Maternal and Child Health Commons^™

Dna Release From Plant Tissue Using Focused Ultrasound Extraction (Fuse), Alexia Stettinius, Hal Holmes, Qian Zhang, Isabelle Mehochko, Misa Winters, Ruby Hutchison, Adam Maxwell, Jason Holliday, Eli Vlaisavljevich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PREMISE: Sample preparation in genomics is a critical step that is often overlooked in molecular workflows and impacts the success of downstream genetic applications. This study explores the use of a recently developed focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) technique to enable the rapid release of DNA from plant tissues for genetic analysis.

METHODS: FUSE generates a dense acoustic cavitation bubble cloud that pulverizes targeted tissue into acellular debris. This technique was applied to leaf samples of American chestnut (

RESULTS: We observed that FUSE can extract high quantities of DNA in 9-15 min, compared to the 30 min required for control …

Association Between Giving Birth During The Early Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic And Serious Maternal Morbidity, Torri D Metz, Rebecca G Clifton, Brenna L Hughes, Grecio J Sandoval, William A Grobman, George R Saade, Tracy A Manuck, Monica Longo, Amber Sowles, Kelly Clark, Hyagriv N Simhan, Dwight J Rouse, Hector Mendez-Figueroa, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Jennifer L Bailit, Maged M Costantine, Harish M Sehdev, Alan T N Tita, George A Macones

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether delivering during the early the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with increased risk of maternal death or serious morbidity from common obstetric complications compared with a historical control period.

METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study with manual medical-record abstraction performed by centrally trained and certified research personnel at 17 U.S. hospitals. Individuals who gave birth on randomly selected dates in 2019 (before the pandemic) and 2020 (during the pandemic) were compared. Hospital, health care system, and community risk-mitigation strategies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in response to the early …

Retroperitoneal Hematoma As An Atypical Presentation Of Choriocarcinoma: A Case Report, Truce Pham, Danica Lapid, Kathleen M Schmeler, J Alejandro Rauh-Hain, Mateo G Leon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A 38-year-old female with an etonogestrel implant in place and history of previous ectopic pregnancy presented with acute abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. She was found to have a beta-hCG of >12,000 mIU/mL and free fluid noted on a focused assessment with sonography in trauma exam. She underwent an emergent diagnostic laparoscopy due to the suspicion of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Findings at the time of surgery included a normal-appearing uterus and left fallopian tube, a surgically absent right fallopian tube and large volume hemoperitoneum with a rapidly expanding left retroperitoneal hematoma. A postoperative computerized tomography (CT) angiogram suggested active …

Pregnancy And Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Fetal Jeopardy And Windows Of Opportunity, Ankia Coetzee, David R Hall, Eduard J Langenegger, Mari Van De Vyver, Magda Conradie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during pregnancy poses significant risks to both the mother and fetus, with an increased risk of fetal demise. Although more prevalent in women with Type I diabetes (T1D); those with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can also develop DKA. A lack of information about DKA during pregnancy exists worldwide, including in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the characteristics and outcomes associated with DKA during pregnancy.

METHODS: The study took place between 1 April 2020 and 1 October 2022. Pregnant women with DKA, admitted to Tygerberg Hospital's Obstetric Critical Care Unit (OCCU) …

Intraventricular Endoscopy And Intraventricular Antibiotics In The Treatment Of Multiloculated Hydrocephalus With Ventriculitis In A Neonate And An Infant: Two Case Reports, Doriam Alejandrino Perera Valdivia, Luis Roberto Zapata Vega, Edgar Abraham Herrera Pérez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: We present two pediatric cases, a neonate and an infant, who presented with treatment-refractory ventriculitis and multiloculated hydrocephalus treated with simultaneous intraventricular endoscopy and antibiotics. This is the first report of this combined therapy in children.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Using intraventricular endoscopic surgery and antibiotics, hydrocephalus was treated with a minimum number of ventricular shunt systems. In addition, treatment-refractory ventriculitis was treated in both patients using intraventricular antibiotics.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic surgery and intraventricular antibiotic administration are useful strategies for treating multiloculated hydrocephalus and ventriculitis in children.

Evaluating The Relationship Of In Utero Nicotine Exposure With Hypoglycemia After Delivery: An Observational Study, Mary G Johnson, Robert Suchting, Lisa M Scheid, Lindsay N Holzapfel, Aditi Chalise, Angela L Stotts, John C Chapman, Amir M Khan, Thomas F Northrup

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycemia in neonates is common and contributes to 4.0-5.8% of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions. In utero nicotine exposure is underexplored as a potential contributor to neonatal hypoglycemia. Rat models have shown that in utero nicotine exposure can be associated with a reduction in pancreatic beta cell mass, leading to glucose dysregulation. The primary aim of this work is to study the risk of developing hypoglycemia after birth in a population of in utero nicotine-exposed neonates.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study that augmented an existing dataset of neonates admitted to a level IV NICU with …

Population-Based Linked Longitudinal Surveillance Of Pregnant People And Their Infants: A Critical Resource For Emerging, Re-Emerging, And Persistent Threats, Van T Tong, Kate R Woodworth, Erin Blau, Neha Shinde, Amanda Akosa, Suzanne M Gilboa, Dana Meaney-Delman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Public health emergencies, from Zika to COVID-19, have underscored the importance of addressing the needs of pregnant people and their infants. Recent events have underlined the critical role of mother-infant-linked longitudinal surveillance to characterize and assess the impacts of emerging, re-emerging, and persistent threats, including infectious diseases, on these populations. In partnership with state, local, and territorial health departments, CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities activated the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET) to capture information about pregnant people with laboratory-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and their infants. SET-NET …

Exosomal Lipid Biomarkers Of Oligodendrocyte Pathology To Predict Scoliosis In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Nune Darbinian, Emily C Sparks, Armine Darbinyan, Nana Merabova, Tamara Tatevosian-Geller, Katie Calaku, Sarah Bachman, Huaqing Zhao, Shohreh Amini, Laura Goetzl, Solomon P Samuel, Amer Samdani, Michael E Selzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral Palsy (CP), the most common cause of disability in children, is phenotypically heterogeneous. Approximately 20% of cases develop severe scoliosis. A pathological hallmark of CP is periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which is due to dysmyelination, suggesting the possibility of a lipidomic abnormality. Risk factors for CP include perinatal hypoxia, prematurity, multiple gestation, ischemia, infection, and maternal alcohol consumption. There is evidence for low serum levels of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids in CP patients, and separately in idiopathic scoliosis. Many effects of free fatty acids (FFAs) are mediated via specific G protein-coupled free fatty acid receptors (FFARs), which play essential …

Maternal Blood Lipid Biomarkers Of Oligodendrocyte Pathology To Predict Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Nune Darbinian, Emily C Sparks, Armine Darbinyan, Nana Merabova, Gabriel Tatevosian, Ekaterina Vadachkoria, Huaqing Zhao, Shohreh Amini, Laura Goetzl, Michael E Selzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Up to 9.9% of children have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the most frequent cause of intellectual disability in the US. FASD may involve abnormal brain development, including dysmyelination, suggesting abnormal development of oligodendrocytes (OLs), which make myelin and are rich in lipids. Indeed, low serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3) have been reported in FASD. Free fatty acids bind to specific receptors (FFARs). We have isolated cell type-specific fetal brain-derived exosomes (FB-E) from maternal blood and sampled their contents to search for lipid-related biomarkers that predict FASD.

METHODS: Blood samples were collected from two groups of pregnant …

Perbedaan Edukasi Pemberian Makan Balita Dengan Metode Emotional Demonstration Dan Metode Ceramah Terhadap Pengetahuan Dan Sikap Ibu Balita Di Rt 06 Rw 08 Kelurahan Keputih Kota Surabaya, Anugrah Linda Mutiarani, Pratiwi Hariyani Putri, Kartika Yuliani

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Undernutrition under five years old has a variety of health risks. In Surabaya, the SSGI 2021 report that underweight cases were 16,6 percent. One of the causes of nutritional problems for toddlers is the behavior of mothers in feeding toddlers which will affect the growth and development of toddlers. The right educational method is needed to change behavior, namely Emotional Demonstration (Emo Demo). This study aimed to analyze the differences in emo demo education and lectures on the knowledge and attitudes of mothers in feeding toddlers. The design for this research is quasi-experimental with a Pre-Postest Control Group. The total …

Gambaran Tingkat Kecukupan Energi Dan Tingkat Kecukupan Protein Ibu Hamil Di Kota Malang, Rany Ekawati, Windi Chusniah Rahmawati, Farah Paramita, Dini Elita Berliana, Alfinadelasari Putri Fariadi

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Chronic energy deficiency (CED) in pregnant women is still a nutritional problem in Indonesia. CED in pregnant women is caused by low energy and protein intake in pregnant women. The low energy and protein intake in pregnant women can cause disturbances in pregnancy and the baby in the womb. This research objective is to provide an overview of the level of energy and protein adequacy of pregnant women in the city of Malang. This study is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. The sample in this study was 64 pregnant women. The variables of energy adequacy and protein adequacy …

Voices, Stories And Experiences Of Black Women: Informing The Establishment Of A Trenton-Based Maternal And Infant Health Innovation And Research Center, Tirzah R. Spencer Phd, Mph, Barbara George Johnson Mph, J.D., Consuelo Bonillas

Center for Health Policy Development

The establishment of a Maternal and Infant Health Innovation and Research Center is one of nine recommendations outlined by the 2021 Nurture NJ Strategic Plan to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and ensure equity in care and in outcomes for mothers and infants of all ethnic groups. The purpose of this environmental scan is to provide input for the design of a Maternal and Infant Health Innovation and Research Center within Trenton.

Building on the Nurture NJ Initiative, this project is a deeper dive in its focus on Black and Latina women living in Trenton and surrounding areas. …

Pengaruh Edukasi Praktik Cuci Tangan Pakai Sabun Terhadap Peningkatan Pengetahuan Anak Di Masa Pandemi, Evy Tri Pratiwi, Devi Safira Damayanti, Galuh Sekar Anggraeni, Melinia Dwi Tanti, Tatut Isna Winanda, Vidia Nuria Rahman, Ayik Mirayanti Mandagi, Septa Indra Puspikawati

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Vertical Transmission Of Sars-Cov-2 In A Twin Pregnancy, Tiffany C. Chang, Rebecca F. Herbert, Stacey N. Tran, Victoria M. Weprinsky, Bhaskari Burra, Chi Dola

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in 2019 and rapidly evolved into the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The emergence of a highly morbid disease has posed ongoing challenges in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of COVID-19. The uncertainty underlying medical decision making is further compounded by preexisting conditions, including pregnancy. Here, we report a twin pregnancy complicated by maternal COVID-19 and the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We hope that our experiences contribute to a better understanding of the disease in pregnancy and, ultimately, guide the development of effective treatment and prevention …

The Maternal And Infant Environmental Health Riskscape Study Of Perinatal Disparities In Greater Houston: Rationale, Study Design And Participant Profiles, R Jeanne Ruiz, Kristyn Grimes, Elizabeth Spurlock, Angela Stotts, Thomas F Northrup, Yolanda Villarreal, Robert Suchting, Melissa Cernuch, Liza Rivera, Raymond P Stowe, Rita H Pickler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Pregnant Mexican Americans (hereafter called Latinas) and Black/African American women are at increased risk for psychological distress, contributing to preterm birth and low birthweight; acculturative stress combined with perceived stress elevates depressive symptoms in Latinas. Based on our prior research using a psychoneuroimmunology framework, we identified psychological and neuroendocrine risk factors as predictors of preterm birth in Latina women that are also identified as risk factors for Black/African American women.

METHODS/DESIGN: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial with parallel group design we will explore psychosocial, neuroendocrine, and birth outcome effects of the Mastery Lifestyle Intervention (MLI). The MLI is …

Pertussis And Influenza Immunization: Perceived Attitude And Decision Of Postpartum Patients, Nutan B Hebballi, Tayler Parker, Elisa I Garcia, Dalya M Ferguson, Susan Lesser, Kuojen Tsao, Maryam Broussard, Susan H Wootton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Vaccination of pregnant patients with tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccine during influenza season can reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality; nevertheless, vaccination rates remain suboptimal in this patient population. To investigate the effect of a brief educational counseling session on maternal Tdap and influenza vaccination and determine factors influencing women's decision in regards to receiving Tdap and or influenza vaccine during their pregnancy.

METHODS: A face-to-face semi-structured cross-sectional survey was administered to postpartum patients on their anticipated day of discharge (June 11-August 21, 2018). A brief educational counseling session about maternal …

Fetal Brain Tumors, A Challenge In Prenatal Diagnosis, Counselling, And Therapy, Ivonne Alexandra Bedei, Thierry A G M Huisman, William Whitehead, Roland Axt-Fliedner, Michael Belfort, Magdalena Sanz Cortes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Fetal brain tumors are a rare entity with an overall guarded prognosis. About 10% of congenital brain tumors are diagnosed during fetal life. They differ from the postnatally encountered pediatric brain tumors with respect to location and tumor type. Fetal brain tumors can be benign or malignant and infiltrate or displace adjacent brain structures. Due to their high mitotic rate, they can show rapid growth. Outcome depends on age of diagnosis, size, and histological tumor type. Findings like polyhydramnios and macrocephaly encountered on routine ultrasound are frequently associated. Detailed prenatal anomaly scan and subsequent fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may …

Molecular Markers In Maternal Blood Exosomes Allow Early Detection Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Nune Darbinian, Armine Darbinyan, John Sinard, Gabriel Tatevosian, Nana Merabova, Faith D'Amico, Tarek Khader, Ahsun Bajwa, Diana Martirosyan, Alina K Gawlinski, Richa Pursnani, Huaqing Zhao, Shohreh Amini, Mary Morrison, Laura Goetzl, Michael E Selzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause developmental abnormalities (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; FASD), including small eyes, face and brain, and neurobehavioral deficits. These cannot be detected early in pregnancy with available imaging techniques. Early diagnosis could facilitate development of therapeutic interventions. Banked human fetal brains and eyes at 9−22 weeks’ gestation were paired with maternal blood samples, analyzed for morphometry, protein, and RNA expression, and apoptotic signaling. Alcohol (EtOH)-exposed (maternal self-report) fetuses were compared with unexposed controls matched for fetal age, sex, and maternal race. Fetal brain-derived exosomes (FB-E) were isolated from maternal blood and analyzed for protein, RNA, and apoptotic …

Why Skin-To-Skin Contact Is Not Made A Traditional Practice Right After Childbirth? Hindrances Behind Its Non-Implementation, Ateefa Al-Noor

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is the practice in which a newborn is dried and placed immediately on mother’s chest. Both the mother and the baby gains benefits from this as it aids in breastfeeding and helps baby adjust to temperature outside the mother’s womb. However, not many midwives in hospitals carry out this crucial practice. Staff shortage, lack of awareness and time constraints were identified as the main determinants because SSC was not implemented. Realistic measures should be taken to enhance SSC as discussed in the paper. Thus, promotion of SSC soon after childbirth will be advantageous for neonatal quality of …

The Relationship Between Urban Green Space Perception And Use Within The Adolescent Population: A Focused Ethnography, Rachel Lyons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Greenspace is beneficial for improving adolescent mental health, yet we still do not understand the connection between the built environment and subjective mental wellbeing. We also lack understanding of how this population uses greenspace and how they feel when in it. Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was threefold: to understand why adolescents use greenspace, to identify how they use greenspace, and to explore how they feel when they are in greenspace. Methods: participated in a focused ethnography that utilized auto photography for photo elicitation. Braun and Clark's (2006), six phases of thematic analysis were used to guide …