Birth Events Research Articles

Sex-specific median life expectancies from ex situ populations for 330 animal species

We present life expectancy estimates for hundreds of vertebrate species based on carefully vetted studbook data from North American zoos and aquariums. These data include sex-specific median life expectancies as well as sample size and 95% confidence limits for each estimate. Existing longevity data for animals primarily consist of maximum lifespan values, which are single observations rather than statistically derived estimates of longevity. Moreover, all of our estimates are based on the same type of data and calculated using consistent, standardized methods. To derive these estimates, we conducted Kaplan-Meier survival analyses using individual-level demographic data (i.e., records of birth and mortality events) from studbook records for each ex situ population. Our species set represents a range of vertebrate taxa (primarily mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles) and diverse life histories. This dataset will have broad utility, not only for informing comparative demographic and life history studies, but also more broadly for any research or conservation application that requires sex- or species-specific life expectancy information.

Wrongful birth: A recoverable damage in the Colombian legal system?

This article seeks to answer the following research question: would it be possible to claim that in the events of the births of babies suffering from a congenital disease that involves a physical or a mental disability which went promptly unnoticed due to a prenatal diagnosis error, the parents should be awarded any kind compensation for damages provided under the Colombian legal system? In order to answer the question, the legal claim referred as wrongful birth is reviewed under the comparative law and its autonomy against other wrongful actions related to the exercise of the reproductive freedom and the responsible parenthood liberties (wrongful life, wrongful conception and wrongful adoption), based upon which, the analysis of each one of the elements of civil liability in our country is undertaken in the events of wrongful birth, to conclude its viability in Colombia and introduce a possible damage compensation scheme for this subject.

Giving voice to my childbirth experiences and making peace with the birth event: the effects of the first childbirth on the second pregnancy and childbirth.

This autoethnographic study describes the author’s waterbirthing experience to evidence the relationship between fear of childbirth and communication with, and support from, healthcare professionals and the medical process during labour and delivery. The study provides a rereading of the author’s experience, which demonstrates how the traumatic consequences of a first childbirth influenced the experience of a second pregnancy and childbirth. This account indicates how lack of training and inadequate communication by medical staff can lead to traumatic childbirth experience. The study enhances understanding of womens’ transition to motherhood with implications for practice, education and research of midwives and other medical providers.

Iron and fecundity among Tsimane' women of Bolivia.

Background and objectivesIron is critical for women’s reproduction, and iron-deficiency anemia is a global health problem for mothers. While public health programs have aimed to correct iron deficiency in reproductive-aged women with supplementation, a small group of studies have shown that too much iron also has negative effects on birth outcomes. We hypothesize that women’s iron levels evolved within a narrow optimum, and predict that hemoglobin (Hb) levels would be associated with women’s fecundity.MethodologyWe used the publicly available, longitudinal Tsimane’ Amazonian Panel Study to test the association between -Hb levels and hazard of having a next birth (a measure of fecundity) among 116 parous, reproductive-aged Tsimane’ women of Bolivia. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to model Hb level and other predictors against the event of next birth across the observation period, which began at each woman’s previous birth.ResultsThe higher the Hb level, the lower the hazard of a woman giving birth within the study observation period (hazard ratio=0.82, P = 0.03). However, there was no evidence that low Hb reduced women’s fecundity.Conclusions and implicationsThese results demonstrate that high Hb influences women’s fecundity. These results supports the growing body of literature showing that iron metabolism is critical for understanding the evolution of women’s reproduction. More work is needed to determine the evolved optimal range of iron levels for reproductive-aged women.Lay summaryLower chance of pregnancy among Tsimane’ women with high Hb levels, suggesting evolved optimal Hb levels in women.

256: Impact of WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist on knowledge and practice of OB providers in Rwanda

To evaluate if implementation of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) can improve delivery of essential childbirth practices in Rwanda. Prospective study utilizing a pre-post intervention design was conducted in labor, post- partum and recovery wards at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), Rwanda. Surveys were conducted using frontline healthcare workers (midwives, nurses and residents) responsible for intra- and post-partum care. Birth events occurring at CHUK in the six months preceding the pilot and during the six-month pilot period were reviewed. Eligible charts included singleton pregnancies from time of admission to labor and delivery until twenty- four hours post-partum. A sample size of 326 birth events was calculated, 163 events pre- and post-checklist implementation. Patients admitted with an intrauterine fetal demise were excluded. Fifty-three participants were enrolled (62% midwives/nurses, and 38% residents). After implementation, 50 respondents re-answered the survey. During the six-month pilot period, knowledge and practice of obstetrical health care providers increased from 50% to 80% and from 57% to 90%, respectively. Knowledge of management of hypertensive disorders increased from 51% to 83% (p=0.001), diagnosing labor dystocia increased from 60% to 89% (p=0.001) and correct indication of antibiotic administration during labor and delivery increased from 47% to 77% (p=0.002). The quality of obstetrical health care was found to be improved proportional to the knowledge and practice, mainly in labor monitoring and chart documentation. Documentation of almost all tasks reviewed improved to 90% during the post-pilot period. Labor dystocia was decreased from 21% to 12% (p<0.001). Oxytocin administration within one minute post-partum increased from 44% to 74% (p<0.001). There was no impact on the diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage or hypertensive disease. In a six-month period following pilot implementation of WHO SCC, there was positive improvement of knowledge and practice of obstetrical providers. There was also an overall increase in reinstitution of recommended practices in obstetrical care that address the major causes of intra-partum stillbirths and maternal and neonatal complications.

From Heavens to Earth A Biography of Cumulus Clouds

In this article, I discuss the life cycle of cumulus clouds. The events of birth, growth and demise of clouds are discussed in terms of microphysical processes that underlie them. My hope is that the next time you raise your eyes to the sky and see a cloud, it will present itself to your mind’s eye as more than a ‘white fluffy thing’.

Risk Factors of Mother Associated to the Event of Premature Birth

Risk Factors of Mother Associated to the Event of Premature Birth

Preconception alanine aminotransferase concentrations and risk of preterm birth in rural Chinese women aged 20–49 years: a population-based cohort study

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown maternal hepatitis B virus infection is associated with preterm birth. However, whether liver dysfunction caused by hepatitis B virus infection or other factors can lead to preterm delivery needs further exploration. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a sensitive indicator of liver function, but few studies have investigated the association between serum ALT concentrations and preterm birth. We aimed to examine the relationship between maternal preconception ALT concentration and risk of preterm birth. MethodsWe did a population-based cohort study of 4832887 women aged 20–49 years old, who participated in the National Free Pre-pregnancy Checkups Project (NFPCP) in 2013–16, and delivered a livebirth before Dec 31, 2017, in rural China. We collected information about demographic characteristics, history of pregnancy and diseases, serum ALT concentration, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status, and other variables. We divided participants into five groups according to serum ALT concentration (≤20 U/L, 21–40 U/L, 41–60 U/L, 61–80 U/L, and ≥ 81 U/L). The primary outcome was preterm birth (gestational age 28 to <37 weeks). We used logistic models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs, after adjusting for confounding variables. We applied restricted cubic splines to investigate the dose-response relationship. The study was approved by the Institutional Research Review Board at the National Health Commission, and all participants gave written consent. FindingsBy Dec 31, 2017, 324207 (6·71%) preterm birth events were documented in the 4832887 participants. Incidence of preterm birth was lowest in women with ALT concentrations of 21–40 U/L (93685 [6·42%] of 1 458 233 women), whereas the preterm birth incidence was highest in women with ALT concentrations of 81 U/L or higher (3302 [7·52%] of 43912 women). There was a non-linear dose-response relationship between serum ALT concentration and risk of preterm birth (U-shaped, p<0·001). In women who were HBsAg negative, the multivariable-adjusted OR for preterm birth was 1·07 (95% CI 1·06–1·08) for ALT concentrations of 20 U/L or less, 1·19 (1·16–1·22) for concentrations of 41–60 U/L, 1·16 (1·11–1·20) for concentrations of 61–80 U/L, and 1·16 (1·12–1·21) for concentrations of 81 U/L or higher, when compared to women with ALT concentrations of 21–40 U/L. In women who were HBsAg positive, there were significant associations between preterm birth and ALT concentrations of 61–80 U/L (OR 1·17, 95% CI 1·05–1·29), and 81 U/L or higher (1·21, 1·11–1·31). InterpretationOur study identified a U-shaped relationship between maternal preconception ALT concentration and risk of preterm birth. The association between ALT concentration and risk of preterm birth was independent of hepatitis B virus infection. The surveillance of ALT among women planning pregnancy should be warranted, given the increased risk of preterm birth. FundingThis study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (number 2016YFC10003007).

Fat trajectory after birth in very preterm infants mimics healthy term infants.

Infants born very preterm experience poor postnatal growth relative to intrauterine growth, but at term equivalent age, they have increased percentage body fat compared with infants born at term. The aim of this study was to assess body composition in very preterm infants born before 32weeks postmenstrual age and to compare this with infants born at 32-36weeks of gestation. Percentage fat, fat mass and fat-free mass were measured in 87 very preterm infants born <32weeks of gestation and studied at 32-36weeks and in 88 control infants born at 32-36weeks of gestation and measured on days 2-5 postnatally. At 32-36weeks, very preterm infants were lighter and shorter, had significantly greater percentage fat and absolute fat mass and had a significantly lower absolute fat-free mass than the control group. The trajectory in percentage fat over increasing postnatal age in very preterm infants was closely aligned to that in term infants. Infants born very preterm accumulate fat rapidly after birth and have a deficit in fat-free mass. Fat accumulation may be triggered by birth or associated events. If this rapid fat accretion is not taken into account, assessment of growth based on weight alone will underestimate the deficit in fat-free mass.

The effect of hypnobirthing training given in the antenatal period on birth pain and fear

The use of hypnosis as a complementary therapy in the perinatal field is expanding, however, there is little research for its impact on perinatal mental health. Here, we review studies that evaluate the effect of hypnosis on women's mental health and subjective experiences.A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA protocol for articles with experimental designs of hypnosis that measured their impact on several psychological variables, such as the presence of symptoms of anxiety, depression or fear of childbirth. Studies were evaluated according to the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Checklists (CASP), and analyzed for their designs and intervention themes.Seven studies were included and six themes emerged: preparation for birth and unexpected events; change in the perception and experience of pain; pregnant body as a natural process; connection with the baby during pregnancy; development of inner resources; and progressive relaxation and guided imagery. Although results were partly mitigated, most studies found positive effects of hypnosis in alleviating anxiety, depression, and fear towards birth, empowering women with a higher sense of confidence and improving the overall emotional experience. Two studies also indicate encouraging outcomes in postnatal wellbeing.While it is still argued as to what extent hypnosis has positive effects on physical aspects of labor, the empowerment and the increase in confidence associated with hypnosis seem to bring a significant contribution to a more positive subjective experience of pregnancy and childbirth, and on women's overall wellbeing in the perinatal period.

Applications of WKB and Fokker-Planck Methods in Analyzing Population Extinction Driven by Weak Demographic Fluctuations.

In large but finite populations, weak demographic stochasticity due to random birth and death events can lead to population extinction. The process is analogous to the escaping problem of trapped particles under random forces. Methods widely used in studying such physical systems, for instance, Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) and Fokker-Planck methods, can be applied to solve similar biological problems. In this article, we comparatively analyse applications of WKB and Fokker-Planck methods to some typical stochastic population dynamical models, including the logistic growth, endemic SIR, predator-prey, and competitive Lotka-Volterra models. The mean extinction time strongly depends on the nature of the corresponding deterministic fixed point(s). For different types of fixed points, the extinction can be driven either by rare events or typical Gaussian fluctuations. In the former case, the large deviation function that governs the distribution of rare events can be well-approximated by the WKB method in the weak noise limit. In the later case, the simpler Fokker-Planck approximation approach is also appropriate.

Мемориальные надписи в память о репрессиях: Соловецкие острова и урочище Сандармох

This essay analyzes texts of memorial plaques and inscriptions on monuments commemorating victims of political repressions of the 1920s and 1930s at Sandarmokh in Karelia and on the Solovetskie Islands. The erection of these memorial tokens on the sites of mass graves is seen as one way to approach the historical memory of political repressions in Russia. Inscriptions on monuments not only testify to the special attention given to certain social groups of victims but also create distinct hierarchies and interpretative models reflecting attitudes towards the persecution of the diverse social groups that erected the monuments. The author suggests that the practice of installing memorial plaques to commemorate the repressed is rooted in the tradition of placing memorial plaques in urban spaces. Both types of memorials are relatively easy to install (especially as compared to constructing a memorial complex) and both are transient by nature, always ready to be turned into a monument, museum, or a memorial complex— or to vanish altogether. However, in contrast with urban memorial plaques marking sites of birth, work, or major life events, memorial signs on mass grave sites refer to places of death. For this reason, creators of these commemorative texts are compelled to go beyond biographical details, such as dates of birth and death, and to articulate their attitude to the deceased’s violent death. Consequently, the memorial inscriptions at Sandarmokh and the Solovetskie Islands are less formal than the more standardized texts of urban memorial signs, bearing witness to interpretations typical of the groups that erected the monuments. The relative ease of installation explains the popularity of this particular kind of commemoration of mass grave sites. Along with influential public organizations and religious and ethnic communities, local residents also make their presence known in the memorial spaces of Sandarmokh and the Solovetskie Islands by mounting photographs of their repressed family members onto trees and crosses. As a result, the many memorial plaques all along Avenue of Remembrance on the Solovetskie Islands and at the site of Sandarmokh constitute a specific feature of commemorating Soviet repressions and illustrate the diversity and heterogeneity of this memory. Text in Russian. DOI: 10.25285/2078-1938-2018-10-2-149-156

Gene Birth Contributes to Structural Disorder Encoded by Overlapping Genes.

The same nucleotide sequence can encode two protein products in different reading frames. Overlapping gene regions encode higher levels of intrinsic structural disorder (ISD) than nonoverlapping genes (39% vs. 25% in our viral dataset). This might be because of the intrinsic properties of the genetic code, because one member per pair was recently born de novo in a process that favors high ISD, or because high ISD relieves increased evolutionary constraint imposed by dual-coding. Here, we quantify the relative contributions of these three alternative hypotheses. We estimate that the recency of de novo gene birth explains [Formula: see text] or more of the elevation in ISD in overlapping regions of viral genes. While the two reading frames within a same-strand overlapping gene pair have markedly different ISD tendencies that must be controlled for, their effects cancel out to make no net contribution to ISD. The remaining elevation of ISD in the older members of overlapping gene pairs, presumed due to the need to alleviate evolutionary constraint, was already present prior to the origin of the overlap. Same-strand overlapping gene birth events can occur in two different frames, favoring high ISD either in the ancestral gene or in the novel gene; surprisingly, most de novo gene birth events contained completely within the body of an ancestral gene favor high ISD in the ancestral gene (23 phylogenetically independent events vs. 1). This can be explained by mutation bias favoring the frame with more start codons and fewer stop codons.

Thoughts on the Postpartum Situation

The event of childbirth carries with it a dominant narrative: that a pregnant woman happily gives birth to a baby. This appears to be quite a simple formulation – as if a natural fact, as if plain and common sense. Yet, the complexities masked by the mythological and whitewashed quality of this narrative, as I have already argued recently in my graphic novel narrative/philosophical analysis, The Pregnancy ≠ Childbearing Project: A Phenomenology of Miscarriage (2017), harms and even kills women. In this paper, I expand on the problem of what I term ‘dismemberment after birth’ as operates invisibly in the ‘postpartum situation.’ The dominant narrative, combined with a pervasive cultural misogynoir as well as medicalized and ableist establishment of care, renders women without resource if they cannot maintain the desires and embodiments required of a contented and successful maternity. The naturalized assumptions about the narrative move from the birth event to ‘having a baby’ are disrupted here with hope of opening up an opportunity to validate and diversify the more non-linear narratives. As an afterthought to these disruptions I present here, I offer an additional challenge to anti-natalist thinking in its limited insight into the postpartum situation.

Neurotransmitters in hermatypic coral, Acropora spp., and its contribution to synchronous spawning during reproductive event

Synchronous spawning as mass reproduction is well known to occur in many hermatypic corals, which is one of the mysterious life birth events. However, its contributing mechanism has not yet been clarified. This study placed focus on elucidating a neurotransmitter as endocrine signals that contribute to the synchronous spawning. First, the determination method of the neurotransmitters in coral was established by LC/MS in the selective ion mode together with a solid phase extraction method. As a result, the similar contents of the neurotransmitters for dopamine (DA), adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NR) were detected in both the hermatypic corals of Acropora intermedia and Acropora digitifera. More interestingly, these neurotransmitters increased through the reproductive event during the synchronous spawning of A. intermedia, particularly, remarkable changes in the NR and DA were observed. In addition, hydrogen peroxide is known as the spawning stimulant and the metabolic by-product of the neurotransmitters, which was exposed to A. digitifera, then the neurotransmitters increased as well as those of the synchronization of spawning. All of the results suggested that the neurotransmitters contribute to the synchronous spawning in the hermatypic corals.

Generation Time in Structured Populations.

Generation time is an intuitively simple concept, but for structured populations there are multiple definitions and no general understanding of how they relate to each other. François Bienvenu and Stéphane Legendre, in their note "A New Approach to the Generation Time in Matrix Population Models," appearing in the June 2015 issue of The American Naturalist, introduced a new measure of generation time Ta, the average time between birth events in an ancestral lineage, and derived the remarkably simple formula [Formula: see text] for any matrix model, where F is the fecundity matrix, v is reproductive value, and w is stable population structure. Here I generalize their formula and interpretations of Ta to a continuous or continuous-discrete population structure and derive similar formulas for three other established generation time measures: average parent age across all births at one time ([Formula: see text]) and mean parent age at birth events for a cohort (μ1) or generation (Tc). The new formulas reveal that these differently defined measures are unexpectedly often identical in value and clarify when they differ.

Implementing the World Health Organization safe childbirth checklist in a district Hospital in Rwanda: a pre- and post-intervention study

BackgroundWorldwide maternal mortality remains high, with approximately 830 maternal deaths occurring each day. About 90% of these deaths occur in low-income countries. Evidenced-based essential birth practices administered during routine obstetrical care and childbirth are key to reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) is a low-cost tool designed to ensure birth attendants perform 29 essential birth practices (EBP) at four critical periods in the birth continuum. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with EBP in Masaka District Hospital both before and after the implementation of the WHO-SCC.MethodsThis quality improvement project took place in the Masaka District Hospital in Rwanda. Observations of the 29 EBPs were done before and after WHO SCC implementation. The implementation process consisted of providing training in the use of the checklist to all clinical staff and posting SCC posters at different locations in the maternity unit.ResultsA total 391 birth events were observed pre-intervention and 389 post-intervention. The overall EBP compliance rate increased from 46% pre-intervention to 56% post-intervention (P = 0.005). Significant improvements were seen in 11 out of 29 EBPs.ConclusionThe implementation of the WHO SCC improved the overall EBP compliance rate in Masaka District Hospital. Determining the root cause of low compliance rate of some EBP may allow for more successful implementation of EBP interventions in the future. After further study, the SCC should be considered for scale up.

Comorbidity of the congenital absence of the vas deferens.

Congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) is a relatively rare anomaly that may contribute to male infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of patients with CAVD and to emphasise some pathological conditions that may be detected during the infertility work-up or follow-up of these patients. The charts of 150 males with the diagnosis of CAVD were evaluated retrospectively. The demographic characteristics, reasons for attendance, the way of diagnosis, interventions for infertility before and after attendance, physical examination findings, reproductive hormone levels, semen analysis results, genetical analysis results and resultant live birth events were all included in the study. There were 101 bilateral and 43 unilateral CAVD cases. Thirty-two males (30.2%) had some renal abnormalities. Two cases, one with bilateral and one with unilateral agenesis, died because of colon cancer at a young age. One case with CUAVD had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Congenital absence of the vas deferens should not be seen only as a fertility problem because of the many genotypic or phenotypic disorders that may be present with it. These disorders can cause serious general health problems either presently or in future and can also be transmitted to future generations.

Quantifying the role of Trojan dams in the between-herd spread of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDv) in Ireland

A compulsory national programme to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDv) began in Ireland on 1 January, 2013. The objective of the current study was to quantify the role of Trojan dams (animal(s) not persistently infected (PI) with BVDv but carrying PI foetus(es) and introduced to the herd while pregnant with the PI foetus(es)) in the farm-to-farm spread of BVDv in Ireland, and to identify herd-level risk factors for producing or introducing a Trojan dam. The study population included all BVD+ calves born in Ireland between 1 January, 2013 and 31 December, 2015, along with their dams. BVD+ calves included all calves on the national programme database with an initial positive or inconclusive virus test, without a confirmatory re-test (status BVDPOS) and those with an initial positive or inconclusive test and a positive confirmatory test (status BVDPI). The Trojan status of dams was determined after considering their history of movement and of potential BVDV exposure, relative to a defined window of susceptibility (WOS; days 30–120 of gestation). During 2013–15, there were 29,422 BVD+ birth events to dams that were not themselves BVD+, including 2526 (8.6%) most-likely attributable to Trojan dams. The percentage of these birth events attributable to Trojan dams was significantly different (P < 0.001) between years, being 7.1% in 2013, 9.2% in 2014 and 10.6% in 2015. During 2013, in 9.9% of herds with one or more BVD+ birth to non-BVD+ dams, at least one of these births was attributed to a Trojan dam. In 2014 and 2015, the percentages were 11.8% and 13.3%, respectively. In 2013, in 7.8% of herds with one or more BVD+ birth to non-BVD+ dams, all of these births were attributable to Trojan dams. In 2014 and 2015, the percentages were 9.2% and 10.7%, respectively. A logistic GEE regression identified dam parity, herd size and an interaction between herd type and season as significant predictors for the birth of a BVD+ calf to a Trojan dam. Significant predictors for the sale of a Trojan dam from BVD+ herds included those selling more than one pregnant female and those with more than 2 BVD+ animals in the herd. Introduction of pregnant adult females is a potential source of BVD+ births in BVD-free herds and may add to the burden of infection in non-BVD-free herds. Addressing this route of transmission will be critical for herds that are now free of infection and wish to continue to purchase animals without introducing it.

Maternal Knowledge Factor, Maternal Age and Maternal Parity Associated with Genesis of Normal Delivery at Palembang Hospital of Bari Year 2017

Childbirthis a processLabor of opening and depleting the cervix and the fetus down into the birth canal. Birth is a process in which the fetus and amniotic are pushed out through the birth canal. (Sarwono, 2008). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than 585,000 mothers annually die during pregnancy or childbirth. Indonesia Health Demographic Survey (SDKI) Survey in 2012, Maternal Mortality Rate in Indonesia is still high at 359 per 100,000 live births. The purpose of this study is the knowledge of maternal knowledge, maternal age, and maternal parity associated with normal birth events at Palembang Bari Hospital 2017. This study used analytical survey method with cross sectional approach. The population in this study were all maternal mothers at the Palembang Bari Hospital in 2017. Sampling in the study was conducted non-randomly with the technique of "Accidental Sampling". Data analysis was done univariat and bivariate with Chi-Square statistical test with significance level α = 0,05. The result of this research shows that there is correlation between mother's knowledge with normal delivery incidence with p value 0,001, there is correlation between mother age with normal delivery incidence with p value 0,009, there is relation between mother parity with normal delivery incidence with p value 0,001. From result of this research hopes healthcare workers can improve normal delivery care services and more often to carry out maternal safety counseling.