BACKGROUND We previously showed that meconium causes lung cell death by apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine expression. Whether this is due to meconium exposure itself, or meconium related hypoxia remains unclear. OBJECTIVES To elucidate the effects of meconium, saline, milk, hypoxia and hyperoxia induced lung injury. DESIGN/METHODS We studied 5 groups of rabbit pups: (I) normal saline; (II...

Does meconium cause meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) or is meconium discharge only a marker of fetal hypoxia? This dispute has lasted for centuries, but since the 1960s, detrimental effects of meconium itself on the lungs have been demonstrated in animal experiments. In clinical MAS, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is the leading cause of death in MAS. Regarding the complex c...

BACKGROUND The evaluation of infant meconium as a cumulative matrix of prenatal toxicant exposure requires comparison to established biomarkers of prenatal exposure. METHODS We calculated the frequency of detection and concentration of tobacco smoke metabolites measured in meconium (nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine concentrations) and three serial serum cotinine concentrations...

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of clear liquor and meconium stained liquor on mode of delivery, and to evaluate neonatal outcome. METHODS It was a Cross sectional analytical study, conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shaikh Zyed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute/Hospital, Lahore and Shaikh Zaid Women Hospital Larkana, from April 2006 to March 2007. Two hundred ...

Although the pathway for fetal defecation exists, this does not usually occur. In most cases the first defecation occurs postnatally; the bile-stained fecal matter is called meconium. In 10 15% of all deliveries, the neonate's amniotic fluid is meconium-stained, indicating some amount of in utero defecation. Even though about one-third of such neonates will have some meconium in their lungs, on...

Meconium periorchitis is a rare disorder caused by fetal meconium peritonitis, with subsequent passage of meconium into the scrotum via a patent processus vaginalis. To date, clinical significance of meconium periorchitis for the prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis and prediction for postnatal surgery remains to be determined. We present a clinical course of a fetus presenting with mecon...

Background Meconium ileus (MI) is one type intestinal obstruction due to inspissated meconium at the level of the terminal ileum. The purpose of this study is to present the non-ionizing ultrasound-guided approach for the treatment of meconium ileus. Materials and Methods This study was performed, prospectively, at Dr. Sheikh and Akbar children's Hospitals, Mashhad University of Medical Science...

Earlier work form this laboratory showed that exposure of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) to meconium caused significant cell detachment and that meconium-induced detachment of cells was prevented by a protease inhibitor cocktail. Therefore, it was hypothesized that protease inhibitors might protect AEC monolayers against meconium-induced collapse of epithelial barrier function both in vitro a...

BACKGROUND We investigated agreement between self-reported prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and objective meconium alcohol markers to determine the optimal meconium marker and threshold for identifying PAE. METHODS Meconium fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), ethyl glucuronide (EtG), and ethyl sulfate (EtS) were quantified by LC-MS/MS in 0.1 g meconium from infants of Safe Passage Study participan...

BACKGROUND Green-stained amniotic fluid does not always indicate that meconium was passed in utero. CASE PRESENTATION We report the case of a 2280-g Hispanic preterm female born at 32 weeks of gestation with congenital jejunal atresia. The amniotic fluid was greenish stained; the initial impression was meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Postnatal findings revealed no meconium in her rectum. The...