Urine Samples Of Pregnant Women Research Articles

Association between prenatal exposure to phthalate esters and blood pressure in children aged 3-7 years: A prospective cohort study.

An increasing number of animal studies have indicated that exposure to phthalate esters (PAEs) may cause high blood pressure. However, population-based evidence is limited, particularly for pregnant women and young children. To examine the correlation between prenatal exposure to phthalate ester metabolites (mPAEs) and blood pressure in preschool children. In our cohort study, 497 pairs of mothers and children (aged 3-7 years) were enrolled at the Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Wuhan, China, between 2016 and 2017. Eight mPAEs were detected in the urine samples of pregnant women during the third trimester. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured by physicians using an automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer and childhood hypertension was defined according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2017 guidelines. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate the correlations between individual mPAEs and the SBP and DBP z-scores of preschoolers. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the correlation between individual mPAEs and hypertension risk. A weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was implemented to explore the correlation between mixed mPAEs and the SBP/DBP z-scores in children. Monomethyl phthalate, monobutyl phthalate (MBP), monoethyl phthalate, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate were significantly positively correlated with increases in the SBP and DBP z-scores, whereas MBP was significantly correlated with hypertension risk, with an odds ratio of 1.695 (95 % confidence interval: 1.322, 2.173). Moreover, the WQS regression analyses revealed that MBP increased SBP (67.7 %) and DBP (80.8 %). The present study suggests that prenatal exposure to PAEs was positively correlated with increased blood pressure in pre-school children, and MBP is of particular concern because it contributed the most to the combined effect of PAE mixture on the risk of childhood hypertension.

Prediction of risk for early or very early preterm births using high-resolution urinary metabolomic profiling

BackgroundPreterm birth (PTB) is a serious health problem. PTB complications is the main cause of death in infants under five years of age worldwide. The ability to accurately predict risk for PTB during early pregnancy would allow early monitoring and interventions to provide personalized care, and hence improve outcomes for the mother and infant.ObjectiveThis study aims to predict the risks of early preterm (< 35 weeks of gestation) or very early preterm (≤ 26 weeks of gestation) deliveries by using high-resolution maternal urinary metabolomic profiling in early pregnancy.DesignA retrospective cohort study was conducted by two independent preterm and term cohorts using high-density weekly urine sampling. Maternal urine was collected serially at gestational weeks 8 to 24. Global metabolomics approaches were used to profile urine samples with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The significant features associated with preterm outcomes were selected by Gini Importance. Metabolite biomarker identification was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS-MS). XGBoost models were developed to predict early or very early preterm delivery risk.Setting and participantsThe urine samples included 329 samples from 30 subjects at Stanford University, CA for model development, and 156 samples from 24 subjects at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL for validation.Results12 metabolites associated with PTB were selected and identified for modelling among 7,913 metabolic features in serial-collected urine samples of pregnant women. The model to predict early PTB was developed using a set of 12 metabolites that resulted in the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROCs) of 0.995 (95% CI: [0.992, 0.995]) and 0.964 (95% CI: [0.937, 0.964]), and sensitivities of 100% and 97.4% during development and validation testing, respectively. Using the same metabolites, the very early PTB prediction model achieved AUROCs of 0.950 (95% CI: [0.878, 0.950]) and 0.830 (95% CI: [0.687, 0.826]), and sensitivities of 95.0% and 60.0% during development and validation, respectively.ConclusionModels for predicting risk of early or very early preterm deliveries were developed and tested using metabolic profiling during the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy. With patient validation studies, risk prediction models may be used to identify at-risk pregnancies prompting alterations in clinical care, and to gain biological insights of preterm birth.

Prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii in Urine Samples of Pregnant Women in South-East, Nigeria

Background: Pregnancy induces so many changes in the woman’s body that likely predisposes them to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii which causes Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Aims: To determine the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii in urine samples of pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics at three health institutions within the study area. Study Design: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Teaching Hospital Orlu and General Hospital Okigwe, Imo State between October 2021 and February 2022. Methodology: Urine samples were collected aseptically from 408 pregnant women between 18-45 years and analyzed by culturing onto the surface of freshly prepared MacConkey and Chromogenic agar plates for the isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii respectively and confirmed by appropriate biochemical tests. Results: From the results, there was a prevalence rate of 145/408 (35.54%) for both isolates with Klebsiella pneumoniae being more dominant with a prevalence rate of 96/408 (23.53%) as against Acinetobacter baumannii that was 49/408 (12.01%). The highest prevalence of the isolates was seen in the Owerri zone with a prevalence rate of 37 (9.07%) for Klebsiella pneumoniae and 23 (5.64%) for Acinetobacter baumannii, respectively. The highest age-specific prevalence of the isolates within the three zones was observed in the 24–29-year-olds with a prevalence rate of 42 (10.29%) in the Owerri zone. In contrast, the prevalence of both organisms was higher in pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy with a prevalence rate of 72 (17.65%) and in multigravida women with a prevalence rate of 217 (53.2%). Conclusion: The results from this study showed that these isolates are becoming more predominant in causing both symptomatic and asymptomatic urinary tract infections in pregnant women, hence regular check-ups and proper treatments of urinary tract infections in pregnant women should be encouraged.

Occurrence of antimicrobial resistance uropathogenic &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt; isolates from pregnant women attending antenatal clinics within Ilorin

Background: Staphylococus aureus associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) has become a serious health problem especially with the emergence of methicillin resistant Staphylococus aureus (MRSA) due to the acquisition of mecA gene leading to increasing maternal and perinatal burden. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, β-lactamase production and methicillin resistance among uropathogenic S. aureus among pregnant women attending selected antenatal clinics in Ilorin.Methods: Forty-five (45) out of 79 presumptive uropathogenic S. aureus isolated over a period of 12 months from urine samples of pregnant women were identified using standard bacteriological methods. Antibiogram studies was performed using gentamicin (CN-10μg), ciprofloxacin (CIP-5μg), ofloxacin (OFX-5μg), tetracycline (TE-30μg), sulphamethaxozole-trimethoprim (SXT-25μg), ampicillin (AMP-10 μg), penicillin G (P-10 units), nitrofurantoin (F-30 μg) and cefoxitin (FOX-30 μg) for the detection of MRSA by disc diffusion method. Furthermore, detection of β - lactamase producing S. aureus (BL-PSA) was carried out using Iodometric paper strip method.Results: Of the 45 S. aureus isolates, 80% were BL-PSA, MRSA (87%), exhibiting high resistance to penicillin G (97.8%), ampicillin (95.5%), tetracycline (77.8%) and sulphamethaxozole trimethoprim (64.4%). In addition, 56% were multidrug-resistant (MDR) exhibiting 20 different phenotypes with CN-P-SXT-TE-AMP-FOX (15.6%) being the majority. Notwithstanding, S. aureus isolates showed high sensitivity to nitrofurantoin (93.3%) and ofloxacin (91.1%).Conclusion: This study established an increasing resistance of S. aureus to different classes of antibiotics which emphasize the need for constant surveillance to monitor antimicrobial resistance trends. Routine screening for BL-PSA and MRSA among uropathogenic S. aureus is also advocated in order to reduce the development and spread of MDR isolates.

Urinary concentrations of heavy metals in pregnant women living near a petrochemical area according to the industrial activity

BackgroundThe progressive industrialization has resulted in an increase in heavy metal pollution in the environment, which has a dangerous impact on human health. Prenatal exposure to heavy metals, even at very low concentrations, may be especially harmful to pregnant women and their children. Different industrial activities can contribute to heavy metal pollution in a specific area. Objective1) To explore the concentrations of heavy metals in urine samples of pregnant women, and 2) to evaluate the potential effect of different industrial activities in Tarragona (Spain). MethodsUrinary levels of four heavy metals (nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)) from 368 pregnant women recruited in the ECLIPSES study were analyzed. Home addresses and all the industries potentially releasing heavy metals were geo-referenced. Buffer zones were established within a 1.5, 3, and 5 km radius at the center of each industry. Subsequently, the number of participants living in and out of each buffer zone was recorded. ResultsUrinary levels of Ni and Cd, but not those of Hg and Pb, were obviously increased in pregnant women living near most of the industrial sites. After adjustment for potential co-variates, only Cd showed notable differences according to the industrial activity. Compared to women living outside the buffer, Cd levels were increased in those living within 1.5 and 3 km of chemical industries, within 5 km of energy industries, within 1.5, 3, and 5 km of mineral industries, and within 3 and 5 km of metal processing industries. ConclusionAmong the analyzed heavy metals, Cd showed an increasing trend in urinary concentrations in women living near chemical, energy, mineral, and metal processing industries. This study highlights the need to develop legislative measures to minimize Cd exposure, especially by sensitive populations. Moreover, additive or synergistic effects of co-exposure to other air pollutants should not be disregarded.

Rapid urine screening for ethyl glucuronide from pregnant women as a tool for detecting prenatal alcohol exposure

BackgroundAn increasing prevalence of alcohol consumption is a major public health problem, which has also led to an increasing number of children who have been prenatally exposed to the toxic effects of ethanol. However, obtaining reliable information on prenatal alcohol exposure through maternal self-reports has proved difficult.AimsOur aim was to evaluate the potential for rapid screening test for measuring ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a specific alcohol metabolite, from urine samples of pregnant women.MethodsFive hundred five urine samples of pregnant women were collected anonymously from five prenatal units in two Finnish cities: a tertiary specialist antenatal clinic for pregnant women with problematic substance use (HAL), a regular hospital antenatal clinic (LCH = Lahti Central Hospital), a prenatal screening unit and two community maternity clinics (USR = user self-recruiting units). All samples were screened using rapid EtG test strips, and all positive, uncertain, and randomly selected negative samples were confirmed by quantitative analyses. The samples were also screened for cotinine and use of cannabis.ResultsIn this material an EtG cut-off of 300 ng/mL suggesting heavy alcohol drinking was exceeded by 7.4% (5/68) of the samples in the HAL clinic, 1.9% (4/202) in LCH, and 0.9% (2/225) in USR. A cut-off of 100 ng/mL was exceeded by 17.6% (12/68) of samples from HAL, 7.5% (16/212) from LCH, and 6.7% (15/225) from USR. Based on confirmatory quantitative analyses, there were no false negatives nor false positives in rapid EtG screening. However, 57 (11.3%) of test results were classified as uncertain. In these cases, confirmation by quantitative analyses resulted in 56.1% rate of positive values. 73% of the samples with EtG > 300 ng/mL showed positive cotinine results suggesting smoking co-occurring with alcohol intake.ConclusionsRapid EtG tests may be an easy and inexpensive method, which may improve the possibilities for screening alcohol use among pregnant women during routine prenatal visits. Quantitative EtG analyses are recommended to confirm screening positive and uncertain cases.Trial registrationNCT04571463 Date of Registration 11/05/2020.

Microbiological monitoring of antibiotic resistance of strains of Streptococcus agalactiae among pregnant women

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the causative agent in 2–7% of all urinary tract infections (UTI), including asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB), cystitis, and pyelonephritis. We used the bacteriological quantitative method of sowing urine samples of pregnant women on Columbia agar with 5% lamb blood), Strepto B chromogenic agar and Todd Hewitt broth, identification of GBS strains with determination of sensitivity to bacitracin, hippurate hydrolysis test and CAMP test. Susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs was determined by the disk-diffusion method according to recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. For the period of 2021, out of 3,356 urine samples of pregnant women, there were 149 samples of the investigated biomaterial with a positive result for GBS (resultancy – 4.4%). It was established that among the studied contingent, 41 strains of GBS were isolated in the first trimester of pregnancy (27.5%), in the second trimester – 59 strains (39.5%), in the third trimester – 49 strains (33.0%). It is established that out of the 149 strains of GBS, 38 strains (25.0%) were resistant to norfloxacin, 45 strains (30.0%) to erythromycin, 41 strains (28.0%) to clindamycin,125 strains (84.0%) to tetracycline, 20 strains (13.0%) to levofloxacin, 3 strains (2.0%) to nitrofurantoin. All strains of Streptococcus agalactiae were found to be sensitive to benzylpenicillin. The number of resistant strains of SGB identified from the urine of pregnant women was 47 strains. All resistant strains were resistant to at least three groups of antibacterial drugs, except beta-lactams. The results of the scientific research will allow us to obtain dynamic data on the antibiotic resistance of GBS strains in order to study the rate of development of antibiotic sensitivity of this microorganism. In the future, the research data can be used by scientists when reviewing protocols for the treatment of urinary tract infections in pregnant women.

Conformity Test of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Test Results Using Immunochromatographic Method between Various Brands

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced by the placental tissue in early pregnancy. This hormone is excreted in the urine or when there is an abnormal proliferation of the chorionic epithelial tissue, such as moles or choriocarcinoma. The problem formulation in this study is that there is a match between the results of the HCG examination using the immunochromatographic method on three different brands at the Kabila Health Center, Bone Bolango District. This study aims to determine the suitability of the results of the HCG examination with the Immunochromatographic Method on three different brands.&#x0D; The method in this study used a quantitative approach. The type of data used was primary data in the form of research results and secondary data in the form of data from literature, books and documents. The sampling technique in this study used an accidental sampling technique with a sample of 30 people.&#x0D; From the research that has been conducted on 30 urine samples of pregnant women using three brands of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) kits, namely: 1) one med test. 2) medical sterile test. 3) the accurate strip; shows the results that there was no significant difference to the results of the suitability test of HCG using these three brands.

Urinary para-nitrophenol levels of pregnant women and cognitive and motor function of their children aged 2 years: Evidence from the SMBCS (China)

Urinary para-nitrophenol (PNP), an exposure biomarker of ethyl parathion (EP) and methyl parathion (MP) pesticides, was still pervasively detected in the general population even after global restriction for years. And the concern whether there is an association of PNP level with child development of the nervous system is increasing. The current study aimed to evaluate the maternal urinary PNP concentrations during late pregnancy and the associations of PNP levels with cognitive and motor function of their children at the age of 2 years. 323 mother-child pairs from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study were included in the current study. Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure concentrations of PNP, the specific metabolite of EP and MP, in maternal urine samples during pregnancy. Developmental quotients (DQs) scores measured with Gesell Developmental Scales were employed to evaluate cognitive and motor function of children aged 2 years. Generalized linear models were performed to analyze the associations of PNP concentrations in pregnant women's urine samples with cognitive and motor function of their children. Maternal PNP was detected in all urine samples with a median of 4.11μg/L and a range from 0.57μg/L to 109.13μg/L, respectively. Maternal urinary PNP concentrations showed a negative trend with DQ of motor area [regression coefficient (β)=-1.35; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): -2.37, -0.33; P<0.01], and the children whose mothers were in the fourth quartile exposure group performed significantly worse compared to the reference group (β=-1.11; 95%CI: -1.80, -0.42; P<0.01). As for average DQ score, children with their mothers' urinary PNP concentrations in the third quartile group had higher scores than those in the first quartile group (β=0.39; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.75; P=0.04). In sex-stratified analyses, a negative trend between maternal urinary PNP concentrations and DQ scores in motor area of children was only observed in boys (β=-1.62; 95%CI: -2.80, -0.43; P<0.01). Boys in the third quartile group had higher DQ average scores than those in the lowest quartile as reference (β=0.53; 95%CI: 0.02, 1.04; P=0.04). The mothers from SMBCS may be widely exposed to EP and/or MP, which were associated with the cognitive and motor function of their children aged 2 years in a sex-specific manner. Our results might provide epidemiology evidence on the potential effects of prenatal exposure to EP and/or MP on children's cognitive and motor function.

Escherichia coli from urine samples of pregnant women as an indicator for antimicrobial resistance in the community: a field study from rural Burkina Faso

BackgroundIn low- and middle-income countries, surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is mostly hospital-based and, in view of poor access to clinical microbiology, biased to more resistant pathogens. We aimed to assess AMR among Escherichia coli isolates obtained from urine cultures of pregnant women as an indicator for community AMR and compared the AMR results with those from E. coli isolates obtained from febrile patients in previously published clinical surveillance studies conducted within the same population in Nanoro, rural Burkina Faso. We furthermore explored feasibility of adding urine culture to standard antenatal care in a rural sub-Saharan African setting.MethodsBetween October 2016–September 2018, midstream urine samples collected as part of routine antenatal care in Nanoro district were cultured by a dipslide method and screened for antibiotic residues. Significant growth was defined as a pure culture of Enterobacterales at counts of ≥ 104 colony forming units/ml.ResultsSignificant growth was observed in 202/5934 (3.4%) cultures; E. coli represented 155 (76.7%) of isolates. Among E. coli isolates, resistance rates to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin were respectively 65.8%, 64.4% 16.2%, compared to 89.5%, 89.5% and 62.5% among E. coli from clinical isolates (n = 48 of which 45 from blood cultures). Proportions of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers and multidrug resistance were 3.2% and 5.2% among E. coli isolates from urine in pregnant women versus 35.4%, and 60.4% respectively among clinical isolates.ConclusionsThe E. coli isolates obtained from healthy pregnant women had significantly lower AMR rates compared to clinical E. coli isolates, probably reflecting the lower antibiotic pressure in the pregnant women population. Adding urine culture to the routine urine analysis (dipstick) of antenatal care was feasible. The dipslide culture method was affordable and user-friendly and allowed on-site inoculation and easy transport; challenges were contamination (midstream urine sampling) and the semi-quantitative reading. Provided confirmation of the present findings in other settings, E. coli from urine samples in pregnant women may be a potential indicator for benchmarking, comparing, and monitoring community AMR rates across populations over different countries and regions.

Molecular study for antibiotic-resistance patterns of extended-spectrum B- Lactamase producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae from a UTI of pregnant women in Diwaniyah (Shamiya city) - Iraq

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. K. pneumoniae isolates produce enzymes that cause the hydrolysis of penicillins and cephalosporins.These enzymes are known as broad-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). The resistance of K. pneumoniae to beta-lactamase antibiotics is usually mediated by beta-lactamase genes, and the present study aims to determine the prevalence of ESβL producing K. pneumoniae isolates with their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in urine samples of pregnant women with UTI. Method: The current study included two hundred twenty-five pregnant women as if they were suffering from urinary tract infection and were treated in the Shamiya General Hospital and the Pregnant Care Center in the Shamiya sector from October 2021 to March 2022. One hundred forty nine different types of bacteria were isolated and using diagnostic methods nineteen isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were obtained. Results: The results revealed that 225 pregnant women were the results were positive for 149 patients with urinary tract infections, and the bacterial growth was of different types the highest rate of infection was in the age group of 21–25 years. Then, 19 positive samples of Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected using chemical and morphological methods. Penicillin resistance was 100%.

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogens causing urinary tract infection among pregnant women in Ujjain M.P. (India)

Urinarytract infection is one of the most prevalent frequently found disorders in pregnant women caused by bacteria and if it is not diagnosed then untreated UTI can causes serious maternal and fetal complications. The purpose of this work was to study the prevalence of urinary tract infection among pregnant women of Ujjain and to identify uropatogens and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in pregnant women of Ujjain. A total of 120 midstream urine samples of pregnant women were collected aseptically and cultured on different growth media. The isolated bacteria were identified by standard microbiological procedure and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern was recorded using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of 120 urine samples, 78 samples tested positive for UTI suggesting that (65%) of pregnant women suffered from UTI and most prevalent bacterial pathogen was (41.0%) followed by (23.0%), (11.5%), (14.1%) and (10.2%). Majority of the isolated uropathogens were showing high sensitivity towards Doripenem, Meropenem and Imipenem while very less sensitivity towards Ampicillin and Penicillin. The study shows high prevalence of UTI among pregnant women and occurrence of high resistance towards antibiotics. So routine screening of the pregnant women having UTI and proper selection of antibiotic for treatment is needed for reducing the risk of serious complications during pregnancy.

Demonstrating the utility of Escherichia coli asymptomatic bacteriuria isolates' virulence profile towards diagnosis and management-A preliminary analysis.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a significant condition associated with pregnancy and is considered as prognostic for the development of symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI). However, treating all ASB increases the use of antibiotics and leads to the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the distribution of UPEC associated virulence genes and antibiotic susceptibility among phylogroups of E. coli isolated from ASB in pregnancy. Moreover, the gene expression of selected virulence genes was also compared among two E. coli isolates (with different pathogenic potential) to determine its pathogenicity. One hundred and sixty E. coli isolates from midstream urine samples of pregnant women with ASB were subjected to PCR-based detection for its phylogroups and virulence genes. The antibiotic susceptibility of isolated strains was determined by the disc diffusion method. Expression of the virulence genes were determined through microarray analysis and quantitative Real-Time PCR. The prevalence of ASB in this study was 16.1%. Within ASB isolates, the occurrence of phylogroup B2 was the highest, and isolates from this group harboured most of the virulence genes studied. Overall, the most identified virulence genes among all phylogroups in descending order were fimH, chuA, kpsMTII, usp, fyuA, hlyA, iroN, cnf, papC, sfa, ompT, and sat. In this study, higher resistance to antibiotics was observed for ampicillin (77.5%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (54.4%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (46.9%) and amikacin (43.8%) compared to the other tested antibiotics and 51.9% of the tested isolates were MDR. Furthermore, hierarchical clustering and gene expression analysis demonstrated extreme polarization of pathogenic potential of E. coli causing ASB in pregnancy necessitating the need for bacterial isolate focused approach towards treatment of ASB.

DETEKSI PRE-EKLAMPSIA PADA IBU HAMIL TRIMESTER 2-3 MELALUI PEMERIKSAAN PROTEIN URIN

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by systemic dysfunction with endothelial activation and coagulation. This condition is characterized by blood pressure 140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks of gestation or sometimes earlier, accompanied by proteinuria ≥ 300 mg/24 hours and/or edema. This research is descriptive observational using 6% acetic acid method. The number of respondents in this study were 30 urine samples of pregnant women. The results of the examination are known from a total of 30 pregnant women respondents, as many as 15 proteinuria was detected. The most proteinuria in pregnant women is positive +/1 with the highest number in the age range of 30 -35 years. Proteinuria is most detected in the third trimester of pregnancy and occurs in the group of working pregnant women.

DNA oxidative damage in pregnant women upon exposure to conventional and alternative phthalates.

Exposure to alternative phthalates and related health effects in pregnant women are rarely reported. Nineteen phthalate metabolites and a DNA oxidative damage biomarker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were determined in urine samples of pregnant women recruited in South China. The detection frequencies and concentration of selected alternative phthalates, i.e., diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP) and di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP) were lower than those of conventional phthalates. However, mono-(6-hydroxy-2-propylheptyl) phthalate, a metabolite of DPHP, was detected in 70% of urine samples (median: 0.13ng/mL). The estimated daily intakes of conventional plasticizers, including dimethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (median range: 1.0-3.0μg/kg_bw/day) were significantly higher than those of DiNP (0.08μg/kg_bw/day) and DPHP (0.03μg/kg_bw/day) (p<0.05). Approximately 24% of pregnant women were at high risk when cumulative risk from exposure to several phthalates was considered. The concentrations of phthalate metabolites and urinary 8-OHdG were significantly correlated with each other (r=0.206-0.772, p<0.01), which were further conformed by multiple linear regression analysis (β=0.168-0.639, p<0.01). In addition, conventional phthalates were more strongly correlated with 8-OHdG than alternative phthalates (i.e., DiNP, DPHP), partly suggesting the relatively smaller health effects of alternatives due to their low exposure doses and toxicities. These findings suggested that alternative phthalates have entered the human body from consumer products in the study area, and exposure-related risk of DNA oxidative stress was comparatively lower.

Monitoring of urinary arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) among a sample of pregnant Iranian women.

Heavy metals, as significant toxic environmental contaminants, can cause serious adverse health outcomes on the human body even in trace concentrations. There is limited evidence on heavy metal concentrations existing in the body fluids of pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate the urinary levels of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), as two main toxic heavy metals, among pregnant women and their lifestyle determinants. The study was performed in 2019-2020 in Isfahan, Iran. A number of 140 urine samples of pregnant women who were in their first pregnancy trimester were examined. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to analyze the urinary concentrations of As and Pb. Socio-demographic data including age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), education status, and family income, as well as the use of cleaning products (cosmetic and household cleaning products), and lifestyle habits (food intake, smoking, and physical activity) were collected using a validated questionnaire. The mean concentration of As and Pb were 8.14 ± 10.8 and 9.6 ± 7.1μg/g creatinine, respectively. The mean urinary concentration of Pb indicated significant differences in the levels of cosmetic usage, second-hand smoking exposure, and the use of Copper, Aluminum, Teflon, Steel, and Enameled utensils for cooking (p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean of urinary Pb concentrations at high levels of physical activity and scratched utensils using was significantly different from the other categories (p-value = 0.02). No significant differences were found between As and Pb concentration with other socio-demographic factors. The lifestyle determinants and cosmetic products use are important predictors of urinary heavy metals in pregnant women, rather than sociodemographic characteristics. Additional research is necessary to determine long-term adverse birth outcomes of exposure to these heavy metals.

Molecular Characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta – Lactamase Producing Escherichia Coli Isolated from Pregnant Women with Urinary Tract Infections Attending Ante–Natal Clinics in Ilorin Metropolis

Background: The emergence of multidrug- resistance Enterobacteriaceae especially in E. coli bacteria associated with Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in pregnancy is a serious menace globally posing health challenges and confounding successful empirical treatment as well as increasing pregnancy – related complications.Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Extended Spectrum Beta – Lactamases (ESBLs) producing E. coli (ESBLs – EC) isolates in pregnant women attending ante – natal clinics within Ilorin - Kwara State, Nigeria.Materials and methods: A total of 53 non - repeated E. coli isolates from urine samples of pregnant women were presumptively identified using standard bacteriological method and confirmed by commercially available Microgen® Identification Kits. Phenotypic detection of ESBLs was determined using antibiotics susceptibility test and double disc synergy Method for screening and confirmation respectively. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was further used for the genotypic detection of ESBLs genes.Results: A total 88.67% (47/53) of E. coli exhibited resistance to the cephalosporins of which aztreonam was the highest (75.47%) and the least was cefpodoxime (35.84%) while 85.10% were confirmed positive for ESBL production. The genotypic detection showed the most occurring genotype was blaTEM (50%) blaOXA (27.7%), blaGES (22.5%), blaSHV (15%), blaCTXM and blaVEB (7.5%) while sixty – four (64%) of isolates co – harbored two or more gene. BlaTEM and blaOXA were dominant.Conclusion: This study showed high resistance of E. coli to the third generation cephalosporins harboring different ESBL genes which increases UTIs complexity and limit therapeutic options in pregnancy. Therefore, continuous monitoring of resistance in E. coli, effective appraisal of antibiotic control policies and rational use of antibiotics is therefore encouraged.

English

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of multiple antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacteria in urine samples of pregnant women in Mother and Child Hospital, Nigeria was reported. In the study, 407 apparently healthy pregnant women were recruited. Structured questionnaire was administered to the patients to obtain their socio-demographic information and the medical history. Urine samples were collected, processed and analysed using standard microbiological procedures. Detailed identification of the bacteria isolates was done using biochemical characterization using Bergey&rsquo;s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology and Analytical Profile Index (API) Kit. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the bacteria isolates was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer&rsquo;s disk diffusion technique. Detection of the beta lactamase resistance genes (bla CTX-M and Tet A) was done by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with appropriate primers. The following Gram-negative bacteria were recovered comprising Pseudomonas aeruginosa 48 (34.0%), Escherichia coli 30 (21.3%), Klebsiella sp. 27 (19.1%), Proteus sp. 15 (10.6%), Salmonella sp. 8 (5.7%), Providencia rettgeri, 4 (2.8%) and Enterobacter cloacae 4(2.8%) and other enterobacteriaceae 5 (3.5%). Resistance of the isolates to antibiotics used varied greatly among the isolates. Resistance to antibiotics was highest with P. aeruginosa having 100% to augumentin, tetracylines, amoxicillin, nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, ceftriazone, cefixime (97.9%) and cefuroxime (95.8%). There was diversity in the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) patterns among the isolates with 12 different MAR patterns observed. The selected P. aeruginosa profiled for resistance genes harboured bla-CTX-M (585bp) and Tet A (954bp) genes. The multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria recovered could pose great health challenge to the pregnant women and the unborn foetus. &nbsp; Key words: Gram negative bacteria, antibiotics, enterobacteriaceae, resistance genes.

Differential Diagnosis of Preeclampsia Based on Urine Peptidome Features Revealed by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe pregnancy complication, which may be considered as a systemic response in the second half of pregnancy to physiological failures in the first trimester, and can lead to very serious consequences for the health of the mother and fetus. Since PE is often associated with proteinuria, urine proteomic assays may represent a powerful tool for timely diagnostics and appropriate management. High resolution mass spectrometry was applied for peptidome analysis of 127 urine samples of pregnant women with various hypertensive complications: normotensive controls (n = 17), chronic hypertension (n = 16), gestational hypertension (n = 15), mild PE (n = 25), severe PE (n = 25), and 29 patients with complicated diagnoses. Analysis revealed 3869 peptides, which mostly belong to 116 groups with overlapping sequences. A panel of 22 marker peptide groups reliably differentiating PE was created by multivariate statistics, and included 15 collagen groups (from COL1A1, COL3A1, COL2A1, COL4A4, COL5A1, and COL8A1), and single loci from alpha-1-antitrypsin, fibrinogen, membrane-associated progesterone receptor component 1, insulin, EMI domain-containing protein 1, lysine-specific demethylase 6B, and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein each. ROC analysis of the created model resulted in 88% sensitivity, 96.8% specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.947. Obtained results confirm the high diagnostic potential of urinary peptidome profiling for pregnancy hypertensive disorders diagnostics.

Study the Antibiotics Activity Against Escherichia Coli Isolated from Urine Samples of Pregnant Women with Urinary Tract Infection

Study the Antibiotics Activity Against Escherichia Coli Isolated from Urine Samples of Pregnant Women with Urinary Tract Infection