Fetuses Of Women Research Articles

Reference range of fetal myocardial area by three-dimensional ultrasonography and its applicability in fetuses of pre-gestational diabetic women

Objective To determine the reference range for the myocardial area in healthy fetuses using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography and validate these results in fetuses of pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods This cross-sectional retrospective study included 168 healthy pregnant women between gestational weeks 20 and 33+6 days. The myocardial area was measured using spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) in the four-chamber view. Polynomial regression models were used, and the goodness of fit of the models were evaluated by the coefficient of determination (R2). Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was determined using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Validation was performed in 30 pregnant women with pre-gestational DM. Results There was a strong correlation (R2=0.71, P<0.0001) between myocardial area and gestational age. There was good intra- and inter-observer reproducibility, with a CCC of 0.86 and 0.83, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the mean myocardial area between healthy fetuses and fetuses of women with pre-gestational DM (0.11 cm2, P=0.55). Conclusion The reference range was determined for the myocardial area in fetuses, and there was no significant difference in this variable between healthy fetuses and the fetuses of women with pre-gestational DM.

The effect of maternal obesity on fetal biometry, body composition, and growth velocity

Introduction: The aim of this secondary analysis was to investigate the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and fetal biometry, body composition, and velocity measurements at 28 and 36 weeks gestation.Materials and methods: The current analysis involves 911 overweight or obese women who were randomized to the Standard Care group of the LIMIT randomized trial.Results: The fetus of women with Class 3 obesity (BMI ≥ 40.0) showed the greatest increase in all biometry z-scores, abdominal area (AA), and abdominal fat mass (AFM) compared with women classified as overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9). In women with Class 3 obesity, AA velocity was increased by 0.035 cm2 (0.004, 0.066, p = .029) and the z-score velocity was increased by 0.238 (0.022, 0.453, p = .03). Estimated fetal weight (EFW) velocity for women with Class 3 obesity was higher than that of overweight women by 2.028 g per day (0.861, 3.196, p<.001) and the z-score velocity was also higher by 0.441 per day (0.196, 0.687, p < .001).Conclusions: Maternal obesity is associated with an increase in fetal abdominal circumference, AFM and area along with EFW velocity over time. Women with Class 3 obesity (BMI ≥ 40.0) may represent a higher risk group for perpetuating the intergenerational transmission of obesity to their offspring.

Zika Virus Epidemic in Brazil. II. Post-Mortem Analyses of Neonates with Microcephaly, Stillbirths, and Miscarriage.

Introduction: The recent Zika virus(ZIKV) epidemic in Brazil was characterized by a range of different clinical presentations, particularly microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and death. In this context, we determined the causal relationship between fatal microcephaly cases and ZIKV infection. Methods: Twelve fatal cases of neonates, whose mothers were infected with ZIKV during pregnancy, were examined; cases included nine neonatal deaths due to microcephaly, one miscarriage, and two stillbirths. Tissue samples were obtained from all cases at necropsy and were submitted for virological investigation (RT-qPCR and virus isolation) and/or histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin staining) and immunohistochemical assay for the detection of ZIKV antigens. Results: ZIKV antigens and/or ZIKV RNA were detected in tissue samples of all 12 cases examined. ZIKV was recovered in one case. Results of the virological and immunohistochemical analyses, as well as the anatomic abnormalities and histopathologic changes observed at necropsy on the 12 fatal cases, are presented. Conclusions: Data from these 12 cases provide strong evidence of the causal relationship between ZIKV and congenital disease in fetuses of women who were infected with the virus during pregnancy.

Serum Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their term fetuses

ABSTRACTWe sought to determine serum AMH levels in the maternal circulation, and the umbilical artery and vein, in normal women and women with PCOS, and their neonates at time of delivery. This represents a cross-sectional study of 57 pregnant patients who presented to the labor and delivery suite and subsequently delivered. We obtained maternal, as well as fetal blood from both, umbilical artery and vein. We measured serum concentrations of estradiol, AMH, testosterone and FSH. A total of 30 patients delivered a female and 27 a male neonate. Of them, 18/30 and 18/27 had a diagnosis of PCOS by NIH criteria. Mean age, BMI, weight gain in pregnancy, and gestational age did not differ between the two groups of mothers. AMH serum levels were statistically higher in women with PCOS (p < 0.005) and in their fetuses, independently of gender. Testosterone was higher in women with PCOS (p < 0.001), but there was no PCOS-related difference in their fetuses. FSH levels were significantly lower in PCOS than non-PCOS mothers carrying a male (p = 0.022), but not a female, fetus. AMH was positively correlated with maternal serum testosterone (p = 0.001) and negatively with fetal serum FSH (p < 0.026). In PCOS pregnancies, AMH was negatively correlated with maternal BMI (p = 0.019), menstrual cycle length (p = 0.035), and fetal uterine vein FSH (p = 0.021). In conclusion, at time of delivery, fetuses of women with PCOS had higher AMH levels and similar testosterone levels compared to fetuses from non-PCOS mothers, irrespective of gender. Our results may help explaining developmental differences in offspring of PCOS women.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02431884.

The effect of increased amnion volume severity on fetal Doppler indices and perinatal outcomes in idiopathic polyhydramnios

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between polyhydramnios severity and alterations in Doppler indices and perinatal outcomes in idiopathic polyhydramnios.Methods: This prospective case control study was conducted in a tertiary hospital with 173 singleton pregnancies between 29 and 41 weeks gestational age between May 2015 and December 2016. Polyhydroamnios is classified as mild (amniotic fluid index 25–30 cm), moderate (30.1–35 cm), and severe (>35 cm) and the number of the patients in mild, moderate, and severe groups were 55, 39, and 26, respectively. The results were compared with 53 healthy controls. Fetal echocardiography and Doppler measurements of the groups were made and the perinatal outcomes from each group were noted. The relationship between the results and the severity of polyhydramnios was analyzed statistically.Results: The myocardial performance index was significantly higher in the fetuses of women with severe polyhydramnios compared to the other groups (p = .006). There were statistically significant differences among the groups in terms of first and fifth minutes according to the Apgar scores (p = .011, p = .016 respectively). In the severe polyhydramnios group compared with other groups, the middle cerebral artery pulstatility index was significantly lower (p = .002), while middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity and umbilical artery pulstatility index values were significantly higher (p = .0001, p = .045).Conclusions: Our study showed an increase in myocardial performance index and middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity values and a decrease in middle cerebral artery pulstatility index values, especially in the severe idiopathic polyhydramnios group. Idiopathic polyhydramnios were associated with low first and fifth minute Apgar score. Additionally, the increase in umbilical artery pulstatility index value and the decrease in middle cerebral artery pulstatility index value became more apparent with the increase in amniotic fluid volume. It should be taken into consideration that brain sparing effect may develop especially in cases with severe polyhydramnios.

The Effects of Gestational Use of Antidepressants and Antipsychotics on Neonatal Outcomes for Women With Severe Mental Illness

(Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2017;57:526–532) Approximately 4% to 7.6% of fetuses are exposed to psychotropic medications in pregnant women with mental illness. Negative neonatal outcomes and poor neonatal adaptation syndrome are strongly associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure in pregnancy. High rates of special care nursery (SCN) admission appear to be greater in fetuses of women with severe mental illness (SMI). This study aimed to analyze the association between psychotropic medication use and the rates of SCN admission in a cohort of women with SMI and to also examine the neonatal outcomes associated with third trimester exposure to antidepressant medication alone, antipsychotic medication alone, or a combination of both.

Number of Risk Factors in Down Syndrome Pregnancies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate risk factor prevalence in pregnancies with fetal Down syndrome, in an effort to characterize efficacy of population-based screening. Retrospective review of singleton pregnancies with delivery of live born or stillborn infant with Down syndrome from 2009 through 2015. Risk factor categories included maternal age ≥35 years, abnormal serum screening, identification of ≥1 ultrasound marker at 16 to 22 weeks (nuchal thickness ≥6 mm, echogenic intracardiac focus, echogenic bowel, renal pelvis dilatation, femur length <third percentile), and detection of a major fetal anomaly. Statistical analyses included χ2 test and Mantel-Haenszel χ2 test. Down syndrome infants represented 1:428 singleton births. All risk categories were assessed in 125 pregnancies and included abnormal serum screen in 110 (88%), ≥1 ultrasound marker in 66 (53%), and ≥1 anomaly in 41 (34%). The calculated risk was at least 1:270 in 93% of Down syndrome pregnancies. More pregnancies had multiple risk factors than had a single risk factor, 90 (72%) versus 30 (24%), p < 0.001. An abnormal ultrasound marker or anomaly was identified in >50% of fetuses in women <35 years and in >75% of those 35 years and older. In a population-based cohort, sensitivity of second-trimester Down syndrome screening was 93%, with multiple risk factors present in nearly three-fourths of cases.

The Influence of Hyperglycemia on the Outcome of Diabetic Pregnancies

Abstract At the beginning of the last century, the association between diabetes mellitus and pregnancy was credited with a high risk of complications and mortality. However, nowadays, such issue no longer bears such a pessimistic approach. Planning the pregnancy during a period of optimal metabolic control and careful monitoring of the pregnant woman significantly reduces maternal and fetal mortality. The most important aspects of fetal pathology are: intrauterine fetal death, congenital malformations, growing disorders (macrosomia or delays in growing), neonatal hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy etc. The fetus’s viability is significantly impacted if a quality maternal glycemic control is not obtained at least 3 months prior to birth, as well as throughout the entire pregnancy term (particularly during the first 10 weeks, term during which organogenesis is completed). This systematic review of scientific literature aims to summarize the pathogenic ways in which hyperglycemia may influence the fetus of women with Diabetes Mellitus.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in infants born to gestational diabetes mellitus

BackgroundOffspring exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at a high risk for metabolic diseases. The mechanisms behind the association between offspring exposed to GDM in utero and an increased risk of health consequences later in life remain unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the changes in methylation levels in the foetuses of women with GDM and to explore the possible mechanisms linking maternal GDM with a high risk of metabolic diseases in offspring later in life. MethodsA genome-wide comparative methylome analysis on the umbilical cord blood of infants born to 30 women with GDM and 33 women with normal pregnancy was performed using Infinium HumanMethylation 450 BeadChip assays. A quantitative methylation analysis of 18 CpG dinucleotides was verified in the validation umbilical cord blood samples from 102 newborns exposed to GDM and 103 newborns who experienced normal pregnancy by MassARRAY EpiTYPER. ResultsA total of 4485 differentially methylated sites (DMSs), including 2150 hypermethylated sites and 2335 hypomethylated sites, with a mean β-value difference of >0.05, were identified by the 450k array. Good agreement was observed between the massarray validation data and the 450k array data (R2 > 0.99; P < 0.0001). Thirty-seven CpGs (representing 20 genes) with a β-value difference of > 0.15 between the GDM and healthy groups were identified and showed potential as clinical biomarkers for GDM. “hsa04940: Type I diabetes mellitus” was the most significant Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, with a P-value = 3.20E−07 and 1.36E−02 in the hypermethylated and hypomethylated genepathway enrichment analyses, respectively. In the Gene Ontology (GO) pathway analyses, immune MHC (major histocompatibility complex)-related pathways and neuron development-related pathways were significantly enriched. ConclusionsOur results suggest that GDM has epigenetic effects on genes that are preferentially involved in the Type I diabetes mellitus pathway, immune MHC-related pathways and neuron development-related pathways, with consequences on fetal growth and development, and provide supportive evidence that DNA methylation is involved in fetal metabolic programming.

Feasibility of 2-D ultrasound shear wave elastography of fetal lungs in case of threatened preterm labour: a study protocol

Introduction2-D ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) could be considered as a new noninvasive tool for monitoring fetal lung development based on evaluation of mechanical properties during pregnancy. Interesting results are...

Deleterious impact of maternal hepatitis-C viral infection on maternal and fetal outcome: a 5-year prospective study.

To assess prospectively the maternal and fetal outcome among pregnant women with chronic Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection compared to normal control group. A prospective observational study conducted on 342 pregnant women with HCV who were divided into two groups according to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result, group 1 (n=184, HCV-PCR negative) and group 2 (n=154, HCV-PCR positive) with a third group of normal pregnant women (n=170). Obstetric outcome was recorded. Patients with positive HCV-PCR have more elevated liver enzymes (p<0.05) and lower prothrombin INR (p<0.001) than those with negative HCV-PCR testing. Fewer patients with HCV received previous medical treatment (16/342, 4.6%). More women in the HCV groups delivered by vacuum or cesarean section (p<0.05), experienced higher rates of antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, anemia, development of GDM, premature rupture of membranes, repeated hospital admissions, blood transfusions, admission to ICU and maternal mortality (p<0.001) compared to the control group. Fetuses of women with HCV infections were more prone to IUFD with higher rates of low birth weight, prematurity, low Apgar scores at 5min, admission to NICU, need for ventilation, and acquisition of HCV (p<0.001) as well as neonatal mortality (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Patients with HCV infection even those without viremia suffered poor maternal and fetal outcome. Multidisciplinary management of the affected patients should be implemented to improve their obstetric outcome.

OP21.05: The cerebroplacental ratio as a prognostic factor of fetal outcome in pregnancies complicated by maternal sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) in pregnancy can have adverse effects on both maternal and fetal circulations. These circulations can be assessed using Doppler ultrasound of the middle cerebral and umbilical arteries. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), a ratio of the middle cerebral and umbilical artery indices, is emerging as an important predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This has implications for assessing well-being in fetuses diagnosed as small for gestational age, a common finding in SCD patients. The aim of this study was to assess the role of CPR in predicting adverse fetal outcomes in patients with sickle cell disease. A prospective cohort study was conducted at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana over a six-month period. SCD patients at 34 weeks gestation or more were recruited to undergo weekly Doppler assessment until delivery. The CPR was calculated and participants were categorised into two study arms based on a CPR<1.1 or >1.1. Adverse perinatal outcomes including IUGR, stillbirth, low birth weight and NICU admissions were compared between the two groups. There were five fetuses with CPR<1.1 and 25 adverse perinatal events: 2 stillbirths, 10 low birth weight neonates, 12 NICU admissions and 1 APGAR score below 7 at 5 minutes. A CPR<1.1 had positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 72% respectively for predicting composite adverse perinatal outcomes. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting stillbirths were 100% and 93% respectively and 40% and 97% respectively for low birth weight. There was no significant difference in perinatal outcomes between the two major sickle cell genotypes (SS and SC). Mothers in the CPR< 1.1 group were also more likely to have severe anemia, blood transfusions and acute malaria during their pregnancy. A CPR <1.1 was shown to be significantly associated with adverse perinatal outcome especially low birthweight (<2.5kg) and antenatal stillbirths in fetuses of women with sickle cell disease.

Influence of psychological intervention on the psychological status of pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes

Objective To explore the influence of psychological intervention on the psychological status of pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes. Methods A total of 200 pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes and another 200 without premature rupture of membranes who delivered in the obstetric department in our hospital were chosen and were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, 100 cases of each group.The prenatal and postnatal psychological status of the two groups were investigated and the observation group were given the psychological intervention. Results The anxiety and depression of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the anxiety and depression of the pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes was significantly higher than that of the pregnant women without premature rupture of membranes. After a positive psychological intervention, there was a significant difference in terms of the psychological status and neonatal growth between the groups. Conclusions Effective psychological intervention can help pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes to improve their anxiety and depression, improve the quality of life, and reduce the rate of cesarean section. Key words: Psychological intervention; Premature rupture; Pregnant and fetal women; Psychological status

Determination of the fetal myocardial performance index in women with gestational impaired glucose tolerance and to assess whether this parameter is a possible prognostic indicator of adverse fetal outcome

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if the myocardial performance index (MPI) is altered in fetuses in women with gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT), controlled on diet and whether this parameter is also predictive of adverse outcome in this group, as in poorly controlled gestational diabetes.Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study, 32 women with GIGT on diet in the 3rd trimester were recruited and matched with 32 women with normal pregnancies (control group). Using Doppler echocardiography, the MPI was calculated. Placental resistance Doppler markers in both groups were also determined. An abnormal outcome was defined as any of the following: stillbirth, neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, tachypnea with pulmonary oedema, neonatal cord pH <7.15, five minute Apgar score <7, and cardiomyopathy.Results: The cases had a significantly higher median MPI compared to controls, p value <.0001. There were eight abnormal outcomes recorded in the 32 fetuses in the study group, corresponding to an adverse outcome rate of 25%. Fetuses with an adverse outcome had significantly higher MPI measurements compared to the GIGT fetuses with normal outcome. The MPI served as an excellent predictor of adverse outcome in the GIGT fetuses, with a total area under the ROC curve of 0.96. An MPI z-score greater than 4.0 conferred a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 80%. No abnormal outcomes were noted in the control group.Conclusions: The MPI is impaired in fetuses in GIGT women, with fetuses with an adverse outcome having significantly higher MPI measurements compared to the fetuses with normal outcome in the GIGT group. MPI has the potential to improve fetal surveillance in gestational diabetes.

Brain Development in Fetuses of Mothers with Diabetes: A Case-Control MR Imaging Study.

Offspring exposed to maternal diabetes are at increased risk of neurocognitive impairment, but its origins are unknown. With MR imaging, we investigated the feasibility of comprehensive assessment of brain metabolism (1H-MRS), microstructure (DWI), and macrostructure (structural MRI) in third-trimester fetuses in women with diabetes and determined normal ranges for the MR imaging parameters measured. Women with singleton pregnancies with diabetes (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 26) were recruited prospectively for MR imaging studies between 34 and 38 weeks' gestation. Data suitable for postprocessing were obtained from 79%, 71%, and 46% of women for 1H-MRS, DWI, and structural MRI, respectively. There was no difference in the NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios (mean [SD]) in the fetal brain in women with diabetes compared with controls (1.74 [0.79] versus 1.79 [0.64], P = .81; and 0.78 [0.28] versus 0.94 [0.36], P = .12, respectively), but the Cho/Cr ratio was marginally lower (0.46 [0.11] versus 0.53 [0.10], P = .04). There was no difference in mean [SD] anterior white, posterior white, and deep gray matter ADC between patients and controls (1.16 [0.12] versus 1.16 [0.08], P = .96; 1.54 [0.16] versus 1.59 [0.20], P = .56; and 1.49 [0.23] versus 1.52 [0.23], P = .89, respectively) or volume of the cerebrum (243.0 mL [22.7 mL] versus 253.8 mL [31.6 mL], P = .38). Acquiring multimodal MR imaging of the fetal brain at 3T from pregnant women with diabetes is feasible. Further study of fetal brain metabolism in maternal diabetes is warranted.

Increased fetal adiposity prior to diagnosis of gestational diabetes in South Asians: more evidence for the \u2018thin\u2013fat\u2019 baby

Aims/hypothesisGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased future risk of obesity in the offspring. Increased adiposity has been observed in the newborns of women with GDM. Our aim was to examine early fetal adiposity in women with GDM.MethodsObstetric and sonographic data was collated for 153 women with GDM and 178 controls from a single centre in Chennai, India. Fetal head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL) and biparietal diameter (BPD) were recorded at 11, 20 and 32 weeks. Anterior abdominal wall thickness (AAWT) as a marker of abdominal adiposity at 20 and 32 weeks was compared between groups. Adjustments were made for maternal age, BMI, parity, gestational weight gain, fetal sex and gestational age.ResultsFetuses of women with GDM had significantly higher AAWT at 20 weeks (β 0.26 [95% CI 0.15, 0.37] mm, p < 0.0001) despite lower measures of HC, FL, BPD and AC. AAWT remained higher in the fetuses of women with GDM at 32 weeks (β 0.48 [0.30, 0.65] mm, p < 0.0001) despite similar measures for HC, FL, BPD and AC between groups. Both groups had similar birthweights at term. There was an independent relationship between fasting plasma glucose levels and AAWT after adjustment as described above.Conclusions/interpretationA ‘thin but fat’ phenotype signifying a disproportionate increase in adiposity despite smaller or similar lean body mass was observed in the fetuses of mothers with GDM, even at 20 weeks, thus pre-dating the biochemical diagnosis of GDM. Increased AAWT may serve as an early marker of GDM.

CHANGES IN CARDIOTOCOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN WOMEN WITH A TERM PREGNANCY

The article presents the main indicators of diagnostics of intrauterine condition of the fetus in women with a term pregnancy. Cardaccutane diagnosis is one of the first links a reflection of the intrauterine condition of the fetus that serves as a signal for further observation and treatment of women in the period of gestation more than 40 weeks. More significant disturbances of parameters that are diagnosed during recording cardamomum in women with perenose pregnancy, namely, lower AMO and the number of oscillations, reducing the number of accelerate, simultaneous increase in a variable, deep, long-term decelerate during pregnancy and the occurrence of late decelerate in childbirth (dipІІ, dipІІІ), increases in the percentage of a stable rhythm with a considerable amount of monotony and sinus rhythm indicated violations of the intrauterine state of the fetus: hypoxia, fetal distress and disturbance of placental circulation in 87,6% of cases in women with a term pregnancy. It should be noted that according to the CTG, most women in the control group were diagnosed satisfactory condition of the fetus.

Altered Maternal Serum Dynamic Thiol-Disulfide Interchange Reactions in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the alteration of dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis which basically shows the oxidative stress in body in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by using a newly developed and automated analysis method. STUDY DESIGN: Study population consisted of body mass index and gestational age-matched pregnant women. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups based on their response to glucose challenge test (GCT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results: (1) control group (normal GCT test results n= 87); (2) Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) group ( n= 37); (3) GDM group (n=25). Maternal serum thiol and disulphide levels were compared among three groups. RESULTS: Maternal serum thiol values were found decreased and maternal serum disulphide levels were increased in GDM groups were compared to control and IGT groups (Thiols for controls: 398.19±30.49 µmol/L, for IGT group 395.92±35.52 µmol/L, and for GDM group 371.89±41.14 µmol/L p= 0.002). Disulphides for controls; 17.47±4.38 µmol/L, for IGT; 19.27±3.34 µmol/L, for GDM group; 25.46±4.21 µmol/L, (p=0.001). Disulphide/thiol ratio was found to be increased in GDM group comparing to other groups (Disulphide/thiol ratio: 0.044±0.012 for controls, 0.049±0.009 for IGT group, 0.068±0.0103 for GDM group p=0.001) CONCLUSION: Thiol- disulphide balance has shifted to the oxidative side in pregnant women with GDM. So blood glucose regulation is extremely crucial for reducing the oxidative stress which may lead to damages to vital organs of a mother or possibly to development of a fetus in women with GDM.

DistURBANCE OF PEROXIDATION PROCESS AS A RISK FACTOR OF PERINATAL COMPLICATIONs

Determination of intensity of peroxidation process as index of the cellular membranes destruction and strength of antioxidant protection, as evidence of cellular adaptation may be used for assessment of the degree of compensatory adaptable derangement mechanisms, prediction of unfavorable consequences for mother and fetus in women, whose pregnancy was complicated by the development of placental dysfunction (PD). The analysis of the data obtained showed that the content of lipid hydroperoxides and malonic aldehyde is significantly increased in pregnant women with compensated PD. At the same time, the level of the restored glutathione didn’t increase indicating manifestation of antioxidant insufficiency of the organism. Decrease of glutathione content and glutathione-perozidase activity was marked in women with decompensated PD at the end of pregnancy in response to significant activation of lipid peroxidation. It is evidence of emaciation of the compensatory-adaptable mechanisms. The disturbances mentioned above result in disorders of the adaptation processes of the organism of mother and fetus.

Fetal gender is not associated with either gestational diabetes mellitus or placental weight: A cohort study

AimThis study assessed whether male fetal gender increases the risk of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and investigated the association with placental weight. MethodsThe study included 20,149 women without pregestational diabetes who delivered singletons at our hospital between January 2002 and December 2010. There was universal screening for GDM, and all placentas were weighed at delivery. ResultsGDM (affecting 14.2% of women) was not associated with fetal gender (male fetuses in women without and with GDM: 51.8% vs. 51.7%, respectively; P=0.957), and remained likewise after logistic-regression analysis of risk factors for GDM (OR: 1.007, 95% CI: 0.930–1.091; P=0.858). Placental weights were 600±126g, 596±123g, 584±118g and 587±181g in women with GDM/female, GDM/male, no GDM/female and no GDM/male fetuses, respectively (GDM effect: P=0.017; gender effect: P=0.41; GDM * gender effect: P=0.16). ConclusionThe present results suggest that fetal gender is not associated with GDM and, while placental weights were higher in cases of GDM, there were still no gender effects.