Projects / Programmes
Metabolic and hereditary factors of reproductive health, delivery
July 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.05.00 |
Medical sciences |
Human reproduction |
|
| 3.07.00 |
Medical sciences |
Metabolic and hormonal disorders |
|
| 2.06.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Systems and cybernetics |
|
| 6.06.00 |
Humanities |
Culturology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B570 |
Biomedical sciences |
Obstetrics, gynaecology, andrology, reproduction, sexuality |
| B190 |
Biomedical sciences |
Clinical chemistry |
pregnancy, screening tests, chromosomopathies, teratology, mercury toxicity, thyroid diseases, iodine metabolism, menstrual irregularities, gene candidates for menopausis praecox, preterm delivery, biomedical signals analysis, characterisation of parameters, data mining of temporal lines, classification of time events, prediction of events, quality improvement for the parturient and individualized care, labour and delivery as physiological, cultural and psychological interaction, women's rights, labour and delivery culture, toxoplasmosis
Researchers (34)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
1. Screening tests for chromosomopathies and pregnancy complications. Free beta HCG nd PAPP-A values between 11. and 14. week of gestation in pregnant women with trisomy 21, trisomy 18 or sex chromosomes abberations are different from the values in pregnant women with normal fetuses. The values of these markers can also be different in women where fetal karyotype is normal but complications in pregnancy occur. Screening tests for Slovenia will be validated. Analysis of false positive results, predictive values and appropriateness according to the population characteristics will be performed.
2. Influence of chemical and biochemical factors on reproductive health. Those toxic, subtoxic and biological effects of mercury, connected to lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage will be studied as well as some biological markers. Cumulation of mercury in epiphysis, anterior hypophysis, thyroid gland and testes can potentially influence function of the glands. We will evaluate the effects of mercury retrospectively; in the city of Idrija after 500 years of mercury mine functioning the pollution and exposition are high.
3. The incidence and forms of thyroid dysfunction in reproductive period. We will try to evaluate if the iodine intake in pregnancy in Slovenia is adequate, as this has influences on the fetus and the incidence of thyroid diseases later in life. We want to ascertain the incidence of thyroid diseases in pregnancy and puerperium and etiology of these diseases for our population.
4. Hereditary factors of menstrual irregularities. In patients with menstrual irregularities we will continue with analysing some of the genetical factors (DNA ploidy of granulosa-thecca cells, mutaitions in the GALT gene, variations in the CYP11a gene).
5. Preterm delivery is the most frequent complication in pregnancy, adding most to perinatal morbidity and mortality. With additional analyses of signals of electrohysterograms we will try to improve predictive value for preterm delivery and institute a system with simple and repeatable recording of signals. Psychological stress and labor and delivery as the central life event will be studied.
6. Primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnancy. Study of congenital toxoplasmosis detection with DNA analysis of amniotic fluid with PCR analysis will be performed.
Significance for science
We are estimating usefulness of different linear and non-linear signal processing techniques to analyze electromyogram of uterus for differentiating between labours at the estimated date and pre-term labours. The most useful appeared to be the median frequency and the sample entropy. We developed faster algorithm to calculate the sample entropy. We are analyzing records of electrical activity of uterus early during the pregnancy, as opposed to majority of other researches, who analyze records just prior to the delivery. In the scope of the project we also developed a web interface for dislocated entering of data about the pregnancies, which allows adaptability and flexibility of the interface during creating the pages to enter the data, and supports its portability. The interface developed is user friendly and follows all modern widely accepted principles and guidelines for designing user interfaces: full user control, reducing user memory load and consistency. Research focus on developing different concepts (as medicalizaton, institutionalization, tehnologization of human reproductive life) has a special meaning for theoretical interdisciplinary work; as developing deeper understanding and new perspectives on the complex processes of women becoming mothers. New methods for researching childbirth culture has been developed and implemented. Data bases on contemporary chilbirth culture in Slovenia give an opportunity for future reseachers interested in medicine, midwifery, sociology, anthropoloy and history and for international comparision of the birth systems.
Significance for the country
We are working to improve predicting of pre-term delivery which is associated with considerable costs. We are maintaining position of our research group among the leading groups in the world in this field. We developed new non-invasive non-linear signal processing techniques to help estimate the risk for pre-term labour.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
