Correlations between the detection of stress-associated hormone/oxidative stress markers in umbilical cord blood and the physical condition of the mother and neonate.

AIM: The objective of this study was to assess the correlations between the detection of stress-associated hormone/oxidative stress markers in umbilical cord blood (CB) and the physical condition of the mother and neonate. METHODS: CB units collected from normal vaginal deliveries were analyzed for various biochemical markers, some stress-associated hormones, such as progesterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) and oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), respectively. RESULTS: The progesterone concentration closely correlated with Apgar score, hemoglobin, maternal smoking and insulin concentration, respectively. In particular, its concentration in the non-smoker group and Apgar score 10 points group was significantly lower in comparison to the smoker group and Apgar score 8 points group, respectively. Cortisol concentration correlated significantly with the number of parities, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and increase of neonatal weight and height per day, respectively. In particular, its concentration in deliveries of males and first babies was significantly higher in comparison to female deliveries and second babies, respectively. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the duration between spontaneous/artificial membrane rupture time and delivery time and the ACTH concentration. However, no significant relationship was observed between maternal/neonatal factors and CRF concentration and 8-OHdG concentration, respectively. A significant negative correlation was observed between cortisol and 8-OHdG concentration. CONCLUSION: CB stress-associated hormone/oxidative stress markers strongly reflect maternal and neonatal condition at the time of delivery.

Influence of obstetric factors on the yield of mononuclear cells, CD34+ cell count and volume of placental/umbilical cord blood.

AIM: Placental/umbilical cord blood (CB) has been used increasingly not only for transplantations, but also in the field of life science research. However, little information is available on the biological characteristics of CB units collected in rural areas because no medical facilities are affiliated with CB banks. Little attention has been paid to the collection of CB units in rural areas compared to CB collected in metropolitan areas. CB is a precious source for life science research due to the recent low birth rate in Japan. Therefore, to efficiently utilize CB units, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the optimum obstetric factors associated with a higher yield of mononuclear/CD34(+) cells per CB unit. METHODS: CB units were collected at a single hospital (Hirosaki National Hospital). A total of 126 CB units from 105 vaginal deliveries and 21 cesarean section deliveries were available for cell separation within 24 h. Mononuclear low-density (LD) cells were separated using Ficoll-Paque and then processed for CD34(+) cell enrichment using magnetic cell sorting. Associations between the maternal/neonatal factors and the yield of LD/CD34(+) cells were analyzed. RESULTS: Despite the larger net weight of CB collected from cesarean section deliveries, the total number of LD cells collected from vaginal deliveries was significantly higher than that collected from cesarean section deliveries. The total number of LD cells per CB unit from primigravidae was significantly higher compared with that collected from from multigravidae. CONCLUSION: CB units from vaginal deliveries of primigravidae may be more favorable because they contain a higher yield of mononuclear cells.

Validation of the Friedewald Equation for Evaluation of Plasma LDL-Cholesterol.

In most clinical laboratories, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is usually estimated indirectly with the Friedewald equation or directly with the N-geneous assay. We assessed LDL-cholesterol values obtained by both methods to find an appropriate fasting period and to assess the influence of the energy content of the last meal. Blood samples were taken from 28 healthy volunteers who had consumed a standard meal (107 g of carbohydrate, 658 kcal) followed by a fasting period of 12 and 18 h, or a high-energy meal (190 g of carbohydrate, 1011 kcal) with a fasting period of 12 h. Prolongation of the fasting period from 12 h to 18 h decreased glucose level, but did not decrease triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. LDL-cholesterol levels measured with the N-geneous assay did not change (94.0 +/- 21.5 to 96.3 +/- 19.1 mg/dl). LDL-cholesterol levels calculated with the Friedewald equation were also similar after fasting periods of 12 h (98.5 +/- 21.4 mg/dl) and 18 h (99.7 +/- 20.2 mg/dl). The high-energy meal did not change the level of LDL-cholesterol measured with the N-geneous assay (96.1 +/- 21.2 mg/dl), or the glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, or HDL-cholesterol level, but LDL-cholesterol levels evaluated from the Friedewald equation (92.6 +/- 20.3 mg/dl) became significantly lower. A fasting time longer than 12 h is not necessary to obtain reasonable blood lipid levels. The Friedewald equation gave higher LDL-cholesterol levels than N-geneous assay in young Japanese females who had eaten a low-energy meal, and lower values when they had eaten a high-energy meal. Thus, it may be necessary to pay attention to energy of nigh meal prior to blood withdrawal.

Maternal and neonatal factors associated with the high yield of mononuclear low-density/CD34+ cells from placental/umbilical cord blood.

Placental/umbilical cord blood (CB) contains nucleated cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (CD34(+) cells). However it is difficult to predict the number of nucleated/CD34(+) cells in each CB before cell processing. Despite many previous studies from institutes affiliated with CB banks in metropolitan areas, little information is available regarding the characteristics of CB units from other medical facilities. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the maternal/neonatal factors on the yield of cells in CB units. A total of 176 CB units were obtained from single-birth and normal vaginal deliveries. Mononuclear low-density (LD) cells were separated using Ficoll-Paque within 24 hrs after CB collection and then processed for the purification of CD34(+) cells. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlations between the yield of cells and maternal/neonatal factors including maternal age, gravid status, duration of labor, gestational age, neonatal height and weight, cord length, and meconium in the amniotic fluid. The total LD cells per CB unit had a weak positive correlation with the maternal age of primigravidae. The total LD cells per CB unit from the primigravidae aged > or = 25 were significantly higher than those from the primigravidae aged < or = 24. The total CD34(+) cells per CB unit from the 1-gravidae were significantly higher than those from the 2-gravidae and 3-gravidae, respectively among all donors. These results indicate that the CB units from the primigravidae aged > or = 25 are more likely to contain higher yield of LD/CD34(+) cells.