The activity of liver enzymes, namely ALT, AST and LDH was evaluated in 68 cases of Pregnancy induced hypertension along with 56 normal primiparous subjects. The activity of all 3 enzymes were found to be elevated significantly in subjects with Pregnancy induced hypertension with respect to control subjects. Fetal birth weight was found to be significantly decreased in former condition and corr...

In this study we looked for additional evidence to support the hypothesis that fetal llama reacts to hypoxaemia with adaptive brain hypometabolism. We determined fetal llama brain temperature, Na(+) and K(+) channel density and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. Additionally, we looked to see whether there were signs of cell death in the brain cortex of llama fetuses submitted to prolonged hypoxaemia....

Fetal medicine is a rapidly progressing new field. Numerous fetal abnormalities have been accurately detected prenatally with recently developed technologies such as cardiotocography, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. It has long been recognized that some of these abnormalities are better treated in utero to achieve favorable outcomes; however, currently available techniques for f...

BACKGROUND Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a gestational disease featured by hypertension, arterial systemic vasculopathy, multiple organ failure and fetal compromise. The aim of the investigation was to determine the role of maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in regulation of the fetal circulatory system in case of healthy pregnancy and in PE. METHODS The investigation of maternal and fetal H...

Diacylglycerol kinase activity is found in both adult and fetal lung. Approximately 27 and 52% of the total activity is found in microsomes and cytosol, respectively. The activity is maximal at pH 7.4. The apparent Km for ATP is 0.11 mM and 0.21 mM for cytosol and microsomes, respectively. The apparent Km for dioleoylglycerol is 0.05 mM for cytosol and 0.14 for microsomes. Maximal activity in c...

In the late-gestation sheep, increased fetal plasma cortisol concentration and placental oestradiol (E(2)) output contribute to fetal organ maturation, in addition to the onset of parturition. Both cortisol and E(2) are believed to regulate the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1), which interconverts bioactive 11-hydroxy glucocorticoids and their inactive 11-keto met...

Background: During the first trimester of pregnancy the uterine spiral arteries that supply blood to the placenta are remodelled, creating heavily dilated conduits lacking maternal vasomotor control. To effect permanent vasodilatation, the internal elastic lamina and medial elastic fibres must be degraded. Failure of remodelling is a key characteristic of the pathological placenta and is though...