Health Status Of Offspring Research Articles

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes following taxane use during pregnancy: a systematic review

BackgroundThe use of taxanes following the first trimester of pregnancy is endorsed by current clinical guidelines. However, evidence regarding their safety in terms of obstetric and neonatal outcomes is limited.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was performed using the MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Web of Sciences databases from their inception up to 12/16/2022. Eligibility criteria included gestational taxane use, presentation of original findings, and individual case data presented. A descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken.ResultsA total of 159 patients treated with taxane-containing regimens during pregnancy were identified, resulting in 162 fetuses exposed in utero. The majority of patients had breast cancer (n = 88; 55.3%) or cervical cancer (n = 45; 28.3%). The most commonly employed taxane was paclitaxel (n = 131; 82.4%). A total of 111 (69.8%) patients were also treated with other cytotoxic drugs during pregnancy, including platinum salts (n = 70; 63.0%) and doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (n = 20; 18.0%). While most patients received taxanes during the second trimester of pregnancy (n = 79; 70.0%), two were exposed to taxanes in the first trimester.Obstetric outcomes were reported in 105 (66.0%) cases, with the most frequent adverse events being preterm contractions or premature rupture of membranes (n = 12; 11.4%), pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (n = 6; 5.7%), and oligohydramnios/anhydramnios (n = 6; 5.7%). All cases with pregnancy outcome available resulted in live births (n = 132). Overall, 72 (54.5%) neonates were delivered preterm, 40 (30.3%) were classified as small for gestational age (SGA), and 2 (1.5%) had an Apgar score of < 7 at 5 min. Perinatal complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 14; 10.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (n = 5; 3.8%), and hypoglycemia (n = 2; 1.5%). In addition, 7 (5.3%) cases of congenital malformations were reported. At a median follow-up of 16 months, offspring health status was available for 86 (65.2%), of which 13 (15.1%) had a documented complication, including delayed speech development, recurrent otitis media, and acute myeloid leukemia.ConclusionsTaxanes appear to be safe following the first trimester of pregnancy, with obstetric and fetal outcomes being similar to those observed in the general obstetric population. Future studies should aim to determine the most effective taxane regimen and dosage for use during gestation, with a specific focus on treatment safety.

The influence of maternal diet on offspring's gut microbiota in early life.

The influence of maternal diet on offspring's health is an area of study that is linked to epigenetics. Maternal diet contributes to determining the health status of offspring and maternally linked mechanisms and is a global health challenge that requires attention. The impact of gut microbiota on host metabolism and offspring health is still not established. In this review, we intend to discuss the evidence on the impact of maternal diet and the health of offspring gut microbiota. The paper focuses on the gut microbiome of animal models. It captures the maternal diet and its influence on the offspring's gut microbiota, behavior that is supported by cell experimental results. Both inflammation and immune status of offspring induced by maternal diet are discussed. Finally, this review used predicted biological pathways involved inmaternal diet and offspring health, and the influence of maternal diet on gut microbiota and offspring behavior. Obesity, diabetes, asthma and allergies, and neurodegenerative disorders and prospects for maternal diet, and microbiota and offspring health were discussed. The review was able to gather that a high-fat diet during pregnancy created a long-lasting metabolic signature on the infant's innate immune system, altering inflammation in the offspring microbiota, which predisposed offspring to obesity and metabolic diseases in adulthood.

COVID-19 and Reproduction: An Experience from Wuhan

The history of human social development is also the history of human struggle against infectious diseases. Up to now, COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has not ended yet, but since the early stage of the epidemic, the public and scientists have been very concerned about the impact of the virus on fertility. Wuhan, China is the first city to be hit by the COVID-19 epidemic in China. More than 344 medical teams (totaling 42000 medical team members) from other provinces in China concentrated their efforts to rescued Wuhan at that time. Regarding maternal health, the government, medical institutions, and experts strived to play their respective roles. They promptly announced the designated hospitals provide medical services for uninfected or suspected/infected pregnancy women; tried their best to ensure the demand and safety of medical treatment for pregnant and postpartum women; actively conducted scientific research on pregnant women and health status of offspring. Looking back on COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control in the past few years, we have gained a lot of experience and lessons. For example, all of us should strengthen the connections between various departments of the country, improve urban governance in response to major infectious diseases, accelerate the development of science and technology as well as enhance international cooperation. In the future, we will continue to coexist with pathogenic microorganisms on this Earth. Hope every battle against infectious diseases can promote us to have a deeper understanding of nature, technology, and social development, and accumulate more experience to support survivors live a better life.

Growth, reproduction, fatty acid profiles and offspring performance of broodstock yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco fed diets with different lipid levels

Parental nutrition plays important roles in reproductive performance and offspring health of broodstock yellow catfish. However, there is a lack of relevant knowledge concerning the broodstocks of many fish species. This study investigated the influence of dietary lipid levels on growth, spawning performance, tissue fatty acid profiles, sex hormone secretion, and offspring health status of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Five experimental diets were designed containing a 7:3 ratio of fish oil and corn oil blends with graded lipid levels (6.3%, 8.2%, 10.8%, 12.2%, and 14.4% by dry weight) and were fed to female broodstock yellow catfish for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain, egg diameter, fertilization ratio, and hatching ratio increased initially and then decreased with increasing dietary lipid levels, reaching optimal peaks in the L10.8 group. Broodstock fed a diet with 10.8% lipid obtained the highest 17-β estradiol concentration. The deposition of highly unsaturated fatty acids in tissues increased initially and then decreased with the increase in dietary lipids, reaching a peak in the 10.8% group. Plasma superoxide dismutase activity and total glutathione content were lowest in fish fed a diet with a 6.3% lipid level, while the contents of malondialdehyde and cortisol in larvae 3 days post-hatching showed an opposite trend, indicating that a low-fat diet reduced the antioxidant capacity of broodstock and induced a stress response that had negative effects on offspring health. Broodstock fed a diet with an appropriate lipid level could increase the expression of antioxidant enzymes by activating the nrf2 signaling pathway. Based on the regression of dietary lipid level and weight gain, reproductive performance, and egg quality of fish, the optimal dietary lipid level was 10.1–11.7% for broodstock yellow catfish.

Exercise intervention during pregnancy induces DNA methylation alterations in maternal blood and cord blood.

Exercise intervention during pregnancy induces DNA methylation alterations in maternal blood and cord blood.

Regulatory role of myo-inositol in the ovarian development of female Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

The ovarian development of female crab can directly affect the nutritional value, broodstock fertility and health status of offspring and are essential for the success of the crab industry. This study evaluates the influences of dietary myo-inositol (MI) on the ovarian development of female Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). Three diets containing different MI levels (0, 1600 and 3200 mg/kg) were fed to 144 crabs (initial weight: 72.38 ± 2.53 g) for 13 weeks. Crabs fed the diets with 1600, and 3200 mg/kg MI supplementation had significantly higher gonadosomatic index and yolk granule deposition in the ovary than those fed diets without MI supplementation. Crabs fed 1600 and 3200 mg/kg MI supplementation significantly enhanced vitellogenin synthesis in the hepatopancreas, vitellogenin contents in the hemolymph and vitellogenin receptor mRNA level in the ovary compared with those fed diets without MI supplementation. Simultaneously, cyclic adenosine monophosphate content and gene expression of retinoid X receptor, protein kinase A and ecdysteroid receptor in the hepatopancreas, and ecdysteroid content in hemolymph significantly increased when 1600 and 3200 mg/kg MI were supplemented in diets. Moreover, crabs fed 1600 and 3200 mg/kg MI supplementation had significantly higher lipid content in the ovary than those fed the diets without MI supplementation. The neutral lipid content in the hepatopancreas tended to decrease as the dietary MI level increased, while the polar lipid content in the hepatopancreas and the neutral and polar lipid contents in the ovary tended to increase. Dietary MI supplementation significantly enhanced the expression of genes related to lipid catabolism, lipid absorption and transport in the hepatopancreas, and gene expression related to lipid absorption in the ovary, suggesting that MI could promote the transport of lipids to the ovary from the hepatopancreas for ovarian development. This study indicates that dietary 1600 mg/kg MI supplementation is sufficient to promote the ovarian development of E. sinensis.

Evidence that elevation of maternal somatic cell count could lead to production of offspring with inferior reproductive and productive performance in dairy cows during the first lactation period

Although the effect of mastitis on reproduction and production of lactating dairy cows has been vastly studied, little information is available about the association of maternal udder health status with offspring reproduction and production. Therefore, the present research was conducted to study the association between maternal average monthly somatic cell count (SCC) with reproduction, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration, udder health status and milk production in the offspring. Based on maternal average monthly SCC (MSCC), offspring were classified into five categories including MSCC1 (SCC <200,000; n = 3005), MSCC2 (200,000 ≤ SCC <400,000; n = 252), MSCC3 (400,000 ≤ SCC <600,000; n = 103), MSCC4 (600,000 ≤ SCC <800,000; n = 40) and MSCC5 (SCC ≥800,000; n = 61). Data associated with reproduction, production and udder health status of offspring were retrieved from the herd database. In addition, blood samples were collected from a subset of offspring (n = 136) for measurement of serum AMH, as a reliable marker of ovarian reserves. Offspring in MSCC5 category had more services per conception and longer calving to conception interval than offspring in MSCC1 and MSCC2 categories (P < 0.05). The average number of SCC and risk of clinical mastitis in the offspring were not associated with MSCC (P > 0.05). But offspring in MSCC5 category produced less milk, fat and protein than offspring in MSCC1 category (P < 0.05). In addition, AMH concentration was lower in MSCC5 than MSCC1 category (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study showed that elevated maternal average monthly SCC could culminate in birth of offspring with inferior reproductive performance, smaller size of ovarian reserves and lower level of milk production during the first lactation period.

Abstract WP246: Ischemic Outcome In Young And Adult Offspring After Maternal Dietary Deficiencies In One-carbon Metabolites During Pregnancy And Lactation

Maternal one-carbon metabolism, including dietary levels of folic acid and choline, play an important role in early life programming. There is a well-established connection between the fetal environment and the health status of offspring. However, there is a gap in knowledge on how maternal nutrition will affect the health status of the offspring after a cardiovascular event like ischemic stroke. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of maternal dietary deficiencies in folic acid or choline on stroke outcome in 3- and 10-month-old male and female offspring. Adult female mice were fed a folic acid deficient diet (FADD), a choline deficient diet (ChDD), or a control diet (CD) four weeks prior to pregnancy to deplete stores, they were continued on diets during pregnancy and lactation. Male and female offspring were weaned onto a control diet and at 2 or 10 months of age were subject to ischemic stroke within the sensorimotor cortex via the photothrombosis ischemic damage model. At 3 or 11 months of age, motor function was measured in offspring and tissue was collected for analysis. Mothers maintained on either a FADD or ChDD had reduced levels of S -adenosylmethionine in liver tissue compared to controls. In offspring after ischemic stroke, motor function was impaired in 3-month-old male and female offspring from deficient mothers compared to control diet offspring. In 11-month-old mice there was no impact of maternal diet on motor function, but we observed sex differences. Male middle-aged adult mice had worse motor function compared to female offspring. In brain tissue, there was no impact of maternal diet on ischemic damage volume in 3-month-old animals. Interestingly, maternal diet impacted ischemic damage in 10-month-old male and female offspring. Neurodegeneration and choline metabolism in ischemic brain tissue was also impacted in 3 and 11-month-old offspring. The findings of our study suggest that a maternal diet deficient in either choline or folic acid impacts stroke outcome in young animals compared to middle-aged animals. These results points to the important role of the maternal diet in early life programming, while emphasizing its effects on both fetal development and long-term cerebrovascular health.

A retrospective study of pregnancy outcomes when intravenous immunoglobulin is used for the treatment of recurrent spontaneous miscarriages with subchorionic hematoma

Objective: To investigate the incidence of subchorionic hematoma (SCH), pregnancy outcomes and health status of offspring in patients with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSA) treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Methods: The records of 775 patients with RSA were retrospectively reviewed. RSA with SCH were all treated with IVIg. Pregnancy outcomes examined were the rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term birth, and live birth. The pregnancy complications and comorbidities examined included oligohydramnios, hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, premature membrane rupture, placental adhesions, placenta previa, postpartum hemorrhage, placental abruption, and low birth weight. The health status of offspring of RSA patients with SCH was followed up by telephone, record physical and neurodevelopmental performance, and diseases under 5 years old, then compare with common children. Based on the ratio of SCH volume to that of the gestational sac, SCH was divided into small (ratio &lt; 20%), moderate (ratio = 20%–50%), and large (ratio &gt; 50%). Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0. Comparison of continuous variables was analyzed using t-test. Categorical variables were compared by using χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test. Multivariable logistic regression was used for adjusting certain confounders. Results: Of the 775 patients with RSA, 110 RSA had a SCH (incidence = 14.2%). SCH was firstly found at 8.29 (5.00–11.58) weeks pregnant. There was no statistical difference in age, number of pregnancies, parity and miscarriages between patients with and without an SCH. The incidence of SCH in in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) patients was higher than in natural pregnancy patients (27.9% vs. 13.1%, P &lt; 0.05). RSA with SCH patients with pregnancy outcome data called Group A (n = 94), RSA without SCH patients with pregnancy outcome data called Group B (n = 556), the rates of miscarriage (17.0% vs.12.4%), stillbirth (0 vs. 0.4%), pre-term delivery (9.6% vs. 10.8%), live birth (84.7% vs. 80.9%), and pregnancy complications were not different between Group A and B. The rate of vaginal bleeding in the Group A was higher than in the Group B (P &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the birth weight, the rate of low birth weight infants, neonatal asphyxia, or neonatal pneumonia between the groups. 43 puerpera in the experimental group were willing to receive telephone follow-up, who gave birth from December 2015 to November 2016. A total of 43 live births were delivered. By March 2022, the children were 5 years and 4 months old to 6 years and 3 months old. There is no difference in the physical development compared with common children. A child was diagnosed with neuropsychological delay. The incidence rate of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) was 27.9 per 1000 person-years for children under 5 years. In patients with a SCH and vaginal bleeding, the rate of preterm birth was 16.7%. The rate of preterm birth was highest (36.4%) in RSA patients with a large SCH, and only 5.7% in patients with a small SCH (P &lt; 0.05). Patients treated with IVIg had mild adverse reactions such as hypothermia, dizziness, and rash with rates of 1.8%, 1.8%, and 0.9%, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of SCH was 14.2% in RSA. Pregnancy outcomes were similar between the RSA patients with a SCH treated with IVIg treatment and RSA patients without a SCH. There is no difference in the physical development between offspring of RSA with SCH and common children, and effect of SCH on neurodevelopment of offspring needs to be further verified by expanding the sample size. RSA patient with a SCH are prone to have vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. For RSA patients with a SCH and vaginal bleeding, or SCH volume ratio &gt; 50%, even after IVIg, still leads to a significantly higher preterm birth rate.

Maternal fiber deprivation alters microbiota in offspring, resulting in low-grade inflammation and predisposition to obesity

Diet, especially fiber content, plays an important role in sustaining a healthy gut microbiota, which promotes intestinal and metabolic health. Another major determinant of microbiota composition is the specific microbes that are acquired early in life, especially maternally. Consequently, we hypothesized that alterations in maternal diet during lactation might lastingly impact the microbiota composition and health status of offspring. Accordingly, we observed that feeding lactating dams low-fiber diets resulted in offspring with lasting microbiota dysbiosis, including reduced taxonomic diversity and increased abundance of Proteobacteria species, despite the offspring consuming a fiber-rich diet. Such microbiota dysbiosis was associated with increased encroachment of bacteria into inner mucus layers, low-grade gut inflammation, and a dramatically exacerbated microbiota-dependent increase in adiposity following exposure to an obesogenic diet. Thus, maternal diet is a critical long-lasting determinant of offspring microbiota composition, impacting gut health and proneness to obesity and its associated disorders.

Perspective: Re-defining "Pheromone" in a Mammalian Context to Encompass Seminal Fluid.

The classical view of “pheromone”—an air-borne chemical signal—is challenged by the camelids in which ovulation is triggered by ß-nerve growth factor carried in seminal plasma, effectively extending the pheromone concept to a new medium. We propose further extension of “pheromone” to include a separate class of seminal fluid molecules that acts on the female reproductive tract to enhance the prospect of pregnancy. These molecules include transforming growth factor-ß, 19-OH prostaglandins, various ligands of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), and cyclic ADP ribose hydrolase (CD38). They modulate the immune response to “foreign” male-derived histocompatibility antigens on both sperm and the conceptus, determine pre-implantation embryo development, and then promote implantation by increasing uterine receptivity to the embryo. The relative abundance of these immunological molecules in seminal plasma determines the strength and quality of the immune tolerance that is generated in the female. This phenomenon has profound implications in reproductive biology because it provides a pathway, independent of the fertilizing sperm, by which paternal factors can influence the likelihood of reproductive success, as well as the phenotype and health status of offspring. Moreover, the female actively participates in this exchange—information in seminal fluid is subject to “cryptic female choice,” a process by which females interrogate the reproductive fitness of prospective mates and invest reproductive resources accordingly. These processes participate in driving the evolution of male accessory glands, ensuring optimal female reproductive investment and maximal progeny fitness. An expanded pheromone concept will avoid a constraint in our understanding of mammalian reproductive biology.

Parental high-fat high-sugar diet programming and hypothalamus adipose tissue axis in male Wistar rats.

Maternal nutrition during early development and paternal nutrition pre-conception can programme offspring health status. Hypothalamus adipose axis is a target of developmental programming, and paternal and maternal high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFS) may be an important factor that predisposes offspring to develop obesity later in life. This study aims to investigate Wistar rats' maternal and paternal HFS differential contribution on the development, adiposity, and hypothalamic inflammation in male offspring from weaning until adulthood. Male progenitors were fed a control diet (CD) or HFS for 10weeks before mating. After mating, dams were fed CD or HFS only during pregnancy and lactation. Forming the following male offspring groups: CD-maternal and paternal CD; MH-maternal HFS and paternal CD; PH-maternal CD and paternal HFS; PMH-maternal and paternal HFS. After weaning, male offspring were fed CD until adulthood. Maternal HFS diet increased weight, visceral adiposity, and serum total cholesterol levels, and decreased hypothalamic weight in weanling male rats. In adult male offspring, maternal HFS increased weight, glucose levels, and hypothalamic NFκBp65. Paternal HFS diet lowered hypothalamic insulin receptor levels in weanling offspring and glucose and insulin levels in adult offspring. The combined effects of maternal and paternal HFS diets increased triacylglycerol, leptin levels, and hypothalamic inflammation in weanling rats, and increased visceral adiposity in adulthood. Male offspring intake of CD diet after weaning reversed part of the effects of parental HFS diet during the perinatal period. However, maternal and paternal HFS diet affected adiposity and hypothalamic inflammation, which remained until adulthood.

Effect of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the Growth, Development, and Stem Cells of Offspring

Abstract The effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on offspring include macrosomia, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, cardiovascular disease, neural and mental injury, etc. The effects of GDM on the health status of offspring are sustained although pregnancy has ended. It has been proposed that fetal reprogramming causes long-term consequences to metabolic health in offspring. An intrauterine high-glucose environment may lead to changes in the multi-differentiation proficiency of intracorporal stem cells, showing decreased proliferation and osteogenic ability, increased adipogenic ability, accelerated apoptosis, and occurrence of premature failure. This environment also reduces the mobilization of bone marrow stem cells, whereas it increases that of medullary cells. This results in pro-inflammatory conditions and sustained inflammation in the body, thereby increasing the risk of obesity, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, and metabolic abnormalities. Stem cells derived from the amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, or placenta may be a reliable predictor of the long-term effects of GDM on offspring. The levels of blood glucose during pregnancy should be effectively controlled to reduce harm to the neonate.

Investigation of cholestasis-related changes in characteristics of spermatogonial stem cells in testis tissue of male Wistar rats.

Paternal metabolic status is an important factor in the health status of offspring. Cholestasis, as a metabolic disorder, significantly disrupts spermatogenesis. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are considered the dividing germ cells, which maintain spermatogenesis throughout the lifespan. Here, we investigated the in vivo and in vitro effect(s) of cholestasis on SSCs. Cholestasis was induced in rats by bile duct ligation. Four weeks after the cholestasis induction, testicular tissues were analysed using histopathological examinations. The expression of SSC markers, including Plzf and Thy-1, was determined using the immunofluorescent technique. Also, SSCs were isolated from animals, and their proliferation was examined in vitro. The histological examinations revealed that cholestasis caused irregularities in the structure of seminal tubes. Immunostaining showed that the total number of Thy-1- and Plzf-expressing cells was declined in the cholestasis group compared with the control group. In vitro culture of SSCs indicated that the number of SSC colonies and those expressing Plzf were significantly reduced in the culture medium of the cholestasis group. Our results indicated that cholestasis affects the functionality of SSCs and reduces the number and proliferation of them. This finding may be of interest to the effect of metabolic diseases such as cholestasis on spermatogenesis.

Impact of Maternal High Stocking Density during the Dry Period on Dairy Calf Health, Behaviour, and Welfare.

Simple SummaryNegative impacts of stressful maternal experience during pregnancy on offspring health and behaviour have been reported in various mammalian species including humans, laboratory animals, and farm animals. This study investigated the effect of limited space allowance for dairy cows during late gestation on the growth and behaviour of their offspring during the pre-weaning period. Our results indicated associations between maternal high stocking density and a higher frequency of social behaviours and increased behavioural reactivity to weaning in offspring. Maternal high stocking density also reduced behavioural reactions of healthy offspring to a painful procedure. However, there was no association between maternal high stocking density and offspring growth or behaviour in the first week of life. To our knowledge, this study is the first to attempt to demonstrate associations between maternal stocking density during late pregnancy and offspring behaviour in dairy cattle.This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal stocking density during late pregnancy (approximately 60 ± 4 days before calving) on offspring performance during the pre-weaning period. Forty-five dairy calves were born to cows that went through either industry minimum standards (H: n = 24, high stocking density) or more extensive space allowances (L: n = 21, low stocking density) during the dry period. Body weight and average daily gain during the pre-weaning period (day 1–49) were measured. Observations were made of: (i) activity levels (day 2–6); ii) the level of training required to use an automatic feeder, and behavioural reactions to the group environment (d7); (iii) feeding and social behaviour in the group pen (day 7–21); and (iv) responses to weaning (day 40–49) and disbudding (day 28+). Compared to L calves, H calves made more frequent social contacts with pen mates in the group pen (p = 0.003) and decreased their lying time around weaning (p = 0.045). Among the healthy calves, L calves displayed more severe behavioural reactions to the disbudding procedure (p < 0.001), a significant increase in salivary cortisol concentrations (p = 0.013), and more frequent pain-related behaviour (p = 0.036). This study indicated associations between maternal stocking density during late pregnancy and some welfare-relevant offspring outcomes during the pre-weaning period; these effects were found to be modulated by offspring health status.

Research progress in relation of Helicobacter pylori infection with pregnancy-related diseases and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a Gram-negative microaerobic bacterium, which is parasitic on gastric mucosa and is associated with the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and other gastric diseases. Meanwhile, the Hp infection is related with pregnancy-related diseases, pregnancy outcomes, and the health status of offspring, such as infertility, premature delivery, abortion, Hp infection of newborn and neural tube defects. Hp infection is also related to hyperemesis of pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, iron deficiency anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. It has been suggested that early diagnosis and eradication of Hp and standardized the anti-Hp treatment will benefit pregnant women and their offspring.

Sulfur-containing amino acid supplementation to gilts from late pregnancy to lactation altered offspring's intestinal microbiota and plasma metabolites.

Maternal nutrition during late pregnancy and lactation is highly involved with the offspring's health status. The study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different ratios of methionine and cysteine (Met/Cys: 46% Met, 51% Met, 56% Met, and 62% Met; maintained with 0.78% of total sulfur-containing amino acids; details in "Materials and methods") supplements in the sows' diet from late pregnancy to lactation on offspring's plasma metabolomics and intestinal microbiota. The results revealed that the level of serum albumin, calcium, iron, and magnesium was increased in the 51% Met group compared with the 46% Met, 56% Met, and 62% Met groups. Plasma metabolomics results indicated that the higher ratios of methionine and cysteine (0.51% Met, 0.56% Met, and 0.62% Met)-supplemented groups enriched the level of hippuric acid, retinoic acid, riboflavin, and δ-tocopherol than in the 46% Met group. Furthermore, the 51% Met-supplemented group had a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes compared with the other three groups (P < 0.05), while the 62% Met-supplemented group increased the abundance of Proteobacteria compared with the other three groups (P < 0.05) in piglets' intestine. These results indicated that a diet consisting with 51% Met is the optimum Met/Cys ratio from late pregnancy to lactation can maintain the offspring's health by improving the serum biochemical indicators and altering the plasma metabolomics profile and intestinal gut microbiota composition, but higher proportion of Met/Cys may increase the possible risk to offspring's health.

Effects of dietary supplementation with lysozyme during late gestation and lactation stage on the performance of sows and their offspring.

This study investigated the effects of supplementing sow diets with lysozyme during the late gestation to lactation stage on the performance of sows and their offspring. Sixty sows (Yorkshire × Landrace, 3 to 6 of parity) at day 85 of gestation were allocated to the following 3 dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a basal diet from late gestation to lactation (control, n = 20), 2) sows fed a basal diet with lysozyme 150 g/t (LZM 150, n = 20), and 3) sows fed a basal diet with lysozyme 300 g/t (LZM 300, n = 20). During the lactation period, sows fed diets containing lysozyme had increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P < 0.01) and decreased weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI, P < 0.05), but there were no significant effects on backfat during the trial among treatments. Sows fed lysozyme diets had increased (P < 0.05) serum concentration of total protein (TP) compared with those fed the control diets. Serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) of the sows increased (P < 0.05) on day 1 of lactation, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) increased (P < 0.05) on day 7 of lactation, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) had a tendency to increase (P = 0.05) during the lactation. Milk concentration of IgA increased (P < 0.05) on day 1 and 7 of lactation and tended to be greater (P = 0.06) on day 21 of lactation. No significant differences among the dietary treatments were observed in placental tissue mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), or the concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, or secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Moreover, there was a decrease (P < 0.05) in stillborn in sows fed lysozyme diets. The diarrhea rate decreased (P < 0.05) and serum concentrations of IgA, IgG, IgM, and IL-10 increased (P < 0.05) in piglets from sows fed the diets containing lysozyme compared with piglets from sows fed the control diet. The serum concentrations of TP increased (P < 0.05), and albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) had a tendency to increase (P = 0.08, P = 0.06) in piglets from sows fed the diets containing lysozyme compared with piglets from sows fed the control diet. In conclusion, this study indicates that feeding sows diets supplemented with lysozyme from the late gestation through lactation stage increased sow ADFI during the lactation, shortened the WEI, and improved the maternal and offspring health status as indicated by immunological characteristics and a reduced incidence of diarrhea in piglets.

The Impact of Nutritional Interventions in Pregnant Women on DNA Methylation Patterns of the Offspring: A Systematic Review.

Epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated that environmental exposures in early life are associated with later-life health status and disease susceptibility. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, have been suggested as potential mechanisms linking the intrauterine environment with offspring health status. The present systematic review compiles peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of maternal nutritional interventions on DNA methylation patterns of the offspring. The results of the included trials are consistent with micronutrient supplementation not significantly affecting offspring tissue DNA methylation patterns, yet subgrouping by sex, BMI, and smoking status increased the significance of nutritional supplementation on DNA methylation. Maternal BMI and smoking status as well as offspring sex were factors influencing offspring DNA methylation responsiveness to nutritional interventions during pregnancy. Future research should aim at assessing the impact of nutritional interventions on DNA methylation patterns of neonates comparing single versus multi-micronutrient supplementation, within populations having high versus low baseline nutritional statuses.

POHaD: why we should study future fathers.

The growing field of ‘Developmental Origin of Health and Disease’ (DOHaD) generally reflects environmental influences from mother to child. The importance of maternal lifestyle, diet and other environmental exposures before and during gestation period is well recognized. However, few epidemiological designs explore potential influences from the paternal environment on offspring health. This is surprising given that numerous animal models have provided evidence that the paternal environment plays a role in a non-genetic inheritance of pre-conceptional exposures through the male germ line. Recent findings in humans suggest that the epigenome of sperm cells can indeed be affected by paternal exposures. Defects in epigenetic sperm mechanisms may result in persistent modifications, affecting male fertility or offspring health status. We addressed this issue at the LATSIS Symposium ‘Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance: Impact for Biology and Society’, in Zürich, 28–30 August 2017, and here provide important arguments why environmental and lifestyle-related exposures in young men should be studied. The Paternal Origins of Health and Disease (POHaD) paradigm was introduced to stress the need for more research on the role of the father in the transmission of acquired environmental messages from his environment to his offspring. A better understanding of pre-conceptional origins of disease through the paternal exposome will be informative to the field of transgenerational epigenetics and will ultimately help instruct and guide public health policies in the future.