Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Chin Lien, Zhe Zhang, Yi Cheng, Erzsebet Polyak, Laura Sillers, Marni J. Falk, Harry Ischiropoulos, Samuel Parry, Rebecca A. Simmons
Summary: This study identified significant genomic alterations in SPTB placentas, with more gene expression changes found in male SPTB placentas. These alterations may contribute to abnormalities in placental energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and detoxification, leading to placental dysfunction in SPTB.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Fu-Sheng Chou, Hung-Wen Yeh
Summary: The study found that male extremely preterm newborns had higher predicted weight trajectories than females, with faster growth rates in females after reaching term-equivalent age. Despite similar weight gain velocities between the sexes, weight gain velocity in male EPNs was lower compared to reference values, leading to slower z-score rises.
JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Chih-Chia Chen, Chi-Hsiang Chu, Yung-Chieh Lin, Shan-Tair Wang, Chao-Ching Huang
Summary: The study aimed to examine the risks and mortality outcomes of oliguric and non-oliguric acute kidney injury (AKI) in very preterm infants. It was found that oliguric AKI had significantly higher mortality risks than non-oliguric AKI and no AKI.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Igor Y. Iskusnykh, Victor V. Chizhikov
Summary: Preterm birth and its associated factors have negative impacts on cerebellar development, which is involved in motor coordination, cognition, learning, memory, and social communication. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating cerebellar pathology affected by preterm birth is crucial for developing new treatment and neuroprotective strategies to improve cognitive, behavioral, and motor deficits in preterm individuals.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Amanda Benavides, Edward F. Bell, Michael K. Georgieff, Cassandra D. Josephson, Sean R. Stowell, Henry A. Feldman, Demet Nalbant, Alexander Tereshchenko, Martha Sola-Visner, Peggy Nopoulos
Summary: This study identified sex-specific differences in inflammatory responses to RBC transfusions in preterm infants during the neonatal period, with MCP-1 levels rising only in females and inversely correlating with later neurocognitive status. It suggests that different transfusion thresholds may have a sex-specific effect on neurodevelopment, with females experiencing worse cognitive outcomes with increased number of transfusions and males having worse outcomes with lower number of transfusions.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rui Gao, Buyun Liu, Wenhan Yang, Yuxiao Wu, Bo Wang, Mark K. Santillan, Kelli Ryckman, Donna A. Santillan, Wei Bao
Summary: Maternal sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia were found to be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth according to a large population-based study in the US. Targeted prevention strategies for preterm birth should be considered for pregnant women with sexually transmitted infections before or during pregnancy.
Review
Cell Biology
Zacharias Fasoulakis, Antonios Koutras, Thomas Ntounis, Panos Antsaklis, Marianna Theodora, Asimina Valsamaki, George Daskalakis, Emmanuel N. Kontomanolis
Summary: Inflammation is directly responsible for or contributes to 50% of all premature deliveries, with chorioamnionitis being the root cause of persistent inflammation in preterm newborns. Inflammation also plays a critical role in the development of various conditions in neonates, including necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, and periventricular leukomalacia. The immature immune systems of premature infants are easily disrupted, leading to exposure to different antigens and detrimental implications for their health.
Article
Immunology
Yuxin Ran, Ruixin Chen, Dongni Huang, Yan Qin, Zheng Liu, Jie He, Youwen Mei, Yunqian Zhou, Nanlin Yin, Hongbo Qi
Summary: This study analyzed the circRNA expression profiles in maternal and fetal samples of preterm and term pregnancies, identifying PTB-related circRNAs in different tissues and exploring their relationships. The study provided insights into the potential roles of circRNAs in PTB and their tissue-specific biofunctions.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mandy Laube, Ulrich H. Thome
Summary: This article discusses sex-specific differences in alveolar epithelial functions, with a focus on preterm infants and respiratory disorders associated with premature birth. It provides an overview of fetal lung development and the challenges faced during the transition to air breathing. The article also explores potential sex-specific causes of pulmonary complications and highlights the importance of understanding steroidogenic enzymes' expression during fetal lung development. Additionally, it reviews the knowledge about sex-specific aspects of lung growth and maturation, with a special emphasis on alveolar epithelial Na+ transport and the observed sex differences in this process.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily Zucker, Irina Burd
Summary: Inflammation-induced preterm birth is a major cause of perinatal mortality and long-term consequences in surviving children. IL-10 and the P2X7 receptor play crucial roles in this process, with the receptor potentially being a therapeutic target to halt inflammation before perinatal brain injury.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Noha Gomaa, Chaini Konwar, Nicole Gladish, Stephanie H. Au-Young, Ting Guo, Min Sheng, Sarah M. Merrill, Edmond Kelly, Vann Chau, Helen M. Branson, Linh G. Ly, Emma G. Duerden, Ruth E. Grunau, Michael S. Kobor, Steven P. Miller
Summary: This cohort study of very preterm neonates suggests that biological aging may be associated with impaired brain growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The associations between epigenetic aging and adverse neonatal brain health warrant further attention.
Article
Pediatrics
Amanda Benavides, Edward F. Bell, Amy L. Conrad, Henry A. Feldman, Michael K. Georgieff, Cassandra D. Josephson, Timothy R. Koscik, Sean R. Stowell, Martha Sola-Visner, Peg Nopoulos
Summary: This study found sex-specific differences in early brain structure and function of preterm infants after red blood cell transfusions. In males, pretransfusion Hb (ptHb) was positively correlated with neonatal cerebral white matter volume. However, no correlation was found in females. Additionally, higher ptHb was associated with significantly lower gross motor scores and pooled mean scores in females, but not in males.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Anna C. Tottman, Colleen J. Oliver, Jane M. Alsweiler, Barbara E. Cormack
Summary: Boys born preterm are at higher risk of adverse outcomes compared to girls, and sex is an important moderator of preterm nutrition intervention outcomes. Current standard nutritional support for preterm infants does not take sex into account, highlighting the need for further research to optimize nutrition interventions based on infant sex.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Henning Jacobsen, Sabra L. Klein
Summary: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the sex-specific differences in immunity and outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection, with evidence suggesting a male bias in disease severity mediated by differential immune responses. While males are more susceptible to most viral infections, females possess immunological features that make them vulnerable to distinct immune-related disease outcomes. Sex chromosome complement, related genes, and sex steroids all play crucial roles in mediating these sex differences in immunity to viral infections.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Whitney Cowell, Elena Colicino, Xueying Zhang, Rachel Ledyard, Heather H. Burris, Michele R. Hacker, Itai Kloog, Allan Just, Robert O. Wright, Rosalind J. Wright
Summary: The study did not find a clear association between weekly exposure to PM2.5 and preterm birth, but in some cases, exposure to PM2.5 in gestational week 16 slightly increased the risk of preterm birth for female infants.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tatiana Ninkov, Elizabeth A. Nathan, Cathryn N. Belcher, Scott W. White, John P. Newnham
Summary: Serial measurement of cervical length at 16 and 19 weeks improves the ability to predict preterm birth in high-risk women prescribed vaginal progesterone therapy.
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jasper V. Been, Gordon C. Smith, Sally-Ann Cooper, Jill P. Pell, Daniel F. Mackay
JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lizbeth Burgos Ochoa, Lindsey van Der Meer, Adja J. M. Waelput, Jasper V. Been, Loes C. M. Bertens
Summary: This study examined the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and small for gestational age (SGA) through the use of the mediational g-formula. It found that improving neighborhood socioeconomic status could significantly reduce the proportion of SGA, with a portion of the effect being mediated by the neighborhood social environment. This research provides valuable insights for policy development and public health interventions.
PAEDIATRIC AND PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lizbeth Burgos Ochoa, Maarten J. Bijlsma, Eric A. P. Steegers, Jasper Been, Loes C. M. Bertens
Summary: The link between living in a low-socioeconomic status neighborhood and adverse birth outcomes is well established, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study used data on singleton births in the Netherlands from 2010 to 2017 to evaluate the role of neighborhood crime as a potential mediator. The results showed that neighborhood crime mediated a significant portion of the relationship between neighborhood SES and birth outcomes, particularly in the case of crimes against property and public order.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Leonie A. Daalderop, Jasper Been, Eric A. P. Steegers, Loes C. M. Bertens
Summary: This study examined the short-term changes in obstetric management of singleton term deliveries in the Netherlands following the publication of the EURO-PERISTAT reports. The findings suggest that population health monitoring can influence the decision-making and professional behavior of healthcare providers.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily M. Frier, Chun Lin, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Karel Allegaert, Jasper Been, Abigail Fraser, Mika P. Gissler, Kristjana Einarsdottir, Lani Florian, Bo Jacobsson, Joshua Vogel, Helga Zoega, Sohinee Bhattacharya, Eyal Krispin, Lars Henning Pedersen, Devender Roberts, Stefan Kuhle, John Fahey, Ben W. Mol, David Burgner, Ewoud Schuit, Aziz Sheikh, Rachael Wood, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Jessica E. Miller, Kate Duhig, Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, Eran Hadar, John Wright, Sarah R. Murray, Sarah J. Stock
Summary: This study established an international birth cohort with 2.28 million pregnancies and babies from five countries, aiming to investigate the safety and efficacy of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS). This large-scale cohort enables the assessment of important rare outcomes such as perinatal mortality and provides a comprehensive evaluation of the short- and long-term safety and efficacy of ACS.
Review
Pediatrics
Lauren E. H. Westenberg, Jasper V. Been, Sten P. Willemsen, Jolande Y. Vis, Andrei N. Tintu, Wichor M. Bramer, Peter H. Dijk, Eric A. P. Steegers, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Christian V. Hulzebos
Summary: Importance quantification of bilirubin in blood is crucial for early diagnosis and timely treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Handheld point-of-care devices can address the current issues with conventional laboratory-based bilirubin quantification. The evaluation of diagnostic accuracy shows that point-of-care devices have faster turnaround time and require less blood volume compared to laboratory-based quantification, but the precision of measurement needs improvement.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Clara Calvert, Meredith (Merilee) Brockway, Helga Zoega, Jessica E. Miller, Jasper V. Been, Adeladza Kofi Amegah, Amy Racine-Poon, Solmaz Eradat Oskoui, Ishaya I. Abok, Nima Aghaeepour, Christie D. Akwaowo, Belal N. Alshaikh, Adejumoke I. Ayede, Fabiana Bacchini, Behzad Barekatain, Rodrigo Barnes, Karolina Bebak, Anick Berard, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Jeffrey R. Brook, Lenroy R. Bryan, Kim N. Cajachagua-Torres, Marsha Campbell-Yeo, Dinh-Toi Chu, Kristin L. Connor, Luc Cornette, Sandra Cortes, Mandy Daly, Christian Debauche, Iyabode Olabisi F. Dedeke, Kristjana Einarsdottir, Hilde Engjom, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez, Ilaria Fantasia, Nicole M. Fiorentino, Meredith Franklin, Abigail Fraser, Onesmus W. Gachuno, Linda A. Gallo, Mika Gissler, Siri E. Haberg, Abbas Habibelahi, Jonas Haeggstroem, Lauren Hookham, Lisa Hui, Luis Huicho, Karen J. Hunter, Sayeeda Huq, K. C. Ashish, Seilesh Kadambari, Roya Kelishadi, Narjes Khalili, Joanna Kippen, Kirsty Le Doare, Javier Llorca, Laura A. Magee, Maria C. Magnus, Kenneth K. C. Man, Patrick M. Mburugu, Rishi P. Mediratta, Andrew D. Morris, Nazeem Muhajarine, Rachel H. Mulholland, Livia Nagy Bonnard, Victoria Nakibuuka, Natasha Nassar, Sylvester D. Nyadanu, Laura Oakley, Adesina Oladokun, Oladapo O. Olayemi, Olanike A. Olutekunbi, Rosena O. Oluwafemi, Taofik O. Ogunkunle, Chris Orton, Anne K. oertqvist, Joseph Ouma, Oyejoke Oyapero, Kirsten R. Palmer, Lars H. Pedersen, Gavin Pereira, Isabel Pereyra, Roy K. Philip, Dominik Pruski, Marcin Przybylski, Hugo G. Quezada-Pinedo, Annette K. Regan, Natasha R. Rhoda, Tonia A. Rihs, Taylor Riley, Thiago Augusto Hernandes Rocha, Daniel L. Rolnik, Christoph Saner, Francisco J. Schneuer, Vivienne L. Souter, Olof Stephansson, Shengzhi Sun, Emma M. Swift, Miklos Szabo, Marleen Temmerman, Lloyd Tooke, Marcelo L. Urquia, Peter von Dadelszen, Gregory A. Wellenius, Clare Whitehead, Ian C. K. Wong, Rachael Wood, Katarzyna Wroblewska-Seniuk, Kojo Yeboah-Antwi, Christopher S. Yilgwan, Agnieszka Zawiejska, Aziz Sheikh, Natalie Rodriguez, David Burgner, Sarah J. Stock, Meghan B. Azad
Summary: An analysis of 52 million births in 26 countries suggests that there were slight reductions in preterm birth rates during the first to third months of lockdown. However, further research is needed to understand the causal pathways. Preterm birth is a significant cause of infant mortality globally. The study also found variations in stillbirth rates across different countries. The findings highlight the importance of studying the effects of lockdown measures on birth outcomes.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Nienke W. Boderie, Asiyah Sheikh, Erika Lo, Aziz Sheikh, Alex Burdorf, Frank J. van Lenthe, Famke J. M. Molenberg, Jasper V. Been
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive review of global public support for indoor (semi-)private and outdoor smoke-free policies. The findings showed high levels of public support for these policies, especially in places frequented by children. This study is important as it can inform government efforts in formulating and implementing smoke-free policies.
Editorial Material
Respiratory System
Jasper V. Been, Sinno H. P. Simons, Jeremy A. Labrecque
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
C. E. Tacke, W. Onland, P. C. A. M. Bakker, F. Groenendaal, A. N. Rosman, L. Broeders, J. V. Been, A. C. J. Ravelli
Summary: The risk of low 5-minute Apgar scores in singleton births has increased in the Netherlands over the past decade, with instrumental vaginal delivery and emergency cesarean section showing the highest relative increase.
JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Thomas Hone, Jasper Been, Valeria Saraceni, Claudia Medina Coeli, Anete Trajman, Davide Rasella, Betina Durovni, Christopher Millett
Summary: This study examines the impact of maternal utilization of family health strategy (FHS) services on infant health outcomes. The findings suggest that FHS usage by low-income mothers before or in the first two trimesters is associated with a significant reduction in neonatal and infant mortality, as well as increased antenatal care consultations and a lower risk of low birth weight and preterm birth.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-AMERICAS
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Marta K. Rado, Dorottya Kisfalusi, Anthony A. Laverty, Frank J. van Lenthe, Jasper V. Been, Karoly Takacs
Summary: Hungarian adolescents prefer friendships with peers from a similar socio-economic status, and smoking and alcohol consumption spread within these friendship networks. There is no significant difference between socio-economic groups in terms of encouraging smoking or alcohol consumption.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Anthony A. Laverty, Christopher Millett, Jasper V. Been, Filippos T. Filippidis, Marta K. Rado
Article
Pediatrics
Serife Kurul, Nicky van Ackeren, Tom G. Goos, Christian R. B. Ramakers, Jasper Been, Rene F. Kornelisse, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Sinno H. P. Simons, H. Rob Taal
Summary: The implementation of HRV monitoring combined with determination of inflammatory biomarkers may help in early identification of sepsis patients, leading to reduced sepsis severity without increasing antibiotic usage or number of blood cultures drawn.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)