The Influence of Oxidative Stress-Related Factors on Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes

AbstractBackground: Pregnancy is a physiological process associated with an excessive oxidative stress for both the mother and the neonate. Oxidative stress was extensively studied and is still in focus as a factor of maternal pathologies during pregnancy, with consequences on the outcome of the neonate.Aim: The aim of our study was to determine whether oxidative stress-related factors can influence the outcome of pregnancy, delivery, and the neonate’s wellbeing.Material and methods: The study was conducted using a questionnaire among pregnant women with voluntary enrollment. Exclusion criteria were preeclampsia or other cardiovascular diseases, gestational diabetes, and hypothyroidism at admission. Patients were enrolled in a control group of 60 pregnant women without preexisting pathology and pregnancy with physiological course, a premature group of 21 pregnant women with premature delivery, and a cardiac group of 8 pregnant women with fetal heart disease known before birth. The study population was separated into subgroups based on dietary supplement use within the three main groups, and other subgroups for smoking/non-smoking mothers in the control group and one for smoking/non-smoking mothers in the premature and cardiac groups together.Results: The mean Apgar score at 1 minute was significantly higher in the control group compared to the cardiac group (p = 0.0023). The 1-minute Apgar score was significantly lower in infants that were born premature, from smoking mothers, compared to babies that were delivered at term (p = 0.0191). Although we did not obtain significant differences in birth weight corrected by gestational age between the control (mature) group and premature group, there was a good correlation in gestational age and birth weight of the preterm born infants (r = 0.8517, p <0.0001).Conclusions: Smoking can aggravate oxidative stress in pregnancy, which will contribute to a difficult postnatal adaptation of newborns from smoking mothers and will increase the risk of premature delivery.

Download Full-text

Comparing Nucleated Red Blood Cells in Neonates with and without Retinopathy

Current Pediatric Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573396317666210909155024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

Author(s):

Hassan Boskabadi ◽

Nafiseh Pourbadakhshan ◽

Esmaeil Pishghadam ◽

Maryam Zakerihamidi

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Red Blood Cells ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽

Apgar Score ◽

Blood Cells ◽

White Blood Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood Smear ◽

Control Group ◽

Nucleated Red Blood Cells

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the reasons of blindness in children. Numerous predisposing factors have been reported, including prematurity and oxygen therapy. We assessed the number of nucleated red blood cells in neonates with ROP and compared it with the patients that didn t suffer from the situation. Methodology: This case-control study was performed on 151 neonates with birth weight<1500 gr and/or gestational age< 32 weeks that were born in Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad from 2017 to 2020. A Cell Blood Count (CBC) sample and peripheral blood smear was taken. The Number of nucleated red blood cells or NRBC per 100 white blood cells was reported. Complete characteristics of neonates (birth weight, sex, gestational age, Apgar Score), mother's history (age, pregnancy and labor problems, kind of delivery, and pariety), and lab results were collected and recorded in the checklist. The assessment of the patients were continued until they were discharged and then they got visited by an ophthalmologist at the age of 32 weeks or four weeks after birth in terms of ROP and followed up. Control group included premature neonates without ROP. Results: Among of 151 neonates studied, 47 cases (24.9%) were normal and 104 ones (75.1%) had retinopathy of prematurity. Differences of measured factors in two groups of neonates with and without ROP were as followed: NRBC/100 (P = 0.009), absolute NRBC (P = 0.465), Apgar score of first (P = 0.131) and fifth (P = 0.002) minutes. Conclusion: Increasing umbilical cord NRBC/100 of neonates along with other available methods can be useful as a predictor factor of ROP and it can also predict the ROP intensity.

Download Full-text

Optimisation of tactics of conducting pregnancy and labours at women after auxiliary reproductive technologies

HEALTH OF WOMAN ◽

10.15574/hw.2016.111.160 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 160-164

Author(s):

D.N. Maslo ◽

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Resistance Index ◽

First Trimester ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Premature Delivery ◽

Control Group ◽

Uterine Arteries ◽

Placental Dysfunction ◽

Placental Blood ◽

Two Stages

The objective: frequency decrease perinatal pathologies at women after ART on the basis of studying clinical-ehografical, endocrinological, biochemical, dopplerometrical, cardiotokografical and morphological researches, and also improvement of algorithm of diagnostic and treatment-and-prophylactic actions. Patients and methods. The work basis is made spent by us from 2012 on 2015 by complex inspection of 300 pregnant women from which 250 were after ART and 50 – firstlabours which pragnency without ART, and also their newborns. For the decision of an object in view of research spent to two stages. At 1 stage spent prosperctive research which included 150 pregnant women: з them 100 women pregnancy at which has come out ART (1 group) and 50 healthy women (control group). At 2 stage spent prospective randomization in which result of patients after ART have divided on two equal groups by therapy principle: 2 basic group - 75 pregnant women after ART at which used the algorithm improved by us; 3 group of comparison - 75 pregnant women after ART which have been spent on the standard treatment-and-prophylactic actions. Results. The results suggest that women after using ART is a high frequency of reproductive losses in the first trimester (10.0%), 3.0% of spontaneous abortion from 16 to 22 weeks, and 3.0% "early" premature delivery (22 to 28 weeks of pregnancy). The frequency of violations of the functional state of placenta in women after using IVF is 63.0%, which is the main cause of high levels of perinatal losses (40.0 ‰), and delivery by cesarean section (96.0%). Placental dysfunction in women after using ART characterized by retrohorialnyh hematoma (21.0%); size mismatch fruit (30.0%) and hypertonicity of the uterus (73.0%) against changes in fruit-placental blood flow - increased resistance index in umbilical artery and increased vascular resistance in the uterine arteries. Endocrinological and biochemical changes in placental dysfunction in women after using IVF starting from 28 weeks of pregnancy and are in significant reduction in progesterone, placental b1-microglobulin, B2-microglobulin of fertility and trophic в-glycoprotein. Conclusion. The received results: use of the algorithm of diagnostic and treatment-and-prophylactic actions improved by us allows to lower frequency of spontaneous interruption of pregnancy till 22 weeks – from 13.0% to 5.7%; «early» premature birth – from 3.0% to 1.0%; placentary dysfunction from 63.0% to 40.6%; cesarean sections – from 96.0% to 56.5%, and also perinatal losses – from 40.0‰ to 16.2‰. Key words: pregnancy, childbirth, auxiliary reproductive technologies.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of prenatal changes in fetal cardiac morphology and function in maternal diabetes mellitus using a novel fetal speckle-tracking analysis: a prospective cohort study

Cardiovascular Ultrasound ◽

10.1186/s12947-021-00256-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dong Wang ◽

Caixia Liu ◽

Xinyu Liu ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

Yu Wang

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Control Group ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Cardiac Morphology ◽

Sphericity Index ◽

And Function

Abstract Background Due to metabolic changes in the second trimester and the increasing number of pregnant women with obesity and advanced maternal age, the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains high. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GDM on fetal cardiac morphology and function, and to determine whether these changes increase with increasing estimated fetal weight (EFW). Methods Fifty-eight women with GDM (GDM group) and 58 women with a healthy pregnancy (control group) were included in this prospective observational cohort study. Each group included subgroups of 31 pregnant women with a gestational age between 24+0 weeks and 27+6 weeks as well as 27 pregnant women with a gestational age between 28+0 weeks and 40+0 weeks. For all fetuses, a cine of 2–3 s in the four-chamber view was obtained, and online speckle-tracking analysis was performed using the GE Automatic Fetal Heart Assessment Tool (fetal HQ; General Electric Healthcare Ultrasound, Zipf, Austria) to measure the global sphericity index (GSI), global longitudinal strain (GLS), fractional area change (FAC), 24-segment sphericity index (SI), and 24-segment end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV). Data were analyzed using the independent t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as applicable. Results The GDM group (mean HbA1c value was 5.3 ± 0.57 mmol/L) showed a lower GSI value than the control group (1.21 vs. 1.27, P = 0.000), which indicated a rounder shape of the heart. In addition, fetuses in the GDM group demonstrated significant impairment in cardiac function compared to those in the control group (LV-GLS: -18.26% vs. -22.70%, RV-GLS: -18.52% vs. -22.74%, LV-FAC: 35.30% vs. 42.36%, RV-FAC: 30.89% vs. 36.80%; P = 0.000 for all). Subgroup analyses according to gestational age (24+0–27+6 weeks and 28+0–40+0 weeks) showed that the statistical differences were retained between the GDM and control groups in each subgroup. Conclusions Fetuses of women with GDM present with signs of biventricular systolic dysfunction according to deformation analysis using fetal HQ. Additionally, the heart had a rounder shape in the GDM group than in the control group. This study showed that fetal HQ can be used to assess fetal cardiac morphology and function easily and quickly, and the effects of GDM on fetal cardiac morphology and function appeared from the second trimester. Thus, whether earlier and stricter clinical intervention was necessary remained to be further studied. Furthermore, future studies will need to supplement the effects of blood glucose levels on GLS, FAC, GSI, and 24-segment SI. Additionally, the long-term follow-up after birth should also be improved to observe the influence of changes in the indicators on the prognosis.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Coronavirus Anxiety in Pregnant Women on Apgar Score and Birth Weight After One Year of Coronavirus Outbreak (Case Study: Zabol, Iran)

Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology and Cancer Research ◽

10.30699/jogcr.7.2.89 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 89-98

Author(s):

Fatemeh Mirzaie ◽

Khadije Rezaie Keikhaie ◽

Mahin Badakhsh ◽

Bahareh Khajehpourbahareh ◽

Samira Ghofrani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Apgar Score ◽

One Year ◽

Outbreak Case

Download Full-text

Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy Increases Gestational Age, Size for Gestational Age, and Birth Weight in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxy204 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 149 (4) ◽

pp. 628-634 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rebecca Kofod Vinding ◽

Jakob Stokholm ◽

Astrid Sevelsted ◽

Bo L Chawes ◽

Klaus Bønnelykke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Growth Curves ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Double Blind ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

In Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Background Randomized trials have reported that supplementation with n–3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in pregnancy can prolong pregnancy and thereby increase birth weight. Objective We aimed to examine the relations of n–3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy with duration of pregnancy, birth weight, and size for gestational age (GA). Methods This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 736 pregnant women and their offspring, from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2010cohort. They were recruited between weeks 22 and 26 in pregnancy and randomly assigned to either of 2.4 g n–3 LCPUFA or control (olive oil) daily until 1 wk after birth. Exclusion criteria were endocrine, cardiovascular, or nephrologic disorders and vitamin D supplementation intake >600 IU/d. In this study we analyzed secondary outcomes, and further excluded twin pregnancies and extrauterine death. The primary outcome for the trial was persistent wheeze or asthma. Results The random assignment ran between 2008 and 2010. Six hundred and ninety-nine mother-infant pairs were included in the analysis. n–3 LCPUFA compared with control was associated with a 2-d prolongation of pregnancy [median (IQR): 282 (275–288) d compared with 280 (273–286) d, P = 0.02], a 97-g higher birth weight (mean ± SD: 3601 ± 534 g compared with 3504 ± 528 g, P = 0.02), and an increased size for GA according to the Norwegian population-based growth curves-Skjærven (mean ± SD: 49.9 ± 28.3 percentiles compared with 44.5 ± 27.6 percentiles, P = 0.01). Conclusion Supplementing pregnant women with n–3 LCPUFAs during the third trimester is associated with prolonged gestation and increased size for GA, leading to a higher birth weight in this randomized controlled trial. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00798226.

Download Full-text

Effect of Serum Copper on Circulating Angiogenesis-Related Factors in Women with Preeclampsia

10.20944/preprints201909.0252.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Khalid Najm Nadheer ◽

Zohreh Zahraei ◽

Hussein Al-Hakeim

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Serum Copper ◽

Control Group ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Related Factors ◽

Soluble Endoglin ◽

Iraqi Women ◽

Endothelial Integrity ◽

And Control ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by a series of clinical features such as hypertension and proteinuria associated with endothelial dysfunction and the impairment of placenta vascular endothelial integrity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of serum copper (Cu) level on some angiogenesis-related factors including vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sVEGF-R1), soluble endoglin (sEng) and cerruloplasmin (Cp) in Iraqi women with preeclampsia (PE) and control pregnant women. Therefore, 60 women with PE in addition to 30 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Serum concentration of sEng, VEGF-A, sVEGF-R1, and Cu in PE group significantly increased (p<0.05) in the PE group compared with that in the control group. Increased production of antiangiogenic factors, soluble VEGF-A and sEng contribute to the pathophysiology of PE, indicating the involvement of these parameters in the angiogenic balance in patients with PE. Tests for between-subject effects showed that the circulating angiogenesis factors and Cu were significantly associated with the presence of PE. Serum Cu level was significantly correlated with VEGF- A and VEGF-R1 levels but not with sEng. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only Cp and BP can significantly predict the complications in women with PE. In conclusion, serum Cu has a role in the angiogenesis in women with PE and may be a new drug target in the prevention or treatment of PE.

Download Full-text

Supplementation of iron alone and combined with vitamins improves haematological status, erythrocyte membrane fluidity and oxidative stress in anaemic pregnant women

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711451000259x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 1655-1661 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ai Guo Ma ◽

Evert G. Schouten ◽

Yong Ye Sun ◽

Fang Yang ◽

Xiu Xia Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Membrane Fluidity ◽

Erythrocyte Membrane ◽

Ferrous Sulphate ◽

Randomised Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Placebo Control ◽

Group I ◽

Erythrocyte Membrane Fluidity

Pregnancy is a condition exhibiting increased susceptibility to oxidative stress, and Fe plays a central role in generating harmful oxygen species. The objective of the present study is to investigate the changes in haematological status, oxidative stress and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in anaemic pregnant women after Fe supplementation with and without combined vitamins. The study was a 2 months double-blind, randomised trial. Pregnant women (n 164) were allocated to four groups: group C was the placebo control group; group I was supplemented daily with 60 mg Fe (ferrous sulphate) daily; group IF was supplemented daily with Fe plus 400 μg folic acid; group IM was supplemented daily with Fe plus 2 mg retinol and 1 mg riboflavin, respectively. After the 2-month trial, Hb significantly increased by 15·8, 17·3 and 21·8 g/l, and ferritin by 2·8, 3·6 and 11·0 μg/l, in the I, IF and IM groups compared with placebo. Polarisation (ρ) and microviscosity (η) decreased significantly in other groups compared with placebo, indicating an increase in membrane fluidity. Significant decreases of ρ and η values compared with group C were 0·033 and 0·959 for group I, 0·037 and 1·074 for group IF and 0·064 and 1·865 for group IM, respectively. In addition, significant increases of glutathione peroxidase activities and decreases of malondialdehyde were shown in all treated groups, as well as increases of plasma retinol and urine riboflavin in group IM. The findings show that supplementation with Fe and particularly in combination with vitamins could improve the haematological status as well as oxidative stress and erythrocyte membrane fluidity.

Download Full-text

Fetal and Maternal Outcome Asymptomatic vs. Symptomatic Covid Positive Pregnant Women

10.53350/pjmhs2115103423 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 3423-3425

Author(s):

Amna Najam ◽

Samreen Fakeer Muhammad ◽

Samia Saifullah ◽

Maryam Shoaib ◽

Maria Anwar

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Cesarean Section ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Apgar Score ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Maternal Outcomes ◽

Group A ◽

Nicu Admission ◽

Group B

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the fetal and maternal outcomes in between asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID positive pregnant women. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study Place and Duration: The study was conducted at Gynae and Obs department of Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta for duration of six months from November 2020 to April 2021. Methods: One hundred and ten pregnant women with ages 18-45 years had corona virus disease were presented. Informed written consent was taken from all patients for detailed demographics. COVID -19 was diagnosed by PCR. 55 patients had symptoms of coronavirus were included in group A and 55 patients did not show symptoms were included in group B. Frequency of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and post-partum haemorrhage were calculated. Maternal adverse outcomes (cesarean section, instrumental delivery, induction of labor and prolong labor, hypertensive disorder) were calculated among both groups. Fetal outcomes perinatal mortality, Low birth weight, Low Apgar score and NICU admission were observed. SPSS 20.0 version was used to analyze all data. Results: Mean age of the patients in group A was 28.47±3.18 years with mean BMI 24.03±5.24 Kg/m2 and in group B mean age was 27.99±4.17 years with mean BMI 24.44±6.41 Kg/m2. Maternal outcomes (cesarean section, instrumental delivery, induction of labor and prolong labor,) in symptomatic group were significantly higher than that of asymptomatic group. Fetal outcomes, perinatal mortality in group A 9 (16.4%) and in group B was 5 (9.1%), low birth weight in group A was among 21 (38.2%) and in group B was 10 (18.2%), low apgar score in group A was 11 (20%) and in group B was 8 (14.4%), 15 (27.3%) in group A went to NICU admission and 3 (5.5%) patient in group II admitted to NICU. Conclusion: In this study we concluded that adverse outcomes among symptomatic COVID pregnant women were higher than that of asymptomatic coronavirus pregnant women in terms maternal and perinatal outcomes. Keywords: Pregnant women, Coronavirus, Symptomatic, Asymptomatic, Adverse Outcomes

Download Full-text

Disseminated Candidal Infections and Intravenous Hydrocortisone in Preterm Infants

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.95.6.883 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 95 (6) ◽

pp. 883-887

Author(s):

Carlos M. Botas ◽

Isabel Kurlat ◽

Shirley M. Young ◽

Augusto Sola

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Birth Weight ◽

San Francisco ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Selection Process ◽

Control Group ◽

Major Teaching Hospital ◽

Intensive Care Nursery

Background. Intravenous (IV) hydrocortisone (HC) has been used recently in selected preterm infants for hypotension soon after birth. During the same time period that HC was used, there was a marked increase in the incidence of disseminated candidal infections (DCIs). Objective. To determine whether there is an association between DCI in the first 35 days of life and IV HC in preterm infants. Research design. A hospital case-control study comparing the exposure of HC between preterm infants with DCI and matched infants without DCI. Setting. A tertiary level intensive care nursery in a major teaching hospital in San Francisco, CA. Patients. Seventeen preterm infants with DCI and 25 infants without DCI, with gestational age younger than 28 weeks and birth weight less than 1000 g, inborn and outborn admitted to the intensive care nursery between January 1992 and September 1993. Methods. All preterm infants diagnosed with DCI at younger than 35 days of age were identified using a perinatal and neonatal database. DCI was defined as a blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or two urine cultures positive for Candida requiring antifungal therapy. A control group of uninfected infants matched for the major risk factors for DCI (gestational age, birth weight, duration of intubation, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and IV alimentation, including lipids and central venous catheters) admitted during the same period was identified using the same database. Postmatching comparison was performed for several other factors to detect any other differences between the groups. Results. The infants with DCI (n = 17) and control infants (n = 25) had no statistical difference in exposure to the major risk factors for DCI or in postmatching comparison. Ten (59%) of the infants with DCI were receiving HC at the time of infection, whereas four (16%) of the control infants received HC during the first 35 days of life. Infants with DCI were 7.5 times as likely as control infants (95% confidence interval, 5 to 11) to have received IV HC before the onset of fungal infection. Conclusion. We conclude that the administration of IV HC significantly increases the risk of DCI in susceptible preterm infants younger than 35 days of age. The potentially serious risks of DCI should be considered particularly in the patient selection process for administration of IV HC.

Download Full-text

The effect of ear acupressure medicine at the “Shen Men” point on the nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

10.53350/pjmhs211551774 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 1774-1779

Author(s):

Sanaz Nehbandani ◽

Hajar Salehi ◽

Khadije Rezaie Keikhaie ◽

Hossein Rashki Ghalenow ◽

Fatemeh Mirzaie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Nausea And Vomiting ◽

Control Group ◽

Health Clinics ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

The Mean ◽

The Difference

Introduction & Objective: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders that more than 85% of pregnant women experience. However, controlling and treating this complication is still one of the most important issues in antenatal care. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ear acupressure at Shen Men point on relieving nausea, vomiting and retching during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 100 pregnant women with a gestational age of less than 16 weeks attending the health clinics of Zabol city during 2019-2020 were studied in two control and intervention groups (n = 50 in each group). The samples in the intervention group were trained to apply pressure on their ears’ Shen Men point with the thumb for three minutes three times a day (morning, noon, and night), for a duration of one month. At the end of second and fourth weeks, the data were collected using the Rhodes index form and then, were analyzed by SPSS software version 22. Results: According to the results, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gestational age, occupation and education. The difference in the mean scores of nausea, vomiting and retching was not statistically significant between the control and intervention groups before the study. But four weeks after the study, a significant difference was observed in the mean scores of vomiting, nausea and retching between the two groups, so that the mean scores of vomiting, nausea and retching were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusion: The ear acupressure medicine at the Shen men point can be used as a non-invasive, safe and inexpensive method to relieve nausea, vomiting and retching during pregnancy. Keywords: Acupressure medicine, Shen Men, Vomiting, Pregnancy, Nausea, Retching, Rhodosis

Download Full-text