Search results for "fetal"

Blood flow velocity waveforms of the middle cerebral artery and abnormal neurological evaluations in live-born fetuses with absent or reverse end-dia…

1992

Abstract We studied 37 fetuses with absent or reverse end-diastolic flow velocities (AREDFV) of the umbilical arteries with respect to the mode of delivery, fetal acidosis, resistance index of the middle cerebral arteries, and abnormal neurological evaluation at the time of discharge from the department of pediatrics. A control group with normal umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms was matched for gestational age. Fetuses with AREDFV were delivered almost exclusively by cesarean section, in most cases due to fetal distress. Metabolic changes with decreased base excess values were found more often in fetuses with AREDFV, but no difference could be detected with respect to severe fetal ac…

Ethical challenges in cell-based interventions for neurological conditions: some lessons to be learnt from clinical transplantation trials in patient…

2009

Free and sulfoconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone, cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate, and free estriol in maternal and cord blood

1976

When free DHEA, its sulfatide, and sulfate were assayed in maternal plasma as well as in umbilical cord arterial and venous plasma, rather high concentrations were found in either fraction from cord arterial plasma, reflecting the fetal contribution not only of free DHEA and DHEA sulfate, but also of the lipophile steroid sulfatide. Since high DHEA levels were associated with elevated c-AMP concentrations, a certain interrelationship of both parameters is indicated. In the course of delivery, a rapid decrease of free estriol in maternal plasma was observed. Higher concentration of free estriol in umbilical venous plasma pointed at its placental biosynthesis from fetal precursors.

18-hydroxylation in the Y-1 adrenal cell line: response to ACTH and to culture conditions.

1992

The 18-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone in the Y-1 adrenal cell line was studied under various incubation and cell culture conditions and compared to 11 beta-hydroxylation. Repeated incubation of the substrate increased both 18- and 11 beta-hydroxylation in the Y-1 cells. Furthermore, both 18- and 11 beta-hydroxylation were increased with increased serum concentration and prolonged incubation time. While the increase in 11 beta-hydroxylation seemed to be independent of the type of serum, 18-hydroxylation was much more important in cells cultured in fetal or newborn calf serum supplemented medium than in those cultured in horse serum supplemented medium. As expected, ACTH treatment incre…

Fetal programming and its effects on vascular pulmonary circulation

2018

Into the scientific community, consensus about the emerging concept of “the fetal origin of adult diseases” is growing. It sustains that the parental (of the two parents) adversities, and the related external influences, during the intra-utero/ perinatal life of each eutherian mammal organism, human included, can permanently set the structure and functionality of specific body systems (i.e., immune, endocrine, nervous and cardiovascular systems), predisposing them to early ageing and disease during adulthood. The pulmonary circulation system also appears to be one of its targets. Established evidence supports the strong association between developmental programming and pulmonary arterial re…

First-trimester neck abnormalities: three-dimensional evaluation.

1998

In order to study the first trimester ultrasonographic differences between nuchal translucency and hygroma colli, we rescanned 25 fetuses (13 with nuchal translucency and 12 with hygroma colli) using transvaginal and three-dimensional ultrasonography, after obtaining a fetal karyotype report. Our objective was to test the premise that the different physiopathologic mechanisms of both processes would be reflected in detectable sonographic differences. Our retrospective analysis showed that the most striking ultrasonographic difference was the presence of bullae as well as greater irregularity, extent, and amplitude of the membrane in cases of hygroma colli. Fetuses with simple nuchal translu…

Do human concepti have the potential to enter into diapause?

1999

Although there is no direct evidence as to whether human concepti have the potential to enter into diapause before implantation, the possibility that human concepti may be capable of following this developmental pathway if exposed to an appropriate environment cannot be ruled out. Direct evidence remains elusive because of the ethical restraints associated with research activities within this area of knowledge. If conceptus diapause has evolved in primates and persists at the present time despite its apparent limited or no adaptive advantage, artificial induction of diapause in humans may have clinical implications for increasing: (i) the viability of concepti after biopsy, freezing-thawing…

Retinoid receptors and vitamin A deficiency: differential patterns of transcription during early avian development and the rapid induction of RARs by…

2003

The functional links of specific retinoid receptors to early developmental events in the avian embryo are not known. Before such studies are undertaken, knowledge is required of the spatiotemporal expression patterns of the receptor genes and their regulation by endogenous retinoic acid levels during the early stages of development. Here, we report the expression patterns of mRNAs for RARalpha, RARalpha2, RARbeta2, RARgamma, RARgamma2, RXRalpha, and RARgamma from neurulation to HH10 in the normal and vitamin A-deficient (VAD) quail embryo. The transcripts for all retinoid receptors are detectable at HH5, except for RXRgamma, which is detected at the beginning of HH6. At the 4/5 somite stage…

Developmental programming of energy balance and its hypothalamic regulation.

2011

Developmental programming is an important physiological process that allows different phenotypes to originate from a single genotype. Through plasticity in early life, the developing organism can adopt a phenotype (within the limits of its genetic background) that is best suited to its expected environment. In humans, together with the relative irreversibility of the phenomenon, the low predictive value of the fetal environment for later conditions in affluent countries makes it a potential contributor to the obesity epidemic of recent decades. Here, we review the current evidence for developmental programming of energy balance. For a proper understanding of the subject, knowledge about ene…

Acid Ceramidase Deficiency

2015

Abstract A deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme ceramidase leads to accumulation of the sphingolipid ceramide in several organs such as skin, liver, brain and other tissues, resulting in a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The most common form, called Farber lipogranulomatosis, is characterized by subcutaneous skin nodules and a progressive hoarseness, in many cases also the central nervous system is affected. A lethal hydrops fetalis represents the most severe form. A ceramidase deficiency was also found in a few patients in whom neurological symptoms such as spinal muscular atrophy and myoclonus epilepsy dominated the clinical picture. In the ceramidase gene, which has been mapped …