Characteristics Of Offspring Research Articles

Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and gestational diabetes and dietary intakes among young adult offspring

Background/ObjectivesMaternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and gestational diabetes (GDM) are associated with increased fat deposition in adult offspring. The purpose of this study was to identify if maternal pre-pregnancy overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) or GDM are associated with dietary quality or intake in adult offspring.Subjects/MethodsParticipants (n = 882) from two longitudinal cohort studies (ESTER Maternal Pregnancy Disorders Study and the Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study) completed a validated food-frequency questionnaire at a mean age of 24.2 years (SD 1.3). Diet quality was evaluated by a Recommended Finnish Diet Index (RDI). The study sample included offspring of normoglycaemic mothers with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (ONO = 155), offspring of mothers with GDM regardless of BMI (OGDM = 190) and offspring of mothers with normal weight and no GDM (controls; n = 537).ResultsAmong men, daily energy and macronutrient intakes were similar in ONO and controls. However, after adjusting for current offspring characteristics, including BMI, daily carbohydrate intake relative to total energy intake was higher in ONO-men [2.2 percentages of total energy intake (95% confidence interval 0.4, 4.0)]. In ONO-women, macronutrient intakes relative to total energy intake were similar with controls, while total daily energy intake seemed lower [−587.2 kJ/day (−1192.0, 4.4)]. After adjusting for confounders, this difference was attenuated. Adherence to a healthy diet, as measured by RDI, was similar in ONO and controls [mean difference: men 0.40 (−0.38, 1.18); women 0.25 (−0.50, 1.00)]. In OGDM vs. controls, total energy and macronutrient intakes were similar for both men and women. Also adherence to a healthy diet was similar [RDI: men 0.09 (−0.62, 0.80); women −0.17 (−0.93, 0.59)].ConclusionsOur study suggested higher daily carbohydrate intake in male offspring exposed to maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, compared with controls. Prenatal exposure to GDM was not associated with adult offspring dietary intakes.

The Search for Contributors to Low Rates of Recognition of Paternal Alcohol Use Disorders in Offspring From the San Diego Prospective Study.

The most efficient approach for establishing family histories (FHs) asks informants about disorders in their relatives (a Family History Method [FHM]). However, FHMs underestimate family diagnoses. We evaluated if accuracies of young adult offspring report of their father's alcohol use disorders (AUDs) related to the age, sex, education, and/or substance-related patterns/problems of either the young adult informants or their AUD fathers. Data from the San Diego Prospective Study (SDPS), a multigenerational 35-year investigation, compared father/offspring pairs where the proband father's alcohol problems were correctly (Group 1) or incorrectly (Group 2) noted by offspring. In the key analysis, Group 1 versus 2 results were entered into bootstrapped backward logistic regression analyses predicting Group 1 membership. Five proband and one offspring characteristic were associated with correct identification of their father's alcohol problems. None of these related to age, education, or sex. Characteristics associated with correct FHM diagnoses included the father's FH of AUDs, self-report of drinking despite social/interpersonal or physical/psychological alcohol-related problems, spending much time related to alcohol, and his having a religious preference. The single offspring item predicting correct identification of the father's problems was the number of DSM alcohol problems of the offspring. In the SDPS, FHM sensitivity was most closely related to the father's drinking characteristics, not the offspring characteristics. While unique aspects of SDPS families potentially limit generalizability of results, the data demonstrate how the FHM can offer important initial steps in the search for genetically related AUD risks in a subset of families.

Performance ofSclerodermus brevicornis,a parasitoid of invasive longhorn beetles, when reared on rice moth larvae

AbstractBiological control efficiency can be improved by developing effective mass‐rearing systems to produce large numbers of high‐quality parasitoids. This study explored an alternative host for rearingSclerodermus brevicornis(Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a potential biocontrol agent for the suppression of exotic and invasive wood‐boring longhorn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) populations in the European agroforestry ecosystems. We tested larvae of the rice moth,Corcyra cephalonicaStainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), as host for the parasitoid. We quantified the probability and timing of host attack and parasitism as well as reproductive success, offspring production, and the characteristics of adult offspring. AsS. brevicornisis a quasi‐social species (multiple females, communally produced offspring broods), we also explored the effects of varying the number of females to which individual hosts were presented, with the aim of determining the optimal female‐to‐host ratio. As time to host attack can be a limiting factor inS. brevicornisrearing protocols, we tested the use of adult females of another bethylid species,Goniozus legneriGordh, to paralyseC. cephalonicalarvae prior to presentation. We identified the conditions within our experiment that maximized offspring production per host and offspring production per adult female parasitoid. We found thatC. cephalonicais suitable as a factitious host and, as it is considerably more straightforward for laboratory rearing than cerambycid species, it is a good candidate for adoption by futureS. brevicornismass‐rearing and release programmes.

Prematurity‐related knowledge among mothers and fathers of very preterm infants

Empowering parents as health promoters may contribute to decrease the costs associated with prematurity. In Portugal, 8% and 1% of the births occurring in 2018 were preterm and very preterm, respectively. This study aimed to assess prematurity-related knowledge with regard to its prevalence, causes and consequences, according to sociodemographic, obstetric and offspring's characteristics, among mothers and fathers of very preterm infants. Between May and July 2017, mothers and fathers of very preterm infants were invited to participate through the Portuguese association of parents for support to the premature baby, with 196 parents being included. Knowledge on prematurity (prevalence, causes and consequences) was collected through a structured online questionnaire. Reporting of this research follows STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies. Parents estimated a median prevalence of preterm and of very preterm delivery in Portugal of 15% and 8%, respectively. However, approximately 20% did not provide an estimate. More than 90% of the participants acknowledged placental complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, multiple pregnancy and intrauterine growth restriction as causes of preterm delivery, whereas only 24.2% identified low socioeconomic status. Cardiac complications and respiratory morbidity were recognised as the main consequences of prematurity by more than 80% of the parents. Overall, parents with a higher socioeconomic status tended to provide correct responses more frequently than those with a low socioeconomic status. The results revealed the existence of knowledge gaps regarding the prevalence, causes and consequences of premature delivery. Understanding the main facilitators and barriers to the achievement of prematurity-related knowledge may contribute for the global improvement of preventing this condition. It is crucial to include the improvement of parents' knowledge about prematurity as a complementary dimension during the provision of medical care, with nurses playing a key role as main sources of information.

Characteristics of offspring derived from conventional and X-sorted bovine sperm

The objective of this retrospective study was to compare survival during the first year of life and adult performance of offspring derived from artificial insemination (AI) with X-sorted or conventional sperm processed from the same ejaculates. We analyzed a data set that included AI of dairy heifers and lactating cows with fresh conventional sperm (3 × 106 sperm per straw), fresh X-sorted sperm (1 or 2 × 106 sperm per straw), or frozen X-sorted sperm (2 × 106 sperm per straw). The data set contained records of 5,179 offspring born on 396 farms. Offspring were classified as born from conventional sperm (CONV) if they were the product of an insemination with fresh conventional sperm, or born from X-sorted sperm (SS) if they were product of any of the 3 X-sorted sperm treatments. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effect of sperm treatment on (1) survival during the first year of life; (2) reproductive performance, lactation performance, and survival of female offspring; and (3) slaughter characteristics of male offspring. Stillbirth rates and mortality rates during the first 2 mo of life were greater for male calves (2.8 and 5.0%, respectively) than for female calves (1.6 and 2.0%, respectively). No differences between offspring derived from SS and CONV were detected for incidences of stillbirth or mortality during the first 12 mo of life within sex of calf. Reproductive performance, milk volume, milk fat, milk protein yields during first; second; and third lactations, and survival to third lactation did not differ between female offspring derived from CONV and SS. Across all age groups, CONV steers had heavier carcasses than SS steers (325.3 vs. 318.3 kg), but there were no differences in weight between CONV and SS steers within any of the age groups (≤24, 25-27, 28-30, and >30 mo of age). The distribution of slaughter age did not differ between CONV and SS steers when the analysis was restricted to herds that reared steers derived from both types of sperm. Carcass conformation and fat scores of steers were not affected by sperm treatment. There was no difference in carcass weight between young bulls (≤2 yr) derived from CONV or SS. In conclusion, the results provide no evidence of differences in survival during the first year of life between offspring derived from CONV or SS, or for any of the reproductive and lactation performance characteristics studied between female offspring derived from CONV or SS. Modest differences in carcass weight between CONV and SS steers were detected, but this may reflect differences in management and husbandry in the rearing herds rather than the sex-sorting process. A controlled study using steers derived from conventional or X-sorted sperm from split ejaculates and reared under the same husbandry conditions is needed to clarify whether there is a true difference in body weight gain due to the sex-sorting process.

Lipid droplet utilization by the mouse embryo

High numbers of lipid droplets (LDs) in mammalian eggs are stored and maintained throughout embryo development without marked signs of their utilization. It was previously demonstrated in large domestic mammals that removing lipids from the zygote does not influence post-implantation development in terms of the rate of delivered offspring. Previously studied pig and cow eggs contain considerable amounts of LDs, while mice have a very low level of ooplasmic lipids, which allows to more precisely analyze any effect of lipid removal on developmental dynamics in vitro. We wanted to know if lipid fraction removal would influence the dynamics of preimplantation development of mouse embryos. To do this, mouse zygotes were mechanically delipidated and their progression to the blastocyst stage was evaluated in vitro. Part of blastocysts were transferred to pseudopregnant females for development to term, and then offspring health parameters were evaluated. Our experiments showed no effects of lipid removal on the rate and timing of mouse embryo development. Furthermore, there were no differences in post-natal characteristics of offspring developed from delipidated and non-delipidated embryos. In conclusion, normal developmental progression of dilapidated embryos indicates that LDs are largely unutilized during preimplantation stages. The apparent dispensability of the LDs fraction throughout preimplantation development prompts questions about their so far uncovered role in mammalian embryo. Based on our preliminary observation of the ultrastructure of diapaused blastocysts from mouse and sheep, we speculate that LDs are utilized by the embryo during delayed implantation, i.e., while waiting for the maternal receptivity signal before implantation.

Grand-Maternal Lifestyle During Pregnancy and Anthropometric Characteristics in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: An Intergenerational Cohort Study

Abstract Objectives To examine associations of healthy lifestyle during pregnancy with anthropometric characteristics of grandchildren during adolescence and young adulthood. Methods Our study population included 14,001 grandmother-mother-child triads comprised of participants of two ongoing prospective cohort studies of related individuals. We used self-reported grand-maternal gestational weight gain (GWG), diet, physical activity, and smoking during pregnancy to create a lifestyle score ranged from 0–12, with a higher score indicating healthier lifestyle. Maternal and grandchild characteristics, including anthropometry, were self-assessed in follow-up questionnaires. Results Compared with individuals whose grandmothers had the least healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, individuals whose grandmothers had the most healthy lifestyle had 0.17 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.33; P for trend = 0.05) kg/m2 lower body mass index (BMI) and 7% (95% CI: 2%, 12%; P for trend = 0.001) lower risk of overweight or obesity in the offspring during adolescence and young adulthood. The inverse associations between grand-maternal lifestyle and BMI in offspring were mainly mediated by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (mediation effect: 64%; P value = 0.001). Overall, maternal BMI, along with maternal socioeconomic status and lifestyles in the second and third generations accounted for all of the inter-generational association (mediation effect: 99%; P value < 0.001). The inverse associations between grand-maternal lifestyle and anthropometric characteristics of offspring were not modified by grand-maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, grandchild age, or grandchild gender. Conclusions Grandchildren of women who had the healthiest lifestyles during pregnancy defined by no excess gestational weight gain, no smoking, a healthy diet and being physically active, were less likely to be overweight or obese in adolescence through early adulthood. Funding Sources Supported by National Institutes of Health grants U01-HL145386, UM1-CA176726, P30-DK046200, U54-CA155626, HD066963, HL096905, DK084001 and MH087786.

Characteristics of the genetic structure of the β-casein gene of producers approved for use in Ukraine in 2020

The modern topical issue in dairy cattle breeding is the study of the relationship between hereditary factors that determine the types of proteins in milk. Casein is the main component of milk proteins and is represented by three fractions - alpha (CSN1S1), beta (CSN2) and capa (CSN3). The content of individual casein fractions depends on the breed of cows. Scientists point out some grand questions as for the promotion of milk proteins, like beta-casein, affecting on such disorders as type-1 diabetes, schizophrenia, autism and the sudden death of an infant. The economic component that will ensure the attractiveness of creating the dairy herds completed with animals of genotype A2 A2 is the higher price of raw milk in comparison with conventional milk. The aim of this work is to evaluate the genotype of bulls-producers by the beta-casein gene, which are allowed to be used in Ukrainian farms in 2020. It is established that the majority of such bulls-producers are evaluated by the genotype of betta-casein. The largest proportion of bulls with the desired A2A2 genotype was found in red Danish and red Norwegian bulls. A greater proportion of A1A1 genotypes are characterized by Holstein bulls of red-mottled color. The largest proportion of the desired A2 allele was found in bulls of red Danish, red Norwegian and Guernsay breeds. Producers of Holstein and Ayshire breeds were characterized by a smaller proportion of this allele. It was found that the use of sperm of bulls approved for use in 2020 with the A2A2 by β-casein genotype on the breeding stock of domestic breeds will improve the economically useful characteristics of offspring, and will contribute the desired genotype of cows. As a result of the analysis of the genotype of Holstein and Swiss breeds that were used in breeding farms of Sumy region over the past three years, we found that 38 Holstein bulls were used in breeding farms and in breeding plants, among which 11% were evaluated by the β-casein gene. Among 12 Shvits bulls that were used in farms of the region, only 42% were evaluated by the β-casein genotype. This confirms that the work with the formation of dairy herds completed with animals of genotype A2 A2 in Sumy region was not carried out. Key words: breed, bull, β-casein, genotype, allele, daughters milk productivity.

Intergenerational Effects of Maternal Holocaust Exposure on FKBP5 Methylation.

There is growing evidence that exposure to trauma prior to conception can affect offspring. The authors have reported that adult offspring of Holocaust survivors showed lower methylation of FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) intron 7, site 6 compared with Jewish comparison volunteers. The present study sought to replicate this finding in a larger sample and to examine parental and offspring correlates of observed effects. Cytosine methylation was measured in blood using pyrosequencing. The independent replication sample consisted of 125 Holocaust offspring and 31 control subjects. Additional analyses, performed in a larger sample of 147 offspring and 40 control subjects that included the 31 previously studied participants, examined associations of parental trauma-related variables (i.e., sex of the exposed parent, parental posttraumatic stress disorder, age at Holocaust exposure) and offspring characteristics (i.e., childhood trauma exposure, lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, psychotropic medication use, FKBP5 rs1360780 genotype, FKBP5 gene expression, and neuroendocrine measures) with offspring FKBP5 methylation. FKBP5 site 6 methylation was significantly lower in Holocaust offspring than in control subjects, an effect associated with maternal Holocaust exposure in childhood and with lower offspring self-reported anxiety symptoms. FKBP5 gene expression was elevated in Holocaust offspring. FKBP5 methylation was associated with indices of glucocorticoid sensitivity but not with basal FKBP5 gene expression. This study replicates and extends the previously observed decrement in FKBP5 intron 7, site 6 methylation in Holocaust offspring. The predominance of this effect in offspring of mothers exposed during childhood implicates maternal developmental programming as a putative mechanism.

Association between mercury in cord serum and sex-specific DNA methylation in cord tissues.

Prenatal exposure to mercury in utero causes abnormal foetal growth and adverse outcomes. DNA methylation is currently considered a possible mechanism through which this occurs. However, few studies have investigated the association between prenatal exposure to mercury and DNA methylation in detail. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between prenatal exposure to total mercury (Hg) and DNA methylation and its associations with sex-specific characteristics in male and female offspring. In a birth cohort study known as the Chiba study of Mother and Child Health, the DNA methylation status in cord tissue and Hg concentrations in cord serum were examined. A total of 67 participants (27 males and 40 females) were analysed based on Spearman's correlations, adjusted by a false discovery rate of the sex of each offspring. Only one methylated locus was positively correlated with Hg concentrations in cord serum in male offspring, but not in female offspring, and was annotated to the haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (HDHD1) gene on chromosome X. This locus was located in the intron of the HDHD1 gene body and is a binding site for the zinc finger protein CCCTC-binding factor. One of the other loci, located in HDHD1, was highly methylated in the group with higher mercury concentrations, and this locus was in the gene body of HDHD1. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to Hg might affect the epigenetic status of male foetuses.

Maternal obesity influences the endocrine cord blood profile of their offspring.

University medical centers. Offspring from obese mothers (n = 41) and healthy controls (n = 31). Cord blood withdrawal from neonates. Cord blood total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), blood glucose (GL) and insulin (Ins). Result(s) Fetal GL and TGs were reduced in the offspring of obese women when compared to those in the offspring of the controls. The mean cord blood GL level was 47.8 mg/dL standard deviation (SD 33.1) in the offspring of the obese group vs. 57.9 mg/dL (SD 12.5) in the offspring of the control group, and the mean cord blood TG level was 26.5 (SD 33.6) in the offspring of the obese group vs. 34.6 (SD 12.3) in the offspring of the control group. Maternal obesity was also associated with reduced levels of TC and HDL-C in the pregnant women. Conclusion The observed results suggest that GL and TGs in the cord blood of the offspring of obese mothers were significantly lower than those in the offspring of the control group.

The Effect of Pesticides on the Microbiome of Animals

In recent decades an increase in the use of pesticides to protect plants from pests, diseases and weeds has been observed. There are many studies on the effects of various pesticides on non-target organisms. This review aims to analyze and summarize published scientific data on the effects of pesticides on the animal microbiome. Pesticides can affect various parameters of the animal microbiome, such as the taxonomic composition of bacteria, bacterial biodiversity, and bacterial ratios and modify the microbiome of various organisms from insects to mammals. Pesticide induced changes in the microbiome reducing the animal’s immunity. The negative effects of pesticides could pose a global problem for pollinators. Another possible negative effect of pesticides is the impact of pesticides on the intestinal microbiota of bumblebees and bees that increase the body’s sensitivity to pathogenic microflora, which leads to the death of insects. In addition, pesticides can affect vitality, mating success and characteristics of offspring. The review considers methods for correcting of bee microbiome.

The Intergenerational transmission of trauma: When children bear their father's traumatic past

This article examines of the aftermath of war captivity as implicated in the next (second) generation. Capitalizing on findings from a nearly four-decade and four-wave longitudinal study, we present cumulative evidence regarding the psychological and interpersonal ramifications of war captivity for former Israeli prisoners of war (ex-POWs), and underscore the intergenerational effects of both parents — fathers’/ex-POWs’ experiences and their spouses — on their adult offspring. Taking into consideration the relational context of the family system, the article addresses post-traumatic phenomena manifesting among the offspring as impacted by their fathers’ trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms, their mothers’ secondary traumatic stress, and the complex interaction of familial sub-systems specifically parental functioning. As not all offspring of the traumatized are equally affected. We also assessed offspring characteristics that may render some of them vulnerable or resilient. These included: (1) gender, (2) “The Big Five” personality traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (3) and differentiation of self. Findings indicate the strong intergenerational effects of trauma, particularly on sons; the mediating effects of parental PTSD; and the role of the offspring's personality characteristics. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Характеристика жизнеспособности сперматозоидов у потомства самок крыс с экспериментальным сахарным диабетом 1 типа при действии иммобилизационного стресса

One of the main factors underlying the development of prenatal stress is maternal type 1 diabetes. Its influence on the formation of the male reproductive system of the offspring has not been well studied. Therefore, this study was aimed at the analysis of the spermatozoa motor activity characteristics in mature offspring of the mothers with experimental type 1 diabetes mellitus, subjected to the immobilization stress. The study was performed on white laboratory Wistar rats (females), in which the type 1 diabetes mellitus was inducted, and their mature offspring. Spermatozoa were obtained from the epididymis; their motility was taken into account when determining their content in a unit volume. In order to study the antistress resistance of sperm, the the experimental animals were subjected to a model of immobilization stress. We demonstrate that the sperm concentration is decreased in the offspring of female rats with experimental diabetes. This decrease also occurs in animals subjected to the immobilization stress, in both intact and experimental groups. The fertile to non-fertile germ cells ratio is also affected by the immobilization stress. We show that the number of Leydig cells and their activity index were reduced in experimental animals. Based on these results, we conclude that the fertility and antistress resistance of spermatogenesis are reduced in the offspring of the female rats with experimental diabetes mellitus. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system provides control of the reproductive system, primarily through testosterone, which is produced by the Leydig cells and is involved in the regulation of the spermatogenesis. The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system under hypoglycemia leads to the suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal system activity. We propose that the immobilization stress raises the corticosteroid levels, which further inhibits the secretory activity of the Leydig cells, leading to the disruption of the spermatogenesis and the decrease in sperm concentration and motor activity.

The number of biological parents with alcohol use disorder histories and risk to offspring through age 30

ObjectiveWe investigated associations between the number of parents with histories of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and several offspring (proband) variables through age 30: occurrence of AUD and, separately, alcohol dependence; onset age of the initial AUD episode; time to recovery from the first AUD episode; number of distinct AUD episodes; and cumulative duration of AUD across episodes. MethodsOffspring data were collected during four assessment waves of a longitudinal epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders with a regionally representative sample. The reference sample included 730 offspring with diagnostic data from at least one parent. Offspring were assessed with semi-structured diagnostic interviews between mid-adolescence and young adulthood and parents were assessed when offspring were approximately 24 years of age. ResultsAs the number of parents with AUD increased, offspring risk for AUD and alcohol dependence also increased. Latent growth model results indicated that offspring AUD risk trajectories increase in severity as a function of the number of parents with AUD. This pattern of results was not observed for other AUD course-related features in offspring (i.e., number of distinct episodes; months required for recovery from initial episode; cumulative duration across episodes). ConclusionsThe number of parents with a history of AUD is associated with overall offspring risk for AUD and alcohol dependence and elevated AUD risk trajectories through age 30. The number of parents with AUD may be a more relevant risk factor for onset-related characteristics of AUD in offspring than for its longitudinal course.

Association between prenatal exposure to air pollution and inflammatory markers in children

TPS 911: Air pollution, epigenetics, biomarkers, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: Early-life exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with adverse health effects in children but little is known about its potential effects on cytokine levels. We evaluated the association of pregnancy exposure to particulate matter with child inflammatory biomarkers in 500 mother-child pairs from the RHEA pregnancy cohort in Crete, Greece. Methods: Mean concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and less than 10 µm (PM10) during pregnancy were estimated at maternal home addresses with temporally adjusted land-use regression models. Levels of several inflammatory biomarkers were determined in child serum at 4 years of age via immunoassay. Exposure-outcome associations were assessed using log-binomial or Poisson regression with robust variances, in cases of non-convergence. Potential effect modification from maternal and offspring characteristics was examined by introducing interaction terms in multivariate models. Results: A 5 µg/m3 increase in concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of high levels (in the 5th quantile) of child interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels at 4 years (RR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.38, 5.20 and 1.28, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.57, respectively). Effects of prenatal exposure to both PM2.5 and PM10 remained significant only for non-smoking mothers in stratified analysis by maternal smoking status (p-interaction: 0.037 and 0.071, respectively). Child overweight/obesity (p-interaction: 0.013 and 0.001) and asthma status (p-interaction: 0.007 and 0.001) more than doubled the effects of maternal exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 on IL-6 at 4 years. Similar effects were found with other inflammatory biomarkers under study. Conclusions: Our results indicate alterations in systemic inflammatory markers in 4-y-old children in relation to prenatal exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Further work is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms and interactions between cytokines in the inflammatory response following air pollution exposure.

Transgenerational Obesity and Alteration of ARHGEF11 in the Rat Liver Induced by Intrauterine Hyperglycemia.

It is understood that intrauterine hyperglycemia increases the risk of obesity and diabetes in offspring of consecutive generations but its mechanisms remain obscure. This study is aimed at establishing an intrauterine hyperglycemia rat model to investigate the growth and glycolipid metabolic characteristics in transgenerational offspring and discuss the effects of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 11 (ARHGEF11) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in offspring development. The severe intrauterine hyperglycemia rat model was caused by STZ injection before mating, while offspring development and glycolipid metabolism were observed for the following two generations. The expression of ARHGEF11, ROCK1, PI3K, and AKT was tested in the liver and muscle tissue of F2 offspring. The results showed severe growth restriction in F1 offspring and obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance in female F2 offspring, especially the offspring of female intrauterine hyperglycemia-exposed parents (F2G♀C♂) and both (F2G♀G♂). The expression of ARHGEF11 and ROCK1 was significantly elevated; PI3K and phosphorylation of AKT were significantly decreased in liver tissues of F2G♀C♂ and F2G♀G♂. Our study revealed that intrauterine hyperglycemia could cause obesity and abnormal glycolipid metabolism in female transgenerational offspring; the programming effect of the intrauterine environment could cause a more obvious phenotype in the maternal line. Further exploration suggested that increased expression of ARHGEF11 and ROCK1 and the decreased expression of PI3K and phosphorylation of AKT in the liver could be responsible for the abnormal development in F2 offspring.

Predictors and outcomes of suicidal ideation during peripartum period

IntroductionSuicide belongs to the leading causes of maternal perinatal mortality and suicidal ideation is one of the strongest predictors for suicide attempt and completion and thus represents an opportunity for early intervention prior to self and infant harm. This post-hoc analysis aims to investigate predictors of peripartum suicidality (PS) and potential maternal and infant outcomes of PS. MethodsIn the prospective-longitudinal Maternal Anxiety in Relation to Infant Development (MARI) study, n = 306 women were repeatedly examined from early pregnancy until 16 months postpartum using interviews (Composite International Diagnostic Interview for Women) and questionnaires (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory) to obtain sociodemographic, gynecological and offspring characteristics as well as information about PS (thoughts of death/self-harm, suicide plans, suicide attempt). ResultsPS was indicated by n = 15 women. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression revealed a history of suicide attempt (OR = 17.84, 95%CI: 4.61–69.05), living together with the partner (OR = 0.14, 95%CI: 0.03–0.63), and social support (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.13–0.91) as significant predictors for PS (model fit: AUC = 0.7926). As compared to women with no PS, infants of women with PS presented lower scores in neuropsychological development (p = 0.020). LimitationsThis post-hoc analysis was conducted with the aim of generating hypotheses for future research. The small number of women who indicated PS limits the statistical power. ConclusionPS is an important perinatal complication that requires clinical attention. Larger prospective studies are warranted to verify the findings. This will lead to improved preventive and therapeutic approaches and a better understanding of the motives behind maternal suicide and infanticide.

A longitudinal investigation of Western Australian families impacted by parental cancer with adolescent and young adult offspring

ObjectiveParental cancer is a significant problem for adolescent and young adult offspring. To understand the extent of the problem of parental cancer for Australian offspring, data regarding those impacted are required. The aim of this study was to enumerate and describe the characteristics of Western Australian adolescent and young adult offspring (12–24 years) and their parents with cancer using linked population data. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Western Australia Data Linkage System, which provided results generalisable at a national level. ResultsBetween 1982 and 2015, 57,708 offspring were impacted by 34,600 parents’ incident malignant cancer diagnoses. The most common diagnosis was breast cancer. Of the 36.4% of parents who died, this was mostly a result of cancer. Most families resided in regional areas and were of high or middle socioeconomic status. Significant predictors of earlier parent death included low socioeconomic status, remoteness, age, having more children and having older children. ConclusionA considerable number of adolescent and young adult offspring are impacted by parental cancer at a potentially vulnerable age. This research provides knowledge to better understand who is affected by parental cancer in Australia. Implications for public healthThese results may be useful for planning and implementation of Australian supportive services.

Western Australian pregnancy cohort (Raine) Study: Generation 1

PurposeThe purpose of the Raine Study is to improve human health and well-being by studying the life-course of a cohort of Western Australians, based on a life-course conceptual framework that...