To clarify the maternal-fetal transfer of mercury across the placenta, inorganic and organic mercury were determined in 41 paired samples of maternal blood, placenta, umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord obtained from pregnant women who had no particular exposure to mercury compounds in their history. Both inorganic and organic mercury were detected in all the samples but the ratio of organi...

Immune response changes induced by diabetes are a risk factor for infections during pregnancy and may modify the development of the newborn's immune system. The present study analyzed colostrum and maternal and cord blood of diabetic women to determine (1) the levels of the cytokines IFN- γ and TGF- β and (2) phagocytic activity after incubation with cytokines. Methods. Colostrum and maternal a...

was detected in 98% of the samples. None of the specific IgE found in cord blood was detected at 6 months of age. Cord blood IgE was not detected in any infants whose mothers were not sensitized, and the infants who did have cord blood IgE detected displayed a “fingerprint match” to maternal IgE. In every case, the IgE for a specific allergen detected in cord blood was the same as that detected...

Since our first report in 1989, 26 transplants by means of umbilical cord blood have been reported. Furthermore, systematic studies of the feasibility of using banked placental blood for bone marrow reconstitution of unrelated recipients on a large scale are in progress worldwide. However, already by 1989, it was pointed out that the use of cord blood might be hampered by contamination of neona...

BACKGROUND The in-utero environment affects fetal development; it is vital to understand how maternal diet during pregnancy influences childhood body composition. While research indicates that triglycerides in hyperglycaemic women may increase birth weight, little is known about this relationship in euglycemic women. This study examines the relationship between maternal blood lipid status and i...

Different subtypes of dendritic cells (DC) influence the differentiation of naíve T lymphocytes into T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 effector cells. We evaluated the percentages of DC subtypes in peripheral blood from pregnant women (maternal blood) and their cord blood compared to the peripheral blood of healthy non pregnant women (control). Circulating DC were identified by flow cytometry as li...

OBJECTIVES This paper describes a comprehensive assessment of the association of concentrations of essential and toxic elements in maternal and neonatal body fluids and the placenta as predictors of birth weight and newborn body mass index (BMIC) for deliveries in northern Norway and Russia. STUDY DESIGN A prospective cross-sectional study of delivering women and their outcomes from different...

We have previously shown that in successful pregnancies increased arginase activity is a mechanism that contributes to the suppression of the maternal immune system. We identified the main type of arginase-expressing cells as a population of activated low-density granulocytes (LDGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in term placentae. In the present study, we analyzed the phenotype of L...

The results of management of 128 consecutive pregnancies occurring in diabetic patients who received insulin from before conception and throughout pregnancy are described. Mean maternal blood glucose levels were at least 1 mmol/litre greater than levels reported in normal pregnancy. Thirty-nine percent of the neonates had significant morbidity; respiratory distress syndrome (7.7%), hypocalcaemi...

Reports from the Aga Khan University indicate that 58% of 400 school children studied had undesirably high serum cholesterol levels. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the high cholesterol levels are present at birth and to determine the relationship between cord blood, maternal blood cholesterol and maternal diet. Cord blood from 58 neonates and fasting venous blood from 45 ...