No abstract

The disposition and cardiovascular effects of ethanol were studied in near-term pregnant sheep and their fetuses after intravenous infusions either to the mother or the fetus. Placental transfer of ethanol from mother to fetus was rapid, but transfer from the fetal to maternal circulation was impaired when ethanol was administered directly to the fetus. Plasma clearance of ethanol was similar from the mother and fetus in utero. In the maternal infusion experiments, both maternal and fetal heart rate increased with plasma ethanol concentration. However, in the fetal infusion experiments, both maternal and fetal heart rate increased with plasma ethanol concentration. However, in the fetal infusion experiments, fetal heart rate was inversely related to plasma ethanol concentrations while maternal mean arterial blood pressure increased with maternal plasma ethanol concentration. Further studies in neonatal lambs are needed to determine if ethanol has adverse effects on hemodynamics when the neonate is separated from its protective intrauterine environment.

Blood pressure, one of the most important mortality risk factors, is a common life insurance underwriting tool for classification of preferred, standard, and substandard risks. In order to assess changes in mortality risk associated with blood pressure since the last major intercompany study, Swiss Re's Research & Development and Medical Departments conducted a longitudinal study of blood pressure readings collected at the time of policy issue. Mortality risk associated with different blood pressure levels on nearly 300,000 life insurance policies issued without any other ratable impairments was evaluated. The study cohort was formed by policies issued from 1975 through 2001, which generated over 8,600 claims within the study period. Univariate and bivariate blood pressure mortality results are shown along with results for other key covariates (sex, smoking status, issue year period, policy duration, and cardiovascular family history) for a subset of the cohort that had blood pressure readings of 120/80 mm Hg or lower.

No abstract

No abstract