The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is Europe's most widespread ungulate, notable for its unique trait of embryonic diapause (delayed blastocyst implantation after mating) and an ongoing debate regarding how climate change affects its parturition timing. Given the relatively constant timing of the rut, roe deer could cope with advancing greening by adjusting its diapause end. Here, we bridge the gap on factors influencing roe deer's diapause by analysing 390 uteri from legally hunted roe deer females in Germany (2017-2020), which we macroscopically examined for the presence of visible embryonic tissue to retrospectively identify the diapause end date. By employing a marginal Cox proportional hazard model, we tested associations between female phenotypic attributes, environmental conditions and the probability of ending embryonic diapause prematurely. Our results confirmed that high-quality, well-conditioned and prime-aged females tend to terminate embryonic diapause earlier. We also demonstrated for the first time that on a population-averaged level, the growing season length in the year of conception significantly influences the diapause timing, even explaining the much-debated shifts in parturition dates in roe deer over the last seven decades. Increased knowledge of mechanisms involved in embryonic diapause may also help decipher embryo-maternal interactions in general, including in vitro fertilization.
- Klíčová slova
- embryonic diapause, length of season, phenology, phenotypic quality, proportional hazard model, roe deer,
- MeSH
- diapauza * MeSH
- klimatické změny MeSH
- porod MeSH
- roční období MeSH
- vysoká zvěř * fyziologie embryologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Německo MeSH
BACKGROUND: The social space of birth-the birth environment, its occupants, and the human activities taking place-is interconnected with birth experiences. AIM: To investigate how the reality of the social space of birth affects women's positive birth experiences. METHODS: We combined open-text responses to the Babies Born Better survey from 3633 postpartum women in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom and 39 interview transcripts from Czech and Dutch postpartum women. We conducted a textual and thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Three themes and 11 categories were generated: (1) Exercising fundamental human agency in the birth space consists of the categories: 'exercising rights', 'the protection of human vulnerability', and 'the freedom to be authentic', which women regard as prerequisite components of the birth space. (2) Regulatory frameworks & care philosophies in maternity services, including the categories '(financial) regulations', 'values of the care provider and the institution', and 'model of care', are regarded as attributes of the birth space. Theme (3) Building a nest for comfort and connection comprises the categories 'relational and affective atmosphere during labour & birth', 'performative atmosphere during labour & birth', 'shelter', 'implicit and explicit tacit doing & being' and 'symbol of deeper meaning'. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The reality of the birth space of women with positive birth experiences consists of human rights and birth rights, the quality of interactions with care providers during labour and birth in a relationship-centred and relation-continuity model of care, and a place to retreat from the world.
- Klíčová slova
- Critical realist approach, Place of birth, Positive birth experience, Social space, Thematic analysis,
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kvalitativní výzkum MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matky * psychologie MeSH
- poporodní období psychologie MeSH
- porod * psychologie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- sociální prostředí * MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
INTRODUCTION: In the UK, the Royal College of Midwives and the Chartered Society for Physiotherapy advocate that women undertake early and effective pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) during the childbirth period to reduce the incidence of urinary incontinence (UI). OBJECTIVES: This project sought to assess and improve midwives' compliance with best practice recommendations for PFMT in a UK NHS maternity service, with the goal of improving PFMT for women. METHODS: This project used the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework and JBI's best practice recommendations for PFMT. Following a baseline audit of midwives' practice, the results were considered. The JBI Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) approach was used to identify barriers and facilitators to improve compliance with recommendations. A follow-up audit was undertaken after the development of a revised continuing professional development (CPD) program for midwives on PFMT. RESULTS: The results showed improved compliance with all four audit criteria. Criterion 1 (midwives' engagement with PFMT) increased from 76% to 92%; Criterion 2 (PFMT during the antenatal period) rose from 50% to 92%; Criterion 3 (postnatal risk assessment for UI) rose from 45% to 67%; and Criterion 4 (PFMT for high-risk women during the postnatal period) increased from 49% to 92%. CONCLUSION: Whilst this study presented some challenges in implementing evidence-based initiatives in a UK NHS maternity service, it also demonstrated that an audit approach can overcome these, thereby improving compliance with best practices. In this case, changes to a CPD PFMT program increased midwives' compliance with evidence-based practice criteria. In the future, when implementing change in the NHS system, consideration should be given to organizational and leadership factors. Further audits will need to be carried out to monitor practice and effect change. SPANISH ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A322.
- MeSH
- babictví * normy MeSH
- dodržování směrnic * MeSH
- inkontinence moči * prevence a kontrola MeSH
- lékařská praxe založená na důkazech MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pánevní dno * fyziologie MeSH
- porod * MeSH
- směrnice pro lékařskou praxi jako téma MeSH
- státní lékařství MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- terapie cvičením * metody MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Spojené království MeSH
OBJECTIVE: To assess pre-term birth, low birth-weight and growth restriction according to maternal thyroid screening results and subsequent treatment. METHODS: This is a nonintervention nested case-control study derived from 10,052 asymptomatic women previously screened during the first trimester marker with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, serum thyroid stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine. Screening results had been classified as positive with one or more markers outside the normal range and referred to an endocrinologist. Cases were 512 women with positive results and information on recommended treatment: 204 thyroxine, propylthiouracil or surgery, and 308 no treatment or only iodine. Controls were a sequential sample of 1292 women with negative results. All cases and controls had information on gestation at delivery or birth-weight. Outcome measures were pre-term birth (<37 weeks), low birth-weight (<2.5 kg) and, for singletons, small for gestational age (SGA; <10th percentile). RESULTS: Among singleton pregnancies, there was a higher prevalence of both pre-term birth (risk ratio (RR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.36, p < .002) and low birth-weight (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.13-2.62, p < .02) in cases compared with controls. An increase in low birth-weight was also present in term pregnancies, but not significant (RR 1.80, 95% CI 0.78-4.14, p = .16), and there was no difference in SGA prevalence (1.24, 95% CI 0.93-1.65, p = .14). Among cases there was no significant difference in these rates according to treatment even after logistic regression, allowing for the individual screening marker levels and maternal weight. CONCLUSIONS: Women with positive thyroid screening results are at increased risk of pre-term birth regardless of thyroid dysfunction or subsequent treatment. An association with low birth-weight is probably secondary to early delivery.
- Klíčová slova
- Thyroid dysfunction, growth restriction, low birth-weight, pre-term birth, pregnancy, screening,
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- porod v termínu MeSH
- prenatální diagnóza MeSH
- štítná žláza * MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- thyroxin * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- thyroxin * MeSH
During pregnancy, two fetomaternal interfaces, the placenta-decidua basalis and the fetal membrane-decidua parietals, allow for fetal growth and maturation and fetal-maternal crosstalk, and protect the fetus from infectious and inflammatory signaling that could lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. While the placenta has been studied extensively, the fetal membranes have been understudied, even though they play critical roles in pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of term or preterm parturition. Fetal membrane dysfunction has been associated with spontaneous preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks gestation) and preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (PPROM), which is a disease of the fetal membranes. However, it is unknown how the individual layers of the fetal membrane decidual interface (the amnion epithelium [AEC], the amnion mesenchyme [AMC], the chorion [CTC], and the decidua [DEC]) contribute to these pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we used a single-cell transcriptomics approach to unravel the transcriptomics network at spatial levels to discern the contributions of each layer of the fetal membranes and the adjoining maternal decidua during the following conditions: scheduled caesarian section (term not in labor [TNIL]; n = 4), vaginal term in labor (TIL; n = 3), preterm labor with and without rupture of membranes (PPROM; n = 3; and PTB; n = 3). The data included 18,815 genes from 13 patients (including TIL, PTB, PPROM, and TNIL) expressed across the four layers. After quality control, there were 11,921 genes and 44 samples. The data were processed by two pipelines: one by hierarchical clustering the combined cases and the other to evaluate heterogeneity within the cases. Our visual analytical approach revealed spatially recognized differentially expressed genes that aligned with four gene clusters. Cluster 1 genes were present predominantly in DECs and Cluster 3 centered around CTC genes in all labor phenotypes. Cluster 2 genes were predominantly found in AECs in PPROM and PTB, while Cluster 4 contained AMC and CTC genes identified in term labor cases. We identified the top 10 differentially expressed genes and their connected pathways (kinase activation, NF-κB, inflammation, cytoskeletal remodeling, and hormone regulation) per cluster in each tissue layer. An in-depth understanding of the involvement of each system and cell layer may help provide targeted and tailored interventions to reduce the risk of PTB.
- MeSH
- amnion metabolismus cytologie MeSH
- chorion metabolismus MeSH
- decidua * metabolismus MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- extraembryonální obaly * metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- porod v termínu genetika MeSH
- předčasný odtok plodové vody genetika metabolismus MeSH
- předčasný porod * genetika MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- transkriptom * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
This study examines whether exposure to ambient temperature in nineteenth-century urban space affected the ratio of boys to girls at birth. Furthermore, we investigate the details of temperature effects timing upon sex ratio at birth. The research included 66,009 individual births, aggregated in subsequent months of births for the years 1847-1900, i.e. 33,922 boys and 32,087 girls. The statistical modelling of the probability of a girl being born is based on logistic GAM with penalized splines and automatically selected complexity. Our research emphasizes the significant effect of temperature in the year of conception: the higher the temperature was, the smaller probability of a girl being born was observed. There were also several significant temperature lags before conception and during pregnancy. Our findings indicate that in the past, ambient temperature, similar to psychological stress, hunger, malnutrition, and social and economic factors, influenced the viability of a foetus. Research on the effects of climate on the sex ratio in historical populations may allow for a better understanding of the relationship between environmental factors and reproduction, especially concerning historical populations since due to some cultural limitations, they were more prone to stronger environmental stressors than currently.
- Klíčová slova
- Climate, Conception, Nineteenth century, Pregnancy, Secondary sex ratio, Temperature stress,
- MeSH
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny 20. století MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- městské obyvatelstvo * MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- poměr pohlaví * MeSH
- porod MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- teplota * MeSH
- velkoměsta MeSH
- Check Tag
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny 20. století MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- historické články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- velkoměsta MeSH
BACKGROUND: Satisfaction with the birth experience has been established to be critical for the wellbeing of the mother. The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) is a brief and psychometrically robust multi-dimensional self-report tool designed to assess birth experience. The current investigation sought to translate and validate a Czech Republic version of the BSS-R (CZ-BSS-R). METHODS: Following translation psychometric assessment of the CZ-BSS-R was undertaken using a cross-sectional design. A between-subjects design was incorporated in order to evaluate known-groups validity evaluation of the translated measure. Four hundred and sixty-five Czech-speaking women within the Czech Republic took part in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken and divergent and convergent validity and internal consistency characteristics also evaluated. RESULTS: The CZ-BSS-R was observed to have excellent psychometric properties and conceptually and measurement faithful to the original English-language measure. Consistent with previous investigations using the BSS-R significant differences were found in scores as a function of delivery type. CONCLUSIONS: The CZ-BSS-R is a valid, robust and reliable measure of birth experience and suitable for use with Czech-speaking women in the Czech Republic. The study highlighted that instrument and emergency Caesarean section were associated with a lower level of birth satisfaction compared to vaginal delivery.
- Klíčová slova
- Birth satisfaction, birth experience, psychometrics, scales,
- MeSH
- císařský řez * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- osobní uspokojení MeSH
- porod * MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- spokojenost pacientů MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of pelvic floor muscle injuries induced by childbirth is higher than 23 % in the general women population. Such injuries can lead to prolapses and other pathologies in future female life. Leveraging computational biomechanics, the study implements an advanced female pelvic floor model for computing the maximum pelvic muscle strain, which serves as an injury risk indicator. The design of experiment method, abbreviated as DoE, is used to compute the maximum strain for boundary values of bony pelvis dimensions, namely the anterior-posterior diameter (abbreviated as APD) and the transverse diameter (abbreviated as TD). This is done in combination with small, medium and large percentiles of fetal head circumference (abbreviated as HC). METHODS: We utilized a previously developed finite element model of a female pelvic floor, as a reference, and enhanced it with new features, including a more detailed tissue geometry and advanced constitutive material models. The APD and TD dimensions were sourced from the set of MRI of 64 nulliparous women. This data was used to estimate the boundary dimensions of the female bony pelvis, combining both small and large values of APD and TD. Together with the 10th and the 95th percentiles for HC, a three-dimensional domain was constructed to assess the maximum pelvic muscle strain. In boundary cases, the maximum pelvic muscle strain was computed across 8 full-factorial design models (each situated at one corner of the domain, thereby combining the minimum and the maximum values of APD, TD and HC). This was done to define a response surface that predicts the maximum pelvic muscle strain within the domain. The accuracy of this response surface prediction was validated using 15 additional intermediate design models. These models were placed at the center of the domain (1 point), the centres of the domain boundary surfaces (6 points), and midway along each domain boundary edge (8 points). RESULTS: The maximum strain results for 8 combinations of APD, TD, and HC were employed to construct a linear response surface as a function of APD, TD, and HC. Tests at an additional 19 domain points served to evaluate the efficiency of the response surface prediction. The response surface demonstrated strong predictability, with an absolute average error of 1.52 %, an absolute median error of 1.52 %, and an absolute maximum error of 11.11 %. HC emerged as the most influencing dimension, accounting for 16 % of influence. CONCLUSIONS: The reference finite element pelvic floor model was scaled to 8 full-factorial female-specific pelvic floor models, which represent the combination of boundary values for APD, TD, and HC. The maximum pelvic floor muscle strain from these 8 models was used to design a response surface. When implementing the DoE approach to construct the response, there was consistent predictability for the maximum perineal muscle strain, as validated by the additional 19 intermediate design models. As a result, the response surface methodology can serve as an initial predictor for potential childbirth-induced pelvic floor muscle injury.
- Klíčová slova
- Childbirth, Computational biomechanics, Design of experiment, Injury,
- MeSH
- kosterní svaly diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
- pánevní dno diagnostické zobrazování fyziologie MeSH
- porod * fyziologie MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- vedení porodu * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Currently, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, more and more women prefer a planned home birth to a hospital birth, despite the fact that the hospital provides a safe environment for laboring women, thanks to the possibility to intervene at any time in case of complications. These women consider childbirth a natural process, while obstetric care is often considered unnecessary. According to the World Health Organization, birth can only be defined as physiological after birth. Even though women can give birth without medical assistance, it is not possible to identify in advance the mothers and newborns who will need some kind of intervention during childbirth. Although a planned home birth is associated with fewer maternal interventions and the probability of a spontaneous vaginal birth, compared to a planned hospital birth, the risk of neonatal death is two- to three-times higher.
- Klíčová slova
- home birth, low-risk pregnancy, maternal mortality, out-of-hospital birth, perinatal mortality,
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matky MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- porod doma * MeSH
- porodní děj * MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- vedení porodu MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
In cat breeding, an important step is reproduction and obtaining healthy offspring. The main factor determining the survival of newborn kittens is the normal course and length of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gestation length on the early development of kittens. It was shown that kittens (premature kittens) later double their body weight (p < .01), have lower daily gains (p < .01) and higher body weight during eye-opening (p < .01), which occurs later than in kittens born on time. In addition, due to a shorter period of prenatal development, they require more time until the day of eye-opening, which, together with the length of pregnancy, was defined as development age.
- Klíčová slova
- development of kittens, feline reproduction, pregnancy,
- MeSH
- kočky MeSH
- porod * MeSH
- rozmnožování * MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- kočky MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH