Late Pregnancy Period Research Articles

Enhanced urinary albumin excretion after 35 weeks of gestation and during labour in normal pregnancy.

This study reports on the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio during normal pregnancy, with special emphasis on the pre-delivery and labour periods. Albumin was determined in single voided urine specimens obtained from healthy non-pregnant women (n = 16) and healthy pregnant women (n = 203; Groups A and B, 133 females examined during clinic visits and presentation at obstetric department; Group C, 70 females examined during labour) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mean ratio (+/- SD) for albumin/creatinine (A/Cr) in non-pregnant women was 1.46 +/- 0.32 mg mmol-1 Cr. Thus, 2.10 mg mmol-1 Cr (mean+2 SD) was considered to be the upper limit of normo-albuminuria. During pregnancy, 73% of the women (97 out of 133, Groups A and B) excreted less than or equal to 2.10 mg mmol-1 Cr. During the first 35 weeks of gestation, 30 of 34 pregnant women (88%) excreted less than or equal to 2.10 mg mmol-1 Cr, the mean being 0.93 +/- 0.64 mg mmol-1 Cr (median 1.0 mg mmol-1). During 36-42 weeks of gestation, the median A/Cr was 1.93 mg mmol-1 Cr (range 0.43-12.16) and 32 of 99 (32%) had values greater than 2.10 mg mmol-1 Cr, an increase of more than two-fold (p less than 0.031) compared with the first 35 weeks. During labour, 61% of non-haematuric urines (33 of 54, Group C) were greater than 2.10 mg mmol-1 Cr, being 125% greater (p less than 0.006) than that observed during pregnancy. Thus in normal pregnancy, A/Cr is increased during the late period of pregnancy and during labour.

A CASE REPORT OF COLON CANCER IN PREGNANCY

A case of colon cancer in pregnancy is reported. A 37-year-old pregnant woman visited a nearby hospital because of diarrhoea and bloody stool, which developed in the later period of pregnancy. She was diagnosed as gestosis and underwent cesarean section. After the surgery, however, bloody stool still continued and she was referred to the hospital. As a result of various examinations, an advanced colon cancer was found in the ascending colon and right hemicolectomy was performed. Histological diagnosis was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, pm, ly1, v0, n1, ow(-), aw(-), absolute curative operation.Colorectal cancer in pregnancy is rare. It is said that one or two among 100, 000 pregnant women may have the disease. An association of colonic cancer is particularly rare, and only 36 cases can be seen in the Japanese literature. This case was the 37th one. In view of this possible association in pregnant women, we would emphasize the importance of early detection and early diagnosis by appropriate examinations.

Dynamic studies of regulative T-lymphocyte subsets in late pregnancy and post-partum period

Dynamic studies of regulative T-lymphocyte subsets in late pregnancy and post-partum period

Canonical discriminant analysis for pregnancy-related changes in hematological and serum biochemical values in tamarins (Saguinus spp

Hematological and biochemical values obtained from 9 monkeys (Saguinus labiatus and S. mistax) during pre- and postpartum periods were analyzed by canonical discriminant analysis (discriminant analysis with reduction of dimensionality). All animals used were of wild origin and had been maintained under uniform environmental conditions at N. I. H., Japan. The items examined were as follows: white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit value (Ht), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), total protein concentration (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin concentration (ALB), albumin-globulin ratio (A/G), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity (GGT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity (GPT), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and total cholesterol concentration (CHO). The data obtained in the pre- and postpartum periods were divided into six chronological groups. The prepartum period was divided into Group I: weeks 15-10; Group II: weeks 9-7; Group III: weeks 6-4; and Group IV: weeks 3-0. The postpartum period was divided into Group V: weeks 0-4 and Group VI: weeks 5-7). In the later pregnancy period (Groups III and IV), significant decreases in RBC, Ht, Hb, TP and ALB, and a significant increase in CHO were observed. These values in the blood and serum continued after delivery (Groups V and VI). Results of canonical discriminant analysis showed that the value of the first canonical variate decreased according to the progress of pregnancy. The postpartum groups showed negative values. Although groups in the early

Regulation of Bovine Adipose Tissue Metabolism During Lactation. 2. Lipolysis Response to Milk Production and Energy Intake

Lipolytic adaptations of bovine adipose tissue during late pregnancy, lactation, and dry period were studied in Holsteins. Treatment groups consisted of first lactation daughters of high or low bulls based on Predicted Difference for milk.Heifers were fed either a 60% concentrate, 40% hay diet or a 40% concentrate, 60% hay diet from 0 to 140 d lactation. Feeding a low energy diet for the first 140 d of lactation did not affect adipose tissue lipolytic rates measured in vitro. Epinephrine and norepinephrine responsiveness of bovine adipose tissue increased prior to parturition, increased further in early lactation, then remained elevated during lactation and into the dry period. This responsiveness was unaffected by feeding low energy diets. Basal glycerol release in high genetic merit heifers was 64, 17, 40, 23, 20, and 42% greater than in low genetic merit heifers at −30, −15, 30, 60, 180, and 349 d about parturition. Response to norepinephrine was 15, 20, 18, and 15% greater in high genetic than low genetic merit heifers and response to epinephrine was 12, 20, 14, and 50% greater in high genetic than low genetic merit heifers at 30, 60, 180, and 349 d postpartum. The lack of a dietary energy restriction effect on lipolysis in early lactation suggested that these rates were near the physiological maximum for those animals. Rates of lipolysis were positively related with milk fat production. This study indicates a genetic component in adrenergic regulation of lipolysis in adipose tissue, independent of energy balance, in supporting lactation.

Ontogenetic development of pancreatic thyrotropin-releasing hormone in human foetuses and in infants.

The ontogeny of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in pancreata of human foetuses from 15-36 weeks of gestation and of infants has been studied. TRH was detectable in the pancreas of a 15 week old foetus; a progressive increase of pancreatic TRH content was observed until the 34th week of gestation, whereas a progressive decrease was found in the late period of pregnancy and in 1 year old infants. In contrast, the pancreatic insulin content showed a progressive increase during the entire pregnancy and in the first year after birth. These data indicate that TRH and insulin have different ontogenetic patterns in the human pancreas.

On the importance of beta carotene supplementation for calves.

It is evident from the results, that the beta carotene and vitamin A levels in blood serum of calves of different age could be significantly increased by Rovimix--beta carotene supplementation. High utilization rate of beta carotene from Rovimix as well as considerable beta carotene conversion into vitamin A was also found in calves from dams supplemented with Rovimix--beta carotene in the period of late pregnancy. The contribution of beta carotene reserves of the mother to the vitamin A stores of the foetus and to the beta carotene and vitamin A concentrations in blood serum of calves suggest that the main preventive method of beta carotene and vitamin A deficiency in calves should be high intake of beta carotene from daily ration fed to cows or Rovimix--beta carotene supplementation during late pregnancy of cows.

Diagnosis and Management of Obstetric Emergencies

It is a pleasure to read a textbook that states its aims clearly and fulfills them with precision, completeness, and brevity. This multiauthored book is written primarily for family practitioners who include obstetric care in their services. I agree with the editor that the volume would be very useful also to nurse clinicians, midwives, and physician's assistants and offers an excellent review for obstetricians and obstetrical residents. The book provides an up-to-date account of the common and important emergencies of early and late pregnancy, the intrapartum and postpartum periods, and associated complications of pregnancy. Pertinent physiology and pathology are neatly summarized, and modern methods of preventive care are given due prominence. Controversy is usually avoided and, where differences of opinion might be expected, the safe and conservative course is appropriately recommended. Adequate references are given at the end of each chapter. Practical maneuvers are usually described in a lucid, simple

Transplacental carcinogenic effect of N-nitrosoethylurea in dogs

During the late period of pregnancy (on the 50th and 53rd days post coitum) 2 dogs were injected intraperitoneally with 100 mg/kg (a single administration) of nitrosoethylurea. Nine puppies were born. During the 9 year period of observation no tumours were detected in mother-dogs. Three of 9 offspring developed the following tumours: brain haemangioblastoma (on the 526th day after administration), nephroblastoma and spleen angioleiomyoma (on the 845th day after administration) and adenoma of thyroid gland (after 7 years). Among other lesions 3 offspring-dogs developed polycystic kidneys. The revealed tumours of brain, kidney and spleen could be connected with transplacental carcinogenic effect of N-nitro-soethylurea (NEU), while neoplasms of these localizations and types rarely occur in dogs spontaneously.

Influence of pregnancy and postpartum period in vitro incorporation of dl-valine-1-14C into oviducal and uterine protein.

SummaryIn vitro incorporation of dl-valine-1-[14C] was measured in oviducts and uterine TCA precipitable protein during diestrus, estrus, early and late pregnancy (PC) and postpartum period (PP) in albino rats. Incorporation of amino acid (valine) into oviduct protein declined between day 1 and 6 PC and a steep fall was observed between day 6 and 7 PC. In uterus, the valine incorporation into protein showed a moderate rise during implantation (day 5 PC). During post implantation stages (days 7–20 PC) a simultaneous stimulation of oviducal and uterine amino acid uptake occurs. However, on day 1 PP a sharp fall in valine incorporation is observed both in oviduct and uterus followed by a rise on day 5 PP.

Sleep cycles and kinesis in the foetal lamb

Continuous recording of foetal ECoG, eye and body movements and heart rate were carried our in the same animal during late pregnancy and perinatal period. Alternation of NREM sleep and REM sleep was recorded in 5 foetal lambs as an ultradian rhythm occupying 90% of the time during the 3 weeks prior to birth. The period of the rhythm was 30–40 min with a ratio of NREM/REM of 1/1 from 4 months post-conceptional age until 6–8 h before birth. Foetal kinetic behaviour was differentiated into simple or complex movements and gross activity. Kinesis, particularly the periods of gross activity which accompanied foetal alert wakefulness, was both more frequent and more intense during the night-time. After birth, the total sleep time was reduced to 40% of the recording time, at one week post-partum the ratio of NREM/ REM was 5/1. In the neonate the NREM-REM sleep cycles persisted but the period was reduced by half. Three to five sleep cycles were grouped in episodes of 90–120 min, separated by wakefulness and alimentary behaviour. Throughout the experiment, the main criterion for distinguishing alert wakefulness from NREM sleep was oculomotor activity. Wakefulness occupied about 10% of each 24 h period pre-partum and 60% post-partum.

Rat uterus renin-like activity: effect of stimuli and hormones.

1 The characteristics of renin-like activity in rat uterus were studied. The optimum temperature was 50 degrees C and optimum pH 4.0. Potassium (100 mM) enhanced this activity but sodium or calcium had no effect. 2 Uterine renin-like activity was unchanged 24 h after bilateral nephrectomy. 3 Renin-like activity in the uterus increased slowly from birth to 4 weeks of age and faster between the 4th and 8th week. 4 Ovariectomy caused a considerable fall in uterine renin-like activity. 5 The following factors, known to affect renin secretion in the kidney, i.e., hypovolaemia, sodium loading, adrenalectomy, administration of desoxycorticosterone acetate and injection of isoprenaline, had no effect on uterine renin-like activity. 6 Stilboestrol, an oestrogen, caused a significant increase of uterine renin-like activity. Progesterone and testosterone had no significant effect on this activity but blocked the increase caused by stilboestrol. 7 During pregnancy there was a small but significant fall of renin-like activity in the uterus in the first week and a continuous increase throughout the later period of pregnancy. 8 It is concluded that uterine renin-like activity is independent of kidney renin and does not respond to stimuli affecting kidney renin. Uterine renin activity is hormone-dependent and may be governed by the ratio, oestrogen : progesterone.

A Comparison of the Thyroxine Levels in the Plasma of Healthy, Starved and Acctonacmic Dairy Cows

Summary The levels of plasma thyroxine are lower in lactating cows than in cows during the period of late pregnancy, or in dry and non-pregnant mature animals. A steady decrease in plasma thyroxine concentration was observed in starved cows, which became significant after 5 days of starvation. Cows suffering from acctonaemia had even lower levels of plasma thyroxine, the difference from the healthy animals being highly significant.

Effect of perinatal administration of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene on the later response to a subcutaneous teflon implant.

The possible effect of the exposure of mice during the perinatal period to minute doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) on the response to a subcutaneous implantation later in life of a teflon disc was investigated. The present results indicate that the prenatal or neonatal exposure to DMBA had no effect on the incidence of tumors occurring around the teflon implant nor on the average age at death of mice bearing tumors at the site of the teflon implant. The incidence of tumors occurring at various sites was higher in the descendants of females given 400 μg DMBA during the late period of pregnancy than in offspring of untreated mothers which were given 0.1 μg DMBA at birth.

Characteristics of sleep patterns during late pregnancy and the postpartum periods

The present investigation provides an accurate description of the EEG sleep pattern characteristics of late pregnancy and early postpartum periods and compares this with age-matched controls. The over-all sleep pattern observed in gestation seemed similar in some respects to insomnia and was characterized by a longer sleep latency, frequent awakenings, shorter sleep time, and a marked reduction of deep sleep (Stage 4). In addition, immediately after delivery, there was a suppression of the dreaming (Stage 1-REM) sleep. By the second postpartum week, these profound sleep changes tended to normalize. Mechanisms of these findings and their possible relationship to postpartum emotional disturbances are discussed.

Effect of maternal medication during pregnancy upon behavioral development of offspring.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of four centrally acting drugs (chlorpromazine 6.0mg/kg, reserpine 0.1mg/kg, meprobamate 60.0mg/kg and phenobarbital 8.0mg/kg) upon the behavioral development, especially development of intelligence, of the offspring of rats, to which these drugs were administered during four days of the early and late periods, from the 5th to 8th and from the 17th to 20th days, of pregnancy. When the offsprings were 90 days old, the level of their general activity was measured by the revolving drum technique. In both the administration periods the activity level was significantly lower only in the meprobamate -treated group than that in the control group. Intelligence of 120-day-old animals was tested by Hebb-Williams' enclosed field test. When the administration was done in the early period of gestation, the intelligence of the chlorpromazine-, meprobamate- or phenobarbital-treated groups was each significantly lower than that of the control group. But when the administration was done in the late period of pregnancy, only the meprobamatetreated group showed a significantly lower intelligence than the control group. Theyse findings were also supported by the results of the brain activity test by a Woodbury's electroshock apparatus. From these results it is suggested that some of the centrally acting drugs have possibility of causing a retardation of mental development of offspring, and that the prenatal medication in the early period of gestation has a profounder effect than that in the late period.

CHOLESTEROL AND CHOLESTEROL ESTER IN THE BLOOD SERUM OF CATTLE LATE IN PREGNANCY AND DURING THE EARLY LACTATION PERIOD

1. The total cholesterol and cholesterol ester of bovine blood serum during the "dry" period of late pregnancy is low. 2. Following parturition the total cholesterol and cholesterol ester of bovine blood serum show a still greater, very transient decrease followed by a gradual rise to reach a rather constant level 40 to 50 days post partum. This lactation level is very much higher than the "dry" level.

A STUDY OF BARLOW'S DISEASE EXPERIMENTALLY PRODUCED IN FETAL AND NEW-BORN GUINEA PIGS

1. Pronounced cases of Barlow's disease may be produced in the fetus as early as ten to fifteen days after the commencement of dieting pregnant guinea pigs with oats and water. There are wide individual variations. The scorbutic changes in the skeleton are greatest in the earlier embryonic stages. The fetuses of that period, with practically no exceptions, die and show marked traces of impeded growth. 2. Fetuses from the later period of pregnancy are born alive, and apparently fully developed, with comparatively slight changes in the osseous system. 3. Even a short extension of the period of extra-uterine dieting on milk from scorbutic mothers and later on oats and water is sufficient to change the latent scurvy into a highly pronounced case. 4. The fetus cannot be kept alive longer than the adult animal, about twenty-eight days, either by intra-uterine dieting alone or by combined intra- and extra-uterine dieting. 5. The mothers show signs of disease at an early period, and are more severely attacked than non-pregnant animals. Death also occurs comparatively often in the first period of gestation.