scholarly journals Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in Pregnancy: an App-Based Programme to Improve the Health of Mothers and Children (MINDFUL/PMI Study)

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 1283-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Lenz ◽  
Anna Eichler ◽  
Eva Schwenke ◽  
Verena Buchholz ◽  
Charlotte Hartwig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Infant Development ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Ring Finger ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
The Impact

AbstractUnfavourable intrauterine environmental factors increase the risk of delivery complications as well as postpartum developmental and behavioural problems in children and adolescents with ongoing effects into older age. Biomarker studies show that maternal stress and the use of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy are associated with a higher intrauterine testosterone exposure of the child. The antenatal testosterone load, in turn, is a risk factor for lasting adverse health effects which extend into adulthood. A 15-week, mindfulness-oriented, app-based programme for the reduction of stress as well as for the reduction of alcohol and tobacco use in pregnant women is established. In the monocentre, prospective, controlled, and investigator-blinded MINDFUL/PMI (Maternal Health and Infant Development in the Follow-up after Pregnancy and a Mindfulness Intervention) study, pregnant women carry out the programme. Its effect on antenatal testosterone exposure of the child is examined by assessing the index/ring finger length ratio and other biomarkers in the 1-year-old children. In addition, the programmeʼs effects on self-regulation, the developmental status and the mental health of the children at the age of one year will be investigated. Additional aspects of the course of the pregnancy and delivery represent exploratory study objectives. This longitudinal study project is intended to improve the understanding of the impact of intrauterine environmental factors on early childhood development and health. Maternal stress as well as alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy are modifiable factors and represent potential preventive targets.

scholarly journals Does Prenatal Stress Management Enhance Maternal And Fetal Outcomes?

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (27) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Ghada Mohammad Abu Shosha
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Fetal Outcomes ◽  
Reduction Techniques ◽  
Antenatal Stress ◽  
Fetal Organs ◽  
The Impact

Background: Antenatal period is a time of rapid change during which fetal organs are vulnerable to various stressors. Studies have suggested that psychosocial stressors during pregnancy could adversely influence physical and behavioral outcomes of the infant. Aim: This paper aimed to discusses the importance of antenatal stress assessment and management on both mothers' and infants' health status. Method: This review aggregated evidence from various studies that examined the impact of maternal stress management and its outcomes on pregnant women and their infants. Results: Maternal stress is generally associated with unpleasant fetal outcomes. The use of stress reduction techniques was approved to reduce psychological stress in pregnant women. Conclusion: Ongoing assessment of antenatal stress using a standardized process promotes proper stress handling strategy.

scholarly journals Waterpipe (hookah) tobacco use in pregnancy: use, preferences and perceptions of flavours

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Suppl 2) ◽  
pp. s62-s71
Author(s):  
Laura Stroud ◽  
Erika Werner ◽  
Kristen Matteson ◽  
Michael Carey ◽  
Gideon St Helen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Reproductive Age Women ◽  
Exposure Biomarkers ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Carcinogen Exposure ◽  
The Impact ◽  
In Pregnancy

ObjectiveWaterpipe tobacco (WPT; hookah) use is common in pregnant and reproductive-age women. Sweet flavours contribute to the appeal of WPT and are a potential regulatory target. This study investigated use, preferences and perceptions of WPT flavours in pregnant WPT users, and the impact of flavour preferences on preconception/prenatal WPT use and exposure biomarkers.Methods58 pregnant WPT users (mean age=27 years) completed a detailed interview regarding their WPT flavours use, preferences and perceptions. Biomarkers of nicotine and carcinogen exposure (eg, cotinine, benzene, butadiene) were also collected.Results55% of participants were dual/poly WPT users (ie, reported use of one or more other tobacco products in addition to WPT). Pregnant WPT users reported nearly exclusive use of flavoured WPT, with greater use of menthol/mint (68%) followed by fruit flavours (48%) (p<0.001), and greater preferences for fruit followed by menthol/mint flavours (ps<0.05). Harm perceptions did not differ among flavours. Compared with dual/poly WPT users, WPT-only users reported more total WPT use events, greater use of and preference for menthol/mint flavoured WPT (ps<0.001), and decreased exposure biomarkers (ps≤0.040). Preference for menthol/mint and fruit flavours predicted more flavoured WPT use events during preconception and pregnancy; preference for menthol/mint predicted detectable cotinine and benzene levels but not butadiene.ConclusionsThis is the first study of WPT flavour use, preferences and perceptions in pregnant women. Use of and preference for menthol/mint and fruit WPT flavours in this vulnerable population could be considered in regulating WPT flavours to protect the health of women and children.

scholarly journals Prenatal Stress and Maternal Immune Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Potential Points for Intervention

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (41) ◽  
pp. 4331-4343 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Q. Beversdorf ◽  
Hanna E. Stevens ◽  
Kara Gross Margolis ◽  
Judy Van de Water
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Prenatal Stress ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Fetal Brain ◽  
Immune Dysregulation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Stress Susceptibility ◽  
The Impact

Background: Genetics is a major etiological contributor to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Environmental factors, however, also appear to contribute. ASD pathophysiology due to gene x environment is also beginning to be explored. One reason to focus on environmental factors is that they may allow opportunities for intervention or prevention. Methods And Results: Herein, we review two such factors that have been associated with a significant proportion of ASD risk, prenatal stress exposure and maternal immune dysregulation. Maternal stress susceptibility appears to interact with prenatal stress exposure to affect offspring neurodevelopment. We also explore how maternal stress may interact with the microbiome in the neurodevelopmental setting. Additionally, understanding of the impact of maternal immune dysfunction on ASD has recently been advanced by recognition of specific fetal brain proteins targeted by maternal autoantibodies, and identification of unique mid-gestational maternal immune profiles. This might also be interrelated with maternal stress exposure. Animal models have been developed to explore pathophysiology targeting each of these factors. Conclusions: We are beginning to understand the behavioral, pharmacopathological, and epigenetic effects related to these interactions, and we are beginning to explore potential mitigating factors. Continued growth in understanding of these mechanisms may ultimately allow for the identification of multiple potential targets for prevention or intervention for this subset of environmental-associated ASD cases.

Assessing the sustainability of the Siberian Federal District regions

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 891-908
Author(s):  
T.A. Smirnova
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Siberian Federal District ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Empirical Analyses

Subject. This article deals with the issues of functioning of the region as a system. Objectives. The article aims to identify the problems of the region's functioning as a system, develop methodological tools to monitor the sustainable development of the Siberian Federal District territories, and determine the the impact of socio-economic and environmental factors on the sustainable development of the region as a whole. Methods. For the study, I used the methods of theoretical, statistical, and empirical analyses taking into account an integrated approach. Results. The article reveals the impact of some individual components of regional development on the sustainability of the territorial system as a whole. Relevance. The results of the study can be used to analyze the sustainability of regions' development.

Directions of Accounting Environmental Factors for Forecasting Formation of Agroecosystems

2020 ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
L.Z. Khalishkhova ◽  
◽  
A. Kh. Temrokova ◽  
I.R. Guchapsheva ◽  
K.A. Bogаtyreva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Logical Analysis ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Impact

Ensuring the sustainable development of agroecosystems requires research into the justification of the impact of environmental factors on the formation of territorial agroecosystems and identifies ways to take them into account in order to justify management decisions and ensure environmental safety. The main goal of the research within the article is to identify the most significant environmental factors in predicting the formation of agroecosystems. Provisions are devoted to the study of the laws governing the functioning of agroecosystems in order to increase their stability. The methods of comparative analysis, generalization, abstraction, logical analysis are applied. A number of provisions are formulated regarding ways to account for the influence of factors on the formation of key elements of agroecosystems.

Maternal-Fetal Management in Trombophilia Related and Placenta-Mediated Pregnancy Complications

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2396-2401
Author(s):  
Costin Berceanu ◽  
Elena Loredana Ciurea ◽  
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu ◽  
Sabina Berceanu ◽  
Anca Maria Ofiteru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Pregnancy Complications ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Placental Insufficiency ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Specific Therapy ◽  
Pregnancy Morbidity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Study

It is widely accepted that thrombophilia in pregnancy greatly increases the risk of venous thromboembolism. Pregnancy complications arise, at least partly, from placental insufficiency. Any change in the functioning of the gestational transient biological system, such as inherited or acquired thrombophilia, might lead to placental insufficiency. In this research we included 64 pregnant women with trombophilia and 70 cases non-trombophilic pregnant women, with or without PMPC, over a two-year period. The purpose of this multicenter case-control study is to analyze the maternal-fetal management options in obstetric thrombophilia, the impact of this pathology on the placental structure and possible correlations with placenta-mediated pregnancy complications. Maternal-fetal management in obstetric thrombophilia means preconceptional or early diagnosis, prevention of pregnancy morbidity, specific therapy as quickly as possible and fetal systematic surveilance to identify the possible occurrence of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications.

Clinical Pharmacokinetic Studies in Pregnant Women and the Relevance of Pharmacometric Tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Dallmann ◽  
Paola Mian ◽  
Johannes Van den Anker ◽  
Karel Allegaert
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Clinical Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Studies ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Pbpk Models ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
Population Pk ◽  
The Impact

Background: In clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, pregnant women are significantly underrepresented because of ethical and legal reasons which lead to a paucity of information on potential PK changes in this population. As a consequence, pharmacometric tools became instrumental to explore and quantify the impact of PK changes during pregnancy. Methods: We explore and discuss the typical characteristics of population PK and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models with a specific focus on pregnancy and postpartum. Results: Population PK models enable the analysis of dense, sparse or unbalanced data to explore covariates in order to (partly) explain inter-individual variability (including pregnancy) and to individualize dosing. For population PK models, we subsequently used an illustrative approach with ketorolac data to highlight the relevance of enantiomer specific modeling for racemic drugs during pregnancy, while data on antibiotic prophylaxis (cefazolin) during surgery illustrate the specific characteristics of the fetal compartments in the presence of timeconcentration profiles. For PBPK models, an overview on the current status of reports and papers during pregnancy is followed by a PBPK cefuroxime model to illustrate the added benefit of PBPK in evaluating dosing regimens in pregnant women. Conclusions: Pharmacometric tools became very instrumental to improve perinatal pharmacology. However, to reach their full potential, multidisciplinary collaboration and structured efforts are needed to generate more information from already available datasets, to share data and models, and to stimulate cross talk between clinicians and pharmacometricians to generate specific observations (pathophysiology during pregnancy, breastfeeding) needed to further develop the field.

Impact of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Pregnant Women: A Review

Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saima Habeeb ◽  
Manju Chugani
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fetal Outcome ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

: The novel coronavirus infection (COVID‐19) is a global public health emergency.Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, the infection has spread at an alarming rate across the globe and humans have been locked down to their countries, cities and homes. As of now, the virus has affected over 20million people globally and has inflicted over 7 lac deaths. Nevertheless, the recovery rate is improving with each passing day and over 14 million people have recuperated so far. The statistics indicate that nobody is immune to the disease as the virus continues to spread among all age groups; newborns to the elders, and all compartmentsincluding pregnant women. However, pregnant women may be more susceptible to this infection as they are, in general, highly vulnerable to respiratory infections. There is no evidence for vertical transmission of the COVID-19 virus among pregnant women, but an increased prevalence of preterm deliveries. Besides this, the COVID-19 may alter immune response at the maternal-fetal interface and affect the well-being of mothers as well as infants. Unfortunately, there is limited evidence available in the open literature regarding coronavirus infection during pregnancy and it now appears that certain pregnant women have infected during the present 2019-nCoV pandemic. In this short communication, we study the impact of the COVID-19 infection on vertical transmission and fetal outcome among pregnant women.

Impact of influenza virus during pregnancy: from disease severity to vaccine efficacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 441-453
Author(s):  
Ana Vazquez-Pagan ◽  
Rebekah Honce ◽  
Stacey Schultz-Cherry
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Severe Influenza ◽  
The Impact

Pregnant women are among the individuals at the highest risk for severe influenza virus infection. Infection of the mother during pregnancy increases the probability of adverse fetal outcomes such as small for gestational age, preterm birth and fetal death. Animal models of syngeneic and allogeneic mating can recapitulate the increased disease severity observed in pregnant women and are used to define the mechanism(s) of that increased severity. This review focuses on influenza A virus pathogenesis, the unique immunological landscape during pregnancy, the impact of maternal influenza virus infection on the fetus and the immune responses at the maternal–fetal interface. Finally, we summarize the importance of immunization and antiviral treatment in this population and highlight issues that warrant further investigation.

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