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Epigenetics Dec 2024Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, are proposed mechanisms explaining the impact of parental exposures to foetal development and lifelong health.... (Review)
Review
Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, are proposed mechanisms explaining the impact of parental exposures to foetal development and lifelong health. Micronutrients including folate, choline, and vitamin B provide methyl groups for the one-carbon metabolism and subsequent DNA methylation processes. Placental DNA methylation changes in response to one-carbon moieties hold potential targets to improve obstetrical care. We conducted a systematic review on the associations between one-carbon metabolism and human placental DNA methylation. We included 22 studies. Findings from clinical studies with minimal ErasmusAGE quality score 5/10 ( = 15) and studies ( = 3) are summarized for different one-carbon moieties. Next, results are discussed per study approach: (1) global DNA methylation ( = 9), (2) genome-wide analyses ( = 4), and (3) gene specific ( = 14). Generally, one-carbon moieties were not associated with global methylation, although conflicting outcomes were reported specifically for choline. Using genome-wide approaches, few differentially methylated sites associated with S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), or dietary patterns. Most studies taking a gene-specific approach indicated site-specific relationships depending on studied moiety and genomic region, specifically in genes involved in growth and development including , , and ; however, overlap between studies was low. Therefore, we recommend to further investigate the impact of an optimized one-carbon metabolism on DNA methylation and lifelong health.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; DNA Methylation; Placenta; Genome-Wide Association Study; Folic Acid; S-Adenosylmethionine; Choline; Carbon
PubMed: 38484284
DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2318516 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jan 2024To systematically evaluate the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to prevent preeclampsia in high risk pregnant women without thrombophilia. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To systematically evaluate the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to prevent preeclampsia in high risk pregnant women without thrombophilia.
SEARCH STRATEGY
PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library were searched for articles published before 1st August 2022 using the combination keywords "preeclampsia", "Low Molecular Weight Heparin", "LMWH", "Heparin, Low Molecular Weight", "Dalteparin", "Nadroparin", and "Tinzaparin".
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of LMWH in pregnant women at high risk of preeclampsia without thrombophilia.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis (1758 patients in total). Outcomes were expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS
LMWH reduced the incidence of PE (RR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.50-0.90; P = 0.009) in high risk pregnant women without thrombophilia. Subgroup analysis found that the prophylactic effect of LMWH was only significant in studies using low-dose aspirin (LDA) as the primary intervention. The combination of LMWH and LDA was also effective for the prevention of preterm birth and fetal growth restriction, but had no effect on the incidence of placenta abruption.
CONCLUSION
For women at high risk of developing preeclampsia without thrombophilia, the combination of LMWH and low-dose aspirin is effective for the prevention of preeclampsia, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction and is superior to LDA alone.
Topics: Female; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Pregnancy; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy, High-Risk; Premature Birth; Fetal Growth Retardation; Aspirin; Heparin; Nadroparin; Thrombophilia; Anticoagulants
PubMed: 38233773
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06218-9 -
Medicine Apr 2024The imbalance between the generation and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is defined as oxidative stress (OS). Elevated levels of OS are implicated in...
BACKGROUND
The imbalance between the generation and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is defined as oxidative stress (OS). Elevated levels of OS are implicated in various diseases, especially in gynecological and reproductive disorders. The abundance of recent literature makes it challenging to assimilate all available information. This bibliometric analysis seeks to depict the research landscape of OS in gynecological and reproductive diseases and to identify future hotspots and trends.
METHODS
The Web of Science Core Collection served as the source for articles related to OS in gynecological and reproductive diseases. CtieSpace and VOSviewer software were utilized to analyzed countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords of all eligible articles.
RESULTS
A total of 1423 articles were included. There was a gradual increase in the number of publications in this field. The USA maintained the highest number of publications, with 372 articles. Cleveland Clinic was the leading institution in terms of publication volume, contributing 67 articles. In total, 6925 authors were identified. Agarwal A as the most frequently co-cited author, received 812 citations across 43 publications. The predominant clusters included "placenta," "polycystic ovary syndrome," "male infertility," and "oocyte quality." Notably, "oocyte quality'" was identified as a current key research topic.
CONCLUSION
There was an uptrend in the number of articles addressing OS in gynecological and reproductive diseases. However, international collaboration and exchange were limited. The topic of male infertility had remained a consistent area of interest, and research on oocyte quality is poised to become a potential focal point in the future.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Male; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Bibliometrics; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Infertility, Male
PubMed: 38608064
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037815 -
Cureus Jan 2024This research project examines the long-term effects of maternal-neonatal bonding during a mother's "sensitive period." The review explores how early contact between a... (Review)
Review
This research project examines the long-term effects of maternal-neonatal bonding during a mother's "sensitive period." The review explores how early contact between a mother and her newborn can affect their psychosocial and emotional well-being in the future. Within an hour after birth, oxytocin levels increase for mothers, while catecholamine surges enhance neonates' memory retention to encourage immediate skin-to-skin contact (SSC), which promotes breastfeeding with benefits, such as quicker placenta expulsion, less bleeding, and lower stress. As per sources to date, there is no systematic review on this subject; however, numerous studies exist regarding short-term outcomes, exclusive breastfeeding, and childhood problems. The exploration involves rigorous searches of academic databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for transparency and reproducibility by using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) framework. Of the 516 initially identified articles, only five were relevant based on refined selection criteria, making it clear from the analysis that sensitive-period bonding produces long-term impacts in infants. Few studies are available, particularly in recent years; thus, more research is required in this area.
PubMed: 38435959
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53318 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Mar 2024BACKGROUND Placenta accreta syndrome (PAS) can lead to severe obstetric bleeding, and can be life-threatening. This study aimed to assess the precision of radiomics... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND Placenta accreta syndrome (PAS) can lead to severe obstetric bleeding, and can be life-threatening. This study aimed to assess the precision of radiomics features derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing PAS. MATERIAL AND METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library from inception to October 2023. We included diagnostic accuracy studies utilizing radiomics-MRI in PAS patients, with histopathology serving as the reference standard. The overall diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were computed to gauge the diagnostic accuracy of MRI-based radiomic features in PAS patients. Quality assessment was performed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Statistical analyses were carried out using Stata 14.2, MetaDiSc 1.4, and Review Manager 5.3 software. RESULTS Seven studies involving 672 patients were incorporated. The aggregated DOR, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for radiomics in detecting PAS were 78% (confidence interval32, 191), 87% (76%, 93%), 92% (89%, 94%), and 0.93 (0.91-0.95), respectively. The meta-analysis revealed notable heterogeneity among the included studies, with no evidence of a threshold effect. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that, in comparison to manual segmentation and validation groups with ≤100 cases and internal validation datasets, automated segmentation, validation groups with >100 cases, and external validation datasets exhibited superior diagnostic performance . CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that MRI-based radiomic features perform well in assessing the diagnostic risk of PAS during prenatal diagnosis. This noninvasive and convenient tool may prove valuable in facilitating the identification of PAS.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Placenta Accreta; Radiomics; Area Under Curve; Databases, Factual; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38486373
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943461 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Although the assessment of the amniotic fluid volume in pregnancy is part of the fetal wellbeing surveillance, the impact of idiopathic polyhydramnios (IP) on maternal... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Although the assessment of the amniotic fluid volume in pregnancy is part of the fetal wellbeing surveillance, the impact of idiopathic polyhydramnios (IP) on maternal and perinatal outcomes in unknown. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association of IP with different maternal and perinatal outcomes. We screened five electronic databases until December 2023 and performed data extraction and quality assessment using ROBINS-E in duplicates. Pooled risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated with a random effects model. 38 studies were included. Patients with IP were at increased risk of perinatal complications including preterm delivery (RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35-2.86; I = 92%), placental abruption (RR 3.20, 95% CI 2.20-4.65; I = 2%), delivery via caesarean section (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.39-1.84; I = 95%) and postpartum haemorrhage (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.22-3.22; I = 84%). Similarly, IP was associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes including low APGAR score (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.23-7.35; I = 95%), stillbirth (RR 4.75, 95% CI 2.54-8.86; I = 9%) and perinatal mortality (RR 4.75, 95% CI 2.67-8.48; I = 37%). This meta-analysis suggests that pregnant women with IP may be at increased risk of perinatal complications and adverse neonatal outcomes. However, data remains inconclusive considering the low quality and high heterogeneity of included studies.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022359944.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Amniotic Fluid; Cesarean Section; Placenta; Polyhydramnios
PubMed: 38438422
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54840-0 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Apr 2024The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm birth in nulliparous women. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm birth in nulliparous women.
DATA SOURCES
We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to June 2022.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials that compared aspirin to placebo in nulliparous women were eligible.
METHODS
This study was reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 checklist. The primary outcomes of this study were the rates of preterm birth at less than 37 weeks and less than 34 weeks of gestation. The secondary outcomes included postpartum hemorrhage, placental abruption, cesarean section, any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and small for gestational age. Relative risks with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed by Cochran's Q test and Higgins's I. A random-effects model was used when I was > 50% to generate the RR and 95% CI; otherwise, a fixed-effects model was used. The risk of publication bias was assessed by funnel plots. We performed sensitivity analysis by sequentially omitting each included study to confirm the robustness of the analysis.
RESULTS
Seven studies with a total of 29,029 participants were included in this review. Six studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias or an unclear risk of bias, and one study was judged as having a high risk of bias. In nulliparous women, low-dose aspirin was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of preterm birth at less than 34 weeks of gestational age (RR 0.84,95% CI: 0.71-0.99; I = 0%; P = 0.04), but we did not observe a significant difference in the rate of preterm birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation (RR 0.96,95% CI: 0.90-1.02; I = 31%; P = 0.18). Low-dose aspirin was associated with a significant increase in the rates of postpartum hemorrhage (RR 1.32,95% CI: 1.14-1.54; I = 0%; P = 0.0003), placental abruption (RR 2.18,95% CI: 1.10-4.32; I = 16%; P = 0.02) and cesarean section (RR 1.053, 95% CI: 1.001-1.108; I = 0%; P = 0.05) in nulliparous women. We also did not observe a significant effect of low-dose aspirin on the rates of any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (RR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.96-1.14; I = 9%; P = 0.28) or small for gestational age (RR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.91-1.02; I = 0%; P = 0.16) in nulliparous women. Funnel plots indicated that no significant publication bias existed in this meta-analysis. Except for preterm birth at less than 34 weeks of gestation, placental abruption and cesarean section, the sensitivity analysis showed similar results, which confirmed the robustness of this meta-analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose aspirin might reduce the risk of preterm birth at less than 34 weeks of gestation in nulliparous women. The use of low-dose aspirin in nulliparous women increased the risk of postpartum hemorrhage and might increase the risk of placental abruption and cesarean section.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Premature Birth; Abruptio Placentae; Cesarean Section; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Placenta; Aspirin; Hypertension; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38605330
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06413-2 -
Journal of the Turkish German... Sep 2023Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) arising in the placenta and presenting as a metastatic disease concurrently in the mother and the baby is extremely rare. GTN...
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) arising in the placenta and presenting as a metastatic disease concurrently in the mother and the baby is extremely rare. GTN poses a diagnostic dilemma to the treating clinicians. In the current review, an electronic search of Scopus, PubMed, Embase and other databases was conducted for case reports and case series of GTN co-existing or metastatic to both the mother and the baby, published to date. Globally, a total of twenty-two cases of GTN with metastasis to both the mother and baby was found. The previous history of histopathology confirmed molar pregnancy was present in 4/22 cases. The median time to diagnose GTN in the mother was six weeks post-partum. In the majority of cases, diagnosis of maternal disease was made after the infant presented with clinical manifestation. Overall survival was reported in 17/22 mothers up to varying latest follow-up and in 6/22 infants. A knowledge of the varied clinical presentation, eliciting a history of previous pregnancy loss/term pregnancy and serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) estimations were helpful for early diagnosis. The concurrent presence of GTN in the mother and baby is a rare entity and poses a diagnostic dilemma. Diagnosis in the mother often follows diagnosis in the baby after an infant presents with clinical manifestations. GTN is a highly chemo-sensitive tumour, but the main prognostic factors determining survival are the time to diagnosis following previous pregnancy and serum β-hCG levels.
PubMed: 37675557
DOI: 10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2023.2023-5-2 -
Medicine Nov 2023Changes in circulating pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) have been observed in women with a placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). However, no consensus has been... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Changes in circulating pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) have been observed in women with a placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). However, no consensus has been reached according to the previous studies. Our study investigated the relationship between circulating PAPP-A and PAS risk through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Studies comparing the circulating level of PAPP-A between pregnant women with and without PAS were obtained by searching the Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases from the inception of the databases until February 12, 2023. Heterogeneity was considered in the pooling of results via a random-effects model.
RESULTS
Eight observational studies were obtained for the meta-analysis, which included 243 pregnant women with PAS and 1599 pregnant women without PAS. For all these women, the first-trimester circulating level of PAPP-A was measured by immunoassay and reported as multiples of the median (MoM) values. The pooled results showed that compared to those who did not develop PAS, women with PAS had significantly higher first-trimester serum level PAPP-A (mean difference: 0.43 MoM, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 0.56, P < .001; I2 = 32%). Furthermore, a high first-trimester serum PAPP-A level was related to a high PAS risk (odds ratio: 2.89, 95% CI: 2.13 to 3.92, P < .001; I2 = 0%). Sensitivity analysis which excluded one study at a time, also obtained similar results (p all < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Pregnant women with a high serum PAPP-A level in the first trimester may be at an increased risk for PAS.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A; Placenta Accreta; Pregnancy Trimester, First
PubMed: 38013313
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034473 -
Medicine Aug 2023Although planned cesarean delivery (PCD) is the mainstay of management for abnormal placentation, some patients still require emergency cesarean delivery (ECD). We aimed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Although planned cesarean delivery (PCD) is the mainstay of management for abnormal placentation, some patients still require emergency cesarean delivery (ECD). We aimed to systematically analyze the impact of various modes of delivery on neonatal outcomes.
METHODS
This study was complied with the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO (code: CRD42022379487). A systematic search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE and Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane databases. Data extracted included gestational age at delivery, birth weight, the Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, numbers of newborns with low Apgar score (<7) at 5 minutes, the rates of neonatal intensive care unit admission, and the rates of neonatal mortality.
RESULTS
Fifteen cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 2565 women (2567 neonates) who underwent PCD (n = 1483) or ECD (n = 1082) for prenatally diagnosed placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) and/or placenta previa (PP). Compared with the ECD group, neonates in the PCD group had significantly higher gestational ages (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-3.15; P < .001), birth weights (SMD: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.00-2.27; P < .001), and Apgar scores at 1 minute (SMD: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.29-0.73; P < .001) and 5 minutes (SMD: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.25-0.70; P < .001). Additionally, the PCD group had significantly lower rates of neonatal intensive care unit admission (odds ratio [OR]: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.14-0.29; P < .001), low Apgar score at 5 minutes (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11-0.69; P = .01), and neonatal mortality (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.05-0.33; P < .001).
CONCLUSION
When pregnancies are complicated by abnormal placentation, PCD is linked to noticeably better neonatal outcomes than emergent delivery.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Female; Placentation; Cesarean Section; Birth Weight; Infant Mortality; Cohort Studies; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37565895
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034498