Project description:ObjectiveTo determine if prenatal, pregnancy, or postpartum-related environmental factors are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in children.MethodsThis is a case-control study of children with MS or clinically isolated syndrome and healthy controls enrolled at 16 clinics participating in the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers. Parents completed a comprehensive environmental questionnaire, including the capture of pregnancy and perinatal factors. Case status was confirmed by a panel of 3 pediatric MS specialists. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine association of these environmental factors with case status, adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, US birth region, and socioeconomic status.ResultsQuestionnaire responses were available for 265 eligible cases (median age 15.7 years, 62% girls) and 412 healthy controls (median age 14.6, 54% girls). In the primary multivariable analysis, maternal illness during pregnancy was associated with 2.3-fold increase in odds to have MS (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-4.21, P = .01) and cesarean delivery with 60% reduction (95% CI 0.20-0.82, P = .01). In a model adjusted for these variables, maternal age and BMI, tobacco smoke exposure, and breastfeeding were not associated with odds to have MS. In the secondary analyses, after adjustment for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, having a father who worked in a gardening-related occupation (odds ratio [OR] 2.18, 95% CI 1.14-4.16, P = .02) or any use in household of pesticide-related products (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.06-2.81, P = .03) were both associated with increased odds to have pediatric MS.ConclusionCesarean delivery and maternal health during pregnancy may influence risk for pediatric-onset MS. We report a new possible association of pesticide-related environmental exposures with pediatric MS that warrants further investigation and replication.
Project description:ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether arrhythmia in the setting of maternal cardiac disease (MCD) affects perinatal outcomes.Study designThis is a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with MCD who delivered during 2008 to 2013. Perinatal outcomes among women with an arrhythmia were compared with those without.ResultsAmong 143 women, 36 (25%) had an arrhythmia. Those with an arrhythmia were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery (64 vs 43%, P<0.05) and required fewer operative vaginal births (8 vs 27%, P=0.02). Pregnancies were more likely to be complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (17 vs 5%, P<0.05), although there were no differences in the rate of small for gestational age. The risk of IUGR remained increased after controlling for confounding (adjusted odds ratio 6.98, 95% confidence interval 1.59 to 30.79, P=0.01). Two cases of placental abruption were identified among mothers with arrhythmia while none were identified in the controls (P<0.05).ConclusionPatients with arrhythmias were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Our data suggest that these pregnancies were an increased risk for IUGR.
Project description:Perinatal hypoxia ischaemia (PHI), acute and chronic, may be associated with considerable adverse outcomes in the foetus and neonate. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of injury and repair associated with PHI in the perinate are not completely understood. Increasing evidence is mounting for the role of nutrients and bioactive food components in immune development, function and repair in PHI. In this review, we explore current concepts around the neonatal immune response to PHI with a specific emphasis on the impact of nutrition in the mother, foetus and neonate.
Project description:Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors in children. Findings on the role of maternal and perinatal factors on the susceptibility or outcome of these tumors are inconclusive. Therefore, we investigated the association between these early-life factors, risk, and survival of pediatric CNS tumors, using data from one of the world's largest and most diverse cancer registries. Information on pediatric CNS tumor cases (n = 1950) for the period 1995-2011 was obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry. Birth certificate controls were frequency-matched on birth year at a ratio of 10:1 for the same period. Evaluated maternal and perinatal variables were obtained from birth records. Unconditional logistic regression was used to generate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for etiological factors. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to assess adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for survival factors. The results indicated that Hispanic and non-Hispanic black mothers were less likely to have children with CNS tumors compared to non-Hispanic white mothers (OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.78-0.98] P-value = 0.019; OR 0.79 [95% CI 0.67-0.93 P-value = 0.004], respectively). Infants born large for gestational age (OR 1.26 [95% CI 1.07-1.47] P-value = 0.004) and those delivered pre-term (OR 1.19 [95% CI 1.04-1.38] P-value = 0.013) showed an increased risk of CNS tumors. Infants born by vaginal forceps or vacuum delivery had a higher risk of CNS tumors compared to those born by spontaneous vaginal delivery (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.12-1.62] P-value = 0.002). Additionally, offspring of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black mothers showed a higher risk of death (HR 1.45 [95% CI 1.16-1.80] P-value = 0.001; HR 1.53 [95% CI 1.12-2.09] P-value = 0.008, respectively). Infants born by cesarean had a higher risk of death compared to those delivered vaginally (HR 1.28 [95% CI 1.05-1.57] P-value = 0.016). These findings indicate the important role of maternal and perinatal characteristics in the etiology and survival of these clinically significant malignancies.
Project description:There are perinatal characteristics, such as gestational age, reproducibly associated with the risk for pediatric asthma. Identification of biologic processes influenced by these characteristics could facilitate risk stratification or new therapeutic targets. We hypothesized that transcriptional changes associated with multiple epidemiologic risk factors would be mediators of pediatric asthma risk. Using publicly available transcriptomic data from cord blood mononuclear cells, transcription of genes involved in myeloid differentiation was observed to be inversely associated with a pediatric asthma risk stratification based on multiple perinatal risk factors. This gene signature was validated in an independent prospective cohort and was specifically associated with genes localizing to neutrophil-specific granules. Further validation demonstrated that umbilical cord blood serum concentration of PGLYRP-1, a specific granule protein, was inversely associated with mid-childhood current asthma and early-teen FEV1/FVCx100. Thus, neutrophil-specific granule abundance at birth predicts risk for pediatric asthma and pulmonary function in adolescence.
Project description:ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between varying degrees of maternal hyperglycemia and pregnancy outcomes.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of a treatment trial for mild gestational diabetes including four cohorts: 1) 473 women with untreated mild gestational diabetes; 2) 256 women with a positive 50-g screen and one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value; 3) 675 women with a positive screen and no abnormal OGTT values; and 4) 437 women with a normal 50-g screen. Groups were compared by test of trend for a composite perinatal outcome (neonatal hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, elevated cord C-peptide level, and perinatal trauma or death), frequency of large for gestational age neonates, shoulder dystocia, and pregnancy-related hypertension. Three-hour OGTT levels (fasting, 1-, 2-, and 3-hour) levels were divided into categories and analyzed for their relationship to perinatal and maternal outcomes.ResultsThere were significant trends by glycemic status among the four cohorts for the composite and all other outcomes (P<.001). Analysis for trend according to OGTT categories showed an increasing relationship between fasting and all postload levels and the various outcomes (P<.05). Fasting glucose 90 mg/dL or greater and 1 hour 165 mg/dL or greater were associated with an increased risk for the composite outcome (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 2.0 [1.03–4.15] and 1.46 [1.02–2.11] to 1.52 [1.08–2.15] for the fasting and 1 hour, respectively). A 1 hour glucose 150 mg/dL or greater was associated with an increased risk for large for gestational age (odds ratios, 1.8 [1.02–3.18] to 2.35 [1.35–4.14]); however, 2- and 3-hour glucose levels did not increase the risk for the composite or large for gestational age until well beyond current gestational diabetes diagnostic thresholds.ConclusionA monotonic relationship exists between increasing maternal glycemia and perinatal morbidity. Current OGTT criteria require reevaluation in determining thresholds for the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes.Level of evidenceII
Project description:(1) Background: Dietary fiber can significantly alter gut microbiota composition. The role of the gut microbiome in the Gut-Brain Axis and modulation of neuropsychiatric disease is increasingly recognized. The role of antenatal diet, particularly fiber intake, in mitigating maternal mental health disorders remains unexplored. The objective of this review is to investigate the association between maternal fiber intake and perinatal depression and anxiety (PDA). (2) Methods: A literature review of PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted using appropriate keyword/MeSH terms for pregnancy, diet, fiber, and mental health. Observational and clinical trials published between 2015 and 2021 were included and data pertaining to dietary patterns (DP), food intake, mental health, and demographic data were extracted. The top three fiber-containing food groups (FG) per study were identified using a sum rank scoring system of fiber per 100 g and fiber per serving size. The consumption of these top three fiber FGs was then ranked for each dietary pattern/group. Mental health outcomes for each study were simplified into three categories of improved, no change, and worsened. The relationship between top three fiber FGs consumed within each DP and mental health outcomes was analyzed using Spearman's correlation. (3) Results: Thirteen of fifty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten (76.9%) studies assessed DPs (seven examined depression only, two examined depression and anxiety, and one examined anxiety only). Seven (53.9%) studies reported at least one significant positive relationship between mental health outcomes and DPs while three reported at least one negative outcome. Three (23.1%) studies compared intake of different food groups between depressed and non-depressed groups. In studies of DPs, the average consumption ranking of the top three fiber FGs bore a significant inverse association with mental health outcomes [r = -0.419 (95%CI: -0.672--0.078)] p = 0.015. In studies comparing the intake of different FGs between depressed and non-depressed groups, the consumption of top-ranking fiber foods was higher in the non-depressed groups, but significantly higher in four of the ten high fiber FGs. (4) Conclusions: This study reframes findings from previously published studies of maternal diet and mental health outcomes to focus on fiber intake specifically, using a fiber ranking system. A significant correlation between lower intake of fiber and poorer mental health outcomes warrants further investigation in future studies.
Project description:OBJECTIVES: To assess the maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with non-diabetic patients who delivered in the hospital during the study period. METHODS: The outcome of pregnancy in 220 Saudi patients with GDM identified from the delivery register/hospital database and matched for age, parity and body mass index with 220 non-diabetic controls were studied retrospectively from their case files. Patients with multiple pregnancies and abnormal presentation of the fetus were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The GDM patients were treated with either diet alone or with additional insulin in some patients who required better control of their blood sugar levels. Patients with GDM had a significantly higher incidence of pre-eclampsia (p<0.0001); preterm delivery (p=0.0226); induction of labor (p<0.0001); cesarean section (p=0.0019); higher mean birth weight (p<0.0001) of babies; large for gestational age infants (p=0.0011); macrosomia (p=0.0186); and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (p=0.0003), compared with the control group. However, the rates of Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia and the need for phototherapy were similar in both groups of patients. Congenital anomalies and perinatal mortality rates were not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: GDM is recognized to be associated with increased rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, which are supported by the findings of this study. Even the mild form of GDM seems to have significant consequences for women and their offspring and is recommended to be aggressively treated. Evidence suggests that early diagnosis and strict control of blood sugar levels throughout the pregnancy can significantly reduce maternal and fetal complications. A multicenter, randomized controlled trial, based on universally accepted criteria for GDM screening test, standardized diagnostic OGTT and management of all patients with GDM versus the standard obstetric management of the control is warranted.
Project description:1. The specific activities of fatty acid synthetase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase were measured in rat adipose-tissue extracts in pregnancy and lactation. Fatty acid synthetase specific activity correlates very closely with the rate of fatty acid synthesis, the enzyme specific activity decreasing after mid-pregnancy in a manner very similar to the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase specific activity also decreases dramatically after mid-pregnancy. Initial pyruvate dehydrogenase specific activity shows a decrease between 2 days pre partum and 2 days post partum, but total enzyme activity shows no significant change in the same period. 2. Immunotitrations of fatty acid synthetase and pyruvate dehydrogenase activities were carried out; the titrations showed that the change in the fatty acid synthetase activity is due to a change in the enzyme amount; the amount of pyruvate dyhydrogenase does not change. Therefore the decrease in fatty acid biosynthesis in subcutaneous and parametrial adipose tissue in late pregnancy and early lactation is associated with a decrease in the amount of at least one of the enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The correlation of these events with known hormonal changes is discussed.