Puerperium Flashcards
How many pregnancies end in miscarriage
15%
What are the 3 causes of whole chromosome aneuplodies
Malsegregation:
In the gonad during meiosis -> abnormal gametes
During mitosis in the germline -> mosaicism in the gonad
During mitosis in the early embryo -> mosaicism in the embryo
What is trisomy 18
Edwards
What is trisomy 13
Patau
What is 45, X
Turner
What is 47, XXY
Klinefelter
What are the two types of translocations
Robertsonian and reciprocal
What are Robersonian translocations
Result from fusion of two acrocentric chromosomes. Most common are der (13;14), and der (14;21) - balanced carriers phenotypically normal
What are reciprocal translocations
Exchange of material between two non-homologous chromosomes
What is Prader Willi Syndrome
Paternal deletion and maternal imprinting - chromsome 15
Leads to obesity and T2DM
What is Angelman syndrome
Maternal deletion and paternal imprinting
What is FISH
Fluorescence in situ hybridisation - in metaphase for confirmation of aCGH and fllow up segments
What is QF-PCR
Quantitative Fluorescene PCR
Microsatellites markers used to identify and count chromsomes 13, 18, 21 and X/Y
Who is rapid FISH test used for
Carriers of balanced chromosome rearrangements
What is parturition
Process of giving birth
Involves softening and effacement of the cervix and development of uterine contractions
What occurs in the initial phase of labour
Contractions develop, cervix softens and effaces (4cm)
What happens in the active phase of labour
Regular contractions (3 every 10 min) and steady dilation of the cervix (4cm). Progress normal if cervix dilates at least 0.5cm per hour
What happens in stage 2 of labour
Cervix fully dilated 10cm, strong propulsive contractions, 1-2 hours. Uncontrollable urge to push.
Diagnosis of delay: 2 hours in nulliparous and 1 hour in parous women
What happens in stage 3 of labour
Placental separation, descent to the lower segment and delivered (oxytocin important). Cord and placenta will contain about 1/3 of baby’s blood.
What are the inflammatory mediators in cervix ripening
iNOS, COX-s (produces PGE2), matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (stop bacteria from entering), cytokines and immune cells
What instigates the inflammatory process of cervix ripening
Hormone changes - functional progesterone withdrawal - inflammation and influx of immune cells, increased corticotrophin releasing hormone and oestrogen, plus cervical distension -> oxytocin -> Ferguson reflex (fetal movement stretches cervix)
What is PGE2 used for
Ripen cervix and induction of labour
What contraction associated proteins are induced in the myometrium in labour
Prostaglandin receptor, COX-2, oxytocin receptor, gap junctions, calcium signalling proteins
What are gap junctions made from
Connexin proteins
What Cx are unregulated during labour
Cx43 and Cx26
What happens with increased gap junctions
Intercellular communication, more powerful contractions
What initiates labour
Fetal HPA axis involvement, but progesterone drop not apparent. Increasing oestrogen concentrations.
What is the estradiol level through gestation
Steady rise
What is the progesterone level through gestation
Steady rise with plateau at term
What is the role of oxytocin during labour
Uterine contraction: Important for cervical dilation before birth, oxytocin causes contractions during the second and third stages of labor