Serum albumin reserve for bilirubin binding during pregnancy in healthy women.

Background & objective: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-induced multi-organ syndrome of acute cardiovascular manifestations with significant short and long-term sequelae. However, there is a relative lack of knowledge with respect to cardiac functional and structural changes in women with preeclampsia Therapeutic interventions used in the management of preeclampsia may cause iatrogenic adverse consequences due to this lack of knowledge. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the echocardiographic changes in cardiac structural and functional indices in pregnant women with PE. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital (SSMCH) in collaboration with National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dhaka over a period of one year from July 2013 to June 2014. A total of 30 single-tone pregnant women of 20-40 weeks gestation with preeclampsia were taken as cases. An equal number of gestationally-matched healthy pregnant (HP) women of similar age cohorts having no history of preexisting hypertension were included as controls. Preeclampsia was defined as SBP ≥140and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg after 20 weeks gestation in a woman with previously normal blood pressure and with proteinuria≥1 + in the dipstick test. Pregnant women with systolic and diastolic blood pressures within the normal range (< 140mmHg and > 90 mmHg respectively), trace or absence of proteinuria by dipstick test were defined as controls. All thesubjects were investigated with ECG, standard two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler transthoracic echocardiography. The cardiac functional and structural changes were measured in terms of interventricular septal thickness (IVSTd),posterior wall thickness (PWTd), left ventricular internal diameter at the end of diastole (LVIDd), ejection fraction (EF), transmitral velocity (MV E/A ratio), MV deceleration time (MV DecT). Result: Half of the women with preeclampsia were primigravidae and there was no association between gravidity and the occurrence of preeclampsia. Prepregnancy overweight or obesity (in terms of BMI) was found to be strongly associated with preeclampsia. One in 10 PE women had a previous history of preeclampsia as opposed to none in the HP women. A substantial proportion (56.7%) of PE women had a family history of hypertension in comparison to healthy pregnant women (16.3%). The women with PE had significantly higher SBP, DBP, & MAP than the HP women. Parameters of diastolic dysfunction, like mitral E/A ratio was reduced and deceleration time was prolonged in PE with diastolic dysfunction (mean E/A ratio < 0.73 and mean DceT >178 ms respectively) than those in PE with normal diastolic function (mean E/A ratio 1.2 and mean DceT 192.4 ms respectively) healthy pregnant women (mean E/A ratio 1.3 and mean DecT 186.5 ms respectively). Over one-third (36.7%) of women with PE met the criteria of diastolic dysfunction compared to none in healthy pregnant women. The LVH appears to be a frequent occurrence in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (43.3%) as compared to none in healthy pregnant women. In the present study, the systolic function was assessed with the help of EF, which was well-preserved both in PE and HP with no significant intergroup difference. Conclusion: Preeclampsia is associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and hypertrophy preserving the systolic function. These structural and functional changes are primarily adaptive in nature for maintaining cardiac systolic function. Ibrahim Card Med J 2022; 12 (2): 32-39

Neutrophil Expression of HNA-2 and mPR3 As Biomarkers for the Development of Preeclampsia

We thank Ceylan for his interest in our work and the interesting points he raised. We agree that the size of the ascending aorta did not signal coarctation (CoA) because of problems associated with diameter measurements (which are frequently measured on long-axis images) and the small number of cases included. We acknowledge this major weakness of our systematic review.1 Although not statistically significant, a trend toward smaller ascending aorta …

Copeptin is a stable fragment of vasopressin. Copeptin levels have been found to reflect the degree of endothelial stress in various conditions, including acute coronary syndrome. Copeptin may be a bio marker for endothelial stress during pregnancy. However, there is still a lack of understanding of its dynamics and levels throughout pregnancy. This study aims to describe intra-individual and longitudinal changes in copeptin levels at 30th and 36th gestational weeks in healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery and to establish specific reference ranges. A total of 125 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery were included. These women were monitored throughout their pregnancy and gave birth at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Olomouc University Hospital. The blood was taken at ~30 and ~36 gestational weeks. Serum copeptin levels were measured using a Kryptor Compact PLUS analyzer. For statistics, we used R software and the "referenceRanges" package. It was found that serum levels of copeptin were significantly higher in the 36th week group than in the 30th week group (P < 0.05). Cook's distance was used to eliminate outliers. The 30th week median was 3.377 pmol/l, reference range = 1.343-7.829 pmol/l, and the 36 week was median 4.735 pmol/l and reference range = 2.06-13.2 pmol/l. In the 36th week reference range, the median was higher than in healthy, non-pregnant women (P < 0.05). Copeptin values can exceed 10 pmol/l, particularly after the 36th week. In the 3rd trimester, this value may indicate cardiovascular and endothelial overload. Copeptin levels were found to vary significantly depending on gestational week. The proposed reference ranges take into account the increased secretion of vasopressin in pregnancy. The existence of specific upper reference limits represents a potential advantage in detecting pregnant women prone to hypertensive disease in the 3rd trimester.

There is a dearth of studies related to consultation-liaison psychiatry in Bangladesh. The psychiatric referral rates in this country are very low, considering the higher rates of psychiatric morbidity in patients who attend various departments of a general hospital. This was a descriptive study consisting of all the cases referred for psychiatric consultation from inpatient units of various departments of BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka from July 2017 to June 2018. Patients of any age and of either gender were included. A total of 673 patients (1.97% of total admission) were referred from different departments of the hospital for psychiatric consultation within the study period. Majority of the respondents were female. The mean age of the respondents was 59.47 (±1.98) years. Among the referred, Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was the diagnosis in 24.96%, followed by Major depressive disorder (MDD) in 9.95% cases. Referral from the department of Medicine and allied was 92.86 %, followed by department of Surgery and allied (6.38%) & department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (0.74%). Frequency of referral was the lowest in the months of November to January. There is a need to encourage multi-disciplinary interaction in the management of patients who attend general hospitals, so as to better identify the psychiatric morbidity.
 Bang J Psychiatry December 2017; 31(2): 38-42

ObjectiveAngiopoietin-like protein 3(ANGPTL3) is an important regulator of lipoprotein metabolism in the fed state by inhibiting the enzyme lipoprotein lipase in oxidative tissues. However, the possible role of ANGPTL3 throughout gestation and its relationship with hormonal and biochemical variables are still unknown. The aim of this study was to determinate serum ANGPTL3 level in healthy non-pregnant women, during healthy and preeclamptic pregnancy and postpartum.MethodsSerum ANGPTL3 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in a prospective cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 52) and women with mild preeclampsia (n = 21), and women at three months postpartum (n = 20) and healthy non-pregnant women (n = 20). The results obtained were correlated with biochemical, hormonal and anthropometric variables and insulin resistance indices.ResultsLevels of ANGPTL3 were not different between the follicular and the luteal phases of the cycle in healthy non-pregnant women. There was a significant reduction in serum ANGPTL3 levels from the first to the third trimester in healthy pregnant women compared with healthy non-pregnant and postpartum women (p <0.01). ANGPTL3 levels do not differ significantly during the three trimesters of pregnancy neither in healthy women nor in preeclamptic women. The serum levels of ANGPTL3 in women who developed preeclampsia are not statistically different from those observed in healthy pregnant women in each trimester of pregnancy. A significant lineal positive correlation was observed between serum ANGPTL3 levels and triglyceride (P =0.0186, r =0.52), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P =0.0224, r =0.50), and total cholesterol levels (P =0.0220, r =0.50) in healthy non-pregnant women (P 0.05). Besides, there were no significant correlations between serum ANGPTL3 and body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, leptin, or HOMA-IR (P >0.05)ConclusionsWe describe for the first time the profile of ANGPTL3 throughout pregnancy and postpartum as well as and discussed about explore their potential contribution interactions with lipoprotein metabolism throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Thus, low levels of ANGPTL3 during pregnancy might favor lipid uptake in oxidative tissues as the main maternal energy source, while may helping to preserve glucose for use by the fetus and placenta.

Aim: To compare the Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness (SFCT) measured by Enhanced Depth Imaging (EDI) technique of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) in healthy pregnant and preeclamptic women. Methods: Our study was cross-sectional hospital-based study in which healthy pregnant women and women having preeclampsia were selected from Obstetrics and Gynecology department and enrolled in it. The guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were used to diagnose the cases of preeclampsia. The study included 100 women (200 eyes) which were grouped into 50 healthy pregnant women (group 1), i.e., n = 100 eyes and 50 preeclamptic women (group 2), i.e., n = 100 eyes. SFCT was measured using the EDI technique of SD-OCT and data were entered in a Microsoft Excel sheet. Statistical analysis was done using Epi Info. Software version 7.2.1.0 (Atlanta, Georgia, US) and the results of both the groups were compared. Results: The mean SFCT in both the eyes of the healthy pregnant group and the preeclamptic group was 318.12 ± 37.12 µm and 209.04 ± 26.73 µm, respectively, with a P-value 0.001 showing a statistically significant difference between both the groups. Conclusion: The SFCT is significantly decreased in preeclamptic pregnant women than in healthy pregnant women.

Pregnancy causes an increase in central corneal thickness (CCT) and a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP), especially in the third trimester. However, there is very limited published data regarding CCT and IOP in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on diet control. This study is aimed to compare the means of CCT and IOP between pregnant women with GDM on diet control, healthy pregnant women, and healthy non-pregnant women. This is a comparative cross-sectional study. A total of 184 women were recruited and divided into the following three groups: 61 pregnant women with GDM on diet control, 63 healthy pregnant women, and 60 healthy non-pregnant women as control. All subjects have undergone ocular examination during their 36-40 weeks of gestation. CCT measurement was done using a specular microscope and IOP measurement using a non-contact tonometer. Data from the right eye were analyzed. The mean age was 32 (4.0)years in GDM on diet control, 29 (3.0)years in healthy pregnant women, and 27 (5.4)years in healthy non-pregnant women. The number of gravidas was 2.5 (0.8) in women with GDM on diet control and 2.3 (0.8) in healthy pregnant women. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean CCT in women with GDM on diet control compared to healthy pregnant and healthy non-pregnant women. The mean IOP is significantly lower in both pregnant women with GDM on diet control and healthy pregnant groups, compared to the healthy non-pregnant women group. Women with GDM showed significantly thicker mean CCT than healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women. The mean IOP is significantly lower in both pregnant women with GDM on diet control and healthy pregnant groups, compared to the healthy non-pregnant women group.

Effect of normal and preeclamptic plasma on superoxide-anion production of neutrophils from healthy non-pregnant women

Background: Preeclampsia is a common medical complication during pregnancy, which affects approximately 8-10% in India and 6-8% of all pregnancies worldwide, most commonly after the 32nd week. It is associated with complications like premature birth, low birth weight and postpartum hemorrhage. Objectives: To estimate Lipid and Thyroid profile in Preeclampsia, Healthy pregnancy and Non pregnant women to assess the risk of lipid abnormalities and thyroid dysfunction in preeclampsia. To determine correlation of lipid and thyroid profile in preeclampsia patients and healthy pregnant women. Methods: This study comprised of three age matched groups consisting of 30 healthy non-pregnant women, 30 healthy pregnant women and 30 preeclampsia patients attending antenatal OPD and all pregnant women were at >28 weeks of gestation. Blood samples were collected 8-10 hours after fasting and the thyroid and lipid profiles were analyzed for comparison and correlation among them. Results: It was observed that T3, T4, TSH, total cholesterol, triglyceride and VLDL increased significantly in preeclampsia patients when compared to both healthy pregnant and non pregnant women. Whereas T3, T4, total cholesterol, triglyceride and VLDL were increased significantly in healthy pregnant women when compared to healthy non pregnant women. Significant positive correlation was seen between TSH and Triglycerides (p < 0.05) also seen between T3 and total cholesterol (p < 0.05), T3 and LDL (ρ < 0.05) in preeclampsia patients. Conclusion: Correlation of Lipid and Thyroid profile. Screening for dyslipidemia and thyroid dysfunction in Preeclampsia is essential to prevent medical complications during Pregnancy.

ObjectiveIn this study, we determined circulating levels of C-reactive protein, several cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors along with those of leptin in healthy non-pregnant and pregnant women and preeclamptic patients, and investigated whether serum leptin levels were related to the clinical characteristics and measured laboratory parameters of the study participants.MethodsSixty preeclamptic patients, 60 healthy pregnant women and 59 healthy non-pregnant women were involved in this case-control study. Levels of leptin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in maternal sera were assessed by ELISA. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-18, interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon-gamma-inducible protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 were determined by multiplex suspension array. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured by an autoanalyzer. Serum total soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and biologically active placental growth factor (PlGF) levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. For statistical analyses, non-parametric methods were applied.ResultsThere were significant differences in most of the measured laboratory parameters among the three study groups except for serum IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 levels. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients and healthy pregnant women than in healthy non-pregnant women. Additionally, preeclamptic patients had significantly higher leptin levels as compared to healthy pregnant women. Serum leptin levels were independently associated with BMI in healthy non-pregnant women. In healthy pregnant women, both BMI and serum CRP concentrations showed significant positive linear association with leptin levels. There were significant positive correlations between serum leptin concentrations of healthy pregnant women and systolic blood pressure, as well as serum levels of IP-10, while their serum leptin levels correlated inversely with fetal birth weight. In preeclamptic patients, a significant positive correlation was observed between serum concentrations of leptin and IP-10. Furthermore, elevated serum leptin level and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio had an additive (joint) effect in the risk of preeclampsia, as shown by the substantially higher odds ratios of their combination than of either alone.ConclusionsSimultaneous measurement of leptin with several inflammatory molecules and angiogenic factors in this study enabled us to investigate their relationship, which can help to understand the role of circulating leptin in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the urine iodine concentration in women with severe preeclampsia and in healthy women in Erzurum, Turkey. Urine specimens were obtained from 40 severe preeclampsia and 18 healthy pregnant women. Urinary iodine levels were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. The urinary iodine level for women with severe preeclampsia was 4.25 +/- 2.7 microg/dL, lower than 20.89 +/- 6.4 microg/dL of urinary iodine for healthy pregnant women (p < 0.001). Blood magnesium concentration was found to be 1.63 +/- 0.05 mg/dL for women with severe preeclampsia, which is lower than that of healthy pregnant women (1.87 +/- 0.05 mg/dL; p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between urinary iodine level and blood magnesium level in pregnant women with preeclampsia (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.43; p < 0.01). However, there was no correlation between urinary iodine level and blood magnesium level in healthy pregnant women. There was no difference in thyroid hormone levels (T4, TSH, FT4) between women with severe preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women. However, there was a difference in T3 thyroid hormone levels between women with severe preeclampsia (1.86 +/- 0.4 microg/dL) and healthy pregnant women (1.45 +/- 0.3 microg/dL; p < 0.001). There was also a difference in FT3 between women with severe preeclampsia (2.77 +/- 0.4 pg/mL) and healthy pregnant women (2.41 +/- 0.5 microg/dL; p < 0.01). Urinary iodine excretion is currently the most convenient laboratory marker of iodine deficiency. The method is useful for the rapid and low-cost assessment of iodine deficiency. Our results suggested that urinary iodine concentration might be a useful marker for prediagnosing preeclamptic women. In addition, iodine supplementation may also be considered for preeclamptic therapy.

Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin concentration during normal and diabetic pregnancy

BackgroundWorldwide there is a high prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) deficiency and has been associated with adverse outcomes during pregnancy.ObjectiveThis is a nested, case–control study in a longitudinal cohort to compare the serum 25OHD levels and other biomarkers throughout pregnancy in a group of 20 preeclamptic women and 61 healthy pregnant women. An additional group of 29 healthy non-pregnant women were also studied during the two phases of the menstrual cycle.ResultsMean 25OHD levels in non-pregnant women were 31.9 ng/mL and 34.9 ng/mL during follicular and luteal phase, respectively (P < 0.01). Mean serum 25OHD levels in healthy pregnant women were 26.5, 30.1 and 31.9 ng/mL, at first, second and third trimester, respectively (P < 0.001). The first trimester levels of 25OHD were lower than those of healthy non-pregnant women (P < 0.001), showing a significant recovery at third trimester. In the group of healthy pregnant women, the 25OHD levels were 25.7 ng/mL and 27.2 ng/mL at 3 and 6 months postpartum, respectively; both values were lower than those observed in the non-pregnant women (P < 0.001). In preeclamptic women, 25OHD serum levels were similar to those of healthy pregnant women; nevertheless, they remained almost unchanged throughout pregnancy.ConclusionThere were no significant differences between healthy and preeclamptic pregnant women in terms of 25OHD levels throughout the pregnancy. Serum 25OHD levels in non-pregnant women were higher during luteal phase compared with follicular phase. The 25OHD levels of non-pregnant women tended to be higher than those of pregnant women.

To establish whether there are changes in the maternal brain in pre-eclampsia detectable by magnetic resonance angiography and spectroscopy. A prospective, observational study. Obstetric and Radiology Departments, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. Fourteen healthy, nulliparous non-pregnant women, 9 healthy primiparous pregnant women and 10 women with pre-eclampsia. Magnetic resonance angiography and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain was performed on each woman. Non-pregnant women were each studied twice. Healthy pregnant women were studied three times during pregnancy and once postnatally. Subjects with pre-eclampsia were studied once antenatally and twice postnatally. Magnetic resonance angiograms were examined for signs of vessel narrowing. On magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the ratios of the dominant peaks of the spectrum: N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline, creatine and lactate were compared. Comparison of spectroscopic indices in non-pregnant, normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic women. On magnetic resonance angiography, there was no evidence of vessel narrowing in any of the three groups. NAA/choline ratio was higher at all stages of pregnancy compared with the non-pregnant group (P < 0.05) associated with lower choline. NAA/choline increased gradually during healthy pregnancy associated with a decrease in choline. NAA/choline was significantly lower in the pre-eclampsia group compared with the healthy pregnant women at similar gestation (P < 0.01), associated with higher choline. There were no differences between the groups postnatally. Lactate was not detected. These changes are similar to those found in patients with carotid stenosis without cerebral infarction. Narrowing of vessels detectable on magnetic resonance angiography does not occur commonly in pre-eclampsia. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy results suggest that there is relative cerebral ischaemia in pre-eclampsia compared with healthy pregnancy.