Early Stages Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Post-COVID-19 Fetal Cardiac Morphology and Systolic Evaluation in Infected Pregnant Women by Fetal Heart Quantification Technology.

Due to the government's liberalization of epidemic control, the current 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has started to spread widely within China. This study aimed to use the fetal heart quantification (fetal HQ) technique to assess the cardiac function and morphology of the fetuses of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 in the early stages of pregnancy. Exactly 86 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in early pregnancy (COVID-19 group) and 90 healthy pregnant women (control group) who underwent fetal echocardiography were prospectively included in this study. The fetal HQ technique was applied to compare the differences in the global sphericity index (GSI), global strain values (GS), fractional area change (FAC), and 24-segment fractional shortening (FS) of the left and right ventricles, between the COVID-19 group and the control group. Compared with the control group, the differences in GS and 24-segment FS of the left ventricle in the COVID-19 group were not statistically significant. However, the COVID-19 group showed lower GSI values compared with the control group (1.24 vs 1.28). FAC (48.12%) of the left ventricle and GS (-23.55%), FAC (41.74%) of the right ventricle in the COVID-19 group were reduced compared with FAC (50.50%) of the left ventricle and GS (-27.63%), FAC (46.01%) of the right ventricle in the control group. Segmental analysis revealed reduced FS in segments 20-24 in the COVID-19 group compared with the control group. Right ventricular GS was an independent predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome with an optimal cutoff value of -18.66%. The results suggest that COVID-19 infection in early pregnancy may have a negative impact on fetal cardiac morphology and function. Fetal HQ may offer a new assessment method for the early identification of fetal cardiac alterations in pregnant women infected with COVID-19.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in 25 pregnant women diagnosed with new-onset acute myeloid leukemia during pregnancy.

The aim was to analyze the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with new- onset acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosed during pregnancy. In this retrospective study 25 pregnant women who were diagnosed with new-onset AML during pregnancy from January 2010 to January 2021 were enrolled. A total of 4, 13 and 8 pregnant women with new-onset AML were diagnosed during the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Twelve of the 25 pregnant women underwent therapeutic abortion and 13 gave birth (9 preterm and 4 full-term newborns). The gestational age at initial clinical manifestations (13.4 ± 3.7 vs. 27.7 ± 5.6weeks, P < 0.01) and diagnosis (16.9 ± 4.4 vs. 29.7 ± 5.5weeks, P < 0.01) was lower in the pregnant women who underwent therapeutic abortion than in those who gave birth. Eighty-four percent (21/25) of the pregnant women with new-onset AML during pregnancy survived and were in remission and all the newborns were born alive. Three of the 13 newborns were exposed to chemotherapy, but no congenital malformations were observed. Eight newborns were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and all recovered. The complete blood counts and biochemical examinations of the 8 newborns were normal. New-onset AML during an earlier stage of pregnancy may increase the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. The neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with new-onset AML during pregnancy are good with proper treatment.

A Study on the Impact of Environmental Awareness on Sustainable Consumption Behavior in Maternity Wear

With the relaxation of China’s birth policies and the dual independence gained by Chinese women in both mental and economic aspects, maternity wear, as an essential item for pregnant women, has an enormous design space and a growing consumer market, attracting increasing attention from all quarters [1]. However, due to the continuous changes in pregnant womens body shapes and the fact that most women need to continue working and socializing during the early and middle stages of pregnancy [2], maternity wear has a short wearing cycle and rapid turnover [3] leading to the current unsustainable consumption of maternity wear. This study aims to explore the impact of environmental awareness on the sustainable consumption behavior of maternity wear. Specifically, the study objective is to use Grounded Theory to analyze sustainability issues within maternity wear consumption and identify the factors and stages influencing sustainable consumption behavior through online searches for relevant reports and comments. We address 2 research questions. RQ1: How to improve the sustainability of maternity wear to reduce unsustainable consumption? RQ2: How does environmental awareness influence sustainable consumption behavior in maternity wear? This article, based on Grounded Theory, to ensure the timeliness of comments and reports, conducted sample data collection from 2019 to 2022. We conducted searches using keywords such as “sustainable maternity wear,” “ecofriendly maternity wear,” “sustainable fashion,” “maternity wear consumption,” and “postpartum clothing consumption.” We obtained a total of 1086 relevant articles and materials. After careful screening, we narrowed down our searches and organized 45 feasible textual materials for our study. Through online searches for relevant reports and comments regarding sustainable consumption of maternity wear, it identified consciousness-related influencing factors and three stages of sustainable maternity wear consumption behavior. Furthermore, it proposed reference recommendations for promoting sustainable consumption of maternity wear through management practices.&#x0D; Keywords: environmental awareness, maternity wear, sustainability, consumer behavior, grounded theory

Perceptions and attitudes of Rohingya community stakeholders to pregnancy termination services: a qualitative study in camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

BackgroundRohingya women suffer from inaccessibility to sexual and reproductive health services in Myanmar. After the forcible displacement of the Rohingya from Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017, pregnancy termination services have been increasingly important and desired, while knowledge gaps and obstacles to access services still exist. The role of community stakeholders is critical as gatekeepers and decision-makers to improve and strengthen pregnancy termination services for women in camps. However, there is paucity of evidence on their perspectives about pregnancy termination. This qualitative study aims to understand the perception and attitudes of Rohingya community stakeholders to pregnancy termination in the camps of Cox’s Bazar.MethodsWe used purposive sampling to select 48 participants from the community stakeholders, 12 from each group: majhis (Rohingya leaders), imams (religious leaders), school teachers, and married men. We conducted in-depth interviews of all the participants between May-June 2022 and October-November 2022. Data were coded on Atlas.ti and analysed using a thematic content analysis approach.ResultsMultiple socio-cultural and religious factors, gendered norms and stigma associated with pregnancy termination acted as barriers to women seeking services for it. From a religious stance, there was greater acceptance of pregnancy termination in the earlier period than in the later period of pregnancy. We observed that pregnancy termination among community stakeholders in earlier stages of pregnancy than later. However, circumstances, such as a woman’s marital status, whether she sought her husband’s permission or her ability of childcare capacity, were often framed by community stakeholders as ‘acceptable’ for pregnancy termination. Health concerns and social and contextual factors can influence community stakeholders supporting pregnancy termination.ConclusionsThe community stakeholders perspectives on barriers and enablers of pregnancy termination were variable with the context. These perspectives may support or impede women’s ability to choice to seek pregnancy termination services. To improve women’s choice to pregnancy termination, it is critical to consider roles of community stakeholders in creating their supporting attitudes to women’s choice and access, and to designing targeted culturally appropriate interventions with communities support and engagement.

Fetal Warfarin Syndrome - A Case Report

Fetal warfarin syndrome (FWS) or warfarin embryopathy also known as “Di Sala syndrome” is a rare fetal anomaly which occurs as a result of fetal exposure to warfarin during the early stages of pregnancy. FWS is characterised by nasal hypoplasia and skeletal abnormalities, including short limbs and digits and stippled epiphyses. Here we present a case of foetal embryopathy due to warfarin use in a female with an unplanned pregnancy while taking warfarin for cerebral venous thrombosis. The case was reported in Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Monitoring centre in August 2023. The purpose of this case report is to caution all the clinicians particularly obstetricians regarding the fetal abnormalities of warfarin. If the mother had history of warfarin usage, paediatricians should also be vigilant regarding the possibility of congenital warfarin syndrome in the newborn.&#x0D; Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant drug that decreases the production of clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) which are vitamin K-dependent. Warfarin is used in the treatment of patients with thromboembolic disorders and in patients who are predisposed to the development of thrombus. Especially those people with prosthetic heart valves, those who have had ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation. Warfarin is a teratogen which can cross the placental barrier and cause harm to the developing foetus.[1] Warfarin causes inhibition of clotting factors leading to internal bleeding of the fetus, while inhibition of osteocalcin retards bone growth. In addition to birth defects, warfarin can induce spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, neonatal death and even congenital anomalies known as fetal warfarin syndrome.[2] The risk of teratogenicity is not predictable with any dose of warfarin. The first case of embryopathy due to warfarin was reported by Di Sala in 1966 hence, it is also known as Di Sala syndrome.[3,4] Warfarin leads to embryopathy which is characterized by the abnormalities of cartilages and bones known as chondrodysplasia punctata.[5] Almost 6% of babies born to mothers treated with warfarin during the first trimester have a pattern of congenital anomalies like nasal hypoplasia and stippling of vertebrae or bony epiphyses.[6] So, warfarin is contraindicated during pregnancy.&#x0D; Here we present a case of foetal embryopathy due to warfarin use in a female with an unplanned pregnancy while taking warfarin for cerebral venous thrombosis. This form of stroke is relatively rare and underdiagnosed which accounts for 0.5%-1% of all strokes mostly occurring in young adults, especially in women. Pregnancy, use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), puerperium, malignancies and other conditions with hypercoagulable states have been recognised as predisposing risk factors.[7] The conventional therapy for venous thromboembolism includes treatment with parenteral low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and the vitamin K antagonist warfarin.[7]

Measurement of Nuchal Translucency Thickness in First Trimester Ultrasound Foetal Images Using Markov Random Field

Background The first-trimester ultrasound assessment of nuchal translucency (NT) thickness has lately been recommended as the most helpful sign in early screening for prenatal chromosomal disorders. Increased foetal NT thickness between 11 and 13+6 weeks of gestation is a frequent phenotypic manifestation of chromosomal abnormalities as well as a variety of foetal deformities and genetic disorders. Purpose At the moment, clinicians conduct the measurement manually. The measurement may take a long time to complete, requires highly competent operators, and is susceptible to mistakes. So, an automatic method is required for NT measurement. Materials and Methods This study proposes a Markov random Field-based approach for contextually segmenting the NT area from foetal pictures and offering a quick and inexpensive diagnostic even during the early stages of pregnancy. Results Proposed method gives maximum NT thickness error 0.03 and minimum NT thickness error 0.04. Conclusion The proposed research work developed a prototype for an automated NT thickness measuring system. This study proposes an MRF-based model for segmentation and detection of NT area from foetal pictures which gives error is less than other methods.

Impact of recurrent pregnancy loss on depression, anxiety and fertility related stress in Omani women: A cross sectional survey.

Pregnancy is a state of happiness and hope not only for a woman but for her family as well as near and dear ones. However, this phase of happiness comes shattering down for some couple who are not able to successfully complete pregnancy and end up losing a baby in the early stages of pregnancy. Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is prevalent among Omani women and the psychosocial impact of RPL is heavy upon these young women devastating their overall quality of life. Researchers conducted a cross sectional survey among 184 Omani women who had a history of recurrent pregnancy loss in a pioneering teaching tertiary care hospital. Data collection done from using a self-reported questionnaire to assess the depression, anxiety and RPL associated stress of women with history of RPL The mean age of women with RPL was 34.05 and 81% reported 2-3 pregnancy loss. Participants reported higher mean scores of depression (9.94), Anxiety (10.32) and fertility related stress (30.28). Women with multiple pregnancy losses (above 3) reported higher level of anxiety which was significant at (p<0.05%) The findings from current study also indicated that women with RPL experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and fertility related stress.

Prenatal diagnosis of non-typical Chiari malformation type I associated with de novo Nuclear Factor I A gene mutation: a case report

BackgroundChiari malformation is one of the most common Central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities that can be detected in routine fetal scanning. Chiari malformation type I (CMI) is a congenital defect characterized by a displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. The etiology of CMI has not been well established and suggested having multifactorial contributions, especially genetic deletion. Clinical characteristics of this anomaly may express in different symptoms from neurological dysfunction and/or skeletal abnormalities in the later age, but it is rarely reported in pregnancy.Case presentationWe present a case in which the Chiari malformation type I was diagnosed with comorbidities of facial anomalies (flatting forehead and micrognathia) and muscular-skeletal dysmorphologies (clenched hands and clubfeet) at the 24+6 weeks of gestation in a 29-year-old Vietnamese pregnant woman. The couple refused an amniocentesis, and the pregnancy was followed up every 4 weeks until a spontaneous delivery occurred at 38 weeks. The newborn had a severe asphyxia and seizures at birth required to have an emergency resuscitation at delivery. He is currently being treated in the intensive neonatal care unit. He carries the novel heterozygous NFIA gene mutation confirmed after birth. No further postnatal malformation detected.ConclusionCMI may only represent with facial abnormalities and muscle-skeletal malformations at the early stage of pregnancy, which may also alert an adverse outcome. A novel heterozygous NFIA gene mutation identified after birth helps to confirm prenatal diagnosis of CMI and to provide an appropriate consultation.

Effect of mastitis during early-stage pregnancy on the immunity levels and pregnancy function of goats

In this study, we investigated the effects of mammary inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infusions on pregnancy function during early pregnancy in goats. In Experiment 1, pregnant goats were subjected to an intramammary LPS infusion for 1 week from Days 60–66 after natural mating (n = 5), and in Experiment 2, they received intramammary infusions of either saline, LPS, or SA for 1 week from Days 45–51 after natural mating (n = 15). Blood was collected to determine the plasma cytokine, cortisol, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α (PGFM), and progesterone levels. Pregnancy length was significantly longer in the LPS-treated group than that for the saline-treated group of experiment 2. Cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-8, Tumor necrosis factor-α: TNF-α) after LPS (in both Experiments 1 and 2) and SA (in Experiment 2) infusion were significantly higher compared with those before infusion. In Experiment 2, the SA-infused group showed significantly higher TNF-α concentrations than those in the saline group. Cortisol levels increased in both experiment 1 and 2 after LPS infusion, but not after saline and SA treatments. Furthermore, PGFM levels increased after LPS infusion in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, LPS- and SA-infused goats showed significantly higher PGFM levels than those in the saline-infused goats. However, the progesterone levels decreased after LPS treatment in Experiment 1. Our results show that intramammary LPS infusion during the early stage of pregnancy in goats induces inflammatory cytokine and stress hormone production, which prolongs the pregnancy period.

Seroprevalence of Rubella in Pregnant Women at the Military Hospital Oued Eddahab Agadir, Morocco

Rubella is an epidemic rash that is generally benign, but dangerous for pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy, due to the teratogenic power of the virus. It causes spontaneous abortion, fetal death, premature delivery and congenital malformations known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The aim of this study was to determine the rubella immune status in all pregnant women consulting or being tested at the Medical Biology Department of the Oued Eddahab Military Hospital in Agadir. An 18-month retrospective cross-sectionnal study was conducted from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 to assess the IgG seroprevalence of rubella in 1393 pregnant women aged 19 to 43 years old of any gestationnal age using the Architect i1000SR Analyzer. Of the 1393 pregnant women tested, 1184 (85%) were seropositive. Despite of the vaccination recommandations after their anterior pregnancy, 07% of multiparous remained seronegativ. Preventive measures against congenital rubella must be reinforced and vaccination awareness campaigns, particularly for unimmunized multiparous women, remain essential.

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and its Management with the Dual-Release Formulation of Doxylamine and Pyridoxine.

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is among the most common conditions that pregnant women encounter in the early stages of pregnancy. It can affect up to 85% of pregnant women, thus representing a significant public health concern. NVP results in substantial negative physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Despite its prevalence, the pathogenesis remains elusive. Few guidelines have been published; however, several interventions exist for the symptomatic treatment of NVP. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of modern treatment strategies of NVP with a special focus on the recently approved dual-release formulation of the doxylamine and pyridoxine combination. This combination was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2016 for the treatment of NVP when conservative management fails, and it has been introduced to the American market in April 2018. The maximum plasma concentration (T max ) of doxylamine and pyridoxal-5-phosphate is reached 3.5h and 15 h, respectively, after administration of one tablet twice daily, or 4.5h and 0.5h, respectively, when one tablet is administered just once daily. In addition, the delayed-release combination allows sufficient levels of doxylamine and the active metabolite pyridoxal-5-phosphate in the systemic circulation, providing symptoms relief in the subsequent morning. Hence, the dual-release formulation can improve the quality of life of pregnant women suffering from NVP. Additionally, large epidemiological trials have shown no increased risk of adverse effects to newborns, demonstrating that its use is not teratogenic.

Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism among Pregnant Women

Background: Some studies have associated subclinical hypothyroidism with obstetric complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and placental abruption. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women ending their pregnancy at Enrique Garces Hospital. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between February 2020 and 2022. The study included pregnant women between 20 and 35 years of age, with singleton pregnancies in the third trimester. The women were in labor and diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism and preeclampsia in the current pregnancy. The women underwent blood sampling. Also, the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were measured by chemiluminescence. Results: A total of 639 women were evaluated; Among these women 509 (79.66%) were normotensive, 137 (26.92%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 372 (73.08%) did not have subclinical hypothyroidism, 130 (20.34%) had preeclampsia, 34 (26.15%) of them with subclinical hypothyroidism and 96 (73.85%) not having subclinical hypothyroidism. The overall prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 26.76%. In the normotensive group the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 0.2691 with a 95 % CI (0.2306, 0.3076) and in the preeclampsia group it was 0.2615 with a 95 % CI (0.1859, 0.3370). Conclusions: A high prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was identified among pregnant women, which often goes undiagnosed in the early stages of pregnancy due to the lack of thyroid profile screening protocols for all pregnant women. Regarding the TSH cut-off levels 3mIUI/L there was no statistically significant difference of subclinical hypothyroidism among normotensive pregnant women and preeclampsia women, as literature suggests that TSH levels above 4mIU/L are associated with hypertensive diseases

Design of a targeted blood transcriptional panel for monitoring immunological changes accompanying pregnancy.

Immunomodulatory processes exert steering functions throughout pregnancy. Detecting diversions from this physiologic immune clock may help identify pregnant women at risk for pregnancy-associated complications. We present results from a data-driven selection process to develop a targeted panel of mRNAs that may prove effective in detecting pregnancies diverting from the norm. Based on a de novo dataset from a resource-constrained setting and a dataset from a resource-rich area readily available in the public domain, whole blood gene expression profiles of uneventful pregnancies were captured at multiple time points during pregnancy. BloodGen3, a fixed blood transcriptional module repertoire, was employed to analyze and visualize gene expression patterns in the two datasets. Differentially expressed genes were identified by comparing their abundance to non-pregnant postpartum controls. The selection process for a targeted gene panel considered (i) transcript abundance in whole blood; (ii) degree of correlation with the BloodGen3 module; and (iii) pregnancy biology. We identified 176 transcripts that were complemented with eight housekeeping genes. Changes in transcript abundance were seen in the early stages of pregnancy and similar patterns were observed in both datasets. Functional gene annotation suggested significant changes in the lymphoid, prostaglandin and inflammation-associated compartments, when compared to the postpartum controls. The gene panel presented here holds promise for the development of predictive, targeted, transcriptional profiling assays. Such assays might become useful for monitoring of pregnant women, specifically to detect potential adverse events early. Prospective validation of this targeted assay, in-depth investigation of functional annotations of differentially expressed genes, and assessment of common pregnancy-associated complications with the aim to identify these early in pregnancy to improve pregnancy outcomes are the next steps.

Effectiveness of acupressure therapy against nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Background: Nausea and vomiting, commonly known as morning sickness, pose significant discomfort and distress to many expectant mothers during early pregnancy stages. While various remedies and medications exist, concerns regarding their safety and potential side effects prompt exploration into alternative therapies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure therapy in reducing the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. The research involved a group of pregnant women divided into several groups. The effectiveness of the therapy was assessed by monitoring the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting before and after the intervention. The results of this study indicate that acupressure therapy significantly reduces the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women compared to the placebo group. Thus, acupressure therapy can be an effective and safe approach to managing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, improving the quality of life for pregnant women, and promoting a more natural and sustainable treatment approach during pregnancy.

Safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine immunization during pregnancy in 1024 pregnant women infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Shanghai, China.

Large sample of pregnant women vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine has not been carried out in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 inactivated vaccine in pregnant women infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. A total of 1,024 pregnant women and 120 newborns were enrolled in this study. 707 pregnant women received one to three doses of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, and 317 unvaccinated patients served as the control group. A comparison was made between their clinical and laboratory data at different stages of pregnancy. The incidence rate of patients infected with Omicron variant in the first, the second, and the third trimesters of pregnancy was 27.5%, 27.0%, and 45.5% in patients during, respectively. The corresponding length of hospital stay was 8.7 ± 3.3 days, 9.5 ± 3.3 days, and 11 ± 4.3 days, respectively. The hospitalization time of pregnant women who received 3 doses of vaccine was (8.8 ± 3.3) days, which was significantly shorter than that of non-vaccinated women (11.0 ± 3.9) days. (P<0.0001). The positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in patients in the early stage of pregnancy was 28.8%, while that in patients in the late stage of pregnancy was 10.3%. However, three-doses of vaccination significantly increased the SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive rate to 49.5%. The hospitalization time of SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive patients was shorter than that of negative patients (9.9 ± 3.5 days), which was 7.4 ± 2.0 days. 12.2% of vaccinated women experienced mild adverse reactions, manifested as fatigue (10.6%) and loss of appetite (1.6%). The vaccination of mother did not affect her choice of future delivery mode and the Apgar score of their newborn. All newborns tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid, as well as for IgG and IgM antibodies. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy are highly susceptible to infection with the Omicron strain. The vaccination of pregnant women with COVID-19 vaccine can accelerate the process of eliminating SARS-CoV-2 virus, and is considered safe for newborns. The recommended vaccination includes three doses.

Dose- and stage-dependent toxic effects of prenatal prednisone exposure on fetal articular cartilage development

Prednisone is frequently used to treat rheumatoid diseases in pregnant women because of its high degree of safety. Whether prenatal prednisone exposure (PPE) negatively impacts fetal articular cartilage development is unclear. In this study, we simulated a clinical prednisone treatment regimen to examine the effects of different timings and doses of PPE on cartilage development in female and male fetal mice. Prednisone doses (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg/d) was administered to Kunming mice at different gestational stages (0–9 gestational days, GD0–9), mid-late gestation (GD10–18), or during the entire gestation (GD0–18) by oral gavage. The amount of matrix aggrecan (ACAN) and collagen type II a1(COL2a1), and expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling pathway also demonstrated that the chondrocyte count and ACAN and COL2a1 expression reduced in fetal mice with early and mid-late PPE, with the reduction being more significant in the mice with early PPE than that in those with PPE at other stages. Prenatal exposure to different prednisone doses prevented the reduction of TGFβ signaling pathway-related genes [TGFβR1, SMAD family member 3 (Smad3), SRY-box9 (SOX9)] as well as ACAN and COL2a1 mRNA expression levels in fetal mouse cartilage, with the most significant decrease after 1 mg/kg·d PPE. In conclusion, PPE can inhibit/restrain fetal cartilage development, with the greatest effect at higher clinical dose (1 mg/kg·d) and early stage of pregnancy (GD0–9), and the mechanism may be related to TGFβ signaling pathway inhibition. The result of this study provide a theoretical and experimental foundation for the rational clinical use of prednisone.

Estimation of genotype by environmental interaction for litter traits by reaction norm model in Taiwan Landrace sows.

The negative effects of heat stress on swine reproduction have been well documented and the recent global warming trend caused by climate change is leading to more days with high temperatures every year. This has caused a reduction in litter trait performance of Landrace sows in Taiwan, a country extending across tropical and subtropical oceanic zones. Therefore, this study developed a modified model to determine which stages of pregnancy, before, early, middle, and late, had the largest impacts of heat stress on litter traits. A reaction norm model (RNM) was used to identify sows with high resilience to heat stress for litter traits followed by analysis of the modified model. Data from Landrace sows were collected from 2 farms in Taiwan between 2008 and 2021. A total of 11,059 records were collected for total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), and stillborn rate (STBR). The results showed that the heritabilities of TNB, NBA, and STBR were 0.170, 0.115, and 0.077, respectively. These results were similar between the conventional model and the modified model. In the modified model, the before and early stages of sow pregnancy were the significant periods for TNB and NBA (P < 0.05), while the early and middle stages were significant for STBR (P < 0.05). According to the RNM results, the heritability estimates for TNB, NBA, and STBR were 0.23 to 0.11, 0.18 to 0.08, and 0.10 to 0.04, respectively, showing a decrease from low temperature-humidity index (THI) to high THI. The minimum genetic correlations between the highest and the lowest THI for TNB, NBA, and STBR were 0.85, 0.64, and 0.80, respectively. The results of the RNM for breeding value showed re-ranking across THI values. In conclusion, similar results were obtained for heritability when the model was modified for heat stress estimation. Yet re-ranking of breeding values across THI could help farmers to select not only for improved litter trait performance but also for heat stress resilience of Landrace sows in Taiwan.

Dwelling proximity to wildfire and spina bifida risk in offspring

Objective To evaluate the association between wildfire exposure in pregnancy and spina bifida risk. Methods This retrospective cohort study used the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Linked Birth File with hospital discharge data between 2007 and 2010. The Birth File data were merged with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection data of the same year. Spina bifida was identified by its corresponding ICD-9 code listed on the hospital discharge of the newborn. Wildfire exposure was determined based on the zip code of the woman’s home address. Pregnancy was considered exposed to wildfire if the mother lived within 15 miles of a wildfire during the pregnancy or within 30 days prior to pregnancy. Results There were 2,093,185 births and 659 cases of spina bifida between 2007 and 2010. The births were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models and adjusted for potential confounders. Exposure to wildfire in the first trimester was associated with higher odds of spina bifida (aOR= 1.43 [1.11–1.84], p-value = 0.01). Wildfire exposure 30 days before the last menstrual period and during the second and third trimesters were not associated with higher spina bifida risk. Conclusion Wildfire exposure has shown an increased risk of spina bifida during the early stages of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Following Caesarean Section, Managed by Anterior Colpotomy

Caesarean section scar pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy which is life-threatening for the mother due to uterine rupture at an early stage of pregnancy and haemorrhage. It is a pathology whose frequency is increasing due to the evolution of the caesarean section rate. We report the case of an isthmoceles pregnancy diagnosed at 9 weeks of amenorrhoea during the first trimester ultrasound.

Identification of circulatory microRNA based biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo.

Introduction: The most crucial factor in improving animal reproduction efficiency is early pregnancy diagnosis. Early diagnosis not only reduces the time interval between two calvings but also aids farmers in identifying open animals, thereby preventing significant milk production losses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discover circulatory miRNAs that would be useful for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo. Material and methods: Blood samples were taken on 0, 6th, 12th, and 18th day after artificial insemination from pregnant animals (n = 30) and non-pregnant animals (n = 20). During these stages of pregnancy, total RNA was extracted, and a small RNA library was subsequently generated and sequenced on the Illumina platform. Subsequently, Real-time PCR was used to validate the findings. Results and discussion: There were 4,022 miRNAs found during the pregnancy, with 15 of those lacking sequences and 4,007 having sequences already in the database. From the beginning of pregnancy until the 18th day, 25 of these miRNAs showed a substantial shift in expression levels in the maternal blood, with a change more than two logs. Furthermore, based on qPCR results, 19 miRNAs were found to be more abundant in pregnant animals than in non-pregnant animals. We used target prediction analysis to learn how maternally expressed miRNAs relate to fetal-maternal communication. In conclusion, miRNA based biomarkers that could be associated with the diagnosis of pregnancy were identified including miR-181a and miR-486 highly upregulated on the 18th day of pregnancy. This study also provides a comprehensive profile of the entire miRNA population in maternal buffalo blood during the early stages of pregnancy.