Gestational Maturity Research Articles

Safety evaluation of commonly used Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy in mice

It is unclear how safe the use of Chinese herbal medicine is during pregnancy and if the herbal medicines do any harm to pregnancy, embryo-fetal development and prenatal and post-natal growth. A large-scale preclinical study was conducted to detect the adverse effects of Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy. Twenty of the most commonly used Chinese herbal medicines prescribed for pregnancy were selected and the crude extract was administered to pregnant mice at clinical doses during five different gestational stages, namely post-implantation, gastrulation, organogenesis, maturation and whole gestation periods. Maternal effects on side effects, weight loss, litter reduction, implantation failure and fetal resorption and perinatal effects on growth restriction, developmental delay, congenital malformations and post-natal mortality were determined. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were commonly observed after maternal exposure to the herbal medicines, particularly during early pregnancy. Major events included maternal and perinatal mortality were recorded. Maternal weight gain, embryo growth and post-natal weight gain were significantly decreased. Fetal resorption and skeletal malformations were significantly increased. Reproductive toxicity of Chinese herbal medicines commonly used during pregnancy was identified in mice. Caution should be taken in the clinical use of herbal medicines during pregnancy.

ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS;

Background: Determination of anthropometric measurements, especially of birth weight of newborn in first few days after birthis important for the assessment of neonatal nutritional status, gestational maturity, and prediction of early neonatal death. Objectives: (1) Todetermine the mean birth weight, mean birth length and mean head-circumference. (2) To seek association between income of the family andmean birth weight. Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional study. Setting & Period: This study was done in the pediatric department of LiaquatNational Hospital from March 2003 to September 2003. Materials and methods: One hundred full terms, normal, singleton newborn babieswere included and birth weight, length and head circumference were taken within 72 hours of birth. Results: Overall mean birth weight was2.890 kg, mean birth length 48.245cm and mean head circumference was 34.232 cm.The % of LBW babies was 13. The mean birth weight ofbabies belonging to group A (born to families with income >5000 Rs/mth) was 3.044 Kg and that of group B (born to families with income <5000Rs/mth) was 2.736 Kg. Group A had 8 % LBW babies whereas group B had 18 %. Mean birth weight, length and head circumference of boys was2.961Kg, 48.776 cm and 34.316 cm respectively. Mean birth weight, length and head circumference of girls was 2.788 Kg, 47.480 cm and34.109 cm respectively. Conclusions: Community based studies should be conducted from time to time in order to develop our own populationdata.

The nonimpact of gestational age on neurodevelopmental outcome for ventilated survivors born at 23–28 weeks of gestation

It has long been known that survival of preterm infants strongly depends upon birth weight and gestational age. This study addresses a different question - whether the gestational maturity improves neurodevelopmental outcomes for ventilated infants born at 23-28 weeks who survive to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge. We performed a prospective cohort study of 199 ventilated infants born between 23 and 28 weeks of gestation. Neurodevelopmental impairment was determined using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II at 24 months. As expected, when considered as a ratio of all births, both survival and survival without neurodevelopmental impairment were strongly dependent on gestational age. However, the percentage of surviving infants who displayed neurodevelopmental impairment did not vary with gestational age for any level of neurodevelopmental impairment (MDI or PDI <50, <60, <70). Moreover, as a higher percentage of ventilated infants survived to NICU discharge at higher gestational ages, but the percentage of neurodevelopmental impairment in NICU survivors was unaffected by gestational age, the percentage of all ventilated births who survived with neurodevelopmental impairment rose - not fell - with increasing gestation age. For physicians, parents and policy-makers whose primary concern is the presence of neurodevelopmental impairment in infants who survive the NICU, reliance on gestational age appears to be misplaced.

Maternal Synchronization of Gestational Length and Lung Maturation

Among all mammals, fetal growth and organ maturation must be precisely synchronized with gestational length to optimize survival at birth. Lack of pulmonary maturation is the major cause of infant mortality in preterm birth. Whether fetal or maternal genotypes influence the close relationship between the length of gestation and lung function at birth is unknown. Structural and biochemical indicators of pulmonary maturity were measured in two mouse strains whose gestational length differed by one day. Shorter gestation in C57BL/6J mice was associated with advanced morphological and biochemical pulmonary development and better perinatal survival when compared to A/J pups born prematurely. After ovarian transplantation, A/J pups were born early in C57BL/6J dams and survived after birth, consistent with maternal control gestational length. Expression of genes critical for perinatal lung function was assessed in A/J pups born after ovarian transfer. A subset of mRNAs important for perinatal respiratory adaptation was selectively induced in the A/J pups born after ovarian transfer. mRNAs precociously induced after ovarian transfer indicated an important role for the transcription factors C/EBPα and CREB in maternally induced lung maturation. We conclude that fetal lung maturation is determined by both fetal and maternal genotypes. Ovarian transfer experiments demonstrated that maternal genotype determines the timing of birth and can influence fetal lung growth and maturation to ensure perinatal survival.

Physiological Skin Manifestations in Twins: Association with Maternal and Neonatal Factors

There is paucity of literature on the incidence and clinical associations of transient benign dermatological conditions in twin neonates. This prospective study evaluated 253 live-born twin babies (≥23 wks) at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India. All study subjects were observed for the first 7 days of life, and regular dermatological examination was performed. The primary focus was on palatine Epstein pearls (PEP), milia, erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN), and physiological skin desquamation (PDS). Zygosity was determined with the help of sex combination of the pairs, chorionicity of the placentae, and seven blood group phenotypes. Chi-square test, Cohen's kappa test, and logistic regression analysis were done. PEP, milia, ETN, and PDS were seen in 88.1%, 83.4%, 2.4%, and 4.3% twin babies, respectively. Preputial Epstein pearls were not seen. Birth order, maternal anemia, route of delivery, meconium staining of amniotic fluid, gestational maturity, birth weight, and presence of intrauterine growth restriction were found to be associated with one or more of the studied skin conditions (p < 0.05), but maternal age, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and sex of the baby did not affect incidence of any (p > 0.05). The intrapair concordance was highly significant (p < 0.001) in mono- and dizygotic twins. PEP and milia were equally common in the evaluated twins as compared to reports in singletons, while ETN and PDS were less common in this twin cohort. Environmental and genetic factors may regulate physiological skin manifestations in newborns.

“Comparison of Placental Grading by Ultrasonographic Study in Normal and High Risk Pregnancy in North Indian Population”

The relationship of the placenta as seen after birth, to infant outcome is very important. By ultrasonography we visualize the placenta in-situ and describe progressive sonographic changes in the placenta. The placenta undergoes series of progressive changes that relate to gestational age and fetal maturity. The purpose of the present study was to relate the placental growth in normal and high-risk pregnancy for predicting neonatal outcome. This study was conducted on total number of 42 patients coming to antenatal clinic of obstetrics & gynecology and in the department of Radiodiagnosis, at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.Detailed personal and family history was taken; general examination of the patient was done to include the high risk cases. Morphology of placenta was studied under following heading a) chorionic plate b) echotexture of placental substance c) basal layer of placenta. The placental grading was done according to Grannum's classification.It was observed that between 32 to 37 week, grade II placenta were found more common as compared to grade I, whereas with >37 weeks grade III placenta was found in normal pregnancy. Acceleration and deceleration of placental growth were observed in high risk cases.

Breech presentation at term: Caesarean section or vaginal delivery?

Term breech presentation occurs in 3-4% of all deliveries. Most obstetricians are completely sure how to end delivery when the foetus is in breech presentation, by caesarean section as the only option. The main goal of the paper was to present the method of delivery for term breech presentation analyzed at the Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Clinical Centre in Kragujevac, and parameters that influenced the decision on the method of choice to perform delivery with the foetus in breech position. During a three-year prospective study, the course and outcome of all term breech deliveries were under followup. The study involved only deliveries in breech presentation, with a trial of labour ending by vaginal delivery, while elective caesarean section due to breech presentation of the foetus was not included in the study. The following parameters were compared: body mass, newborn's first minute Apgar score and head circumference, gestational maturity, gestational age, delivery duration, maternal level of education and maternal parity. Of total 6,470 deliveries, 653 (10.10%) were finalized by caesarean section. Of these, there were 202 (3.12%) term breech presentations, of which 72 (35.64%) women had caesarean and 130 (64.36%) vaginal delivery. A difference was detected in newborn's body mass and head circumference, delivery duration, maternal level of education and parity between pregnancies terminated surgically in comparison to vaginal delivery, while pregnancy duration, maternal age, first minute Apgar score, and most significantly, perinatal morbidity did not show any difference regardless of the method of delivery for term breech presentation. With respect of all known parameters, vaginal delivery in breech presentation is also accepted.

Optical properties of neonatal skin measured in vivo as a function of age and skin pigmentation

Knowledge of the optical properties of neonatal skin is invaluable when developing new, or improving existing optical techniques for use at the neonatal intensive care. In this article, we present in vivo measurements of the absorption μ(a) and reduced scattering coefficient μ(s) (') of neonatal skin between 450 and 600 nm and assess the influence of age and skin pigmentation on the optical properties. The optical properties were measured using a spatially resolved, steady state diffuse reflectance spectroscopy setup, combined with a modified spatially resolved diffusion model. The method was validated on phantoms with known values for the absorption and reduced scattering coefficient. Values of μ(a) and μ(s) (') were obtained from the skin at four different body locations (forehead, sternum, hand, and foot) of 60 neonates with varying gestational age, postnatal age, and skin pigmentation. We found that μ(a) ranged from 0.02 to 1.25 mm(-1) and μ(s) (') was in the range of 1 to 2.8 mm(-1) (5th to 95th percentile of the patient population), independent of body location. In contrast to previous studies, no to very weak correlation was observed between the optical properties and gestational maturity, but a strong dependency of the absorption coefficient on postnatal age was found for dark skinned patients.

Extreme prematurity and neuropsychological outcome in the preschool years

With the increasing survival of extremely preterm (EP) birth infants in the surfactant era, the longer-term outcome of infants born at the threshold of viability has become a vital topic of study. The goal of this investigation was twofold. First, while taking into account the influence of sociodemographic confounds, we wished to investigate neuropsychological outcome differences between two groups of EP preschoolers: 23-24 weeks (n = 20), and 25-26 weeks' (n = 21) gestation at delivery. Second, we wished to explore whether, within the population of EP preschoolers, gestational maturity accounts for a unique portion of the variance in neuropsychological outcome, over and above the variance explained by ante-, peri-, and neonatal complications, or treatment factors. The findings revealed group differences, ranging from .70 to .80 of a standard deviation in general intellectual abilities, nonverbal intelligence, and global motor performance, in favor of the more mature EP group. Additionally, gestational maturity was found to explain a unique portion of the variance in global intellectual and motor abilities. These findings are interpreted from the perspective that gestational age is an index of the vulnerability of the central nervous system to disruption of developmentally regulated processes.

Impact of prematurity and co-morbidities on feeding milestones in neonates: a retrospective study.

Objective:Feeding problems are an important area of neonatal morbidity that requires attention. We defined the feeding milestones related to transition to per oral feeding among premature infants based on gestational (GA) and postmenstrual ages (PMA), and elucidated the co-morbidity variables affecting with these skills.Study Design:Feeding progress was tracked during the first hospitalization in a retrospective study involving 186 infants. We measured the age at acquisition of first feedings, maximum gavage feedings and maximum oral feedings. Resource usage measures included the total length of hospital stay (LOS), duration of gavage tube and duration of respiratory support. Effects of perinatal and co-morbidity factors on the acquisition of feeding milestones were evaluated. ANOVA, t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ2 test, univariate and multivariate analysis, stepwise linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were applied as appropriate. Data were presented as mean±s.d., or as stated. P<0.05 was considered significant.Result:We stratified the data into three groups based on GA at birth: <28.0 weeks (group-1), 28.0 to 32.0 weeks (group-2) and 32.0 to 35.0 weeks (group-3). Compared with group-3, group-1 needed four-fold more ventilation and five-fold more continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) duration (all P<0.001); whereas group-2 needed two-fold more CPAP duration. Age at first feed correlated with age at full gavage feedings and age at full oral feedings (r=0.53 and r=0.71, both P<0.0001). Age at full gavage feedings correlated with age at full oral feedings (r=0.81, P<0.0001). Univariate analysis was significant for GA age, hypotension, the effects of gastroesophageal reflux, and duration of ventilation and CPAP on the PMA at maximal oral feedings (all P<0.05); multivariate analysis for these variables was also significant (R 2=0.58, P<0.0001). The success rate for oral feedings at discharge accelerated with GA maturation and caffeine use; on the other hand, the need for respiratory support and management of positive blood culture were associated with failure rates (P<0.05).Conclusion:Infants < 28 weeks GA have significant feeding delays with respect to initiation and progression to maximal gavage and oral feedings, as well as prolonged LOS. Infants >28 weeks GA attained successful feeding milestones by similar PMA. Specific aero-digestive co-morbidities significantly affected maximal oral feeding milestone. Delays in achieving maximum gavage and maximum oral feeding milestones suggest delays with the development of control and regulation of foregut motility.

Can the special care neonatal unit admission cut-off be lowered down to 1500g babies?

The study was conducted to find out whether there is any significant difference in outcome if low birth weight babies weighing between 1500g and 1800g are managed by keeping them with their mothers, i.e., without special care neonatal unit (SCNU) admission. It was a retrospective study for which data was collected from past medical record section of 6 months duration from 01.07.06 to 31.12.06, Medical College, Kolkata. The subject of the study was babies born with weight between 1500g and 2000g, divided into 2 groups. Group A representing babies born between weight 1500g and 1800g, groups B representing babies born between 1801g and 2000g. The groups were compared with regard to four variable namely average material age, sex of the babies, singleton or twin pregnancy, mode of delivery and gestational maturity. Test of one proportion was used for statistical analysis of outcome. Total number of live born babies in group A were 198 and in group B 223. Two group were comparable with respect to average maternal age (23.7 yr), sex distribution, singleton or twin pregnancy and number of cesarian section or vaginal delivery and proportion of small for gestational age (SGA) babies. In both the group 13 babies required SCNU admission after being given to their mothers in the postnatal ward. No significant difference in outcome was observed between the groups. We conclude that the recommended guidelines for giving institutional care to babies below 1800g may be lowered down to 1500g. However, more babies should be evaluated prospectively, over a longer duration of time, before changing the standard guidelines.

Isoprostanes 8-iPF2α-III: risk markers of premature rupture of fetal membranes?

Aims: Isoprostanes may serve as sensitive and specific markers of in vivo oxidative stress intensity. We wanted to determine, whether or not isoprostane concentration may be considered as a risk marker of premature rupture of fetal membranes (PROM).Methods: On the basis of the presence of PROM and gestational maturity, a total of 128 patients were divided into: (1) preterm PROM (pPROM) group; (2) PROM at term group; (3) control preterm (C1) group and (4) control at term (C2) group. The concentrations of 8-iPF2α-III were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.Results: The mean free isoprostane concentrations, examined in amniotic fluid and maternal plasma in the PROM at term patients were significantly higher than in C2 individuals (p < 0.01). The mean concentrations of free 8-iPF2α-III measured in blood plasma from women in the C1 group were significantly lower than in patients from the pPROM, PROM at term and C2 groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.00001 and p < 0.00001, respectively).Conclusion: The measurement of free isoprostane concentration in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid may be considered as a laboratory marker of a PROM-risk pregnancy.

Prediction of fetal lung immaturity using gestational age, patient characteristics and fetal lung maturity tests: a probabilistic approach

ObjectivesThe lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and the lamellar body count (LBC) can be used to predict respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).DesignWe performed a retrospective cohort study among consecutive women who underwent amniotic fluid sampling for the assessment of fetal lung maturity. Logistic regression was used to construct models for the prediction of RDS in three gestational age categories, with models based on clinical characteristics only, clinical characteristics and the LBC, and on clinical characteristics and L/S ratio.ResultsWhen amniotic fluid was collected <30 weeks, the specificity of the LBC was 30% and the sensitivity 100%. Addition of the L/S ratio increased the specifity to 60%, for a sensitivity of 100%. When amniocentesis was performed between 30 and 33 weeks, addition of the L/S ratio only marginally improved the performance of the LBC.ConclusionsAt a gestational age <30 weeks, the L/S ratio has additional value over the LBC. Above 30 weeks of gestation, single use of the LBC seems sufficient.

Gestational stress delays maturation of the hypoxic ventilatory response: an in vivo and in vitro study

Exposure to stress during gestation disrupts CNS development; however, its effects on the respiratory control system are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that exposing dams to a predator odor during gestation disrupts the maturation of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) of newborn rats. From the 9th to the 19th day of pregnancy, females subjected to gestational stress (GS) were placed in a cage containing 35 μl of TMT, a component of fox odor for 20 min. For sham treatment, gestating females were exposed to a strong odor (butyric acid, 105 μl). Controls were undisturbed. Ventilatory activity was measured at post natal days 0, 2 and 4 using plethysmography (in vivo) and "en bloc" brainstem spinal cord preparations (in vitro). Measurements were performed under baseline conditions and hypoxia. In vivo: unlike controls, P4 male pups born to GS dams could not sustain a significant increase in breathing frequency through out the hypoxic period (12% O2, 20 min). This effect of GS was not observed in females. In vitro: at the end of hypoxia (7% O2, 20 min), preparations from GS pups showed a smaller phrenic burst frequency decrease than controls (‐58% vs ‐76%). No sexual dimorphism was observed in vitro. GS delays maturation of the hypoxic ventilatory response. Comparison of in vivo vs in vitro data suggests that GS affects peripheral chemoreceptor development and/or integration of afferent signal in the CNS. Supported by the CIHR.

Clinical Aspects of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Women of Child-Bearing Age

It is difficult to define the optimal timing of the antiviral treatment in women infected with hepatitis C virus, who have child-bearing potential. Antiviral treatment is strictly contraindicated during the pregnancy and breast-feeding period. Data are conflicting about the question of treatment with modern drugs (peginterferon and ribavirin) before or after pregnancy. The risk of vertical transmission from mother to child is estimated about 5%. The mother’s viraemia seems to be the main transmission factor. There is a worse prognosis in nulliparous and postmenopausal women in the natural history of viral hepatitis C. Poor outcome in gestational age, maturity and Apgar score was not associated with hepatitis C virus infection. Combined antiviral treatment has frequent gynecological and other side-effects. The timing of the antiviral therapy in women in the child-bearing period is recommended individually.

Clinical aspects of hepatitis C virus infection in child-bearing aged women

Az antivirális kezelés időzítése nehéz feladat a fogamzóképes korú, hepatitis C-vírus által fertőzött nők esetében. Bár a női nem jobb prognosztikai faktor a betegség lefolyását illetően, az egyes esetek aktivitása és a fertőzöttségi periódus jelentősen különbözhet egymástól, ami befolyásolhatja a reproduktív korúakban a terápia időzítését. Terhesség, szoptatás alatt az antivirális kezelés szigorúan ellenjavallt. Az irodalmi adatok megoszlanak azon a téren, hogy a gyermeket tervezők kezelése a modern kezelési formákkal (peginterferon + ribavirin) a terhesség(ek) előtt vagy azt követően történjen-e meg. A szülés kapcsán a fertőzés anyáról gyermekre való átvitelének valószínűsége mintegy 5% körüli, amit a leginkább az anyai viraemia befolyásol. Nem szült nők és menopauza kapcsán a prognózis a C-vírus-hepatitis lefolyását illetően rosszabb. A magzati fejlettséget, a koraszülések arányát nagy betegszámú vizsgálatokban sem befolyásolta a hepatitis C-vírus-fertőzöttség. A kombinált kezelés több nőgyógyászati és egyéb mellékhatással is járhat (vérzészavarok, libidó csökkenése, depresszió). A leginkább az ajánlható, hogy egyedi mérlegeléssel döntsünk még nem szült hepatitis C-vírus-fertőzött, gyermeket akaró nőbetegeink antivirális kezelésének időpontjáról.

Factors affecting serum vitamin a levels in matched maternal-cord pairs

To determine the relationship of various maternal and neonatal factors with serum vitamin A concentration in matched mother-newborn pairs. This is a cross-sectional study on 100 neonate-mother pairs at a tertiary care center at Raipur, C.G., India. Gestational age, birth weight and sex of the neonates as well as maternal parity, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, access to antenatal care (ANC) and presence of toxemia of pregnancy were recorded. Cord and maternal serum vitamin A levels were assayed. Maternal serum vitamin A levels were not significantly affected by maternal age, parity, Hb level and presence of toxemia. Higher trend of maternal vitamin A concentrations (P=NS) and statistically higher values of cord serum vitamin A levels (P<0.05) were seen in mothers who had received ANC. Significantly higher cord vitamin A levels were seen with increasing weight of the placenta, birth weight of the newborn as well as its gestational age and maturity. Weak but significant positive correlation was present between maternal and cord serum vitamin A levels. Data from our study show that prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation are associated with low neonatal vitamin A levels. Several factors like lack of ANC, lower maternal Hb levels and reduced placental weight further affect vitamin A status of the newborn rendering them highly susceptible to vitamin A deficiency. We therefore, suggest further studies on vitamin A supplementation in pregnant women and preterm neonates.

Commentary: On 'Transmission through the female line of a mechanism constraining human fetal growth'--does it exist?

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Correlation between neurological finding and gestational maturity of newborns determined by neurosonography

Maturity is a complex functional condition influenced especially by the development of the vital functions of a fetus, primarily by the degree of the development of its central nervous system. The aim of this investigation was to establish the gestational maturity of the nervous system by neurosonography and neurological status. The parameter of the neurological maturity, compared in this research are a neurological status and the degree of girification established by the ultrasound. All the coefficients of correlation between the gestation age determined by the ultrasound and the establishing of the gestation based on the neurological findings show a statistically significant correlation for p < 0.01. Of particular parametres of the neurological evaluation , the most appropriate ones appeared to be reflexes (the reflex of crossed extension, Moro reflex and the reflex of the main points), then volar flexion of a hand and the poplietal corner as the indicator of the passive tonus, whereas within the area of the evaluation of the active tonus, the motility was the most valid for establishing the maturity of a neonatal. The lowest coefficients of the correlations were in the automatic walk and the active tonus of the neck flexor, which are the ones of the most common neurological indicators of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy of a neonatal. Bearing in mind that the premature babies are a risky group for existence of perinatal brain damages, we believe the neurosonographic establishing of the gestation age to be a precise and comfortable indicator of the maturity of the nervous system.

Home‐range characteristics and the influence of seasonality on female reproduction in white‐handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

A three-year (2001-2003) study was carried out on the home range characteristics of seven wild white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) groups focusing on the spatio-temporal distribution of food resources at Khao Yai National Park in northeastern Thailand. These results were combined with 23 years (1980-2003) of reproductive performance data on seven females from the same focal groups. Reproductive performance was equal among females with regard to birth, weaning and maturation ratios, and independent of variation in food availability. Offspring mortality, however, was significantly positively correlated with home-range size. In addition, there was an increase in offspring mortality just after weaning, suggesting that the increase in the daily distance traveled by juveniles contributed to this mortality. Conceptions clustered during the first half of the year when food production was at its peak, which presumably allowed females to accumulate sufficient body reserves to resume ovarian cycling. Our results place Khao Yai gibbons closer to Cercopithecidae than great apes in terms of the temporal pattern of reproductive events, though gestation, lactation, inter-birth interval, and offspring maturation are considerably longer in gibbons, placing them closer to the other apes. Our findings underline the unique phylogenetic position of these small-bodied apes in terms of reproductive patterns in primates.