- Email: [email protected]
Foetal death or defect from maternal infections
Pox,
M.
J., Krumbk+&
E. R., aasd Terssi,
pox as a U&nae of Gongs&W
J. I,.:
Anornal&a,
I@terdal
The Lane&,
Muape,
amI
Ubtoken-
page 746, May 15, 1948.
Various clinical studies have shown that congenital anomalies (cataract, heart disease, deaf-mutism, and dental abnormalities) follow early pregnancy rubella at fifteen times the ordinary rate. The only other virus elfeet thus far investigated is that of poliomyelitis, fetal anomalies being present in two infants of 98 cases collected. Roth of these eases followed poliomyelitis in the first four months of gestation, of which there were 24 cases in all. In a survey of sixty thousand cases of measles, mumps, and chicken pox occurring in Milwaukee in 1942 to 1945, the authors found six cases of measles, twenty-three easea of mumps, and four cases of chicken pox in pregnant women. Only one of the thirtythree infants had an anomaly; a congenital harelip following measles in the fonrth month of pregnancy. This series is admittedly too small to prove anything, especially since only four patients were infected during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. From a negative standpoint, it is disclosed that 76 children, conceived from three weeks to four years after one of these diseases, had no malformations. Conception soon after rubella, however, has been reported to eventuate in defective infants. IRVINQ L. FRANK.
swan, c.:
Rubella in FTegm~~y 744, May 15, 1948.
as an Aetiofo%cal
Pa&or
in StiilbiHlr,
The Lancet, page
Questionnaires answered by 760 mothers of stillborn babies disclosed that 16 of these women had had German measles during pregnancy, two having also had mumps, and a No other infectious disease had a comparable third chicken pox in the same pregnancy. In seven of the sixteen cases there was no known incidence in these ill-fated pregnancies. lethal factor present. Most significantly, in 13 of the cases, rubella had occurred during the first four months of pregnancy, the so-called “critical period.” It is, therefore, sug gested that rubella in early pregnancy may cause damage to the embryo eventuating in IRVING L.~FRANK. stillbirth. UZW&IW& Editotial: Foetal De&h 760, May 15, 1948.
or I)efe&
X%XS Maternti
Infectionsl,
The Lancet, page
German measles during early pregnancy often is followed by fetal defects such as cataract, heart disease, deaf-mutism, and dental and mental abnormalities. A cataract is likely to follow infection at six weeks of pregnancy, deafness at nine weeks, and a cardiac abnormality at five to ten weeks. That these defects follow infection in early pregnancy suggests a specific effect of the virus on the developing embryo. Reliable estimates of the probability that defect, abortion, or stillbirth will follow German measles are essential in deciding the advi&&ity of f%Wpe&l~ abortion. @w&i sug occurring in pregnant women, int@rogagests compulsory notifleation of &I infeirtious 30.73
yp;;r
”
55”
1033
ABSTRACTS
tion of women presenting themselves at prenatal clinics, and a close follow-up of all preg The studies of Ober et al. indicate that rubella in the nancies complicated by infections. first month is followed by defect, abortion, or stillbirth in four out of five cases, four out of eight in the second month, three out of nine in the third month, and four out of twenty-seven IRVING L. FRANK. in the last five months. MacMahon, July,
H. Edward: 1948.
Alveolar
Congenital
Dysplasia
of the Lungs, Am. J. Path.
24: 191,
The author describes a pathological entity involving the lungs of some full-term newborn infants showing respiratory distress and progressive intractable cyanosis. While the correct diagnosis in such cases is usually atelectasis, the primary congenital anomaly described in this paper can produce the same clinical syndrome. Three cases are presented. In each instance the child cried and breathed promptly. There was progressive cyanosNis and respiratory distress until death supervened. At autopsy The main microscopic change was the lungs were normal in size, firm, rubbery, and dark red. The interstitial tissue failed a predominance of interstitial tissue with far too few alveoli. to show well-developed mature collagen when stained with Mallory’s and fuchsin-aniline blue L. M. HELLMAN. stain.
Ellis,
Richard page
321,
The Newborn:
W. B.: June,
Some Problems
of Survival,
Edinburgh
M.
J.,
1948.
This paper deals with some of the factors concerned with infant wastage in Scotland. The author states that never before has the newborn received more consideration than he does in most civilized countries today. This has been brought about by the fact that the reduction in total infant mortality rate has been principally due to a reduction in death rate of infants from 1 to 12 months of age. The reduction in the death rate of infants under one month has shown very little change from 1911 to 1946. The ratio of neonatal to postnatal deaths for the quinquennium, 1911 to 1914, was 43:71. In 1946 this ratio was 36:26. The better survival rate of females over males is pointed out. The higher infant wastage rate in illegitimate births is considered. Certain factors which may improve this infant loss in this group are discussed. These are improvements in the birth certificate so that the illegitimacy of the infant is not disclosed and improvement in the adoption laws. The question of inoculation of children born to tuberculous mothers with B.C.G. is discussed. A discussion of antenatal, neonatal, and postnatal mortality rates in 1939 and 1945 by social class is presented. It is interesting that the difference in stillbirth rate between social classes was greater in 1945 than in 1939. The question of diet in its relation to the status of the newborn infant is discussed. Some of the current literature is cited. The major causes of infant death are ascribed to prematurity, neonatal infection, intracranial hemorrhage, and congenital malformations. L. M. HELLMAN.
Luschinsky, the
H. L., and Singher,
Human
Placenta,
H. 0.:
Reprinted
from
Identification Arch.
and Assay of Monamine
Biochem.,
vol.
19, no. 1, Oct.,
Oxidase in 1948.
Monamine oxidase is contained in the human placenta at term. The authors prove the presence of this enzyme by a study of substrate specificity, the demonstration of the reaction products and the action of certain inhibitors. The authors state that, theoretically, about 0.7 Gm. of tyramine can be deaminated by the average placenta per hour. They state that it is probable that the monamine oxidase serves in the detoxification of amines and that, inasmuch as some of the amines are sympathomimetic in their vasomotor action, monamine oxidase in the placenta may separate the fetal from the maternal vasoactive substances and conversely the mother’s from those of the fetus. Inasmuch as the activity of this enzyme depends upon partial pressure of oxygen, it may be permissible to assume that under conditions of placental ischemia the enzyme may not fulfill its physiological L. M. HELLMAN, role, i.e., the destruction of vasopressin amines.
M.
J., Krumbk+&
E. R., aasd Terssi,
pox as a U&nae of Gongs&W
J. I,.:
Anornal&a,
I@terdal
The Lane&,
Muape,
amI
Ubtoken-
page 746, May 15, 1948.
Various clinical studies have shown that congenital anomalies (cataract, heart disease, deaf-mutism, and dental abnormalities) follow early pregnancy rubella at fifteen times the ordinary rate. The only other virus elfeet thus far investigated is that of poliomyelitis, fetal anomalies being present in two infants of 98 cases collected. Roth of these eases followed poliomyelitis in the first four months of gestation, of which there were 24 cases in all. In a survey of sixty thousand cases of measles, mumps, and chicken pox occurring in Milwaukee in 1942 to 1945, the authors found six cases of measles, twenty-three easea of mumps, and four cases of chicken pox in pregnant women. Only one of the thirtythree infants had an anomaly; a congenital harelip following measles in the fonrth month of pregnancy. This series is admittedly too small to prove anything, especially since only four patients were infected during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. From a negative standpoint, it is disclosed that 76 children, conceived from three weeks to four years after one of these diseases, had no malformations. Conception soon after rubella, however, has been reported to eventuate in defective infants. IRVINQ L. FRANK.
swan, c.:
Rubella in FTegm~~y 744, May 15, 1948.
as an Aetiofo%cal
Pa&or
in StiilbiHlr,
The Lancet, page
Questionnaires answered by 760 mothers of stillborn babies disclosed that 16 of these women had had German measles during pregnancy, two having also had mumps, and a No other infectious disease had a comparable third chicken pox in the same pregnancy. In seven of the sixteen cases there was no known incidence in these ill-fated pregnancies. lethal factor present. Most significantly, in 13 of the cases, rubella had occurred during the first four months of pregnancy, the so-called “critical period.” It is, therefore, sug gested that rubella in early pregnancy may cause damage to the embryo eventuating in IRVING L.~FRANK. stillbirth. UZW&IW& Editotial: Foetal De&h 760, May 15, 1948.
or I)efe&
X%XS Maternti
Infectionsl,
The Lancet, page
German measles during early pregnancy often is followed by fetal defects such as cataract, heart disease, deaf-mutism, and dental and mental abnormalities. A cataract is likely to follow infection at six weeks of pregnancy, deafness at nine weeks, and a cardiac abnormality at five to ten weeks. That these defects follow infection in early pregnancy suggests a specific effect of the virus on the developing embryo. Reliable estimates of the probability that defect, abortion, or stillbirth will follow German measles are essential in deciding the advi&&ity of f%Wpe&l~ abortion. @w&i sug occurring in pregnant women, int@rogagests compulsory notifleation of &I infeirtious 30.73
yp;;r
”
55”
1033
ABSTRACTS
tion of women presenting themselves at prenatal clinics, and a close follow-up of all preg The studies of Ober et al. indicate that rubella in the nancies complicated by infections. first month is followed by defect, abortion, or stillbirth in four out of five cases, four out of eight in the second month, three out of nine in the third month, and four out of twenty-seven IRVING L. FRANK. in the last five months. MacMahon, July,
H. Edward: 1948.
Alveolar
Congenital
Dysplasia
of the Lungs, Am. J. Path.
24: 191,
The author describes a pathological entity involving the lungs of some full-term newborn infants showing respiratory distress and progressive intractable cyanosis. While the correct diagnosis in such cases is usually atelectasis, the primary congenital anomaly described in this paper can produce the same clinical syndrome. Three cases are presented. In each instance the child cried and breathed promptly. There was progressive cyanosNis and respiratory distress until death supervened. At autopsy The main microscopic change was the lungs were normal in size, firm, rubbery, and dark red. The interstitial tissue failed a predominance of interstitial tissue with far too few alveoli. to show well-developed mature collagen when stained with Mallory’s and fuchsin-aniline blue L. M. HELLMAN. stain.
Ellis,
Richard page
321,
The Newborn:
W. B.: June,
Some Problems
of Survival,
Edinburgh
M.
J.,
1948.
This paper deals with some of the factors concerned with infant wastage in Scotland. The author states that never before has the newborn received more consideration than he does in most civilized countries today. This has been brought about by the fact that the reduction in total infant mortality rate has been principally due to a reduction in death rate of infants from 1 to 12 months of age. The reduction in the death rate of infants under one month has shown very little change from 1911 to 1946. The ratio of neonatal to postnatal deaths for the quinquennium, 1911 to 1914, was 43:71. In 1946 this ratio was 36:26. The better survival rate of females over males is pointed out. The higher infant wastage rate in illegitimate births is considered. Certain factors which may improve this infant loss in this group are discussed. These are improvements in the birth certificate so that the illegitimacy of the infant is not disclosed and improvement in the adoption laws. The question of inoculation of children born to tuberculous mothers with B.C.G. is discussed. A discussion of antenatal, neonatal, and postnatal mortality rates in 1939 and 1945 by social class is presented. It is interesting that the difference in stillbirth rate between social classes was greater in 1945 than in 1939. The question of diet in its relation to the status of the newborn infant is discussed. Some of the current literature is cited. The major causes of infant death are ascribed to prematurity, neonatal infection, intracranial hemorrhage, and congenital malformations. L. M. HELLMAN.
Luschinsky, the
H. L., and Singher,
Human
Placenta,
H. 0.:
Reprinted
from
Identification Arch.
and Assay of Monamine
Biochem.,
vol.
19, no. 1, Oct.,
Oxidase in 1948.
Monamine oxidase is contained in the human placenta at term. The authors prove the presence of this enzyme by a study of substrate specificity, the demonstration of the reaction products and the action of certain inhibitors. The authors state that, theoretically, about 0.7 Gm. of tyramine can be deaminated by the average placenta per hour. They state that it is probable that the monamine oxidase serves in the detoxification of amines and that, inasmuch as some of the amines are sympathomimetic in their vasomotor action, monamine oxidase in the placenta may separate the fetal from the maternal vasoactive substances and conversely the mother’s from those of the fetus. Inasmuch as the activity of this enzyme depends upon partial pressure of oxygen, it may be permissible to assume that under conditions of placental ischemia the enzyme may not fulfill its physiological L. M. HELLMAN, role, i.e., the destruction of vasopressin amines.