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International Journal of Cardiology Jun 2024The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between stannum exposure during pregnancy and congenital heart diseases in offspring.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between stannum exposure during pregnancy and congenital heart diseases in offspring.
METHODS
Based on a prospective birth cohort study conducted in Gansu Maternal and Child Health Hospital from 2010 to 2012, 14,359 pregnant women were followed up using a nested case-control study method. 97 pregnant women whose offspring were diagnosed with CHDs were used as the case group, and 194 pregnant women whose offspring did not suffer from congenital heart diseases were used as the control group in a ratio of 1:2 according to their age and place of birth. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine elemental stannum in blood samples from pregnant women hospitalized for delivery and in fetal cord blood samples. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between stannum and offspring CHDs.
RESULTS
There was a moderate positive correlation between the concentration of stannum in pregnant women's blood and that in umbilical cord blood. A higher concentrations of maternal blood stannum level was associated with a greater risk of CHDs (aOR 3.409, 95%CI 1.785-6.826), isolated CHDs (aOR 4.044, 95%CI 1.803-9.070), multiple CHDs (aOR 2.625, 95%CI 1.137-6.061), patent ductus arteriosus (aOR 2.882, 95%CI 1.443-5.756), atrial septal defects (aOR 3.067, 95%CI 1.406-6.690), ventricular septal defects (aOR 7.414, 95%CI 1.414-38.874). There was a correlation between the maternal and cord blood sample suggesting stannum crosses the placenta.
PubMed: 38880423
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.132270 -
International Journal of Hygiene and... Jul 2024Executive functions develop rapidly in childhood, enabling problem-solving, focused attention, and planning. Exposures to environmental toxicants in pregnancy may impair...
BACKGROUND
Executive functions develop rapidly in childhood, enabling problem-solving, focused attention, and planning. Exposures to environmental toxicants in pregnancy may impair healthy executive function development in children. There is increasing concern regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) given their ability to transfer across the placenta and the fetal blood-brain barrier, yet evidence from epidemiological studies is limited.
METHODS
We examined associations between prenatal PAH exposure and executive functions in 814 children of non-smoking mothers from two U.S. cohorts in the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium. Seven mono-hydroxylated PAH metabolites were measured in mid-pregnancy urine and analyzed individually and as mixtures. Three executive function domains were measured at age 8-9: cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control. A composite score quantifying overall performance was further calculated. We fitted linear regressions adjusted for socio-demographics, maternal health behaviors, and psychological measures, and examined modification by child sex and stressful life events in pregnancy. Bayesian kernel machine regression was performed to estimate the interactive and overall effects of the PAH mixture.
RESULTS
The results from primary analysis of linear regressions were generally null, and no modification by child sex or maternal stress was indicated. Mixture analyses suggested several pairwise interactions between individual PAH metabolites in varied directions on working memory, particularly interactions between 2/3/9-FLUO and other PAH metabolites, but no overall or individual effects were evident.
CONCLUSION
We conducted a novel exploration of PAH-executive functions association in a large, combined sample from two cohorts. Although findings were predominantly null, the study carries important implications for future research and contributes to evolving science regarding developmental origins of diseases.
Topics: Humans; Female; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Executive Function; Child; Male; Cohort Studies; Environmental Pollutants; Adult; Memory, Short-Term; Maternal Exposure
PubMed: 38879913
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114407 -
Placenta May 2024Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major pregnancy metabolic disorder and is strongly linked with obesity. Kisspeptin is a hormone that increases several...
INTRODUCTION
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major pregnancy metabolic disorder and is strongly linked with obesity. Kisspeptin is a hormone that increases several thousand-fold in the maternal circulation during human pregnancy, with placenta as its main source. Studies have suggested that kisspeptin regulates trophoblast invasion and promotes pancreatic insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity.
METHODS
In a well-characterized cohort of pregnant South African women and molecular and histological techniques, this study explored the impact and interaction of maternal obesity and GDM on kisspeptin (KISS1) signalling in relation to placental morphology and maternal and neonatal parameters.
RESULTS
We found that GDM had no effect on placental KISS1 and KISS1R (KISS1 receptor) mRNA and/or protein expression. However, obesity reduced placental KISS1R mRNA expression even though overall KISS1 protein abundance or localization was not different from the non-obese group. Maternal and cord circulating KISS1 concentrations did not vary with obesity or GDM, but maternal circulating KISS1 was positively correlated with placenta weight in non-GDM obese women, and negatively correlated with placental intervillous space volume in non-GDM non-obese women. Cord serum KISS1 was positively correlated with infant weight in GDM obese women, but negatively correlated with maternal BMI in the non-obese GDM group. Placental syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles exhibited detectable KISS1 and its abundance was ∼50 % lower in those from obese GDM compared to non-GDM women.
DISCUSSION
This study shows maternal obesity and GDM can modulate placental kisspeptin signalling and placental morphological development with potential pathophysiological implications for clinically-relevant pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.
PubMed: 38878622
DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.05.138 -
Diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum using ultrasound texture feature fusion and machine learning.Computers in Biology and Medicine Jun 2024Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is an obstetric disorder arising from the abnormal adherence of the placenta to the uterine wall, often leading to life-threatening...
INTRODUCTION
Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is an obstetric disorder arising from the abnormal adherence of the placenta to the uterine wall, often leading to life-threatening complications including postpartum hemorrhage. Despite its significance, PAS remains frequently underdiagnosed before delivery. This study delves into the realm of machine learning to enhance the precision of PAS classification. We introduce two distinct models for PAS classification employing ultrasound texture features.
METHODS
The first model leverages machine learning techniques, harnessing texture features extracted from ultrasound scans. The second model adopts a linear classifier, utilizing integrated features derived from 'weighted z-scores'. A novel aspect of our approach is the amalgamation of classical machine learning and statistical-based methods for feature selection. This, coupled with a more transparent classification model based on quantitative image features, results in superior performance compared to conventional machine learning approaches.
RESULTS
Our linear classifier and machine learning models attain test accuracies of 87 % and 92 %, and 5-fold cross validation accuracies of 88.7 (4.4) and 83.0 (5.0), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed models illustrate the effectiveness of practical and robust tools for enhanced PAS detection, offering non-invasive and computationally-efficient diagnostic tools. As adjunct methods for prenatal diagnosis, these tools can assist clinicians by reducing the need for unnecessary interventions and enabling earlier planning of management strategies for delivery.
PubMed: 38878399
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108757 -
FASEB Journal : Official Publication of... Jul 2024The etiology of preeclampsia (PE), a complex and multifactorial condition, remains incompletely understood. DNA methylation, which is primarily regulated by three DNA...
The etiology of preeclampsia (PE), a complex and multifactorial condition, remains incompletely understood. DNA methylation, which is primarily regulated by three DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B, plays a vital role in early embryonic development and trophectoderm differentiation. Yet, how DNMTs modulate trophoblast fusion and PE development remains unclear. In this study, we found that the DNMTs expression was downregulated during trophoblast cells fusion. Downregulation of DNMTs was observed during the reconstruction of the denuded syncytiotrophoblast (STB) layer of placental explants. Additionally, overexpression of DNMTs inhibited trophoblast fusion. Conversely, treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-CdR decreased the expression of DNMTs and promoted trophoblast fusion. A combined analysis of DNA methylation data and gene transcriptome data obtained from the primary cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) fusion process identified 104 potential methylation-regulated differentially expressed genes (MeDEGs) with upregulated expression due to DNA demethylation, including CD59, TNFAIP3, SDC1, and CDK6. The transcription regulation region (TRR) of TNFAIP3 showed a hypomethylation with induction of 5-aza-CdR, which facilitated CREB recruitment and thereby participated in regulating trophoblast fusion. More importantly, clinical correlation analysis of PE showed that the abnormal increase in DNMTs may be involved in the development of PE. This study identified placental DNA methylation-regulated genes that may contribute to PE, offering a novel perspective on the role of epigenetics in trophoblast fusion and its implication in PE development.
Topics: Trophoblasts; Female; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Humans; DNA Methylation; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; Cell Fusion; Placenta; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1
PubMed: 38877842
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302705R -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jun 2024The vaginal microbiota dysbiosis induces inflammation in the uterus that triggers tissue damage and is associated with preterm birth. Progesterone is used to prevent...
Dysbiosis in pregnant mice induced by transfer of human vaginal microbiota followed by reversal of pathological changes in the uterus and placenta via progesterone treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The vaginal microbiota dysbiosis induces inflammation in the uterus that triggers tissue damage and is associated with preterm birth. Progesterone is used to prevent labor in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. However, the mechanism of action of progesterone still needs to be clarified. We aimed to show the immunomodulatory effect of progesterone on the inflammation of uterine tissue triggered by dysbiotic vaginal microbiota in a pregnant mouse model.
METHODS
Healthy (n = 6) and dysbiotic (n = 7) vaginal microbiota samples isolated from pregnant women were transferred to control (n = 10) and dysbiotic (n = 14) pregnant mouse groups. The dysbiotic microbiota transferred group was treated with 1 mg progesterone (n = 7). Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry analyses were used to evaluate inflammatory processes. Vaginal microbiota samples were analyzed by 16 S rRNA sequencing.
RESULTS
Vaginal exposure to dysbiotic microbiota resulted in macrophage accumulation in the uterus and cellular damage in the placenta. Even though TNF and IL-6 elevations were not significant after dysbiotic microbiota transplantation, progesterone treatment decreased TNF and IL-6 expressions from 49.085 to 31.274% (p = 0.0313) and 29.279-21.216% (p = 0.0167), respectively. Besides, the macrophage density in the uterus was reduced, and less cellular damage in the placenta was observed.
CONCLUSION
Analyzing the vaginal microbiota before or during pregnancy may support the decision for initiation of progesterone therapy. Our results also guide the development of new strategies for preventing preterm birth.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Dysbiosis; Vagina; Placenta; Mice; Humans; Animals; Uterus; Microbiota; Premature Birth; Disease Models, Animal; Progestins
PubMed: 38877443
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06595-9 -
BMC Medical Imaging Jun 2024The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) increases in women with placenta previa (PP). Many radiologists sometimes cannot completely and accurately diagnose PAS...
BACKGROUND
The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) increases in women with placenta previa (PP). Many radiologists sometimes cannot completely and accurately diagnose PAS through the simple visual feature analysis of images, which can affect later treatment decisions. The study is to develop a T2WI MRI-based radiomics-clinical nomogram and evaluate its performance for non-invasive prediction of suspicious PAS in patients with PP.
METHODS
The preoperative MR images and related clinical data of 371 patients with PP were retrospectively collected from our hospital, and the intraoperative examination results were used as the reference standard of the PAS. Radiomics features were extracted from sagittal T2WI MR images and further selected by LASSO regression analysis. The radiomics score (Radscore) was calculated with logistic regression (LR) classifier. A nomogram integrating Radscore and selected clinical factors was also developed. The model performance was assessed with respect to discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness.
RESULTS
A total of 6 radiomics features and 1 clinical factor were selected for model construction. The Radscore was significantly associated with suspicious PAS in both the training (p < 0.001) and validation (p < 0.001) datasets. The AUC of the nomogram was also higher than that of the Radscore in the training dataset (0.891 vs. 0.803, p < 0.001) and validation dataset (0.897 vs. 0.780, p < 0.001), respectively. The calibration was good, and the decision curve analysis demonstrated the nomogram had higher net benefit than the Radscore.
CONCLUSIONS
The T2WI MRI-based radiomics-clinical nomogram showed favorable diagnostic performance for predicting PAS in patients with PP, which could potentially facilitate the obstetricians for making clinical decisions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Placenta Accreta; Nomograms; Pregnancy; Placenta Previa; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Radiomics
PubMed: 38872133
DOI: 10.1186/s12880-024-01328-y -
Redox Biology Aug 2024Oxidative stress (OS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) are at the genesis of placental disorders observed in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and...
Manganese porphyrin-based treatment improves fetal-placental development and protects against oxidative damage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a rat maternal hypothyroidism model.
Oxidative stress (OS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) are at the genesis of placental disorders observed in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and maternal hypothyroidism. In this regard, cationic manganese porphyrins (MnPs) comprise potent redox-active therapeutics of high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, which have not been evaluated in metabolic gestational diseases yet. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of two MnPs, [MnTE-2-PyP] (MnP I) and [MnT(5-Br-3-E-Py)P]5+ (MnP II), in the fetal-placental dysfunction of hypothyroid rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by administration of 6-Propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) and treatment with MnPs I and II 0.1 mg/kg/day started on the 8th day of gestation (DG). The fetal and placental development, and protein and/or mRNA expression of antioxidant mediators (SOD1, CAT, GPx1), hypoxia (HIF1α), oxidative damage (8-OHdG, MDA), ERS (GRP78 and CHOP), immunological (TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, Caspase1, Gasdermin D) and angiogenic (VEGF) were evaluated in the placenta and decidua on the 18th DG using immunohistochemistry and qPCR. ROS and peroxynitrite (PRX) were quantified by fluorometric assay, while enzyme activities of SOD, GST, and catalase were evaluated by colorimetric assay. MnPs I and II increased fetal body mass in hypothyroid rats, and MnP I increased fetal organ mass. MnPs restored the junctional zone morphology in hypothyroid rats and increased placental vascularization. MnPs blocked the increase of OS and ERS mediators caused by hypothyroidism, showing similar levels of expression of HIFα, 8-OHdG, MDA, Gpx1, GRP78, and Chop to the control. Moreover, MnPs I and/or II increased the protein expression of SOD1, Cat, and GPx1 and restored the expression of IL10, Nlrp3, and Caspase1 in the decidua and/or placenta. However, MnPs did not restore the low placental enzyme activity of SOD, CAT, and GST caused by hypothyroidism, while increased the decidual and placental protein expression of TNFα. The results show that treatment with MnPs improves the fetal-placental development and the placental inflammatory state of hypothyroid rats and protects against oxidative stress and reticular stress caused by hypothyroidism at the maternal-fetal interface.
Topics: Animals; Pregnancy; Female; Rats; Hypothyroidism; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Oxidative Stress; Inflammasomes; Disease Models, Animal; Placenta; Placentation; Antioxidants; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Fetal Development; Manganese; Metalloporphyrins; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
PubMed: 38870780
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103238 -
Revue Medicale de Liege Jun 2024Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by gestational hypertension associated with proteinuria or organ dysfunction after 20 weeks of gestation. It... (Review)
Review
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by gestational hypertension associated with proteinuria or organ dysfunction after 20 weeks of gestation. It complicates 2 to 8 % of pregnancies worldwide and represents the leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality in developed countries. The only definitive treatment remains termination of pregnancy and delivery of the placenta. Prompt assessment of maternal and fetal status should be held in search of severity criteria and adequate management of this condition according to gestational age. Foremost concerns for pregnant patients are impending eclampsia or placental abruption, while fetal complications arise from placental insufficiency and risks associated with premature pregnancy termination. The sole efficient prophylaxis of preeclampsia in current state of evidence is aspirin at a dosage of 160 mg per day in high risk patients. Preeclampsia is now recognized as a high-risk factor for cardiovascular, renal, and neurological diseases and should therefore be considered as an opportunity for screening and prevention.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Pre-Eclampsia; Female; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38869138
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Global Health Jun 2024As birth policy can affect maternal and infant health, we sought to identify whether and how the introduction of the two-child policy might have affected the prevalence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
As birth policy can affect maternal and infant health, we sought to identify whether and how the introduction of the two-child policy might have affected the prevalence of placenta previa in pregnant women in mainland China.
METHODS
In this update meta-analysis and systematic review, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases for studies evaluating the prevalence of placenta previa in China published between the inception of each database and March 2024, with no restrictions. Two investigators independently extracted the data from each included study. We then combined the prevalence of placenta previa using random-effects models.
RESULTS
We included 128 studies in our analysis, 48 more than in our previous review. The prevalence of placenta previa among Chinese pregnant women was 1.44% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32, 1.56). After the implementation of the two-child policy, the prevalence increased significantly, from 1.25% (95% CI = 1.16, 1.34) to 4.12% (95% CI = 3.33, 4.91).
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of placenta previa increased significantly from the one-child policy period to the two-child policy period among mainland Chinese pregnant women, with varying trends across regions. This change requires the attention of health officials and timely adjustment of resource allocation policies.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO: CRD42021262309.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; China; Female; Placenta Previa; Prevalence; Delivery, Obstetric
PubMed: 38867677
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04108