Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Elizabeth E. Krans
Summary: The opioid crisis in the United States has had significant impacts on pregnant individuals and their children. The rate of opioid-related diagnoses during pregnancy has been consistently rising across all states and demographic groups, and overdose has become a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Treatment with medications like methadone and buprenorphine is recommended to reduce the risks of overdose and preterm birth for pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yingying Lin, Zhiwei Chen, Qinfang Qian, Yanxia Wang, Xiaoyan Xiu, Ping Ou, Jiaoning Fang, Guobo Li
Summary: This study investigated whether paternal BMI before pregnancy is a risk factor for maternal-neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in offspring. The results showed that paternal overweight and obesity were associated with higher incidences of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, cesarean delivery, excessive gestational weight gain, and macrosomia. Additionally, paternal obesity also increased the incidence of asthma, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, anemia, dental caries, and obesity in adolescents. Therefore, paternal obesity is a risk factor for adverse maternal-neonatal outcomes and poor long-term prognosis in adolescents.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Kristyn N. Borrelli, Kelly K. Wingfield, Emily J. Yao, Catalina A. Zamorano, Katherine D. Sena, Jacob A. Beierle, Michelle A. Roos, Huiping Zhang, Elisha M. Wachman, Camron D. Bryant
Summary: Prenatal opioid exposure is a major health concern in the United States, with the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) escalating in recent years. Research found that injection of morphine during the neonatal period can cause significant behavioral and transcriptomic adaptations, but has no significant long-term effects on adult behaviors.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anna E. Austin, Vito Di Bona, Mary E. Cox, Scott K. Proescholdbell, Rebecca B. Naumann
Summary: This study aims to compare the mortality rate and causes of mortality among infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, taking into account whether their mothers received medication for opioid use disorder during pregnancy. The results show that infants of mothers who did not receive medication for opioid use disorder had a higher mortality rate, primarily due to sudden unexpected infant death syndrome. This highlights the importance of assessing potential differences in outcomes according to whether infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome were exposed to medication for opioid use disorder, and calls for equitable access to medication and support services during pregnancy.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah D. Lichenstein, Dustin Scheinost, Marc N. Potenza, Kathleen M. Carroll, Sarah W. Yip
Summary: The study identified an opioid abstinence network characterized by specific brain connections associated with substance use treatment response. These findings could lead to the development of personalized treatment approaches and predicting treatment outcomes. The anatomical substrates of opioid vs. cocaine abstinence were found to be distinct, suggesting the potential for novel opioid-specific treatment approaches in combating the opioid epidemic.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Kristyn N. Borrelli, Emily J. Yao, William W. Yen, Rhushikesh A. Phadke, Qiu T. Ruan, Melanie M. Chen, Julia C. Kelliher, Carly R. Langan, Julia L. Scotellaro, Richard K. Babbs, Jacob C. Beierle, Ryan W. Logan, William Evan Johnson, Elisha M. Wachman, Alberto Cruz-Martin, Camron D. Bryant
Summary: The opioid epidemic has led to an increase in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) cases. Mouse models show the impact of opioids on anxiety and pain sensitivity, with RNA sequencing revealing sex-specific neuroadaptations in brain mechanisms underlying NOWS-like behavior.
Review
Cell Biology
Vikram Vasan, Yuma Kitase, Jessie C. Newville, Shenandoah Robinson, Gwendolyn Gerner, V. Joanna Burton, Lauren L. Jantzie
Summary: The abuse of opioid drugs among pregnant women poses a significant public health issue, especially in regards to its impact on newborns. Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of prenatal opioid exposure on neurodevelopment in order to develop appropriate interventions.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elisabeth C. McGowan, Julie A. Hofheimer, T. Michael O'Shea, Howard Kilbride, Brian S. Carter, Jennifer Check, Jennifer Helderman, Charles R. Neal, Steve Pastyrnak, Lynne M. Smith, Marie Camerota, Lynne M. Dansereau, Sheri A. Della Grotta, Barry M. Lester
Summary: This study found that high-risk neonatal neurobehavioral patterns at NICU discharge were associated with adverse cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes at 2 years.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Uppala Radhakrishna, Swapan K. Nath, Sangeetha Vishweswaraiah, Lavanya Uppala, Ariadna Forray, Srinivas B. Muvvala, Nitish K. Mishra, Siddesh Southekal, Chittibabu Guda, Hiranjith Govindamangalam, Derek Vargas, William G. Gardella, Richard C. Crist, Wade H. Berrettini, Raghu P. Metpally, Ray O. Bahado-Singh
Summary: Excessive prenatal opioid exposure can lead to Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). RNA-seq analysis of placental tissue samples from mothers with opioid use disorder and newborns with NOWS identified 93 differentially expressed genes, with 7 genes potentially playing a key role in the etiology of NOWS. This study provides insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the development of NOWS.
Article
Physiology
Sarah A. Beyeler, Robyn Naidoo, Nina R. Morrison, Emilee A. McDonald, David Albarran, Adrianne G. Huxtable
Summary: Infants exposed to opioids in utero (in the womb) are often diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which leads to negative health consequences, including respiratory distress. This study found that maternal opioids impair the central respiratory control networks in neonates, leading to respiratory impairments and increased susceptibility to opioids. This research enhances our understanding of the effects of maternal opioids on neonatal breathing and suggests potential therapeutic approaches for infants with NAS.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah Stevens, Shekher Mohan
Summary: With the increasing opioid use among pregnant women and the resulting rise in infants born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), there is a need to understand the short and long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure. The study using spiny mice as a model found that prenatal morphine exposure led to increased withdrawal behavior in early postnatal period, indicating the potential for this species as a novel preclinical model of NOWS.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Samrawit F. Yisahak, Stefanie N. Hinkle, Sunni L. Mumford, Mengying Li, Victoria C. Andriessen, Katherine L. Grantz, Cuilin Zhang, Jagteshwar Grewal
Summary: This study found that vegetarian diets during pregnancy were associated with smaller neonatal size, potentially due to reduced gestational weight gain in mothers. However, vegetarianism did not lead to small-for-gestational-age-related morbidities or other adverse maternal outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pediatrics
Istemi Han Celik, Atakan Tanacan, Fuat Emre Canpolat
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted pregnant women and newborns, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes. Adverse pregnancy outcomes include ICU admission, organ impairment, and death. Vertical transmission and in-utero infection are the primary risks. Previous studies have shown low rates of vertical transmission and favorable short-term outcomes. Long-term effects may be associated with fetal programming.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kirsten Neal, Shahid Ullah, Sarah J. Glastras
Summary: Obesity class is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, with higher class obesity showing a stronger impact. Obesity class independently affects the incidence of large-for-gestational age (LGA) in newborns, regardless of factors such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). It is crucial to continue efforts to reduce obesity among women of reproductive age to prevent the negative perinatal outcomes associated with obesity.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Joanna M. Biernacka, Brandon J. Coombes, Anthony Batzler, Ada Man-Choi Ho, Jennifer R. Geske, Josef Frank, Colin Hodgkinson, Michelle Skime, Colin Colby, Lea Zillich, Sofia Pozsonyiova, Ming-Fen Ho, Falk Kiefer, Marcella Rietschel, Richard Weinshilboum, Stephanie S. O'Malley, Karl Mann, Ray Anton, David Goldman, Victor M. Karpyak
Summary: The study demonstrates the impact of genetic polymorphism on AUD treatment response and identifies genetic variants associated with potentially medication-specific effects on AUD treatment response.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
