Factors in early pregnancy predicting pregnancy-related pain in the second and third trimester.

Introduction: Pain during pregnancy affects women's well-being, causes worry and is a risk factor for the child and the mother during labor. The aim was to investigate the relative importance of an extensive set of pregnancy-related physiological symptoms and psychosocial factors assessed in the first trimester compared with the occurrence of pregnancy-related pain symptoms later in the pregnancy.

Material And Methods: Included were all women who booked an appointment for a first prenatal visit in one of 125 randomly selected general practitioner practices in Eastern Denmark from April 2015 to August 2016.

General practitioners' experiences in consultations with foreign language patients after the introduction of a user's fee for professional interpretation: a qualitative interview study.

Background: In 2018, an amendment to the Danish Health Care Act was passed making it a requirement for patients not proficient in Danish to pay for interpretation services in health care settings. Thereafter there has been a drastic decline in the use of professional interpreters, especially in general practice. We aimed to investigate the experiences of general practitioners (GPs) in establishing an understanding with these patients in consultations, without the presence of a professional interpreter.

What factors are most important for the development of the maternal-fetal relationship? A prospective study among pregnant women in Danish general practice.

Background: Development of the maternal antenatal attachment (MAA) constitutes an important aspect of the transition into motherhood. Early identification of women at risk of developing a poor MAA provides possibilities for preventive interventions targeting maternal mental health and the emerging mother-infant relationship. In this study, we investigate the relative importance of an extensive set of psychosocial, pregnancy-related, and physiological factors measured in the first trimester of pregnancy for MAA measured in third trimester.

Selection bias in general practice research: analysis in a cohort of pregnant Danish women.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine selection in a general practice-based pregnancy cohort.

Design: Survey linked to administrative register data.

Setting And Subjects: In spring 2015, GPs were recruited from two Danish regions.

Supporting the Development of Evidence-Informed Policy Options: An Economic Evaluation of Hypertension Management in Ghana.

Objectives: Universal healthcare coverage in low- and middle-income countries requires challenging resource allocation decisions. Health technology assessment is one important tool to support such decision making. The International Decision Support Initiative worked with the Ghanaian Ministry of Health to strengthen health technology assessment capacity building, identifying hypertension as a priority topic area for a relevant case study.

Sleep complaints in early pregnancy. A cross-sectional study among women attending prenatal care in general practice.

Background: Sleep problems in late pregnancy are common, but sleep in early pregnancy is less well described. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence and severity of sleep complaints in early pregnancy. We asked the women about worries due to sleep problems.

Examining to what extent pregnancy-related physical symptoms worry women in the first trimester of pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in general practice.

Background: Women often wish to discuss their pregnancy symptoms with their GP. However, the two parties' understanding of symptoms may not be aligned.

Aim: To examine to what degree a specific pregnancy-related symptom worried women in the first trimester and analyse the characteristics of the most worried women.

Germ cell numbers in human embryonic and fetal gonads during the first two trimesters of pregnancy: analysis of six published studies.

Background: The number of germ cells in human embryonic and fetal ovaries in relation to age is currently based on volumetric estimations from one study including a total of 12 ovaries. Six recent publications present stereological estimations of the number of germ cells in ovaries and testes for the first two trimesters.

Methods: Germ cell numbers from 103 human first and second trimester gonads aged 37-133 days post-conception (p.

Proliferation of germ cells and somatic cells in first trimester human embryonic gonads as indicated by S and S+G2+M phase fractions.

Objectives: The number of germ cells and somatic cells in human embryonic and foetal gonads has previously been estimated by stereological methods, which are time- and labour-consuming with little information concerning cell proliferation. Here, we studied whether flow cytometry could be applied as an easier method, also enabling estimation of the fraction of cells in S or S+G(2)+M (SG(2) M) cell-cycle phases as indicators of cell proliferation.

Methods: Cell suspensions from 35 human embryonic gonads at days 37 to 68 post-conception (pc) were immunomagnetically sorted into C-KIT positive (germ) cells and negative (somatic) cells.

Cigarette smoking during early pregnancy reduces the number of embryonic germ and somatic cells.

Background: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with negative reproductive consequences for male fetuses in adult life such as reduced testicular volume and sperm concentration. The present study evaluates the number of germ and somatic cells present in human embryonic first-trimester gonads in relation to maternal smoking.

Methods: The study includes 24 human first-trimester testes, aged 37-68 days post-conception, obtained from women undergoing legal termination of pregnancy.

Human primordial germ cells migrate along nerve fibers and Schwann cells from the dorsal hind gut mesentery to the gonadal ridge.

The aim of this study was to investigate the spatiotemporal development of autonomic nerve fibers and primordial germ cells (PGCs) along their migratory route from the dorsal mesentery to the gonadal ridges in human embryos using immunohistochemical markers and electron microscopy. Autonomic nerve fibers in the dorsal mesentery, the pre-aortic and para-aortic plexuses and in the gonadal ridge were stained for beta III tubulin, neuron specific enolase and the glia fibrillary acidic protein. Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of neurofilaments and neurotubules in these nerve fibers and their intimate contact with PGCs.

Spatiotemporal distribution of PAX6 and MEIS2 expression and total cell numbers in the ganglionic eminence in the early developing human forebrain.

The development of the human neocortex is a complex and highly regulated process involving a time-related expression of many transcription factors including the homeobox genes Pax6 and Meis2. During early development, Pax6 is expressed in nuclei of radial glia cells in the neocortical proliferative zones and controls the differentiation and neurogenetic fate of these cells in the dorsal telencephalon in rodents. Animal studies on the Meis2 gene have revealed expression in the developing telencephalon and Meis2 is known to regulate the expression of Pax6 in the eye and pancreas.

Expression of the homeobox genes OTX2 and OTX1 in the early developing human brain.

In rodents, the Otx2 gene is expressed in the diencephalon, mesencephalon, and cerebellum and is crucial for the development of these brain regions. Together with Otx1, Otx2 is known to cooperate with other genes to develop the caudal forebrain and, further, Otx1 is also involved in differentiation of young neurons of the deeper cortical layers. We have studied the spatial and temporal expression of the two homeobox genes OTX2 and OTX1 in human fetal brains from 7 to 14 weeks postconception by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

The number of oogonia and somatic cells in the human female embryo and fetus in relation to whether or not exposed to maternal cigarette smoking.

Background: Prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking or compounds of cigarette smoke is associated with serious reproductive hazards such as apoptotic death of oogonia in murine offspring and decreased fecundability in human offspring. The present study addresses potential effects of in utero exposure to cigarette smoking.

Methods: Twenty-nine human first-trimester ovaries from legal abortions [aged 38-64 days post-conception (p.

Anti-Müllerian hormone in pregnant women in relation to other hormones, fetal sex and in circulation of second trimester fetuses.

The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) blood concentrations in mother and fetus during pregnancy. Serum concentrations of AMH, gonadotrophins, oestradiol and progesterone were measured in pregnant women in the first trimester and AMH concentrations in second-trimester fetuses, and these were compared in relation to the sex of the fetus. A total of 153 women undergoing elective termination of a first-trimester pregnancy and seven second-trimester pregnant women undergoing cordocentesis were included.

Age determination enhanced by embryonic foot bud and foot plate measurements in relation to Carnegie stages, and the influence of maternal cigarette smoking.

Background: Reliable age determination of first-trimester human embryos and fetuses is an important parameter for clinical use and basic science. Age determination by ultrasound or morphometric parameters of embryos 4-6 weeks post conception (p.c.

Expression of the homeobox genes PAX6, OTX2, and OTX1 in the early human fetal retina.

We studied the spatial and temporal expression of the homeobox genes PAX6, OTX2, and OTX1 using a developmental series of human fetal eyes aged from 6 to 10 weeks post-conception. Previous animal studies have shown that PAX6 may regulate progenitor cell proliferation, timing of differentiation and neural retina cell fate determination. OTX2 may play a role in development of the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor differentiation, whereas OTX1 may be important in ciliary body development.

Distinct GAGE and MAGE-A expression during early human development indicate specific roles in lineage differentiation.

Background: Expression of cancer/testis-associated proteins (CTAs) has traditionally been considered to be restricted to germ cells in normal tissues and to different types of malignancies. We have evaluated the potential role of CTAs in early human development.

Methods: Using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, we investigated the expression of CTAs in differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and in late embryos and early fetuses.