Digital Commons Network^™

Enrichment And Training Improve Cognition In Rats With Cortical Malformations, Kyle R. Jenks, Marcella M. Lucas, Ben A. Duffy, Ashlee A. Robbins, Barjor Gimi, Jeremy M. Barry, Rod C. Scott

Dartmouth Scholarship

Children with malformations of cortical development (MCD) frequently have associated cognitive impairments which reduce quality of life. We hypothesized that cognitive deficits associated with MCD can be improved with environmental manipulation or additional training. The E17 methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) exposure model bears many anatomical hallmarks seen in human MCDs as well as similar behavioral and cognitive deficits. We divided control and MAM exposed Sprague-Dawley rats into enriched and non-enriched groups and tested performance in the Morris water maze. Another group similarly divided underwent sociability testing and also underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans pre and post enrichment. A third group …

Prenatal Programming Of Hepatic Glucose And Cholesterol Regulation In Male Rat Offspring By Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia, Waseem Iqbal

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disorder involving repetitive interruptions in breathing during sleep. Sufferers of OSA are exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), characterized by cyclical reductions in oxygen availability. A number of studies have established a link between OSA and various cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities in adulthood, including hypertension, obesity, and type II diabetes. While the consequences of OSA in adults have been well described, the cross-generational impact of this condition and potential effects on fetal development are not known. Epidemiological and animal studies have demonstrated that physiological insults during pregnancy lead to diminished growth of offspring …

Aspirin And Low-Molecular Weight Heparin Combination Therapy Effectively Prevents Recurrent Miscarriage In Hyperhomocysteinemic Women., Pratip Chakraborty, Sayani Banerjee, Piyali Saha, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Sunita Sharma, Sourendra K. Goswami, Baidyanath Chakravarty, Syed N. Kabir

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

The management of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) still remains a great challenge, and women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are at a greater risk for spontaneous abortion. Treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has become an accepted treatment option for women with RPL; however, the subgroup of women, who are likely to respond to LMWH, has not been precisely identified. The present study evaluated the efficacy of LMWH with reference to PCOS and associated metabolic phenotypes including hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), insulin resistance (IR) and obesity. This prospective observational study was conducted at Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Kolkata, India. A total of 967 …

Maternal Genital Tract Colonisation By Group-B Streptococcus: A Hospital Based Study, Nida Najmi, Rozina Sikandar, Nadeem F. Zuberi, Imtiaz Jehan

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Group B Streptococcus genital tract infection in pregnant women and to determine the risk factors for its colonisation.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi and Sobhraj Hospital, Karachi, from May to August 2007. Pregnant women at 35-37 weeks gestation attending antenatal clinic at these hospitals constituted the study population. Based on stratified sampling, 405 patients were recruited. High vaginal swabs of these patients were taken in order to calculate the prevalence of infection at each hospital. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk factor association. SPSS …

Fetal Programming And Later Obesity In A Predominantly Latino Wic Population, Eric George Walsh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: In utero stressors may work to program the metabolism of the developing fetus in such a way that predisposes him/her to obesity later on. Studies have shown that breastfeeding is protective against childhood obesity and suggest that after six months the weight gain in breastfed babies slows opposed to formula fed babies who continue with rapid weight gain. This slowing of weight gain has been shown to be protective against adiposity and later life weight gain.

Purpose: This study looks to further explore these findings in a low income Latino population adding mother’s feelings about the pregnancy and the …

The Effects Of Preeclampsia On Signaling To Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells, Donna Santillan, Wendy Hamilton, Ashley Christensen, Katelyn Talcott, Lindsay Gravatt, Mark Santillan, Stephen Hunter

Donna A. Santillan

Background: The role of the microenvironment is important in cell differentiation. The effect of placental disease on the growth and differentiation and hematopoietic stem cells has not been well-studied.

Methods: Enzyme linked immunoassay was used to measure erythropoietin and osteopontin in plasma from umbilical cord blood of children born to normotensive and preeclamptic women. Additionally, CD34+ cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and grown in complete methylcellulose media. Colony types were identified and enumerated.

Results: Differences in the concentration of erythropoietin in the cord blood between the controls and the preeclamptics approached significance (P = 0.067) using a Mann-Whitney …

Preeclampsia And Micrornas, Eric J. Devor, Donna A. Santillan, Mark K. Santillan

Donna A. Santillan

Preeclampsia is a critical gestational condition that threatens the life of both mother and child. One of the most serious aspects of preeclampsia hampering both clinical management and scientific understanding is that there are, as yet, no early warning signs or risk markers. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), tiny post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, offers potentially fertile ground for developing such markers. The current state of knowledge about miRNAs in preeclampsia is presented along with information regarding miRNA detection in peripheral fluids that could lead to minimally invasive risk assessment.

Preeclampsia And Micrornas, Eric J. Devor, Donna A. Santillan, Mark K. Santillan

Mark K. Santillan

Preeclampsia is a critical gestational condition that threatens the life of both mother and child. One of the most serious aspects of preeclampsia hampering both clinical management and scientific understanding is that there are, as yet, no early warning signs or risk markers. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), tiny post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, offers potentially fertile ground for developing such markers. The current state of knowledge about miRNAs in preeclampsia is presented along with information regarding miRNA detection in peripheral fluids that could lead to minimally invasive risk assessment.

The Effects Of Preeclampsia On Signaling To Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells, Donna A. Santillan, Wendy S. Hamilton, Ashley Christensen, Katelyn M. Talcott, Lindsay K. Gravatt, Mark K. Santillan, Stephen K. Hunter

Mark K. Santillan

Background: The role of the microenvironment is important in cell differentiation. The effect of placental disease on the growth and differentiation and hematopoietic stem cells has not been well-studied.

Methods: Enzyme linked immunoassay was used to measure erythropoietin and osteopontin in plasma from umbilical cord blood of children born to normotensive and preeclamptic women. Additionally, CD34+ cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and grown in complete methylcellulose media. Colony types were identified and enumerated.

Results: Differences in the concentration of erythropoietin in the cord blood between the controls and the preeclamptics approached significance (P = 0.067) using a Mann-Whitney …

What Influences Australian Women To Not Drink During Pregnancy?, Sandra C. Jones, Joanne Telenta

Sandra Jones

There is a strong social norm against consuming alcohol during pregnancy. However, many women do not realise they are pregnant until the sixth week and are not provided with information about the risks of consuming alcohol until they visit a health professional in the second trimester. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 midwives and 12 pregnant women from two regions inNSWin 2008–09 to explore attitudes towards alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and the factors that may encourage or inhibit women from following the recommendation to abstain from drinking while pregnant. Both groups noted the social issues around pregnant women consuming alcohol …

The Effects Of Preeclampsia On Signaling To Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells, Donna A. Santillan, Wendy S. Hamilton, Ashley Christensen, Katelyn M. Talcott, Lindsay K. Gravatt, Mark K. Santillan, Stephen K. Hunter

Stephen K. Hunter

Background: The role of the microenvironment is important in cell differentiation. The effect of placental disease on the growth and differentiation and hematopoietic stem cells has not been well-studied.

Methods: Enzyme linked immunoassay was used to measure erythropoietin and osteopontin in plasma from umbilical cord blood of children born to normotensive and preeclamptic women. Additionally, CD34+ cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and grown in complete methylcellulose media. Colony types were identified and enumerated.

Results: Differences in the concentration of erythropoietin in the cord blood between the controls and the preeclamptics approached significance (P = 0.067) using a Mann-Whitney …

Preeclampsia And Micrornas, Eric J. Devor, Donna A. Santillan, Mark K. Santillan

Eric J Devor

Preeclampsia is a critical gestational condition that threatens the life of both mother and child. One of the most serious aspects of preeclampsia hampering both clinical management and scientific understanding is that there are, as yet, no early warning signs or risk markers. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), tiny post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, offers potentially fertile ground for developing such markers. The current state of knowledge about miRNAs in preeclampsia is presented along with information regarding miRNA detection in peripheral fluids that could lead to minimally invasive risk assessment.

Poor Knowledge And Practices Related To Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy And Lactation In Australian Women: Pre-And Post-Iodine Fortification, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Catherine Lucas, Samantha Axford, Luke Gemming, Fiona Houweling, Alison Goodfellow, Gary Ma

Karen E. Charlton

A before-after review was undertaken to assess whether knowledge and practices related to iodine nutrition, supplementation and fortification has improved in Australian women since the introduction of mandatory iodine fortification in 2009. Surveys of pregnant (n = 139) and non-pregnant (n = 75) women in 2007-2008 are compared with surveys of pregnant (n = 147) and lactating women (n = 60) one to two years post-fortification in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia. A self-administered questionnaire was completed and dietary intake of iodine was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A generally poor knowledge about the role …

Food And Nutrition Knowledge During Pregnancy - Absence And Opportunity, Heather Yeatman, Dolly Bondarianzadeh, Karen Charlton, Deanne Condon-Paoloni, Luke Gemming, Danka Sinikovic, Barbara Meyer

Karen E. Charlton

No abstract provided.

Initial Multicenter Experience With Double Nucleoside Therapy For Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection During Pregnancy, Neal S. Silverman, D. Heather Watts, Joseph Hitti, D. M. Money, E. Livingston, J. Axelrod, J. M. Ernest, Douglas Robbins, M. M. Divito

Neal Silverman

OBJECTIVE: To study maternal and neonatal effects of combination nucleoside analog therapy administered to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women for maternal indications. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective observational study was undertaken at six perinatal centers in the United States and Canada that supported regional referral programs for the treatment of HIV-infected pregnant women. Demographic, laboratory, and pregnancy outcome data were collected for 39 women whose antiretroviral treatment regimens were expanded to include more than one nucleoside analog for maternal indications. The 40 newborns were monitored at pediatric referral centers through at least three months of age to ascertain their HIV …

Amp-Activated Protein Kinase Knockdown In Labyrinthine Trophoblast Cells Results In Altered Morphology And Function, Erica Ashton Kayleigh Carey

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The placenta is a transient organ that develops upon initiation of pregnancy and is essential for fetal development and survival. The rodent placenta consists of three layers with predominantly analogous cell types in the human placenta. The labyrinth layer, which lies closest to the fetus, facilitates nutrient and waste exchange between mother and baby. Abnormalities of the placenta may occur as a result of cellular stress and have been associated with the pregnancy-associated disorders, intrauterine growth restriction and placental insufficiency. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master sensor of cellular stress and changes in AMPK expression or activation could be …

General Reproductive Properties In Pigs, İrfan Tur

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Pig breeding is usually undertaken for fat and meat production, but different sectors (cosmetics industry, pharmaceutical industry, medical sector, etc.) can also use pigs for alternate purposes. Pork is evaluated based on the status of an amended law regarding butchers' meat in Turkey. There have been 25 pig farms registered in Turkey since 7 July 2006 in the framework of compliance with the European Union. On average, a sow has 2.3 farrowings per year, producing 9.5 to 12.5 piglets per litter. It is important that high proportions of selected replacement gilts reach puberty at an early age in order to …

Analysis Of An Inkjet Printed Strip Assay For Pregnancy Test In Cattle, Alexandra Windley Kelley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Using commercially available antibodies, we created a modified ELISA strip assay to determine pregnancy in cattle. The anti‐progesterone antibody was printed on small membrane strips via an Inkjet printer. The strips were subsequently analyzed using varying concentrations of progesterone. The objective of this study was to assess this novel antibody printing process and to determine the binding activity of the anti‐progesterone antibody. The long‐term objective is to develop a pen-side pregnancy test that would cost less than $1.00. In this specific study, it was determined that the anti‐progesterone antibody used did not provide adequate sensitivity for visualization required for pen‐side …

Prescribing Physical Activity To Prevent And Manage Gestational Diabetes, Sheri R. Colberg, Kristin Castorino, Lois Jovanovič

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most prevalent metabolic disorder during pregnancy. Women diagnosed with GDM have a substantially greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years after delivery, and the risk is increased by excess body weight. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia during pregnancy is potentially harmful to both mother and fetus, resulting in a greater need for Caesarian-section deliveries, delivery of larger infants with more excess body fat, a greater risk of infant death and stillbirth, and an elevated risk of infant hypoglycemia immediately after birth. Fortunately, engaging in physical activity prior to and during pregnancy may lower the …

Measuring Exercise Self-Efficacy In Pregnant Women: Psychometric Properties Of The Pregnancy-Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (P-Eses), Helen W. Bland, Bridget Melton, Elaine S. Marshall, Jacquelyn N. Zera

Jacquelyn Nagle Zera