Antenatal Therapies

Question 1

What percentage of babies in Australia is born preterm?

Answer 1

8.6%

Question 2

For how long do glucocorticoids need to be in the system to be effective?

Answer 2

48 hours

Question 3

What percentage of twin-twin transfusion cases survive if treated with foetoscopic laser surgery?

Answer 3

86%

Question 4

What proportion of children with cerebral palsy have intellectual impairment?

Answer 4

1/2

Question 5

What portion of children with cerebral palsy cannot talk, have epilepsy and are incontinent?

Answer 5

1/4

Question 6

Is the cerebral-causing lesion in the white matter of the brain progressive?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

What period of gestation does IUGR affect?

Answer 7

20 weeks- term

Question 8

What period of gestation does intrauterine infection affect?

Answer 8

22-32 weeks

Question 9

What period of development does birth asphyxia affect?

Answer 9

Term

Question 10

When in gestation does neurogenesis occur?

Answer 10

5-20 weeks

Question 11

When in gestation does neural migration occur?

Answer 11

10 weeks- near term

Question 12

When in gestation are premyelinating oligodendrocytes formed?

Answer 12

14-37 weeks

Question 13

When in gestation are myelinating oligodendrocytes formed?

Answer 13

30 weeks- postnatally (3 months)

Question 14

When does synaptogenesis occur?

Answer 14

20 weeks- 6 years

Question 15

When does brain vascularisation occur?

Answer 15

3 weeks- 6 months postnatally

Question 16

When does apoptosis in the brain occur?

Answer 16

18 weeks- 5.5 years

Question 17

What are tocolytic drugs?

Answer 17

Anti-contractile drugs

Question 18

List three types of tocolytic drugs.

Answer 18

Prostaglandin inhibitors. magnesium sulfate, Ca2+ channel blockers

Question 19

Does tocolytic drugs improve neonatal outcome on their own?

Answer 19

No, they delay birth for glucocorticoids to work.

Question 20

Why is it difficult to study the effects of preterm birth on cerebral palsy in humans?

Answer 20

Confounders: IUGR and infection.

Question 21

What is the effect of antibiotics such as endomycin on birth immediately after and 7 years later?

Answer 21

Immediately: prolonged gestation, mature lungs

7 years later: increased cerebral palsy incidence

Question 22

How is IUGR characterised?

Answer 22

Foetal weight below the 10th percentile and abnormal placental Doppler (blood flow)

Question 23

What is the effect of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on IUGR?

Answer 23

Treats IUGR by dilating placental arteries and decreases brain sparing if given early enough.

Question 24

Describe the effects of IUGR of oligodendrocyte number, myelination and oxidative stress

Answer 24

Correct oligodendrocyte number, impaired myelination, increased oxidative stress.

Question 25

What are the effects of melatonin on IUGR?

Answer 25

Improved placental blood flow, decreased oxidative stress, no overt brain injury, improved cardiovascular outcome.

Question 26

Does melatonin prolong pregnancy?

Answer 26

No