scholarly journals The comparison of plasma fibronectin in term and preterm delivery: A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study

Author(s):  
Zahra Moradi ◽  
Parvin Moradi ◽  
Mohamad Hassan Meshkibaf ◽  
Mehrnoosh Aleosfoor ◽  
Mehdi Sharafi ◽  
...  

Background: Preterm delivery is one of the main causes of infant death. Therefore, prediction of preterm delivery may eliminate a large number of prenatal complications. Objectives: The present study aimed to understand if preterm delivery can be predicted by assessing maternal plasma fibronectin concentration. Materials and Methods: Serum samples from 105 pregnant women participating in this study were collected. The plasma fibronectin were measured at 24-28 wk of gestation and again at 32-36 wk of gestation. Unfortunately, only 65 of the 105 pregnant women, returned for the second sampling. The plasma fibronectin was analyzed using ELISA method and its concentration in term and preterm deliveries was compared. The delivery dates of all the women were also recorded. Results: Out of 105 pregnant women, 28 delivered preterm (26.7%). The Plasma fibronectin concentrations in women with preterm delivery were higher than in those who delivered at term (p = 0.001). Accordingly, Plasma fibronectin concentrations were significantly higher in the second serum samples (p = 0.01). Plasma fibronectin concentrations was also higher in obese women and in those suffering from preeclampsia (p = 0.12) and gestational diabetes (p = 0.81). Conclusion: Plasma fibronectin concentrations test could be used as an optional screening test for preterm delivery at 28 to 34 wk of gestation in pregnant women who prefer to avoid vaginal sampling. Key words: Premature birth, Fibronectin, Maternal serum screening tests.

Author(s):  
Margit Steinholt ◽  
Shanshan Xu ◽  
Sam Ol Ha ◽  
Duong Trong Phi ◽  
Maria Lisa Odland ◽  
...  

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 194 pregnant women from two low-income settings in Cambodia. The inclusion period lasted from October 2015 through December 2017. Maternal serum samples were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The aim was to study potential effects on birth outcomes. We found low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP), except for heptachlors, β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), heptachlor epoxide, and p,p’-DDE. There were few differences between the two study locations. However, the women from the poorest areas had significantly higher concentrations of p,p’-DDE (p < 0.001) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (p = 0.002). The maternal factors associated with exposure were parity, age, residential area, and educational level. Despite low maternal levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, we found significant negative associations between the PCB congeners 99 (95% CI: −2.51 to −0.07), 138 (95% CI: −1.28 to −0.32), and 153 (95% CI: −1.06 to −0.05) and gestational age. Further, there were significant negative associations between gestational age, birth length, and maternal levels of o,p’-DDE. Moreover, o,p’-DDD had positive associations with birth weight, and both p,p’-DDD and o,p’-DDE were positively associated with the baby’s ponderal index. The poorest population had higher exposure and less favorable outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
zahra moradi ◽  
mohamadHassan Meshkibaf ◽  
Saeedeh Jafarzadeh ◽  
Azizallah Dehghan ◽  
parvin Moradi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Preterm delivery is amongst the main reasons for child mortality. Therefore, its prediction can reduce a large number of its complications. The present study aimed to compare fetal and plasma fibronectin concentrations in diagnosis of preterm delivery. Methods Serum samples were obtained from 105 women at 24-36 weeks of gestation. However, only 40 women gave permission for taking vaginal samples. Fibronectin concentration was measured using ELISA technique. Then, plasma and fetal fibronectin levels were compared in term and preterm deliveries. Results Out of the 105 participants, 28 experienced preterm delivery (26.7%). The mean gestational age at the time of sampling was 28.11 + 2.98 weeks. The mean plasma fibronectin level was 6226.43+7174.97 ng/ml among the mothers with term infants and 7724.01 + 1143.82 ng/ml among those with preterm infants. Although the mean plasma fibronectin level was higher in preterm delivery, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.667). The mean fetal fibronectin level was 156.61 + 126.42 ng/ml among the mothers with term infants and 127.71 + 43.14 ng/ml among those with preterm infants, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.241). The cut-off point of plasma fibronectin level was 1750 ng/ml with the sensitivity of 80.25% and specificity of 85.17%. Additionally, the cut-off point of fetal fibronectin level was 158.98 ng/ml with the sensitivity of 94.62% and specificity of 22.08%. Conclusion Plasma fibronectin testing had lower sensitivity and higher specificity compared to fetal fibronectin testing. This implies that plasma testing has lower false positive cases and can identify a larger number of true positive cases of preterm delivery.


2001 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Honda ◽  
Norio Miharu ◽  
Yoko Ohashi ◽  
Koso Ohama

Abstract Background: Fetal DNA has been found in maternal plasma and serum. Diagnosis of fetal gender using maternal plasma and serum has been attempted in an effort to develop a new noninvasive method of prenatal diagnosis. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 61 pregnant women at 10–17 weeks of gestation before amniocentesis. DNA was extracted from 800 μL of each plasma or serum sample. To detect the Y-chromosome-specific sequences DYS14 and DYZ3 in the maternal plasma and serum, 40 cycles of PCR were carried out for each DNA extract. The PCR products were analyzed by 2.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining, and the results were compared with the results of the cytogenetic analyses of amniocentesis. Results: Cytogenetic analysis of amniocentesis revealed that 31 pregnant women had a male fetus and the remaining 30 pregnant women had a female fetus. Both DYS14 and DYZ3 were detected in 27 of the 31 plasma samples obtained from pregnant women carrying a male fetus and in all of 31 serum samples obtained from the same women. Neither DYS14 nor DYZ3 was detected in either the plasma or serum samples obtained from any of the 30 pregnant women carrying a female fetus. Conclusion: PCR analysis of maternal serum can be used to diagnose fetal gender.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
AYSE OZBAN

Abstract Objective: This study aims to determine whether it is possible to predict preeclampsia by comparing postpartum results and test results of the pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia, whose first and/or second trimester screening tests were accessible, and to demonstrate the predictability of severity and week of onset.Background: 204 patients underwent renal transplantation in our center and 84 of them were female. Five of our patients (one of them had two births) gave birth to a total of 6 pregnancies.Method: 135 patients were diagnosed with preeclampsia and their first and/or second trimester screening tests were accessible, and 366 control participants gave birth to a healthy baby between 37-41 weeks after standard follow-up period for pregnancy and their screening tests were also accessible.Results: The study results show that the first trimester maternal serum PAPP-A level is significantly low in preeclamptic pregnant women, and that the second trimester maternal serum AFP and hCG levels are significantly high and uE3 levels are significantly low The results also suggest that the first and second trimester Down syndrome biochemical markers can be used in preeclampsia screening.Conclusion: Among these markers, uE3 is the parameter which affects the possibility of preeclampsia the most. However, the first and second trimester Down syndrome biochemical markers are not effective in predicting the severity and onset week of preeclampsia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Eman Ali Abd El Moaty Sheha ◽  
Hanan Elzeblawy Hassan ◽  
Wafaa Mostafa Ahmed Gamel

Background: Obesity is considered а noteworthy public health issue in both developed & developing countries. Among the 1.5 billion overweight individuals worldwide, 300 million of them were obese women. In the general, the prevalence of maternal obesity has increased 60% in the previous two decades with nearly 1 in 3 women now entering pregnancy obese. Also, the periodontаl disease has been observed to be prevalent in pregnant women with the prevalence ranging from 20% to more than 50%, especially economically disadvantaged women.Aim: explore the relation between pre-pregnant overweight and obesity with periodontal disease during pregnancy.Subjects & Methods: cross-sectional study among 400 pregnant women were booked in the high-risk obstetric departments and the antenatal outpatient clinics at governmental general hospitals in El-Fayoum City and governmental university hospital in El-Mansoura city.Results: The mean age of pregnant women was 29.9 ± 6.2 with increase the prevalence of periodontal disease in pregnant women (83.5%). Statistically significant correlation was found between prenatal weight and periodontаl disease during pregnancy (p ≤ 0.0001) with increasing the prevalence of periodontal disease in prenatal obese women (53.2%) and over weight (39.7%) were observed in women who were in their 3rd trimester (р = 0.011). Increase prevalence of periodontal with poor oral hygiene and sedentary activity.Conclusion: increased pre-pregnancy obesity & overweight are positively correlated with periodontal disease prevalence among pregnant women, and Pregnancy itself may also be associated with аn increased risk of periodontal disease.Recommendations: Activating the role of the maternity and community health nurse in branches of Obstetrics and antenatal clinics to enhance pregnant women's knowledge regarding oral health risks of obesity & overweight.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1555-1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thalia Manfrin Martins Deminice ◽  
Ivan Savioli Ferraz ◽  
Jacqueline Pontes Monteiro ◽  
Alceu Afonso Jordão ◽  
Lívia Maria Cordeiro Simões Ambrósio ◽  
...  

Objectives To analyse intake of vitamin A (VA) and retinol concentrations in maternal blood, breast milk (BM), and the umbilical cord (UC) of newborns, and to determine the associations among these variables. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 180 mother–newborn dyads. Maternal and UC blood samples and BM were collected. VA intake by the mother over 30 days was assessed using a questionnaire. Results Mean retinol concentrations in maternal serum, the UC, and BM were 0.65 ± 0.27, 0.36 ± 0.18, and 2.95 ± 2.70 µmol/L, respectively. Retinol concentrations <0.70 µmol/L were found in 57.2% of maternal blood samples and in 94.9% of UC samples. A total of 27.9% of BM samples showed retinol concentrations <1.05 µmol/L. Mean VA intake by the mothers was 1041.33 ± 1187.86 µg retinol activity equivalents/day and was inadequate (<550 µg retinol activity equivalents/day) in 44.7%. Conclusions High proportions of insufficient retinol concentrations were observed in the UC, maternal blood, and BM. A high percentage of pregnant women had inadequate VA intake. Mothers with insufficient serum retinol concentrations had newborns with lower retinol concentrations in the UC. Higher retinol concentrations were observed in maternal blood and the UC with a higher VA intake.


Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (10) ◽  
pp. 1133-1139
Author(s):  
Shahzad Ali ◽  
Zona Amjad ◽  
Tahir Mahmood Khan ◽  
Abdul Maalik ◽  
Anam Iftikhar ◽  
...  

AbstractToxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma (T.) gondii. Limited data are available on the occurrence of T. gondii in women especially pregnant women in Pakistan. The present study aimed to determine the occurrence and risk factors associated with T. gondii in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Punjab Province, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted and 593 samples were collected from pregnant (n = 293) and non-pregnant (n = 300) women of District Headquarter Hospitals of Chiniot, Faisalabad, Jhang and Okara, Pakistan. Data related to demographic parameters and risk factors were collected using a pretested questionnaire on blood sampling day. Serum samples were screened for antibodies (IgG) against T. gondii using ELISA. A univariant and binomial logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between seropositive and explanatory variables considering the 95% confidence interval. P value ⩽0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analysis. Out of 593, 44 (7.42%) women were seropositive for T. gondii IgG antibodies. Occupation, age, sampling location, socioeconomic status, contact with cat, pregnancy status and trimester of pregnancy were significantly associated with seropositivity for T. gondii antibodies. Location and trimester of pregnancy were identified as potential risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity based on binomial logistic regression. Toxoplasma gondii is prevalent in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Therefore, now a necessitated awareness is required to instruct the individuals about these infectious diseases (toxoplasmosis) and their control strategies to maintain the health of human population. Moreover, health awareness among public can help the minimization of T. gondii infection during pregnancy and subsequent risk of congenital toxoplasmosis.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Robinson ◽  
Helen Barrett ◽  
Luisa Gomez-Arango ◽  
H. David McIntyre ◽  
Leonie Callaway ◽  
...  

The gut microbiome in pregnancy has been associated with various maternal metabolic and hormonal markers involved in glucose metabolism. Maternal ketones are of particular interest due to the rise in popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. We assessed for differences in the composition of the gut microbiota in pregnant women with and without ketonuria at 16 weeks gestation. Fecal samples were obtained from 11 women with fasting ketonuria and 11 matched controls. The samples were analyzed to assess for differences in gut microbiota composition by 16S rRNA sequencing. Supervised hierarchical clustering analysis showed significantly different beta-diversity between women with and without ketonuria, but no difference in the alpha-diversity. Group comparisons and network analysis showed that ketonuria was associated with an increased abundance of the butyrate-producing genus Roseburia. The bacteria that contributed the most to the differences in the composition of the gut microbiota included Roseburia, Methanobrevibacter, Uncl. RF39, and Dialister in women with ketonuria and Eggerthella, Phascolarctobacterium, Butyricimonas, and Uncl. Coriobacteriaceae in women without ketonuria. This study found that the genus Roseburia is more abundant in the gut microbiota of pregnant women with ketonuria. Roseburia is a butyrate producing bacterium and may increase serum ketone levels.


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