Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons^™

Two Novel Genetic Variants In The Mineralocorticoid Receptor Gene Associated With Spontaneous Preterm Birth, Inge Christiaens, Q. Wei Ang, Lindsay N. Gordon, Xin Fang, Scott Williams

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in newborn infants. Its etiology is multifactorial with genes and environmental factors, including chronic maternal stress, contributing to its risk. Our objective was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the stress response are associated with spontaneous preterm birth using a candidate gene approach.

Methods: A total of 210 cases (singleton spontaneous preterm birth at <37 >weeks) and 412 controls (singleton term birth at 38–42 weeks without a history of preterm birth) were studied. High quality maternal DNA was available from saliva samples of 190 cases …

Preliminary Analysis Of In Utero Low-Level Arsenic Exposure And Fetal Growth Using Biometric Measurements Extracted From Fetal Ultrasound Reports, Matthew A. Davis, John Higgins, Zhigang Li, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Emily R. Baker, Amar Das, Margaret R. Karagas

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Early life exposure to arsenic is associated with decreased birth weight in highly exposed populations but little is known about effects of low-level arsenic exposure on growth in utero.

Methods: Using a sample of 272 pregnancies from New Hampshire we obtained biometric measurements directly from fetal ultrasound reports commonly found in electronic medical records. We used information extraction methods to develop and validate an automated approach for mining biometric measurements from the text of clinical reports. As a preliminary analysis, we examined associations between in utero low-level arsenic exposure (as measured by maternal urinary arsenic concentration) and fetal growth …

A Critical Role For The Host Mediator Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor In The Pathogenesis Of Malarial Anemia, M. A. Mcdevitt, J. Xie, S. Ganapathy-Kanniappan, J. Griffith, A. Liu, C. Mcdonald, P. Thuma, V. R. Gordeuk, C. N. Metz, R. Mitchell, J. Keefer, J. David, L. Leng, R. Bucala

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Saying ‘No’: A Biographical Analysis Of The Experiences Of Women With A Genetic Predisposition To Developing Breast/Ovarian Cancer Who Reject Risk Reducing Surgery, Doreen Molloy

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Genetic technologies have identified some of the genes implicated in cancer susceptibility. Women with mutations in breast/ovarian cancer-susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and 2) have a lifetime combined risk of breast/ovarian cancer of more than 80%. Risk reducing surgery (RRS) reduces cancer risk by as much as 90% in high risk populations. Despite this, some BRCA1/2 mutation-positive women say no to RRS.

Purpose: To illuminate an understanding of why women at high risk of developing breast/ovarian cancer say no to risk reducing surgery (RRS).

Design: Denzin’s (1989) interpretive biography was combined with Dolby-Stahl’s (1985) literary folkloristic methodology to provide a contextualised …

A Critical Analysis Of Infant Mortality In Kalamazoo County, Audrey Jensen

Honors Theses

The following is a review of the state of infant and fetal health in Kalamazoo County in the 21st century. Since infant health is a marker for the effectiveness of health care, this review will analyze the leading causes of infant mortality in Kalamazoo County. Statistical indicators show that Kalamazoo County falls below both state and national IMR averages. The leading causes of infant mortality in Kalamazoo are considered preventable infant deaths. Therefore, this review will make recommendations for the reduction of IMR through the improvement of preventative prenatal healthcare practices.

La Cesárea Y El Parto Natural: Las Opiniones De Profesionales De La Salud En La Provincia De Buenos Aires / Cesarean Section And Natural Birth: The Opinions Of Health Provinces In The Province Of Buenos Aires, Jacqueline Chipkin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Introduction: The ways in which women of society give birth have the power to influence maternal-infant health and shape the economy of the healthcare system. Today, the rates of cesarean sections are increasing throughout the world. In Argentina, on average, more than 35% of pregnant women received cesarean sections in 2008, with large differences observed in the rates between the public and private health sectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established that healthcare systems should only employ a cesarean section if labor cannot progress safely. According to this standard, the organization estimates that cesarean sections should only be utilized …

The Kras/Mapk Pathway And Ligand Independent Activation Of Erα: Implications For The Treatment Of Endometrial Cancer, Kari Ring

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Hormonal therapy remains a first line option for the treatment of recurrent endometrial cancer (EC), however, many tumors demonstrate de novo or acquired resistance. Member kinases of the PI3K/AKT and Ras/MAPK pathways activate estrogen receptor α (ERα) independent of estrogen, however, few studies have evaluated the role of the Ras/MAPK pathway in predicting response to hormonal therapy in EC. The aims of this project were to evaluate the role of ligand independent activation of ERα in EC and to explore therapeutic implications for the treatment of recurrent EC.

A xenograft model for recurrent EC was used to evaluate the effect …

Latinas And The Traditional Genetic Counseling Model: A Qualitative Study, Stephanie Thompson

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The traditional genetic counseling model reflects an individualized counseling session that includes the presentation of information about genes, chromosomes, personalized risk assessment, and genetic testing and screening options. Counselors are challenged to balance providing educational information with discussion of implications of this information in an allotted amount of time. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of pregnant Latinas on the benefits and limitations of the traditional prenatal genetic counseling model and to determine the specific preferences for receiving prenatal genetic counseling. Data were collected through focus groups and one-on-one, semi-structured interviews of twenty-five Spanish speaking Latinas …

Maternal Biomarkers Of Endothelial Dysfunction And Preterm Delivery, Xinhua Chen, Theresa O Scholl

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is key to the development of atherosclerosis. Preterm delivery foreshadows later maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD), but it is not known if endothelial dysfunction also occurs. We prospectively measured circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women with preterm or term delivery.

METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within a large prospective epidemiological study of young, generally healthy pregnant women. Women who delivered preterm (gestation, n = 240) and controls who delivered at term (n = 439) were included. Pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia were analyzed separately. Circulating endothelial dysfunction biomarkers included soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular …

Circulating Biomarkers For Detection Of Ovarian Cancer And Predicting Cancer Outcomes, I. Shapira, M. Oswald, J. Lovecchio, H. Khalili, A. Menzin, Jill Whyte, L. Dos Santos, S. Liang, T. Bhuiya, M. Keogh, C. Mason, K. Sultan, D. Budman, P. K. Gregersen, A. T. Lee

Journal Articles

Background: Securing a diagnosis of ovarian cancer and establishing means to predict outcomes to therapeutics remain formidable clinical challenges. Early diagnosis is particularly important since survival rates are markedly improved if tumour is detected early. Methods: Comprehensive miRNA profiles were generated on presurgical plasma samples from 42 women with confirmed serous epithelial ovarian cancer, 36 women diagnosed with a benign neoplasm, and 23 comparably age-matched women with no known pelvic mass. Results: Twenty-two miRNAs were differentially expressed between healthy controls and the ovarian cancer group (P

Brain Region-Specific Alterations In The Gene Expression Of Cytokines, Immune Cell Markers And Cholinergic System Components During Peripheral Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation, H. A. Silverman, M. Dancho, A. Regnier-Golanov, M. Nasim, M. Ochani, P. S. Olofsson, M. Ahmed, E. J. Miller, S. S. Chavan, E. Golanov, C. Metz, K. J. Tracey, V. A. Pavlov

Journal Articles

Inflammatory conditions characterized by excessive peripheral immune responses are associated with diverse alterations in brain function, and brain-derived neural pathways regulate peripheral inflammation. Important aspects of this bidirectional peripheral immune - brain communication, including the impact of peripheral inflammation on brain region-specific cytokine responses, and brain cholinergic signaling (which plays a role in controlling peripheral cytokine levels) remain unclear. To provide insight, we studied gene expression of cytokines, immune cell markers and brain cholinergic system components in the cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum, and thalamus in mice following an intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide injection. Endotoxemia was accompanied by elevated serum levels …

Homebirth In Wa: Why Women Make This Choice, Colleen Ball

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Homebirths in Western Australia (WA) account for approximately 0.8% of all births. Two consecutive reports from the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Monitoring Committee found increased rates of perinatal mortality in homebirths and recommended a prospective cohort study to assess mortality and morbidity outcomes for women with planned home births in WA. The Homebirth in WA Study, of which this thesis is a component, has been funded by a directed research grant.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the specific reasons why women in WA choose homebirth. Research on homebirths is focused on perinatal outcomes and …

Developmental Genes Targeted For Epigenetic Variation Between Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Children, Carmen J. Marsit, Devin C. Koestler, Debra Watson-Smith, Charlotte M. Boney

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Epigenetic mechanisms are thought to be critical in mediating the role of the intrauterine environment on lifelong health and disease. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare condition wherein fetuses share the placenta and develop vascular anastomoses, which allow blood to flow between the fetuses. The unequal flow results in reciprocal hypo- and hypervolemia in the affected twins, striking growth differences and physiologic adaptations in response to this significant stressor. The donor twin in the TTTS syndrome can be profoundly growth restricted and there is likely a nutritional imbalance between the twins. The consequences of TTTS on fetal programming …

Jordanian Ethical Perceptions Of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Sarah C. Miller

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure that can be done during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), involving genetic and chromosomal screening of fertilized embryos prior to implantation into a woman’s uterus. After PGD, only the embryos possessing the desired characteristics are implanted, while the other embryos are frozen for future use, or discarded. PGD is used for family balancing (gender selection for balancing the gender dynamic within a family), gender selection to screen out sex-linked diseases, or a broader genetic screening for diseases known to be present in the patient’s family history.

Many ethical questions have been raised about PGD, …

Human Milk Cortisol Is Associated With Infant Temperament, Katherine R. Grey, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The implications of the biologically active elements in milk for the mammalian infant are largely unknown. Animal models demonstrate that transmission of glucocorticoids through milk influences behavior and modifies brain development in offspring. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between human milk cortisol levels and temperament of the breastfed infant. Fifty-two mother and infant pairs participated when the infants were three-months old. Milk cortisol levels were assessed and each mother completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), a widely used parent-report measure of infant temperament. Analyses revealed a positive association between milk cortisol and the negative affectivity …

Mismatch Repair Deficient Tumors Lacking Known Sporadic Causes: Are They All Due To Lynch Syndrome?, Katherine M. Dempsey

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

BACKGROUND: Mismatch repair deficient (MMRD) colorectal (CRC) or endometrial (EC) cancers in the absence of MLH1 promoter hypermethylation and BRAF mutations are suggestive of Lynch syndrome (LS). Positive germline genetic test results confirm LS. It is unclear if individuals with MMRD tumors but no identified germline mutation or sporadic cause (MMRD+/germline-) have LS.

HYPOTHESIS: Since LS is hereditary, individuals with LS should have a stronger family history of LS-related cancers than individuals with sporadic tumors. We hypothesized that MMRD+/germline- CRC and/or EC patients would have less suggestive family histories than LS CRC and/or EC patients.

METHODS: 253 individuals with an …

Rational Use Of Antibiotics--A Quality Improvement Initiative In Hospital Setting, Sidrah Nausheen, Rabia Hammad, Ambreen Khan

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Objectives: To minimise irrational use of antibiotics by implementing guidelines for antibiotic usage in obstetrics and Gynaeocology.
Methods: The observational study was conducted from January to December 2010 at the maternity unit of Aga Khan Hospital for Women and children, Kharadar, a secondary care facility in Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected from medical records related to the study period. Prophylactic antibiotics were given according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommendation 2009. Surveillance was done by surgical site infection rates and infectious morbidity. Data was analysed on SPSS 13.
Results: Therapeutic antibiotic use was rationalized, reducing the use …

Is Administration Of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Injections Every Three Months Effective In Decreasing Pain Associated With Endometriosis In Premenopausal Women?, Maria Kern

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic EBM review is to determine whether or not the administration of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injections every three months are effective in decreasing pain associated with endometriosis in premenopausal women.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of two randomized controlled trials and one randomized comparative trial comparing pain improvement from depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections at different time intervals and/or in comparison to other hormonal birth control methods in premenopausal patients suffering from endometriosis.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials and a randomized comparative trial were found using PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE databases.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Outcomes were …

Are Triptan Drugs Safe And Effective For Use In The Prevention Of Menstrually Related Migraines (Mrms)?, Christina Ponzio

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Triptan drugs are safe and effective for use in the prevention of menstrually related migraines (MRMs).

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two English language randomized controlled trials and one pilot randomized control trial.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials comparing Triptan drugs to a placebo group were found using Medline, PubMed, and OVID.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Incidence of MRM based on patient self-report; number of relapses; patients’ subjective evaluations of effectiveness based on questionnaire; adverse effects of Triptan treatment.

RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials …

Is Transdermal Glyceryl Trinitrate A Safe And Effective Treatment For Primary Dysmenorrhea?, Sarah E. Visich

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not transdermal glyceryl trinitrate is a safe and effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two English language randomized control trials (RCTs) published in 1996 and 1999 and one English language pilot study in 1997.

DATA SOURCES: Two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over studies and one pilot study comparing transdermal glyceryl trinitrate to placebo were found using PubMed, Medline and OVID.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Outcomes measured were based on pain intensity scores (PID) assessed on a visual analog scale and the …

Intronic Non-Cg Dna Hydroxymethylation And Alternative Mrna Splicing In Honey Bees, Pablo Cingolani, Xiaoyi Cao, Radhika S. Khetani, Chieh-Chun Chen, Melissa Coon, Alya'a Sammak, Aliccia Bollig-Fischer, Susan Land, Yun Huang, Matthew E. Hudson, Mark D. Garfinkel, Sheng Zhong, Gene E. Robinson, Douglas M. Ruden

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Previous whole-genome shotgun bisulfite sequencing experiments showed that DNA cytosine methylation in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is almost exclusively at CG dinucleotides in exons. However, the most commonly used method, bisulfite sequencing, cannot distinguish 5-methylcytosine from 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, an oxidized form of 5-methylcytosine that is catalyzed by the TET family of dioxygenases. Furthermore, some analysis software programs under-represent non-CG DNA methylation and hydryoxymethylation for a variety of reasons. Therefore, we used an unbiased analysis of bisulfite sequencing data combined with molecular and bioinformatics approaches to distinguish 5-methylcytosine from 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. By doing this, we have performed the first whole …

Increasing Parity Is Associated With Cumulative Effects On Memory, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if reproductive experience is associated with cumulative effects on human memory performance during pregnancy and if these effects persist into the postpartum period.

METHODS: Verbal recall memory performance was assessed in 254 women four times during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum. The relation between parity and memory function was evaluated with hierarchical linear modeling and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

RESULTS: The data indicate that the previously documented adverse effects of pregnancy on memory performance are compounded with successive pregnancies. During gestation and postpartum, multiparity was associated with poorer memory function, …

Pain Threshold, Tolerance And Catastrophization In Women With Dyspareunia, Jennifer Bivens, Hilary Billings, Jenna Dilauro, Lea Thaler, Marta Meana

Festival of Communities: UG Symposium (Posters)

This study examined the impact of pain and sexual stimuli on the experience of experimentally induced pain, as well as pain threshold, tolerance and catastrophization levels in women with dyspareunia compared to control women.

Eating For Two: A Study Of The Effects Of Obesity Upon The Health Of Pregnant Women And Their Infants, Michael Cochran-Boucher

Inquiry Journal 2011

No abstract provided.

Development Of Fetal Movement Between 26 And 36 Weeks’ Gestation In Response To Vibroacoustic Stimulation, Marybeth Grant-Beuttler, Laura M. Glynn, Amy L. Salisbury, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Carol Holliday, Curt A. Sandman

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound observation of fetal movement has documented general trends in motor development and fetal age when motor response to stimulation is observed. Evaluation of fetal movement quality, in addition to specific motor activity, may improve documentation of motor development and highlight specific motor responses to stimulation.

AIM: The aim of this investigation was to assess fetal movement at 26 and 36-weeks gestation during three conditions (baseline, immediate response to vibro-acoustic stimulation (VAS), and post-response).

DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal design was utilized.

SUBJECTS: Twelve normally developing fetuses, eight females and four males, were examined with continuous ultrasound imaging.

OUTCOME MEASURES: …

The Interim Window: Women’S Experiences During In Vitro Fertilization Leading To Maternal Embryo Attachment, Tammy Mackinnon Lampley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Infertility affects about 7.3 million women and their partners in the U.S., about 12% of the reproductive-age population. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been used successfully in the United States since 1981. The number of women seeking artificial reproductive techniques (ART) has increased dramatically and the number of ART cycles performed in the United States has more than doubled, from 64,681 in 1996 to 134,260 in 2005 and 99% of these are IVF. Studies indicated that women rank waiting for the outcome of and IVF treatment and a negative pregnancy result as the most stressful events during their treatment. Although …

Use Of An Animal Model To Explore Prenatal Predictors Of Insulin And Glucose Metabolism In Southwestern Alaskan Yupiit, Julie Jo Kachinski

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Compared to other North American indigenous populations, Southwest Alaskan Yupiit exhibit very low rates of type 2 diabetes despite the occurrence of common risk factors. Contemporary Yupiit obtain a substantial portion of their calories from traditional foods, which contain high amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Epidemiological and experimental animal research has linked glucose and insulin homeostasis with a diet high in omega-3s. This study used an experimental animal model to explore potential diabetes protective effects (for adult offspring) of prenatal maternal nutrition modeled on traditional locally-obtained Yupiit diets. The results of this study showed that the adult offspring whose …

Sharing Neurological Expertise: Development Of A High Risk Obstetrical Course, Maureen T. Smith Msn, Rn, Cnrn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

The Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoid Cannabidiol Inhibits 5-Hydroxytryptamine3a Receptor-Mediated Currents In Xenopus Laevis Oocytes, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Sehamuddin Galadari, Dmytro Isaev, Georg Petroianu, Toni S. Shippenberg, Murat Oz

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The effect of the plant-derived nonpsychotropic cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), on the function of hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)3A receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes was investigated using two-electrode voltage-clamp techniques. CBD reversibly inhibited 5-HT (1 μM)-evoked currents in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 0.6 μM). CBD (1 μM) did not alter specific binding of the 5-HT3A antagonist [3H]3-(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-1-(1-methylindol-3-yl)propan-1-one (GR65630), in oocytes expressing 5-HT3A receptors. In the presence of 1 μM CBD, the maximal 5-HT-induced currents were also inhibited. The EC50 values were 1.2 and 1.4 μM, in the absence and presence of CBD, indicating that CBD acts as a noncompetitive antagonist of 5-HT3 …

Synthesis, Antiviral And Contraceptive Activities Of Nucleoside-Sodium Cellulose Sulfate Acetate And Succinate Conjugates, Hitesh K. Agarwal, Anil Kumar, Gustavo F. Doncel, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chemical conjugates between sodium cellulose sulfate (CS), displaying contraceptive and HIV-entry inhibiting properties, and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (AZT), 3′-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (FLT), or 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC)) were designed to simultaneously provide contraceptive and anti-HIV activity. Two linkers, acetate and succinate, were used to conjugate the nucleoside analogs with CS. The conjugates containing cellulose sulfate-acetate (CSA) (e.g., AZT-CSA and FLT-CSA) were found to be more potent than CS and other conjugates (e.g., AZT-succinate-CS, and FLT-succinate-CS). The presence of both sulfate and the acetate groups on cellulose were critical for generating maximum anti-HIV activity. In addition to showing equal potency against wild-type …