Fetal Neonatal Growth Research Articles

Integrative network analysis of differentially methylated regions to study the impact of gestational weight gain on maternal metabolism and fetal-neonatal growth.

Integrative network analysis (INA) is important for identifying gene modules or epigenetically regulated molecular pathways in diseases. This study evaluated the effect of excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) on INA of differentially methylated regions, maternal metabolism and offspring growth. Brazilian women from "The Araraquara Cohort Study" with adequate pre-pregnancy body mass index were divided into EGWG (n=30) versus adequate gestational weight gain (AGWG, n=45) groups. The methylome analysis was performed on maternal blood using the Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Fetal-neonatal growth was assessed by ultrasound and anthropometry, respectively. Maternal lipid and glycemic profiles were investigated. Maternal triglycerides-TG (p=0.030) and total cholesterol (p=0.014); fetus occipito-frontal diameter (p=0.005); neonate head circumference-HC (p=0.016) and thoracic perimeter (p=0.020) were greater in the EGWG compared to the AGWG group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that maternal DNA methylation was associated with maternal TG and fasting insulin, fetal abdominal circumference, and fetal and neonate HC. The DMRs studied were enriched in 142 biological processes, 21 molecular functions,and 17 cellular components with terms directed for the fatty acids metabolism. Three DMGMs were identified:COL3A1, ITGA4 and KLRK1. INA targeted chronic diseases and maternal metabolism contributing to an epigenetic understanding of the involvement of GWG in maternal metabolism and fetal-neonatal growth.

The impact of telehealth applications on pregnancy outcomes and costs in high-risk pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Telehealth is an applicable, acceptable, cost-effective, easily accessible, and speedy method for pregnant women. This study aimed to examine the impact of telehealth applications on pregnancy outcomes and costs in high-risk pregnancies. Studies were selected from PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, and Clinical Key databases according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria from January to February 2021. Cochrane risk-of-bias tools were used in the quality assessment of the studies. Four observational and eight randomized controlled studies were included in this meta-analysis (telehealth: 135,875, control: 94,275). It was seen that the number of ultrasound (p < 0.01) and face-to-face visits (p < 0.01), fasting insulin (p < 0.01), hemoglobin A1C before delivery (p < 0.01), and emergency cesarean section rates (p = 0.05) were lower in the telehealth group. In the telehealth group, the women's use of antenatal corticosteroids (p = 0.03) and hypoglycemic medication at delivery (p = 0.03), the total of nursing interventions (p < 0.01), compliance with actual blood glucose measurements (p < 0.01), induction intervention at delivery (p = 0.003), and maternal mortality (p < 0.001) rates were higher. Two groups were similar in terms of the use of medical therapy, total gestational weight gain, health problems related to pregnancy, mode and complications of delivery, maternal intensive care unit admission, fetal-neonatal growth and development, neonatal health problems and mortality, follow-up, and care costs. Telehealth and routine care yielded similar maternal/neonatal health and cost outcomes. It can be said that telehealth is a safe technique to work with in the management of high-risk pregnancies.

Maternal depression and anxiety and fetal-neonatal growth

ObjectiveMaternal depression and anxiety have been found to negatively affect fetal and neonatal growth. However, the independent effects of maternal depression and anxiety on fetal-neonatal growth outcomes and trajectories remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze simultaneously the effects of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on (1) neonatal growth outcomes, and (2), on fetal-neonatal growth trajectories, from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy to childbirth. MethodsA sample of 172 women was recruited and completed self‐reported measures of depression and anxiety during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, and at childbirth. Fetal and neonatal biometrical data were collected from clinical reports at the same assessment moments. ResultsNeonates of prenatally anxious mothers showed lower weight (p=0.006), length (p=0.025), and ponderal index (p=0.049) at birth than neonates of prenatally non‐anxious mothers. Moreover, fetuses‐neonates of high‐anxiety mothers showed a lower increase of weight from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy to childbirth than fetuses‐neonates of low‐anxiety mothers (p<0.001). Considering maternal depression and anxiety simultaneously, only the effect of maternal anxiety was found on these markers of fetal-neonatal growth outcomes and trajectories. ConclusionThis study demonstrates the independent longitudinal effect of maternal anxiety on major markers of fetal-neonatal growth outcomes and trajectories, simultaneously considering the effect of maternal depression and anxiety.

Maternal depression and anxiety and fetal-neonatal growth

ObjectiveMaternal depression and anxiety have been found to negatively affect fetal and neonatal growth. However, the independent effects of maternal depression and anxiety on fetal-neonatal growth outcomes and trajectories remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze simultaneously the effects of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on (1) neonatal growth outcomes, and (2), on fetal-neonatal growth trajectories, from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy to childbirth. MethodsA sample of 172 women was recruited and completed self-reported measures of depression and anxiety during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, and at childbirth. Fetal and neonatal biometrical data were collected from clinical reports at the same assessment moments. ResultsNeonates of prenatally anxious mothers showed lower weight (p=0.006), length (p=0.025), and ponderal index (p=0.049) at birth than neonates of prenatally non-anxious mothers. Moreover, fetuses-neonates of high-anxiety mothers showed a lower increase of weight from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy to childbirth than fetuses-neonates of low-anxiety mothers (p<0.001). Considering maternal depression and anxiety simultaneously, only the effect of maternal anxiety was found on these markers of fetal-neonatal growth outcomes and trajectories. ConclusionThis study demonstrates the independent longitudinal effect of maternal anxiety on major markers of fetal-neonatal growth outcomes and trajectories, simultaneously considering the effect of maternal depression and anxiety.

Kinetic and autoradiographic studies on binding of hCG to the testicular LH receptors of neonatal rats.

The properties of hCG binding to LH receptors of the neonatal (5-day-old) rat testis were analysed and compared with those of the adult testis. The equilibrium association constants (Ka) of hCG-binding were similar at both ages, 2-4 X 10(10) M-1. In contrast, kinetic binding studies revealed that the association and dissociation rate constants of hCG binding were more rapid in the neonatal testis. Likewise, it was observed that the progression from loose (easily dissociable) to tight (non-dissociable) binding was less complete in the young than in the adult testis. Autoradiography of 125I-labelled hCG binding to interstitial cell suspensions at the two ages showed that the gonadotrophin binding per Leydig cell was about 50% lower in the neonatal testis. Conversely, since the surface area of adult Leydig cells was about 4-fold larger, the receptor density appeared to be higher in the neonatal Leydig cells. The rapid recovery of LH receptors after hCG stimulation, typical of the neonatal cells, was due to rapid replenishment of binding in the cells initially occupied by the injected hormone, rather than to an hCG-induced increase of Leydig cell number. Finally, in-vivo experiments with cycloheximide revealed that the rapid recovery of LH receptors was dependent on protein synthesis. These differences in the kinetics of neonatal testicular LH receptor turnover may be involved in the unique functional features of the fetal-neonatal growth phase of rat testicular Leydig cells.

Absence of gonadotropin-induced desensitization of testosterone production in the neonatal rat testis

The formation of testosterone and some of its precursors (pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione) was studied in response to hCG stimulation in neonatal (5-day-old) and adult (60-day-old) male rats. Evidence for a biphasic testosterone response was observed at both ages, with a sharp increase within the first hours, and a secondary peak at 2–3 days after the hormone injection, when monitored by intratesticular and serum steroid measurements. The decreased testosterone production between the two peaks coincided in the adult animals with a marked increase of progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone production, in keeping with the known gonadotropin-induced lesions of testicular androgen production. In contrast, no increase in C21-form testosterone precursors could be observed in the neonatal rat. When in vitro testicular production of cAMP, testosterone and progesterone was studied at the two ages 24 h after the hCG injection, a decrease in extracellular cAMP and testosterone but an increase in progesterone was observed in the adult testis. In the neonate, cAMP production was decreased, but testosterone production stayed high, and progesterone production increased only marginally. The present results indicate that the adult-type steroidogenic lesions following in vivo hCG stimulation, resulting in decreased testosterone production and accumulation of C21 steroid precursors, are not operative during the fetal-neonatal growth phase of rat testis Leydig cells.