Could a first-trimester blood phosphatidylethanol concentration ⩾4 nM be useful to identify women with moderate-to-heavy prenatal alcohol exposure who are at high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes?

It is accepted that blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) concentrations are reliable biomarkers of ethanol (alcohol) exposure. We therefore conducted a preliminary study to test the hypothesis that elevated blood PEth concentrations can help to identifying women with prenatal alcohol exposure who are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The study included 35 first-trimester pregnant women who self-reported alcohol ingestion and had PEth blood concentration ⩾4 nM at recruitment.

Simple high-throughput analytical method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol in urine.

Background: Since the urinary concentration of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a reliable biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke, we developed a relatively simple high-throughput chromatographic method to quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in the general population.

Methods: The high-throughput analytical method was developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to identify and quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in 10 non-smokers and 15 otherwise healthy smokers.

Results: Loss of nitric oxide at m/z 30 was found to be the predominant mass transitioned, and therefore was used as the SIM transition to quantify both NNAL and NNAL-methyl-d3 in urine.

Preventive effects of folic acid supplementation on adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Although there is accumulating evidence regarding the additional protective effect of folic acid against adverse pregnancy outcomes other than neural tube defects, these effects have not been elucidated in detail. We evaluated whether folic acid supplementation is associated with favorable maternal and fetal outcomes. This was a secondary analysis of 215 pregnant women who were enrolled in our prior study.

Dose-response and time-response analysis of total fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium as a biomarker of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Objectives: Little is known on how the dose and timing of exposure co-influence the cumulative concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium. The objective of the study was to assess the cumulative concentration of FAEEs in meconium as a biomarker of light, moderate, or heavy prenatal alcohol exposure occurring at either first, second, or third trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods: History of prenatal alcohol exposure was obtained in the 34th week of gestation from 294 pregnant women.

Characterization of phosphatidylethanol blood concentrations for screening alcohol consumption in early pregnancy.

Objective: Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is formed endogenously by the direct action of ethanol, and has a half-life long enough to make it a reliable biomarker of alcohol exposure in early pregnancy. In this study, we aimed to characterize PEth blood concentrations to differentiate different levels of alcohol exposure in pregnant women.

Methods: The study consisted of 305 consecutive pregnant women who had been referred to our hospital for antenatal care.

Fetal and neonatal outcomes in women reporting ingestion of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) during pregnancy.

Maternal intake of licorice from dietary sources has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. We prospectively studied the outcome of 185 singleton pregnancies who took over-the-counter or naturopathic formulations containing licorice during their pregnancy, and 370 age-matched singleton pregnant controls that were not exposed to any potential teratogen. The indication in 56.

Blood levels of phosphatidylethanol in pregnant women reporting positive alcohol ingestion, measured by an improved LC-MS/MS analytical method.

Objective: A reliable biomarker of low alcohol exposure during pregnancy is needed to clarify the controversy on the teratogenicity of low-to-moderate alcohol levels.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 13 pregnant women who self-reported alcohol ingestion between 2.5 and 20 drinks/week, and from 26 controls.

Pregnancy outcomes and factors associated with voluntary pregnancy termination in women who had been treated for acne with isotretinoin.

Objective: We aimed to study the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to isotretinoin and to identify the factors influencing their decision to request an abortion.

Methods: The study prospectively identified 79 women who had been treated for acne with isotretinoin during the periconceptional period, and who were followed up until completion of their pregnancy. Characteristics of exposure and doses were self-reported by participants.

Foetal and neonatal outcomes in women reporting ingestion of low or very low alcohol intake during pregnancy.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the pregnancy outcomes of women who reported social intake of low or very low alcohol levels during pregnancy.

Methods: Obstetric and foetal outcomes were assessed in a prospective cohort of 1667 pregnant women who reported low or very low alcohol consumption during pregnancy (cases) and 1840 alcohol-abstainer women (controls).

Results: Among cases, alcohol consumption occurred during the first 4.

Ethical issues in pharmacologic research in women undergoing pregnancy termination: a systemic review and survey of researchers.

Objective. To evaluate the ethics of performing research in the field of maternal-fetal medicine involving women undergoing pregnancy termination. Methods.

Ondansetron dosing in pediatric gastroenteritis: a prospective cohort, dose-response study.

Background: Ondansetron is increasingly used to prevent emesis in children with acute gastroenteritis; however, the optimal dose is unknown.

Objective: To determine if higher doses of oral ondansetron are associated with greater efficacy or side effects.

Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective clinical trial performed between January 2004 and April 2005.

Quantitation of fatty acid ethyl esters in human meconium by an improved liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

This paper reports the development and validation of an improved assay for quantitation of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in human meconium using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). FAAEs (ethyl laurate, ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl palmitoleate, ethyl stearate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, and ethyl arachidonate) and the internal standard (I.S.

Obstetric and fetal outcomes in dystocic and eutocic sows to an injection of exogenous oxytocin during farrowing.

Sixty hybrid Yorkshire-Landrace penned sows, 30 with eutocic farrowing and 30 experiencing a dystocic parturition, were studied to evaluate the obstetric and neonatal outcomes to low doses of oxytocin administered at advanced stages of parturition. Animals in each group were randomly subdivided into 2 subgroups: 15 eutocic and 15 dystocic sows received oxytocin 0.083 IU/kg (equivalent to 1 IU/12 kg body weight), administered intramuscularly after the delivery of the 5th piglet; the other 15 eutocic and 15 dystocic sows received saline solution intramuscularly at the same time.

A pilot study of nalbuphine versus tramadol administered through continuous intravenous infusion for postoperative pain control in children.

Nalbuphine and tramadol are potent analgesic drugs. Our aim was to preliminarily assess and compare the efficacy and safety of nalbuphine and tramadol for postoperative analgesia in children. In a double-blind design, 24 ASA 1-3 children aged 1 to 10 years undergoing a scheduled surgical procedure were randomly allocated to receive either an intravenous bolus dose of nalbuphine 100 microg/kg immediately before the end of surgery followed by an infusion of 0.

Discrepancies in pharmacokinetic analysis results obtained by using two standard population pharmacokinetics software programs.

Multiple standard software packages for population pharmacokinetics (PK) modeling are currently available. These programs may significantly vary in the algorithms used for modeling plasma concentrations as a function of time course. We compared the population PK parameters obtained by using two standard software packages, p-pharm and saam ii, for analysis of a similar data set of serum samples of doxorubicin obtained from 11 infants and children with malignant diseases.

Pregnancy outcome of women inadvertently exposed to ribostamycin during early pregnancy: a prospective cohort study.

No information is currently available on the safety of the aminoglycoside ribostamycin in pregnancy. We aimed to study the pregnancy outcome of women inadvertently exposed to ribostamycin during the first trimester of pregnancy. In a prospective cohort study, 102 women inadvertently exposed to ribostamycin during the first trimester of pregnancy and an age- and gravidity-matched control group, were enrolled.

Factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid in the periconceptional period among Korean women.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid (FA) during the periconceptional period among Korean women.

Design: In a cross-sectional study of demographic, obstetric and socio-economic data, history of periconceptional intake of FA and awareness of the benefits of FA supplementation in pregnancy were obtained and analysed using the chi2 test, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Setting: The Maternity School, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Seoul, South Korea, between October 2005 and March 2006.

Cefepime/clindamycin vs. ceftriaxone/clindamycin for the empiric treatment of poisoned patients with aspiration pneumonia.

Different antimicrobial treatments have proved to be effective in patients with aspiration pneumonia. However, resistant bacterial strains are commonly observed in hospital settings challenging the empirical treatment of these patients. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of cefepime/clindamycin and ceftriaxone/clindamycin for empiric therapy of poisoned patients with aspiration pneumonia.

Accidental poisoning with "Chinese chalk".

We present a 1.5-year old, 11 kg, female infant with a history of bronchial hyper-responsiveness who accidentally ingested half of a "Chinese chalk". A day later, the infant showed vomiting, cough, fever, drowsiness, and irritability and her clinical conditions progressively worsened.

Is prenatal childbirth preparation effective in decreasing adverse maternal and neonatal response to labor? A nested case-control study.

Sophrology, based on a combination of Western relaxation therapy and Eastern yoga and meditation might decrease maternal stress during labor. This study aimed to evaluate whether prenatal sophrologic childbirth preparation may decrease maternal and neonatal adverse response associated with delivery. In a nested case-control study, 69 nulliparous, singleton pregnant women who underwent an educational course of sophrologic childbirth preparation were compared to 69 nulliparous, singleton, age- and gestational age-matched pregnant women who did not receive any childbirth preparation.

Hemorrhoids in pregnancy.

Question: One of my patients is in the third trimester of her first pregnancy. She has recently experienced spotting during her bowel movements. She has hemorrhoids.

Effects of sildenafil on the fetal growth of guinea pigs and their ability to survive induced intrapartum asphyxia.

Objective: Our goal was to determine whether sildenafil increased fetal weight and favored fetal tolerance to induced asphyxia at birth in guinea pigs.

Study Design: Twenty guinea pigs were randomly allocated to placebo (n = 10) or sildenafil 50 microg/kg (n = 5) or 500 microg/kg (n = 5), starting from day 35 of gestation to delivery. Fetuses were delivered by cesarean section.

A study of piglets born by spontaneous parturition under uncontrolled conditions: could this be a naturalistic model for the study of intrapartum asphyxia?

In order to evaluate how spontaneously born piglets could be a suitable model for the study of intrapartum hypoxia, 230 newborn piglets were studied. Out them, 8.3% (n = 19) died intrapartum, 21.

Influence of time at which oxytocin is administered during labor on uterine activity and perinatal death in pigs.

Oxytocin is extensively used to induce or augment uterine contractions, especially to facilitate the third stage of labor in humans. Administration of oxytocin to parturient sows reduces duration of labor whereas mortality of the offspring may remain unchanged. This study aimed to evaluate whether time of administration of oxytocin during parturition may alter the uterine response and fetal outcomes.