Maternal Age Research Articles

South Korean first-time mothers' knowledge of digestive health problems in infancy and their utilization of health care facilities for digestive health concerns: a descriptive study.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of first-time mothers regarding digestive health issues in infancy and to examine the utilization of healthcare facilities for such problems. Data from 119 first-time mothers of infants under 6 months of age were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted using the SPSS software. The average correct response rate for first-time mothers' knowledge of digestive health problems in infancy was 61.9%. The highest correct response rate was observed for infantile colic, while diarrhea had the lowest. Less than 50% of mothers received education on infant digestive health problems across all categories. Among digestive health problems in infancy, diarrhea exhibited the highest rate of healthcare utilization, whereas infantile colic had the lowest. First-time mothers' knowledge of digestive health problems in infancy varied based on maternal age (t=-3.66, p<.001), education level (t=-2.26, p=.026), and planned pregnancy (t=3.24, p=.002). Moreover, mothers who received education on infant digestive health problems demonstrated better overall knowledge of digestive health problems. The rate of education regarding digestive health problems during infancy among first-time mothers was < 50%. Furthermore, mothers educated on infant digestive health issues exhibited improved knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to provide appropriate pre-education to primiparous common gastrointestinal health issues in infants.

Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Kejadian Anemia pada Ibu Hamil

This study aims to determine what factors are related to the incidence of anemia in pregnant women at the Sota Health Center, Merauke Regency. The research method used is an analytical observational study or analytical survey with a cross-sectional research design. The study results showed a significant relationship between Compliance with Fe consumption and the incidence of anemia in pregnant women, as evidenced by a p-value of 0.001. There was no relationship between Maternal Age (p-value 0.345), Gestational Age (p-value 0.678), Education (p-value 0.699), Income (p-value 0.163), and Parity (p-value 0.911) with the incidence of anemia in pregnant women. In conclusion, of the six independent variables, 1 () factor has a relationship, namely compliance with Fe consumption, with the incidence of anemia in pregnant women. In contrast, the other five factors have no relationship with the incidence of anemia in pregnant women. Keywords: Anemia, Pregnant Women

Analysis of early-pregnancy metabolome in early- and late-onset gestational diabetes reveals distinct associations with maternal overweight.

It is not known whether the early-pregnancy metabolome differs in patients with early- vs late-onset gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) stratified by maternal overweight. The aims of this study were to analyse correlations between early-pregnancy metabolites and maternal glycaemic and anthropometric characteristics, and to identify early-pregnancy metabolomic alterations that characterise lean women (BMI <25 kg/m2) and women with overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) with early-onset GDM (E-GDM) or late-onset GDM (L-GDM). We performed a nested case-control study within the population-based prospective Early Diagnosis of Diabetes in Pregnancy cohort, comprising 210 participants with GDM (126 early-onset, 84 late-onset) and 209 normoglycaemic control participants matched according to maternal age, BMI class and primiparity. Maternal weight, height and waist circumference were measured at 8-14 weeks' gestation. A 2 h 75 g OGTT was performed at 12-16 weeks' gestation (OGTT1), and women with normal results underwent repeat testing at 24-28 weeks' gestation (OGTT2). Comprehensive metabolomic profiling of fasting serum samples, collected at OGTT1, was performed by untargeted ultra-HPLC-MS. Linear models were applied to study correlations between early-pregnancy metabolites and maternal glucose concentrations during OGTT1, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, BMI and waist circumference. Early-pregnancy metabolomic features for GDM subtypes (participants stratified by maternal overweight and gestational timepoint at GDM onset) were studied using linear and multivariate models. The false discovery rate was controlled using the Benjamini-Hochberg method. In the total cohort (n=419), the clearest correlation patterns were observed between (1) maternal glucose concentrations and long-chain fatty acids and medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines; (2) maternal BMI and/or waist circumference and long-chain fatty acids, medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines, phospholipids, and aromatic and branched-chain amino acids; and (3) HOMA-IR and/or fasting insulin and L-tyrosine, certain long-chain fatty acids and phospholipids (q<0.001). Univariate analyses of GDM subtypes revealed significant differences (q<0.05) for seven non-glucose metabolites only in overweight women with E-GDM compared with control participants: linolenic acid, oleic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosatetraenoic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine 20:4/0:0 abundances were higher, whereas levels of specific phosphatidylcholines (P-16:0/18:2 and 15:0/18:2) were lower. However, multivariate analyses exploring the early-pregnancy metabolome of GDM subtypes showed differential clustering of acylcarnitines and long-chain fatty acids between normal-weight and overweight women with E- and L-GDM. GDM subtypes show distinct early-pregnancy metabolomic features that correlate with maternal glycaemic and anthropometric characteristics. The patterns identified suggest early-pregnancy disturbances of maternal lipid metabolism, with most alterations observed in overweight women with E-GDM. Our findings highlight the importance of maternal adiposity as the primary target for prevention and treatment.

How do maternal socioeconomic and behavioral patterns affect oral health in early childhood?

A prospective longitudinal observational cohort study. The data analyzed were derived from a comprehensive observational study on BRISA prenatal cohort conducted in São Luís City, Brazil, between 2010 and 2013. A convenience sample included pregnant women recruited from both public and private prenatal health services in the city. To participate in the study, women needed to have undergone an obstetric ultrasound before the 20th week of pregnancy to estimate gestational age. Multiple pregnancies were excluded. Initially, the pregnant women were interviewed and assessed for oral health indicators between the 22nd and 25th weeks of pregnancy. A follow-up interview was conducted within 48 h after delivery. In the child's second year, the mothers were re-interviewed, and the children were examined for the second follow-up. The study received approval from the local ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The research followed the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational studies. At baseline, a structured questionnaire was used to gather sociodemographic and lifestyle information like maternal age, family income, education level, occupation of the family head, pre-gestational BMI, alcohol and soft drink consumption, and smoking status during pregnancy. Dental examinations were conducted by 6 trained and calibrated dentists who assessed DMFT index and periodontal health indicators. In the second follow-up, children's oral health was evaluated using visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding, and the modified dmft index. Children's weight and height were measured by a digital scale, and BMI z-scores were calculated based on WHO standards. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake was categorized by terciles based on the percentage of total daily energy from these beverages. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze multiple pathways among a set of latent and observed variables. Three latent variables were proposed and measured: Socioeconomic Status and Periodontal Maternal Status in the mothers, and Chronic Oral Disease Burden (CODB) in the children. CODB was inferred from 3 observed indicators: VPI, gingival bleeding, and tooth decay. Total, direct, and indirect effects were calculated for variables from the gestational period and the child's second year of life. In total, 1141 mother-child dyads were included. Periodontal Maternal Status correlated with more decayed teeth in pregnant women (standardized coefficient (SC) = 0.089; p = 0.008). Addictive risk behaviors were highly correlated, with SCs of 0.679 (p < 0.001) for alcohol and smoking, and 0.262 (p < 0.001) for soft drink and alcohol consumption. Obesity (SC = 0.081; p = 0.048) and added sugar consumption (SC = 0.142; p = 0.040) were interconnected across generations from pregnant women to their offspring. Children's consumption of sugar was strongly associated with CODB (SC = 0.357; p = 0.005). Caries and periodontitis were correlated in pregnant women. Obesity and sugar consumption have intergenerational impacts. Early sugar intake relates to CODB in early childhood. Intergenerational behavioral risks affect oral health in the first 1000 days of life, influencing long-term health outcomes.

Effects of sanitation on child growth in Serbian Roma communities

Abstract Poor sanitation may be associated with growth faltering, but empirical evidence on the association between household sanitation infrastructure and child nutrition has been mixed. This article assessed whether sanitation infrastructure is associated with growth penalties for Roma children. Design This is a Roma nationally representative population-based study. Proxies of child nutritional outcomes included children’s height-for-age Z scores below two standard deviations from the median of WHO’s reference population. Multiple and logistic regressions estimated the association between the type of toilet usage, outcomes, and sociodemographic determinants. Setting Data were from UNICEF’s fifth and sixth Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys for Serbian Roma settlements. Subjects Children aged 0–24 (n = 1,150) and 25–59 (n = 2,024) months born to women aged 15–48 years were included in this study. Results About 16% of children resided in households with no toilet service, and 23% of children were stunted. Roma children aged 25–59 months in households with no toilet service and in rural areas were more likely to be stunted and of significantly shorter stature than their counterparts. Children up to 24 months of age were not affected by the type of toilet, likely due to protective effects of breastfeeding. Child’s age, number of siblings, and birth spacing negatively influenced growth outcomes, while maternal age, birthweight above 2.5 kg, and being a female mitigated against poor growth outcomes. Conclusions The relationship between the type of toilet and growth outcomes among Roma children varied with age and area: having no toilet and living in rural areas were associated with compromised child growth for children aged 25–59 months. Maternal and child characteristics additionally accounted for children’s growth.

Maternal age enhances purifying selection on pathogenic mutations in complex I genes of mammalian mtDNA.

Mitochondrial diseases, caused mainly by pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, pose major challenges due to the lack of effective treatments. Investigating the patterns of maternal transmission of mitochondrial diseases could pave the way for preventive approaches. In this study, we used DddA-derived cytosine base editors (DdCBEs) to generate two mouse models, each haboring a single pathogenic mutation in complex I genes (ND1 and ND5), replicating those found in human patients. Our findings revealed that both mutations are under strong purifying selection during maternal transmission and occur predominantly during postnatal oocyte maturation, with increased protein synthesis playing a vital role. Interestingly, we discovered that maternal age intensifies the purifying selection, suggesting that older maternal age may offer a protective effect against the transmission of deleterious mtDNA mutations, contradicting the conventional notion that maternal age correlates with increased transmitted mtDNA mutations. As collecting comprehensive clinical data is needed to understand the relationship between maternal age and transmission patterns in humans, our findings may have profound implications for reproductive counseling of mitochondrial diseases, especially those involving complex I gene mutations.

Study of rs7759938, rs314280, and rs314276 Polymorphisms of LIN28B in Relation to Age at Menarche in Girls of Greek Descent.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in LIN28B, critical regulators of female growth and puberty, have been linked to age at menarche. We assessed the association of rs7759938, rs314280, and rs314276 with menarcheal age in girls of Greek descent. We reviewed the records of 248 girls who had their first menstruation before 18 years and who attended the Greek Departments of Pediatric Endocrinology from January 2021 to July 2023. Genotyping was performed by standard DNA-based methods. Association analyses involved both parametric and non-parametric tests. The average age of breast and pubic hair development was 9.95 years, and the age at menarche was 11.55 years. Menarche occurred ≤11 years (mean 10.24 years) in 108 girls (43.5%) and >11 years (mean 12.55 years) in 140 (56.5%). The girls' menarcheal age correlated significantly with that of their mothers (average 12.1 years, p-value < 0.0001, Spearman's r 0.350). The dominant rs7759938(TT) genotype was the most common (55.2%), followed by the dominant rs314276(CC) (53.2%) and dominant rs314280(TT) (14.5%) genotypes. There was no association between age at menarche and any of the polymorphism genotypes/alleles or between genotypes/alleles and birth weight, gestational week, mode of delivery, and maternal age at menarche. Future large sample studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid or multiple micronutrients containing folic acid and the risk for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

To investigate the association between supplementation containing folic acid only (FAO) or multiple micronutrients containing folic acid (MFA) and the risk for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP). The retrospective cohort study was based on data from women who gave birth from 2016 to 2018 at Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing, China. The outcomes were HDP diagnosed after the 20th week of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia, and eclampsia. Associations between supplementation patterns and HDP were estimated by Poisson loglinear regression models. Sensitivity analyses were based on pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal age. Among the 25,866 women included in the study, periconceptional use of FA supplementation marginally reduced the risk for HDP (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.04). Women who began FAO supplementation before conception had a lower risk for GH compared to those who began after conception (aRR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.45-0.78). The risk for HDP also reduced among FAO users who began supplementation before conception with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI (aRR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.49-0.84) and users ≥30 years old (aRR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.98). Periconceptional FAO supplementation may reduce the risk for HDP, especially GH. The protective effects are greater among women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI and those ≥ 30 years old.

Cardiac remodelling during pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease and systemic left ventricle.

Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk of pregnancy-related adverse outcomes (PRAO). The purpose of this study was to assess temporal changes in cardiac structure and function (cardiac remodelling) during pregnancy, and the association with PRAO in women with CHD. Retrospective study of pregnant women with CHD and serial echocardiograms (2003-2021). Cardiac structure and function were assessed at pre-specified time points: prepregnancy, early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and postnatal period. PRAO was defined as the composite of maternal cardiovascular, obstetric, and neonatal complications. The study comprised 81 women with CHD (age, 29 ± 5 years). Compared to the baseline echocardiogram, there was a relative increase in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) (relative change 13 ± 5%, P < 0.001, in early pregnancy; and 18 ± 5%, P < 0.001, in late pregnancy). There was a relative decrease in right ventricle free wall strain (RVFWS) (relative change -11 ± 3%, P < 0.001, in late pregnancy; and -11 ± 4%, P = 0.003, in postnatal period), and a relative decrease in RVFWS/RVSP (relative change, -10 ± 5%, P = 0.02 in early pregnancy, -26 ± 7%, P < 0.001, in late pregnancy, and -14 ± 5%, P < 0.001, in postnatal period). Baseline right ventricular to pulmonary arterial (RV-PA) coupling, and temporal change in RV-PA coupling were associated with PRAO, after adjustment for maternal age and severity of cardiovascular disease. Women with CHD had a temporal decrease in RV systolic function and RV-PA coupling, and these changes were associated with PRAO. Further studies are required to delineate the aetiology of deterioration in RV-PA coupling during pregnancy, and the long-term implications of right heart dysfunction observed in the postnatal period.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care

The complication associated with bacteriuria during pregnancy not only result increase morbidity of the mother but also have detrimental effects on the fetus which may result in preterm labor, fetal growth retardation, hypertension and anemia. Studies have shown that the fetal mortality rate was 2.4 times higher than in pregnancy associated with urinary tract infection.This study conducted to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women. A cross-sectional study carried out during the year 2017 at a tertiary care hospital Alkhadra in Tripoli/Libya. 200 pregnant women aged between 19-43 years attending the obstetrics and gynecology clinics were included in this study. From these patient’s mid- stream clean catch urine samples were collected and processed. The following information were obtained from the patients; demographic data, parity, abortion history, history of UTI, history of DM, Urine culture result, type of organism. The minimum age was 19 years and the oldest was 43 years old. The mean maternal age of the cases was 29.2 ± 3.1 years. The multiparous cases were 61% and 48% of women had positive history to UTI before the study, also only 4% of cases were diabetic, regarding the time of diagnosis 18% were diagnosed at first trimester and 46% at the 2nd trimester while 36% diagnosed at the 3rd trimester. Regarding the urine culture results only 23% of cases had significant bateriuria and 8% had insignificant bateriuria, 14% the result was contaminated and 55% of cases their results were sterile, E. coli was the most predominant organism in the current study. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women (23%) was comparable with similar studies in other countries. The most common uropathogens isolated in this study were E.coli followed by K. pnuemoniae.

Recurring Materno-fetal Complications in Late Pregnancy: An Integrative Review

Background: Pregnancies at advanced ages are increasingly common in society, which represents a concern for the health system, since they are associated with complications and different comorbidities during pregnancy, which can negatively impact its course, due to the occurrence of adverse maternal-fetal events. Therefore, this study aims to summarize the main complications of advanced maternal age and their repercussions. Methods: An integrative review was developed, using the LILACS, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases and the search formula: (“complications”) AND (“pregnancy”) AND (“maternal age”), including articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish from 2018 to 2023, excluding duplicates and review articles. Results: 484 articles were filtered and, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 28 articles were selected to compose the study. From them, a higher incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus was evidenced in mothers over 35 years of age due to the progressive depletion of pancreatic β-cell function. In addition, pre-eclampsia was found to be seven times more common in pregnant women aged 40 years than in those under 30 years of age, as the gastro-omental arteries reduce compliance, affecting blood pressure regulation. Conclusion: Therefore, advancing age is related to the emergence of metabolic alterations and cardiovascular diseases that can harm maternal and fetal health, since pregnant women over 35 years of age are more prone to comorbidities that can result in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Infertility following trisomic pregnancies: A nationwide cohort study.

To study whether gynecologic or reproductive disorders show association with trisomic conceptions. This nationwide cohort study utilized the Registry of Congenital Malformations to identify women who had a trisomic pregnancy (n = 5784), either with trisomy 13 (T13; n = 351), trisomy 18 (T18; n = 1065) or trisomy 21 (T21; n = 4369) from 1987 to 2018. We used the Finnish Maternity cohort to match the cases to population controls (n = 34 422) on the age, residence, and timing of pregnancy. These data were cross-linked to the ICD-10 diagnoses of the national Care Registry for Health Care data on specialized health care in Finland during 1996 to 2019. Both inflammatory (ICD-10 diagnoses: N70-N77) and noninflammatory disorders of the genital tract (N80-N98) were studied. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated for associations between diagnoses and trisomic conceptions. The diagnosis of female infertility (N97) at any time was associated with trisomic conceptions (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08-1.32). In the subgroup analysis, this association was found for T18 (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.61) and T21 (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04-1.32), but not for T13 (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.75-1.72). When restricting the timing of the diagnosis of female infertility, an elevated OR was found only after the index pregnancy (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.56-2.09). These increased odds for infertility after trisomic conceptions were observed both in women <35 years (T18 OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.21-3.00; T21 OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.31-2.14) and in women ≥35 years (T18 OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.40-3.33; T21 OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.47-2.39), but not after T13 conceptions. Our observational data suggest a link between trisomic conceptions and subsequent diagnoses of infertility but do not demonstrate causality. These data implicate that partially similar mechanisms might predispose to trisomy and infertility, regardless of maternal age.

Predicting the pregnancy outcome: Uncovering the link between β-hCG, patient factors and live birth in IVF

ObjectiveThe objectives of the study were to correlate live birth rate with the initial level of β-hCG in all patients undergoing embryo transfer and develop a predictive model of live birth based on patients’ and assisted reproductive technology (ART) characteristics. Study designSingle-center retrospective cohort study, including a total of 7587 positive first serum β-hCG from women who performed fresh and frozen embryo transfer.Twenty-one variables related to patient characteristics and treatment modalities were analyzed by step-wise univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis. The study included women between 18 and 45 years with a positive (>20 IU/L) serum β-hCG between January 2011 and December 2020 while it excluded cycles from donation of gametes, PGT and >3 embryos transferred simultaneously. Main results and the role of chance: Among the positive serum β-hCG measurements 5085 (67.0 %) resulted in live births. β-hCG was higher in the live birth group (691 IU/L) compared to the failed pregnancies group (304 IU/L) (p500 IU/mL provided a positive predictive value for live birth of 85.3 % (95 %CI 84.0–86.4).Failed pregnancies were more common among older maternal and paternal age. Previous abortions were more common in the failed pregnancies group (25.0 %) compared to the live birth group (19.4 %). The most common indication to treatment was male infertility, accounting for a larger portion in the live birth group (41.7 %). At multivariate analysis, the factors independently associated with live birth were: first serum β-hCG (OR 1.35, 95 %CI 1.32–1.37), maternal age (OR 0.93, 95 %CI 0.91–0.95), previous abortions (OR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.68–0.88). The number of embryos transferred showed a positive correlation below a maternal age of 39 (<35 years old OR 1.60, CI 95 % 1.32–1.94; <39 years old OR 1.27 CI 95 % 1.09–1.47). The prediction model incorporating these four variables resulted in a sensitivity and specificity with an area under the ROC curve of 0.798. Conclusion: The study confirms the importance of the first value of β-hCG and proposes a predictive model that takes into account maternal age, number of embryos transferred, and obstetric history, thereby aiding in couples’ counseling and ultimately improve patients’ care.

Determinants of wealth-related inequalities in full vaccination coverage among children in Nepal: a decomposition analysis of nationally representative household survey data

BackgroundOver the past two decades, child health indicators in Nepal have improved significantly at the national level. Yet, this progress hasn’t been uniform across various population subsets. This study identified the determinants associated with childhood full vaccination, assessed wealth-related inequalities, and delved into the key factors driving this inequality.MethodsData for this study were taken from the most recent nationally representative Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022. A total of 959 children aged 12–23 months who had received routine childhood basic antigens as per the national immunisation program were considered for analysis. Binary logistic regression models were conducted to identify the associated factors with outcome variable (uptake of full vaccination). The concentration curve and Erreygers normalized concentration index were used to assess inequality in full vaccination. Household wealth quintile index scores were used to measure wealth-related inequality and decomposition analysis was conducted to identify determinants explaining wealth-related inequality in the uptake of childhood vaccination.ResultsThe coverage of full vaccination among children was 79.8% at national level. Several factors, including maternal health service utilisation variables (e.g., antenatal care, institutional delivery), financial challenges related to visiting health facilities, and mothers’ awareness of health mother group meetings within their ward, were associated with the uptake of full vaccination coverage among children. The concentration curve was below the line of equality, and the relative Erreygers normalized concentration index was 0.090, indicating that full vaccination was disproportionately higher among children from wealthy groups. The decomposition analysis identified institutional delivery (20.21%), the money needed to visit health facilities (14.25%), maternal education (16.79%), maternal age (8.53%), and caste (3.03%) were important contributors to wealth related inequalities in childhood full vaccination uptake.ConclusionsThere was notable wealth-related inequality in full vaccine uptake among children in Nepal. Multisectoral actions involving responsible stakeholders are pivotal in reducing the inequalities, including promoting access to maternal health services and improving educational attainment among mothers from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Managing Glycemic Control in Pregnancy: Comparing Antidiuretic Medications and Insulin Regimens"

Background: The disease known as gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM, was first identified as a result of reduced glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Glycemic management must be maintained to prevent negative effects for both the mother and the foetus. We evaluate the efficacy of insulin and anti-diabetic regimens in the treatment of GDM in this research. Objectives: to assess the effectiveness of insulin regimens and anti-diabetic medications in controlling blood sugar levels during pregnancy in relation to the family objectives of the patient, such as a healthy baby, and to provide medical professionals with information on the best ways to treat gestational diabetes mellitus. Study design: A cross sectional study. Place and duration of study. Department of endocrinology hmc peshwar from 10-Feb 2022 to july Feb-2022 Methods:The study used a cross-sectional methodology. To locate relevant randomised controlled trials comparing different insulin regimens and antidiabetic drugs in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a thorough search was carried out across major electronic databases. Included were studies that reported on glycemic control outcomes, such as HbA1c levels, fasting blood glucose levels, and the incidence of unfavourable outcomes for either the mother or the foetus. Both the quality evaluation and data extraction were carried out separately by two reviewers. To analyse the effectiveness of various therapies while taking both direct and indirect evidence into account, a network meta-analysis was carried out. Sensitivity analysis were carried out to evaluate how solid the results were. Based on variables such maternal health condition and gestational age, subgroup analyses were carried out. The objective of the synthesised data was to enhance the outcomes for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by offering insights into the relative effectiveness of insulin regimens and antidiabetic drugs in glycemic management during pregnancy. Results:There were 100 participants in the research, with an average age of 28. The biggest impact on HbA1c levels was from insulin treatment (mean decrease = -1.5%), which was followed by oral hypoglycemic medications (mean reduction = -1.2%) and modifying one's lifestyle (mean reduction = -0.8%). The trends in fasting blood glucose levels were comparable. The results for mothers and foetuses, including birth weight and Apgar ratings, did not vary statistically across the treatment groups, suggesting that glycemic management is essential irrespective of the therapeutic approach. Conclusion: Our study emphasises the value of individualised methods to treating GDM, with a focus on the effectiveness of oral hypoglycemic medications, insulin therapy, and lifestyle changes in achieving glycemic control. Further investigation into the long-term impacts on maternal and foetal outcomes is necessary to enhance clinical practice. Keywords: gestational diabetes, glycemic control, antidiabetic medications, insulin therapy

Maternal-related factors associated with development and improvement of peripartum cardiomyopathy and therapeutic outcomes of bromocriptine

HIGHLIGHTS Younger age, black race, normotension, and multiparity indicate a poorer prognosis for peripartum cardiomyopathy recovery, while bromocriptine therapy reduces adverse events. ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to fill the significant knowledge gap regarding peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a heart failure phenotype linked to pregnancy. The main objectives were to explore the factors influencing the development and progression of PPCM and to assess the outcomes of bromocriptine.Materials and Methods: Systematic search across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library identified studies until December 2022. This study includes non-randomized prospective and retrospective studies, as well as relevant randomized controlled trials. Risk factors were compared between the recovered and non-recovered PPCM groups, and bromocriptine therapy outcomes were evaluated against standard heart failure treatment as the primary endpoint.Results: The analysis included 24 observational studies and 1 randomized controlled trial involving 1,651 PPCM patients; 9 studies evaluating the outcomes of bromocriptine therapy. The most prevalent factors were caesarean delivery (proportion=53%, 95%CI=41%-66%) and anemia (proportion=51%, 95%CI=38%-65%). Non-recovered patients were younger (MD=-1.04 years old, 95%CI=-1.82-(-0.27), p=0.008) and predominantly black (RR=1.82, 95%CI=1.43-2.31, p &lt;0.001). Hypertensive disorders and primiparity were found less among non-recovered patients (RR=0.73, 95%CI=0.60-0.88, p=0.001; RR=0.81, 95%CI=0.66-0.99, p=0.04, respectively). Non-recovered patients also exhibited higher baseline serum creatinine levels, lower LVEF, larger left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), larger left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and lower fractional shortening (all P-values&lt;0.05). Furthermore, bromocriptine significantly reduced major adverse cardiac events (MACE), mortality, and increased LVEF (all P-values&lt;0.05).Conclusion: Younger maternal age, black race, absence of hypertension, and multiparity are associated with poorer prognosis for PPCM recovery. Bromocriptine therapy demonstrates superior benefits in reducing adverse events in PPCM.

Screening for carriers of the SRD5A2 gene mutation 5-alpha-reductase 2 deficiency in Vietnamese pregnant wome

Objective: To describe the percentage of people who carry the SRD5A2 gene mutation causing 5-alpha-reductase 2 deficiency and the characteristics of their mutated variants in Vietnamese pregnant women. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 8,464 pregnant women who visited and agreed to perform a screening test for gene carriers related to recessive genetic conditions at the Institute of DNA Technology and Genetic Analysis. All information about pregnant women including maternal age, gestational age, number of pregnancies and SRD5A2 gene mutation test results were collected. Results: Of 8,464 pregnant women participating in the study, 315 pregnant women (3.72%) carried pathogenic mutations on the SRD5A2gene. The c.680G&gt;A mutation (p.Arg227Gln) is the most common of the SRD5A2 gene mutations detected. Conclusion: The rate of pregnant women carrying SRD5A2 gene mutations is 3.72%, indicating the high prevalence of this gene mutation in Vietnamese pregnant women. In the future, it is necessary to expand and develop SRD5A2 gene mutation screening programs in Vietnamese pregnant women.

Causal effect of the age at first birth with depression: a mendelian randomization study

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the causal relationship between age at first birth (AFB) and depression.MethodsUsing the univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) methods to examine the potential correlation between age at first birth (AFB) and major depressive disorder and postpartum depression. A public database was used to obtain the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data. We put inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) as the primary method in Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and used sensitivity analysis to confirm the robustness of our result.ResultsWe found a significant causal association between AFB and major depressive disorder by using the IVW algorithm (odd ratio [OR] 0.826; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.793 − 0.861; P = 4.51 × 10− 20). MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode and weighted mode method concluded the same result (P < 0.05). During the sensitivity analysis, the heterogeneity test (Q-value = 55.061, df = 48, P = 2.81 × 10− 01, I2 = 12.82%) and the leave-one-out plot analysis confirmed the stability of the results. The outcomes of the pleiotropy test (MR-Egger intercept = 8.932 × 10− 3. SE = 6.909 × 10− 3. P = 2.02 × 10− 01) and MR_PRESSO global test (P = 2.03 × 10− 01) indicated there is no pleiotropy.ConclusionThere is solid evidence that a higher age at first birth is associated with a lower risk of major depressive disorder.

Associations between fetal position at delivery and duration of active phase of labor: A historical cohort study.

In clinical experience, occiput posterior (OP) position is associated with longer labor duration than occiput anterior (OA) position, but few studies have investigated the association between labor duration and fetal position. We aimed to compare duration of the active phase of labor in OP deliveries with OA deliveries in a contemporary population using survival methods. Secondary aims were to compare the frequencies of operative interventions, obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn outcomes in OP with OA deliveries. We did a historical cohort study in three university hospitals in Norway from 2012 to 2022. Women with a single fetus in cephalic presentation, no previous cesarean section and gestational age ≥37 weeks were eligible and stratified into the first four groups of the Robson ten-group classification system (TGCS). We estimated the mean duration and calculated the hazard ratio (HR) for delivery using survival analyses. Cesarean sections and instrumental vaginal deliveries were censored. The study population comprised 112 019 women, 105 571 (94.2%) were delivered in OA and 6448 (5.8%) in OP position. The estimated mean duration of the active phase of labor was longer in women with the fetus in OP position in all four TGCS groups. The estimated duration was longer in the OP groups in analyses stratified with respect to epidural analgesia and oxytocin augmentation. The graphical abstract illustrates the probability of delivery in OP compared with OA position in merged TGCS groups 1 and 2a, as a function of time. The unadjusted HR was 0.33 (95% CI 0.31-0.36) for fetuses delivered in OP position compared with OA position in TGCS group 1, 0.25 (95% CI 0.21-0.27) in group 2a, 0.70 (95% CI 0.67-0.73) in group 3, and 0.61 (95% CI 0.55-0.67) in group 4a, respectively. Neither maternal age, gestational age, BMI nor birthweight had confounding effect. Operative delivery rates and OASIS rates were higher in OP position in all four groups. We found longer duration of the active phase of labor in women with the fetus delivered in OP position in all four TGCS groups.

Association between perinatal and obstetric factors and early age at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cohort study.

To evaluate the association between perinatal and obstetric factors as potential triggers for the early onset of T1DM. This was a retrospective cohort study enrolling 409 patients diagnosed with T1DM, in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, from 1981 to 2023. Data were retrieved from medical records, regarding sociodemographic parameters as age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Perinatal and obstetric factors as delivery type, gestational age, filiation order, length of exclusive breastfeeding, maternal age, maternal and fetal blood types, and occurrence of maternal gestational diabetes were also analyzed. An adapted survival analysis was employed to gauge the impact of each assessed variable at the age of T1DM diagnosis. The median age of T1DM diagnosis was 10.3 years with an interquartile range between 6.4 and 15.5 years. Delivery type and filiation order were the only factors statistically significantly associated with an early age at T1DM diagnosis. Patients who were born through cesarean section and who were firstborns showed a 28.6 and 18.0 % lower age at T1DM diagnosis, respectively, compared to those born through vaginal delivery and those that were nonfirstborns. Being born by cesarean section and being firstborn showed to be statistically significant factors to determine an early T1DM diagnosis.