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Biomedical subjects

Mika Nuutila

Publications and source records attributed to Mika Nuutila.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Prepregnancy risk factors for placental abruption.

BACKGROUND: To define the prepregnancy risk factors for placental abruption. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight women with placental abruption and 396 control women without placental abruption were retrospectively identified among 46,742 women who delivered at a tertiary referral university hospital between 1997 and 2001. Relevant historical and clinical variables were compared between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify independent risk factors. RESULTS: The overall incidence of placental abruption was 0.42%. Placental abruption recurred in 8.8% of the cases. The independent risk factors were smoking (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1, 2.7), uterine malformation (OR 8.1; 1.7, 40), previous cesarean section (OR 1.7; 1.1, 2.8), and history of placental abruption (OR 4.5; 1.1, 18). CONCLUSIONS: Although univariate analysis identified many risk factors, only smoking, uterine malformation, previous cesarean section, and history of placental abruption remained significant after multivariate analysis, increasing the risk of placental abruption in subsequent pregnancy. It may be possible to approximate the risk for placental abruption based on these simple prepregnancy risk factors.

Abruptio Placentae↗

Clinical presentation and risk factors of placental abruption.

BACKGROUND: To study the risk factors of placental abruption during the index pregnancy. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight women with placental abruption and 396 control women were identified among 46,742 women who delivered at a tertiary referral university hospital between 1997 and 2001. Clinical variables were compared between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify independent risk factors. The clinical manifestations of placental abruption were also studied. RESULTS: The overall incidence of placental abruption was 0.42%. The independent risk factors were maternal (adjusted OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1, 2.9) and paternal smoking (2.2; 1.3, 3.6), use of alcohol (2.2; 1.1, 4.4), placenta previa (5.7; 1.4, 23.1), pre-eclampsia (2.7; 1.3, 5.6), and chorioamnionitis (3.3; 1.0, 10.0). Vaginal bleeding (70%), abdominal pain (51%), bloody amniotic fluid (50%), and fetal heart rate abnormalities (69%) were the most common manifestations. Neither bleeding nor pain was present in 19% of the cases. Overall, 59% had preterm labor (OR 12.9; 95% CI 8.3, 19.8), and 91% were delivered by cesarean section (34.7; 20.0, 60.1). Of the newborns, 25% were growth restricted. The perinatal mortality rate was 9.2% (OR 10.1; 95% CI 3.4, 30.1). Retroplacental blood clot was seen by ultrasound in 15% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal alcohol consumption and smoking, and smoking by the partner turned out to be independent risk factors for placental abruption. Smoking by both partners multiplied the risk. The liberal use of ultrasound examination contributed little to the management of women with placental abruption.

Abruptio Placentae↗

Cervical nitric oxide release in women postterm.

OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide may be a factor in cervical ripening. We compared the nitric oxide metabolite levels in cervical fluid in women going beyond term and in women delivering spontaneously at term. METHODS: We studied a total of 208 women with singleton pregnancies: 108 women who went beyond term (294 days or longer), and 100 women who went spontaneously into labor at term. Cervical fluid samples, collected well before the initiation of labor, were assessed for nitric oxide metabolites using an assay with a detection limit of 3.8 micromol/L. RESULTS: Women going beyond term had detectable levels of nitric oxide metabolites in their cervical fluid (60%) less often (P =.001) than women delivering at term (87%). The nitric oxide metabolite concentration in cervical fluid in women going beyond term (median 23.5 micromol/L; 95% confidence interval less than 3.8, 31.8) was 4.5 times lower (P <.001) than that in women delivering at term (median 106.0 micromol/L; 95% confidence interval 81.8, 135.0). Such a difference (14.0 versus 106.0 micromol/L) also existed when only the 66 women going into spontaneous postterm labor were included in the comparison. Both nulliparous (median less than 3.8 micromol/L) and parous (median 31.3 micromol/L) women going beyond term had lower (P <.01) cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite levels than nulliparous and parous women delivering at term (medians 76.1 and 101.3 micromol/L, respectively). In the postterm group, women with cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations at or below the median failed more often (P <.001) to progress in labor and had longer (P =.02) duration of labor than those with cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations above the median. CONCLUSION: Reduced cervical nitric oxide release may contribute to prolonged pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Adult↗

Are health expectations of term breech infants unrealistically high?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of fetal presentation and mode of delivery on infant outcome in a nation-wide study. METHODS: In a retrospective observational cohort study, we compared, with the help of Finnish Medical Birth Register and other nation-wide registers, the short-term and long-term outcome of infants born by breech vaginal (n = 1270) or by vertex vaginal delivery (n = 128,683) or through planned cesarean section (CS) in breech (n = 1640) or vertex (n = 4997); the pregnancies were otherwise entirely normal. RESULTS: One perinatal death occurred in the breech vaginal group and 23 deaths in the vertex vaginal group (p = 0.112), but none in either CS group. Breech vaginal delivery was associated with increased risk of Apgar scores 6 or less at age 1 min (OR 7.65, CI 6.41-9.12) and at age 5 min (OR 6.42, CI 4.36-9.45) as compared with vertex vaginal delivery. These odd ratios were also elevated (OR 4.59, CI 3.48-7.08 and OR 7.58, CI 3.09-18.66, respectively) when compared with breech planned CS. Yet the risk for birth trauma of infants in the breech vaginal group was smaller (OR 0.70, CI 0.51-0.96) than that in the vertex vaginal group but this risk was smallest in the planned CS groups. A number of other neonatal complications occurred equally commonly in each group. Breech infants born vaginally needed fewer admissions (OR 0.58, 0.47-0.72) to out-patient departments and the cumulative incidence of long-term morbidity in the breech vaginal group was smaller (OR 0.47, CI 0.28-0.80) to the age of 7 years than that in the breech planned CS. The maturity for starting school and school performance during the first two school years showed no dependence on mode of delivery. CONCLUSION: Apart from Apgar suppression, elective vaginal delivery of a full-term breech fetus in highly selected pregnancies does not cause additional neonatal hazards as compared with full-term vertex deliveries. The immediate outcome was best for breech or vertex infants born through elective CSs.

Apgar Score↗

Nitric oxide metabolites in cervical fluid during pregnancy: further evidence for the role of cervical nitric oxide in cervical ripening.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical tissue expresses all the isoenzymes of nitric oxide synthase. We studied the concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites in the cervical fluid in nonpregnant (n = 11) and pregnant women (n = 106). STUDY DESIGN: Cervical fluid was collected into a Dacron polyester swab, and nitric oxide metabolites were eluted into physiologic saline solution, which was assayed for nitric oxide metabolites with the Griess reaction. The detection limit of the method is 0.2 micromol/L. RESULTS: Cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite was detectable in 46% of nonpregnant women (median, <0.2 micromol/L; 95% CI, 0-49), in 63% of women in early pregnancy (median, 11 micromol/L; 95% CI, 0-23) and in 82% of women in late pregnancy (median, 128 micromol/L; 95% CI, 21-276). In late pregnancy, the cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite level was higher in women with Bishop score of > or =6 (median, 163 micromol/L; 95% CI, 105-276) than in women with Bishop score of <6 (median, 86 micromol/L; 95% CI, 21-99). Cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentration before the onset of labor in parous women (median, 97 micromol/L; 95% CI, 78-283) was higher (P =.008) than that in nulliparous women (median, 28 micromol/L; 95% CI, 0-95). Cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolites before the initiation of labor (median, 33 micromol/L; 95% CI, 0-95) rose to 3.5-fold (median, 115 micromol/L; 95% CI, 78-284) after the commencement of uterine contractions and showed a significant relationship to Bishop score (r = 0.39, P =.01). Cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations were not relative to simultaneous plasma nitric oxide metabolite levels (n = 41 women, r = 0.14, P =.41). Rupture of fetal membranes tended to decrease cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite levels, whereas gentle cervical manipulation elevated it 6.6-fold in 1 minute. The administration of glyceryl trinitrate (0.5 mg, nitric oxide donor) intracervically resulted in a significant rise in the cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite level in 2 minutes. CONCLUSION: Cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite level rises after cervical ripening, nitric oxide donor administration, or cervical manipulation, which supports a role for cervical nitric oxide in cervical ripening.

Administration, Topical↗

Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 and fetal cortisol/cortisone shuttle in small preterm infants.

Glucocorticoids rate among the most controversial topics in today's perinatology and neonatology. Many sick preterm infants exhibit signs of adrenal insufficiency, the etiology, diagnostic criteria, and optimal treatment of which are under debate. Moreover, most of these infants are exposed to pharmacological glucocorticoid doses both in utero and after birth. In face of this, surprisingly little is known about the physiological glucocorticoid exposure before early preterm birth. This exposure is highly variable and mainly regulated by the placental enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11 beta-HSD2), which converts excess cortisol (F) to inactive cortisone (E). Impaired activity of this enzyme is common in intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia, conditions frequently associated with early preterm birth. To identify clinical determinants associated with decreased placental 11 beta-HSD2 function, we studied 107 small preterm infants [mean birth weight, 1067 g (range, 395-2453 g); gestational age, 28.2 wk (range, 22.4-32.0 wk)] by determining their placental 11 beta-HSD2 activity rate (per milligram protein) and total activity (per placenta) as well as cord vein F and E concentrations. An E/(E+ F) ratio expresses the overall balance of the F/E shuttle. There were positive correlations between relative birth weight and placental 11 beta-HSD2 activity rate (r = 0.30; P = 0.002) and total activity (r = 0.56; P < 0.0001) as well as E/(E+ F) ratio (r = 0.27; P = 0.01) and E concentration (r = 0.32; P = 0.003). Infants with increased umbilical artery resistance had lower total placental 11 beta-HSD2 activity (P = 0.02), E/(E+ F) ratio (P = 0.04), and E concentration (P = 0.0002). Gestational age was inversely associated with placental 11 beta-HSD2 activity rate (r = -0.25; P = 0.009). We conclude that, in small preterm infants, reduced placental 11 beta-HSD2 function is associated with low relative birth weight and severe fetal distress. Whether these conditions are associated with early postnatal adrenal insufficiency or long-term cardiovascular risk remains an important issue for further study.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗