Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Anna Weronika Szablewska, Jolanta Wierzba, Rita Santos-Rocha, Anna Szumilewicz
Summary: There has been a significant increase in obesity and physical inactivity among women of reproductive age worldwide. The study found that pre-pregnancy maternal abnormal body mass index (BMI) and lower physical activity level are associated with poor maternal health and perinatal outcomes.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
S. Michelle Ogunwole, George Mwinnyaa, Xiaobin Wang, Xiumei Hong, Janice Henderson, Wendy L. Bennett
Summary: In this study with high-risk US women, it was found that modifiable and treatable risk factors such as obesity and hypertension are associated with the prevention of preeclampsia. This highlights the importance of managing these factors in reducing the risk of preeclampsia in women.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Grzegorz Domanski, Anja Erika Lange, Till Ittermann, Jonas Fallenberg, Heike Allenberg, Marek Zygmunt, Matthias Heckmann
Summary: The study found that risk factors for maternal pre-pregnancy underweight were primarily associated with younger age and smoking during pregnancy. Underweight was linked to an increased risk of late preterm birth and low birthweight.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Helene Fjeldvik Peterson, Anne Eskild, Silje Sommerfelt, Vigdis Hillestad
Summary: This study compared placental size and placental size relative to fetal size in ongoing pregnancies and during delivery. The results showed that placental size is larger in ongoing pregnancies compared to during delivery, suggesting a decrease in placental size during labor and delivery, possibly due to blood transfer to the fetus.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sotirios Sotiriou, Athina A. Samara, Iokasti-Apostolia Tsiamalou, Christos Donoudis, Eleni Seviloglou, Chara Skentou, Antonios Garas, Alexandros Daponte
Summary: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus during pregnancy can lead to various complications and leave tell-tale signs of placental injury. Early detection of placental damage through ultrasound examination can indicate the risk of complications in pregnant women.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Senmao Zhang, Xing Qiu, Jiabi Qin, Xingli Song, Yiping Liu, Jianhui Wei, Mengting Sun, Jing Shu, Tingting Wang, Lizhang Chen, Yurong Jiang
Summary: Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are established risk factors for preeclampsia (PE), which may vary according to different PE phenotypes. Underweight women have a lower risk of PE. Inadequate GWG and excessive GWG both increase the risk of PE. There is no significant interaction between GWG and pre-pregnancy BMI on the risk of PE.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hanxiang Sun, Yang Liu, Shijia Huang, Xiaosong Liu, Guohua Li, Qiaoling Du
Summary: This study investigated the association between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies after assisted reproductive technology (ART). The findings showed that women who were overweight or obese before pregnancy through ART were more likely to have a cesarean section, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. Moreover, neonates from women who had obesity before pregnancy through ART were more likely to have macrosomia.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Christina Sonne Mogensen, Helle Zingenberg, Jens Svare, Arne Astrup, Faidon Magkos, Nina Rica Wium Geiker
Summary: This study analyzed data from 208 mothers and examined the association of gestational weight gain (GWG) among women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity with infant weight and BMI z-score at birth. The results showed that limiting GWG by 1 kg was associated with lower birthweight, BMI z-score, weight z-score, and infant abdominal circumference. Additionally, GWG below the Institute of Medicine guideline of a maximum of 9 kg was associated with lower birthweight and fewer emergency cesarean deliveries.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Nora Fernandez-Jimenez, Ruby Fore, Ariadna Cilleros-Portet, Johanna Lepeule, Patrice Perron, Tuomas Kvist, Fu-Ying Tian, Corina Lesseur, Alexandra M. Binder, Manuel Lozano, Jordi Martorell-Marugan, Yuk J. Loke, Kelly M. Bakulski, Yihui Zhu, Anne Forhan, Sara Sammallahti, Todd M. Everson, Jia Chen, Karin B. Michels, Thalia Belmonte, Pedro Carmona-Saez, Jane Halliday, M. Daniele Fallin, Janine M. LaSalle, Jorg Tost, Darina Czamara, Mariana F. Fernandez, Antonio Gomez-Martin, Jeffrey M. Craig, Beatriz Gonzalez-Alzaga, Rebecca J. Schmidt, John F. Dou, Evelyne Muggli, Marina Lacasana, Martine Vrijheid, Carmen J. Marsit, Margaret R. Karagas, Katri Raikkonen, Luigi Bouchard, Barbara Heude, Loreto Santa-Marina, Mariona Bustamante, Marie-France Hivert, Jose Ramon Bilbao
Summary: This study investigates the association between pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (ppBMI) and placental DNA methylation. The research identifies 27 CpG sites that are associated with ppBMI, which are located in open sea regions and are related to obesity-related genes and cancer and oxidative stress pathways.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brigitte Reimann, Karen Vrijens, Harry A. Roels, Congrong Wang, Charlotte Cosemans, Ilse Van Overmeire, Tim S. Nawrot, Michelle Plusquin
Summary: This study found a significant association between placental concentrations of Ethyl Paraben (EtP) and cord blood GGT activity and glucose levels, as well as early childhood BMI Z-score trajectories. The findings suggest that EtP exposure during pregnancy may impact DNA methylation and subsequently affect the growth and development of newborns.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rain Inno, Maris Laan
Summary: This study compared urinary, serum, and placental microRNAs in three healthy pregnant women. The results showed that the placenta had a higher enrichment of microRNAs compared to serum and urine. There were 153 microRNAs that were shared among all sample types, which may serve as candidate biomarkers for placental health. Urine samples contained specific microRNAs from chromosome 19 and chromosome 14 clusters, suggesting a selective filtering at the maternal-fetal interface. Urine can be used to monitor differentially expressed placenta-expressed microRNAs in pregnancy complications.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Purnima Tiwari, Madhavi M. Gupta, Shyama Lata Jain
Summary: The study found that pathological changes in the placenta are associated with stillbirth, with common factors including placental hypoplasia, necrotizing chorioamnionitis, and avascular villi. Additionally, more than half of women with stillbirth had medical disorders, with hypertension being the most prevalent. The research highlights the importance of placental examination in preventing stillbirth.
JOURNAL OF PERINATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Keiko Yamasaki, Naomi Mitsuda, J-P Naw Awn, Masamitsu Eitoku, Nagamasa Maeda, Mikiya Fujieda, Narufumi Suganuma
Summary: This study found a positive correlation between maternal urinary cotinine concentration and placental weight and the ratio of placental weight to birth weight. After reaching a certain concentration, placental weight decreased in male offspring while it plateaued in female offspring. Active smoking during pregnancy significantly increased both placental weight and placental weight to birth weight ratio.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Arif Sabta Aji, Nur Indrawaty Lipoeto, Yusrawati Yusrawati, Safarina G. Malik, Nur Aini Kusmayanti, Isman Susanto, Nur Mukhlishoh Majidah, Siti Nurunniyah, Ratih Devi Alfiana, Wahyuningsih Wahyuningsih, Karani S. Vimaleswaran
Summary: This study reveals that pre-pregnancy nutritional status and inadequate or excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are significant risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of providing information, preconception counseling, and health education on weight management for healthy pregnancies.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Beatrix Thompson, Parker Holzer, Harvey Kliman
Summary: There are approximately 5 million pregnancies per year in the USA, with 1 million ending in miscarriage and over 20,000 ending in stillbirth. As many as 50% of these losses are unexplained. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of expanding placental pathology diagnostic categories in examining previously unexplained losses and found that dysmorphic chorionic villi and small placenta were common pathologic features associated with these losses.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2023)
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nathalie Michels, Carola J. C. van Aart, Dries S. Martens, Stefaan De Henauw, Tim S. Nawrot
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Parisa Montazeri, Serena Fossati, Diana B. P. Clemente, Lourdes Cirugeda, Roberto Elosua, Silvia Fernandez-Barres, Silvia Fochs, Raquel Garcia-Esteban, Sandra Marquez, Nuria Pey, Tim S. Nawrot, Martine Vrijheid
Summary: The study revealed that childhood BMI trajectories characterized by accelerated growth are associated with preclinical macrovascular measurements in young adolescents, but not with microvascular measurements.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Astrid Van Wilder, Bianca Cox, Dirk De Ridder, Wim Tambeur, Pieter Maertens, Pieter Stijnen, Guy Vanden Boer, Jonas Brouwers, Fien Claessens, Luk Bruyneel, Kris Vanhaecht
Summary: This study found significant between-hospital variation in mortality, readmission, and length of stay for urological hospital admissions in Belgium. As much as 41.5% of deaths could potentially be avoided if underperforming hospitals improved. Targeting kidney and urinary tract infections could help reduce variation.
EUROPEAN UROLOGY FOCUS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luk Bruyneel, Wies Kestens, Marc Alberty, Gungor Karakaya, Renata Van Woensel, Christian Horemans, Elke Trimpeneers, Charlotte Vanpoucke, Frans Fierens, Tim S. Nawrot, Bianca Cox
Summary: This study explores the association between air pollution and work incapacity related to mental health conditions. The research finds a positive correlation between ambient black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O-3) exposure and work incapacity. However, the association with particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is inconsistent.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stijn Vos, Esmee M. Bijnens, Eleni Renaers, Hanne Croons, Charlotte Van der Stukken, Dries S. Martens, Michelle Plusquin, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between residential proximity to green spaces and stress response buffering during the COVID-19 pandemic in young mothers. The results showed that a larger green space around the residence was associated with better resistance to stress during the pandemic, highlighting the importance of proximity to green spaces, especially during challenging times.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lidia Casas, Bianca Cox, Benoit Nemery, Patrick Deboosere, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: Temperature has an effect on the risk of suicide deaths, with higher temperatures increasing the risk within a week. However, there is no significant association between cold temperatures and suicide deaths.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yinthe Dockx, Martin Taubel, Esmee M. Bijnens, Katrien Witters, Maria Valkonen, Balamuralikrishna Jayaprakash, Janneke Hogervorst, Tim S. Nawrot, Lidia Casas
Summary: The study found that an increase in the number and density of indoor plants is associated with an increase in indoor microbial diversity, but not with microbial loads.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charlotte Cosemans, Nicolas Van Larebeke, Bram G. Janssen, Dries S. Martens, Willy Baeyens, Liesbeth Bruckers, Elly Den Hond, Dries Coertjens, Vera Nelen, Greet Schoeters, Hans-Wolfgang Hoppe, Esther Wolfs, Karen Smeets, Tim S. Nawrot, Michelle Plusquin
Summary: Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA may be associated with biomarkers of biological aging, with AMPA exposure possibly being related to telomere biology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Silvie Daniels, Diana B. P. Clemente, Steffie Desart, Nelly Saenen, Hanne Sleurs, Tim S. Nawrot, Robert Malina, Michelle Plusquin
Summary: The study found that exposure to nature during working hours reduces stress, improves cognitive performance, and enhances visual information processing speed. This suggests that nature-based interventions have positive effects in the working environment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Ellen Coeckelberghs, Kris Vanhaecht, Deborah Seys, Bianca Cox, Gabriele Bislenghi, Albert M. Wolthuis, Andre D'Hoore
Summary: This multicenter study found that an improvement collaborative has a positive impact on adherence to enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, leading to improved patient outcomes through reduced length of stay and postoperative complications.
Review
Spectroscopy
De-Wei An, Yu-Ling Yu, Dries S. S. Martens, Agnieszka Latosinska, Zhen-Yu Zhang, Harald Mischak, Tim S. S. Nawrot, Jan A. A. Staessen
Summary: Using urinary proteomics profiling (UPP) as an example, this review presents a workflow for analyzing omics data in large study populations. The workflow includes planning and considering sample size, data preprocessing, statistical steps for data curation, selecting covariables, relating outcomes to markers, demonstrating the added value of UPP markers, and pathway analysis. The review also touches on multiomics studies and machine learning. In conclusion, analyzing adverse health outcomes in relation to omics biomarkers requires careful planning, data preparation, statistical analysis, and presentation.
MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Olivia Solomon, Karen Huen, Paul Yousefi, Leanne K. Kupers, Juan R. Gonzalez, Matthew Suderman, Sarah E. Reese, Christian M. Page, Olena Gruzieva, Peter Rzehak, Lu Gao, Kelly M. Bakulski, Alexei Novoloaca, Catherine Allard, Irene Pappa, Maria Llambrich, Marta Vives, Dereje D. Jima, Tuomas Kvist, Andrea Baccarelli, Cory White, Faisal Rezwan, Gemma C. Sharp, Gwen Tindula, Anna Bergstrom, Veit Grote, John F. Dou, Elena Isaevska, Maria C. Magnus, Eva Corpeleijn, Patrice Perron, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Ellen A. Nohr, Lea Maitre, Maria Foraster, Cathrine Hoyo, Siri E. Haberg, Jari Lahti, Dawn L. DeMeo, Hongmei Zhang, Wilfried Karmaus, Inger Kull, Berthold Koletzko, Jason Feinberg, Luigi Gagliardi, Luigi Bouchard, Cecilia Host Ramlau-Hansen, Henning Tiemeier, Gillian Santorelli, Rachel L. Maguire, Darina Czamara, Augusto A. Litonjua, Jean-Paul Langhendries, Michelle Plusquin, Johanna Lepeule, Elisabeth B. Binder, Elvira Verduci, Terence Dwyer, Angel Carracedo, Natalia Ferre, Brenda Eskenazi, Manolis Kogevinas, Tim S. Nawrot, Monica C. Munthe-Kaas, Zdenko Herceg, Caroline Relton, Erik Melen, Dariusz Gruszfeld, Carrie Breton, M. D. Fallin, Akram Ghantous, Wenche Nystad, Barbara Heude, Harold Snieder, Marie-France Hivert, Janine F. Felix, Thorkild I. A. Sorensen, Mariona Bustamante, Susan K. Murphy, Katri Raikkonen, Emily Oken, John W. Holloway, Syed Hasan Arshad, Stephanie J. London, Nina Holland
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis to investigate sex differences in DNA methylation in newborns and older children. The findings revealed numerous DNA methylation sites associated with sex in newborn blood, where most of these sites had lower methylation levels in males. Furthermore, the study replicated these findings in older children and identified additional autosomal sites with sex-specific differences in DNA methylation. These differentially methylated sites were enriched in genes associated with cancer, psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular phenotypes.
MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steven Ronsmans, Karin Sorig Hougaard, Tim S. Nawrot, Michelle Plusquin, Francois Huaux, Maria Jesus Cruz, Horatiu Moldovan, Steven Verpaele, Murali Jayapala, Michael Tunney, Stephanie Humblet-Baron, Hubert Dirven, Unni Cecilie Nygaard, Birgitte Lindeman, Nur Duale, Adrian Liston, Esben Meulengracht Flachs, Kenneth Kastaniegaard, Matthias Ketzel, Julia Goetz, Jeroen Vanoirbeek, Manosij Ghosh, Peter H. M. Hoet
Summary: This article introduces the EXIMIOUS consortium, a research project that aims to study the relationship between immune-mediated, noncommunicable diseases and environmental factors. By integrating large datasets and applying innovative bioinformatics tools, researchers will explore the immune system's response to exposome and identify early predictors of diseases.
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Charlotte Van der Stukken, Tim S. Nawrot, Rossella Alfano, Congrong Wang, Sabine A. S. Langie, Michelle Plusquin, Bram G. Janssen, Dries S. Martens
Summary: This study found that the gene p53 may be an important factor associated with the telomere-mitochondrial axis of aging at birth, both at the protein and methylation level.
