Different Phases Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Metabolomics during canine pregnancy and lactation.

During pregnancy and parturition, female dogs have to cope with various challenges such as providing nutrients for the growth of the fetuses, hormonal changes, whelping, nursing, milk production, and uterine involution. Metabolomic research has been used to characterize the influence of several factors on metabolism such as inter- and intra-individual factors, feeding, aging, inter-breed differences, drug action, behavior, exercise, genetic factors, neuter status, and pathologic processes. Aim of this study was to identify metabolites showing specific changes in blood serum at the different phases of pregnancy and lactation. In total, 27 privately owned female dogs of 21 different breeds were sampled at six time points: during heat, in early, mid and late pregnancy, at the suspected peak of lactation and after weaning. A validated and highly automated canine-specific NMR metabolomics technology was utilized to quantitate 123 measurands. It was evaluated which metabolite concentrations showed significant changes between the different time points. Metabolites were then grouped into five clusters based on concentration patterns and biochemical relationships between the metabolites: high in mid-pregnancy, low in mid-pregnancy, high in late pregnancy, high in lactation, and low in lactation. Several metabolites such as albumin, glycoprotein acetyls, fatty acids, lipoproteins, glucose, and some amino acids show similar patterns during pregnancy and lactation as shown in humans. The patterns of some other parameters such as branched-chain amino acids, alanine and histidine seem to differ between these species. For most metabolites, it is yet unstudied whether the observed changes arise from modified resorption from the intestines, modified production, or metabolism in the maternal or fetal tissues. Hence, further species-specific metabolomic research may support a broader understanding of the physiological changes caused by pregnancy that are likely to be key for the normal fetal growth and development. Our findings provide a baseline of normal metabolic changes during healthy canine pregnancy and parturition. Combined with future metabolomics findings, they may help monitor vital functions of pre-, intra-, and post-partum bitches and may allow early detection of illness.

Perspectives about social support among unmarried pregnant university students in South Africa.

Pregnant young women in an academic environment are susceptible to stressors associated with unintended pregnancy and academic demands of universities. The challenges they face may be exacerbated by lack of social support, putting them at risk of psychological disorders such as depression. Women who receive social support during pregnancy and postpartum experience less emotional distress and report greater maternal satisfaction. However, very little is known about the perspectives about social support among unmarried pregnant students in tertiary institutions. Participants were purposively selected among unmarried pregnant students and those in the puerperal period at the time of the study. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore the perspectives of unmarried pregnant students on the type of support that they need during pregnancy and the puerperium and the period when most support is needed. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show that social supports (emotional, instrumental, informational, and financial) were highlighted as important resources to cope with stressors during pregnancy and post-birth. Emotional support from male partners was the most important type of support needed as it entailed a sense of being loved and cared for. Social support was identified as important throughout the different phases of pregnancy and post birth, with different support needs expressed at each of these phases. This study identified support needs of unmarried pregnant university students in their transition to motherhood. Given the several challenges that they are faced with, unmarried pregnant students need social support, including male partner support to enhance wellbeing as they try to cope with academic and pregnancy-related stressors.

Study of the Ghrelin/LEAP-2 Ratio in Humans and Rats during Different Phases of Pregnancy.

The Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide 2 (LEAP-2) has emerged as an endogenous GHS-R antagonist and blunts the orexigenic action of ghrelin. This study aimed to determine the Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio in humans and rats during pregnancy. In humans, we conducted a nested case-control study within an observational prospective cohort. Healthy and mild preeclamptic pregnant women were studied at each trimester of gestation and three months postpartum. In addition, a group of non-pregnant women was studied into the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio was investigated in non-pregnant rats and at different periods of rat pregnancy. Human and rat serum ghrelin and LEAP-2 levels were determined using the commercially available ELISA kits. The Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio peak around the second trimester of gestation in healthy pregnant women (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio between healthy and preeclamptic pregnant women at each trimester of gestation (p > 0.05). The Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio in pregnant rat reached the peak around mid-gestation with a similar pattern to the human pregnancy. LEAP-2 was visualized by immunohistochemistry in human term placenta and rat placentas on days 12, 16 and 21 of pregnancy. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence of a Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio peak around the half-way point of pregnancy onwards during human and rat pregnancy, and it might be associated with increased rates of weight gain during pregnancy. Thus, this study suggests that LEAP-2 and Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio might play an important role in maternal physiology adaptation of weight gain during pregnancy.

Simulation of Pregnancy-Related Abdominal Mass Results in Nonimmediate Changes in Postural Control: An Exploratory Study

Background: Changes to segmental inertial properties, abdominal growth, and increased circulating relaxin are some of the numerous contributing factors to higher risks of falling during pregnancy. These factors emerge in different phases of pregnancy, have a cumulative effect, and vary across women. For these reasons, determining each factor's role in the development of higher fall risk is challenging and yet crucial in uncovering their clinical importance. Objectives: To investigate the independent effect of additional abdominal weight on balance control in nonpregnant women. Study Design: A longitudinal study. Methods: Ten healthy women were submitted to computerized posturography while an additional abdominal weight (7% of body mass) was applied for 24 hours. Postural behavior was recorded from 4 experimental conditions: before placement of the additional weight (Baseline), immediately after placement of the abdominal weight (T1), 24 hours after continuous application of the abdominal weight (T2), and immediately after abdominal weight removal (T3). Variables of interest were extracted from the participant's body sway dynamics and included the center of pressure (COP) migration area, range, root mean square (RMS), mean velocity, median frequency (F50), and signal sample entropy (SEnt). Results: At T3, significant increases were found for the COP migration area, mediolateral range, and mediolateral RMS (P values range: .005-.013). Also at T3, significant decreases were found for mediolateral F50 and SEnt (P values range: .001-.038). Conclusion: Modifications in balance behavior were observed when the abdominal weight was removed after 24 hours of application. Significant changes occurred in the mediolateral body sway amplitude and regularity suggesting the presence of mediolateral instability.

Diagnostic performance of the AAP/EFP classification and the CDC/AAP case definition among pregnant women and a practical screening tool for maternal periodontal diseases.

Background and ObjectiveThere is a limited number of studies on the performance assessment of the 2017 AAP/EFP classification and the CDC/AAP case definition among pregnant females. This study evaluated the agreement between these two systems and explored a practical tool for screening maternal periodontal diseases by general dentists.Materials and MethodsTotally, 204 systemically healthy females at different phases of pregnancy underwent a full‐mouth periodontal examination. Demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and systemic conditions were recorded. Referring to the CDC/AAP definition, the diagnostic performance of the AAP/EFP classification was evaluated by the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and statistical tests (e.g., Youden's index and kappa coefficient). Additionally, a modified scoring system of the FDI Periodontal Diseases Chairside Guide (FDI‐CG) was formulated with the addition of pregnancy for testing accordingly.ResultsOverall, there were 22.1% of the participants in early phase of pregnancy (7–13 weeks) and 77.9% in late phase (34–36 weeks). The majority of them were below 35 years and non‐smokers without gestational diabetes. Notably, 30.9% of subjects presented with Moderate/Severe periodontitis (CDC/AAP), and 35.8% with Stages II‐IV periodontitis (AAP/EFP). Referring to the CDC/AAP definition, the AUC, Youden's index, and κ of the AAP/EFP classification were 0.979, 0.890, and 92.9%, respectively. The modified FDI‐CG system improved the AUC (0.815), Youden's index (63.0%), and κ (0.544) with reference to the original one.ConclusionsThis study shows that the AAP/EFP classification is in high agreement with the CDC/AAP definition among the pregnant women. The phases of pregnancy‐integrated FDI scoring system may serve as a convenient screening tool for maternal periodontal diseases in general dental practice.

Effect of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation during pregnancy on glucocorticoid receptor regulation of HPA axis function in female offspring

Poor maternal sleep quality during the different phases of pregnancy acts as a prenatal stress and is critical for fetal development. Despite the potential adverse effects of maternal stress on the behavior and physiology of the offspring, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study investigates the effects of maternal sleep deprivation (SD) at different stages of pregnancy on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in female offspring. The pregnant rats were subjected to sleep deprivation of 12 h per day at different stages; early (ESD), mid (MSD), and late (LSD) stages, on pregnancy days 1–7, 8–14, and 14–20, respectively. At postnatal day 60, levels of corticosterone (CORT), hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF-R1), and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (GR) were evaluated in the offspring. Although the hypothalamic CRF-R1 level was increased in the offspring of SD dams, immunohistochemical staining showed reduced immunoreactivity of GR in ESD and LSD offspring hippocampal area. Altogether, the data suggests that a critical period for adverse effects of SD on the HPA axis in female offspring of Wistar rats may be during early and late pregnancy.

Decidual Natural Killer Cells Are Essential for a Successful Pregnancy (Review)

Pregnancy is a complex physiological process involving several interconnected systems. Many researchers were concerned that the formation of a fetus with different genetic components may contradict the normal state of immunity, which attempts to reject and fight foreign bodies. This piqued the interest of biologists and immunologists, who set out to discover the immune system’s composition and mode of response in the uterus. According to several studies, natural killer (NK) cells are present in a significant percentage that differs from what is seen in peripheral blood. As a result, several scientific studies have been conducted on uterine NK cells, investigating their types, characteristics, receptors, secretions, and interactions with the surrounding environment. Research has also indicated the capacity of uterine NK cells to strike a balance between eradicating uterine infections and effectively contributing to different phases of pregnancy. Various studies have shown that NK cell activity is intimately related to the success or failure of pregnancy. In this review, we describe the uterine NK cell subtypes; decidual (dNK) cells and endometrial NK cells (eNK) cells and their important role during different phases of pregnancy.

Trimester specific reference ranges of serum TSH, FT3 and FT4 during last trimester of pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy is a stress for thyroid gland. After decades of research it is recommended that normal reference ranges of thyroid hormones test during different phases of pregnancy are necessary. The objective of this study was to establish serum TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels during last trimester of pregnancy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. Simple convenient sampling technique was applied and sample size was calculated using classical sample size calculation formula of Cochran. Serum TSH, FT3 and FT4 were estimated by ELIZA method. Results: Maternal group showed serum TSH levels of 1.79±0.85 mIU/L. Maternal serum FT3 levels were 1.711±2.089 pmol/L. Mean serum FT4 of Maternal group were 1.31±1.07 ng/dL, (Range: 0.78–5.20 ng/dl). Conclusion: Our study population trimester specific ranges of TSH, FT4 and FT3 were lower than latest international levels according to Guidelines of American Thyroid Association of 2017. These values may be used to compare thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy. Pak J Physiol 2021;17(1):

Quercetin ameliorates the hepatic apoptosis of foetal rats induced by in utero exposure to fenitrothion via the transcriptional regulation of paraoxonase-1 and apoptosis-related genes

Background & purpose Exposure to organophosphorus during different phases of pregnancy induces many adverse impacts on the developing foetuses due to their immature detoxification system. We have estimated the potential amelioration role of quercetin against hepatic injury-induced apoptosis in rat foetuses following gestational exposure to fenitrothion and probable involvement of paraoxonase-1. Methods Forty pregnant rats were allocated into four groups; the first one kept as control, the second intubated with quercetin (100 mg/kg), the third orally administrated fenitrothion (4.62 mg/kg) and the last group received quercetin two hours before fenitrothion intoxication. Results Fenitrothion significantly elevated the foetal hepatic levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, protein carbonyl, and nitric oxide, but it reduced the enzymatic activities of glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and acetylcholinesterase. Furthermore, fenitrothion provoked many histopathological changes in the foetal liver and markedly up-regulated the mRNA gene expression of p53, caspase-9 along with elevation in the immunoreactivity of Bax and caspase-3, but it down-regulated the expression level of paraoxonase-1. Remarkably, quercetin co-treatment successfully ameliorated the hepatic oxidative injury and apoptosis prompted by fenitrothion. Conclusions Dietary supplements with quercetin can be used to reduce the risk from organophosphorus exposure probably through paraoxonase-1 up-regulation and enhancement of the cellular antioxidant system.

Dynamics of Oxidants, Antioxidants and Hormones During Diff erent Phases of Pregnancy in Hairy Goats

Dynamics of Oxidants, Antioxidants and Hormones During Diff erent Phases of Pregnancy in Hairy Goats

Iodine nutrition status and thyroid function of women at different phases of gestation in an iodine sufficient rural area.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the status of iodine nutrition and thyroid function of women at different phases of gestation in an iodine sufficient rural area. 215 pregnant women in different trimesters were consecutively enrolled in iodine sufficient rural areas of Yongjing county of Gansu province, China. The blood samples and random urine samples were collected from them, and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and urinary iodine were measured. Median Urinary Iodine (MUI) of three groups of pregnant women (first, second and third trimester) were 190 μg/L, 153 μg/L and 145 μg/L respectively. With the increase of gestational age, the level of FT3 decreased. And the FT3 level in the first trimester was higher than those in the second and third trimester. There was a U-shaped curve seen between the TSH levels and the gestational age. The medians of TgAb and TPOAb appeared the lowest in the first trimester．Significant difference was seen in TgAb and TPOAb levels of the three groups of pregnant women. The incidence of thyroid function disorder was 1.86%, including subclinical hypothyroidism accounted for 1.40% and hypothyroidism accounted for 0.47%. The incidence of thyroid function disorder mainly appeared in the early pregnancy. Abnormal FT3, TSH, positive TgAb and TPOAb were mainly seen during early pregnancy. The levels of serum TSH and thyroid hormones fluctuate at the different phases of pregnancy. With the increase of gestational age, the incidence of iodine deficiency also increased. Abnormal thyroid hormones, TSH, positive TgAb and TPOAb were mainly existed in the early pregnancy.

Health promotion around the birth

Abstract Background With the “Child Protection Act” in 2012, the Prevention Law in 2015 and the new health goal ’Health around Birth’ in 2017, the framework conditions for health promotion and prevention in pregnancy have improved. This takes into account the fact that health behavior is essentially determined by embryonic and early childhood experiences in families. Methods First: Analyzing the family-related legal regulations by Early Helps and the Prevention Act as well as the health goal “Healthy Birth”; Second: Analyzing data from 153 interviews with socially disadvantaged mothers; Third: Collecting mothers’ impressions (in citations) about physiological, psychological and social coping factors; Fourth: Analyzing conceptually and within different phases of pregnancy (orientation-, self-conception-, subject conception-, anticipation- and birth phase) and postnatal phases (postpartum, family becoming, stabilization and socialization to society) phase-specific prevention needs and potentials identified as well as examples of health promotion. Results Pregnancy and becoming a family are associated with different coping requirements, which should be treated specifically according to phases and social conditions. A tailored analysis provides a variety of methods and approaches for health promotion, which can be offered via setting-approaches or in individual counseling and support. They can be described as parts of family health promotion, which should be designed as a joint task of the health service and child and youth welfare as well as other local actors. Discussion Family health promotion is a complex challenge for the actors in the care, in the social area and in the control levels. It requires an independent, scientifically justified intervention approach with method programs and institutional assignments. Key messages Pregnancy and becoming a family are associated with different coping requirements. It requires an independent, scientifically justified intervention approach with method programs and institutional assignments.

Do copper levels alter in different phases of pregnancy: A hospital based cross sectional comparative study

Do copper levels alter in different phases of pregnancy: A hospital based cross sectional comparative study - IJCBR- Print ISSN No: - 2394-6369 Online ISSN No:- 2394-6377 Article DOI No:- 10.18231/j.ijcbr.2019.070, International Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Research-Int J Clin Biochem Res

Pregnancy-Induced Perturbation of Urinary Androgenic Steroid Disposition.

ObjectiveTo investigate the excretion and conjugation profile of testosterone (T), Epitestosterone (EpiT), and other androgen metabolites in different phases of pregnancy and postpregnancy as a reflection of the “androgenic exposure.”DesignConsecutive recruitment of pregnant women.SettingMaternity outpatient low-risk pregnancy clinic.PatientsSeventy-seven pregnant women.InterventionsCollection of urine for analyses of sulfate (S) and glucuronide (G) conjugates and metabolic ratios of androgens and androgen metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Main Outcome MeasuresExcretion profiles and metabolic ratios of G and S conjugates of T, EpiT, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androsterone (A), etiocholanolone (Etio), and dihydrotestosterone in relation to trimester and postpartum, body mass index, fetal sex, and ethnicity.ResultsT-S excretion increased significantly between the second and third trimester, whereas excretion of T-G did not change. In contrast, both conjugates of EpiT increased markedly, more so for the S-(17-fold) than the G-conjugate (1.6-fold). The preference for S over G conjugation was conspicuous for EpiT and DHEA (S/G ratio 2.1 and 4.7, respectively, in the third trimester), whereas the reverse was true for T, A, and Etio (S/G 0.6, 0.13, and 0.11, respectively).ConclusionsPregnancy influences the androgen excretion profile, with the most profound change being an increase in EpiT excretion throughout the trimesters. EpiT may modulate the effect of T, but its exact role during pregnancy is not known. There were marked differences in the S/G conjugate ratios between androgens upstream and downstream from T in the metabolic network. These results are interesting to compare with the androgen disposition in women with endocrine disorders or abuse of steroids.

Postpartum Sequelae of the Hypertensive Diseases of Pregnancy: A Pilot Study.

Background:Hypertensive disorders are one of the most common medical conditions that may complicate pregnancy. Postpartum blood pressure (BP) pattern is, however, less clear in affected women and decision to discharge them is usually decided arbitrarily.Materials and Methods:A cohort study conducted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, aimed at determining the proportion of pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and preeclampsia (PE) whose BP remains elevated 6 weeks postdelivery and factors associated with the persistent rise. Fifteen women each with PIH and PE were studied in different phases of pregnancy and followed up until 6 weeks postdelivery. Fifteen normotensive pregnant women served as controls. BP patterns were monitored and fasting lipid levels, serum creatinine, fasting glucose profile (FGP), and FGP/insulin ratio were assayed. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 20.Results:Proportion of women with PIH or PE who had persistent hypertension at 6 weeks postpartum was 3/29 (10.3%), risk ratio of 1.1. No statistically significant association was found between mean arterial BP at 6 weeks postpartum and age, parity, gestational age at delivery, body mass index, and family history of hypertension. Serum creatinine level showed moderate correlation with persistent hypertension at 6 weeks postpartum (r = 0.441,P = 0.006), with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 81.8% at cutoff value of 1.2 mg/dL in detecting pregnant women with hypertensive disorders who will likely remain hypertensive at 6 weeks postpartum.Conclusion:There is a need for long-term follow-up of women with PIH/PE beyond puerperium.

Effect of pregnancy on the proliferation of rat adipose-derived stem cells.

Stem cell therapy faces many problems including poor survival rates and low viability. Enhancing the biological functions of stem cells improves efficacy of therapies. Estrogen, whose levels are elevated during pregnancy, affects the properties of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Evidence suggests that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), which are a type of adult mesenchymal stem cells, can be used in regenerative medicine. In fact, ADSCs from pregnant animals have been used in clinical therapies. However, the effect of the donor's reproductive status on proliferation of ADSCs is unknown. We investigated the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) on the in vitro proliferation of ADSCs from laboratory rats. ADSCs were obtained from five different groups of 15 rats each - non-pregnant, pregnant, in perinatal period, non-pregnant and treated with E2, and non-pregnant and treated with P. Adhesion and viability of ADSCs were determined by MTT assay, and cell cycle was followed by flow cytometry. The proliferation rate of ADSCs from pregnant rats was significantly higher than those from the non-pregnant rats (P < 0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference in proliferation rates during different phases of pregnancy (P > 0.05). Additionally, ADSCs from pregnant rats possess higher adhesion property in early stage (P1 passage) and higher proliferation rate than ADSCs from non-pregnant rats. Interestingly, ADSCs from non-pregnant rats that were treated with E2, but not those treated with P, showed higher proliferation rates than those from their untreated counterparts. These results suggest that the proliferative capacity and residence time in different cell cycle phases of ADSCs can be regulated by extrinsic factors such as estrogen concentration.

Clinical relevance of fibrin fiber diameter during different phases of pregnancy.

Pregnancy-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is most common during the late phase of pregnancy and the first 6-weeks postpartum. Pregnancy-related DVT can have long-term complications, specifically post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Fibrin network ultrastructure is altered during pregnancy and post-partum. It is therefore essential to evaluate fibrin fiber diameter during and after pregnancy as this may provide insight into pregnancy-related DVT and subsequent PTS. The fibrin network ultrastructure of females during different phases of pregnancy was compared to that of non-pregnant females to assess possible changes to the fibrin network morphology and fibrin fiber diameter using scanning electron microscopy micrographs. The fibrin network arrangement was more densely packed during different phases of pregnancy, corresponding to earlier findings. Fibrin diameter decreased significantly during pregnancy, with the greatest decrease occurring during the late phase of pregnancy. The fractal dimensions of fibrin micrographs increased significantly during pregnancy compared to nonpregnant females. These changes are indicative of a simultaneous hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state and correspond to the increased risk of DVT and subsequent development of PTS. It is critical to identify "vulnerable" females with an inflammatory predisposition to prevent possible DVT and subsequent PTS. Modifiable risk factors like obesity and smoking should be addressed to alleviate the burden on the coagulation system. Morphological and viscoelastic techniques are crucial in assessing the coagulatory health of females during pregnancy.

Determination of plasma kisspeptin concentrations during reproductive cycle and different phases of pregnancy in crossbred cows using bovine specific enzyme immunoassay

Kisspeptin, a decapeptide and potent secretagogue of GnRH has been emerged recently as a master player in the regulation of reproduction in animals. Determination of kisspeptin in peripheral circulation is, therefore, very important for studying the control of its secretion and its role on reproduction in bovine species, the information on which is not available during any physiological state in this species, may probably be due to non-availability of simple assay procedure to measure the hormone. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and validate a simple and sufficiently sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for kisspeptin determination in bovine plasma using the biotin–streptavidin amplification system and second antibody coating technique. Biotin was coupled to kisspeptin and used to bridge between streptavidin-peroxidase and the immobilized kisspeptin antiserum in the competitive assay. The EIA was conducted directly in 100μl of unknown bovine plasma. Kisspeptin standards ranging from 0.01 to 25.6ng/100μl/well were prepared in hormone-free plasma. The lowest detection limit was 0.1ng/ml plasma. Plasma volumes for the EIA, viz., 50, 100 and 200μl did not influence the shape of standard curve even though a drop in OD450 was seen with higher plasma volumes. A parallelism test was carried out to compare the endogenous bovine kisspeptin with kisspeptin standard used. It showed good parallelism with the kisspeptin standard curve. For the biological validation of the assay, plasma kisspeptin was measured in blood samples collected from six non-lactating cyclic cows during entire estrous cycle and from 18 pregnant cows during different stages of pregnancy. The mean plasma kisspeptin concentration during different days of the estrous cycle was different (P<0.001). Three peaks of kisspeptin were recorded, one on a day before appearance of preovulatory LH surge, second at day 6 and third one at day 18 of the estrous cycle. Plasma kisspeptin concentrations increased (P<0.001) from first through last trimester of pregnancy. Kisspeptin concentrations were also measured in different follicular, luteal and placental tissues. Follicular and placental kisspeptin levels increased (P<0.01) during follicular development and with the advancement of pregnancy, respectively. On the other hand, luteal concentrations of kisspeptin decreased (P<0.01) with its developmental process. In conclusion, a simple, sufficiently sensitive and direct EIA procedure has been developed for the first time to determine plasma kisspeptin levels in bovine. A wide range of kisspeptin concentrations can be detected during different physiological stages in bovine using this kisspeptin–EIA procedure.

Differences in the hemoglobin cut-off point for the diagnosis of anemia as a function of race/color

Hemoglobin levels vary according to age, gender, different phases of pregnancy, smoking habit, and altitude. In the early 90s, researchers began to notice unexplained differences in hemoglobin levels between whites and blacks in various age groups. Since then, studies began to be published to identify which factors would be responsible for such differences. From a review of the literature, we aimed at exposing relevant aspects that may assist in the understanding of why blacks have lower levels of hemoglobin in relation to whites. The Medline, Lilacs, and Pubmed databases were used for this review. Studies have shown that the levels of hemoglobin in blacks are lower, ranging between 0.5 and 1 g/dL in relation to whites. This difference remains, even controlling for possible confounding factors such as intake and iron nutritional status, socioeconomic status, age, and comorbidities among others. The studies, however, do not come to a conclusion about what raises this difference between races. Therefore, proposing specific cut-off points as a function of race, as some authors suggest, may be precipitated and result in not identifying people with anemia, which is considered a serious public health problem in Brazil.

Pregnancy and inflammatory bowel diseases: Current perspectives, risks and patient management.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic idiopathic inflammatory conditions characterized by relapsing and remitting episodes of inflammation which can affect several different regions of the gastrointestinal tract, but also shows extra-intestinal manifestations. IBD is most frequently diagnosed during peak female reproductive years, with 25% of women with IBD conceiving after their diagnosis. While IBD therapy has improved dramatically with enhanced surveillance and more abundant and powerful treatment options, IBD disease can have important effects on pregnancy and presents several challenges for maintaining optimal outcomes for mothers with IBD and the developing fetus/neonate. Women with IBD, the medical team treating them (both gastroenterologists and obstetricians/gynecologists) must often make highly complicated choices regarding conception, pregnancy, and post-natal care (particularly breastfeeding) related to their choice of treatment options at different phases of pregnancy as well as post-partum. This current review discusses current concerns and recommendations for pregnancy during IBD and is intended for gastroenterologists, general practitioners and IBD patients intending to become, (or already) pregnant, and their families. We have addressed patterns of IBD inheritance, effects of IBD on fertility and conception (in both men and women), the effects of IBD disease activity on maintenance of pregnancy and outcomes, risks of diagnostic procedures during pregnancy and potential risks and complications associated with different classes of IBD therapeutics. We also have evaluated the clinical experience using "top-down" care with biologics, which is currently the standard care at our institution. Post-partum care and breastfeeding recommendations are also addressed.