Developmental exposure to fenproporex: reproductive and morphological evaluation

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 397-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Q Moreira ◽  
M JSS Faria ◽  
J E Baroneza ◽  
R J Oliveira ◽  
E G Moreira

This study was designed to evaluate the maternal toxicity and teratogenicity of fenproporex, one of the most widelyused anorectic drugs in many countries, including Brazil. Three periods of exposure were evaluated: (a) 30 days before mating; (b) from gestational day (GD) 0 to 14; and (c) 30 days before mating and during pregnancy, until GD 14. Female mice from experimental groups received, by gavage, 15 mg/kg of fenproporex. Treatment with fenproporex increased ambulation of dams in the open field test and did not influence the mobility in the forcedswimming test. There was no significant difference in maternal weight gain between the controls and fenproporex-treated groups, although fenproporex treatment reduced the gravid uterus weight. No significant difference was observed in postimplantation loss, fetal viability and sex ratio. In addition, this compound did not impair intra-uterine growth. The reduction in the number of implantations in the groups receiving fenproporex indicates that this drug may have an adverse effect on implantation. Fenproporex treatment also increased the number of fetuses presenting small kidneys and cervical ribs. The present results indicate that fenproporex, in the dose and exposure periods tested, appears to exhibit a low maternal toxicity and teratogenic potential in mice.

1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (03) ◽  
pp. 291-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Philippé ◽  
F Offner ◽  
P J Declerck ◽  
G Leroux-Roels ◽  
D Vogelaers ◽  
...  

SummarySepsis is often associated with hemostatic dysfunction. This study aimed to relate changes in fibrinolysis and coagulation parameters to sepsis and sepsis outcome. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) antigen, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) type 1 antigen, PAI activity, antithrombin (AT) III activity, and protein C activity were measured in 24 patients suffering from sepsis or septic shock and the results were compared with those observed in 30 non-sepsis patients with severe infectious disease. The u-PA level was markedly increased in plasma of sepsis patients as compared to non-sepsis patients (11.5 ± 9.4 versus 1.6 ± 1.5 ng/ml, p <0.0001). PAI-1 antigen and t-PA activity showed a significant increase in sepsis patients (320 ± 390 ng/ml versus 120 ± 200 ng/ml, and 3.0 ± 3.6 IU/ml versus 1.0 ± 0.7 IU/ml, respectively, p <0.01). AT III was decreased in sepsis patients (58 ± 28% in sepsis versus 79 ± 26% in severe infectious disease, p <0.01) as was protein C (30 ± 18% versus 58 ± 27%, p <0.001). No significant difference was found for t-PA antigen nor for PAI activity. Nonsurvivors of sepsis were distinguished mainly by a high u-PA antigen level and increased t-PA activity. It is concluded that plasma u-PA antigen showed the strongest significant difference, among the parameters evaluated, between sepsis and severe infection. u-PA antigen may be of prognostic value in patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit for severe infectious disease.


1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.F.X. Collins ◽  
T.N. Black ◽  
D.I. Ruggles

FD&C Red No. 3 (erythrosine) is a commonly used food additive. As part of a series of studies on the potential fetal developmental effects of food colors, FD&C Red No. 3 was administered by gavage to pregnant Osborne-Mendel rats at daily dose levels of 15, 30, 100, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg on days 0-19 of gestation. Control animals were given distilled water by gavage. On gestation day 20, the animals were euthanized and cesarean sections were performed. During the entire treatment period, feed consumption by the animals given 400 mg/kg doses was increased significantly; the increases in the animals given 30 or 800 mg/kg were of borderline significance. The only significant increase in maternal weight gain, on days 0-7 in the animals given 30 mg/kg, was considered a random occurrence. No dose-related changes were seen in maternal clinical findings, implantations, fetal viability, or fetal size (weight and length). No fetal terata were seen, and neither skeletal nor visceral development was affected. FD&C Red No. 3 was neither fetotoxic nor teratogenic at 800 mg/kg when given by gavage.


Author(s):  
Mary Kama ◽  
Kaul Gena ◽  
Tindi Seje Nuru

Magnetic skarn ore (MSO) is one of the major copper bearing ore extracted by the Ok Tedi Copper Mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Copper minerals are recovered by flotation while the iron not associated with copper are discarded as tailings. The objective of this investigation was to determine the iron ore reduction kinetics for the Ok Tedi MSO and ascertain if it can be processed to produce sponge iron for a mini steel plant in Papua New Guinea. SEM-EDAX analyses of the Ok Tedi MSO indicated 10.1% C, 30% O, 0.6% Mg, 1.1% Si, 21.1% S, 0.8% Ca and 36.2 % Fe. Most of the iron is in sulfide form. Both naturally occurring and roasted sinters of Ok Tedi MSO samples of different particle sizes were reduced by charcoal carbon at three different temperatures and seven different reduction times. Analyses of the reduced products indicated a metallic iron content of more than 65 wt. % on average. Results showed that there was no significant difference in reduction between fluxed and control materials. Only a slight increase in kinetics with reduced particle size, hence the reaction rate constant (K) did not vary much within the temperatures investigated. Reaction kinetics increases with increasing reduction time at 900°C. Therefore, more iron reduction is observed with particles of 106 µm size. In addition, the results also confirmed that the reduction energy used was higher at 800°C and lower at 1000°C. In conclusion, iron reduction can be improved but close monitoring of temperature and reduction times are essential to determine the reaction kinetics of the Ok Tedi MSO.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 879-888
Author(s):  
Fatima-Zahra Majdoubi ◽  
Redouane Benhima ◽  
Anouar Ouizgane ◽  
Sana Farid ◽  
Mohammed Droussi ◽  
...  

The present study is performed in order to determine the relationship between fatty acid (FA) profile of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) eggs and fertilization success, embryos viability and larval production. Mature unfertilized ova were collected during the reproductive season from 23 mature and healthy females, reared in Deroua fish farm (Morocco). Total lipids were extracted from ova sample and subjected to trans-esterification then the resulting fatty acids methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). The results showed that silver carp ova are dominated on total FA by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (21.21%) followed by oleic acid (21.07%), palmitic acid (17.71%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (10.25%). During the breeding season, polyunsaturateds (PUFAs), monounsaturateds (MUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) didn’t show any significant difference. Moreover, within the PUFAs, the n-3 series were more abundant than the n-6 series, the total mean was 31.57 ± 1.01% and 5.33 ± 0.32%, respectively. No correlation was between fatty acids and the fertilization success. Maternal weight has effect on the levels of oleic acid (C18:1), arachidonic acid (C20:4) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) in the egg whereas levels of palmetoleic acid (C16:1), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) are related to female age.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Ellsworth ◽  
Harlan McCaffery ◽  
Emma Harman ◽  
Jillian Abbott ◽  
Brigid Gregg

In breastfed infants, human milk provides the primary source of iodine to meet demands during this vulnerable period of growth and development. Iodine is a key micronutrient that plays an essential role in hormone synthesis. Despite the importance of iodine, there is limited understanding of the maternal factors that influence milk iodine content and how milk iodine intake during infancy is related to postnatal growth. We examined breast milk samples from near 2 weeks and 2 months post-partum in a mother-infant dyad cohort of mothers with pre-pregnancy weight status defined by body mass index (BMI). Normal (NW, BMI < 25.0 kg/m2) is compared to overweight/obesity (OW/OB, BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). The milk iodine concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We evaluated the associations between iodine content at 2 weeks and infant anthropometrics over the first year of life using multivariable linear mixed modeling. Iodine concentrations generally decreased from 2 weeks to 2 months. We observed no significant difference in iodine based on maternal weight. A higher iodine concentration at 2 weeks was associated with a larger increase in infant weight-for-age and weight-for-length Z-score change per month from 2 weeks to 1 year. This pilot study shows that early iodine intake may influence infant growth trajectory independent of maternal pre-pregnancy weight status.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3791-3791
Author(s):  
Ageliki Gerovassili ◽  
Kypros H. Nicolaides ◽  
Swee Lay Thein ◽  
David Rees

Abstract Cell free (cf) DNA in maternal circulation is increasingly investigated in pregnancy. We aimed to determine if sickle cell trait women had quantitative differences of cfDNA with controls and if there was an ethnic difference between the cfDNA levels of Northern European and African/African-Caribbean populations. Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis through quantification of fetal and total cfDNA was tested in 33 pregnant women at risk of carrying a fetus affected with sickle cell disease and 124 control pregnancies. Fetal cfDNA assays were based on two Y chromosome specific markers (SRY and DYS14) and total cfDNA was based on the β-globin gene on chromosome 11. Maternal age (MA), gestation age (GA), fetal sex, storage time prior to extraction, maternal weight and body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy were compared to the fetal and total cfDNA levels. No significant difference in the fetal or total cfDNA levels was found between any of the control pregnancies and the sickle cell trait mothers carrying HbAA, HbAS and HbSS fetuses. However, higher levels of total cfDNA, but lower fetal cfDNA levels were observed in the African/African-Caribbean population compared with the Nothern Europeans. A significant variation in cfDNA was found between ethnic groups, which should be taken under consideration in future studies measuring cfDNA.


2000 ◽  
Vol 166 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
MK Bauer ◽  
JE Harding ◽  
BH Breier ◽  
PD Gluckman

The role of GH in the regulation of fetal growth and metabolism in late gestation is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous GH infusion on fetal growth and feto-placental metabolism in the normally growing late-gestation fetal sheep. Eleven fetuses received pulsatile GH infusion (3.5 mg/day) for 10 days while 12 control fetuses received vehicle. The GH infusion was given as a continuous infusion (2.5 mg/day) plus an additional pulsatile component (30 pulses equivalent to 1 mg/day) designed to mimic the natural pattern of GH secretion. Fetal GH infusion raised the circulating fetal concentrations of GH threefold, but did not change fetal concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3, insulin or ovine placental lactogen. GH-treated fetuses had blood urea concentrations 15% lower than controls (P<0.05) and glucose uptake 18% lower per kg fetal weig! ht (P=0.06). There were no other differences attributable to fetal GH infusion in feto-placental metabolism, placental function or placental blood flow. GH-treated fetuses were larger than controls at postmortem (weight+13%, P<0.01; girth+5%, P<0.01; crown-rump length+3%, P<0.05). However, there were no differences between groups in measures of fetal growth (increment in chest girth and hindlimb length). GH-treated fetuses had heavier mothers and when maternal weight was included as a covariate in the analysis, there was no significant difference between treatment groups that could be attributed to GH treatment. GH infusion to normal fetal sheep does not appear to have a significant effect on feto-placental metabolism or fetal growth.


Author(s):  
Rachita Nanda ◽  
Prasanta Kumar Nayak ◽  
Suprava Patel ◽  
Eli Mohapatra ◽  
Sarita Agrawal

Abstract Objectives Due to differences in the method of assay and population-specific factors, each laboratory needs to establish its own gestation-specific reference intervals (GRIs) for thyroid hormones. Materials and Methods Three-hundred forty-one women with less than 14 weeks gestation were screened at a tertiary care hospital in Chhattisgarh, India. Serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) were measured using an ADVIA Centaur XP immunoassay.GRIs (2.5th and 97.5th percentiles) were determined for TSH and fT4. TSH and fT4 concentrations were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) values. Effect of maternal age, gestational age, and maternal weight was analyzed. Statistical Analysis Quantitative variables were expressed as means and standard deviations (SD), and qualitative variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Normality of the data was checked using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Values that were normally distributed were expressed only as means and SD. Those that were not normally distributed were expressed as medians and interquartile range. For all statistical analysis, p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results First-trimester GRI was 0.245 to 4.971 mIU/L for TSH, 10.2 to 18.9 pmol/L for fT4, and 27.0 to 56.89 kIU/L for anti-TPO. There was no significant difference in the mean serum TSH (p = 0.920), fT4 (p  = 0.714), or anti-TPO (p = 0.754) values among women in 4 to 7th week and 7 to 14th week of gestation. The 1st and 99th centile MoMs were 0.03 and 4.09 for TSH and 0.66 and 1.39 for fT4. There was a significant positive correlation between the maternal weight and TSH MoM values (p = 0.027, r = 0.120). Conclusion These laboratory- and first-trimester-specific GRI for TSH and fT4 shall help in proper diagnosis and treatment of subclinical thyroid dysfunctions. TSH and fT4 MoM values can be used to indicate high or low values in a quantitative manner independent of the reference ranges and may be used by other laboratories.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Mayara Cristini Ferreira Aguiar ◽  
Karina Preising Aptekmann ◽  
Leandro Egert ◽  
Afonso Cassa Reis ◽  
Paula Madureira ◽  
...  

Background: Pregnancy may change maternal hemodynamic, which is considered a physiological mechanism for adaptation. Cardiac output tends to be influenced by reductions in vascular resistance and increases in uterine vasculature, as well as reduced autonomic tone combined with gestational physiological anaemia and increased blood volume due to increased plasma volume and hormonal mechanisms. In bitches, few studies have been conducted investigating the changes of the system and the clinical implications for the mother and foetuses due to poor cardiac adaptation during pregnancy.Materials, Methods & Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), electrocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic measurements and serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels were evaluated in six bitches of reproductive age. An evaluation was performed in oestrus (M0), followed by evaluations at 25 (M1), 45 (M2), and 60 days (M3) after the last natural or artificial insemination and 15 days after delivery (M4). For the statistical analysis, the means, medians and the standard deviation were calculated. The data were analysed using ANOVA and the Tukey test, with significance level of 5%. A descriptive analysis was performed for color Doppler in echocardiogram evaluation, cardiac axis and rhythm in electrocardiogram evaluation. In the electrolytic evaluation, significant differences were found only in the serum levels of Na, noticed as a reduction in M0-M1 and M3-M2 and an increase in M1-M2 and M3-M4. No significant differences were observed in the SBP, although there was a tendency to SBP reduction. ECG parameters were not significantly different, with no rhythm or conduction disturbances. There was not a significant difference in HR. Four animals (66.6%) had axis deviation to the right when comparing the oestrous phase with the final quarter of pregnancy. The echocardiographic parameters did not show significant changes.Discussion: The reduction observed in Na can occur by salt depletion, by dilutional or metabolic mechanisms. In contrast, the elevation in Na concentration could occur as a result of fluid and electrolyte retention by kidneys during gestation. The absence of electrocardiographic changes may be justified by the stability of mean serum potassium concentrations. An increase in HR five days before the expected calving time, demonstrating the maximum cardiac activity in this gestational phase, is related by other authors, therefore, in the present study, the absence of significant change in HR can be explained by the period in which the data collection was performed, 45 days of gestation, being therefore prior to the period of greatest HR. The cardiac axis deviation can be explained by the distension of the gravid uterus that cause compression of the adjacent organs, leading to diaphragmatic compression and consequent repositioning of the thoracic structures. A tendency to SBP reduction observed is directly influenced by peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output that occur during pregnancy. Although the echocardiographic findings did not show changes, it is suggested that there are changes related to increased blood volume in pregnancy to provide an appropriate blood flow to the conceptus. It was concluded that pregnancy and the postpartum period in bitches did not cause changes in electrolytes levels, SBP values, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters as compared to values obtained during oestrus.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Somfai ◽  
N. T. Men ◽  
H. Kaneko ◽  
J. Noguchi ◽  
S. Haraguchi ◽  
...  

Cryotop and solid surface vitrification are frequently used methods for the cryopreservation of porcine oocytes. These methods differ not only in the vitrification carrier but also in the cryoprotectant (CPA) treatment including the type of sugar, permeable CPA (pCPA) combinations, and the equilibration regimen. This study compared the distinct points of CPA treatment of these 2 methods to determine the optimum CPA treatment for the solid surface vitrification of immature porcine oocytes. We vitrified and warmed follicular cumulus-oocyte complexes by our method (Somfai et al. 2014 PLoS One 9, e97731). In each experiment, the vitrification solution consisted of 50 mg mL–1 polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 0.3 M of the actual sugar, and 35% [v/v] in total of the actual pCPA combination (depending on the experiment). After warming, the cumulus-oocyte complexes were subjected to in vitro maturation, IVF, and embryo culture (Kikuchi et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041). Oocyte survival was assessed after IVF by morphological evaluation, and live oocytes were subjected to in vitro embryo culture. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were calculated from cultured oocytes on Day 2 (Day 0 = IVF) and Day 6, respectively. Each experiment was replicated at least 3 times. Results were analysed by ANOVA. In Experiment 1, we compared trehalose (n = 416) and sucrose (n = 440) as supplementations during vitrification and warming (0.3 M and 0.4 M of each, respectively). There was no significant difference between oocytes vitrified with trehalose or sucrose in terms of survival, cleavage, and blastocyst development (83.2% v. 80.3%, 39.7% v. 42.4%, and 3.6% v. 5.9%, respectively). Thus, vitrification and warming media were supplemented with sucrose thereafter. In Experiment 2, we compared 1 : 1 combinations of ethylene glycol with propylene glycol (EG+PG group, n = 452) and ethylene glycol with dimethyl sulfoxide (EG+DMSO group, n = 465) used as pCPA for equilibration (4% [v/v] pCPA in total for 15 min) and vitrification (35% [v/v] pCPA in total for 30 s). Oocyte survival rate was higher (P < 0.05) in the EG+PG group compared with the EG+DMSO group (73.8% v. 51.1%, respectively); however, cleavage and blastocyst development rates of surviving oocytes were not significantly different between the 2 groups (30.5% v. 44.5% and 4.1% v. 6.3%, respectively). In Experiment 3, we compared an equilibration treatment in 4% [v/v] of EG+PG for 13 to 15 min (regimen A, n = 368) with an equilibration in 15% [v/v] of EG+PG for 5 to 7 min (regimen B, n = 363) for oocyte vitrification. Survival, cleavage, and blastocyst development rates were higher (P < 0.01) for oocytes vitrified using regimen A compared with those vitrified using regimen B (82.5% v. 22.7%, 24.0% v. 7.7%, and 3.2% v. 0%, respectively). In conclusion, trehalose and sucrose are equally effective during vitrification and warming, the combination of EG+PG as pCPA is superior to EG+DMSO, and equilibration in 4% pCPA for 13 to 15 min is superior to that in 15% pCPA for 5 to 7 min for the vitrification of immature porcine oocytes.This work was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 26870839.


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