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.

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.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers in pregnancy: a case report and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: To describe the case of a woman exposed to angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) in the preconceptional period and to systematically review the literature on the safety of these drugs when used by pregnant women.

Methods: The case was identified at the Korean Motherisk Program (Seoul). For the systematic review, we searched the PubMed for case reports, case series, and post-marketing surveys.

Use of proton pump inhibitors during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Question: A 36-year-old pregnant patient has symptoms of peptic disease. Treatment with diet and lifestyle modifications and also antacids has given her little relief. If she were not pregnant, I would prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for her.

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes to recombinant porcine somatotropin administered in the last third of pregnancy to primiparous sows.

This study aimed to investigate whether the administration of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) late in gestation is associated with increased rates of obstetric and neonatal complications in primiparous sows. From days 80 to 114 of gestational age, 20 primiparous sows were randomly assigned to receive an intramuscular injection of either saline or 6 mg rpST/day. Throughout pregnancy, sows were fed 2.

Caudal block with 4 mg x kg-1 (1.6 ml x kg-1) of bupivacaine 0.25% in children undergoing surgical correction of congenital pyloric stenosis.

Background: Since 1970, bupivacaine 0.25% in a dose of 4 mg x kg-1 (1.6 ml x kg-1) has been used at the Hospital Infantil de México for caudal block in children undergoing surgical correction of congenital pyloric stenosis (CPS).

Population pharmacodynamic modeling without plasma concentrations of rocuronium in children.

Using the pharmacodynamic model without plasma concentrations described by Bragg et al, an individual approach resulted in highly variable parameters for rocuronium. Using a population approach of the model, the time course of the effect of an IV bolus dose of 400, 600, and 800 microg/kg of rocuronium was studied. Response was measured by accelerometry (TOF-Guard) in 45 low-risk surgical children, ages 2 to 14 years, who were receiving general anesthesia with isoflurane.

Effect of mivacurium 200 and 250 &mgr;g/kg in infants during isoflurane anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN07742712].

BACKGROUND: Infants usually respond differently to a neuromuscular relaxant compared to children or adults. Isoflurane is commonly used as an anesthetic gas in infants. In an RCT design, we investigated whether a dose of mivacurium 250 &mgr;g/kg results in faster onset of action than 200 &mgr;g/kg in infants under isoflurane anesthesia.