Linear Versus Non-Linear Dose-Response Relationship Between Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Meconium Concentration of Nine Different Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters.

Presence of individual fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium is considered to be a reliable biomarker of prenatal alcohol exposure, and their concentration has been found to be linearly associated with poor postnatal development, supporting the widely extended idea that ethanol is a non-threshold teratogen. However, a growing number of epidemiological studies have consistently found a lack of adverse short- and long-term fetal outcomes at low exposure levels. We therefore aimed to investigate the relationship between the concentration of individual FAEEs and prenatal alcohol exposure in meconium samples collected within the first 6 to 12?h after birth from 182 babies born to abstainer mothers and from 54 babies born to women who self-reported either light or moderate alcohol ingestion in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

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.

A case series of 15 women inadvertently exposed to magnetic resonance imaging in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Information on the safety of first-trimester exposure to diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains scarce. We are reporting a case series of 15 consecutive pregnant women who underwent an MRI scan with a 1.5-Tesla scanner of either the head (n = 5), cervical spine (n = 4), lumbar spine (n = 4), pelvis (n = 1) or knee (n = 1) in their first trimester of pregnancy (mean gestational age at exposure: 3.

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.

Assessment of fetal and neonatal outcomes in the offspring of women who had been treated with dried ginger (Zingiberis rhizoma siccus) for a variety of illnesses during pregnancy.

The present study was designed to investigate if exposure to dried ginger during pregnancy would increase the risk of adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes. Participants consisted of 159 singleton pregnant women who received dried ginger as a herbal medication. We also included a control group of 306 pregnant women who had not been exposed to any herbal medication or any known teratogen.

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.

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.

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.

Short-term neurophysiologic consequences of intrapartum asphyxia in piglets born by spontaneous parturition.

Piglets appear to be neurologically sensitive to intrapartum asphyxia. Our aim was to investigate the short-term neurophysiologic consequences of intrapartum asphyxia in piglets. We studied 10 piglets suffering intrapartum asphyxia and 10 control piglets.

Pregnancy outcomes in women using inhaled fluticasone during pregnancy: a case series.

Background: The aim of the study was to report the maternal and fetal outcomes of women with respiratory illnesses who were treated with inhaled fluticasone during pregnancy.

Material And Methods: We identified 12 cases treated with inhaled fluticasone during pregnancy out of women who received obstetric and teratogen-risk evaluation at the Korean Motherisk Program. A detailed medical and obstetric history was obtained and cases were followed-up until either spontaneous or voluntary pregnancy termination or delivery occurred.

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.

Sexually transmitted infections associated with vulvovaginal symptoms in adolescents denying sexual activity.

Objective: To identify clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic evidence of a probable sexually transmitted infection associated with vulvovaginal symptoms in adolescents denying sexual activity.

Material And Methods: The medical records of female adolescents, aged 10-18 years were reviewed. These women received first-time medical care for vulvovaginitis, between 1995 and 1999 at Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, (Children's Hospital).

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.

Rocuronium administration in children during isoflurane anesthesia: neuromuscular effects.

Background: The time-course of the effect of rocuronium during isoflurane anesthesia in children has rarely been evaluated. Forty-five children, aged 2-14 years, ASA 1, undergoing elective surgery and receiving isoflurane anesthesia, were studied.

Methods: Patients randomly received a dose of 400, 600, or 800 micrograms/kg of rocuronium.

Simplified method to quantify furosemide in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection.

Simplified reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection at 280 nm without extraction procedure is described to quantify furosemide in rabbit and human urine. An internal standard was not used. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.