Respiratory Parameters and Exercise Functional Capacity in Preeclampsia

Objective: To evaluate maximal respiratory pressures, pulmonary volumes and capacities and exercise functional capacity in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Method: Primigravid women with preeclampsia and healthy primigravid women were evaluated by means of manovacuometry, spirometry and the 6-minute walk test. Results: The group with preeclampsia showed higher minute ventilation and lower forced vital capacity and exercise tolerance. The presence of preeclampsia and forced vital capacity were predictors in the six-minute walk test. Conclusion: Preeclampsia showed significant alterations in the respiratory system and was associated with lower exercise tolerance; however, it did not affect respiratory muscle functions.

Levels of DNA damage in blood leukocyte samples from non-diabetic and diabetic female rats and their fetuses exposed to air or cigarette smoke

dThe objective of the present study was to evaluate DNA damage level in blood leukocytes from diabetic and non-diabetic female Wistar rats exposed to air or to cigarette smoke, and to correlate the findings with levels of DNA damage detected in blood leukocyte samples from their fetuses. A total of 20 rats were distributed into four experimental groups: non-diabetic (control; G1) and diabetic exposed to filtered air (G2): non-diabetic (G3) and diabetic (G4) exposed to cigarette smoke. Rats placed into whole-body exposure chambers were exposed for 30 min to filtered air (control) or to tobacco smoke generated from 10 cigarettes, twice a day, for 2 months. Diabetes was induced by a pancreatic beta-cytotoxic agent, streptozotocin (40 mg/kg b.w.). At day 21 of pregnancy, each rat was anesthetized and humanely killed to obtain maternal and fetal blood samples for genotoxicity analysis using the alkaline comet assay. G2, G3 and G4 dams presented higher DNA damage values in tail moment and tail length as compared to G1 group. There was a significant positive correlation between DNA damage levels in blood leukocyte samples from G2 and G3 groups (tail moment); G3 and G4 groups (tail length) and G3 group (tail intensity) and their fetuses. Thus, this study showed the association of severe diabetes and tobacco cigarette smoke exposure did not exacerbate levels of maternal and fetal DNA damages related with only diabetes or cigarette smoke exposure. Based on the results obtained and taking into account other published data, maternal diabetes requires rigid clinical control and public health and education campaigns should be increased to encourage individuals, especially pregnant women, to stop smoking. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Maternal Hyperglycemia on IL-10 and TNF-alpha Production: The Relationship with Perinatal Outcomes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Urinary incontinence and vaginal squeeze pressure two years post-cesarean delivery in primiparous women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Toxic and essential elements in blood from delivering women in selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of physiological overload on pregnancy in women with mitral regurgitation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Maternal-Fetal Outcome, Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress of Diabetic Rats Neonatally Exposed to Streptozotocin

Background: There is no evidence about the integrated issue on glycemia, lipid profile, oxidative stress, and anomaly frequency of pregnant diabetic rats neonatally exposed to streptozotocin.Objective: Evaluating the impact of hyperglycemia in diabetic rats neonatally exposed to streptozotocin on maternal reproductive and fetal outcomes and the relationship with lipid profile and maternal oxidative stress.Material and Methods: Ten 90-day-old female Wistar rats were mated to obtain offspring. Some of these newborns received streptozotocin (70 mg/kg, i.p. - n5-STZ group) and the remainder given only citrate buffer (control group) on their day 5 of life. At adult life, these rats (n =13 animals/group) were mated and, at day 21 of pregnancy, they were killed to obtain a maternal blood samples for biochemical determinations. The gravid uterus was weighed with its contents and fetuses were analyzed.Results: At day 0 of pregnancy, glycemic means of n5-STZ rats were significantly greater compared to those of control rats, but presented fetuses classified as small for pregnancy age. The n5-STZ rats showed increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, MDA concentrations, lower SOD activity and increased frequency fetal visceral anomalies as compared to the control group.Conclusion: This study showed that the experimental model used led to mild hyperglycemia during pregnancy, although it did not lead to increased macrosomic fetus rates. The hyperglycemic maternal environment caused metabolic alterations, including increased triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations, and elevated oxidative stress, contributing to increase fetal visceral anomalies.

Levels of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood from delivering women in seven selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genotoxicity and Fetal Abnormality in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats Exposed to Cigarette Smoke Prior to and during Pregnancy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of cigarette smoke exposure on pregnancy outcome and offspring of diabetic rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Increased Reactive Oxygen Species and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Production by Monocytes are Associated with Elevated Levels of Uric Acid in Pre-Eclamptic Women

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genotoxicity Evaluation in Severe or Mild Diabetic Pregnancy in Laboratory Animals

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)