PubMed · 10833971
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R B Petersen. 2000-03-30. [Abortion].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10833971/
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The cross-linking of the connective tissues in the fetal membranes and placenta is important for their tensile strength and elasticity. We have studied the expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) because it is the classical enzyme responsible for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin. We have also studied the two recently described, genetically distinct lysyl oxidase-like genes and proteins, lysyl oxidase-like (LOXL) and lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), of unknown functions. Specific antisera have been used for immunolocalization in fetal membranes and placentae from early pregnancy terminations and after caesarean section at both preterm and term, prior to labour. In addition, the steady state mRNA levels of the three genes has been quantitated in separated amnion, chorion, decidua and placentae collected at term before labour. The immunocytochemistry shows that the spatial expression of the three lysyl oxidases is similar in early pregnancy in both the fetal membranes and placentae. However, by preterm this pattern had diverged and becomes greatest at term. The expression of the genes found at term was similar to the results of protein expression obtained by immunocytochemistry, with the exception of LOXL which had high placental gene expression, but low levels of immunolocalized protein. Thus by term, LOX was expressed predominantly in the amniotic epithelium, with little expression in the placenta, while LOXL showed highest gene expression in the placenta and lowest expression in the amnion. LOXL2 expression was again different and was expressed predominantly in the chorionic cytotrophoblast of the membranes with low expression in both the amnion and placentae. These results suggest that these three members of the lysyl oxidase family may have similar roles in early pregnancy during the development of the placenta and fetal membranes, but their divergence as pregnancy advances to term, may reflect changes in substrate specificity and connective tissue composition.
PROBLEM/CONDITION: In 1969, CDC began abortion surveillance to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions, to monitor unintended pregnancy, and to assist efforts to identify and reduce preventable causes of morbidity and mortality associated with abortions. REPORTING PERIOD COVERED: This report summarizes and reviews information reported to CDC regarding legal induced abortions obtained in the United States in 1997. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM: For each year since 1969, CDC has compiled abortion data by state where the abortion occurred. The data are received from 52 reporting areas in the United States: 50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City. RESULTS: In 1997, a total of 1,186,039 legal abortions were reported to CDC, representing a 3% decrease from the number reported for 1996. The abortion ratio was 306 legal induced abortions per 1,000 live births, and since 1995, the abortion rate has remained at 20 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years. The availability of information about characteristics of women who obtained an abortion in 1997 varied by state and by the number of states reporting each characteristic. The total number of legal induced abortions by state is reported by state of residence and state of occurrence; characteristics of women obtaining abortions in 1997 are reported by state of occurrence. Women who were undergoing an abortion were more likely to be young (i.e., aged < 25 years), white, and unmarried; approximately one half were obtaining an abortion for the first time. More than one half of all abortions for which gestational age was reported (55%) were performed at < or = 8 weeks of gestation, and 88% were performed before 13 weeks. Overall, 18% of abortions were performed at the earliest weeks of gestation (< or = 6 weeks), 18% at 7 weeks of gestation, and 20% at 8 weeks of gestation. From 1992 through 1997, increases have occurred in the percentage of abortions performed at the very early weeks of gestation. Few abortions were provided after 15 weeks of gestation--4% of abortions were obtained at 16-20 weeks, and 1.4% were obtained at > or = 21 weeks. A total of 19 reporting areas submitted information regarding abortions performed by medical (nonsurgical) procedures, comprising < 1% of procedures reported by all states. Younger women (i.e., aged < or = 24 years) were more likely to obtain abortions later in pregnancy than were older women. INTERPRETATION: From 1990 through 1995, the number of abortions declined each year; in 1996, the number increased slightly, and in 1997, the number of abortions in the United States declined to it lowest level since 1978. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS: The number and characteristics of women who obtain abortions in the United States should continue to be monitored so that trends in induced abortion can be assessed and efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy can be evaluated.