Using quantitative fetal fibronectin to predict term labour onset in Australian rural women: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert North ◽  
Anthony Geraghty ◽  
Georgina Luscombe ◽  
Thuy Frakking
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Fetal Fibronectin ◽  
Term Labour ◽  
Labour Onset

Expression of prostaglandin G/H synthase-1 and -2 in ovine amnion and placenta following glucocorticoid-induced labour onset

1996 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J McLaren ◽  
I R Young ◽  
M H Wong ◽  
G E Rice
Keyword(s):  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Saline Control ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Fetal Sheep ◽  
Enhanced Expression ◽  
Term Labour ◽  
Labour Onset

Abstract Parturition in the sheep is preceded by an increase in the synthesis of prostaglandins by intrauterine tissues. Prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS) is the central enzyme involved in prostanoid production. Its expression is enhanced during late gestation in the ewe. Recent studies have identified two PGHS isozymes, termed PGHS-1 and PGHS-2. The labour-associated expression of the two isozymes of PGHS in the sheep has not been characterized. This study investigated the changes in expression of immunoreactive PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 in ovine amnion and placenta following glucocorticoid-induced labour. Ewes underwent surgery to implant fetal and maternal vascular cannulae and uterine electromyogram electrodes between 118 and 125 days of gestation. Fetal sheep were administered either the glucocorticoid betamethasone (n=5) or saline (control n=6) by direct transabdominal intrafetal injection. Ewes from the betamethasone-injected group were killed in the first stage of labour as indicated by uterine electromyographic activity. Ewes from the saline-injected group were killed at the same time to obtain age-matched control tissue. The time taken to euthanasia following induced-labour onset in the glucocorticoid-injected animals was 56·6 ± 0·8 h post-injection. Plasma endocrine profiles in the maternal and fetal circulation following glucocorticoid injection were comparable to those observed following normal spontaneous delivery. At post-mortem, amnion and cotyledons were collected in liquid N2 and stored at −70 °C. Solubilized tissue extracts were prepared and analysed by Western blots using polyclonal antibodies to PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 isozymes. Fetal amnion contained PGHS-1 isozyme at day 133 of gestation, as demonstrated in the saline-injected animals. Slightly higher PGHS-1 immunoreactivity was observed following induced-labour onset, although this did not reach statistical significance (P>0·05). PGHS-2 enzyme was not detectable in amnion. PGHS-2 expression was also not induced following labour onset. In contrast, PGHS-2 demonstrated enhanced expression following glucocorticoid-induced labour in ovine cotyledon. This tissue contained PGHS-1 enzyme, but immunoreactive levels were minimal and demonstrated limited regulation at labour. These data suggest that the previously reported rise in placental PG production at term in the sheep is predominantly due to increased expression of the PGHS-2 isozyme. This suggests that PGHS-2 contributes to PG production at term labour in sheep or is induced by the mechanisms controlling ovine parturition. PGHS-1 isozyme is produced constitutively in ovine amnion and may contribute to the gestational increase in PG formation by intrauterine tissues. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 151, 125–135

The use of fetal fibronectin in suspected pre-term labour

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Anwar ◽  
S. W. Lindow ◽  
L. Greaves ◽  
S. Hall ◽  
R. Jha
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Fibronectin ◽  
Term Labour

scholarly journals Confronting the potential role of Yoga in the molecular profile of rural high-risk women for Diabetes: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Navneet Kaur ◽  
Shweta Ahuja ◽  
Kanupriya Sharma ◽  
Rakesh Malik ◽  
Kavita Bakshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Molecular Profile ◽  
High Risk Women ◽  
Beneficial Impact ◽  
The Mind

Background and purpose: Yoga has been shown to have established beneficial impact through many previous studies. The mind-body practices like Yoga have an ameliorating effect on diabetes and prediabetes. The majority of prior published literature focused their attention on the glucose parameters in diabetic and prediabetic pathology. The purpose of the present pilot study is to explore the effect of AYUSH-approved Diabetic Yoga Protocol (DYP) on selected angiogenesis and neurogenesis markers in high-risk rural women for Diabetes. Methods: Total 15 high-risk women for Diabetes were selected from rural area of Chandigarh, for a 3-month DYP intervention. The pre-post single group experimental research design was implemented in the study. The changes in angiogenesis, neurogenesis parameters, and leptin were assessed at baseline and after 3 months after DYP intervention. Results: The result of the present study revealed that after 3 months of DYP intervention the statistically significant improvements were noticed on serum VEGF levels (p = 0.039). The improvements in angiogenin and BDNF levels were also seen after DYP practice. Conclusion: The results highlight the potential role of DYP on cellular growth and neuronal survival. Keywords: Diabetic Yoga Protocol, Indian Diabetes Risk Score, Prediabetes, angiogenesis, neurogenesis.

A Peer-Based Substance Abuse Intervention for HIV+ Rural Women: A Pilot Study

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary R. Boyd ◽  
Linda Moneyham ◽  
Carolyn Murdaugh ◽  
Kenneth D. Phillips ◽  
Abbas Tavakoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Substance Abuse Intervention

scholarly journals Localisation and temporal changes in prostaglandin G/H synthase-1 and -2 content in ovine intrauterine tissues in relation to glucocorticoid-induced and spontaneous labour

2000 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ McLaren ◽  
IR Young ◽  
GE Rice
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Placental Tissue ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Fetal Membranes ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Tissue Extracts ◽  
Term Labour ◽  
Labour Onset

Parturition in the ewe is preceded by an increase in the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) by gestational tissues. To establish the uterine source of these PGs, placental cotyledons, fetal membranes and maternal uterine tissues were collected from ewes (n=6) at spontaneous parturition. Solubilised tissue extracts were prepared and analysed by Western blots using polyclonal antibodies to PG G/H synthase-1 and -2 (PGHS-1 and PGHS-2). PGHS-1 was expressed by all intrauterine tissues at term labour. Densitometric analysis of Western blot autoradiographs showed that the fetal membranes and maternal cervix contained the largest amounts of PGHS-1. PGHS-1 enzyme content of ovine amnion was significantly greater than that of either chorion or allantois (P<0.05). PGHS-1 protein content of myometrial, endometrial and cotyledonary tissue extracts was minimal. Formation of the PGHS-2 isozyme was confined to placental tissue at term labour. PGHS-2 protein levels in sheep placenta were significantly higher than those of PGHS-1 in all intrauterine tissues examined. This result supports the hypothesis that PGHS-2 is a major contributor to PG formation at term labour. To elucidate the developmental changes in PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 relative to labour onset, an experimental paradigm of glucocorticoid-induced delivery was used. Previous characterisation and validation of this labour model demonstrated that direct, transabdominal, intrafetal injection of the synthetic glucocorticoid betamethasone (5.7 mg in 1 ml aqueous vehicle) on day 131 of gestation induced labour onset in 56.6+/-0.8 h (mean+/-s.e.m.). As the latent period to induced-labour was known, the time course of enzyme formation could be ascertained. Sheep (n=20) were killed by barbiturate injection at various time intervals post-injection (0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 h). Tissue extracts collected at post-mortem examination were prepared and analysed by Western blots. PGHS-2 was induced in ovine cotyledon in a time-dependent fashion following glucocorticoid injection (P<0.05). There was a 12-fold increase in abundance between the time of betamethasone administration (0 h) and established labour (56 h). The PGHS-2 isozyme was not detected in any of the other tissues examined. In contrast, formation of the PGHS-1 isozyme did not change in relation to induced-labour in any of the intrauterine tissues. This finding is consistent with constitutive formation of PGHS-1. Previous studies have demonstrated a rise in PG production in association with glucocorticoid-induced labour and spontaneous delivery. The results of the present study indicate that this rise in PG production is due to increased formation of the PGHS-2 isozyme in ovine cotyledon. PGHS-2 appears to be induced by exogenous glucocorticoid administration and/or the mechanisms controlling ovine parturition. The role of PG formation by the fetal membranes is yet to be elucidated.

Labour-associated increase in interleukin-1 α release in vitro by human gestational tissues

1996 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Laham ◽  
S P Brennecke ◽  
K Bendtzen ◽  
G E Rice
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Bacterial Endotoxin ◽  
Tissue Explants ◽  
Gestational Tissues ◽  
Term Labour ◽  
Labour Onset

Abstract The aims of this study were to investigate the concentration and release of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) at the time of human term labour, and to study the regulation of IL-1α release from human gestational tissue explants by bacterial endotoxin. Immunoreactive IL-1α concentrations in maternal plasma, amniotic fluid and conditioned media from human amniotic, choriodecidual and placental explants were quantified before and after spontaneous term labour-onset and delivery. Furthermore, the effects of a bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on the release of IL-1α from human gestational tissue explants over a time course of 24 h (n=3) and LPS concentrations ranging from 10–107 pg/ml (n=3) were investigated. IL-1α concentrations in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid did not change significantly with spontaneous term labour-onset. In contrast, IL-1α was released in detectable amounts from human amniotic and choriodecidual explants only in association with term labour-onset and delivery. Similarly, placental release of IL-1α was increased significantly in explant cultures in association with term labour-onset and delivery. LPS increased IL-1α release significantly only from human placental explants from both term not-in-labour and term after-labour tissues. The data demonstrate differential regulation of IL-1α release from human gestational tissues in association with labour and LPS treatment and the observations support the hypothesis that the labour-associated increase in IL-1α release from the fetal membranes is independent of exposure to bacterial endotoxin. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 515–522

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