Can group exercise programs improve health outcomes in pregnant women? A systematic review

Current scientific evidence supports the recommendation to initiate or continue the practice of physical exercise in healthy pregnant women. Group exercise programs have positive effects in improving health and well-being, as well as social support. In order to understand the scientific evidence in this field, and the outcomes in maternal health, it has generated wide interest in exploring the studies carried out with more relevant group exercise programs. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the available evidence on the effectiveness of group exercise programs in improving women’s and newborns health outcomes during pregnancy. Three databases were used to conduct literature searches and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were employed. Seventeen studies were selected for analysis. All studies were randomized control trials conducted with pregnant women that evaluated the effect of group exercise programs on the health outcomes of mother and newborn. Most studies followed a supervised structured exercise program including a main aerobic part, resistance training, pelvic floor training and stretching and relaxation sections. The significant effects of the programs are related with improved maternal perception of health status, lower maternal weight gain, improved levels of maternal glucose tolerance, improved aerobic fitness and muscular strength, lower frequency of urinary incontinence, improved sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain, fewer cesarean and instrumental deliveries, higher newborn Apgar score and faster postpartum recovery. Exercise and health professionals should advise pregnant women that aerobic group exercise during pregnancy improves a wide range of health outcomes for the women and newborn

Characterization of B cells in healthy pregnant women from late pregnancy to post-partum: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: B cells play a role in pregnancy due to their humoral and regulatory activities. To our knowledge, different maturational stages (from transitional to memory) of circulating B cell subsets have not yet been characterized (cell quantification and phenotype identification) in healthy pregnant women. Thus, the objective of our study was to characterize these subsets (as well as regulatory B cells) from late pregnancy to post-partum and to compare them with the circulating B cells of non-pregnant women. METHODS: In all of the enrolled women, flow cytometry was used to characterize the circulating B cell subsets according to the expression of IgD and CD38 (Bm1-Bm5 classification system). Regulatory B cells were characterized based on the expression of surface antigens (CD24, CD27, and CD38) and the production of IL-10 after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. RESULTS: Compared to the absolute counts of B cells in the non-pregnant women (n = 35), those in the pregnant women (n = 43) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on delivery day (immediately after delivery). The percentages of these cells on delivery day and at post-partum were significantly lower than those in the non-pregnant women. In general, the absolute counts and percentages of the majority of the B cell subsets were significantly lower in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on delivery day than in the non-pregnant women. However, these counts and percentages did not differ significantly between the post-partum and the non-pregnant women. The most notable exceptions to the above were the percentages of naïve B cells (which were significantly higher in the 3rd trimester and on delivery day than in the non-pregnant women) and of CD24(hi)CD38(hi) regulatory B cells (which were significantly higher in the post-partum than in the non-pregnant women). CONCLUSION: According to our study, the peripheral B cell compartment undergoes quantitative changes during normal late pregnancy and post-partum. Such findings may allow us to better understand immunomodulation during human pregnancy and provide evidence that could aid in the development of new strategies to diagnose and treat pregnancy-associated disturbances. Our findings could also be useful for studies of the mechanisms of maternal responses to vaccination and infection.

Characterization of B cells in healthy pregnant women from late pregnancy to post-partum: a prospective observational study

Abstract BACKGROUND: B cells play a role in pregnancy due to their humoral and regulatory activities. To our knowledge, different maturational stages (from transitional to memory) of circulating B cell subsets have not yet been characterized (cell quantification and phenotype identification) in healthy pregnant women. Thus, the objective of our study was to characterize these subsets (as well as regulatory B cells) from late pregnancy to post-partum and to compare them with the circulating B cells of non-pregnant women. METHODS: In all of the enrolled women, flow cytometry was used to characterize the circulating B cell subsets according to the expression of IgD and CD38 (Bm1-Bm5 classification system). Regulatory B cells were characterized based on the expression of surface antigens (CD24, CD27, and CD38) and the production of IL-10 after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. RESULTS: Compared to the absolute counts of B cells in the non-pregnant women (n = 35), those in the pregnant women (n = 43) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on delivery day (immediately after delivery). The percentages of these cells on delivery day and at post-partum were significantly lower than those in the non-pregnant women. In general, the absolute counts and percentages of the majority of the B cell subsets were significantly lower in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on delivery day than in the non-pregnant women. However, these counts and percentages did not differ significantly between the post-partum and the non-pregnant women. The most notable exceptions to the above were the percentages of naïve B cells (which were significantly higher in the 3rd trimester and on delivery day than in the non-pregnant women) and of CD24(hi)CD38(hi) regulatory B cells (which were significantly higher in the post-partum than in the non-pregnant women). CONCLUSION: According to our study, the peripheral B cell compartment undergoes quantitative changes during normal late pregnancy and post-partum. Such findings may allow us to better understand immunomodulation during human pregnancy and provide evidence that could aid in the development of new strategies to diagnose and treat pregnancy-associated disturbances. Our findings could also be useful for studies of the mechanisms of maternal responses to vaccination and infection.

The Role of women in family transportation behavior : final report /

"This report is based on Teresa Bayes' and Sandra Hough's masters theses ... "--Pref.

The great mother, a gospel of the eternally-feminine; occult and scientific studies and experiences in the sacred and secret life,

Mode of access: Internet.

Programs providing services to battered women /

Description based on: 3rd ed., 2nd revision (June 1980)

Study of women enrolled in home demonstration work in 1958; membership report. no. 1-58.

Mode of access: Internet.

A companion to Greek studies;

Tozer, H.F. Geography.--Tristram, H.B. Fauna.--Tristram, H.B. Flora.--History: 1. Hicks,R.D. Chronology. 2. Chronological Tables.--Jebb, Sir R. Literature.--Philosophy: 1. Jackson, H. Schools to Aristotle. 2. Hicks, R.D. Later Schools.--Gow, J. Science.--Art: 1. Penrose, F.C. Architecture. 2. Waldstein, C. Prehistoric art. 3. Waldstein, C. Sculpture. 4. Earp, F.R. Painting. 5. Smith, A.H. Vase Painting. 6. Smith, A.H. Terracottas. 7. Ridgeway, W. Engraved gems. 8. Hind, R.D. Archer--Music.--Gardner, E.A. Mythology and religion.--Public antiquities: 1. Whibley, L. Constitutions. 2. Wyse, W. Law. 3. Wyse, W. Finance. 4. Mayor, R.J.G. Population. 5. Mayor, R.J.G. Slaves and slavery. 6. Edwards, H.J. Colonies. 7. Edwards, H.J. Commerce and industry. 8. Ridgeway, W. Measures and weights. 9. Ridgeway, W. Money. 10. Oman, C.W.C. War. 11. Cook, A.B. Ships. 12. Gow, J. The calendar.--Private antiquities: 1. Gow, J. A table of the relationships of a man. 2. Harrison, Miss J. Ritual of birth, marriage, and death. 3. Wilkins, A.S. Education. 4. James, M.R. Books and writing. 5. Cornish, F.W. The position of women. 6. Evans, Lady Dress. 7. Gardner, E.A. Daily life, its surroundings, employments and amusements. 8. Gardner, E.A. House and furniture. 9. Allbutt, T.C. Medicine.--Criticism and Interpretation: 1. Neil, R.A. Dialects. 2. Roberts, E.S. Epigraphy. 3. Harris, J.R. Palaeography. 4. Jebb, Sir R. Textual criticism. 5. Verrall, A.W. Metre. 6. Sandys, J.E. History of scholarship.--Indices.

Familiar studies of men and books /

Victor Hugo's romances.--Some aspects of Robert Burns.--Walt Whitman.--Henry David Thoreau: his character and opinions.--Yoshida-Torajiro.--François Villon, student, poet, and housebreaker.--Charles of Orleans.--Samuel Pepys.--John Knox and his relations to women.

Private education, or, A practical plan for the studies of young ladies : with an address to parents, private governesses, and young ladies /

Mode of access: Internet.

Pagoda shadows; studies from life in China.

Mode of access: Internet.

Studies in pessimism : a series of essays /

Translation of selections from Parerga und Paralipomena.

Sex and society; studies in the social psychology of sex,

"These studies have been published in various journals at different times." - Author's note.

Studies in pessimism; a series of essays.

Translation of selections from Parerga und Paralipomena.

The Vulnerable Animals That Therefore We Are : (Non-)Human Animals in D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love

Central to animal studies is the question of words and how they are used in relation to wordless beings such as non-human animals. This issue is addressed by the writer D.H. Lawrence, and the focus of this thesis is the linguistic vulnerability of humans and non-humans in his novel Women in Love, a subject that will be explored with the help of the philosopher Jacques Derrida’s text The Animal That Therefore I Am. The argument is that Women in Love illustrates the human subjection to and constitution in language, which both enables human thinking and restricts the human ability to think without words. This linguistic vulnerability causes a similar vulnerability in non-human animals in two ways. First, humans tend to imagine others, including non-verbal animals, through words, a medium they exist outside of and therefore cannot be defined through. Second, humans are often unperceptive of non-linguistic means of expression and they therefore do not discern what non-human animals may be trying to communicate to them, which often enables humans to justify abuse against non-humans. In addition, the novel shows how this shared but unequal vulnerability can sometimes be dissolved through the likewise shared but equal physical vulnerability of all animals if a human is able to imagine the experiences of a non-human animal through their shared embodiment rather than through human language. Hence the essay shows the importance of recognizing the limitations of language and of being aware of how the symbolizing effect of words influences the human treatment of its others.