Placental endothelial nitric oxide synthase in multiple and single dose betamethasone exposed pregnancies

To compare endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS ) expression and capillary density (CDS) in placentas exposed to single or multiple courses of betamethasone

The Effects of Music Intervention on Women’s Anxiety Before and After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To assess effect of perioperative music intervention on maternal anxiety levels, physiologic metrics, and medication use for anxiety, nausea and pain during and after scheduled cesarean section. Methods: Women assigned to music intervention group were compared against controls. Physiologic metrics, medication requirements, and STAI scores were assessed for all participants. Results: 50 women were enrolled, assigned to either music intervention (n=25) or control (n=25) and analyzed. Physiologic metrics were similar between groups. Antiemetic, anxiolytic, and analgesic medication use intraoperatively and postoperatively were not significantly different. State and Trait scores by the STAI did not vary significantly by intervention (p=0.09). STAI scores before and after procedure demonstrated the least change for the intervention group (r=0.6) when compared to controls (r=0.2; p\u3c0.05). Conclusion: Contrary to studies with formal music therapy, our data do not support use of patient-selected music as an intervention to reduce maternal anxiety or need for analgesics, anxiolytics, or antiemetics with scheduled cesarean section

New Calcium Carbonate Nano-particulate Pressed Powder Pellet (NFHS-2-NP) for LA-ICP-OES, LA-(MC)-ICP-MS and µXRF

A new matrix-matched reference material has been developed – NFHS-2-NP (NIOZ Foraminifera House Standard-2-Nano-Pellet) – with element mass fractions, and isotope ratios resembling that of natural foraminiferal calcium carbonate. A 180–355 µm size fraction of planktic foraminifera was milled to nano-particles and pressed to pellets. We report reference and information values for mass fractions of forty-six elements measured by six laboratories as well as for 87Sr/86Sr (three laboratories), δ13C, δ18O (five laboratories) and 206,207,208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios (one laboratory) determined by ICP-MS, ICP-OES, MC-ICP-MS, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, WD-XRF and TIMS. Inter- and intra-pellet elemental homogeneity was tested using multiple LA-ICP-MS analyses in two laboratories applying spot sizes of 60 and 70 µm. The LA-ICP-MS results for most of the elements relevant as proxies for palaeoclimate research show RSD values < 3%, demonstrating a satisfactory homogeneous composition. Homogeneity of 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the pellet was verified by repeated LA-MC-ICP-MS by two laboratories. Information values are reported for Pb isotope ratios and δ13C, δ18O values. The homogeneity for these isotope systems remains to be tested by LA-MC-ICP-MS and secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Overall, our results confirm the suitability of NFHS-2-NP for calibration or monitoring the quality of in situ geochemical techniques

New Calcium Carbonate Nano-particulate Pressed Powder Pellet (NFHS-2-NP) for LA-ICP-OES, LA-(MC)-ICP-MS and µXRF

A new matrix-matched reference material has been developed – NFHS-2-NP (NIOZ Foraminifera House Standard-2-Nano-Pellet) – with element mass fractions, and isotope ratios resembling that of natural foraminiferal calcium carbonate. A 180–355 µm size fraction of planktic foraminifera was milled to nano-particles and pressed to pellets. We report reference and information values for mass fractions of forty-six elements measured by six laboratories as well as for 87Sr/86Sr (three laboratories), δ13C, δ18O (five laboratories) and 206,207,208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios (one laboratory) determined by ICP-MS, ICP-OES, MC-ICP-MS, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, WD-XRF and TIMS. Inter- and intra-pellet elemental homogeneity was tested using multiple LA-ICP-MS analyses in two laboratories applying spot sizes of 60 and 70 µm. The LA-ICP-MS results for most of the elements relevant as proxies for palaeoclimate research show RSD values < 3%, demonstrating a satisfactory homogeneous composition. Homogeneity of 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the pellet was verified by repeated LA-MC-ICP-MS by two laboratories. Information values are reported for Pb isotope ratios and δ13C, δ18O values. The homogeneity for these isotope systems remains to be tested by LA-MC-ICP-MS and secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Overall, our results confirm the suitability of NFHS-2-NP for calibration or monitoring the quality of in situ geochemical techniques

New calcium carbonate nano‐particulate pressed powder pellet (NFHS‐2‐NP) for LA‐ICP‐OES, LA‐(MC)‐ICP‐MS and µXRF

A new matrix-matched reference material has been developed – NFHS-2-NP (NIOZ Foraminifera House Standard-2-Nano-Pellet) – with element mass fractions, and isotope ratios resembling that of natural foraminiferal calcium carbonate. A 180–355 µm size fraction of planktic foraminifera was milled to nano-particles and pressed to pellets. We report reference and information values for mass fractions of forty-six elements measured by six laboratories as well as for 87Sr/ 86Sr (three laboratories), δ 13C, δ 18O (five laboratories) and 206,207,208Pb/ 204Pb isotope ratios (one laboratory) determined by ICP-MS, ICP-OES, MC-ICP-MS, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, WD-XRF and TIMS. Inter- and intra-pellet elemental homogeneity was tested using multiple LA-ICP-MS analyses in two laboratories applying spot sizes of 60 and 70 µm. The LA-ICP-MS results for most of the elements relevant as proxies for palaeoclimate research show RSD values &lt; 3%, demonstrating a satisfactory homogeneous composition. Homogeneity of 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios of the pellet was verified by repeated LA-MC-ICP-MS by two laboratories. Information values are reported for Pb isotope ratios and δ 13C, δ 18O values. The homogeneity for these isotope systems remains to be tested by LA-MC-ICP-MS and secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Overall, our results confirm the suitability of NFHS-2-NP for calibration or monitoring the quality of in situ geochemical techniques. </p

Placental endothelial nitric oxide synthase in multiple and single dose betamethasone exposed pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: To compare endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS ) expression and capillary density (CDS) in placentas exposed to single or multiple courses of betamethasone. STUDY DESIGN: Placental specimens exposed to single versus repeat courses of betamethasone were analyzed through immunohistochemistry and digital image quantification for eNOS and CD34. Quantified eNOS staining, calculated CDS, ratio of eNOS to CDS, and clinical characteristics were compared. Linear regression performed with these as dependent variables. RESULTS: Mean and maximum CDS were increased (p=0.013 and 0.005) and the ratio of eNOS to CDS decreased (p=0.016) in specimens exposed to 4 courses of betamethasone compared with 1 to 3 courses. Exposure to 4 courses of betamethasone was associated with increased CDS, but not with eNOS expression. CONCLUSION: Exposure to 4 courses of betamethasone is associated with increased placental CDS. The placental effects of multiple courses of betamethasone are unrelated to eNOS expression