The molecular mechanisms by which pregnancy malaria affects the outcome of fetal development are unknown. Megalin, which has been well studied in kidney, has high expression in the placenta from early stages to term, and is proposed to be an important factor in extensive maternofetal exchange during development of the fetus. Pregnancy malaria (PM) is characterized by inflammation in placenta and is associated with low birthweight (LBW), stillborn birth, and other pathologies. It is hypothesized that PM disturbs megalin function/expression/distribution in the brush boarder of syncytiotrophoblast which, in turn, may contribute significantly to pathology of LBW. Our studies show that the presence of infected erythrocytes in placenta at the time of delivery negatively affects protein abundance for megalin and Dab2. This is the first report associating the abundance of placental megalin system proteins with the birth weight of newborn babies, and associating PM with changes in megalin system protein abundance. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / Refer to document

Abstract not available

Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes and with signs of increased hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activity in later life (1, 2). Low birth usually weight reflects a reduction in fetal growth, which largely depends on an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen. Variations in supply modify the metabolic and neuroendocrine characteristics of the fetus, which in turn modulate the pattern of functional development as well as growth (3). An adverse fetal environment, evident as low birth weight, is therefore proposed to alter functional development with long term effects for the function and risk of disease in the individual later in life (4, 5). Increased HPAA impairs metabolic homeostasis and could therefore mediate effect of prenatal challenge on later metabolic control (6). It was therefore hypothesised that restriction of fetal growth, increases circulating cortisol and/or alters sensitivity to cortisol, which increases fasting blood glucose, and impairs glucose tolerance in the young adult. Large litter size in the guinea pig is characterised by reduced placental and fetal growth, reduced size at birth and insulin resistance in offspring in later life, providing a suitable model to test this hypothesis. Spontaneous restriction of fetal growth in the guinea pig, evident as small size at birth, was associated with increased salivary cortisol, in both sexes but at different stages of postnatal life. In males, salivary cortisol was increased with small size at birth in early and adult life, but reduced later with ageing. In females however, salivary cortisol was increased in juveniles and in aged adults, possibly reflecting the impact of the oestrus cycle on cortisol production in mature cycling females. Altered activity of the HPGA, which can influence that of the HPAA, has also been reported to be programmed by prenatal restriction. In the guinea pig, salivary testosterone in males increased with age and small size at birth in juveniles, young and aged adults. In females, salivary progesterone increased with age up to 300 days, and decreased with size at birth in the young guinea pig. Although testosterone inhibits HPAA activity, in males, mean salivary cortisol correlated positively with mean salivary testosterone at 100 and 300 days of age. In contrast, progesterone may enhance HPAA activity, and consistent with this, in females, mean salivary progesterone correlated with mean salivary cortisol at 400 days of age. Therefore, salivary testosterone in the male and salivary progesterone in the female guinea pig changes with maturation and has previously reported in this or other species, but small size at birth increases salivary testosterone in males with modest effects in early life in females. This together with the unexpected positive associations of salivary cortisol with testosterone in males, suggests that programming of the HPAA makes little contribution to that of the HPAA as indicated by salivary cortisol. Here we show that low birth weight is associated with increased fasting blood glucose and impaired glucose tolerance in both male and female young adult guinea pigs aged 100 days. Fasting and mean (during IVGTT) plasma cortisol was reduced in low birth weight female adult guinea pigs, and is not vary with size at birth at this age in males. This suggests that circulating cortisol does not contribute to the impaired glycaemia associated with small size at birth in the guinea pig. Glucose tolerance was increasingly impaired in males but not females, as mean plasma cortisol increased. This is consistent with cortisol impairing glycaemia in the guinea pig as in other species, in males at least. To assess the role of cortisol in prentally programmed impairment of glycaemia directly, metyrapone or vehicle containing 24% ethanol was administered to young adult guinea pigs for 3 days. Treatment with the latter impaired fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance in females and the latter in males compared to a previous IVGTT and this was exacerbated in low birth weight females. Metyrapone prevented this impairment of fasting glycaemia and glucose tolerance in the low birth weight adult female guinea pig and in the male guinea pig regardless of birth weight class. Neither vehicle or metyrapone altered plasma cortisol, before or during a second IVGTT. Limited numbers of animals, particularly females, limited this study however and additional investigation is required. Nevertheless this shows for the first time that inhibition of glucocorticoid synthesis in the guinea pig improves glucose control. Furthermore this suggests that the low birth weight guinea pig may be more sensitive to cortisol, have increased cortisol synthesis or reduced inactivation of cortisol in peripheral tissues, leading to increased local cortisol action. In conclusion, alterations in peripheral HPAA activity in the guinea pig due to restricted fetal growth may contribute to their prenatally programmed development of impaired glucose tolerance as young adults, but the extent of that contribution may vary with age and gender. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, 2008

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a fairly new concept to the patients and personnel at the R. K. Khan Hospital. Arising from one of the Governmental initiatives, KMC was introduced to KwaZulu Natal in 2001. The personnel at this hospital were briefly introduced to this alternate method of care for a low birth weight baby, by means of symposia and in-service. Soon after this in-service education, the personnel were requested to implement KMC. This study was undertaken to explore the perceptions of carers for the preparation and experience of KMC and to describe the experiences of the carers who have implemented KMC. Furthermore, this study determined whether carers received support during the implementation of KMC and in so doing to identify the sources of this support. The selection of this particular field of study arose out of the researcher's professional role in educating personnel in the theory and practice of midwifery. The lack of documented evidence to problems that they may have been encountered and management strategies to deal with these prompted this study. The intention was to obtain empirical findings so that personnel would be provided with appropriate and precise information on the subject. A phenomenological approach was used. The sample was obtained from the R. K. Khan Hospital neonatal unit. This is a regional hospital that is located in Chatsworth, Durban. The sample comprised often mothers who were practicing KMC in the post-natal ward, or mothers who were discharged and were still practicing KMC for the past two to four weeks. Data were collected by means of face-to-face interviews. Interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. These interviews provided the researcher with rich, personal and narrative experiences of the carers before and during KMC. The results of this study indicated that KMC was indeed new to most of the mothers and this evoked apprehension, doubt and fear, but once the mothers had tried it and were successful, they felt a sense ofjoy. Nursing personnel formed part of the supportive environment for the mothers practicing KMC. The latter is a prerequisite for the success of KMC. Since KMC is associated with many benefits to the mother, the baby and the institution, for the future it could be incorporated into the midwifery curriculum for student midwives. Recommendations concerning nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research were made at the end of the study including the limitations affecting the study. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2008. / "March 2008" Bibliography: leaves xxvi-xliii. Also available in print form.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 224 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 203-224). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-188). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-188). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page (viewed July 10, 2009). Additional advisors: William W. Andrews, David E. Vance, Kirstin J. Bailey, Lynda L. Harrison. Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-59).