1
|
Darby JRT, Flouri D, Cho SKS, Williams GK, Holman SL, Meakin AS, Wiese MD, David AL, Macgowan CK, Seed M, Melbourne A, Morrison JL. Maternal tadalafil treatment does not increase uterine artery blood flow or oxygen delivery in the pregnant ewe. Exp Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38606906 DOI: 10.1113/ep091593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Increasing placental perfusion (PP) could improve outcomes of growth-restricted fetuses. One way of increasing PP may be by using phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors, which induce vasodilatation of vascular beds. We used a combination of clinically relevant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to characterize the impact that tadalafil infusion has on maternal, placental and fetal circulations. At 116-117 days' gestational age (dGA; term, 150 days), pregnant ewes (n = 6) underwent fetal catheterization surgery. At 120-123 dGA ewes were anaesthetized and MRI scans were performed during three acquisition windows: a basal state and then ∼15-75 min (TAD 1) and ∼75-135 min (TAD 2) post maternal administration (24 mg; intravenous bolus) of tadalafil. Phase contrast MRI and T2 oximetry were used to measure blood flow and oxygen delivery. Placental diffusion and PP were assessed using the Diffusion-Relaxation Combined Imaging for Detailed Placental Evaluation-'DECIDE' technique. Uterine artery (UtA) blood flow when normalized to maternal left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) was reduced in both TAD periods. DECIDE imaging found no impact of tadalafil on placental diffusivity or fetoplacental blood volume fraction. Maternal-placental blood volume fraction was increased in the TAD 2 period. FetalD O 2 ${D_{{{\mathrm{O}}_2}}}$ andV ̇ O 2 ${\dot V_{{{\mathrm{O}}_2}}}$ were not affected by maternal tadalafil administration. Maternal tadalafil administration did not increase UtA blood flow and thus may not be an effective vasodilator at the level of the UtAs. The increased maternal-placental blood volume fraction may indicate local vasodilatation of the maternal intervillous space, which may have compensated for the reduced proportion of UtAD O 2 ${D_{{{\mathrm{O}}_2}}}$ .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dimitra Flouri
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Steven K S Cho
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Univeristy of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Georgia K Williams
- Preclinical, Imaging & Research Laboratories, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ashley S Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), University College London, Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | | | - Mike Seed
- Univeristy of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Univeristy of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Khamit A, Chakraborty P, Zahorán S, Villányi Z, Orvos H, Hermesz E. Stress-Induced Changes in Nucleocytoplasmic Localization of Crucial Factors in Gene Expression Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3895. [PMID: 38612704 PMCID: PMC11012061 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the toxic effect of harmful materials, unfiltered by the placenta, on neonatal umbilical cord (UC) vessels, focusing on stress-induced adaptations in transcriptional and translational processes. It aims to analyze changes in pathways related to mRNA condensate formation, transcriptional regulation, and DNA damage response under maternal smoking-induced stress. UC vessels from neonates born to smoking (Sm) and nonsmoking mothers (Ctr) were examined. Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy assessed the localization of key markers, including Transcription Complex Subunit 1 (CNOT1) and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II enzyme (RPB1). Additionally, markers of DNA damage response, such as Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, were evaluated. In Sm samples, dissolution of CNOT1 granules in UC vessels was observed, potentially aiding stalled translation and enhancing transcription via RPB1 assembly and translocation. Control vessels showed predominant cytoplasmic RPB1 localization. Despite adaptive responses, Sm endothelial cells exhibited significant damage, indicated by markers like Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. Ex vivo metal treatment on control vessels mirrored Sm sample alterations, emphasizing marker roles in cell survival under toxic exposure. Maternal smoking induces specific molecular adaptations in UC vessels, affecting mRNA condensate formation, transcriptional regulation, and DNA damage response pathways. Understanding these intricate molecular mechanisms could inform interventions to improve neonatal health outcomes and mitigate adverse effects of toxic exposure during pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Khamit
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (A.K.); (P.C.); (S.Z.); (Z.V.)
| | - Payal Chakraborty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (A.K.); (P.C.); (S.Z.); (Z.V.)
| | - Szabolcs Zahorán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (A.K.); (P.C.); (S.Z.); (Z.V.)
| | - Zoltán Villányi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (A.K.); (P.C.); (S.Z.); (Z.V.)
| | - Hajnalka Orvos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Edit Hermesz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary; (A.K.); (P.C.); (S.Z.); (Z.V.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Badura M, Badura A, Grzonkowska M, Baumgart M, Paruszewska-Achtel M, Szpinda M. Quantitative anatomy of the extensor digiti minimi muscle in the growing human fetus. Folia Morphol (Warsz) 2024:VM/OJS/J/99127. [PMID: 38512010 DOI: 10.5603/fm.99127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Age-specific reference intervals for the extensor digiti minimi muscle (EDMM) in the human fetus may be relevant in the detailed evaluation of the musculoskeletal systems with potential relevant aspects for surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to examine the age-specific reference intervals and growth dynamics of the EDMM in relation to its length, width, projection surface area and volume. Material and methods The examined material included 70 human formalin-fixed fetuses of both sexes (37♀, 33♂) aged from 17 to 29 weeks. With the use of anatomical dissection every EDMM was visualized, recorded in a form of JPG formats and analyzed by the digital image analysis system and statistical methods. Results No variability of the EDMM was found. All the morphometric parameters of the EDMM revealed neither sex nor laterality differences. With fetal age most linear parameters of the EDMM concerning its examined lengths and widths increased in accordance with natural logarithmic functions. The only two exceptions to this referred to the belly width of EDMM measured at its mid-length and the tendon width of EDMM measured proximal to the extensor retinaculum of wrist, which both followed square root functions. The projection surface areas of the EDMM followed natural logarithmic functions, while the volumetric growth of the EDMM was proportionate to fetal age. Conclusions The variability of the EDMM in the human fetus is minimal. The morphometric data of the EDMM represents age-specific reference intervals of clinical significance. Morphometric parameters of the EDMM reveal neither sex nor laterality differences. The EDMM displays three different growth dynamics: from gradual growth deceleration according to both natural logarithmic functions (total length of the muscle and its tendons, belly length, tendon lengths, belly width at its origin, tendon width at its insertion, and projection surface areas) and square root functions (belly width at its mid-length and tendon width in the pre-retinacular segment) to a proportionate growth (total volume).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Badura
- Department of Normal Anatomy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Anna Badura
- Department of Biopharmacy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Magdalena Grzonkowska
- Department of Normal Anatomy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Mariusz Baumgart
- Department of Normal Anatomy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Monika Paruszewska-Achtel
- Department of Normal Anatomy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Michał Szpinda
- Department of Normal Anatomy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Silva de Morais N, Leung AM. Maternal Thyroid Function: Does It Have a Role in Fetal Programming and Later Offspring Growth? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:e1361-e1362. [PMID: 37708367 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Silva de Morais
- Endocrinology Postgraduate Program-School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Angela M Leung
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhai J, You S, Liang Z, Yu H, Zhu C, Han L. Diagnostic Potential of Complementation of MRI to Prenatal Ultrasound for Detecting Orofacial Clefts in High-Risk Fetuses: A Network Meta-Analysis. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024:10556656241231119. [PMID: 38490217 DOI: 10.1177/10556656241231119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the complementation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to prenatal ultrasound (US) with prenatal US alone in detecting orofacial clefts in high-risk fetuses. DESIGN A network meta-analysis. SETTING Literature retrieval in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library, and meta-analysis based on STATA 14.0. PATIENTS Fetuses were at high-risk for orofacial clefts. INTERVENTIONS Prenatal US and the complementation of MRI to prenatal US. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS Thirteen studies involving 776 patients were included. Direct meta-analysis showed that the complementation of MRI to prenatal US did not differ from prenatal US in detecting orofacial clefts if the type of orofacial clefts was not distinguished. Subgroup analysis showed that the specificity of prenatal US for the detection of isolated cleft palate (CP) was lower than that of the complementation of MRI to prenatal US. Furthermore, network meta-analysis consistently suggested a comparable diagnostic value between prenatal US and the complementation of MRI to prenatal US. Moreover, subgroup analysis showed that the specificity of prenatal US was significantly lower than that of complementation of MRI to prenatal US for the detection of isolated CP. CONCLUSIONS MRI is more accurate than ultrasound in detecting cleft palate. Therefore, MRI should be offered if there is a fetus with a possible or ultrasound diagnosis of cleft palate, especially if the evaluation of cleft palate is deemed unsatisfactory after careful evaluation of the images.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhai
- Department of Ultrasound, Dalian Woman and Child Medical Center (Group), No. 1 Dunhuang Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning 116030, China
| | - Shuyan You
- Department of Ultrasound, Dalian Woman and Child Medical Center (Group), No. 1 Dunhuang Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning 116030, China
| | - Zhonghua Liang
- Department of Radiology, Dalian Woman and Child Medical Center (Group), No. 1 Dunhuang Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning 116030, China
| | - Haihua Yu
- Department of Fetal Medicine Center, Dalian Woman and Child Medical Center (Group), No. 1 Dunhuang Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning 116030, China
| | - Chengfeng Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Dalian Woman and Child Medical Center (Group), No. 1 Dunhuang Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning 116030, China
| | - Lu Han
- Department of Fetal Medicine Center, Dalian Woman and Child Medical Center (Group), No. 1 Dunhuang Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning 116030, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lu X, Shi Z, Jiang L, Zhang S. Maternal gut microbiota in the health of mothers and offspring: from the perspective of immunology. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1362784. [PMID: 38545107 PMCID: PMC10965710 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1362784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the physiological alteration during pregnancy, maternal gut microbiota changes following the metabolic processes. Recent studies have revealed that maternal gut microbiota is closely associated with the immune microenvironment in utero during pregnancy and plays a vital role in specific pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth and recurrent miscarriages. Some other evidence has also shown that aberrant maternal gut microbiota increases the risk of various diseases in the offspring, such as allergic and neurodevelopmental disorders, through the immune alignment between mother and fetus and the possible intrauterine microbiota. Probiotics and the high-fiber diet are effective inventions to prevent mothers and fetuses from diseases. In this review, we summarize the role of maternal gut microbiota in the development of pregnancy complications and the health condition of future generations from the perspective of immunology, which may provide new therapeutic strategies for the health management of mothers and offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Lu
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhan Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Lingling Jiang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Songying Zhang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction, Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li YY, Tse WT, Kong CW, Wong NKL, Leung TY, Choy KW, To WWK, Cao Y. Prenatal Diagnosis and Pregnancy Outcomes of Fetuses With Orofacial Cleft: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Two Centres in Hong Kong. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024; 61:391-399. [PMID: 36128746 DOI: 10.1177/10556656221128436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the local incidence of orofacial cleft (OFC) encountered in fetal morphology scan and prenatal diagnosis, genetic etiology of fetuses with or without other structural abnormalities, and their pregnancy outcomes. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Two maternal fetal medicine units, tertiary hospitals, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS All pregnant women with antenatal diagnosis of fetal OFC between January 2016 and December 2020 (N = 66). RESULTS OFC has an incidence of 0.13% among pregnancies in Hong Kong and 28.8% (19/66) were syndromic cleft that exhibited other fetal structural anomalies. There were 55 cases (84.6%) who opted for invasive prenatal diagnostic testing. Genetic defects were identified in 25.8% (17/66) of this cohort, including 14 pathogenic variants. The detection rate in the syndromic cases is 68.4% (13/19) which was significantly higher than 8.5% (4/47) among non-syndromic cases. Aneuploidies would be the most common cause, accounting for 9.1% (6/66). Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) provided an incremental diagnostic yield of 6.1% compared to conventional karyotyping. A total of 29 live births including 3 cases of a variant of uncertain significance and 26 cases without genetic abnormalities detected have continued pregnancy to birth. There were 87.5% (21/24) without detectable pathogenic genetic abnormality reported good long-term outcomes. The chance of OFC fetuses having a good long-term outcome was significantly higher if no genomic variant was detected (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Invasive prenatal tests with CMA should be offered to pregnancies with OFC regardless of the type. It has provided incremental diagnostic yield over conventional karyotyping and helped in prenatal and genetic counseling. A negative result in non-syndromic OFC favors couples to keep the pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yu Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wing Ting Tse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Choi Wah Kong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Natalie Kwun Long Wong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tak Yeung Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - William Wing Kee To
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Ye Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Baeza J, Coons BE, Lin Z, Riley J, Mendoza M, Peranteau WH, Garcia BA. In utero pulse injection of isotopic amino acids quantifies protein turnover rates during murine fetal development. Cell Rep Methods 2024; 4:100713. [PMID: 38412836 PMCID: PMC10921036 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Protein translational control is critical for ensuring that the fetus develops correctly and that necessary organs and tissues are formed and functional. We developed an in utero method to quantify tissue-specific protein dynamics by monitoring amino acid incorporation into the proteome after pulse injection. Fetuses of pregnant mice were injected with isotopically labeled lysine and arginine via the vitelline vein at various embyonic days, and organs and tissues were harvested. By analyzing the nascent proteome, unique signatures of each tissue were identified by hierarchical clustering. In addition, the quantified proteome-wide turnover rates were calculated between 3.81E-5 and 0.424 h-1. We observed similar protein turnover profiles for analyzed organs (e.g., liver vs. brain); however, their distributions of turnover rates vary significantly. The translational kinetic profiles of developing organs displayed differentially expressed protein pathways and synthesis rates, which correlated with known physiological changes during mouse development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josue Baeza
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Barbara E Coons
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of Pediatric General, Thoracis and Fetal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zongtao Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - John Riley
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of Pediatric General, Thoracis and Fetal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mariel Mendoza
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William H Peranteau
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of Pediatric General, Thoracis and Fetal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Díaz-Torres S, Díaz-López A, Arija V. Effect of Prenatal Iron Supplementation Adapted to Hemoglobin Levels in Early Pregnancy on Fetal and Neonatal Growth-ECLIPSES Study. Nutrients 2024; 16:437. [PMID: 38337721 PMCID: PMC10857398 DOI: 10.3390/nu16030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In this randomized clinical trial, we evaluated the effects of prenatal iron supplementation adapted to pregnant women's initial hemoglobin (Hb) levels on fetal growth parameters until birth in women from the Mediterranean coast of northern Spain. All (n = 791) women were iron-supplemented during pregnancy according to Hb levels at the 12th gestational week: stratum 1 (Hb: 110-130 g/L) received 40 or 80 mg iron daily; stratum 2 (Hb > 130 g/L) received 40 or 20 mg iron daily. Fetal biometric and anthropometric measurements were evaluated in the three trimesters and at birth, respectively. In stratum 1, using 80 mg/d instead of 40 mg/d increased the risk of fetal head circumference > 90th percentile (OR = 2.49, p = 0.015) at the second trimester and fetal weight (OR = 2.36, p = 0.011) and femur length (OR = 2.50, p = 0.018) < 10th percentile at the third trimester. For stratum 2, using 40 mg/d instead of 20 mg/d increased the risk of fetal head circumference > 90th percentile (OR = 3.19, p = 0.039) at the third trimester. A higher risk of delivering an LGA baby (OR = 2.35, p = 0.015) for birthweight was also observed in stratum 1 women receiving 80 mg/d. It is crucial to adjust the prenatal iron supplementation to each pregnant woman's needs, i.e., adapted to their initial Hb levels, to achieve optimal fetal development, since excessive iron doses appear to adversely influence fetal growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Díaz-Torres
- Nutrition and Mental Health (NUTRISAM) Research Group, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), 43204 Reus, Spain; (S.D.-T.); (A.D.-L.)
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43005 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Andrés Díaz-López
- Nutrition and Mental Health (NUTRISAM) Research Group, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), 43204 Reus, Spain; (S.D.-T.); (A.D.-L.)
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43005 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Victoria Arija
- Nutrition and Mental Health (NUTRISAM) Research Group, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), 43204 Reus, Spain; (S.D.-T.); (A.D.-L.)
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43005 Tarragona, Spain
- Collaborative Group on Lifestyles, Nutrition, and Tobacco (CENIT), Tarragona-Reus Research Support Unit, Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute, 43202 Reus, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Westenius E, Conner P, Pettersson M, Sahlin E, Papadogiannakis N, Lindstrand A, Iwarsson E. Whole-genome sequencing in prenatally detected congenital malformations: prospective cohort study in clinical setting. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024. [PMID: 38268232 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the diagnostic yield of trio whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in fetuses with various congenital malformations referred to a tertiary center for prenatal diagnosis. METHODS In this prospective study, 50 pregnancies with different congenital malformations, negative for trisomies and causative copy-number variants, were analyzed further with fetal-parental trio WGS analysis. Parents were eligible for inclusion if they accepted further investigation following the detection of isolated or multiple malformations on prenatal ultrasound. Cases with isolated increased nuchal translucency, gamete donation or multiple pregnancy were excluded. WGS with the Illumina Inc. 30× polymerase-chain-reaction-free short-read sequencing included analysis of single-nucleotide variants, insertions and deletions, structural variants, short tandem repeats and copy-number identification of SMN1 and SMN2 genes. RESULTS A molecular diagnosis was achieved in 13/50 (26%) cases. Causative sequence variants were identified in 12 genes: FGFR3 (n = 2), ACTA1 (n = 1), CDH2 (n = 1), COL1A2 (n = 1), DHCR7 (n = 1), EYA1 (n = 1), FBXO11 (n = 1), FRAS1 (n = 1), L1CAM (n = 1), OFD1 (n = 1), PDHA1 (n = 1) and SOX9 (n = 1). The phenotypes of the cases were divided into different groups, with the following diagnostic yields: skeletal malformation (4/9 (44%)), multisystem malformation (3/7 (43%)), central nervous system malformation (5/15 (33%)) and thoracic malformation (1/10 (10%)). Additionally, two cases carried variants that were considered potentially clinically relevant, even though they were assessed as variants of uncertain significance, according to the guidelines provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Overall, we identified a causative or potentially clinically relevant variant in 15/50 (30%) cases. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a diagnostic yield of 26% with clinical WGS in prenatally detected congenital malformations. This study emphasizes the benefits that WGS can bring to the diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies. It is important to note that causative chromosomal aberrations were excluded from our cohort before WGS. As chromosomal aberrations are a well-known cause of prenatally detected congenital malformations, future studies using WGS as a primary diagnostic test, including assessment of chromosomal aberrations, may show that the detection rate exceeds the diagnostic yield of this study. WGS can add clinically relevant information, explaining the underlying cause of the fetal anomaly, which will provide information concerning the specific prognosis of the condition, as well as estimate the risk of recurrence. A genetic diagnosis can also provide more reproductive choice for future pregnancies. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Westenius
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Conner
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Pettersson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E Sahlin
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - N Papadogiannakis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Lindstrand
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E Iwarsson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kweon JY, Mun H, Choi MR, Kim HS, Ahn YJ. Maternal obesity induced metabolic disorders in offspring and myeloid reprogramming by epigenetic regulation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1256075. [PMID: 38292775 PMCID: PMC10824939 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes are associated with childhood obesity and increased cardiovascular risk. In this review, we will discuss and summarize extensive clinical and experimental studies that metabolically imbalanced environment exposure in early life plays a critical role in influencing later susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases and metabolic syndrome. The effect of maternal obesity and metabolic disorders, including gestational diabetes cause Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) children to link future development of adverse health issues such as obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by immune reprogramming to adverse micro-environment. This review also addresses intrauterine environment-driven myeloid reprogramming by epigenetic regulations and the epigenetic markers as an underlying mechanism. This will facilitate future investigations regarding maternal-to-fetal immune regulation and the epigenetic mechanisms of obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joo Young Kweon
- Medical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonji Mun
- Medical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Ryeol Choi
- Medical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Seok Kim
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Joo Ahn
- Medical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
- Department IT Convergence, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tractenberg SG, Reinhard SM, Sathyanesan A. Editorial: Neurodevelopment: parental influences, in utero exposures, and genetics. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1331453. [PMID: 38249590 PMCID: PMC10797071 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1331453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Marie Reinhard
- Department of Psychology, Human Arts and Social Sciences, Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA, United States
| | - Aaron Sathyanesan
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Barrientos G, Ronchi F, Conrad ML. Nutrition during pregnancy: Influence on the gut microbiome and fetal development. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 91:e13802. [PMID: 38282608 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a finely tuned process, with the health and well-being of the developing fetus determined by the metabolic status and dietary intake of the mother. The maternal gut microbiome is remodeled during pregnancy, and this, coupled with the maternal nutrient intake during gestation shapes the production of metabolites that can cross the placenta and affect fetal development. As posited by the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Hypothesis, such environmental influences can have major effects on the developing organ systems. When occurring at particularly sensitive gestational time points, these developmental programming events can have long lasting effects on offspring adaptation to the postnatal environment, and major health implications later in life. This review will summarize current knowledge on how pregnancy and maternal dietary intake intrinsically and extrinsically modify maternal gut microbiota composition and metabolite production. Further, we will assess how these factors shape the fetal landscape and ultimately contribute to offspring health. DOHaD, fetal development, metabolites, microbiome, nutrition, pregnancy, short-chain fatty acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Barrientos
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francesca Ronchi
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Melanie L Conrad
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Takaichi M, Fujiwara K, Nakamichi N, Ishizaka R, Imaue S, Ikeda A, Noguchi M. Cleft Lip With Ankyloblepharon Filiforme Adnatum: A Case Report. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024; 61:155-158. [PMID: 36377243 DOI: 10.1177/10556656221138886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum (AFA) is a rare, benign congenital anomaly. Notably, it is characterized by the adhesion of the ciliary edges of the upper and lower eyelids at the trabecular line. AFA is usually a solitary malformation of sporadic occurrence; however, it can occur in conjunction with other congenital diseases. Herein, we report a case of cleft lip with AFA. A patient was referred to the ophthalmology department of our hospital. The ophthalmic diagnosis was AFA in both the eyes. The left eye was observed to have a fibrous adhesion in the center, and she underwent surgery to excise the fibrous adhesion of tissue with scissors. The right eye was observed to have a fibrous adhesion in the external canthus and was excised during lip plasty. After surgery, her eyes were able to fully open, and no other apparent disease was diagnosed. AFA is thought to be caused by an ectodermal-derived developmental abnormality. Notably, cases of AFA with a cleft lip are rare. Diagnosis and surgery should be performed promptly to minimize any risk of amblyopia and for the early detection of congenital diseases, including glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayu Takaichi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kumiko Fujiwara
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Naomi Nakamichi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Risa Ishizaka
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shuichi Imaue
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ikeda
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Makoto Noguchi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mulc D, Smilović D, Krsnik Ž, Junaković-Munjas A, Kopić J, Kostović I, Šimić G, Vukšić M. Fetal development of the human amygdala. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25580. [PMID: 38289194 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The intricate development of the human amygdala involves a complex interplay of diverse processes, varying in speed and duration. In humans, transient cytoarchitectural structures deliquesce, leading to the formation of functionally distinct nuclei as a result of multiple interdependent developmental events. This study compares the amygdala's cytoarchitectural development in conjunction with specific antibody reactivity for neuronal, glial, neuropil, and radial glial fibers, synaptic, extracellular matrix, and myelin components in 39 fetal human brains. We recognized that the early fetal period, as a continuation of the embryonic period, is still dominated by relatively uniform histogenetic processes. The typical appearance of ovoid cell clusters in the lateral nucleus during midfetal period is most likely associated with the cell migration and axonal growth processes in the developing human brain. Notably, synaptic markers are firstly detected in the corticomedial group of nuclei, while immunoreactivity for the panaxonal neurofilament marker SMI 312 is found dorsally. The late fetal period is characterized by a protracted migration process evidenced by the presence of doublecortin and SOX-2 immunoreactivity ventrally, in the prospective paralaminar nucleus, reinforced by vimentin immunoreactivity in the last remaining radial glial fibers. Nearing the term period, SMI 99 immunoreactivity indicates that perinatal myelination becomes prominent primarily along major axonal pathways, laying the foundation for more pronounced functional maturation. This study comprehensively elucidates the rate and sequence of maturational events in the amygdala, highlighting the key role of prenatal development in its behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine regulation, with subsequent implications for both normal functioning and psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Damir Mulc
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dinko Smilović
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Željka Krsnik
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Alisa Junaković-Munjas
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Janja Kopić
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivica Kostović
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Šimić
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mario Vukšić
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ruiz-Triviño J, Álvarez D, Cadavid J. ÁP, Alvarez AM. From gut to placenta: understanding how the maternal microbiome models life-long conditions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1304727. [PMID: 38161976 PMCID: PMC10754986 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1304727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbiome -defined as the microbiota (bacteria, archaea, lower and higher eukaryotes), their genomes, and the surrounding environmental conditions- has a well-described range of physiological functions. Thus, an imbalance of the microbiota composition -dysbiosis- has been associated with pregnancy complications or adverse fetal outcomes. Although there is controversy about the existence or absence of a microbiome in the placenta and fetus during healthy pregnancy, it is known that gut microbiota can produce bioactive metabolites that can enter the maternal circulation and may be actively or passively transferred through the placenta. Furthermore, the evidence suggests that such metabolites have some effect on the fetus. Since the microbiome can influence the epigenome, and modifications of the epigenome could be responsible for fetal programming, it can be experimentally supported that the maternal microbiome and its metabolites could be involved in fetal programming. The developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) approach looks to understand how exposure to environmental factors during periods of high plasticity in the early stages of life (e.g., gestational period) influences the program for disease risk in the progeny. Therefore, according to the DOHaD approach, the influence of maternal microbiota in disease development must be explored. Here, we described some of the diseases of adulthood that could be related to alterations in the maternal microbiota. In summary, this review aims to highlight the influence of maternal microbiota on both fetal development and postnatal life, suggesting that dysbiosis on this microbiota could be related to adulthood morbidity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Ruiz-Triviño
- Grupo Reproducción, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
- Semillero de Investigación en Alteraciones de la Gestación y Autoinmunidad (SIAGA), Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Daniel Álvarez
- Grupo Reproducción, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
- Semillero de Investigación en Alteraciones de la Gestación y Autoinmunidad (SIAGA), Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ángela P. Cadavid J.
- Grupo Reproducción, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
- Semillero de Investigación en Alteraciones de la Gestación y Autoinmunidad (SIAGA), Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación en Trombosis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Angela M. Alvarez
- Grupo Reproducción, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia - UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wanjari MB, Late SV, Sharma R, Munjewar PK. A critical evaluation of prenatal supplements: Are they meeting the mark? J Family Med Prim Care 2023; 12:3048-3054. [PMID: 38361856 PMCID: PMC10866212 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1038_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal supplements are commonly used to support maternal health and fetal development during pregnancy. However, there are concerns regarding their efficacy and safety. This review article provides a critical evaluation of prenatal supplements, including their types, benefits, criticisms, factors affecting their efficacy, and popular brands. It also offers recommendations for their use and identifies future research directions. Our analysis suggests that while prenatal supplements can offer important benefits, including reduced risk of birth defects and improved fetal growth and development, there are also concerns regarding their regulation, dosages, and potential harm to the mother and fetus. Pregnant women should carefully evaluate the ingredients, dosages, efficacy, and safety of prenatal supplements with the guidance of their healthcare provider. Future research should focus on standardizing dosages and regulation of prenatal supplements to ensure consistent quality, safety, and efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayur B. Wanjari
- Department of Research and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sampada V. Late
- Department of Nursing, Government Hospital Samudrapur, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ranjana Sharma
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Srimati Radhikabai Meghe Memorial College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pratiksha K. Munjewar
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Srimati Radhikabai Meghe Memorial College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Çetin Ç, Bakar RZ, Takmaz T, Pasin Ö, Kütük MS. The effects of maternal smoking on fetal cranial development. Findings from routine midtrimester sonographic anomaly screening. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2023; 43:2176205. [PMID: 36772953 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2023.2176205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of continued smoking before and during pregnancy on mid-trimester fetal head development. A total of 250 pregnant women enrolled in the study. All participants were confirmed to be smokers or non-smokers by verifying breath carbon monoxide readings. Biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), lateral ventricle (LV), and cisterna magna (CM) were evaluated by ultrasound between 20-22 weeks of pregnancy. Gender and gestational age-adjusted BPD z- scores were not statistically different between smokers and non-smokers (-0.75 ± 1.6 vs -0.51 ± 1, p = .3). HC measurements and z- scores were significantly lower in the smoking group than in the non-smoking groups (183.38 ± 14.56 vs. 189.28 ± 12.53, p = .003, 0.18 ± 1.39 multiple of median (MoM) vs. 0.56 ± 0.92, respectively, p = .023). At linear regression analysis, maternal smoking was the only independent factor associated with fetal HC z score (p = .041). In conclusion, continued smoking during pregnancy reduces fetal HC and has no effect on BPD, LV, or CM measurements at mid-gestation.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Smoking during pregnancy is one of the most common environmental factors affecting fetal and neonatal growth and well-being. Despite the well-known effects of smoking on somatic growth, current studies have shown that it selectively affects some parts of the fetal brain, even in appropriately growing fetuses.What do the results of this study add? Continued smoking during pregnancy reduces fetal HC and has no effect on BPD, LV or CM measurements at mid-gestation. Since smoking is well known for its early and late childhood behavioral and neurological consequences, smaller mid-trimester fetal HC measurements should bring maternal smoking to mind as one of the potentially reversible causes.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The harmful effects of smoking start before the third trimester and antenatal counseling should be started early in the gestation. Every effort should be made to quit smoking before or early in pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Çağlar Çetin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rabia Zehra Bakar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Taha Takmaz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Özge Pasin
- Department of Biostatistics, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Serdar Kütük
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Drake RR, Louey S, Thornburg KL. Maturation of lipid metabolism in the fetal and newborn sheep heart. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 325:R809-R819. [PMID: 37867472 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00122.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
At birth, the fetus experiences a dramatic change in environment that is accompanied by a shift in myocardial fuel preference from lactate and glucose in fetal life to fatty acid oxidation after birth. We hypothesized that fatty acid metabolic machinery would mature during fetal life in preparation for this extreme metabolic transformation at birth. We quantified the pre- (94-day and 135-day gestation, term ∼147 days) and postnatal (5 ± 4 days postnatal) gene expression and protein levels for fatty acid transporters and enzymes in hearts from a precocial species, the sheep. Gene expression of fatty acid translocase (CD36), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain 1 (ACSL1), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), hydroxy-acyl dehydrogenase (HADH), acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (ACAT1), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and glycerol phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) progressively increased through the perinatal period, whereas several genes [fatty acid transport protein 6 (FATP6), acyl-CoA synthetase long chain 3 (ACSL3), long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD), very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK4), phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT)] were stable in fetal hearts and had high expression after birth. Protein expression of CD36 and ACSL1 progressively increased throughout the perinatal period, whereas protein expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (fetal isoform) (CPT1a) decreased and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b (adult isoform) (CPT1b) remained constitutively expressed. Using fluorescent-tagged long-chain fatty acids (BODIPY-C12), we demonstrated that fetal (125 ± 1 days gestation) cardiomyocytes produce 59% larger lipid droplets (P < 0.05) compared with newborn (8 ± 1 day) cardiomyocytes. These results provide novel insights into the perinatal maturation of cardiac fatty acid metabolism in a precocial species.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study characterized the previously unknown expression patterns of genes that regulate the metabolism of free fatty acids in the perinatal sheep myocardium. This study shows that the prenatal myocardium prepares for the dramatic switch from carbohydrate metabolism to near complete reliance on free fatty acids postnatally. Fetal and neonatal cardiomyocytes also demonstrate differing lipid storage mechanisms where fetal cardiomyocytes form larger lipid droplets compared with newborn cardiomyocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Drake
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Samantha Louey
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Kent L Thornburg
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Vrachnis N, Loukas N, Antonakopoulos N, Maragou N, Kostakis M, Tsakni A, Vrachnis D, Vougiouklaki D, Machairiotis N, Chatzilazarou A, Houhoula D, Sokou R, Stavros S, Drakakis P, Mastorakos G, Iliodromiti Z. Detection and Quantification of Acrylamide in Second Trimester Amniotic Fluid Using a Novel LC-MS/MS Technique to Determine Whether High Acrylamide Content during Pregnancy Is Associated with Fetal Growth. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:1425. [PMID: 37998024 PMCID: PMC10669641 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acrylamide, an organic compound, is, chemically speaking, a vinyl-substituted primary amide. It is produced industrially, principally as a precursor to polyacrylamides, for use in such products as plastics and cosmetics. This same compound, however, forms naturally in certain foods, both home-cooked and packaged, especially when prepared at high temperatures. We developed and validated a novel reliable technique for the determination of acrylamide in amniotic fluid. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is a targeted mass spectrometry (MS) technique which enables the detection and quantification of particular molecules in a complex mixture. Thanks to its throughput, selectivity, and sensitivity, MRM-MS has been identified as offering an alternative to antibody-based studies for the purpose of biomarker verification. Our aim was to investigate the presence of acrylamide in amniotic fluid and, via the MRM-MS technique, to determine whether there is any correlation between maternal exposure to acrylamide, through a woman's diet, and fetal growth. METHODS Our amniotic fluid bank included 40 samples from various fetal growth rates, as objectively denoted by the neonatal weight centile at delivery, while our analytical detection method was based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Acrylamide was determined with reversed phase chromatography and monitoring of two multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions. Quantification was performed using the matrix-matched calibration curve. RESULTS Acrylamide was detected at concentrations between 7.1 and 1468 ng/mL in six out of the total of 40 amniotic fluid samples that were used. Our method limit of detection and quantification was 1.4 ng/mL and 4.6 ng/mL, respectively. The repeatability of our method ranged between 11 and 14%, expressed as relative standard deviation levels between 5 and 100 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS Detection of acrylamide in early second trimester amniotic fluid, for the first time in the literature to our knowledge, raises concerns about fetal health, given that published data on animal studies have attributed a number of birth defects to acrylamide. Our novel LC-MS/MS method for the determination of acrylamide in amniotic fluid proved to be effective and its performance in practice was very accurate, simple, and fast. Validation of the method revealed that the use of a matrix-matched curve is necessary for the quantification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Vrachnis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece (N.A.); (N.M.); (S.S.); (P.D.)
| | - Nikolaos Loukas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tzaneio General Hospital, 18536 Piraeus, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Antonakopoulos
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece (N.A.); (N.M.); (S.S.); (P.D.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Patras, Medical School, University of Patras, 26500 Patra, Greece
| | - Niki Maragou
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.M.); (M.K.)
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (A.T.); (D.V.); (D.H.)
| | - Marios Kostakis
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.M.); (M.K.)
| | - Aliki Tsakni
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (A.T.); (D.V.); (D.H.)
| | - Dionysios Vrachnis
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Despina Vougiouklaki
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (A.T.); (D.V.); (D.H.)
| | - Nikolaos Machairiotis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece (N.A.); (N.M.); (S.S.); (P.D.)
| | - Arhodoula Chatzilazarou
- Department of Wine, Vine and Beverage Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece;
| | - Dimitra Houhoula
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (A.T.); (D.V.); (D.H.)
| | - Rozeta Sokou
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Agios Panteleimon” General Hospital of Nikea, 18454 Nikea, Greece;
| | - Sofoklis Stavros
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece (N.A.); (N.M.); (S.S.); (P.D.)
| | - Peter Drakakis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece (N.A.); (N.M.); (S.S.); (P.D.)
| | - George Mastorakos
- Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece;
| | - Zoi Iliodromiti
- Neonatal Department, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11526 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Amdi C, Larsen C, Jensen KMR, Tange EØ, Sato H, Williams AR. Intrauterine growth restriction in piglets modulates postnatal immune function and hepatic transcriptional responses independently of energy intake. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1254958. [PMID: 37916220 PMCID: PMC10617784 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1254958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Insufficient prenatal nutrition can affect fetal development and lead to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The aim of this study was to investigate hepatic transcriptional responses and innate immune function in piglets suffering from IUGR compared to normal-sized piglets at 3 days of age and explore whether the provision of an energy-rich supplement at birth could modulate these parameters. Methods: A total of 68 piglets were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were harvested for LPS stimulation, and organs were harvested post-mortem to quantify relative weights. Liver tissue was utilized for RNA sequencing coupled with gene-set enrichment analysis. Results: IUGR resulted in increased expression of genes such as PDK4 and substantial alterations in transcriptional pathways related to metabolic activity (e.g., citric acid and Krebs cycles), but these changes were equivalent in piglets given an energy-rich supplement or not. Transcriptomic analysis and serum biochemistry suggested altered glucose metabolism and a shift toward oxidation of fatty acids. IUGR piglets also exhibited suppression of genes related to innate immune function (e.g., CXCL12) and pathways related to cell proliferation (e.g., WNT and PDGF signaling). Moreover, they produced less IL-1β in response to LPS stimulation and had lower levels of blood eosinophils than normal-sized piglets. Discussion: Taken together, our results indicate that IUGR results in early-life alterations in metabolism and immunity that may not be easily restored by the provision of exogenous energy supplementation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C. Amdi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Boutet ML, Casals G, Valenzuela-Alcaraz B, García-Otero L, Crovetto F, Borrás A, Cívico MS, Manau D, Gratacós E, Crispi F. Subfertility versus ART: unraveling the origins of fetal cardiac programming. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:1961-1969. [PMID: 37573141 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do spontaneously conceived (SC) fetuses from subfertile couples show the same signs of cardiac remodeling as those observed after IVF treatments? SUMMARY ANSWER As opposed to fetuses from IVF, SC fetuses from subfertile couples do not show cardiac remodeling and present a similar cardiac structure and function to those of SC fetuses from fertile couples. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Subjects conceived by IVF present signs of cardiac remodeling and suboptimal function in utero and during childhood, including larger atria, more globular and thicker ventricles, reduced longitudinal motion, and impaired relaxation as compared to SC individuals from fertile couples. There are no previous publications investigating the independent cardiac programming effects of infertility in SC fetuses from subfertile couples (with time-to-pregnancy (TTP) over 12 months). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A prospective cohort study of 289 singleton pregnancies exposed and not exposed to subfertility recruited from 2019 to 2021, including 96 SC pregnancies from fertile couples (TTP under 12 months), 97 SC from subfertile couples (TTP over 12 months), and 96 from IVF after fresh embryo transfer. Fetal echocardiography was performed in all pregnancies. Epidemiological data and perinatal outcomes were collected in all pregnancies. The overall attrition rate was 15.7%. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS SC from subfertile couples and IVF pregnancies were identified as eligible at pregnancy diagnosis, and eligible SC pregnancies from fertile couples who attended our maternal-fetal unit were invited to participate at third trimester, being matched to the other groups by maternal age. Fetal echocardiography was performed at 29-34 weeks of pregnancy to assess cardiac structure and function, and results were adjusted by parental age, maternal smoking status, child's birth order, birthweight centile, gestational age, and estimated fetal weight at scan. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Parental age, ethnicity, BMI, and smoking exposure, median gestational age and estimated fetal weight were similar in all study groups. There were no significant differences in infertility duration or etiology between the subfertile and the IVF populations (TTP: subfertile median 35 months (interquartile range 20-48) versus IVF: 47 (25-61); P-value = 0.051). While both fertile and subfertile SC groups presented similar fetal cardiac results, IVF fetuses showed larger atria (right atria-to-heart ratio: IVF mean 18.9% (SD 3.4) versus subfertile 17.8% (3.5) versus fertile 17.6% (3.3); adjusted P-value < 0.001), more globular ventricles (right ventricular sphericity index: IVF 1.56 (0.25) versus subfertile 1.72 (0.26) versus fertile 1.72 (0.26); <0.001), and thicker myocardial walls (relative wall thickness: IVF 0.86 (0.22) versus subfertile 0.64 (0.13) versus fertile 0.64 (0.18); <0.001). Whereas SC fetuses from fertile and subfertile couples had preserved cardiac function, IVF fetuses showed signs of suboptimal systolic and diastolic function, with reduced tricuspid ring displacement (IVF 7.26 mm (1.07) versus subfertile 8.04 mm (1.18) versus fertile 7.89 mm (1.51); <0.001) and increased left myocardial performance index (IVF 0.49 (0.08) versus subfertile 0.45 (0.09) versus fertile 0.45 (0.10); <0.001). A sub-analysis including only unexplained infertility cases in subfertile SC and IVF groups showed similar results. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The fetal cardiac changes reported here are subclinical, and most of the cardiovascular parameters were within normal ranges. Although echocardiographic changes are recognized as potential cardiovascular risk factors, their association with long-term cardiovascular disease remains to be demonstrated. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Subfertility per se does not seem to be associated to fetal cardiac remodeling, which has been previously described in IVF fetuses. Future studies are warranted to further investigate other factors related to the observed fetal cardiac changes associated with ART. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project has been partially funded with support from the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union (Framework Agreement number: 2013-0040). This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained therein. Additionally, the research leading to these results has received funding from 'la Caixa' Foundation under grant agreement LCF/PR/GN18/10310003, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI15/00130, PI16/00861, PI17/00675, PI18/00073, INT21/00027)-co-funded by the European Union, Cerebra Foundation for the Brain Injured Child (Carmarthen, Wales, UK) and AGAUR 2017 SGR grant no 1531. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M L Boutet
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Casals
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - B Valenzuela-Alcaraz
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - L García-Otero
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Crovetto
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Madrid, Spain
| | - A Borrás
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M S Cívico
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Manau
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Gratacós
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Madrid, Spain
| | - F Crispi
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Subcomisión DOHaD de la Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría. [Statement of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría on the prevention of non-communicable diseases: the need to strengthen knowledge and reinforce strategies]. ARCH ARGENT PEDIATR 2023; 121:e202310070. [PMID: 37699148 DOI: 10.5546/aap.2023-10070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Research in recent decades has revealed that an adverse environment in the developmental stage can produce a greater susceptibility to phenotypes related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, or neurobehavioral disorders, among other chronic noncommunicable diseases. These diseases, whose tendency is increasing especially in countries with high social vulnerability, cause premature deaths and constitute the first cause of death in adult life as well as a great cost to public health. Aware of the need to prevent these diseases from the first thousand days of life, the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría created the DOHaD Committee and formulated a statement for the prevention of NCDs, to which Latin American countries also adhered. We believe that the application of the declared strategies with interdisciplinary and intersectoral actions sustained over time will contribute to building health, reducing the burden of NCDs, and to greater wellbeing and productivity for the people.
Collapse
|
24
|
Tocci V, Mirabelli M, Salatino A, Sicilia L, Giuliano S, Brunetti FS, Chiefari E, De Sarro G, Foti DP, Brunetti A. Metformin in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: To Use or Not to Use, That Is the Question. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1318. [PMID: 37765126 PMCID: PMC10537239 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM occurs when maternal insulin resistance develops and/or progresses during gestation, and it is not compensated by a rise in maternal insulin secretion. If not properly managed, this condition can cause serious short-term and long-term problems for both mother and child. Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for GDM, but if ineffective, insulin injections are the recommended pharmacological treatment choice. Some guidance authorities and scientific societies have proposed the use of metformin as an alternative pharmacological option for treating GDM, but there is not yet a unanimous consensus on this. Although the use of metformin appears to be safe for the mother, concerns remain about its long-term metabolic effects on the child that is exposed in utero to the drug, given that metformin, contrary to insulin, crosses the placenta. This review article describes the existing lines of evidence about the use of metformin in pregnancies complicated by GDM, in order to clarify its potential benefits and limits, and to help clinicians make decisions about who could benefit most from this drug treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vera Tocci
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
- Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Mirabelli
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
- Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Alessandro Salatino
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Luciana Sicilia
- Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefania Giuliano
- Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco S. Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Eusebio Chiefari
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Giovambattista De Sarro
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Daniela P. Foti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Antonio Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.T.); (M.M.)
- Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ludorf KL, Benjamin RH, Canfield MA, Swartz MD, Agopian AJ. Prediction of Preterm Birth among Infants with Orofacial Cleft Defects. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2023:10556656231198945. [PMID: 37671412 DOI: 10.1177/10556656231198945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop risk prediction models for preterm birth among infants with orofacial clefts. DESIGN Data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry for infants with orofacial clefts born between 1999-2014 were used to develop preterm birth predictive models. Logistic regression was used to consider maternal and infant characteristics, and internal validation of the final model was performed using bootstrapping methods. The area under the curve (AUC) statistic was generated to assess model performance, and separate predictive models were built and validated for infants with cleft lip and cleft palate alone. Several secondary analyses were conducted among subgroups of interest. SETTING State-wide, population-based Registry data. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS 6774 infants with orofacial clefts born in Texas between 1999-2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Preterm birth among infants with orofacial clefts. RESULTS The final predictive model performed modestly, with an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.67 among all infants with orofacial clefts. The optimism-corrected models for cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) and cleft palate alone had similar predictive capability, with AUCs of 0.66 and 0.67, respectively. Secondary analyses had similar results, but the model among infants with delivery prior to 32 weeks demonstrated higher optimism-corrected predictive capability (AUC = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS This study provides a first step towards predicting preterm birth risk among infants with orofacial clefts. Identifying pregnancies affected by orofacial clefts at the highest risk for preterm birth may lead to new avenues for improving outcomes among these infants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Ludorf
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Renata H Benjamin
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark A Canfield
- Texas Department of State Health Services, Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Michael D Swartz
- Department of Biostatistics, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A J Agopian
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Liao R, Liu D, Zhang Y, Chen R, Su M, Lin Y, Lyu G. Ultrasound Detection of Fetal Palate Development in the Early Stages of the Second Trimester and Its Clinical Application. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2023:10556656231199645. [PMID: 37661643 DOI: 10.1177/10556656231199645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To establish normal values of palatal bone growth in fetuses at different gestational weeks in the early stages of the second trimester and to explore the clinical application value of the four-step ultrasound screening method for fetal cleft lip and palate. DESIGN A prospective study of prenatal ultrasound screening. SETTING Secondary maternal and child health institutions. PATIENTS 300 fetuses of 12 to 20 +6 weeks gestation without cleft lip and/or palate; 8538 fetuses at high risk of cleft lip and palate with malformations or karyotypic abnormalities. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES palatomandibular diameter (PMD) and transverse palatal diameter was measured and establish their typical values. RESULTS (1) There is a typical "superimposed line" sign in the median sagittal section of the typically developing fetal face from 12 to 20+6 weeks of gestation. (2) The PMD and hard palate transverse diameter of fetuses from 12 to 20+6 weeks of gestation increased linearly with time. (3) Among 8538 high-risk fetuses, 21 cases of cleft lip and palate were diagnosed by the four-step ultrasound screening method in the early stages of the second trimester. CONCLUSIONS The median sagittal section of the typically developing fetal face in the early stages of the second trimester presents a typical "superimposed line" sign, and the PMD and transverse palatal diameter increase with time. The four-step ultrasound screening method for fetal cleft lip and palate in the early stages of the second trimester has high clinical application value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruibi Liao
- Department of Ultrasound, Anxi County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Danyi Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yuxia Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Anxi County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Rongsen Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Anxi County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Mingsong Su
- Department of Ultrasound, Anxi County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yuanfeng Lin
- Department of Ultrasound, Anxi County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Guorong Lyu
- Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Maternal and Infant Health Service Application Technology, Quanzhou Medical College, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Utsunomiya N, Nakano S, Katsube M, Yamada S. Three-dimensional morphological analysis of the human spleen and its surrounding organs during the early fetal period. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2023; 63:154-163. [PMID: 37526049 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The spleen has variations in its morphology and is considered to acquire a defined shape in the third month of gestation. However, few studies have investigated spleen development during the first 3 months of fetal life. This study aimed to determine the three-dimensional (3D) morphogenesis of the spleen during the third month of gestation. In this study, 30 fetal specimens (crown-rump length [CRL]: 22-103 mm) were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging analysis. We manually segmented the spleen, stomach, and adrenal gland, reconstructed 3D models, and analyzed the volume and shape of these organs. The results showed that the variation in spleen size was large compared to that in other organs. Spleen morphology was classified into six types based on the number of splenic surfaces as follows: two-faced, three-faced, four-faced, five-faced, ovoid, and irregular. Two-faced spleens were only observed in small specimens, whereas three- and four-faced spleens were observed in larger specimens. We also revealed that the number of fetal splenic surfaces increased as CRL enlarged. Additionally, 3D models indicated that some specimens formed their splenic surfaces without contact with the adjacent organs. This suggested that the splenic surface may be caused not only by pressure from the faced organs but also by an intrinsic program. This study may provide a better understanding of the normal development of the spleen during the early fetal period, and may potentially assist future studies in investigating congenital morphological anomalies of the spleen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Utsunomiya
- Congenital Anomaly Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shiori Nakano
- Congenital Anomaly Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Motoki Katsube
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shigehito Yamada
- Congenital Anomaly Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sajdel-Sulkowska EM. The Impact of Maternal Gut Microbiota during Pregnancy on Fetal Gut-Brain Axis Development and Life-Long Health Outcomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2199. [PMID: 37764043 PMCID: PMC10538154 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a critical role in physiological regulation throughout life and is specifically modified to meet the demands of individual life stages and during pregnancy. Maternal gut microbiota is uniquely adapted to the pregnancy demands of the mother and the developing fetus. Both animal studies in pregnant germ-free rodents and human studies have supported a critical association between the composition of maternal microbiota during pregnancy and fetal development. Gut microbiota may also contribute to the development of the fetal gut-brain axis (GBA), which is increasingly recognized for its critical role in health and disease. Most studies consider birth as the time of GBA activation and focus on postnatal GBA development. This review focuses on GBA development during the prenatal period and the impact of maternal gut microbiota on fetal GBA development. It is hypothesized that adaptation of maternal gut microbiota to pregnancy is critical for the GBA prenatal development and maturation of GBA postnatally. Consequently, factors affecting maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy, such as maternal obesity, diet, stress and depression, infection, and medication, also affect fetal GBA development and are critical for GBA activity postnatally. Altered maternal gut microbiota during gestation has been shown to have long-term impact postnatally and multigenerational effects. Thus, understanding the impact of maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy on fetal GBA development is crucial for managing fetal, neonatal, and adult health, and should be included among public health priorities.
Collapse
|
29
|
Siegmann EM, Olm P, Lenz B, Mühle C, Oberstein TJ, Maler JM, Kornhuber J. Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Is Not Associated with Alzheimer's Disease in the Elderly. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1229. [PMID: 37759830 PMCID: PMC10526128 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13091229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is influenced by sex hormones-estrogens and androgens in particular. However, the impact of prenatal sex hormone exposure is less clear; very few investigations have examined the relationship between the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D), a putative proxy for the ratio of prenatal estrogens to androgens, and AD, with inconsistent results among the few that have. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this relationship using methodologically robust metrics. In a 2 (sex) × 4 (group) MANOVA incorporating 108 participants (30 AD patients, 19 patients with tauopathy but no amyloidopathy, 31 clinical and 28 healthy age- and education-matched controls), the effects of sex and group on the dependent variables right and left 2D:4D were examined. We also explored the association between 2D:4D and the severity of AD symptoms assessed via neuropsychological examination. We did not find any significant differences in the right- and left-hand 2D:4D between patients with AD and the other groups; no significant associations between 2D:4D and neuropsychological task performances were found in the dementia groups. The 2D:4D of healthy women was significantly lower than that of depressed women without AD, i.e., clinical controls, but not significantly different from depressed female patients with AD. This investigation does not support the role of 2D:4D in the development or severity of AD in general, but suggests a potential role of 2D:4D for depression in women. Future studies are warranted to clarify whether 2D:4D can distinguish between early- and late-onset depression in women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Siegmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pauline Olm
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Timo Jan Oberstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Juan Manuel Maler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Roberts VH, Castro JN, Wessel BM, Conrad DF, Lewis AD, Lo JO. Rhesus macaque fetal and placental growth demographics: A resource for laboratory animal researchers. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23526. [PMID: 37244752 PMCID: PMC10528524 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are amongst the most common nonhuman primate species used in biomedical research. These animals provide a precious resource for translational studies and opportunities to maximize rhesus data use are encouraged. Here we compile data produced from 10 years of investigator-driven pregnancy studies conducted at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). All pregnancies were generated within the consistent and reproducible protocols of the ONPRC time-mated breeding program. The data included are from control animals who did not experience in utero perturbations or experimental manipulations. A total of 86 pregnant rhesus macaques were delivered by cesarean section over a range of gestational days (G) 50 to G159 (where term is G165 ± 10 days in the rhesus macaque), with subsequent immediate tissue harvesting following standardized protocols. Fetal and placental growth measures, and all major organ weights are reported. All data are presented relative to gestational age for the entire cohort and in addition, data are stratified by fetal sex. The outcome is a large reference resource for use by laboratory animal researchers in future comparative fetal development studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria H.J. Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Jenna N. Castro
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Brady M. Wessel
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Donald F. Conrad
- Division of Genetics, ONPRC, OHSU, Beaverton, OR, USA
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne D. Lewis
- Division of Animal Research Resources and Services, ONPRC, OHSU, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Jamie O. Lo
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Beaverton, OR, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mortaji N, Krzeczkowski J, Atkinson S, Amani B, Schmidt LA, Van Lieshout RJ. Early neurodevelopment in the offspring of women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of a nutrition + exercise intervention on the cognitive development of 12-month-olds. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2023; 14:532-539. [PMID: 37448202 DOI: 10.1017/s204017442300020x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Experimental data on the effects of lifestyle interventions on fetal neurodevelopment in humans remain scarce. This study assessed the impact of a pregnancy nutrition+exercise intervention on offspring neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. The Be Healthy in Pregnancy (BHIP) randomized controlled trial (RCT) randomly assigned pregnant persons with stratification by site and body mass index (BMI) to bi-weekly nutrition counselling and high dairy protein diet, walking goal of 10,000 steps/day plus usual prenatal care (UPC; intervention group) or UPC alone (control group). This study examined a subset of these mothers (> 18 years, singleton pregnancy, BMI <40 kg/m2, and enrolled by ≤12 weeks gestation) and their infants (intervention = 42, control = 32), assessing cognition, language, motor, social-emotional, and adaptive functioning at 12 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development third edition (BSID-III) as the outcome measure. We also examined if maternal factors (prepregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain (GWG)) moderated associations. Expressive language (MD = 9.62, 95% CI = (9.05-10.18), p = 0.03, ƞ2p = 0.07) and general adaptive composite (GAC) scores (MD = 103.97, 95% CI = (100.31-107.63), p = 0.04, ƞ2p = 0.06) were higher in infants of mothers in the intervention group. Effect sizes were medium. However, mean cognitive, receptive language, motor, and social-emotional scale scores did not differ between groups. A structured and monitored nutrition+exercise intervention during pregnancy led to improved expressive language and general adaptive behavior in 12-month-olds, but not cognitive, receptive language, motor, or socioemotional functioning. While these experimental data are promising, further research is needed to determine the clinical utility of nutrition+exercise interventions for optimizing infant neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neda Mortaji
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | | | - Bahar Amani
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Louis A Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Ryan J Van Lieshout
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Herrera E, Ortega-Senovilla H. Dietary Implications of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids during Pregnancy and in Neonates. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1656. [PMID: 37629513 PMCID: PMC10455977 DOI: 10.3390/life13081656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain limitations exist for animals to modify fatty acid changes. Besides the role of arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other 20-carbon long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) for the synthesis of inflammatory mediators as eicosanoids, different LCPUFAs have many other effects, including their abilities to regulate gene expression and downstream events. LCPUFAs are susceptible to autoxidation, which is prevented by the action of antioxidants in the form of enzymes like superoxide dismutases, catalases and peroxidases, as well as antioxidant compounds that protect against oxidation or repair the damage caused. Under normal conditions, the fetus needs both essential fatty acids (EFAs) and LCPUFAs, which are obtained from its mother by placental transfer. In early pregnancy, dietary derived fatty acids are accumulated in maternal adipose tissue. However, during late pregnancy, corresponding to the period of the highest fetal growth, maternal adipose tissue becomes catabolic and LCPUFAs are released into the circulation by adipose lipolytic activity. The released LCPUFAs are taken up by maternal liver to be esterified and released back to the circulation as triacylglycerides (TAGs) in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) that become available to the placenta to be transferred to the fetus in the form of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). An enhanced adipose tissue lipolysis is maintained around parturition and esterified LCPUFAs are diverted to mammary glands thanks to an increased activity of lipoprotein lipase for milk production. Throughout this process, LCPUFAs become available to the newborn during suckling. The important role of both DHA and AA for the development of the nervous system and for growth has motivated their dietary supplement during different postnatal stages. This has been especially important in preterm infants both because under normal conditions, the fetus acquires most of these fatty acids during late pregnancy, and because the immaturity of the enzyme systems for the synthesis of AA and DHA from their respective EFAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Herrera
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, 28660 Madrid, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ontsouka E, Schroeder M, Albrecht C. Revisited role of the placenta in bile acid homeostasis. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1213757. [PMID: 37546542 PMCID: PMC10402276 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, the discussion concerning bile acids (BAs) during gestation is almost exclusively linked to pregnancy complications such as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) when maternal serum BA levels reach very high concentrations (>100 μM). Generally, the placenta is believed to serve as a protective barrier avoiding exposure of the growing fetus to excessive amounts of maternal BAs that might cause detrimental effects (e.g., intrauterine growth restriction and/or increased vulnerability to metabolic diseases). However, little is known about the precise role of the placenta in BA biosynthesis, transport, and metabolism in healthy pregnancies when serum BAs are at physiological levels (i.e., low maternal and high fetal BA concentrations). It is well known that primary BAs are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and are later modified to secondary BA species by colonic bacteria. Besides the liver, BA synthesis in extrahepatic sites such as the brain elicits neuroprotective actions through inhibition of apoptosis as well as oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Even though historically BAs were thought to be only "detergent molecules" required for intestinal absorption of dietary fats, they are nowadays acknowledged as full signaling molecules. They modulate a myriad of signaling pathways with functional consequences on essential processes such as gluconeogenesis -one of the principal energy sources of the fetus- and cellular proliferation. The current manuscript discusses the potential multipotent roles of physiologically circulating BAs on developmental processes during gestation and provides a novel perspective in terms of the importance of the placenta as a previously unknown source of BAs. Since the principle "not too much, not too little" applicable to other signaling molecules may be also true for BAs, the risks associated with fetal exposure to excessive levels of BAs are discussed.
Collapse
|
34
|
Ortiz M, Álvarez D, Muñoz Y, Crisosto N, Valenzuela R, Maliqueo M. Linoleic and arachidonic fatty acids and their potential relationship with inflammation, pregnancy, and fetal development. Curr Med Chem 2023:CMC-EPUB-132789. [PMID: 37415369 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230706161144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A healthy maternal diet must consider an appropriate supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) precursors to ensure adequate growth and development of the fetus. In this regard, n-6 PUFAs, predominantly linoleic (C18:2 n-6, LA) and arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6), have a central role in the development of the central nervous system because they are part of the membrane structure and participate in the metabolism and signal transduction of cells. Nevertheless, they can also be transformed into inflammatory metabolites promoting the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. In modern westernized societies, there is a high dietary consumption of foods rich in n-6 PUFAs which could have detrimental consequences for the fetus and neonate due to excessive exposure to these fatty acids (FAs). OBJECTIVE To summarize the evidence of maternal, placental, and fetal alterations that an excessive intake of n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), LA, and AA), could produce during pregnancy. METHODS A thorough review of the literature regarding the effects of n-6 PUFAs during pregnancy and lactation including in vivo and in vitro models, was carried out using the PubMed database from the National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Health. RESULTS An elevated intake of n-6 PUFA, specifically LA, during pregnancy influences children's motor, cognitive, and verbal development during infancy and early childhood. Similarly, they could harm the placenta and the development of other fetal organs such as the fat tissue, liver, and cardiovascular system. CONCLUSION Maternal diet, specifically LA intake, could have significant repercussions on fetal development and long-term consequences in the offspring, including the possibility of future metabolic and mental diseases. It would be necessary to focus on the prevention of these alterations through timely dietary interventions in the target population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Ortiz
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine West Division, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Álvarez
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine West Division, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yasna Muñoz
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine West Division, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Crisosto
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine West Division, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Valenzuela
- Nutrition Department, School of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Manuel Maliqueo
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine West Division, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Turck D, Bohn T, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Hirsch‐Ernst KI, Knutsen HK, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, Naska A, Pentieva K, Thies F, Tsabouri S, Vinceti M, Bresson J, Fiolet T, Siani A. Choline and contribution to normal liver function of the foetus and exclusively breastfed infants: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA J 2023; 21:e08115. [PMID: 37502017 PMCID: PMC10369243 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Following an application from Procter & Gamble BV pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Belgium, the Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to choline and contribution to normal liver function of the foetus and exclusively breastfed infant. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim referring to children's development and health. The Panel considers that choline is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is contribution 'to normal foetal and infant development, especially liver'. The proposed target population is 'unborn fetuses and breastfed infants'. Choline is involved in the structure of cell membranes, cell signalling, metabolism and transport of lipids and cholesterol and neurotransmitter synthesis. Although choline can be synthesised de novo by the human body, depletion-repletion studies in humans show that low choline intake leads to liver dysfunction and muscle damage, which are reverted by the administration of dietary choline. For these functions, de novo synthesis of choline by the human body is insufficient and choline must be obtained from dietary sources. No human studies have addressed the effect of low maternal dietary choline intake on liver function in the fetus or exclusively breastfed infants. However, the Panel considers that the biological role of choline in normal liver function and dietary choline being essential for the function applies to all ages, including fetus and infants. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the intake of choline by pregnant and lactating women and contribution to normal liver function of the fetus and exclusively breastfed infants.
Collapse
|
36
|
Abu-Awwad SA, Craina M, Gluhovschi A, Boscu L, Bernad E, Iurciuc M, Abu-Awwad A, Iurciuc S, Tudoran C, Bernad R, Maghiari AL. Comparative Analysis of Neonatal Effects in Pregnant Women with Cardiovascular Risk versus Low-Risk Pregnant Women. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4082. [PMID: 37373775 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12124082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Pregnancy imposes unique physiological changes on a woman's cardiovascular system. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cohort of 68 participants, comprising 30 pregnant women with cardiovascular risk and 38 without cardiovascular risk, was recruited for this study. These participants were prospectively followed during their pregnancies from 2020 to 2022 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the "Pius Brînzeu" Emergency County Clinical Hospital in Timişoara, Romania. All women included in this study underwent cesarean section deliveries at the same medical facility. Data regarding the gestational weeks at delivery, birth weight, and Apgar scores assessed by neonatologists were collected for each participant. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the neonatal effects between the two groups. RESULTS The results of this study revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of Apgar scores (p = 0.0055), gestational weeks (p = 0.0471), and baby birth weight (p = 0.0392). CONCLUSION The findings underscore the importance of considering maternal cardiovascular health as a potential determinant of neonatal outcomes. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and develop strategies for optimizing neonatal outcomes in high-risk pregnancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona-Alina Abu-Awwad
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- "Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology", "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marius Craina
- "Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology", "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Laparoscopy, Laparoscopic Surgery and In Vitro Fertilization, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adrian Gluhovschi
- "Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology", "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Lioara Boscu
- Senate Office, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Elena Bernad
- "Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology", "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Laparoscopy, Laparoscopic Surgery and In Vitro Fertilization, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mircea Iurciuc
- Senate Office, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Departament VI-Discipline of Outpatient Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Prevention and Recovery, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ahmed Abu-Awwad
- "Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology", "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
- Department XV-Discipline of Orthopedics-Traumatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center University Professor Doctor Teodor Șora, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Stela Iurciuc
- Senate Office, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Departament VI-Discipline of Outpatient Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Prevention and Recovery, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristina Tudoran
- Discipline of Cardiology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- "Pius Brinzeu" Emergency County Clinical Hospital, Blvd Liviu Rebreanu, No. 156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Robert Bernad
- Department of Automatic Control and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Anca Laura Maghiari
- "Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology", "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
- Department I-Discipline of Anatomy and Embryology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Aguree S, Zhang X, Reddy MB. Combined Effect of Maternal Obesity and Diabetes on Excessive Fetal Growth: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 2012-2015. AJPM Focus 2023; 2:100071. [PMID: 37790647 PMCID: PMC10546511 DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Obesity and dysregulation in glucose metabolism are risk factors for excessive fetal growth, but their combined effects are not often examined in a single study. Methods Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Phase 7 (2012-2015) were used. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between maternal prepregnancy BMI and pre-existing diabetes/gestational diabetes on the odds of delivering a large-for-gestational-age infant or an infant with macrosomia. Results Complete data for 128,199 singleton births were used. The proportions of large-for-gestational-age infants and infants with macrosomia increased with the degree of obesity (p<0.001) and were higher in women with diabetes than in those without (p<0.001). Compared with the AOR among normal-weight women, the AOR of delivering large-for-gestational-age infants and infants with macrosomia among women with morbid obesity (BMI≥40) were 2.82 (p<0.001) and 2.67 (p<0.001), respectively. Compared with the AOR among nondiabetic women, the AOR of delivering a large-for-gestational-age infant was 1.88 (p<0.001) among those with pre-existing diabetes and 1.49 (p<0.001) among those with gestational diabetes. Except for the underweight group, women with pre-existing diabetes were nearly twice as likely to deliver a large-for-gestational-age infant as those with similar BMI without diabetes. Women with morbid obesity and gestational diabetes were twice as likely to have a large-for-gestational-age infant and an infant with macrosomia as nondiabetic women with normal BMI. Conclusions We have shown that when maternal obesity and diabetes, particularly pre-existing diabetes, occur together, the risk of delivering large-for-gestational-age and macrosomia increases significantly. Our findings call for public health attention to address maternal obesity and diabetes to minimize suboptimal fetal growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sixtus Aguree
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Manju B. Reddy
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Darby JRT, Williams GK, Cho SKS, Meakin AS, Holman SL, Quinn M, Wiese MD, Macgowan CK, Seed M, Morrison JL. Acute resveratrol exposure does not impact hemodynamics of the fetal sheep. Physiol Rep 2023; 11:e15749. [PMID: 37332034 PMCID: PMC10277215 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Babies born growth restricted are at an increased risk of both poor short-and long-term outcomes. Current interventions to improve fetal growth are ineffective and do not lower the lifetime risk of poor health status. Maternal resveratrol (RSV) treatment increases uterine artery blood flow, fetal oxygenation, and fetal weight. However, studies suggest that diets high in polyphenols such as RSV may impair fetal hemodynamics. We aimed to characterize the effect of RSV on fetal hemodynamics to further assess its safety as an intervention strategy. Pregnant ewes underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to measure blood flow and oxygenation within the fetal circulation using phase contrast-MRI and T2 oximetry. Blood flow and oxygenation measures were performed in a basal state and then repeated while the fetus was exposed to RSV. Fetal blood pressure and heart rate were not different between states. RSV did not impact fetal oxygen delivery (DO2 ) or consumption (VO2 ). Blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the major vessels of the fetal circulation were not different between basal and RSV states. As such, acute exposure of the fetus to RSV does not directly impact fetal hemodynamics. This strengthens the rationale for the use of RSV as an intervention strategy against fetal growth restriction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Georgia K. Williams
- Preclinical, Imaging and Research LaboratoriesSouth Australian Health and Medical Research InstituteAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Steven K. S. Cho
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
- Univeristy of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Ashley S. Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Stacey L. Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Megan Quinn
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Michael D. Wiese
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | | | - Mike Seed
- Univeristy of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Baeza J, Coons BE, Lin Z, Riley J, Mendoza M, Peranteau WH, Garcia BA. In utero pulse injection of isotopic amino acids quantifies protein turnover rates during murine fetal development. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.18.541242. [PMID: 37293076 PMCID: PMC10245746 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.18.541242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Protein translational control is highly regulated step in the gene expression program during mammalian development that is critical for ensuring that the fetus develops correctly and that all of the necessary organs and tissues are formed and functional. Defects in protein expression during fetal development can lead to severe developmental abnormalities or premature death. Currently, quantitative techniques to monitor protein synthesis rates in a developing fetus (in utero) are limited. Here, we developed a novel in utero stable isotope labeling approach to quantify tissue-specific protein dynamics of the nascent proteome during mouse fetal development. Fetuses of pregnant C57BL/6J mice were injected with isotopically labeled lysine (Lys8) and arginine (Arg10) via the vitelline vein at various gestational days. After treatment, fetal organs/tissues including brain, liver, lung, and heart were harvested for sample preparation and proteomic analysis. We show that the mean incorporation rate for injected amino acids into all organs was 17.50 ± 0.6%. By analyzing the nascent proteome, unique signatures of each tissue were identified by hierarchical clustering. In addition, the quantified proteome-wide turnover rates (kobs) were calculated between 3.81E-5 and 0.424 hour-1. We observed similar protein turnover profiles for analyzed organs (e.g., liver versus brain), however, their distributions of turnover rates vary significantly. The translational kinetic profiles of developing organs displayed differentially expressed protein pathways and synthesis rates which correlated with known physiological changes during mouse development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josue Baeza
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Contributed equally to this work
| | - Barbara E. Coons
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of Pediatric General, Thoracis and Fetal Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Contributed equally to this work
| | - Zongtao Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - John Riley
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of Pediatric General, Thoracis and Fetal Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Mariel Mendoza
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - William H. Peranteau
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of Pediatric General, Thoracis and Fetal Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Yan YS, Feng C, Yu DQ, Tian S, Zhou Y, Huang YT, Cai YT, Chen J, Zhu MM, Jin M. Long-term outcomes and potential mechanisms of offspring exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1067282. [PMID: 37255932 PMCID: PMC10226394 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1067282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, which can be classified into pregestational diabetes and gestational diabetes, has become much more prevalent worldwide. Maternal diabetes fosters an intrauterine abnormal environment for fetus, which not only influences pregnancy outcomes, but also leads to fetal anomaly and development of diseases in later life, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, neuropsychiatric outcomes, reproduction malformation, and immune dysfunction. The underlying mechanisms are comprehensive and ambiguous, which mainly focus on microbiota, inflammation, reactive oxygen species, cell viability, and epigenetics. This review concluded with the influence of intrauterine hyperglycemia on fetal structure development and organ function on later life and outlined potential mechanisms that underpin the development of diseases in adulthood. Maternal diabetes leaves an effect that continues generations after generations through gametes, thus more attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of diabetes to rescue the pathological attacks of maternal diabetes from the offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shang Yan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chun Feng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan-Qing Yu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shen Tian
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yin Zhou
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Ting Huang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Ting Cai
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Miao-Miao Zhu
- Department of Operating Theatre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Min Jin
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Manfra O, Louey S, Jonker SS, Perdreau-Dahl H, Frisk M, Giraud GD, Thornburg KL, Louch WE. Augmenting workload drives T-tubule assembly in developing cardiomyocytes. J Physiol 2023:10.1113/JP284538. [PMID: 37128962 PMCID: PMC10854476 DOI: 10.1113/jp284538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Contraction of cardiomyocytes is initiated at subcellular elements called dyads, where L-type Ca2+ channels in t-tubules are located within close proximity to ryanodine receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. While evidence from small rodents indicates that dyads are assembled gradually in the developing heart, it is unclear how this process occurs in large mammals. We presently examined dyadic formation in fetal and newborn sheep (Ovis aries), and the regulation of this process by fetal cardiac workload. By employing advanced imaging methods, we demonstrated that t-tubule growth and dyadic assembly proceed gradually during fetal sheep development, from 93 days of gestational age until birth (147 days). This process parallels progressive increases in fetal systolic blood pressure, and includes step-wise colocalization of L-type Ca2+ channels and the Na+ /Ca2+ exchanger with ryanodine receptors. These proteins are upregulated together with the dyadic anchor junctophilin-2 during development, alongside changes in the expression of amphiphysin-2 (BIN1) and its partner proteins myotubularin and dynamin-2. Increasing fetal systolic load by infusing plasma or occluding the post-ductal aorta accelerated t-tubule growth. Conversely, reducing fetal systolic load with infusion of enalaprilat, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, blunted t-tubule formation. Interestingly, altered t-tubule densities did not relate to changes in dyadic junctions, or marked changes in the expression of dyadic regulatory proteins, indicating that distinct signals are responsible for maturation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In conclusion, augmenting blood pressure and workload during normal fetal development critically promotes t-tubule growth, while additional signals contribute to dyadic assembly. KEY POINTS: T-tubule growth and dyadic assembly proceed gradually in cardiomyocytes during fetal sheep development, from 93 days of gestational age until the post-natal stage. Increasing fetal systolic load by infusing plasma or occluding the post-ductal aorta accelerated t-tubule growth and hypertrophy. In contrast, reducing fetal systolic load by enalaprilat infusion slowed t-tubule development and decreased cardiomyocyte size. Load-dependent modulation of t-tubule maturation was linked to altered expression patterns of the t-tubule regulatory proteins junctophilin-2 and amphiphysin-2 (BIN1) and its protein partners. Altered t-tubule densities did not influence dyadic formation, indicating that distinct signals are responsible for maturation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Manfra
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Samantha Louey
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, OR, USA
| | - Sonnet S Jonker
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, OR, USA
| | - Harmonie Perdreau-Dahl
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael Frisk
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - George D Giraud
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, OR, USA
- VA Portland Health Care System Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kent L Thornburg
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, OR, USA
| | - William E Louch
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Li X, Duan X, Tan D, Zhang B, Xu A, Qiu N, Chen Z. Iron deficiency and iron overload in men and woman of reproductive age, and pregnant women. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 118:108381. [PMID: 37023911 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential micronutrient for human biology and health, but high iron levels can be dangerous. Both iron deficiency and iron overload have been linked to reproductive health. This review summarizes the effects of iron deficiency and iron overload on men of reproductive age, women of reproductive age, and pregnant women. In addition, appropriate iron levels and the need for iron and nutritional supplements at different stages of life and pregnancy are discussed. In general, men should be aware of the risk of iron overload at any stage of life; women should take appropriate iron supplements before menopause; postmenopausal women should pay attention to the risk of iron overload; and pregnant women should receive reasonable iron supplementation in middle and late pregnancy. By summarizing evidence on the relationship between iron and reproductive health, this review aims to promote the development of strategies to optimize reproductive capacity from the perspective of nutrition. However, additional detailed experimental investigations and clinical studies are needed to assess the underlying causes and mechanisms of the observed associations between iron and reproductive health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuyun Li
- Maternal and Child Health Development Research Center, Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China
| | - Xuexia Duan
- Physical Examination Center, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China
| | - Dongmei Tan
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China
| | - Anran Xu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China
| | - Ningning Qiu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China.
| | - Zhaowen Chen
- Obstetrics Department, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Dimasi CG, Darby JRT, Morrison JL. A change of heart: understanding the mechanisms regulating cardiac proliferation and metabolism before and after birth. J Physiol 2023; 601:1319-1341. [PMID: 36872609 PMCID: PMC10952280 DOI: 10.1113/jp284137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian cardiomyocytes undergo major maturational changes in preparation for birth and postnatal life. Immature cardiomyocytes contribute to cardiac growth via proliferation and thus the heart has the capacity to regenerate. To prepare for postnatal life, structural and metabolic changes associated with increased cardiac output and function must occur. This includes exit from the cell cycle, hypertrophic growth, mitochondrial maturation and sarcomeric protein isoform switching. However, these changes come at a price: the loss of cardiac regenerative capacity such that damage to the heart in postnatal life is permanent. This is a significant barrier to the development of new treatments for cardiac repair and contributes to heart failure. The transitional period of cardiomyocyte growth is a complex and multifaceted event. In this review, we focus on studies that have investigated this critical transition period as well as novel factors that may regulate and drive this process. We also discuss the potential use of new biomarkers for the detection of myocardial infarction and, in the broader sense, cardiovascular disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine G. Dimasi
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSAAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Burt TD, McCune JM. Human fetal T cells: Insights into developmental specialization and mechanisms of lineage transition. Immunol Rev 2023; 315:126-153. [PMID: 36960621 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The switch from primitive to definitive hematopoiesis occurs early in development through the emergence of a wave of definitive hematopoietic stem cells from intraembryonic sites, supplanting the original primitive population of extraembryonically derived stem cells. When it became clear that unique features of the fetal immune system could not be reproduced by adult stem cells, it was hypothesized that a lineage of definitive fetal hematopoietic stem cells predominates antenatally, ultimately giving way to an emerging wave of adult stem cells and resulting in a "layered" fetal immune system consisting of overlapping lineages. It is now clear, however, that the transition from human fetal-to-adult T cell identity and function does not occur due to a binary switch between distinct fetal and adult lineages. Rather, recent evidence from single cell analysis suggests that during the latter half of fetal development a gradual, progressive transition occurs at the level of hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs) which is reflected in their T cell progeny. At a transcriptional level, clusters of genes are up- and down-regulated with sequenced timing, suggesting that the transition is under the control of master regulatory factors, including epigenetic modifiers. The net effect is still one of "molecular layering," that is, the continuous layering of iterative generations of HSPCs and T cells that arise through progressive changes in gene expression. This review will focus on recent discoveries that elucidate mechanisms of fetal T cell function and the transition from fetal to adult identity. The epigenetic landscape of fetal T cells facilitates their ability to fulfill the dominant fetal mandate of generating tolerance against self, maternal, and environmental antigens by supporting their predisposition to differentiate into CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (TRegs ). We will explore how the coordinated development of two complementary populations of fetal T cells-conventional T cells dominated by TRegs and tissue-associated memory effector cells with innate-like inflammatory potential-is crucial not only for maintaining intrauterine immune quiescence but also for facilitating an immune response that is appropriately tuned for the bombardment of antigen stimulation that happens at birth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Trevor D Burt
- Division of Neonatology and the Children's Health and Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph M McCune
- HIV Frontiers, Global Health Accelerator, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Dooley N, Healy C, Cotter D, Clarke M, Cannon M. Predicting childhood ADHD-linked symptoms from prenatal and perinatal data in the ABCD cohort. Dev Psychopathol 2023:1-14. [PMID: 36946069 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423000238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the capacity of pre/perinatal factors to predict attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in childhood. It also explores whether predictive accuracy of a pre/perinatal model varies for different groups in the population. We used the ABCD (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development) cohort from the United States (N = 9975). Pre/perinatal information and the Child Behavior Checklist were reported by the parent when the child was aged 9-10. Forty variables which are generally known by birth were input as potential predictors including maternal substance-use, obstetric complications and child demographics. Elastic net regression with 5-fold validation was performed, and subsequently stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, household income and parental psychopathology. Seventeen pre/perinatal variables were identified as robust predictors of ADHD symptoms in this cohort. The model explained just 8.13% of the variance in ADHD symptoms on average (95% CI = 5.6%-11.5%). Predictive accuracy of the model varied significantly by subgroup, particularly across income groups, and several pre/perinatal factors appeared to be sex-specific. Results suggest we may be able to predict childhood ADHD symptoms with modest accuracy from birth. This study needs to be replicated using prospectively measured pre/perinatal data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niamh Dooley
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colm Healy
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Cotter
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Li D, Han X, Habgood M, Schneider-Futschik EK. In Utero Mapping and Development Role of CFTR in Lung and Gastrointestinal Tract of Cystic Fibrosis Patients. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:355-360. [PMID: 36926454 PMCID: PMC10012249 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
In cystic fibrosis (CF) the ability of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein to mediate chloride and water transport is disrupted. While much progress has been made in CF research leading to effective treatments to improve CFTR function, including small molecule modulators, patients present with varying disease manifestations and responses to therapy. For many CF-affected organs, disease onset is known to occur during in utero development before treatments can be administered and progresses over time leading to irreversible damage to these organs. Thus, the role of functional CFTR protein, in particular, during early development needs to be further elucidated. Studies have detected CFTR proteins at very early gestational stages and revealed temporally and spatially variable CFTR expression patterns in fetuses, suggesting a potential role of CFTR in fetal development. However, the actual mechanisms of how defective CFTR in CF results in fetal morphogenetic abnormalities are yet to be established. This review aims to summarize fetal CFTR expression patterns specifically in the lung, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT), as compared to adult patterns. Case studies of structural abnormalities in CF fetuses and newborns and the role of CFTR in fetal development will also be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mark Habgood
- Department of Biochemistry
and Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,
Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Elena K. Schneider-Futschik
- Department of Biochemistry
and Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,
Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Ryan G, Rafferty A, Murphy J, Higgins MF, Mangina E, McAuliffe FM. Virtual reality learning: A randomized controlled trial assessing medical student knowledge of fetal development. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023. [PMID: 36883288 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether a virtual reality learning environment (VRLE) enhanced student understanding and knowledge compared with a traditional tutorial. METHOD A randomized controlled trial involving medical students from University College Dublin, Ireland. Participants were assigned to an intervention (VRLE involving a 15-min learning experience on the stages of fetal development) or control (PowerPoint tutorial on the same topic) group. Multiple choice questionnaires (MCQs) assessed knowledge at three time points: preintervention, immediately postintervention, and 1 week postintervention. Primary outcomes were differences in MCQ knowledge scores postintervention between groups. Secondary outcomes included attitudes on the learning experience assessed using the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale (SCLS) and the Virtual Reality Design Scale (VRDS). RESULTS No statistically significant between-group differences were found in the primary outcome assessing postintervention knowledge scores. Within-group differences in knowledge scores were significant among the three time points for both the intervention (P < 0.01 [95% confidence interval, 5.33-6.19]) and control (P = 0.02 [95% confidence interval, 5.74-6.49]) groups. Mean levels of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning were higher in the intervention group compared with the control group: 54.2 (standard deviation, 7.5) and 50.5 (standard deviation, 7.2), respectively (P = 0.21). CONCLUSION VRLEs are a learning tool that can support knowledge development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grace Ryan
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anthony Rafferty
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Murphy
- UCD School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary F Higgins
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eleni Mangina
- UCD School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Diniz WJS, Ward AK, McCarthy KL, Kassetas CJ, Baumgaertner F, Reynolds LP, Borowicz PP, Sedivec KK, Kirsch JD, Dorsam ST, Neville TL, Forcherio JC, Scott R, Caton JS, Dahlen CR. Periconceptual Maternal Nutrition Affects Fetal Liver Programming of Energy- and Lipid-Related Genes. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040600. [PMID: 36830387 PMCID: PMC9951695 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, the fetus relies on the dam for its nutrient supply. Nutritional stimuli during fetal organ development can program hepatic metabolism and function. Herein, we investigated the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM-at least 71 days pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and rate of weight gain (low (LG) or moderate (MG)-from breeding to day 83) on the fetal liver transcriptome and the underlying biological pathways. Crossbred Angus beef heifers (n = 35) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design (VTM_LG, VTM_MG, NoVTM_LG, and NoVTM_MG). Gene expression was measured with RNA-Seq in fetal livers collected on day 83 ± 0.27 of gestation. Our results show that vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of weight gain led to the differential expression of hepatic genes in all treatments. We identified 591 unique differentially expressed genes across all six VTM-gain contrasts (FDR ≤ 0.1). Over-represented pathways were related to energy metabolism, including PPAR and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, as well as lipid metabolism, mineral transport, and amino acid transport. Our findings suggest that periconceptual maternal nutrition affects fetal hepatic function through altered expression of energy- and lipid-related genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wellison J. S. Diniz
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Alison K. Ward
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Kacie L. McCarthy
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Cierrah J. Kassetas
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | | | - Lawrence P. Reynolds
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Pawel P. Borowicz
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Kevin K. Sedivec
- Central Grasslands Research and Extension Center, North Dakota State University, Streeter, ND 58483, USA
| | - James D. Kirsch
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Sheri T. Dorsam
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Tammi L. Neville
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | | | - Ronald Scott
- Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA
| | - Joel S. Caton
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Carl R. Dahlen
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Crespi BJ, Evans SF. Prenatal Origins of Endometriosis Pathology and Pain: Reviewing the Evidence of a Role for Low Testosterone. J Pain Res 2023; 16:307-316. [PMID: 36762368 PMCID: PMC9904225 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s389166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a polygenic, estrogen-dependent, inflammatory disorder of uncertain aetiology associated with pain, infertility and reduced quality of life. While the positive association between endometriosis and estrogen is established, a suite of recent studies has demonstrated an inverse association between the presence of endometriosis lesions and levels of testosterone both prenatally and postnatally. The following narrative review provides new insights into the roles of testosterone in the aetiology, diagnosis, and management of endometriosis and associated symptoms, especially pain. A relatively short anogenital distance (AGD) is indicative of lower levels of testosterone during fetal development. A shorter AGD has recently been correlated with both a higher risk of developing endometriosis in adult life, and with known correlates of endometriosis including earlier onset of reproductive cycling, lower ovarian follicle number, lower postnatal testosterone, and premature ovarian insufficiency. During adult life, lower levels of testosterone are positively associated with key comorbidities of endometriosis, including days per month of pelvic pain and increased pain sensitivity. Biochemically, lower levels of testosterone are associated with higher levels of pro-inflammatory IL-1β and lower levels of β-endorphin. In rodents, prenatal administration of testosterone to females reduces their pain sensitivity in adulthood. The emerging convergent links of endometriosis with low prenatal and postnatal testosterone provide evidence of a centrally mediated effect beginning in early prenatal development, and persisting through adult life, with notable effects on pain sensitivity. They generate a novel conceptual framework for understanding, studying and treating this disorder, whereby endometriosis is mediated by a combination of high estrogen in endometrial tissue with low systemic and ovarian testosterone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernard J Crespi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada,Correspondence: Bernard J Crespi, Email
| | - Susan F Evans
- Adelaide Medical School, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Pino O, Di Pietro S, Poli D. Effect of Musical Stimulation on Placental Programming and Neurodevelopment Outcome of Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:2718. [PMID: 36768104 PMCID: PMC9915377 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fetal environment is modulated by the placenta, which integrates and transduces information from the maternal environment to the fetal developmental program and adapts rapidly to changes through epigenetic mechanisms that respond to internal (hereditary) and external (environmental and social) signals. Consequently, the fetus corrects the trajectory of own development. During the last trimester of gestation, plasticity shapes the fetal brain, and prematurity can alter the typical developmental trajectories. In this period, prevention through activity-inducing (e.g., music stimulation) interventions are currently tested. The purpose of this review is to describe the potentialities of music exposure on fetus, and on preterm newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit evaluating its influence on neurobehavioral development. METHODS Databases were searched from 2010 to 2022 for studies investigating mechanisms of placental epigenetic regulation and effects of music exposure on the fetus and pre-term neonates. RESULTS In this case, 28 selected papers were distributed into three research lines: studies on placental epigenetic regulation (13 papers), experimental studies of music stimulation on fetus or newborns (6 papers), and clinical studies on premature babies (9 papers). Placental epigenetic changes of the genes involved in the cortisol and serotonin response resulted associated with different neurobehavioral phenotypes in newborns. Prenatal music stimulation had positive effects on fetus, newborn, and pregnant mother while post-natal exposure affected the neurodevelopment of the preterm infants and parental interaction. CONCLUSIONS The results testify the relevance of environmental stimuli for brain development during the pre- and perinatal periods and the beneficial effects of musical stimulation that can handle the fetal programming and the main neurobehavioral disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olimpia Pino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Sofia Di Pietro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Diana Poli
- INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
| |
Collapse
|