Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Antoine-Guy Lopez, Celine Duparc, Sylvie Renouf, Elise Machevin, Vincent Le Guillou, Jean-Christophe Sabourin, Guillaume Defortescu, Alexandre Buffet, Anne-Paule Gimenez-Roqueplo, Christophe Dubessy, Estelle Louiset, Herve Lefebvre
Summary: This study investigated the role of gestational hormones in the pathophysiology of pheochromocytomas during pregnancy. It was found that hCG, a pregnancy hormone, can stimulate the production of epinephrine by pheochromocytomas. The expression of LHCG receptor, the receptor for hCG, was also found to be high in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jinsong Gao, Xianghua Huang, Wen Di, Xiaojing Dong, Wenli Gou, Hong Shi, Zilian Wang, Angela Dietl, Sonja Grill, Martin Hund
Summary: This study demonstrates that the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio cutoff of 38 has high predictive performance for short-term prediction of preeclampsia in Chinese women, helping to reduce unnecessary hospitalization for low-risk women.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xinwen Chang, Qizhi He, Mengtian Wei, Linyan Jia, Yingying Wei, Yiding Bian, Tao Duan, Kai Wang
Summary: Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) have beneficial effects on adverse birth outcomes in a preeclampsia mouse model induced by sFlt-1. They can decrease blood pressure, improve fetal birth weight, and restore placental vascular networks. In addition, HUCMSC-exos partially rescue sFlt-1-induced dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Claudia Mehedintu, Francesca Frincu, Oana-Maria Ionescu, Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu, Maria Sajin, Maria Olinca, Elvira Bratila, Aida Petca, Andreea Carp-Veliscu
Summary: This article describes a case of a 22-year-old pregnant woman with vesicular lesions on the placenta, and follows her pregnancy and the outcome of the newborn. The diagnosis of placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) was made retrospectively. The authors mention the lack of sufficient reports on this disease, urging doctors to approach these cases cautiously.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kazuya Mimura, Takuji Tomimatsu, Masayuki Endo, Tadashi Kimura
Summary: In early pregnancy, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio may be used to differentiate between exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus and preeclampsia.
JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fahmida Jahan, Goutham Vasam, Alex E. Green, Shannon A. Bainbridge, Keir J. Menzies
Summary: The placenta plays a crucial role in pregnancy, regulating various aspects such as adaptation to pregnancy, maternal-fetal exchange, and fetal development. Placental dysfunction, particularly in the case of preeclampsia, can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This review examines the evidence of placental mitochondrial dysfunction in preeclampsia and discusses the potential of targeting mitochondria for therapeutic interventions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ele Hanson, Kristiina Rull, Kaspar Ratnik, Pille Vaas, Pille Teesalu, Maris Laan
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the value of screening for maternal serum sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in predicting the development of preeclampsia during the third trimester. The results showed that testing sFlt-1/PlGF ratio between 180-259 gestational days could detect approximately half of subsequent preeclampsia cases, with the highest detection rate observed at 225-238 gestational days.
JOURNAL OF PERINATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Kelsey McLaughlin, John W. Snelgrove, Melanie C. Audette, Atif Syed, Sebastian R. Hobson, Rory C. Windrim, Nir Melamed, Sergio Carmona, John C. Kingdom
Summary: This study evaluated the association between maternal PlGF levels and pregnancy outcomes in high-risk pregnancies, finding a strong correlation between low PlGF levels and adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, early-onset preeclampsia, and stillbirth.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Magdalena Zgliczynska, Magdalena Ostrowska, Iwona Szymusik, Michal Ciebiera, Katarzyna Kosinska-Kaczynska
Summary: This article summarizes the changes and influencing factors of thyroid function in multiple pregnancies. Through systematic searching and screening, a total of 12 relevant studies were included. The results show that thyroid function in multiple pregnancies differs from that in single pregnancies, mainly in the early stages of pregnancy. Separate reference ranges are needed to accurately diagnose thyroid diseases in multiple pregnancies.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yiming Chen, Yijie Chen, Xue Wang, Xuelian Chu, Wenwen Ning, Linyuan Gu, Liyao Li, Zhen Xie, Caihe Wen
Summary: Maternal serum D-dimer (DD) levels in the second trimester are associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, with DD potentially being the best individual marker for predicting HDP. The risk calculation model constructed with DD+free beta-hCG+AFP had the greatest diagnostic value for severe preeclampsia (SPE).
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philipp Boehm-Sturm, Susanne Mueller, Nancy Freitag, Sophia Borowski, Marco Foddis, Stefan P. Koch, Sebastian Temme, Ulrich Floegel, Sandra M. Blois
Summary: Placental hypoperfusion and hypoxia play key roles in fetal complications like growth restriction and preeclampsia. This study successfully established a technique for noninvasively characterizing placental oxygen levels in mouse models of preeclampsia using F-19 MRI. Results showed a decrease in oxygenation in knockout mice under low oxygen conditions, highlighting the potential of MRI in studying placental malfunction.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Grace Keegan, Manus M. Patten
Summary: The authors propose that certain placental hormones, which are produced by duplicating maternal hormones, may act as gestational drivers, leading to spontaneous abortion of offspring that do not inherit them. These drivers can easily evolve through a decrease in maternal hormone expression, an increase in placental hormone expression, and genetic linkage between the two effects. The concept of gestational drive might apply to various hormones in mammalian pregnancy that have arisen through tandem gene duplication. The authors discuss the evolution of chorionic gonadotropin in humans as an example. They also suggest that some of the challenges in human pregnancy might be caused by selfish genes.
EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Olivia K. Travis, Geilda A. Tardo, Chelsea Giachelli, Shani Siddiq, Henry T. Nguyen, Madison T. Crosby, Tyler D. Johnson, Andrea K. Brown, George W. Booz, Alex N. Smith, Jan Michael Williams, Denise C. Cornelius
Summary: In this study, neutralization of IFNy was found to reduce MAP, UARI, and placental ROS levels in RUPP recipients. However, fetal and placental weights in RUPP rats were not improved following anti-IFNy treatment. These findings suggest that IFNy may play a role in the pathophysiology of PE and could be a potential therapeutic target for improving maternal outcomes in PE.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Ruijuan Wang, Li Chen, Xiaobing Wang, Yanjun Liu
Summary: The aberrant increase of circulating β-human chorionic gonadotropin (?-HCG) at early stages of pregnancy is associated with predicting gestational hypertension. Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers play a significant role in severe pregnancy-induced hypertension during the perinatal stage.
MICROVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Seung Yeon Pyeon, Byung Su Kwon, Young Sun Kim, Young Joo Lee
Summary: Low-dose aspirin administration before 16 weeks of gestation can effectively prevent preeclampsia. This study shows that pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and aneuploidy markers can predict the onset period of early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) more accurately. Combining these markers improves the predictive ability for EOPE.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bjorn Olav Asvold, Arnulf Langhammer, Tommy Aune Rehn, Grete Kjelvik, Trond Viggo Grontvedt, Elin Pettersen Sorgjerd, Jorn Soberg Fenstad, Jon Heggland, Oddgeir Holmen, Maria C. Stuifbergen, Sigrid Anna Aalberg Vikjord, Ben M. Brumpton, Havard Kjesbu Skjellegrind, Pernille Thingstad, Erik R. Sund, Geir Selbaek, Paul Jarle Mork, Vegar Rangul, Kristian Hveem, Marit Naess, Steinar Krokstad
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jessica Edstorp, Yuxia Wei, Emma Ahlqvist, Lars Alfredsson, Valdemar Grill, Leif Groop, Bahareh Rasouli, Elin P. Sorgjerd, Per M. Thorsby, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Bjorn O. Asvold, Sofia Carlsson
Summary: The study reveals that smoking and snus use are associated with a higher risk of LADA and type 2 diabetes, and smoking acts synergistically with HLA high-risk genotypes in the development of LADA.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gunn-Helen Moen, Michel Nivard, Laxmi Bhatta, Nicole M. Warrington, Cristen Willer, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Ben Brumpton, David M. Evans
Summary: This study introduces a new statistical model using the genomic SEM software to partition the genetic covariation between birthweight and cardiometabolic traits into maternally mediated and offspring mediated contributions. The results show some evidence for maternally mediated effects of systolic blood pressure on offspring birthweight and pleiotropy between birthweight and non-fasting glucose mediated through the offspring genome.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Sindre H. Petersen, Kjersti Westvik-Johari, Anne Laerke Spangmose, Anja Pinborg, Liv Bente Romundstad, Christina Bergh, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Mika Gissler, Aila Tiitinen, Ulla-Britt Wennerholm, Signe Opdahl
Summary: Frozen-ET is associated with a higher risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy compared to natural conception and fresh-ET, but the reasons for this are unknown.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Randi Marie Mohus, Helene Flatby, Kristin Liyanarachi, Andrew T. DeWan, Erik Solligard, Jan Kristian Damas, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Lise T. Gustad, Tormod Rogne
Summary: Observational studies have found an association between iron status and risk of sepsis and COVID-19. Using genetically-predicted iron biomarkers, this study demonstrates a causal effect of higher iron status on the risk of sepsis hospitalization and indications of an increased risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ahmed Elhakeem, Amy E. Taylor, Hazel M. Inskip, Jonathan Y. Huang, Toby Mansell, Carina Rodrigues, Federica Asta, Sophia M. Blaauwendraad, Siri E. Haberg, Jane Halliday, Margreet W. Harskamp-van Ginkel, Jian-Rong He, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Sharon Lewis, Gillian M. Maher, Yannis Manios, Fergus P. McCarthy, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Franca Rusconi, Theodosia Salika, Muriel Tafflet, Xiu Qiu, Bjorn O. Asvold, David Burgner, Jerry K. Y. Chan, Luigi Gagliardi, Romy Gaillard, Barbara Heude, Maria C. Magnus, George Moschonis, Deirdre Murray, Scott M. Nelson, Daniela Porta, Richard Saffery, Henrique Barros, Johan G. Eriksson, Tanja G. M. Vrijkotte, Deborah A. Lawlor
Summary: This study aimed to examine the associations of assisted reproductive technology (ART) conception with offspring cardiometabolic health outcomes and whether these associations differ with age. The researchers found small and statistically non-significant differences in offspring cardiometabolic outcomes between ART-conceived and naturally conceived offspring. The study concluded that these findings should reassure individuals receiving ART, but longer-term follow-up is needed to investigate changes in the risks of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and cardiovascular disease over adulthood.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Gregory J. M. Zajac, Sarah A. Gagliano Taliun, Carlo Sidore, Sarah E. Graham, Bjorn O. Asvold, Ben Brumpton, Jonas B. Nielsen, Wei Zhou, Maiken Gabrielsen, Anne H. Skogholt, Lars G. Fritsche, David Schlessinger, Francesco Cucca, Kristian Hveem, Cristen J. Willer, Goncalo R. Abecasis
Summary: Linkage analysis has been an important method for mapping disease-causing genes in families for decades. However, traditional linkage methods are computationally inefficient for larger datasets. In this study, we introduce Population Linkage, a novel application of Haseman-Elston regression, which improves computational efficiency by using modern methods for IBD segment detection and variance component estimation. We successfully detected known genetic signals for blood lipid traits in a large population sample and demonstrated the potential of linkage analysis for large-scale applications.
GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Trond M. Michelsen, Tina Ellinor Rosland, Bjorn O. asvold, Are H. Pripp, Astrid H. Liavaag, Nora Johansen
Summary: This study aimed to assess the association between hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a Norwegian population. The results showed that hysterectomy was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, while bilateral oophorectomy was not significantly associated with mortality. Among women aged 52 and below, both procedures were associated with a twofold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nikhil Arora, Rebecca Claire Richmond, Ben Michael Brumpton, Bjorn Olav asvold, Havard Dalen, Eivind Schjelderup Skarpsno, Linn Beate Strand
Summary: Insomnia and long/short sleep duration increase the risk of AMI, but the interaction between them or with chronotype is not well understood. This study found that the combination of insomnia symptoms and long sleep duration may have a greater impact on the risk of AMI than just the additive effects of these sleep traits.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laurence J. Howe, Humaira Rasheed, Paul R. Jones, Dorret Boomsma, David M. Evans, Alexandros Giannelis, Caroline Hayward, John L. Hopper, Amanda Hughes, Hannu Lahtinen, Shuai Li, Penelope A. Lind, Nicholas G. Martin, Pekka Martikainen, Sarah E. Medland, Tim T. Morris, Michel G. Nivard, Jean-Baptiste Pingault, Karri Silventoinen, Jennifer A. Smith, Emily A. Willoughby, James F. Wilson, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Oyvind E. Naess, George Davey Smith, Jaakko Kaprio, Ben Brumpton, Neil M. Davies
Summary: Previous Mendelian randomization (MR) studies suggest that educational attainment has beneficial effects on adult health outcomes. However, these estimates may be biased due to population stratification, assortative mating, and indirect genetic effects. Using both population and within-sibship MR approaches, this study provides evidence that genetic liability to educational attainment is associated with decreased BMI, cigarette smoking, and SBP, and potentially with mortality.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Stine Gronseth, Tormod Rogne, Lars Heggelund, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Jan Egil Afset, Jan Kristian Damas
Summary: This study aimed to explore the role of fungal burden in risk stratification of non-HIV-negative patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). The results showed that higher fungal burden was associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality. The Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) could also improve the risk stratification. Comorbid cardiovascular disease, solid tumors, immunological disorders, premorbid corticosteroids, hypoxemia, abnormal leukocyte counts, low serum albumin, and C-reactive protein >100 were also independently associated with 30-day mortality.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Ole-Jorgen Bekkevold, Jan Kristian Damas, Ben Michael Brumpton, Bjorn Olav Asvold
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that serum CRP levels may modestly increase symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as reduce life satisfaction. However, the causal role of IL-6 in these mental health outcomes was not supported by the findings. Therefore, the conclusions do not align with the recent suggestion that serum CRP may lower anxiety and depression symptoms.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sanju Bhattarai, Archana Shrestha, Eva Skovlund, Bjorn Olav asvold, Bente Prytz Mjolstad, Abhijit Sen
Summary: Despite effective approaches for hypertension management, many people with hypertension in Nepal remain undetected and untreated. A comprehensive intervention that includes personalised counselling, medication adherence support, and regular monitoring of blood pressure is expected to achieve well controlled blood pressure.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Areti Papadopoulou, Bjorn O. Asvold, Stephen Burgess, Aleksander Kus, Marco Medici, Rosalie Sterenborg, Alexander Teumer, Panos Deloukas, Eirini Marouli
Summary: This study found that increased genetically predicted height was associated with increased risk of AITD and thyroid cancer. However, there was no evidence of a causal association between genetically predicted AITD and height.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Anna Marcuzzi, Rocio Caceres-Matos, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Eugenia Gil-Garcia, Tom I. L. Nilsen, Paul Jarle Mork
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether chronic widespread pain (CWP) increases the risk of diabetes among individuals with known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The findings showed no clear interaction between CWP and adverse lifestyle factors on the risk of diabetes.
BMJ OPEN DIABETES RESEARCH & CARE
(2023)