Fetal Magnetocardiography (fMCG) allows the non-invasive recording of the weak magnetic field variations associated with the electrical activity of the fetal heart. We used Independent Component Analysis (ICA) for the separation of maternal and fetal signals from fMCG recordings. The identification of fetal components is essential to reconstruct fetal signals. In this work we present a tool for...

An experimental ovine fetal model for perinatal pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN) was characterized by altered pulmonary vasoreactivity and structure. Because past studies had suggested impaired nitric oxide-cGMP cascade in this experimental model, we hypothesized that elevated phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity may contribute to altered vascular reactivity and structure in experimenta...

15 Preeclampsia, CPAP & Sleep Disordered Breathing—Blyton et al INTRODUCTION Preeclampsia is an important and common complication of pregnancy, characterized by the onset of hypertension after 20 weeks gestation with accompanying proteinuria, affecting approximately 5% of pregnancies. It is a major cause of maternal mortality and a risk factor for fetal growth restriction.1 Women with preeclamp...

The specific activity of glutathione-S-epoxide transferase with styrene oxide and 3-methylcholanthrene-11, 12-oxide was determined in rat liver and lung during development from the fetal to the adult stage and after partial hepatectomy. Enzyme activity in fetal liver or lung at 18 days of gestation was about 20% of that observed in the adult; it rose rapidly to the adult value by 21 days of age...

The electric fetal heart activity was firstly recorded as tiny deflections on maternal limb lead electrocardifogram (ECG) by Cremer [1], direct lead fetal ECG with needle electrode by Caldeyro-Barcia et al. [2] and with scalp lead clip electrode by Hon [3]. Indirect maternal abdominal lead fetal ECG (fECG) was recorded by Maeda and Nakano [4] and others. Intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) was m...

Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) produces NO, which contributes to vascular reactivity in the fetal lung. Pulmonary vasoreactivity develops during late gestation in the ovine fetal lung, during the period of rapid capillary and alveolar growth. Although eNOS expression peaks near birth in the fetal rat, lung capillary and distal air space development occur much later than in the fe...

This study investigates the in vivo dose response profiles of the target enzyme cholinesterase (ChE) and the detoxifying enzymes carboxylesterase (CaE) in the fetal and maternal compartments of pregnant rats dosed with chlorpyrifos [(O,O'-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothionate], a commonly used organophosphorus insecticide. Pregnant rats were dosed daily (po) with chlorpyrifos i...

Spontaneous fetal swallowing occurs at a markedly higher rate compared with spontaneous adult drinking activity. This high rate of fetal swallowing is critical for amniotic fluid volume regulation. Central NO is critical for maintaining the normal rate of fetal swallowing, as nonselective inhibition of NO (with central N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) suppresses spontaneous and angiotensin I...

Adverse influences during fetal life alter the structure and function of distinct cells, organ systems or homoeostatic pathways, thereby 'programming' the individual for an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adult life. Fetal programming can be caused by a number of different perturbations in the maternal compartment, such as altered maternal nutrition and reduc...

Fetal wastage is still high in the pregnancies of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We examined retrospectively the cases of 38 patients with inactive SLE in whom pregnancy was either desired or had already been obtained. The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in the group with fetal loss was high. The antibodies were, however, also detected in five of 14 patients who had...