Prenatal monocular enucleation induces a selective loss of low-spatial-frequency cortical responses to the remaining eye.

During early development, interactions between the two eyes are critical in the formation of eye-specific domains within the lateral geniculate nucleus and the visual cortex. When monocular enucleation is done early in prenatal life, it induces remarkable anatomical and functional reorganizations of the visual pathways. Behavioral data have shown a loss in sensitivity to low-spatial-frequency gratings in cats. To correlate the behavioral observations with a possible change in the analysis of contrast at the level of primary visual areas we recorded visual evoked potentials at the 17/18 border in two cats enucleated prenatally (gestational age at enucleation, 39-42 days), three neonatal, two control animals, and one animal with a surgical removal of Y-ganglion fibers. Our results show a strong attenuation in the amplitude of response at all contrast values for gratings of low spatial frequency in prenatally enucleated cats, whereas neonatally enucleated and control animals present responses of comparable amplitude. We conclude that the behavioral results reflect the reduced sensitivity for low frequencies of visual cortical neurons. In addition, we define a critical period for the development of the contrast-sensitivity function that seems to be limited to the prenatal gestation period. We suggest that the prenatal interruption of binocular interactions leads to a functional elimination of the Y-ganglion system.

Psicobiología del estrés prenatal:implicaciones en el eje hipotálamo-hipofisiario-adrenal de los bebés

The womb is the first developmental environment. After developmental psychobiologists started to investigate intrauterine evolution of infant and its long-term impact, they found that prenatal and postnatal development is influenced by mother’s psychological health. Specifically, scientific research evidence indicates that prenatal stress is a possible cause of subsequent psychopathological vulnerability. This vulnerability comes from stress sensitivity and is the basis of many childhood disorders. In the last decade, there are evidences for a fetal origin of stress sensitivity in the context of the fetal programming theory (Entringer et al., 2009, Grant et al., 2009, Gutteling et al., 2004, Huizink et al., 2004, O’Connor et al., 2005). According to fetal programming hypothesis, babies that have been exposed to high levels of prenatal stress would develop elevated HPA axis reactivity and thus increased stress sensitivity in the postnatal period. In the field of animal psychobiology, several studies have shown that prenatal stress could play some role on fetal programming of neurodevelopment and HPA axis (Glover, 2010, Weinstock, 2005, 2008). In human psychobiology, evidences are less clear (Glover, 2010). Although research in this regard has been growing during the last few years, more studies are warranted to investigate the relationship between maternal stress and fetal programming of neurodevelopment and the HPA axis in humans, to confirm the findings which are evident from animal psychobiology...

Fish Consumption and Prenatal Mercury Exposure

Methyl mercury levels in fish tissues have recently become a health issue. Does this toxin adversely affect humans to the point that fish consumption should be severely limited? Health effects of high levels of mercury exposure to human adults are fairly well known, however the effects of lower levels of exposure on human fetal development are less understood. Recent guidelines issued by the United States Food and Drug Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency recommended that pregnant women should refrain from consuming some types of fish, and limit consumption to certain levels, but results of health studies used to develop recommendations were inconclusive when low levels of in-utero methyl mercury exposure were compared. Other studies demonstrated health benefits of fish consumption to developing fetuses. These health benefits may be an over-riding factor, and my interpretation of various studies concludes that restricted consumption of some fish species may be premature at this time due to a need to balance potential health benefits against mercury toxicity hazard.

Pràctica 13. Anàlisi d’una temàtica d’estudi: el desenvolupament prenatal i el naixement

L’espai europeu d’educació superior (EEES) promou la participació de l’alumnat en la construcció dels seus coneixements sobre les diferents assignatures que formen les titulacions de grau. Amb aquesta pràctica es vol fomentar el desenvolupament de les competències que el grau de Mestre d’Educació Infantil pretén aconseguir en l’alumnat. En l’assignatura de Psicologia Evolutiva de 0 a 3 anys serà fonamental que els estudiants puguen regular el seu propi procés d’aprenentatge i a la mateixa vegada, que participen en dinàmiques de treball en equip, per a desenvolupar projectes de treball comuns. És per aquest motiu que s’haurà de fomentar en l’alumnat la capacitat de cercar, usar i integrar la informació de diferents fonts bibliogràfiques, per a l’estudi dels blocs de continguts de l’assignatura.

The Spanish version of the Prenatal Breast-feeding Self-efficacy Scale: Reliability and validity assessment

Background: Only a minority of infants are exclusively breastfed for the recommended 6 months postpartum. Breast-feeding self-efficacy is a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed and is predictive of breastfeeding behaviors. The Prenatal Breast-feeding Self-efficacy Scale (PBSES) was developed among English-speaking mothers to measure breastfeeding self-efficacy before delivery. Objectives: To translate the PBSES into Spanish and assess its psychometric properties. Design: Reliability and validity assessment. Setting: A public hospital in Yecla, Spain. Participants: A convenience sample of 234 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: The PBSES was translated into Spanish using forward and back translation. A battery of self-administered questionnaires was completed by participants, including a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, breastfeeding experience and intention, as well as the Spanish version of the PBSES. Also, data on exclusive breastfeeding at discharge were collected from hospital database. Dimensional structure, internal consistency and construct validity of the Spanish version of PBSES were assessed. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis suggested the presence of one construct, self-efficacy, with four dimensions or latent variables. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.91. Response patterns based on decision to breastfeed during pregnancy provided evidence of construct validity. In addition, the scores of the Spanish version of the PBSES significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding at discharge. Conclusions: The Spanish version of PBSES shows evidences of reliability, and contrasting group and predictive validity. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated marginal fit and further studies are needed to provide new evidence on the structure of the scale. The Spanish version of the PBSES can be considered a reliable measure and shows validity evidences.

Complex Congenital Heart Disease: The Influence of Prenatal Diagnosis

INTRODUCTION: Complex congenital heart disease is a group of severe conditions. Prenatal diagnosis has implications on morbidity and mortality for most severe conditions. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of prenatal diagnosis and distance of residence and birth place to a reference center, on immediate morbidity and early mortality of complex congenital heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of complex congenital heart disease patients of our Hospital, born between 2007 and 2012. RESULTS: There were 126 patients born with complex congenital heart disease. In 95%, pregnancy was followed since the first trimester, with prenatal diagnosis in 42%. There was a statistically significant relation between birth place and prenatal diagnosis. Transposition of great arteries was the most frequent complex congenital heart disease (45.2%), followed by pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (17.5%) and hypoplastic left ventricle (9.5%). Eighty-two patients (65.1%) had prostaglandin infusion and 38 (30.2%)were ventilated before an intervention. Surgery took place in the neonatal period in 73%. Actuarial survival rate at 30 days, 12 and 24 months was 85%, 80% and 75%, respectively. There was no statistically significant relation between prenatal diagnosis and mortality. DISCUSSION: Most patients with complex congenital heart disease did not have prenatal diagnosis. All cases with prenatal diagnosis were born in a tertiary center. Prenatal diagnosis did not influence significantly neonatal mortality, as already described in other studies with heterogeneous complex heart disease. CONCLUSION: prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease allowed an adequate referral. Most patients with complex congenital heart disease were not diagnosed prenatally. This data should be considered when planning prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.

Smoking cessation in pregnancy : abbreviated prenatal counseling protocols for WIC educators and/or health care professionals /

"Reprint December 1994"--P. [2] of cover.

Prenatal influences.

Mode of access: Internet.

Prenatal care /

Mode of access: Internet.

Prenatal development of the bovine,

Mode of access: Internet.

Modern motherhood; a book of information on complete maternity care: prenatal - delivery - aftercare,

Bibliography: p. [243]-252; "Suggested reading" at end of chapter on development of the child.

Prenatal diagnosis of tetrasomy 18p using multiplex fluorescent PCR and comparison with a variety of techniques

We report genetic characterization of isochromosome 18p using a combination of cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods, including multiplex fluorescent PCR. The patient was referred for chorionic villus sampling (CVS) due to advanced maternal age and maternal anxiety. The placental karyotype was 47,XX,+mar, with the marker having the appearance of a small supernumerary isochromosome. Because differentiating between isochromosomes and other structural rearrangements is normally very difficult, a variety of genetic tests including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR, and multiplex fluorescent PCR were undertaken to determine chromosomal origin and copy number and, thus, allow accurate diagnosis of the corresponding syndrome. FISH determined that the marker chromosome contained chromosome 18 material. PCR of a variety of short tandem repeats (STRs) confirmed that there was at least one extra copy of the maternal 18p material. However, neither FISH nor PCR could accurately determine copy number. Multiplex fluorescent PCR (MF-PCR) of STRs simultaneously determined that: (1) the marker included 18p material; (2) the marker was maternal in origin; (3) allele copy number indicated tetrasomy; and (4) contamination of the sample could be ruled out. Results were also rapid with accurate diagnosis of the syndrome tetrasomy 18p possible within 5 hours.