Article
Environmental Sciences
Hao Zhang, Yi Zheng, Xiaoyun Liu, Xia Zha, Mabrouk Elsabagh, Yi Ma, Honghua Jiang, Hongrong Wang, Mengzhi Wang
Summary: This study investigated the potential relationship between oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis in pregnant ewes exposed to BPA. The results showed that BPA exposure led to placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Additionally, the study revealed that autophagy could alleviate BPA-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ciara N. Murphy, Susan P. Walker, Teresa M. MacDonald, Emerson Keenan, Natalie J. Hannan, Mary E. Wlodek, Jenny Myers, Jessica F. Briffa, Tania Romano, Alexandra Roddy Mitchell, Carole-Anne Whigham, Ping Cannon, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Manju Kandel, Natasha Pritchard, Stephen Tong, Tu'uhevaha J. Kaitu'u-Lino
Summary: SPINT2 is identified as a potential biomarker for placental dysfunction, associated with preterm preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kelsey McLaughlin, Sebastian R. Hobson, Anjana Ravi Chandran, Swati Agrawal, Rory C. Windrim, W. Tony Parks, Adrian W. Bowman, Ulla Sovio, Gordon C. Smith, John C. Kingdom
Summary: The study established a gestational age-specific reference range for placental growth factor levels and showed that low-molecular-weight heparin therapy can increase circulating placental growth factor levels in patients, prolonging pregnancy and reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Laura D. Brown, Claire Palmer, Lucas Teynor, Brit H. Boehmer, Jane Stremming, Eileen Chang, Alicia White, Amanda K. Jones, Sarah N. Cilvik, Stephanie R. Wesolowski, Paul J. Rozance
Summary: The study found that fetal sex does not have a widespread impact on experimental insults, with most outcomes showing no gender-based differences. The only exceptions were higher hormone concentrations in female fetuses.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Perez-Roque, Elena Nunez-Gomez, Alicia Rodriguez-Barbero, Carmelo Bernabeu, Jose M. Lopez-Novoa, Miguel Pericacho
Summary: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disease characterized by hypertension, with its etiopathogenesis related to abnormal placentation and the release of soluble factors. High plasma levels of soluble endoglin (sEng) may serve as an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the disease, impacting the pathophysiology of preeclampsia significantly.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Keiko Miyagami, Nahoko Shirato, Mikiko Izumi, Tatsuko Hirose, Osamu Yasui, Shoko Hamada, Ryu Matsuoka, Nobuhiro Suzumori, Akihiko Sekizawa
Summary: CFDNA analysis in maternal plasma can screen for CPM, accounting for approximately 10% of the causes of moderate or severe FGR, with a higher proportion of abnormal karyotype cells in the placenta associated with more severe placental dysfunction and FGR.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natasha de Alwis, Sally Beard, Natalie K. Binder, Natasha Pritchard, Tu'uhevaha J. Kaitu'u-Lino, Susan P. Walker, Owen Stock, Katie Groom, Scott Petersen, Amanda Henry, Joanne M. Said, Sean Seeho, Stefan C. Kane, Stephen Tong, Lisa Hui, Natalie J. Hannan
Summary: Elevated levels of OLAH in the placenta may be associated with placental dysfunction in pregnancies complicated by preterm preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Further research is required to understand the role of OLAH in the placenta, and whether these changes are a maternal adaptation or consequence of disease.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Abhineet M. Sharma, Robert Birkett, Erika T. Lin, Linda M. Ernst, William A. Grobman, Suchitra Swaminathan, Hiam Abdala-Valencia, Alexander Misharin, Elizabeth T. Bartom, Karen K. Mestan
Summary: Placental lesions are associated with unique changes in gene expression in fetal monocytes and monocyte subsets. Fetal monocytes exposed to acute placental inflammation upregulate biological processes related to monocyte activation, monocyte chemotaxis, and platelet function, while monocytes exposed to maternal vascular malperfusion lesions downregulate these processes. Intermediate monocytes might be a source of mitogens implicated in different outcomes related to prematurity.
Article
Immunology
Edward R. Kabyemela, Michal Fried, Jonathan D. Kurtis, Gwamaka Moses, J. Patrick Gorres, Atis Muehlenbachs, Patrick E. Duffy
Summary: Fetal anemia is common in malaria-endemic areas, with placental malaria and red cell abnormalities being potential etiologies. Maternal iron deficiency and fetal alpha(+)-thalassemia increase the risk of fetal anemia. The study suggests that a multifactorial approach may be needed to address fetal anemia, with interventions to reduce maternal iron deficiency potentially benefiting overall.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacopo Troisi, Steven J. K. Symes, Martina Lombardi, Pierpaolo Cavallo, Angelo Colucci, Giovanni Scala, David C. Adair, Maurizio Guida, Sean M. Richards
Summary: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a condition that leads to high neonatal mortality and morbidity. The mechanisms behind FGR are not fully understood. In this study, metabolites were extracted from placentas of 493 non-complicated pregnancies using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that certain metabolites were significantly different in placentas of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) newborns compared to non-LBW and adequate for gestational age (AGA) newborns. These findings indicate that metabolic pathways related to hypoxia response, amino acid uptake, and inflammation play a role in FGR.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu-Feng Zhang, Hua-Long Zhu, Xiao-Feng Xu, Jin Zhang, Qing Ling, Shuang Zhang, Wei Chang, Yong-Wei Xiong, De-Xiang Xu, Hua Wang
Summary: This study investigates the role of placental lipophagy in cadmium-induced fetal growth restriction (FGR) through a case-control study, animal experiments, and primary human placental trophoblast cell cultures. The findings suggest an association between placental lipophagy and FGR. Additionally, exposure to cadmium during pregnancy induces FGR and placental lipophagy. Inhibition of placental lipophagy exacerbates cadmium-induced FGR, while activation of placental lipophagy alleviates FGR. Activation of Atg5-dependent placental lipophagy degrades lipid droplets to produce free cholesterol and promotes placental progesterone synthesis, which can reverse cadmium-induced FGR.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
A. Arias, J. A. Schander, M. Bariani, F. Correa, A. P. Dominguez Rubio, M. Cella, C. B. Cymeryng, M. L. Wolfson, A. M. Franchi, J. Aisemberg
Summary: Maternal dexamethasone administration during late gestation results in fetal and placental growth restriction, potentially due to altered placental angiogenesis.
MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
D. Herbert Opi, Michelle J. Boyle, Alistair R. D. McLean, Linda Reiling, Jo-Anne Chan, Danielle Stanisic, Alice Ura, Ivo Mueller, Freya J. Fowkes, Stephen J. Rogerson, James G. Beeson
Summary: The study identified pregnant women who developed antibodies that effectively promoted complement fixation on placental-binding pRBCs, associated with protection against MiP. These complement-fixing antibodies primarily targeted a specific variant of PfEMP1 called VAR2CSA, and complement enhanced the ability of antibodies to inhibit pRBC binding to CSA for increased protection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dayuan Shi, Xinyao Zhou, Luyao Cai, Xing Wei, Luye Zhang, Qianqian Sun, Fenhe Zhou, Luming Sun
Summary: Changes in placental DNA methylation patterns in sFGR may have functional implications for differentially methylated genes and regulatory regions. The study validates the presence of abnormally methylated CYP11A1 gene in the placenta of sFGR.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caiyun Ge, Ting Geng, Lin Cheng, Yuanzhen Zhang
Summary: Maternal exposure to PCB118 was found to have adverse effects on placental angiogenesis and fetal growth. PCB118 exposure caused decreased fetal body and placental weights, increased rates of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), impaired placental histology, decreased number of blood vessels, and anomalous mRNA expression of genes related to angiogenesis in the placenta.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Veselina Stefanova, Michelle Ngai, Andrea M. Weckman, Julie K. Wright, Kathleen Zhong, Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, Chloe R. McDonald, Andrea L. Conroy, Sophie Namasopo, Robert O. Opoka, Michael Hawkes, Kevin C. Kain
Summary: This study identified soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a prognostic marker of severe and fatal malaria in Ugandan children. Measuring suPAR at presentation can identify children at risk of severe and fatal malaria, and adding suPAR to clinical scores could improve the recognition and triage of children at risk of death.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Paul Bangirana, Andrea L. Conroy, Robert O. Opoka, Margaret Semrud-Clikeman, Jeong H. Jang, Claire Apayi, Abel Kakuru, Mary K. Muhindo, Michael K. Georgieff, Grant M. Dorsey, Moses R. Kamya, Diane Havlir, Chandy C. John
Summary: Malaria in pregnancy and early childhood was associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, but more effective maternal and child malaria chemoprevention regimens did not result in better neurodevelopmental outcomes.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Andrea L. Conroy, Dibyadyuti Datta, Angelika Hoffmann, Samuel C. Wassmer
Summary: Severe falciparum malaria is a medical emergency that causes death and neurodisability in endemic areas. Recent studies have indicated a correlation between kidney and brain dysfunction in Plasmodium falciparum infection. This review discusses the evidence and explores potential therapeutic strategies for this pathogenic crosstalk.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Isobel S. Walker, Stephen J. Rogerson
Summary: This article reviews the latest developments in the immunogenicity and pathogenesis of malaria, with a focus on the leading malaria killer, Plasmodium falciparum. Pathogenic factors include parasite-derived toxins and variant surface antigens that cause sequestration in the deep vasculature. The host response to these toxins and antigens plays a crucial role in determining disease severity.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emily R. Konrad, Jeremy Soo, Andrea L. Conroy, Sophie Namasopo, Robert O. Opoka, Michael T. Hawkes
Summary: Diagnostic biomarkers for childhood pneumonia can guide management and improve antibiotic stewardship in low-resource settings. CHI3L1, SP-D, LCN2, and TIMP-1 are associated with CXR consolidation in children with pneumonia. Combinations of quantitative biomarkers may help safely withhold antibiotics in children with a low probability of bacterial infection.
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Anthony Batte, Philip Kasirye, Reagan Baluku, Sarah Kiguli, Robert Kalyesubula, Chandy C. John, Andrew L. Schwaderer, Erik A. Imel, Andrea L. Conroy
Summary: Mineral bone disorders are common in hospitalized children with sickle cell anemia, and they may be related to kidney disease. By evaluating mineral abnormalities, associations with kidney disease were found. Routine evaluation of mineral bone disorders in children with sickle cell anemia may improve long-term bone health.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Ruth Namazzi, Robert Opoka, Andrea L. Conroy, Dibyadyuti Datta, Abner Tagoola, Caitlin Bond, Michael J. Goings, Moon-Suhn Ryu, Sarah E. Cusick, Nancy F. Krebs, Jeong Hoon Jang, Wanzhu Tu, Russell E. Ware, Chandy C. John
Summary: Data from small clinical trials show that zinc supplementation reduces infection in adolescents and adults with sickle cell anemia (SCA). However, there is a lack of studies on the effects of zinc supplementation for infection prevention in children with SCA in Africa. This randomized trial in Ugandan children aged 1.00-4.99 years with SCA found that daily zinc supplementation did not prevent severe or invasive infections. Zinc deficiency was also prevalent among the supplemented children. Further investigation is needed to determine the optimal zinc dosage and the role of zinc in preventing stroke or death in SCA.
Article
Neurosciences
Andrea L. Conroy, Dibyadyuti Datta, Robert O. Opoka, Anthony Batte, Paul Bangirana, Adnan Gopinadhan, Kagan A. Mellencamp, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Richard Idro, Chandy C. John
Summary: This study evaluates potential mechanisms of brain injury in cerebral malaria, focusing on blood-brain-barrier integrity and acute metabolic changes that may underlie kidney-brain crosstalk. The results suggest that acute kidney injury is associated with brain injury, as evidenced by changes in cerebrospinal fluid markers. Further evaluation suggests that kidney injury may mediate brain injury through blood-brain-barrier disruption, ischemic injury, osmolality alteration, and amino acid transport alterations.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Priyanka Barua, Michael F. Duffy, Laurens Manning, Moses Laman, Timothy M. E. Davis, Ivo Mueller, Ali Haghiri, Julie A. Simpson, James G. Beeson, Stephen J. Rogerson
Summary: In children from Papua New Guinea with severe or uncomplicated malaria, antibody recognition of homologous but not heterologous isolates was boosted in convalescence and showed variations with ABO blood group. Patterns of var gene transcription distinguished severe from uncomplicated malaria. ABO blood group may influence antibody acquisition to VSAs and susceptibility to severe malaria.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Letter
Parasitology
Andrea L. Conroy, Dibyadyuti Datta, Angelika Hoffmann, Samuel C. Wassmer
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Catherine Mitran, Robert O. Opoka, Andrea L. Conroy, Sophie Namasopo, Kevin C. Kain, Michael T. Hawkes
Summary: Lactate levels measured using a handheld device in children hospitalized with malaria and respiratory distress can predict mortality risk.
Article
Immunology
Nuria Balanza, Caroline K. Francis, Valerie M. Crowley, Andrea M. Weckman, Kathleen Zhong, Barbara Baro, Rosauro Varo, Quique Bassat, Kevin C. Kain
Summary: In this study, plasma NfL levels were examined in children with uncomplicated and severe malaria. The results showed that the levels increased over time in severe malaria cases, particularly those with neurological manifestations.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Robert Kalyesubula, Andrea L. Conroy, Viviane Calice-Silva, Vivek Kumar, Ugochi Onu, Anthony Batte, Francoise Folefack Kaze, June Fabian, Ifeoma Ulasi
Summary: Kidney disease is a significant cause of death worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Improving screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is crucial to prevent its progression and reduce the need for kidney replacement therapy. However, there is a lack of data and evidence on CKD screening strategies in these countries, highlighting the need for further research and interventions to address this issue.
SEMINARS IN NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Nuria Balanza, Caroline K. Francis, Valerie M. Crowley, Andrea M. Weckman, Kathleen Zhong, Barbara Baro, Rosauro Varo, Quique Bassat, Kevin C. Kain
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)