Maternal Weight Gain (maternal + weight_gain)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Effects of a Novel Cognition-Enhancing Agent on Fetal Ethanol-Induced Learning Deficits

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2010
Daniel D. Savage
Background:, Drinking during pregnancy has been associated with learning disabilities in affected offspring. At present, there are no clinically effective pharmacotherapeutic interventions for these learning deficits. Here, we examined the effects of ABT-239, a histamine H3 receptor antagonist, on fetal ethanol-induced fear conditioning and spatial memory deficits. Methods and Results:, Long-Evans rat dams stably consumed a mean of 2.82 g ethanol/kg during a 4-hour period each day during pregnancy. This voluntary drinking pattern produced a mean peak serum ethanol level of 84 mg/dl. Maternal weight gain, litter size and birth weights were not different between the ethanol-consuming and control groups. Female adult offspring from the control and fetal alcohol-exposed (FAE) groups received saline or 1 mg ABT-239/kg 30 minutes prior to fear conditioning training. Three days later, freezing time to the context was significantly reduced in saline-treated FAE rats compared to control. Freezing time in ABT-239-treated FAE rats was not different than that in controls. In the spatial navigation study, adult male offspring received a single injection of saline or ABT-239 30 minutes prior to 12 training trials on a fixed platform version of the Morris Water Task. All rats reached the same performance asymptote on Trials 9 to 12 on Day 1. However, 4 days later, first-trial retention of platform location was significantly worse in the saline-treated FAE rats compared control offspring. Retention by ABT-239-treated FAE rats was similar to that by controls. ABT-239's effect on spatial memory retention in FAE rats was dose dependent. Conclusions:, These results suggest that ABT-239 administered prior to training can improve retention of acquired information by FAE offspring on more challenging versions of hippocampal-sensitive learning tasks. Further, the differential effects of ABT-239 in FAE offspring compared to controls raises questions about the impact of fetal ethanol exposure on histaminergic neurotransmission in affected offspring. [source]


Effects of oyster extract on the reproductive function of zinc-deficient mice: Bioavailability of zinc contained in oyster extract

CONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 4 2003
Yoshikazu Matsuda
ABSTRACT Zinc is a vital nutrient in the normal reproductive function and embryonic development of mammals, and it is well known that oyster extract contains significant amounts of zinc. The effects of oyster extract on reproductive function, such as embryonic development, serum levels of zinc and sperm maturation were examined in zinc-deficient mice. Zinc deficiency in dams during pregnancy induced a decrease in the successful pregnancy rate, maternal weight gain, the number of live fetuses and fetal body weight. Zinc deficiency for 12 weeks in male mice induced a decrease in body weight, testis weight and sperm count in the epididymis. However, reproductive failure, embryonic defects and decreased sperm motility in zinc-deficient mice were improved by supplementation with oyster extract. Some nutrients contained in oyster extract, such as taurine and glycogen, may be related to the recovery of reproductive function. There were significantly lower serum concentrations of zinc in dams fed a zinc-deficient diet However, the serum zinc concentration was normal in the oyster extract-supplemented group. No difference in the concentration of serum zinc was observed between the oyster extract- and zinc carbonate-supplemented groups. From these findings, it is suggested that oyster extract is a useful supplement that can prevent reproductive defects from zinc deficiency, and the bioavailability of zinc may be identical to zinc carbonate. [source]


Maternal Nutrition and Perinatal Survival

NUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 10 2001
David Rush M.D.
The simple relationship between maternal macro-nutrient status and perinatal survival (increased ma-cronutrient intake , increased maternal weight and/or weight gain , increased fetal growth , improved survival) that is usually posited is no longer defensible. First, maternal weight and weight gain are remarkably resistant to either dietary advice or supplementation; further, increased birth weight attributable to maternal nutrition does not necessarily increase perinatal survival (because prepregnant weight is positively associated with both birth weight and higher perinatal mortality). Finally, whereas dietary supplements during pregnancy may have a modest effect on birth weight in nonfamine conditions (by contrast with a large effect in famine or near-famine conditions), their impact is not mediated by maternal energy deposition. Rather, the component of maternal weight gain associated with accelerated fetal growth is maternal water (presumably plasma) volume. [source]


Teenage Pregnancy in the Texas Panhandle

THE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2005
Rosa Galvez-Myles MD
ABSTRACT: Purpose: This study compares rural and small-city teenage and adult pregnancies, with respect to complication rates and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Chart review of Medicaid patients (513 teenage [under 20 years] and 174 adult controls [ages 25,34]) delivered (excluding multiple gestation) in Amarillo, Texas, from January 1999 to April 2001. Demographic data collected included maternal race, gravidity, parity, smoking status, drug usage, presence of antenatally diagnosed sexually transmitted disease(s), county type (rural vs small city) and number of prenatal visits. Outcomes included mode of delivery, primary cesarean section rates, preterm birth (<34 or <37 weeks), birth weight, birth weight <2,500 g, preeclampsia, total maternal weight gain, hemoglobin changes after delivery, Apgar scores, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Statistical comparisons between groups were made for a number of factors and outcomes (P<.05). Results: Teenagers did not have a significantly higher frequency of either illicit drug or tobacco usage, but teenagers ,17 years had a greater incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (19.8% vs 10.4%, P<008) and preeclampsia (7.1% vs 2.3%, P<.025, odds ratio 3.2 [1.1 to 9.9]) when compared with adults. The total weight gain was highest for teens ,17 years (36.4 pounds vs adults: 28.2, P<.001). The primary cesarean section rate was higher in adults (all teens 18.5% vs adults 38.6%, P<.001). County rurality had no impact on any of the observed findings or variables tested. Conclusions: Young teenagers have a higher incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and preeclampsia and also gain significantly more weight with pregnancy than young adults. However, the pregnancy outcomes were no different for rural vs small city teens. [source]


Maternal obesity and pregnancy complications: A review

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
Jonathan RAMACHENDERAN
Obesity in women of reproductive age is increasing at an unprecedented rate in western societies. Maternal obesity is associated with an unequivocal increase in maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy. Excessive maternal weight gain in pregnancy also appears to be an independent risk factor, regardless of prepregnancy weight. Few guidelines exist regarding appropriate weight gain in pregnancy in obese women. We review the association of maternal obesity with pregnancy complications. We also suggest that appropriate diet and lifestyle intervention can enable women with severe prepregnancy obesity to safely achieve quite strict targets for limited weight gain in pregnancy. [source]


Optic nerve hypoplasia in North America: a re-appraisal of perinatal risk factors

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2010
Pamela Garcia-Filion
Abstract. Purpose:, The purpose of this study is to describe and clarify the birth and prenatal characteristics of a large cohort of children with optic nerve hypoplasia. Methods:, This is a descriptive report of 204 patients aged , 36 months and enrolled in a prospective study at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Birth characteristics, including complications, were abstracted from study files and medical records. Systematic maternal interviews were conducted to obtain detailed prenatal histories. National birth data were used for comparison with birth findings. Results:, Birth characteristics were unremarkable for birthweight and gestation, but significant for increased frequency of caesarean delivery and fetal and neonatal complications. Young maternal age and primaparity were dominating maternal features. Preterm labour, gestational vaginal bleeding, low maternal weight gain and weight loss during pregnancy were prevalent. Conclusions:, These findings confirm young maternal age and primaparity as associated risk factors, challenge many other suggested factors such as alcohol and drug abuse, and introduce potentially significant prenatal characteristics such as maternal weight loss and early gestational vaginal bleeding as aetiological correlates. [source]