Male Birth Weight Research Articles

Maternal B vitamins: effects on offspring weight and DNA methylation at genomically imprinted domains.

BackgroundInadequate maternal nutrition during early fetal development can create permanent alterations in the offspring, leading to poor health outcomes. While nutrients involved in one-carbon cycle metabolism are important to fetal growth, associations with specific nutrients remain inconsistent. This study estimates associations between maternal vitamins B12, B6 (pyridoxal phosphate [PLP] and 4-pyridoxic acid [PA]), and homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations, offspring weight (birth weight and 3-year weight gain), and DNA methylation at four differentially methylated regions (DMRs) known to be involved in fetal growth and development (H19, MEG3, SGCE/PEG10, and PLAGL1).MethodsStudy participants (n = 496) with biomarker and birth weight data were enrolled as part of the Newborn Epigenetics STudy. Weight gain data were available for 273 offspring. Among 484 mother-infant pairs, DNA methylation at regulatory sequences of genomically imprinted genes was measured in umbilical cord blood DNA using bisulfite pyrosequencing. We used generalized linear models to estimate associations.ResultsMultivariate adjusted regression models revealed an inverse association between maternal Hcy concentration and male birth weight (β = −210.40, standard error (SE) = 102.08, p = 0.04). The offspring of the mothers in the highest quartile of B12 experienced lower weight gain between birth and 3 years compared to the offspring of the mothers in the lowest (β = −2203.03, SE = 722.49, p = 0.003). Conversely, maternal PLP was associated with higher weight gain in males; higher maternal PLP concentrations were also associated with offspring DNA methylation levels at the MEG3 DMR (p < 0.01).ConclusionsWhile maternal concentrations of B12, B6, and Hcy do not associate with birth weight overall, they may play an important role in 3-year weight gain. This is the first study to report an association between maternal PLP and methylation at the MEG3 DMR which may be an important epigenetic tag for maternal B vitamin adequacy.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-016-0174-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Study on Thyroid Status among Newborns in Jaffna District in Sri Lanka

Iodine is an essential nutrient for the production of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). A woman needs more iodine during pregnancy to maintain normal metabolism as well as to meet the requirements of T4 and iodide transfer to the fetus. Objective of this study was to assess the thyroid status among newborns in Jaffna District, because similar studies conducted nationally, but not in Jaffna and no data is available about the thyroid status of the neonates. Randomly selected 477 newborns in six Medical Officers of Health (MOH) Divisions out of twelve were studied.Blood spots were taken from the neonates within the one week of delivery on specified filter paper and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was assayed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)/Radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique depending on availability of the kits in the laboratory. Among the total newborns, 239 were males (50.5%). Mean birth weight (BW) of them was 3031.5(±432.6) g, while the mean length was 51.1 (±2.1) cm. BW of males ranged from 1.7 to 5.0 Kg and of females from 1.5 to 4.35 Kg. Length of the newborns ranged from 45.0 to 58.0cm for males and from 44.0 to 57.0cm for females. The low birth weight (LBW), normal birth weight (NBW) and higher birth weight (HBW) were 11.3 (n=54), 88.5 (n=422) and 0.2% (n=1) respectively. Mean neonatal blood spot TSH concentration was 9.8 (±2.1) mIU/L, and ranged from 1.00 to 53.46 mIU/L. Neonatal TSH level of the entire blood spot was categorized as > 20 mIU/L and < 20 mIU/L and the blood spot TSH > 20 mIU/L was considered as positive for congenital hypothyroidism. Among the newborns, 18% (n=86) of them were identified as positive with 10% males and 8% females. Only one newborn was diagnosed as being congenitally hypothyroid (serum TSH >9.8 mIU/L and free T4< 10pmol/L) with very high blood spot TSH value of 360.91 mIU/L. Further, a higher prevalence (37.7%) of neonates with blood spot TSH >5 mIU/Lwas observed in this study.

Phenotypic and Reproductive Parameters of Barking Deer Under Management Condition of Chittagong Zoo

The study was conducted to know about the phenotypic parameters and reproductive parameters of barking deer under feeding management at Chittagong Zoo. Data were collected for a period of 3 months from 04 deer from 1 st September 2013 to 30th November 2013 on all age groups. The deer were kept within an open enclosure measured as 66.52 m2 with a fence of chain link mash, 3.6m in height. Available feeds supplied to deer were gram, rice bran, green gourd, pumpkin, carrot and amloki. The coat color was reddish and “V” Shaped black colored forehead and black colored muzzle. The ear length of males and females were 3.5±0.5 and 3.5 inch. The length of foreleg for male and female were 20 and 19 inch and the length of hind leg for male and female were 22 and 21 inch. The length of antlers was 3 inch. Distance between ear of male and female were 3.7 and 3.6 inch. The average birth weight of males and females were ranging from 1-1.5 kg and 0.5-0.7 kg, males and females weaning weight were ranging from 10-12 kg and 08-10 kg respectively. Adult male’s and female’s weight were ranging from 25-30 kg and 20-25 kg. It was also observed that the weaning age, length of estrous cycle, age at first fawning and gestation length were ranging from 4-6 months; 12-20 days, 14-18 month and 6-7 month, respectively.

VALORES NORMALES DE PESO AL NACER A 3 400 M DE ALTURA

Objetivos: Conocer los percentiles 5, 10, 50, 90 y 95 del peso al nacer en neonatos que provienen de madres con gestación única, sin patología, a 3 400 m de altura. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo. Institución: Hospital Nacional Adolfo Guevara Velazco de EsSalud, Cusco, Perú. Participantes: Neonatos. Intervenciones: Entre los años 1999 y 2006, se evaluó en el Sistema de Vigilancia Perinatal el peso al nacer de 8 500 neonatos provenientes de gestaciones únicas normales. Principales medidas de resultados: Peso al nacer. Resultados: Solamente los neonatos entre la semana 36 y 42 mostraron un número adecuado para la evaluación estadística y se obtuvo los percentiles 5,10, 50, 90 y 95 del peso al nacer. Conclusiones: El peso de los recién nacidos varones es mayor al de las mujeres y aumenta conforme se incrementa la edad gestacional.

Growth pattern and mortality rate of kids of pantja goat under farm condition

Pantja are the local goats of Tarai region of Uttarakhand and the experiment was carried out on a total of 20 primiparous local pantja goats. The results of the experiment indicated that the mean kid weight at birth was 1.94 ± 0.123 kg. Whereas, female and male kid weight at birth were1.89 ± 0.084 kg and 1.94 ± 0.123 kg, respectively. In case of twins, overall, male-female, male-male and female-female twin’s birth weights were 1.92 ± 0.002, 2.09 ± 0.106, 1.63 ± 0.132 and 1.7 ± 0.147 kg, respectively, whereas, in singlet’s kids overall, male and female birth weights were 1.9±0.175,1.73±0.002 and 2.02±0.162kg, respectively. Kid weight at 0,15,30,45,60,75,90 days was recorded 1.91± 0.088, 3.50 ±0.154, 4.64 ±0.213, 5.62 ± 0.217, 6.62 ±0.191, 7.5 ±0.187 and 8.55 ± 0.164 kg, respectively. Male kid weight changes at 15 days interval from 0 to 90 days after their birth were 1.96 ± 0.149, 3.43 ± 0.247, 4.51± 0.333, 5.44 ± 0.330, 6.5 ± 0.267, 7.27± 0.256 and 8.48 ± 0.195 kg whereas, in case of female body weights were 1.85 ± 0.092, 3.57 ± 0.195, 4.76 ± 0.275, 5.8 ± 0.287, 6.74 ± 0.279, 7.73 ± 0.267 and 8.61± 0.270 kg at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 days, respectively.

Elevated Aldosterone at Birth Predicts Renal Function Decline in Low Birth Weight Rats

Epidemiological and experimental studies reported elevated aldosterone levels in low birth weight individuals. However, the effect of this finding on renal function after ischemic events is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated aldosterone at birth on renal function after ischemia in later life. We used low birth weight rats exposed to bilateral mild renal ischemia (15 min) and treated with acute infusion of angiotensin converter enzyme inhibitor Enalaprilat. At 12 weeks of age male and female, control and low birth weight rats were exposed to renal ischemia or sham, and treated with Enalaprilat or vehicle. Systemic and renal hemodynamic were measured 2 hours after ischemia, followed by blood and tissue collection. GraphPad software was used for statistical analysis with significances set at P&lt;0.05. Aldosterone levels measured at birth and 12 weeks of age were elevated (P&lt;0.05) in male low birth weight rats compared to females counterparts and controls. Mean arterial pressure was elevated (P&lt;0.05) in male low birth weight rats compared to female counterpart and controls. Mild renal ischemia exacerbated increases in Aldosterone and mean arterial pressure; and induced reductions in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow (P&lt;0.05), and increases in renal vascular resistance (P&lt;0.05) only in male low birth weight rats. Enalaprilat reverted changes observed in male low birth weight rats, while did not affect female counterpart and controls. This study suggest that elevated aldosterone at birth predicts renal function decline after ischemia event in low birth weight rats with sex dimorphism and involvement of the renin angiotensin system

The Association of High Birth Weight With Intelligence in Young Adulthood

We aimed to explore why, in population studies, the positive association between normal-range birth weight and intelligence becomes negative at the highest birth weights. The study population comprised 217,746 Norwegian male singletons born at term between 1967 and 1976. All had data on birth weight and intelligence quotient (IQ) score at the time of military conscription; 137,574 had data on sibling birth weights; and 62,906 had data on male sibling birth weights. We estimated associations between birth weight and IQ score by ordinary least squares regression for the total study population and by fixed-effects regression for comparisons of brothers. The crude mean IQ score was 1.2 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3, 2.2) lower for those with birth weights of 5,000 g or more compared with the reference group (with birth weights of 4,000-4,499 g). This difference leveled off to 0.0 (95% CI: -0.8, 0.9) in multivariable ordinary least squares regression and reversed to 2.2 points (95% CI: 0.3, 4.2) higher in fixed-effects regression. Results differed mainly because, at a given birth weight, participants who had a sibling with macrosomia had a lower mean IQ score. Nevertheless, within families with 1 or more macrosomic siblings, as in other families, men with higher birth weights tended to have higher IQ scores. Thus, a family-level confounder introduces a cross-level bias that cannot be detected in individual-level studies. We suggest ways in which future studies might elucidate the nature of this confounder.

Effects of wildfire disaster exposure on male birth weight in an Australian population.

Background and objectives: Maternal stress can depress birth weight and gestational age, with potential health effects. A growing number of studies examine the effect of maternal stress caused by environmental disasters on birth outcomes. These changes may indicate an adaptive response. In this study, we examine the effects of maternal exposure to wildfire on birth weight and gestational age, hypothesising that maternal stress will negatively influence these measures.Methodology: Using data from the Australian Capital Territory, we employed Analysis of Variance to examine the influence of the 2003 Canberra wildfires on the weight of babies born to mothers resident in fire-affected regions, while considering the role of other factors.Results: We found that male infants born in the most severely fire-affected area had significantly higher average birth weights than their less exposed peers and were also heavier than males born in the same areas in non-fire years. Higher average weights were attributable to an increase in the number of macrosomic infants. There was no significant effect on the weight of female infants or on gestational age for either sex.Conclusions and implications: Our findings indicate heightened environmental responsivity in the male cohort. We find that elevated maternal stress acted to accelerate the growth of male fetuses, potentially through an elevation of maternal blood glucose levels. Like previous studies, our work finds effects of disaster exposure and suggests that fetal growth patterns respond to maternal signals. However, the direction of the change in birth weight is opposite to that of many earlier studies.

Clinico-bacteriological profile of neonatal septicemia in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Neonatal septicemia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Surviving neonates can have significant neurologic sequelae, septic shock or hypoxemia. The spectrum of bacteria that cause neonatal septicemia varies in different parts of the world. The management of these infections is being complicated by the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the etiology, clinical characteristics and outcome of neonatal septicemia cases. Materials and Methods: During a 1-year study, 257 clinically suspected cases of neonatal sepsis were enrolled and classified as early onset septicemia (EOS) and late onset septicemia (LOS) based on appearance of signs and symptoms, i.e. within or after 72 h, respectively. Blood culture was performed using BACTEC 9240, isolates were identified by standard techniques and antibiotic susceptibility was performed as per the CLSI guidelines. Risk factors associated with neonatal sepsis were recorded and analyzed with respect to culture-proven sepsis. Results: In both suspected and culture-proven sepsis cases, majority of the neonates were male, pre-term and low birth weight babies. The prevalence of EOS and LOS was 82.4% and 17.5%, respectively. Culture positivity was seen in 7.8% of the cases. In culture-proven septicemia, 55% neonates presented with EOS and 45% presented with LOS. Gram positive isolates were more as compared with Gram negative isolates. The most common isolates were S. aureus, S. epidermidis and E. coli. All Gram positive isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid, while carbapenems and polymyxin B were the most effective drugs in the Gram negative isolates. Mortality was higher in LOS as compared with EOS cases, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Gram positive pathogens were predominant in septicemia. Vancomycin and linezolid were the most effective antibiotics for Gram positive isolates and carbapenems for most effective Gram negative organisms.

The association of high birth weight with intelligence in young adulthood: a cohort study of male siblings.

We aimed to explore why, in population studies, the positive association between normal-range birth weight and intelligence becomes negative at the highest birth weights. The study population comprised 217,746 Norwegian male singletons born at term between 1967 and 1976. All had data on birth weight and intelligence quotient (IQ) score at the time of military conscription; 137,574 had data on sibling birth weights; and 62,906 had data on male sibling birth weights. We estimated associations between birth weight and IQ score by ordinary least squares regression for the total study population and by fixed-effects regression for comparisons of brothers. The crude mean IQ score was 1.2 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3, 2.2) lower for those with birth weights of 5,000 g or more compared with the reference group (with birth weights of 4,000-4,499 g). This difference leveled off to 0.0 (95% CI: -0.8, 0.9) in multivariable ordinary least squares regression and reversed to 2.2 points (95% CI: 0.3, 4.2) higher in fixed-effects regression. Results differed mainly because, at a given birth weight, participants who had a sibling with macrosomia had a lower mean IQ score. Nevertheless, within families with 1 or more macrosomic siblings, as in other families, men with higher birth weights tended to have higher IQ scores. Thus, a family-level confounder introduces a cross-level bias that cannot be detected in individual-level studies. We suggest ways in which future studies might elucidate the nature of this confounder.

Decrease in birth weight and gestational age by arsenic among the newborn in Shanghai, China.

To assess the effects of trace metals on birth weight and gestational age among newborn babies of mothers without occupational exposure. The subjects examined were 142 newborn babies (71 males and 71 females) delivered at two university hospitals in Shanghai, China and their parents. Relationships of newborn birth weight and gestational age to concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, manganese, zinc, and cobalt in maternal and cord blood were investigated. Birth weight was 3379.5 +/- 440.8 (2090-4465) g and the gestational age was 39.7 +/- 1.3 (35-43) weeks. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that, in the male newborn, birth weight and gestational age were inversely related to the logarithm arsenic concentration (4.13 +/- 3.21 microg/l) in mothers' whole blood. Arsenic might have a negative influence on newborn birth weight and gestational age at a relatively low exposure level. This effect was observed in male but not female babies, suggesting a sex differential in susceptibility to arsenic at an early stage of development. Although birth weight is believed to be related to gestational age, arsenic may directly affect both birth weight and gestational age.

Sex-related growth differences are present but not enhanced in in vitro fertilization pregnancies

To determine whether IVF modifies the effect of fetal sex on growth. Retrospective cohort study. Tertiary care center and related facilities. Singleton live births without fetal/maternal comorbidities from fertile women who conceived without the use of assisted reproductive technologies and infertile women who conceived with IVF. None. The primary outcome was birth weight (BW). Secondary outcomes were fetal crown-rump length (CRL) in the first trimester, biparietal diameter (BPD), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) in the second trimester. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between women carrying male fetuses and those carrying female fetuses in either mode of conception. In unadjusted analyses, the male-female differentials in fetal BPD and BW were more pronounced in the IVF cohort than in the unassisted cohort. In multivariable regression analysis, male BPD exceeded female BPD by 0.12 cm, male EFW exceeded female EFW by 12 g, and male BW exceeded female BW by 172 g. IVF did not have a significant effect on BPD but was associated with a 52 g increase in EFW in the midgestation. IVF was associated with an 81-g reduction in BW. IVF did not modify the magnitude of size differences between the sexes in the midgestation or at birth. Comparable sex-dependent differential growth occurs in unassisted and IVF pregnancies.

Prenatal Exposure to 11 Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) and infant weight in the Hokkaido Study on Environmental and Children’s Health

Background Several animal studies have demonstrated prenatal exposures to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) decrease newborn birth weight. But in humans, not only low birth weight but also increase risk of obese is reported in proportion to maternal concentrations of PFCs. The effects of such PFCs on human infant growth remain unclear. Aims Our goal was to find blood concentrations of 11 PFCs and clarify their adverse effects of prenatal exposures on infant weight in a cohort study with large subjects. Methods Since January 2003, we have conducted a large-scale cohort in Hokkaido, Japan. We randomly selected 1,985 mother from 17,869 and obtained data from self-administered questionnaires and medical records, and measured concentrations of 11 PFCs in maternal plasma by UPLC/MS/MS. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the correlations between maternal blood concentrations of 11 PFCs and infant weight. Results After adjusting for possible confounding factors, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) levels negatively correlated with birth weight (per log-unit: partial regression coefficient ?=-41.7 g, 95% CI, -77.9 to -5.6 g). After gender stratification, PFNA levels negatively correlated with male birth weight specifically (per log-unit: ?=-59.3 g, 95% CI, -110.2 to -8.3 g). Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) and Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) levels negatively correlated with female birth weight (per log-unit: ?=-42.0 g, 95% CI, -84.6 to 0.6 g and ?=-44.9 g, 95% CI, -90.1 to 0.3 g, respectively). However, those effects of PFNA, PFUnDA, and PFTrDA were not observed any more at 18 month follow-up. Conclusions Our results suggest that prenatal exposures to longer PFCAs than that of PFOA tend to negatively correlate with infant birth weight. But those negative associations disappeared after 18 month follow-up.

Placental Morphometry Determines the Birth Weight

Placental morphometry determines the foetal development and adulthood disease pattern. Hence, in the present study the influence of placental weight, volume, surface area, and thickness were studied in different groups of birth weight by sex of the newborn. Present study was conducted on 164 consecutive singleton deliveries from a teaching hospital of Northern Karnataka, India. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed by maximum likelihood method after checking the linearity. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of regression models were computed to exhibit their utility for physicians. Gestational age exhibited positive relationship with birth weight. Placental parameters showed a positive and significant relationship (p<0.001) with birth weight and higher values in males. The birth weight was estimated by regression models using sex of the newborn and placental morphometry; weight (R(2)=0.474), surface area (R(2)=0.420), and volume (R(2)=0.477) at 95% confidence interval. Low birth weight babies in the study were correctly identified by placental weight, surface area, volume and sex of the newborn. Their sensitivity, specificity and predictive values have been specified. Placental morphometry: weight, surface area, volume and sex of the baby determined the birth weight efficiently to initiate the corrective measures for planning better maternal care and to pacify mothers and their relatives.

Altered glucocorticoid action in obese pregnancy is modulated by diet and is associated with gestational weight gain but has similar influences on birthweight in males and females

Altered glucocorticoid action in obese pregnancy is modulated by diet and is associated with gestational weight gain but has similar influences on birthweight in males and females

Impact of maternal effects on ranking of animal models for genetic parameter estimation for birth weight in male Afrikaner cattle in Zimbabwe

Variance components for additive direct, additive maternal, permanent environmental maternal effects, the covariance between additive direct and maternal effects were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, fitting four animal models from 1359 pedigree male birth weight records of Afrikaner cattle of Zimbabwe. All investigated models included a random direct genetic effect, but different combinations of random maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects as well as direct-maternal genetic covariance. The direct heritability (h 2 a ) ranged from 0.40 to 0.43 when the maternal genetic effects were included in the model, whereas h 2 a was highest 0.45 when maternal effects were excluded. The maternal heritability (h 2 m ) was 0.00 when only maternal genetic effects were included in the model and were 0.09 and 0.09 when the permanent environmental effect of the dam was added. The permanent environmental effect of the dam was negligible. A weak negative covariances between direct and maternal genetic effects (σ 2 am ) was observed in model which had all the random effects fitted and proved to the appropriate among the four models using the log likelihood ration test.

Exposure to Phthalates and Phenols during Pregnancy and Offspring Size at Birth

Background: Data concerning the effects of prenatal exposures to phthalates and phenols on fetal growth are limited in humans. Previous findings suggest possible effects of some phenols on male birth weight.Objective: Our aim was to assess the relationships between prenatal exposures to phthalates and phenols and fetal growth among male newborns.Methods: We conducted a case–control study on male malformations of the genitalia nested in two French mother–child cohorts with recruitment between 2002 and 2006. We measured, in maternal urinary samples collected between 6 and 30 gestational weeks, the concentrations (micrograms per liter) of 9 phenol (n = 191 pregnant women) and 11 phthalate metabolites (n = 287). Weight, length, and head circumference at birth were collected from maternity records. Statistical analyses were corrected for the oversampling of malformation cases.Results: Adjusted birth weight decreased by 77 g [95% confidence interval (CI): –129, –25] and by 49 g (95% CI: –86, –13) in association with a 1-unit increase in ln-transformed 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and 2,5-DCP urinary concentrations, respectively. Benzophenone-3 (BP3) ln-transformed concentrations were positively associated with weight (26 g; 95% CI: –2, 54) and head circumference at birth (0.1 cm; 95% CI: 0.0, 0.2). Head circumference increased by 0.3 cm (95% CI: 0.0, 0.7) in association with a 1-unit increase in ln-transformed BPA concentration. For phthalate metabolites there was no evidence of monotonic associations with birth weight.Conclusions: Consistent with findings of a previous study, we observed evidence of an inverse association of 2,5-DCP and a positive association of BP3 with male birth weight.

Retrospective study of some factors influencing delivery of low birth weight babies in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria

A retrospective and cross-sectional study of low birth weight (LBW) incidence in Ibadan, Nigeria, was conducted covering the period 1995 - 2005. LBW is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as birth weight less than 2500 g. It is a serious threat to survival in both perinatal and neonatal periods, and to normal physical and mental development in the post natal period. The study was aimed at gaining understanding on the determinants of LBW in the study area. Data were generated from two randomly selected urban hospitals and three rural maternity centres, where a total of 7,012 cases of LBW deliveries with fairly complete antenatal records were extracted. The data were analyzed using SPSS package. The overall incidence of LBW from the study was 16.8%. LBW incidence was higher among females than male babies (P < 0.005). Mean birth weight for males was 1.74±0.55 kg, and 1.66±0.54 kg for females. A correlation analysis showed that maternal age, parity and height significantly influenced birth weight (P < 0.005). A regression model further showed the percentage contribution of sex of baby (r2 = 0.43), maternal height (r2 = 0.41) maternal age (r2 = 0.27) and parity (r2 = 0.09) to observed LBW incidence. Adolescent nutrition and reproductive health behaviours, maternal malnutrition for improved pregnancy outcomes and reversal of negative implications of LBW incidence in Nigeria, must be effectively addressed. Key words: Low birth weight, prematurity, maternal parity, perinatal and neonatal periods.

EFFECT OF NON-GENETIC AND GENETIC FACTORS ON BIRTH WEIGHT OF MENGALI SHEEP OF BALOCHISTAN

Data on birth weight of 2377 lambs obtained from 581 dams and 56 sires of Mengali sheep born during 2005 and 2009 were recorded and analyzed to identify the factors affecting birth weight of Mengali lambs. Mengali flocks were kept under semi-intensive condition in four stations at three different locations (Experimental Station Center for Advanced studies in Vaccinology and Biotechnology (CASVAB), University of Balochistan, (ESC), Quetta, Killi Hassni, Quetta; Khadkucha, Mastung and Peer Wala (Mal), Nushki). The lambing occurred spring and autumn, however majority of the Mengali sheep (85 %) lambed during spring between (February and March months). Among the total lambs born, the male to female sex ratio was 49.43: 50.57 respectively and shown no significant difference between two sexes. The overall least-squares means for birth weight of males and females pooled over parity and type of birth were 3.61±0.36 and 3.48±0.39 kg respectively

A hospital-based birth weight analysis using computerized perinatal data base for a Chinese population

Objectives. We aimed to construct birth weight-for-gestational age nomograms based on a computerized perinatal data base in a hospital-based Chinese population.Methods. Retrospectively collected 28,052 singleton deliveries at Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China. Standard curves of birth weight from 27 to 43 week's gestation were computed. The nomograms included the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles and standard deviations.Results. 79.9% pregnant women delivered between 38, 39, and 40 gestational week, and the mean birth weights are 3160, 3282, and 3388 g, respectively. Preterm birth is 5.7%. In general, male birth weights are greater than females at each gestational week. The hospital-based Chinese population birth weight is lower than that of North American and Scandinavian population.Conclusions. A different standard birth weight is needed for different population. A hospital-based birth weight curve by gestational week is established, which can be a useful tool to estimate intrauterine fetal growth to define SGA or LGA fetuses.