Abnormal birth weights for gestational age in relation to maternal characteristics in Sweden: a five year cross-sectional study.

Background: Abnormal birth weight - small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) - are important indicators for newborn health. Due to changes in lifestyle in recent decades, it is essential to keep up-to-date with the latest information on maternal factors linked to abnormal birth weight. The aim of this study is to investigate SGA and LGA in relation to maternal individual, lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics.

Effects of GABA active steroids in the female brain with a focus on the premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) afflicts 3%-5% of women of childbearing age, and is characterised by recurrent negative mood symptoms (eg, irritability, depression, anxiety and emotional lability) during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The aetiology of PMDD is unknown, although a temporal association with circulating ovarian steroids, in particular progesterone and its metabolite allopregnanolone, has been established during the luteal phase. Allopregnanolone is a positive modulator of the GABA receptor: it is sedative in high concentrations but may precipitate paradoxical adverse effects on mood at levels corresponding to luteal phase concentrations in susceptible women.

Treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder with the GABA receptor modulating steroid antagonist Sepranolone (UC1010)-A randomized controlled trial.

Context: Allopregnanolone is a metabolite from progesterone and a positive modulator of the GABA receptor. This endogenous steroid may induce negative mood in sensitive women when present in serum levels comparable to the premenstrual phase. Its endogenous isomer, isoallopregnanolone, has been shown to antagonize allopregnanolone effects in experimental animal and human models.

Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder have altered sensitivity to allopregnanolone over the menstrual cycle compared to controls-a pilot study.

Rationale: In premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition that afflicts 3-8 % of women in fertile ages, the cyclic recurrence of debilitating mood symptoms is restricted to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone is produced by the corpus luteum, and circulating levels are reflected in the brain. Allopregnanolone is a modulator of the GABAA receptor, enhancing the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Allopregnanolone and mood disorders.

Unlabelled: Certain women experience negative mood symptoms during the menstrual cycle and progesterone addition in estrogen treatments. In women with PMDD increased negative mood symptoms related to allopregnanolone increase during the luteal phase of ovulatory menstrual cycles. In anovulatory cycles no symptom or sex steroid increase occurs.