ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine 1. the relationship between maternal serum leptin concentrations and maternal anthropometry and 2. the relationship between cord serum leptin concentrations at birth and neonatal anthropometry. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of fetal growth in low-risk pregnancies. SETTING: University teaching hospital. SAMPLE: Thirty-nine women and their babies taking part in a fetal growth study. METHODS: Blood was taken from the women between 10-20 weeks of gestation and from the umbilical cord of their babies at delivery. Serum leptin was measured by radio-immunoassay. Maternal anthropometric measurements were recorded at booking. Neonatal anthropometric measurements were recorded within 48 hours after delivery. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between serum leptin concentrations and anthropometric measures and multiple regression analysis then applied to determine which variables remained independently associated with leptin. RESULTS: The median (range) leptin concentration in maternal serum was 11.8 ng/mL (1.7-39.7) and in cord blood was 4.2 ng/mL (0.6-21.4). Maternal leptin levels correlated with maternal weight, body mass index, midarm circumference and skinfold thickness, but not with birthweight, placental weight or maternal height. Body mass index and midarm circumference remained significant after multiple regression analysis. Cord leptin levels correlated with birthweight, birthlength, placental weight and skinfold thickness but not with ponderal index. Birthweight and subscapular skinfold thickness remained significant after multiple regression analysis. Cord leptin concentrations did not correlate with maternal leptin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that there are very strong associations between maternal leptin and maternal adiposity in pregnancy, and between cord leptin at delivery and birthweight, as well as other anthropometric markers of fetal growth.
Subject(s)
Embryonic and Fetal Development/physiology , Fetal Blood/metabolism , Leptin/blood , Pregnancy/blood , Adult , Birth Weight , Body Height , Body Weight , Cohort Studies , Female , Gestational Age , Humans , Organ Size , Placenta , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
The 'Murphy's Law' concept that doctors have a higher incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome is often quoted anecdotally but has never been scientifically tested. A group of medical doctors (n =52) were prospectively matched closely with a group of non-doctors (n =52) and pregnancy outcome was recorded. There were no differences noted in pregnancy outcome between the two groups. Whilst a much larger number of doctors is probably required to show a statistically significant difference, this first small study shows no clinically relevant difference between the two groups. The perception of Murphy's Law and the pregnant medical doctor would appear to be a myth.
ABSTRACT
Two solid phase methods of antibody detection, Capture-R (CR) and Capture-R Ready-Screen (RS), were compared to determine their acceptability for use in prenatal antibody screening. Ninety-six serum samples, screened using a saline antiglobulin test, were coded and tested by CR and RS at two laboratory sites using a blinded study design. Thirty of the samples were free of antibody, and 66 samples contained antibody. Parallel testing was also performed in both laboratories on 648 prenatal samples. The sensitivity and specificity of CR, based on the 96 previously screened samples, was 95 percent and 90 percent, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of RS was 90 percent and 89 percent, respectively. Antibodies detected only by CR included anti-K(1), -Ch(2), -Jka(1), -Lea(1), -Fya(1), -Mca(1), and -e(1). Antibodies detected only by RS included anti-Jka(5) and -E(1). The sensitivity and specificity of CR for the 648 prenatal samples was 100 percent for each, while the sensitivity and specificity of RS was 97 percent and 100 percent, respectively. Both CR and RS are acceptable techniques for prenatal antibody screening.
ABSTRACT
The prevalence of posterior subcapsular cataracts in young patients receiving inhaled glucocorticoids for treatment of chronic asthma is unknown. In a cross-sectional study, slit-lamp examinations were done on 95 consecutive young patients who were taking inhaled beclomethasone or budesonide. No posterior subcapsular cataracts were found. The median age of the patients was 13.8 (range 5.8-24.8). The median dose of inhaled beclomethasone or budesonide was 750 micrograms/day (range 300-2000), or 12.9 micrograms/kg per day (range 7.5-34.2). The median duration of treatment was 5 years (range 1-15). 77% of the patients had not used oral glucocorticoids in the year preceding the examination. This study suggests that routine screening for posterior subcapsular cataracts in this patient population is not warranted.
Subject(s)
Asthma/drug therapy , Beclomethasone/adverse effects , Bronchodilator Agents/adverse effects , Cataract/chemically induced , Pregnenediones/adverse effects , Administration, Inhalation , Adolescent , Adult , Aerosols , Beclomethasone/administration & dosage , Budesonide , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Manitoba , Patient Compliance , Pregnenediones/administration & dosageABSTRACT
We report on a novel method of efficient frequency quadrupling of a mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser to 262 nm in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum using two external ring enhancement cavities in series. With 6 W of pump power the mode-locked Nd:YLF laser produced 1 W of power incident into the first enhancement cavity. The fundamental has been resonantly frequency doubled using a crystal of lithium triborate with a conversion efficiency of 60% to produce 600 mW of usable mode-locked output at 523.5 nm. Fourth-harmonic radiation was generated by frequency doubling this green output in a second ring enhancement cavity using a crystal of beta-barium borate. Conversion efficiencies from green to ultraviolet of 11% have been achieved, producing a maximum usable average power at 262 nm of 42 mW in picosecond pulses.
ABSTRACT
A retrospective study of the admissions of cases of acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis to the main hospital serving North Trinidad over a five-year period was made. Follow-up examination suggests that there is an initially good prognosis for those afflicted in early childhood whilst adolescents manifest effects of permanent renal damage at a much earlier stage after the acute attack.
Subject(s)
Glomerulonephritis/etiology , Streptococcal Infections/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Glomerulonephritis/epidemiology , Hospitalization , Humans , Hypertension/etiology , Male , Proteinuria/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Trinidad and TobagoABSTRACT
A retrospective study of the admissions of cases of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis to the main hospital serving North Trinidad over a five-year period was made. Follow-up examination suggests that there is an initially good prognosis for those afflicted in early childhood whilst adolescents manifest effects of permanent renal damage at a much earlier stage after the acute attack. (AU)
