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Biomedical subjects

L N Berge

Publications and source records attributed to L N Berge.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Leukocyte-platelet interaction in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy is characterized by haemostasis activation, and in preeclampsia endothelial dysfunction, platelet and leukocyte activation are further characteristic features. The aim of this study was to investigate to which extent platelets from normotensive pregnant women or those with preeclampsia are circulating as microparticles or platelet-platelet aggregates. We also investigated if platelet-leukocyte multiconjugates were differently present in nonpregnant and pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: Using flow cytometry we investigated these parameters in basal samples and after in vitro stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or thrombin receptor activation peptide. This was done in samples from 20 matched preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women and in a group of 12 nonpregnant women. RESULTS: In the basal state we found that women with preeclampsia had a smaller portion of microparticles circulating than the normotensive pregnant women, Upon ADP stimulation both pregnancy groups showed a higher percentage of monocytes and granulocytes with platelets attached and also a higher number of platelets attached to each monocyte and granulocyte than in the group of nonpregnant individuals. CONCLUSION: This article presents further evidence that changes from the nonpregnant to the pregnant state are associated with hemostasis activation as an integrated part of an inflammatory reaction that is even more pronounced when pregnancy is complicated with preeclampsia.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2000

Antenatal, neonatal and post neonatal deaths evaluated by medical audit. A population-based study in northern Norway - 1976 to 1997.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal committees evaluate deaths by medical audit to improve antenatal and neonatal care. We report data from Troms County from 1976 to 1997. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Antenatal, neonatal and post neonatal deaths (n=472) at > or = 20 weeks of gestation have been evaluated. Data were collected from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and from medical records. Pregnancy risk factors, mortality rates, causes of deaths, non-optimal care and avoidable deaths were recorded. RESULTS: The death rate (all deaths per thousand total births) declined from 13.8 (1976-80) to 7.7 (1992-97), (p<0.001), due to a reduced death rate in preterms > or = 24 weeks (p<0.001) and in those between 500 and 1995 g (p<0.001). Antenatal deaths decreased (p<0.001) due to reduced intrapartum deaths (p<0.001). Prelabor deaths, unexpected intrauterine pre-hospitalization deaths included, did not change. Postnatal deaths declined (p=0.01) due to reduced early neonatal mortality (p=0.002). Deaths from malformations (p<0.001), fetal and neonatal infections (p=0.03) and placental disorders (p<0.001) declined. Non-optimal care (22.5% of deaths, 2.3%o of total births), avoidable deaths (13.1% of deaths, 1.3% of total births), and maternal neglect (7.5% of cases with non-optimal care, 0.6% of total births) did not change. Death during transport was rare (n=5), and no deaths occurred at maternity homes. Non-cohabitance, smoking and undiagnosed SGA new borns declined, and the level of education increased in the study population. CONCLUSION: The improvement is due to a reduction in intrapartum deaths and early neonatal mortality in preterms. A constant high rate of unexpected intrauterine deaths in non-hospitalized patients is a challenge for antenatal health care providers.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pregnancy related changes in some cardiovascular risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Certain risk factors for development of ischemic heart disease are influenced by pregnancy related changes of female sex hormone levels. METHODS: As a part of the cardiovascular risk factor studies in Finnmark county, Norway, 1974-75 and 1977-78, cross-sectional clinical and non-fasting laboratory data were obtained prior to conception (n = 463), during pregnancy (n = 335), and following delivery (n = 451). RESULTS: Compared with prepregnancy values, total cholesterol was on average 7% lower in the first trimester (p < 0.001), and 30% higher at the end of gestation (p < 0.001). High density lipoprotein cholesterol was 38% higher at mid-pregnancy (p < 0.001), but only 14% higher in the last trimester (p < 0.01). Serum triglycerides were 18% lower in the first (p < 0.001) and 123% higher in the third trimester (p < 0.001). Blood glucose was 5% lower than baseline in mid-pregnancy (p < 0.001). Except for the second trimester, when only 27% of women smoked, more than 40% of the women examined were smokers. Postpartum values were similar to prepregnancy levels, except serum triglycerides which remained 35% higher (p < 0.001) and blood glucose (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The major serum lipid fractions, and blood glucose, were significantly different during pregnancy and postpartum, which may influence the risk of cardiovascular disease development in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta.

The lethal perinatal types (II A-C) of osteogenesis imperfecta are reported to occur in approximately 1:55000 births. We here present three cases in three unrelated families, diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound within one year. A reliable diagnosis of the lethal perinatal type of osteogenesis imperfecta can be made by ultrasound examination during the second trimester, by identification of fractures of the long bones. The compression of the fetal head by the ultrasound probe and the low echogeneity of the cranium, should raise the suspicion of skeletal dysplasia, but is not diagnostic for osteogenesis imperfecta. The diagnosis is confirmed by postmortem examination including radiography and biochemical studies of cultivated fibroblasts from the fetus. Although rare, this lethal condition should be recognized when an ultrasound examination is performed, to prevent unnecessary obstetric intervention. In families with a previously affected fetus, prenatal diagnosis by first trimester transvaginal ultrasound investigation or chorionic villus sampling should be discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Early prenatal direct gene diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in a twin pregnancy and subsequent selective termination.

We present a case of prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) in one twin at 11-12 weeks of gestation. The parents had previously had two children, one of whom is alive and healthy and one who died of CF at the age of 2 1/2 months. The parents were both known to be carriers of the delta F508 mutation. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed and direct gene analysis showed that one fetus was homozygous for the delta F508 mutation, while the other fetus did not have the mutation at all. Both fetuses had normal karyotypes. Selective termination was subsequently performed. The pregnancy continued without complications except for mild pre-eclampsia at term. The woman had a Caesarean section. The genetic diagnosis was confirmed after birth.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1994

Serum ferritin, sex hormones, and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women.

The protective effect of endogenous sex hormones is commonly believed to explain the gender gap in the risk of coronary heart disease and the diminished protection in women when menopause occurs. Recent reports indicate that iron overload, due to cessation of menstrual bleeding, may be an important factor. We therefore investigated iron stores by serum ferritin measurements in healthy premenopausal (n = 113) and postmenopausal (n = 46) women. Ferritin levels were higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women, both in blood donors (43.4 versus 23.1 micrograms/L, P < .001) and in nondonors (71.7 versus 32.8 micrograms/L, P < .001). Serum ferritin was positively correlated with age (r = .36, P < .001). After age adjustment, serum ferritin was positively correlated with hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Total cholesterol was correlated with age (r = .66, P < .001), as were LDL cholesterol (r = .60, P < .01) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = .32, P < .01). Neither ferritin nor serum lipids were directly associated with female sex hormone levels. The mutual relation between ferritin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit probably only indicates their usefulness as measures of body iron. The parallel rise in serum ferritin, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol might contribute to the increased risk of coronary heart disease among postmenopausal women.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The bleeding time in women: an influence of the sex hormones?

A sex difference in the bleeding time has been reported. To investigate the effects of the different sex hormones, the bleeding time (BT) and hemostatic factors related to it were measured in 209 healthy women: 50 pregnant, 113 menstruating and 46 post-menopausal. The serum levels of estrogens, progesterone and testosterone were distributed as expected for the different groups. There were no significant differences in the BT between any of the groups. No correlations between the BT and female or male sex hormones were found. The findings indicate that although sex hormone mediated effects on platelet/endothelial cell interactions may exist, they do not become evident within the physiological variations in the BT of healthy women.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effects of cod liver oil on lipids and platelets in males and females.

Thirty-four healthy non-smoking subjects (20 men and 14 women) were given 25 ml cod liver oil (CLO) daily as dietary supplement for 8 weeks in a controlled cross-over study. Prior to intervention, women had significantly higher serum total (P < 0.05) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.001) cholesterol values, higher platelet counts (P < 0.05) and lower thromboxane B2 (TxB2) generation (P < 0.01) in response to collagen stimulation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) than men. Before intervention, no gender differences in platelet aggregation were observed. Following CLO intervention, serum triglycerides were reduced by 0.21 +/- 0.09 mmol/l (P < 0.05) in men. LDL cholesterol increased in men by 0.28 +/- 0.12 mmol/l (P < 0.05), while the values in women decreased insignificantly. The response in LDL cholesterol to CLO supplementation differed significantly between genders (P < 0.05). HDL cholesterol was not altered in any group. Mean platelet volume (MPV) increased by approximately 6% in both sexes (P < 0.01). After CLO intake, platelet sensitivity to collagen in PRP decreased in men only (P < 0.01), and the response was significantly different from that in women (P < 0.05). Thromboxane B2 generation following platelet aggregation in PRP was equally decreased by CLO. Our findings indicate sex differences in the response to CLO regarding LDL cholesterol and platelet sensitivity to collagen in PRP.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of fetal and neonatal mortality at the University Hospital of Tromsø, Norway, from 1976 to 1989.

To investigate developments in perinatal care, all fetal and neonatal deaths among those born after at least 24 weeks of gestation at the University Hospital of Tromsø, Norway from 1976 to 1989, were subjected to medical audit. A decrease in total mortality rate was found when based on maturity (greater than or equal to 24 weeks; 19.9-13.4%; p less than 0.01), and/or birth weight (greater than or equal to 500 g; 19.2-13.4%; p less than 0.05). This was mainly due to a decrease in fetal deaths (14.8-6.6%; p less than 0.0001). Deaths during labor (5.4-1.1%; p less than 0.001), and deaths before the onset of labour (9.4-5.5%; p less than 0.05) declined. The neonatal death rate remained virtually constant (5.2-6.8%). The incidence of conditions affecting the placenta and the umbilical cord, causing asphyxia and intra-uterine growth retardation, declined, from 9.2 to 5.0% (p less than 0.01), as did that caused by immaturity (2.8-1.3%; p less than 0.05). The rates of death caused by cerebral hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, infections, and malformations did not change. There was no significant proportional change in the causes of death from the first to the last period. The rate of fetal death following suboptimal care declined (2.4-0.4%; p less than 0.01), while the corresponding neonatal death rate remained unchanged (0.9-1.1%). The proportions of both fetal and neonatal deaths occurring after suboptimal care were low (fetal: 16.2, 8.8, and 5.6%; neonatal: 17.1, 23.5, and 16.2%). These differences did not reach statistical significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1990

Female sex hormones and platelet/endothelial cell interactions.

The effects of estradiol and progesterone added to the growth medium of human umbilical vein endothelial cells for 72 h on the formation and release of prostacyclin were investigated. The influence on collagen-induced platelet aggregation and on the platelet formation of thromboxane A2 following aggregation, of the growth medium collected before and after thrombin stimulation of the endothelial cells, was studied simultaneously. Under basal conditions, endothelial cells grown with progesterone released significantly less prostacyclin into the growth medium than did controls (p less than 0.05). Following thrombin stimulation, endothelial cells grown with estradiol (p less than 0.05) or a combination of estradiol and progesterone (p less than 0.01) contained significantly less prostacyclin than controls. No significant effects on the platelet aggregation or platelet thromboxane formation could be found. This study indicates a lowering effect of both female sex hormones on the endothelial cell prostacyclin formation and release. This may be of significance for the increased risk of vascular disease in pregnant women and oral contraceptive users, but can hardly explain the consequences of the hormonal loss occurring at the menopause.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1989

Addison's disease and pregnancy.

Five case reports are presented illustrating that pregnancy and Addison's disease are not incompatible, provided adequate substitution therapy is given.

Addison Disease↗
PubMed1988

Phagocytic cell activity in pre-eclampsia.

To compare the immune response in normal and pathological pregnancy, some functions of phagocytic cells were studied in 8 women with pre-eclampsia and 7 healthy women matched for age and parity. Free oxygen radical activity determined by chemiluminescence (CL) of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and monocytes (MN) during phagocytosis of preopsonized zymosan, and cell migration measured by tube migration of PMN were studied together during and after pregnancy. CL of MN decreased or remained unchanged during normal pregnancy, but a marked increase was observed in pre-eclampsia. CL of PMN increased, too, in the pre-eclamptic patients, but the difference was not significant. Tube migration was enhanced during pregnancy compared with baseline values, but the values were significantly lower in the pre-eclamptic group. Immuno-globulins (Ig G, Ig M and Ig A) were studied in both groups. A decline in Ig G level from baseline to the 3rd trimester was observed in patients. The complement fractions C3 and C4 were not altered during pregnancy in any group. The study indicates a difference in behavior of phagocytic cells in normal vs. pre-eclamptic pregnancy.

Adult↗