, α2-, β-, γ1-, and γ2-globulin at diestrus period were 7.03, 3.77, 0.18, 0.74, 0.41, 1.56, and 0.41, respectively. Those values fluctuated nonsignificantly throughout gestation until the 125th day of pregnancy. Thereafter, a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in serum protein levels occurred at the 145th day of pregnancy compared to prepregnancy and other gestational time points. It was concluded that blood protein levels declined sharply during late gestation when the nutrient demands of the fetus were maximal.     

Fetoscopic photography

Fetoscopic visualization may be used for the prenatal diagnosis of external structural malformations of the fetus. Objective documentation of these fetoscopic findings would be desirable. The photographic equipment and techniques required for fetoscopic photography have been investigated, and the results of these investigations with standard fetoscopic instruments in current clinical usage are described. The factors evaluated include the light source, camera equipment, camera settings and film.     

妊娠晚期羊水过少56例临床分析

目的：探讨妊娠晚期羊水过少的分娩方式,寻找正确的处理方法,降低围生儿死亡率。方法：对妊娠晚期羊水过少56例作回顾性分析。结果：56例中,30例以羊水过少作为指标行剖宫产,新生儿窒息率为0,19例在临产过程中12例并发胎儿窘迫,7例并发其它高危因素行剖宫产,新生儿窒息率为5．3％,7例经阴道分娩,新生儿均有不同程度窒息。结论：羊水过少一经确诊,应积极引产,估计短时间内不能分娩,及时剖宫产是处理羊水过少较为安全的重要措施。     

妊娠合并登革热35例临床分析

目的 探讨登革热对妊娠的影响。方法 对35例妊娠合并登革热进行回顾性分析。结果 35例患有27例出现不正常分娩及产后大出血,有22例出现流产、死胎、早产及畸胎。结论 妊娠合并登革热在妊娠早期可出现流产或死胎,中期可引起早产,晚期可出现产后大出血。     

Effect of postbariatric maternal weight loss and surgery to conception interval on perinatal outcomes of nulliparous women

BackgroundBariatric surgery is associated with an increased risk of delivering a small neonate. The role of maternal weight loss and surgery to conception interval is unclear.ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of maternal weight loss, as a result of bariatric surgery, and surgery to conception interval on fetal growth and birthweight (BW).SettingInner London Teaching HospitalMethodsWe studied prospectively nulliparous women with previous bariatric surgery. Information on type, time, and presurgery weight was obtained. Surgery-to-conception interval was calculated as the time between surgery and conception, defined as the fourteenth day of the pregnancy dated by first trimester ultrasound scan. In the first trimester, maternal weight was measured. Assessment of maternal weight change between presurgery and first trimester of pregnancy was defined as total weight loss (TWL) (%). Fetal ultrasound scans were performed twice; 30–32 and 35–37 weeks’ gestation and estimated fetal weight (EFW) was calculated. Fetal growth rate was calculated as the ratio of EFW increase (in grams) between 30–32 and 35–37 weeks divided by the time interval (in days) between the 2 examinations. BW was recorded.ResultsThe study included 54 pregnant women, 26 with a restrictive procedure (gastric band or vertical sleeve gastrectomy) and 28 with a gastric bypass. Surgery to conception interval was not a significant predictor of the offspring’s growth. Maternal TWL was a significant predictor of fetal growth rate (P = .04) and predictor of BW (P = .005), even after adjustment for confounders.ConclusionsMaternal weight loss, as a result of bariatric surgery, has an inverse correlation with fetal growth rate and BW.     

Complication of Hirschsprung’s disease immediately after pregnancy: A rare case report

Introduction and importanceHirschprung's disease (HD) is a rare congenital colonic disorder that may develop in adult age, often determining a poor life quality with complications needing an emergency surgical setting. The disease rarely presents as an acute intestinal obstruction like SV, which represents an abdominal emergency issue.Case presentationA few days after discharge from gynecology unit because of her first childbirth, a young woman with HD developed colonic obstruction due to sigmoid volvulus, which was treated with Hartmann's procedure.Clinical discussionSome months later, the patient underwent a two-stage Duhamel's procedure to restore the digestive tract's continuity. Both hospital periods were free of critical events.ConclusionThe woman regained a good quality of life: Duhamel’s procedure revealed as a safe technique to use in HD adult.