Chinese Meishan pigs produce three to five more pigs per litter than less-prolific U.S. or European pig breeds as a result of a markedly decreased placental size and an increased pig weight: placental weight ratio (placental efficiency). We hypothesized that as a result of their intense selection for prolificacy, the Chinese had indirectly selected for a smaller, more efficient placenta in the ...

AIM To describe the evolution of placental vascularization during a normal course of gestation and the blood flow 3D power Doppler indices obtained by "placental vascular biopsy." METHODS A prospective study was carried out on 99 normal singleton pregnancies from 14 to 40 weeks. Placental vascularization was evaluated by 3D power Doppler ("placental biopsy"). The spherical volume acquired was...

The enzyme FASN (fatty acid synthase) is potentially related with hypertension and metabolic dysfunction. FASN is highly expressed in the human placenta. We aimed to investigate the relationship circulating FASN has with blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters in healthy pregnant women. Circulating FASN was assessed in 115 asymptomatic pregnant women in the second trimester o...

During pregnancy parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is one of many growth factors that play important roles to promote fetal growth and development including stimulating placental calcium transport. Angiotensin II, acting through the AT1a, receptor is also known to promote placental growth. We examined the effects of bilateral uterine artery and vein ligation (Restricted), which mimics...

Objective: To determine the effect of Air Quality Index (AQI) in the first trimester of pregnancy on birth weight, placental weight, and the ratio of placental weight to the birth weight (pw-bw) in Isfahan. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 312 consecutive pregnant women in Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan city in 2013. Information on air pollution was received from the ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of placental pathology among low birthweight infants delivered at Srinagarind Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD Descriptive study of 114 placentas from infants weighing between 500 and 2,499 grams delivered between June 2002 and June 2004 in the labour room, Srinagarind Hospital. Placentas from low birthweight infants were examined by a perinatal pathologist ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lower birth weight is associated with increased risk of stroke, but little is known about the mechanism for this association or influence in addition to vascular risk factors. We investigated whether there was an association between birth parameters and imaging markers of white matter integrity in community-dwelling older people. METHODS One hundred seven volunteers, ag...

BACKGROUND Exposure of pregnant mothers to elevated concentrations of circulating testosterone levels is associated with fetal growth restriction and delivery of small-for-gestational-age babies. We examined whether maternal testosterone crosses the placenta to directly suppress fetal growth or if it modifies placental function to reduce the capacity for transport of nutrients to the fetus. M...

Triclosan (TCS) is associated with spontaneous abortions and fetal growth restriction. Here, we showed that when pregnant mice were treated with 8 mg/kg TCS (8-TCS mice) on gestational days (GD) 6-18 fetal body weights were lower than controls. Placental weights and volumes were reduced in 8-TCS mice. The placental proliferative cells and expression of PCNA and Cyclin D3 on GD13 were remarkably...

The birth of a child with a reduction limb defect (RLD) was evaluated in relation to vaginal bleeding, threatened abortion, and other complications of pregnancy, placental weight, birth weight, family history, parental age, and the outcome of previous pregnancies. The material consisted of 453 cases of reduction limb defect and an equal number of non-malformed controls matched for time and plac...