Different Stages Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Prenatal ultrasound manifestations of partial urorectal septum malformation sequence from the first trimester to postnatal: a case report

BackgroundUrorectal septum malformation sequence (URSMS) is characterized by incomplete partitioning of the genital, rectal, and urinary tracts, resulting in a severe form of anorectal malformation. The partial URSMS, also known as the persistent cloaca, represents a milder variant where a single perineal opening serves as a passage for the urinary, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts.Case presentationWe present a rare case of partial URSMS accompanied by duplicated vagina and uterus, hydronephrosis, ascites, and anal atresia.ConclusionsThis case report describes the sonographic findings at different stages of pregnancy and their changes throughout gestation.

Middle Cerebral Artery Blood Flow Velocity During Normal Pregnancy.

The present study aimed to evaluate resting middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocities using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) in healthy women at different stages of pregnancy, and to compare these velocities with those of normal controls. A total of 105 healthy normotensive pregnant women and 25 non-pregnant healthy controls were included in the study. We formed 3 groups according to gestational age: first trimester (7 to 13wk pregnant), second trimester (14 to 28wk pregnant), and third trimester (29 to 42wk pregnant). Age, body mass index, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and hematological data were recorded and TCD was performed on the subjects. Regarding TCD, we evaluated the mean cerebral blood flow velocity, the peak systolic velocity, the end-diastolic flow velocity, S/D ratio, the pulsatility Index (PI) and the resistance Index (RI). The MCA mean blood flow velocities differed significantly among the groups (P<0.001) and were higher in the controls than those of the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester groups (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001 respectively). The MCA mean and peak blood flow velocities, and the PI and RI decreased significantly with advancing gestation. TCD is a noninvasive and non-toxic method of monitoring the adaptation of the maternal cerebral blood flow in pregnancy. The progressive decreases in the MCA mean and peak blood flow velocities, PI, and RI during gestation may be the result of chemical and neuronal factors. This study supports the need for additional studies using TCD to establish normative cerebral blood flow volumes throughout pregnancy.

Occurrence of Abortions in Goats Reared under Different Farming Systems

Background: Abortion is a very common health problem of animals including goats and it causes heavy economic losses to the farmers. The current study was planned to assess the occurrence of abortions in goats reared under different farming systems and association of occurrence of abortions with stage of pregnancy, season and parity of the aborted goats. Methods: The data on caprine abortions from semi-intensive and free range farming systems was compiled and analysed. Occurrence of abortion in the goats reared under field conditions and at organized farms under semi-intensive management system was categorized on the basis of stage of pregnancy, season and parity of aborted goats. The statistical analysis of the abortion data was done by using Chi-Square test. Result: Abortion rates in goats reared at different management systems (semi-intensive and free range systems) differed significantly (p less than 0.01). Occurrence of the abortions was found highest in the field goats. Occurrence of the abortions in the different stages of pregnancy (early, mid and late) in the goats reared at organized farms under semi-intensive management system and field conditions differed significantly (p less than 0.01). Maximum abortions were seen in the later stage of pregnancy. Likewise, occurrence of the abortions in various seasons (rainy, winter and summer) in the goats reared at organized farms under semi-intensive system and field conditions differed significantly (p less than 0.01). Highest occurrence of abortion was noticed in winter season. Occurrence of abortion was also significantly associated with parity of pregnancy in the goats from the organised farms as well as in the field goats. The study concludes that abortion rate in goats are significantly associated (p less than 0.01) with management practices, season, parity and stage of pregnancy.

Nutritional awareness of pregnant women and the underlying influencing factors.

Nutritional awareness is described as having knowledge or understanding of nutrition. It is often related to the ability of an individual to make an accurate estimate of their food intake, which involves comparing their actual nutritional behavior with the recommended food consumption. Nutritional awareness of women during the various phases of pregnancy may vary significantly across countries due to cultural and lifestyle differences. There has been extensive research on nutritional awareness of pregnant women in selected countries or regions; however, relatively few studies have explored it during different stages of pregnancy. To fill this gap, this article reviews the existing literature and draws together insights into the following areas: changes in nutritional awareness during various phases of pregnancy, nutritional awareness of pregnant women and its underlying factors in various nations, and the research methods used to study nutritional awareness of pregnant women.

Prenatal exposure to multiple environmental chemicals and birth size.

Epidemiological studies addressing the combined effects of exposure to chemical mixtures at different stages of pregnancy on birth size are scarce. To evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures and birth size. Our previous study repeatedly measured the urinary concentrations of 34 chemical substances among 743 pregnant women and identified three distinct clusters of exposed population and six dominant principal components of exposed chemicals in each trimester. In this study, we assessed the associations of these exposure profiles with birth weight, birth length, and ponderal index using multivariable linear regression. We found that compared with women in cluster 1 (lower urinary chemical concentrations), women in cluster 2 (higher urinary concentrations of metals, benzothiazole, benzotriazole, and some phenols), and women in cluster 3 (higher urinary concentrations of phthalates) were more likely to give birth to children with higher birth length [0.23 cm (95% CI: -0.03, 0.49); 0.29 cm (95%CI: 0.03, 0.54), respectively]. This association was observed only in 1st trimester. In addition, prenatal exposure to PC3 (higher benzophenones loading) was associated with reduced birth length across pregnancy [-0.07 cm (95% CI: -0.18, 0.03) in 1st and 2nd trimester; -0.13 cm (95% CI: -0.24, -0.03) in 3rd trimester]. Exposure to PC6 (higher thallium and BPA loading in 2nd trimester) was associated with increased birth length [0.15 cm (95% CI: 0.05, 0.26)]. Compared with other outcomes, associations of both clusters and PCs with birth length were stronger, and these associations were more pronounced in boys. Exposure to multiple chemicals simultaneously, the actual exposure situation of pregnant women, was associated with birth size, indicating that chemical mixtures should be taken more seriously when studying the health effects of pollutants.

Membrane-bound progesterone receptors in the canine uterus and placenta; possible targets in the maintenance of pregnancy

To date, the biological functions of P4 within the canine placenta have been attributed to maternal stroma-derived decidual cells as the only placental cells expressing the nuclear P4 receptor (PGR). However, P4 can also exert its effects via membrane-bound receptors. To test the hypothesis that membrane-bound P4 receptors are involved in regulating placental function in the dog, the expression of mPRα, -β, -γ, PGRMC1 and -2 was investigated in the uterine and placental compartments derived from different stages of pregnancy and from prepartum luteolysis. Further, to assess the PGR signaling-mediated effects upon membrane P4 receptors in canine decidual cells, in vitro decidualized dog uterine stromal (DUS) cells were treated with type II antigestagens (aglepristone or mifepristone). The expression of all membrane P4 receptors was detectable in reproductive tissues and in DUS cells. The main findings indicate their distinguishable placental spatio-temporal distribution; PGRMC2 was predominantly found in decidual cells, PGRMC1 was strong in maternal endothelial compartments, and syncytiotrophoblast showed abundant levels of mPRα and mPRβ. In vitro decidualization was associated with increased expression of PGRMC1 and -2, while their protein levels were diminished by antigestagen treatment. The involvement of membrane-bound P4 signaling in the regulation of canine placental function is implied, with P4 effects being directly exerted through maternal and fetal cellular compartments. The indirect effects of PGR might involve the modulation of membrane-bound receptors availability in decidual cells, implying a self-regulatory loop of P4 in regulating the availability of its own receptors in the canine placenta.

Prenatal immobility stress: Relationship with oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and intrauterine growth restriction in rats.

Prenatal stress is a significant risk factor affecting pregnant women and fetal health. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of immobility stress at different periods of pregnancy on oxidative stress, inflammation, placental apoptosis and intrauterine growth retardation in rats. Fifty adult virgin female Wistar albino rats were used. Pregnant rats were exposed to 6 h/day immobilization stress in a wire cage at different stages of pregnancy. Groups I and II (Day 1-10 stress group) were sacrificed on the 10th day of pregnancy, and Group III, Group IV (10-19th-day stress group), and Group V (1-19th-day stress group) were sacrificed on the 19th day of pregnancy. Inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), serum corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and corticosterone levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels in the placenta were spectrophotometrically measured. Histopathological analyses of the placenta were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and caspase-3 immunoreactivity in placenta tissues were determined by the indirect immunohistochemical method. Placental apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL staining method. We found that the immobility stress during pregnancy significantly increased serum corticosterone levels. Our results showed that the immobility stress diminished the number and weight of fetuses in rats compared to the non-stress group. The immobility stress caused significant histopathological changes in the connection zone and labyrinth zone and increased placental TNF-α and caspase-3 immunoreactivity and placental apoptosis. In addition, immobility stress significantly increased the levels of pro-inflammatory IL-6 and MDA and caused a significant decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and anti-inflammatory IL-10. Our data suggest that immobility stress causes intrauterine growth retardation by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and deteriorating placental histomorphology and deregulating inflammatory and oxidative processes.

Characteristics of changes in fetal doppler blood flow parameters in women with gestational hypertension at different stages of pregnancy

Research objectives: to determine the resistance index, pulsatile index and systolic-diastolic ratio in the fetal middle cerebral artery, fetal aorta and umbilical artery in women with gestational hypertension (GH).Materials and methods. The main group included 50 pregnant women with GH, the control group included 50 healthy pregnant women. Blood pressure level and ultrasound dopplerometric indicators of fetal blood flow were determined at the 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, and 40th weeks of pregnancy.Results. Changes in Doppler blood flow indicators in the umbilical artery in women of the main group were observed earlier than changes in these indicators in the fetal aorta, namely from the 30th week of pregnancy: the resistance index was 0.46 ± 0.08, the pulsatility index was 0.8 ± 0.23, the systolic-diastolic ratio was 2 ± 0.19, and in women of the control group these indicators were 0.69 ± 0.17, 1.46 ± 0.21 and 3 ± 0.33, respectively.At the 35th week of pregnancy, the trend towards a decrease in dopplerometric indicators of blood flow in the umbilical artery in women of the main group continued, the value of these indicators was: resistance index – 0.42 ± 0.09, pulsatility index – 0.68 ± 0.23, systolic diastolic ratio – 1.8 ± 0.16, and in women of the control group these indicators were 0.68 ± 0.13, 1.43 ± 0.11 and 2.94 ± 0.24, respectively.The lowest Doppler parameters of blood flow in the umbilical artery in women of the main group were at 40th week: resistance index – 0.37 ± 0.07, pulsatility index – 0.63 ± 0.21, systolic-diastolic ratio – 1.6 ± 0.13, and in women of the control group these indicators were 0.67 ± 0.11, 1.4 ± 0.1, and 2.87 ± 0.21, respectively.Conclusions. Blood flow indicators in the aorta and umbilical arteries, as well as in the middle cerebral artery of the fetus in women with GH differ from such indicators in healthy women. Decreased blood flow may indicate a risk of hypoxia and neurological problems for fetus. Therefore, it is important to diagnose GH in time and monitor fetal blood flow indicators using ultrasound to prevent possible complications and preserve the fetus and mother health.

The Nutritional Needs of Mothers and Babies: A Review

The aim is to assess the importance of measuring healthy habits by pregnant women, that enhance different factors of mother and fetus health. We evaluate the change and variations in dietary recommendations. A female went through a lot of physical and mental changes in different stages of pregnancy and there are some common symptoms such as vomiting, fatigue, nausea, frequent urination, dizziness, etc. Certain hormonal changes are there to balance the body’s fatigue, tiredness, and hormones, few dietary recommendations are mentioned and it has been concluded that diet plays an important role during pregnancy, and meeting all the nutrition needs is an essential factor in planning the diet. Many diseases/deficiencies are there such as goiter, iodine deficiency, folate deficiency, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational weight gain, Neural tube defects, and much more. A detailed view is mentioned below in the following paper: On average, pregnancy lasts 40 to 42 weeks (Nine months). On average, weight gain for a pregnant woman is 12 to 14 kg, thus weight gain can lower the risk of complications during labor and also lower the risk of LBW (low birth weight). Low GWG increases the risk of having an LBW infant. The average weight of the baby should be 2.5–3 kg. A baby having this much body weight should be considered a healthy infant. We provide up-to-date advice for achieving optimal nutrition before conception, throughout breastfeeding, in the first two years of life, and for preschoolers, with an eye on long-term health benefits. These guidelines are intended to aid in the primary prevention of obesity and the non-communicable diseases it is linked to among economically privileged groups, such as European women and children. Medical professionals should be incentivized and educated to promote and advise patients on preconception nutrition, which includes enhancing adolescent nutrition and health. Women who are physically active, eat healthily, don’t smoke, don’t drink excessively, and have a good body mass index (BMI) have a higher chance of having a safe pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should have their consumption and status of specific micronutrients closely monitored, especially folate. Women at risk for insufficient dietary intake of certain micronutrients may benefit from taking dietary supplements containing iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, and maybe others. Smoke and alcohol should be strictly eliminated from the diet. Yes, diet plays an important role during pregnancy but staying physically active is equally important for the mother and the baby to promote general health and well-being. Exercise and stretching can reduce the risk of excessive maternal weight gain or gestational weight gain(Obesity). A long walk can greatly help a pregnant woman after lunch or in the morning.

Взаємозв’язок різних триместрів вагітності і ризику COVID-19

у статті узагальнено питання в рамках наукової дискусії щодо взаємозв’язку різних триместрів вагітності і ризику COVID-19. Основна мета цього дослідження це оцінка впливу ризику COVID-19 від часу зараження, а саме від різних триместрів, зрозуміти ризики ускладнень на різних термінах вагітності, оцінити вплив триместру інфікування COVID-19 на прогресування захворювання, визначити чи збільшується частота прогресування захворювання COVID-19 зі збільшенням терміну вагітності. Завдяки детальному вивченню літературних джерел, їхній систематизації та підходів до вирішення проблеми, було виявлено, що спалах пандемії COVID-19 у США призвів до понад 97 мільйонів заражень і понад 1,06 мільйона смертей. Зареєстровано приблизно 182 000 випадків захворювання серед вагітних жінок, і 285 випадків материнської смерті. Нормальна вагітність в основному пов'язана зі зниженням функціональної залишкової ємності легень на 20-30 % і збільшенням споживання кисню на 20 %. В результаті інфекції нижніх дихальних шляхів погано переносяться, особливо в третьому триместрі. Актуальність дослідження даної патології полягає в тому, що вагітні мають вищий ризик інфікування коронавірусом 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) у важкій або критичній формі порівняно з жінками того ж віку. Крім того, ця невідповідність посилилася під час сплеску варіанту Дельта. Підвищений ризик несприятливих наслідків для новонароджених і матерів пов’язаний із тяжким перебігом COVID-19 під час вагітності. Однак мало відомо про вплив часу зараження під час вагітності на такі ризики, тому це може призвести до помилок у лікуванні таких вагітних, що перешкоджає своєчасному, правильному лікуванню і профілактиці. У дослідженні використано методи бібліографічного та контент-аналізу літератури, порівняльного підходу та синтезу, а також семантичного групування відносно особливостей взаємозв’язку різних триместрів вагітності і ризику COVID-19. Усі документи, знайдені на різноманітних офіційних веб-сайтах були проаналізовані, а зібрану інформацію порівняли і згрупували. В статті наведено результати досліджень, які показали, що частота прогресування захворювання COVID-19 не відрізняється від триместру діагностики. Захворювання середнього, важкого або критичного ступеня розвивається майже у 10% вагітних, інфікованих вірусом SARS-CoV-2. Ці результати підкреслюють важливість профілактичних заходів, включаючи вакцинацію проти COVID-19 до або якомога раніше під час вагітності. Оскільки рівень вакцинації серед вагітних зростає, необхідні подальші дослідження, щоб зрозуміти прогресування захворювання. Подібним чином тяжкість захворювання та прогресування слід вивчати далі в умовах розвитку медичної терапії та еволюції нових варіантів SARS-CoV-2 і рецидивуючої інфекції. Тому необхідно й надалі досліджувати це питання, щоб отримати дані, орієнтовані на пацієнта та економічну ефективність. Результати даного дослідження можуть бути цікавими для лікарів первинної ланки, гінекологів та терапевтів

Prenatal Hair Cortisol Concentrations during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Associations with Maternal Psychological Stress and Infant Temperament

Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy, including stress resulting from disasters and trauma, has been linked to temperamental difficulties in offspring. While heightened cortisol concentrations are often hypothesized as an underlying mechanism, evidence supporting this mechanism is inconsistent. To address these issues, this preregistered study investigated the following associations between: 1) prenatal psychological stress and hair cortisol, as a biomarker for chronic stress, during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., as a worldwide psychological stressor), and 2) maternal hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak and later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. Additionally, we explored whether associations were different for women with low versus high socioeconomic status (SES) and at different stages of pregnancy. Pregnant women (N =100) filled out online questionnaires during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Maternal hair samples were collected during home visits. When infants were six months old, mothers reported on their infant’s temperament. While analyses revealed no associations between prenatal COVID-19 psychological stress and hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak, SES proved to be a moderator in this association. Only pregnant women with higher levels of SES, showed a positive association between work-related and social-related COVID-19 worries and hair cortisol. Finally, prenatal hair cortisol was not associated with later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. While the COVID-19 outbreak proved to be a major psychological stressor, the physiological impact of the crisis might be different for pregnant women with higher SES as compared to lower SES.

THE PROGNOSIS OF INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION OF FETUS AT DIFFERENT TERMS OF PREGNANCY IN THE CASE OF MICROELEMENTOSIS

Prediction of the development of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) – means to predict the possibility at the first prenatal visit of the pregnant woman.&#x0D; The aim of the study is to create an adequate, informative and stable model for early prediction of IUGR in pregnant women.&#x0D; Materials and methods: Predictions of IUGR were carried out by regression analysis. The software packages «Statistica» («StatSoft Inc.», USA). Model was grounded on data inspection of 30 women who gave birth to babies with IUGR and their new-borns. The checking of the created model was made on data holding on tracking 30 babies of the studied groups.&#x0D; Results: with the help of method of multiple linear regressions it got right to create a mathematical model for prediction of IUGR in pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy. The created method of forecasting with the using advanced methods of researching content of microelements in biological environments has been proposed for the first time and deserves attention.&#x0D; Conclusion: using the proposed method of prediction will allow the clinical practice of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Perinatologists to carry out the complex treatment-preventive maintenance measures to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Pregnancy-associated systemic gene expression compared to a pre-pregnancy baseline, among healthy women with term pregnancies.

Pregnancy is known to induce extensive biological changes in the healthy mother. Little is known, however, about what these changes are at the molecular level. We have examined systemic expression changes in protein-coding genes and long non-coding (lnc) RNAs during and after pregnancy, compared to before pregnancy, among healthy women with term pregnancies. Blood samples were collected from 14 healthy women enrolled in our prospective pregnancy cohort at 7 time-points (before, during and after pregnancy). Total RNA from frozen whole blood was used for RNA sequencing. Following raw read alignment and assembly, gene-level counts were obtained for protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs. At each time-point, cell type proportions were estimated using deconvolution. To examine associations between pregnancy status and gene expression over time, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were fitted, adjusting for age at conception, and with and without adjusting for changes in cell type proportions. Fold-changes in expression at each trimester were examined relative to the pre-pregnancy baseline. Numerous immune-related genes demonstrated pregnancy-associated expression, in a time-dependent manner. The genes that demonstrated the largest changes in expression included several that were neutrophil-related (over-expressed) and numerous immunoglobulin genes (under-expressed). Estimated cell proportions revealed a marked increase in neutrophils, and less so of activated CD4 memory T cells, during pregnancy, while most other cell type proportions decreased or remained unchanged. Adjusting for cell type proportions in our model revealed that although most of the expression changes were due to changes in cell type proportions in the bloodstream, transcriptional regulation was also involved, especially in down-regulating expression of type I interferon inducible genes. Compared to a pre-pregnancy baseline, there were extensive systemic changes in cell type proportions, gene expression and biological pathways associated with different stages of pregnancy and postpartum among healthy women. Some were due to changes in cell type proportions and some due to gene regulation. In addition to providing insight into term pregnancy among healthy women, these findings also provide a "normal" reference for abnormal pregnancies and for autoimmune diseases that improve or worsen during pregnancy, to assess deviations from normal.

Obesity in Pregnancy Maternal and Fetal Outcome

Background: The presence of excessive weight in mothers during pregnancy and childbirth can result in significant issues in different stages of pregnancy, delivery, postpartum and also newborn health. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of maternal obesity on diverse consequences for both the mother and the developing baby. The main objective was to contrast the effects of obesity on outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth for overweight expectant mothers versus those with a healthy weight. Material and Methods: The investigation was carried out on pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic at Indus Medical College Tando Muhammad Khan. The investigators utilized a sequential sampling technique and handpicked 56 cases and 56 controls. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 22.0 software. The chi-square test was used to identify discrepancies in proportions, while the independent t-test and ANOVA were utilized to contrast the means. They also conducted Pearson's correlation to investigate the connection between maternal BMI and birth weight. Results: There were a total of 112 patients included in the study. There were 56 cases (patients) and 56 controls (healthy individuals). Women with gestational diabetes mellitus had a significantly higher proportion of complications compared to those without gestational diabetes mellitus (32.1% vs. 7.14%, p-value=0.02). Regarding the mode of delivery, women who underwent caesarean section had a significantly higher proportion of complications compared to those who had a vaginal delivery (37.5% vs. 62.5%, p-value=0.02). For post-partum complications, the proportion of women with postpartum fever and wound infection was very low, and no statistical comparison was made. Conclusions: The current research provided clear evidence that maternal obesity can result in negative outcomes for both the mother and fetus. In addition, the study showed that there was an increased need for induction of labor and operative interventions in women who were obese. Keywords: Fetal outcome, Maternal outcome, obesity in pregnancy

The Unique and Moderating Role of Social and Self-Evaluative Factors on Perinatal Eating Disorder and Depression Symptoms

Pregnancy and postpartum represent a critical transition period for changes in eating disorder (ED) symptoms and depression. Past research has established a relationship between ED and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. However, changes in depression and ED symptom across stages of pregnancy and postpartum, and factors that influence this relationship, remain understudied. Social factors and self-evaluative factors may be important given rapidly changing social pressures and expectations during this transitional time. The current study (N = 454 pregnant women) examined (1) differences in ED and depressive symptoms across pregnancy and postpartum and (2) whether social factors (social appearance anxiety; social support) and self-evaluative factors (maladaptive perfectionism; self-compassion) moderate the relationship between depression and ED symptoms cross-sectionally and prospectively. Study aims, hypotheses, and data analysis were preregistered on the Open Science Foundation (osf.io). This study did not identify differences in ED or depression symptoms across women at different stages of pregnancy; however, depression symptoms significantly improved within individuals from pregnancy to postpartum. ED symptoms and all social and self-evaluative factors were uniquely associated with depression during pregnancy. ED symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, social appearance anxiety, and self-compassion during pregnancy significantly predicted postpartum depression, when accounting for prenatal depression. During pregnancy, but not postpartum, when social support and self-compassion were low, and when maladaptive perfectionism was high, there was a stronger relationship between ED and depression symptoms. ED symptoms and social and self-evaluative factors could be targeted in routine medical care and stepped-care interventions to improve maternal mental healthcare and prevent postpartum depression.

Factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy: A retrospective cross-sectional study in the Bolgatanga Municipality, northern Ghana.

Anaemia in pregnancy (AIP) remains a severe public health problem associated with adverse outcomes. This study assessed haemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anaemia during antenatal care (ANC) registration, at 28 weeks and 36 weeks of gestation as well as the factors associated with AIP at the different stages of pregnancy. A retrospective cross-sectional design was implemented. Using ANC registers as the sampling frame, 372 pregnant women, within 36 and 40 weeks of gestation were randomly sampled from 28 health facilities for the study. The participants were all receiving ANC in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Data were collected via clinical records review and a questionnaire-based survey between October and November, 2020. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), descriptive analysis of haemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anaemia were performed. In addition, binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy. AIP was determined using the national practice of 11.0g/dl haemoglobin cut-off point and the World Health Organisation's recommended adjustment for the 2nd trimester of pregnancy was made using the cut-off of 10.5g/dl to account for the effect of haemodilution. At booking, AIP prevalence was 35.8% (95%CI:30.9, 40.9) using a cut-off of 11.0g/dl and 25.3% (95%CI:20.9, 30.0) using a cut-off of 10.5g/dl for those in the 2nd trimester. At 28 weeks, AIP prevalence was 53.1% (95%CI:45.8, 60.3) and 37.5 (95%CI:30.6, 44.8) using a cut-off of 11.0g/dl and 10.5g/dl for those in the 2nd trimester, respectively. At 36 weeks, AIP prevalence was 44.8% (95%CI:39.2, 50.4) using a cut-off of 11.0g/dl. At p<0.05, registering after the first trimester (AOR = 1.87, 95%CI: 1.17, 2.98, P = 0.009) and at a regional hospital (AOR = 2.25, 95%CI: 1.02, 4.98, P = 0.044) were associated with increased odds of AIP but registering at a private hospital (AOR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.11, 0.92, P = 0.035) was associated with decreased odds of AIP at booking. At 28 weeks, age group 26-35 years (AOR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.98, P = 0.044), Christianity (AOR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.31, 0.89, P = 0.028.), high wealth (AOR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.09, 0.83, P = 0.022) and tertiary education (AOR = 0.09, 95%CI:0.02, 0.54, P = 0.009) were associated with decreased odds of AIP. At 36 weeks, booking after first trimester of pregnancy was associated with increased odds (AOR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.05, 2.84, P = 0.033) whilst high wealth (AOR = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.20, 0.99, P = 0.049), higher age groups-26-35 (AOR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.68, P = 0.001) and 36-49 years (AOR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.90, P = 0.024) and secondary education of spouse were associated with reduced odds (AOR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.14, 0.88, P = 0.026) of AIP. AIP consistently increased from registration to 36 weeks of gestation. Given the observed correlates of AIP, we recommend that interventions geared towards early ANC registration, improved household wealth, and improved maternal education are required to reduce AIP.

An outbreak of mucosal disease in cattle caused by &lt;i&gt;Pestivirus H&lt;/i&gt;

An outbreak of infection caused by Pestivirus H (virus of bovine viral diarrhea – mucosal disease of the third kind, BVDV-3) in a dairy farm with high morbidity and mortality in animals of different ages is described. In some sick animals a full complex of pronounced symptoms characteristic of "classical" bovine mucosal disease was registered: erosions and ulcers on the nasal mirror and tongue, foaming from the mouth, serous discharge from the nose, hemorrhagic inflammation and pronounced longitudinal erosions on the mucosa of the esophagus, rennet stomach and intestine. Cows miscarried at different stages of pregnancy. The coefficient of effective insemination decreased to 20%. The course of the disease was complicated by the involvement of the bovine herpes virus type 4, bacteria of the family Pasteurellaceae and Clostridium spp. in the infectious process. The BVDV-3 genome was found in a wide range of internal organs of aborted fetuses, calves, and adult animals. According to sequencing data, the pathogen was classified as subtype 3a. Phylogenetic analysis of the 5'-untranslated region of the virus genome (5'-UTR) showed its close relationship to the strains isolated in Italy and Brazil, most of which were previously identified as contaminants of fetal bovine serum and live vaccines against viral infections of cattle. No specific prophylaxis against BVDV-3 infection has been developed at this time, therefore, it is necessary to update and improve diagnostic methods, optimize control measures to prevent the spread of virulent strains of the pathogen, and control the safety of the vaccines used.

Characteristics of T- and B-lymphocytes of blood at different stages of pregnancy and peculiarities of immunity in women with preeclampsia

The study of immune mechanisms during pregnancy is an important area of research aimed at understanding the immunogenesis of pregnancy and its complications. One such complication is nephropathy, which requires accurate prediction of its course and appropriate therapy.&#x0D; The present study aimed to assess the blood levels of T-lymphocytes (T-helper, T-suppressor/cytotoxic), B-lymphocytes, and markers of their activation in pregnant women, with a particular focus on patients with preeclampsia (PE).&#x0D; Methods. Using a cellular cytofluorimeter and the corresponding test systems, we determined the relative levels of immunocompetent blood cells such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+-l with the expression of HLA-DR, CD25, CD5 activation markers in 436 non-pregnant women and 514 pregnant women. We analyzed the characteristics of these indicators at different stages of pregnancy, specifically before (1-4 groups) and after (5 group) 20 weeks. In the second stage, we performed an analysis of the indicators in 107 women with PE, 14 women after PE, and 54 pregnant women in the reference group without complications at 20+ weeks. This analysis included T- and B-cell studies of these patient groups under in vitro conditions with autoserum and inactivated serum.&#x0D; Results. The first weeks of pregnancy were characterized by a high relative level (%) in the blood of T-l and subpopulations of T-h and Ts/c, as well as their activation according to the expression data of DR, CD25 (for CD4+-l), and CD5 (for CD19+-l). These indicators significantly decrease from 20 weeks of pregnancy and become comparable to the levels in non-pregnant women. The percentages of CD3+4+25+-l and CD19+5+-l are below the normal range, indicating a decrease in T-helper cell and B-cell activation during this period of pregnancy. In patients with PE after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the relative levels of T-l, B-l, T-h, and Ts/c did not differ from the reference group. Incubation of T- and B-l of women with PE with autoserum in vitro almost tripled the number of T- and B-l, and the blocking effect was greater than in women without PE, with a significant difference between them; the average ratio T-l/T-las exceeded the reference in the subgroup of active manifestations of PE.&#x0D; Conclusion. Studying the relative levels of T-l, T-h, T-s/c, and B-l in the blood, as well as markers of their activation, at different stages of pregnancy with in vitro detection of features of the humoral immune response as predictors of NP allows determining individual components of immunogenetic and prognostic markers for personalized therapy during pregnancy.

The Relationship of Adiponectin and Gestational Weight Gain during Different Stages of Pregnancy among Different Ethnic Groups

The Relationship of Adiponectin and Gestational Weight Gain during Different Stages of Pregnancy among Different Ethnic Groups

Prenatal ambient air pollutants exposure and the risk of stillbirth in Wuhan, central of China

BackgroundThe existing studies on the relationships of prenatal ambient air pollutants exposure with stillbirth in the Chinese population are very limited and the results are inconsistent, and the susceptible windows and potential modifiers for air pollutants exposure on stillbirth remain unanswered. ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the relationships between exposure to ambient air pollutants and stillbirth, and explored the susceptible windows and potential modifiers for air pollutants exposure on stillbirth. MethodsA population-based cohort was established through the Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Management Information System involving 509,057 mother-infant pairs in Wuhan from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2017. Personal exposure concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5), inhalable particles (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) for mothers were estimated based on their residential address during pregnancy using the inverse distance weighted (IDW) method. We used the logistic regression models to determine the associations at different stages of pregnancy with adjustment for confounding factors. ResultsThere were 3218 stillbirths and 505,839 live births among the participants. For each 100 μg/m3 of CO and 10 μg/m3 of O3 increase in the first trimester (conception to 13+6 weeks), the risk of stillbirth increased by 1.0% (OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.03) and 7.0% (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.05–1.09). In the second trimester (14 weeks–27+6 weeks), PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3 exposure were closely related to the risk of stillbirth (P＜0.05). In the third trimester (28 weeks to delivery), for each 10 μg/m3 increase in exposure concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, and O3, the risk of stillbirth increased by 3.4%, 5.9%, and 4.0%, respectively. O3 exposure was positively relevant to the risk of stillbirth (OR = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.08–1.14) in the whole pregnancy. Exposure to NO2 was not significantly associated with the risk of stillbirth. Stratified analyses also presented a stronger association among mothers with boy infant, living in rural areas, delivering between 2011 and 2013, and those without gestational hypertension and history of stillbirth. ConclusionThis study provides evidence that maternal exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, and O3 were related to the increased risk of stillbirth. Both the second and third trimesters might be vital susceptible windows for stillbirth. Our findings expand the evidence base for the important impacts of air pollution on fetal growth.