Short- and mid-term multidisciplinary outcomes of newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in utero or during the perinatal period: preliminary findings

Ventricular arrhythmia in the perinatal period is observed with greater frequency than reported in the literature. Four cases from the authors' experience and an analysis of the literature are presented. Of the total of 45 cases, nine were detected in utero, three persisted beyond the neonatal period, and two resulted in death with associated disorders. Twenty-four percent of the entire group had serious medical disorders associated with arrhythmia; however, 43% of the group with ventricular tachycardia had major associated disease.

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Effects of Maternal Cannabis Use on the Newborn at Delivery and the Perinatal Period

10.21203/rs.3.rs-166690/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Angela Edet ◽

Philip Y. Cheng ◽

Mouchumi Bhattacharyya ◽

Teri M. Kozik

Keyword(s):

Medical Knowledge ◽

Central Valley ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

In Utero ◽

The Body ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Perinatal Complications ◽

Urine Toxicology ◽

Significant Difference ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract Background To evaluate if Activity Pulse Grimace Appearance Respiration (APGAR) scores and birthweight at delivery are different amongst newborns exposed to cannabis in utero compared to those who were not exposed to cannabis in utero. Also the rate of perinatal complications to the newborn was also examined. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing patient’s electronic health records that gave birth at a community hospital in the central valley of California in 2019. Exposure was defined as cannabis detected on universal urine toxicology testing completed on admission to hospital prior to birth/delivery. This was compared with urine toxicology testing that was negative for cannabis exposure. Results No significant difference between mothers who use cannabis and mothers who do not use cannabis during pregnancy in terms of the newborn’s one minute or five minute APGAR score. A significant difference between mothers who use cannabis compared to mothers who did not was found, in terms of the newborn’s birthweight. The rate of perinatal complications to the newborn was negligible at delivery and in the immediate perinatal period in our particular study. Conclusion To guide interventions in women of child bearing age in regards to illicit drug use in pregnancy particularly cannabis utilization. The medical knowledge of cannabis use in pregnancy is growing steadily and through continued further research; the body of knowledge can continue to grow in regards to outcomes in the newborn and the growing child.

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Perinatal aortic growth in lambs: relation to blood flow changes at birth

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1990.259.4.h1247 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 259 (4) ◽

pp. H1247-H1253 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

B. L. Langille ◽

R. D. Brownlee ◽

S. L. Adamson

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Thoracic Aorta ◽

Abdominal Aorta ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

In Utero ◽

Blood Velocity ◽

Aortic Blood ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Flow Changes ◽

Aortic Blood Velocity

We have examined aortic growth and aortic hemodynamics in lambs in the perinatal period. Morphometry of histological cross sections indicated that abdominal aortic circumference decreased by 31% between 131 days of gestation and 2-3 wk postpartum. In contrast, the internal circumference of the thoracic aorta increased by 34% over the same time interval; thus size reduction of the abdominal aorta was not part of a generalized arterial response to ex utero life. We also determined medial cross-sectional area as an index of medial tissue mass. In the perinatal period (120 days gestation to 21 days postpartum), this index increased by 144% for the thoracic aorta but only by 69% in the abdominal aorta. Differences in rate of medial tissue accumulation were much greater postpartum than in utero. The relationship between abdominal aortic growth and hemodynamic changes was examined by instrumenting fetal lambs with blood pressure catheters, abdominal aortic blood velocity transducers, and sonomicrometer diameter crystals mounted on the abdominal aorta. Parturition, and the consequent loss of the placental circulation, caused a 73% reduction in abdominal aortic blood velocity. Abdominal aortic external diameter in the period between 4 and 14 days postpartum was reduced significantly compared with in utero values. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that blood flow changes at birth significantly influence arterial growth postpartum.

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Role of prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2 in the initiation of nonshivering thermogenesis during the simulation of birth in utero

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd9950399 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 399 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

KT Ball ◽

M Takeuchi ◽

Y Yoneyama ◽

GG Power

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Umbilical Cord ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

In Utero ◽

Nonshivering Thermogenesis ◽

Prostaglandin I2 ◽

Fetal Sheep ◽

Near Term ◽

High Concentrations

Because maximal nonshivering thermogenesis can commence only after occlusion of the umbilical cord, circulating stimulators and inhibitors were hypothesized to alter brown fat activity in the perinatal period. The roles of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) and PGE2 in the initiation of nonshivering thermogenesis at birth were investigated. Indomethacin (45 mg bolus, 3 mg h-1 thereafter) was infused into 10 near-term fetal sheep to decrease prostanoid synthesis; 6 age-matched fetuses were infused with saline as controls. Sixteen hours later, birth was simulated in utero by sequentially cooling the fetus, ventilating its lungs with oxygen and occluding the umbilical cord. In the control fetuses, the plasma concentrations of PGI2 and PGE2 and free fatty acids, an index of nonshivering thermogenesis, were unaffected by cooling. Ventilation caused the concentration of PGI2 to increase 108% (P < 0.001) and that of PGE2 to decrease 26% (P < 0.05), while fatty acid concentrations increased 100% (P < 0.05). After cord occlusion, PGI2 concentrations remained elevated whereas PGE2 concentrations decreased a further 46% (P < 0.01), and fatty acid concentrations increased a further 100% (P < 0.05). In the indomethacin-treated fetuses, PGI2 and PGE2 concentrations decreased to 20% of the preinfusion values (P < 0.001) and did not change during the experiment. Cooling initiated a 300% increase in fatty acid concentrations (P < 0.05) and ventilation and cord occlusion induced no further significant changes. Thus, prostanoid concentrations follow changes in nonshivering thermogenic activity and support a regulatory role for PGI2 and PGE2 in the initiation of thermogenesis. Before birth, high concentrations of PGE2 favour suppression of thermogenesis, and after birth this inhibition is removed and there is stimulation by PGI2.

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Ultrastructural alterations in the fetal mouse myocardium in response to genetic and environmental factors

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100127931 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 724-725

Author(s):

K.C. Feng-Chen ◽

F.B. Essien ◽

K.J. Prestwidge ◽

J.T. Cheng ◽

C.L. Shen

Keyword(s):

Fetal Heart ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Cardiac Contraction ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Fetal Mouse ◽

The Subject ◽

Physiological Adjustments ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Genetically Determined

The physiology of the fetal heart differs significantly from that of the mature post-natal organ: e.g., the metabolic supply for adult cardiac contraction relies mainly on fatty acids; whereas, the fetal heart uses carbohydrates as its primary energy source. Limited morphological descriptions of the developing myocardium have appeared. However, additional studies are required to elucidate the ultrastructural changes occuring in the perinatal period when enormous physiological adjustments are made. Although adult animals are most often used in toxocological and pathological analyses, it is also important to investigate fetal cardiac responsiveness to various agents. The vulnerability of the ultrastructure of the fetal mouse myocardium to genetic and environmental assault is the subject of this report. The genetically determined effect on the heart was observed in mouse embryos homozygous for the cab (cardiac abnormality) mutation discovered by Essien.

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Alterations in Ultrastructure of Skeletal Muscle From Newborn Guinea Pigs Following in Utero Exposure to Ethanol

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100120126 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 686-687

Author(s):

C. Uphoff ◽

C. Nyquist-Battie ◽

T.B. Cole

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Muscle Development ◽

In Utero ◽

Ethanol Exposure ◽

Prenatally Exposed ◽

Chronic Alcoholic ◽

Test Kit ◽

Food And Water Intake ◽

Post Intubation

Ultrastructural alterations of skeletal muscle have been observed in adult chronic alcoholic patients. However, no such study has been performed on individuals prenatally exposed to ethanol. In order to determine if ethanol exposure in utero in the latter stages of muscle development was deleterious, skeletal muscle was obtained from newborn guinea pigs treated in the following manner. Six Hartly strain pregnant guinea pigs were randomly assigned to either the ethanol or the pair-intubated groups. Twice daily the 3 ethanol-treated animals were intubated with Ensure (Ross Laboratories) liquid diet containing 30% ethanol (6g/Kg pre-pregnant body weight per day) from day 35 of gestation until parturition at day 70±1 day. Serum ethanol levels were determined at 1 hour post-intubation by the Sigma alcohol test kit. For pair-intubation the Ensure diet contained sucrose substituted isocalorically for ethanol. Both food and water intake were monitored.

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