Over the past 30 years, fetal movement counts have been recommended to women in the second half of pregnancy as a way of monitoring fetal wellbeing and providing an early warning of fetal distress. However, guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends abandoning this. Evidence is reviewed to show that the chance of preventing physical damage to the fetus is inde...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This disorder is thought to be multifactorial in origin, with multiple genes, environmental and social factors, contributing to disease. One proposed mechanism is placental hypoxia-driven imbalances in angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, causing endothelial cell dysfunction. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (Comt)-deficient p...

Earlier studies at our laboratory indicated that several hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) detected in human blood could specifically inhibit thyroxine (T(4)) transport by competitive binding to the thyroid hormone transport protein transthyretin (TTR) in vitro. In the present study we investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to 5 mg/kg body weight of [14C]-labeled or unlabe...

During pregnancy, the hormonal systems of the mother and fetus are intricately interconnected to ensure normal fetal development. Accordingly, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy can interfere with fetal development, not only directly, through adverse effects exerted by alcohol that crosses the placenta and enters the fetal bloodstream, but also indirectly, by disturbing the functions...

The classification of the fetal heart rate patterns developed around 1960 lack still a clear and definitive pathophysiological base. The names given to the several decelerations suggest however that the pathophysiological pathways along which they arise are completely clarified. Therefore we directed our research the last years to this subject. This paper is restricted to the presentation of so...

Reactive oxygen species are unavoidable products of metabolism and in excess they can be dangerous for tissues and cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), among others, protect tissues and cells against reactive oxygen species. The aim of the study was the description of SOD and GSH-Px from bovine placenta by use of spectrophotometric and electrophoretic analysis ...

indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (ido), an enzyme involved in the catabolism of tryptophan, is expressed by a variety of cells and tissues such as macrophages, dendritic cells, cells of the endocrine system and by the placenta. ifn- γ is the main inducer of this enzyme. ido acts as an important defense mechanism of innate immunity against pathogens. it also has tumor suppressive activity and prolong...

Increased fetal hemoglobin levels lessen the severity of symptoms and increase the lifespan of patients with sickle cell disease. Hydroxyurea, the only drug currently approved for the treatment of sickle cell disease, is not effective in a large proportion of patients and therefore new pharmacological agents that increase fetal hemoglobin levels have long been sought. Recent studies identifying...

Triacylglycerol lipase with maximal activity at pH 5 was present in adult and fetal lung. The activity was inhibited by serum concentrations used to measure lipoprotein lipase and by 0.5 M NaCl. The activity in homogenates from fetal lung was about 40% of the activity in adult lung homogenates. The activity increased to 80% of the adult levels during the first 24-48 h following birth. Acidic tr...