Article
Cell Biology
Xiaotong Yang, Paula A. Benny, Elorri Cervera-Marzal, Biyu Wu, Cameron B. Lassiter, Joshua Astern, Lana X. Garmire
Summary: Variations in telomere length have been linked to aging, stress, and diseases. This study investigated the association between placental telomere length and preeclampsia. The results suggest that placental telomere length is not significantly different between severe preeclampsia cases and healthy controls, but it is negatively correlated with gestational age and influenced by race.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian Giommi, Marta Lombo, Nina Montik, Michela Paolucci, Valentina Notarstefano, Giovanni Delli Carpini, Andrea Ciavattini, Antonio Ragusa, Francesca Maradonna, Elisabetta Giorgini, Oliana Carnevali
Summary: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) are metabolic-related diseases that can occur during pregnancy. This study investigated the changes in the placental chorionic villi (CVs) of GDM and SGA patients. The results showed higher levels of SOD-1 and CAT in GDM placentae, which may be related to the hyperglycemic environment. Lipid composition and structure of the placenta were altered in both pathologies, with SGA inducing lipid peroxidation and reducing collagen deposition in the CVs. The cannabinoid system does not seem to be involved in these two pathologies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jezid Miranda, Cristina Paules, Guillaume Noell, Lina Youssef, Angel Paternina-Caicedo, Francesca Crovetto, Nicolau Canellas, Maria L. Garcia-Martin, Nuria Amigo, Elisenda Eixarch, Rosa Faner, Francesc Figueras, Rui Simos, Fatima Crispi, Eduard Gratacos
Summary: This study used machine learning to conduct cluster analysis of FGR, confirming the existence of two distinct subtypes with different molecular and clinical features. The clusters generated by machine learning outperformed single data subtype analysis in predicting adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, supporting the current clinical classification.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Joseph Phillipos, Thao Vi Luong, Deborah Chang, Suresh Varadarajan, Paul Howat, Lauren Hodgson, Deb Colville, Judy Savige
Summary: The study compared the effects of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-associated hypertension, and small-for-gestational age babies on systemic small vessel calibre examined in the retina. Results showed that women with gestational diabetes, pregnancy-associated hypertension, or small-for-gestational age babies had reduced mean retinal arterial calibre, with the greatest reduction seen in pregnancy-associated hypertension and small-for-gestational age babies.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lan-Wan Wang, Hung-Chih Lin, Ming-Luen Tsai, Yu-Tzu Chang, Yu-Chia Chang
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. It found that children born to mothers with HDP had higher rates of preterm-birth and small-for-gestational-age, both of which are risk factors for ASD. The study also suggested that HDP may not be a major contributor to ASD, but rather preterm-birth and SGA play a moderating role in increasing ASD risks.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jorge Lopez-Tello, Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri
Summary: Babies with small for gestational age (SGA), defined as birthweight below the 10th percentile, may have a higher risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities compared to babies with normal birthweight. Previous research has focused on studying the transport function of the placenta, while the role of placental hormones in fetal growth regulation remains largely unexplored. Using a mouse model, this study found that SGA fetuses had lower placental efficiency and reduced hormone production, leading to decreased brain weight and expression of certain genes related to development and metabolism. These findings highlight the importance of placental endocrine dysfunction in fetal growth and brain development in SGA babies.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Justyna Zamojska, Katarzyna Niewiadomska-Jarosik, Agnieszka Wosiak, Marta Gruca, Elzbieta Smolewska
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, and resistin in children born small for gestational age (SGA) compared to children born with appropriate birthweight. The results showed that SGA children had significantly higher levels of adiponectin and leptin, while resistin levels were comparable. There were correlations between body weight, blood pressure, and adiponectin and leptin levels in SGA children.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Chao-Yan Yue, Jiang-Ping Gao, Chun-Yi Zhang, Chun-Mei Ying
Summary: The study found that vitamin D deficiency before 20 weeks of gestation is a risk factor for preeclampsia.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Pinar Calis, Ayse Cakir Gundogdu, Ezgi Turgut, Cemile Merve Seymen, Atiye Seda Saglam, Deniz Karcaaltincaba, Gulnur Take Kaplanoglu
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in placental microvasculature and expression of anti-angiogenic factor PEDF and CD68 in early onset FGR, late onset FGR, SGA, and AGA pregnancies. The study found that the degeneration was highest in the early onset FGR group and SGA placentas showed worse degeneration compared to AGA placentas. The intensity of PEDF and CD68 was significant in the FGR and SGA groups compared to the AGA group. The mRNA level results were also parallel to the immunostaining results.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julie M. Petersen, Jennifer A. Hutcheon, Lisa M. Bodnar, Samantha E. Parker, Katherine A. Ahrens, Martha M. Werler
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between gestational weight gain (GWG) and the size of infants at birth, and found that weight maintenance during the second and third trimesters may be associated with better birth weight for gestational age. However, it is unclear how this can be achieved (e.g., through diet and exercise interventions) due to the observational design of the study.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Shuhan Jiang, Wei Zhang, Qing Cao, Maryam Rahbar, William Cooke, Masayuki Ono, Kenichi Fujimaki, Atsushi Saito, Makoto Itonaga, Kenta Oda, Christopher Redman, Manu Vatish
Summary: The ExoCounter assay developed in this study can detect small placental extracellular vesicles in the plasma of pregnant women at high risk of developing preeclampsia, providing an opportunity for early intervention.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yi-jun Liu, Yan Xie, Ying-kuan Tian, Hui Liu, Cai-die He, Song-lin An, Wei Chen, Yuan-zhong Zhou, Xiao-ni Zhong
Summary: This study adds to the literature by measuring PBDEs exposure during pregnancy using placental samples, and provides evidence that prenatal exposure to PBDEs may be associated with the risk of SGA.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Angelika Timofeeva, Ivan S. Fedorov, Alexander G. Brzhozovskiy, Anna E. Bugrova, Vitaliy V. Chagovets, Maria V. Volochaeva, Natalia L. Starodubtseva, Vladimir E. Frankevich, Evgeny N. Nikolaev, Roman G. Shmakov, Gennady T. Sukhikh
Summary: Despite differing clinical manifestations, the pathogenesis of PE and IUGR both involve dysregulation of cytotrophoblast cells, with molecular differences primarily found in the placental bed samples. Unique miRNA and target gene expression changes in the placental bed samples were associated with abnormality in the hemostatic and vascular systems, as well as inflammation at the fetal-maternal interface, indicating potential links to the development of both conditions.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Junshen He, Zhao Chen, Chunlin Chen, Ping Liu
Summary: Functional MRI can assess the differences in oxygenation and perfusion status between pregnancies complicated by FGR and SGA. The results showed that oxygenation status was significantly lower in pregnancies complicated by FGR compared to pregnancies complicated by SGA. However, diffusion and perfusion parameters were similar between the two groups.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Emma Barroso, Marta Diaz, Ana Cristina Reguera, Mona Peyman, Jesus Balsinde, Javier Jurado-Aguilar, Meijian Zhang, Adel Rostami, Xavier Palomer, Lourdes Ibanez, Manuel Vazquez-Carrera
Summary: Placentas from newborns that are SGA display multiple pathological characteristics, and placental amino acid transport regulated by mTOR plays a key role in fetal growth. The effects of ER stress on the mTOR pathway and amino acid transporters are not well understood.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)