Maternal Background Research Articles

The Relationship of Sociodemographic Factors with Near-miss and Missed Cases in Educational and Affiliated Hospitals in Makassar from 2019 to 2020

Introduction: Maternal mortality remains a critical issue in achieving optimal health status. Evaluation through near-miss cases provides valuable data about morbidity to monitor the quality of obstetric services, which can be used to estimate the incidence of life-threatening obstetric complications. A study reported that the incidence of near-miss in pregnant women had a significant relationship with various non-medical factors, included sociodemographic factors. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship of sociodemographic factors with near-miss and missed cases. Methods: This analytic retrospective study conducted in Educational and affiliated hospitals in Makassar. Data were retrieved from the obstetric referral registry from 2019 to 2020. Sociodemographic factors of interest include diagnosis, gestational age, maternal age, referral status, maternal parity, and economics. Results: A total of 156 near-miss and missed cases were obtained from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. There was no significant relationship between maternal age (p=0.675), gestational age (p=0.38), parity (p=0.24), economic status (p=0.73), educational background (p=0.85), and referral status (p=0.16) with maternal near-miss and missed cases. Conclusions: There was no significant relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and maternal near-miss and missed cases in Educational and affiliated hospitals in Makassar from 2019 to 2020. More studies are needed to evaluate other factors associated with near-miss and missed cases.

Genetic deconvolution of fetal and maternal cell-free DNA in maternal plasma enables next-generation non-invasive prenatal screening

Current non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) analyzes circulating fetal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal peripheral blood for selected aneuploidies or microdeletion/duplication syndromes. Many genetic disorders are refractory to NIPS largely because the maternal genetic material constitutes most of the total cfDNA present in the maternal plasma, which hinders the detection of fetus-specific genetic variants. Here, we developed an innovative sequencing method, termed coordinative allele-aware target enrichment sequencing (COATE-seq), followed by multidimensional genomic analyses of sequencing read depth, allelic fraction, and linked single nucleotide polymorphisms, to accurately separate the fetal genome from the maternal background. Analytical confounders including multiple gestations, maternal copy number variations, and absence of heterozygosity were successfully recognized and precluded for fetal variant analyses. In addition, fetus-specific genomic characteristics, including the cfDNA fragment length, meiotic error origins, meiotic recombination, and recombination breakpoints were identified which reinforced the fetal variant assessment. In 1129 qualified pregnancies tested, 54 fetal aneuploidies, 8 microdeletions/microduplications, and 8 monogenic variants were detected with 100% sensitivity and 99.3% specificity. Using the comprehensive cfDNA genomic analysis tools developed, we found that 60.3% of aneuploidy samples had aberrant meiotic recombination providing important insights into the mechanism underlying meiotic nondisjunctions. Altogether, we show that the genetic deconvolution of the fetal and maternal cfDNA enables thorough and accurate delineation of fetal genome which paves the way for the next-generation prenatal screening of essentially all types of human genetic disorders.

An exploratory study to identify neonatal arterial ischemic stroke: A single-center study

BackgroundNeonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS) presents as seizures, including convulsions, subtle seizures, and apnea, and most patients experience neurological sequelae. Diagnosis is often delayed owing to low test sensitivity. The present study aimed to identify the early clinical diagnostic factors for NAIS in neonates with seizures. MethodsThe present study included 54 patients born at ≥36 weeks of gestation during the last 15 years who presented to the neonatal intensive care unit with neonatal seizures and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 6 of whom were diagnosed with NAIS. Maternal background, clinical characteristics, and transcranial pulsed Doppler sonography results were retrospectively reviewed. ResultsOf the 24 patients who presented with convulsions or subtle seizures, 3 (13%) were diagnosed with NAIS and 3 of 30 patients (10%) presented with apnea. Maternal premature ventricular contraction complications were higher in the NAIS group than in the non-NAIS group (p = 0.01). NAIS group showed lower mean middle cerebral artery (MCA) resistance index (RI) was lower the non-NAIS group (p = 0.009), while the left–right RI difference (p = 0.019), mean MCA blood velocity (MnV; p = 0.04), and left–right MnV difference (p < 0.001) in cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFVs) were higher in the NAIS group. ConclusionsOur results revealed that maternal arrhythmia may be a diagnostic factor for NAIS in neonates with seizures. Early brain MRI is essential in neonates with seizures and findings of low MCA-RI, high MCA-MnV, or high left–right difference in CBFVs to distinguish between NAIS and non-NAIS.

Diurnal cortisol variation during pregnancy in Turkish origin and non-migrant women in a German birth cohort study

BackgroundImmigrants from Turkey experience health disadvantages relative to non-immigrant populations in Germany that are manifest from the earliest stages of the lifespan onwards and are perpetuated across generations. Chronic stress and perturbations of stress-responsive physiological systems, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, are believed to in part mediate this relationship. Cortisol plays an important role in the association between maternal stress during pregnancy and many pregnancy-, birth- and offspring-related outcomes. We therefore examined whether maternal migrant background is associated with diurnal cortisol variation during pregnancy. Methods109 pregnant women (incl. n = 32 Turkish origin women) that participated in a multi-site prospective cohort study in Germany collected saliva samples across the day on two consecutive days around 24 and 32 weeks gestation. Hierarchical linear models were applied to quantify associations between migrant background and diurnal cortisol variation across pregnancy. ResultsWomen of Turkish origin exhibited a significantly lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) and a flatter diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) compared to non-migrant women after adjusting for household income. These relationships between migrant status and diurnal cortisol variation were mainly driven by 2nd generation migrants. DiscussionA potential HPA axis dysregulation of Turkish-origin pregnant women may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of health disadvantages in this group.

Differential Epigenetic Status and Responses to Stressors between Retinal Cybrids Cells with African versus European Mitochondrial DNA: Insights into Disease Susceptibilities.

Mitochondrial (mt) DNA can be classified into haplogroups, which represent populations with different geographic origins. Individuals of maternal African backgrounds (L haplogroup) are more prone to develop specific diseases compared those with maternal European-H haplogroups. Using a cybrid model, effects of amyloid-β (Amyβ), sub-lethal ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), a methylation inhibitor, were investigated. Amyβ treatment decreased cell metabolism and increased levels of reactive oxygen species in European-H and African-L cybrids, but lower mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM) was found only in African-L cybrids. Sub-lethal UV radiation induced higher expression levels of CFH, EFEMP1, BBC3, and BCL2L13 in European-H cybrids compared to African-L cybrids. With respect to epigenetic status, the African-L cybrids had (a) 4.7-fold higher total global methylation levels (p = 0.005); (b) lower expression patterns for DNMT3B; and (c) elevated levels for HIST1H3F. The European-H and African-L cybrids showed different transcription levels for CFH, EFEMP1, CXCL1, CXCL8, USP25, and VEGF after treatment with 5-aza-dC. In conclusion, compared to European-H haplogroup cybrids, the African-L cybrids have different (i) responses to exogenous stressors (Amyβ and UV radiation), (ii) epigenetic status, and (iii) modulation profiles of methylation-mediated downstream complement, inflammation, and angiogenesis genes, commonly associated with various human diseases.

Betamethasone use and risk factors for pulmonary edema during the perinatal period: a single-center retrospective cohort study in Japan

BackgroundA few studies have reported that maternal administration of antenatal corticosteroids increased the risk of pulmonary edema (PE). However, despite the increasing usage rate of betamethasone as antenatal corticosteroid, maternal administration of betamethasone as a risk factor for PE has not been well studied. This study aimed to evaluate how maternal backgrounds and complications, tocolytic agents, and betamethasone affect the incidence of PE during the perinatal period and determine the risk factor for PE.MethodsThis was a single-center retrospective cohort study in Kurashiki, Japan. The study subjects were patients who had been admitted to our hospital for perinatal management including pregnancy, delivery and puerperium between 2017 and 2020. The primary outcome measure was defined as the incidence of PE during hospitalization. First, in all study subjects, Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk factor for PE during the perinatal period. Next, using propensity score matching, we divided the patients into the betamethasone and betamethasone-free groups and examined the association between betamethasone use and the incidence of PE with Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsDuring the study period, 4919 cases were hospitalized, and there were 16 PE cases (0.3%). In all analyzed subjects, the occurrence of PE was significantly associated with preeclampsia (hazard ratio 16.8, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 5.39–52.7, P < 0.001) and the combined use of the tocolytic agents such as ritodrine hydrochloride and magnesium sulfate, and betamethasone (hazard ratio 11.3, 95% CI 2.66–48.1, P = 0.001). In contrast, after propensity score matching, no statistically significant difference was found between the betamethasone and betamethasone-free groups in the incidence of PE (hazard ratio 3.19, 95% CI 0.67–15.3, P = 0.145).ConclusionsA combined use of tocolytic agents and antenatal corticosteroids such as betamethasone may be an independent risk factor for PE during the perinatal period. On the other hand, betamethasone use alone may not be associated with the incidence of PE. When tocolytic agents and betamethasone are administrated to pregnant women, it is important to pay attention to the appearance of maternal respiratory symptoms.

Comparative study of the usefulness of risk score assessment in the early stages of COVID-19 affected pregnancies: Omicron variant versus previous variants.

AimTo evaluate the utility of the risk score in assessing the current status and prognosis of COVID‐19 in pregnancy.MethodsSeventy‐seven cases affected before the Omicron variant epidemic and 50 pregnant cases affected by the Omicron variant were included. The risk score consists of maternal background, current condition, and examination findings. We determined the risk score in the early stages of disease onset.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the maternal or gestational ages between the groups. The risk score was significantly lower in the After‐Group patients (those affected during the Omicron epoch), while 14.3% of the Before‐Group patients (those affected during the pre‐Delta and Delta epochs), experienced a worsening of disease after the visit to the center, whereas none of the After‐Group patients did. The Before Group's frequency of risk score items was higher among the two groups for “fever for ≥48 h,” “mild pneumonia image,” and “blood tests,” whereas “disease onset 14 days after the second vaccination” was increased in After Group. The blood test parameters for platelet count, C‐reactive protein, and D‐dimer levels were not significantly different between the groups.ConclusionsThe risk score system appeared superior in detecting deteriorating cases. There were no cases of post‐illness deterioration in the After‐Group, suggesting that cases of the Omicron variant in pregnancy may have had a less severe course compared to that of previous variants. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of a specific blood test evaluation, suggesting the need for a combined evaluation of cases affected during pregnancy.

Importance of human papillomavirus vaccination leaflets focusing on the safety profile targeted pediatricians in Japan

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between providing leaflets to support pediatricians in explaining the safety of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and mother’s decision to vaccinate their daughters in Japan. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we conducted a survey of mothers to evaluate the effect of leaflets that were created to support pediatricians in explaining the safety profile of the HPV vaccine. Mothers who provided consent for vaccination before receiving an explanation were excluded from the study. The primary outcome was the mother’s decision to vaccinatetheir daughters with the HPV vaccine after receiving an explanation from pediatricians using our leaflets. ResultsAmong 161 eligible mothers, 101 decided on HPV vaccination (decided group) and 60 did not (decided against group). There was no difference in the maternal background between the 2 groups. The decided group had a significantly more positive impression of the leaflets than the undecided group. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, a detailed explanation for possible adverse events and specific solutions to them was associated with the mother's decision to have their daughters vaccinated (odds ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.02–5.44), but not the pathology of cervical cancer and the HPV vaccination process. ConclusionLeaflets emphasizing an explanation of adverse events may contribute to mothers’ decision making for HPV vaccination.

Malaria Control with Bed Nets; Assessment of Corelates of its Effectiveness for Pregnant Women in Kwaebibirem

Objective: This study aimed to investigate correlates of the effectiveness of Insecticide-treated Bed Nets (ITNs) for prevention of malaria through pregnancy till delivery.Methodology: The hospital-based cross sectional study enrolled 413 Antenatal Care (ANC) attendants at the maternity ward of the Kade government hospital. Differential patterns of use of ITNs among women who had malaria during pregnancy and women who did not have malaria during pregnancy were compared across various variables. Self-reported information by participants were objectively validated from maternal health record books, patient folders and other relevant maternal health registers.Results: ITNs are an important malaria prevention and control intervention among pregnant women who report using them during pregnancy. The period prevalence of malaria through pregnancy however remained high among adolescents irrespective of ITNuse while tertiary educational background and exposure to Intermittent Preventive Therapy with Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) reduced risk of malaria in pregnancy irrespective of ITN use.Conclusion: Malaria morbidity was generally higher among pregnant women who did not use bed nets during pregnancy despite variations by maternal age, area of residence, gestational age, occupation type, marital status, parity, maternal educational background and IPTp-SP status.Recommendations: Strategies aimed to reduce the period prevalence of malaria during pregnancy should be intensified particularly targeting adolescents. Barriers to sustained universal access to ITNs and IPTp-SP should be eliminated while policies aimed toincrease formal education should be prioritized.

Factors influencing parental decisions to terminate pregnancies following prenatal diagnoses of major fetal anomalies at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

BackgroundThe rate of termination of pregnancy (TOP) for fetal anomalies and the factors affecting TOP vary among different populations. Optimisation of prenatal care and counselling requires understanding the factors influencing parental decisions in the relevant population. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of TOP after diagnoses of major fetal anomalies and assess factors associated with TOP-related decisions at a university hospital in Thailand.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted at the Fetal Anomaly Clinic of Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Medical records of all women with singleton pregnancies prenatally diagnosed with major fetal anomalies before 24 gestational weeks between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed.ResultsDuring the study period, 461 cases of major fetal anomalies were diagnosed, and 264 (57.3%) of these pregnancies were terminated. Three factors influencing parental TOP decisions were lethal anomalies (odds ratio [OR], 197.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 49.95–779.95; p < 0.001), presence of genetic abnormalities (OR, 10.19; 95% CI, 4.17–24.87; p < 0.001) and gestational age at diagnosis (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65–0.84; p < 0.001).ConclusionsOver half of the pregnant women whose records were reviewed and who were prenatally diagnosed with major fetal anomalies terminated their pregnancies. Fetal factors, particularly lethality, genetic abnormalities and early gestational age at diagnosis, showed the most powerful associations with parental TOP decisions. Other maternal background factors were not key considerations.

Psychosocial health disparities in early childhood: Socioeconomic status and parent migration background

The association between low socioeconomic status (SES), migration background and psychosocial health could be various in different age stages, rare research has investigated associations in very early childhood. Cross-sectional data of SES, parental migration background, and child’s psychosocial problems among 2149 children were collected (Mage = 24.6 ± 1.8 months, 49.9% girls) from a community population. Indicators of SES included parental education level, maternal work status, and family composition. Child’s psychosocial problems, including social-emotional problems and delay in social-emotional competence, were assessed by the Brief Infant–Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment Problem scale and Competence scale, respectively. Interaction effects between SES and maternal migration background in risk of psychosocial problems were found. Among children of a native-born mother, lower maternal and paternal education levels indicated a higher risk of social-emotional problems and competence delay, respectively. Children of a migrant mother had a higher risk of both social-emotional problems and competence delay if they had a migrant father. The results highlight psychosocial health disparities in 2-year-old children and the need for research into mechanisms underlying these associations.

The effect of electronic job aid assisted one-to-one counselling to support exclusive breastfeeding among 0-5-month-old infants in rural Bangladesh.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months has established benefits, yet had slow improvements globally. Little is known about electronic job aid‐assisted counselling to support EBF. As a secondary outcome of a cluster randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh, we assessed the effect of electronic job aid‐supported nutrition counselling and practical demonstration on EBF. We randomized pregnant women to one of five study arms in the trial and followed mother–child dyads until 2 years of age. Community health workers (CHWs) provided breastfeeding counselling with or without prenatal and complementary nutrient supplements in all four intervention arms. The comparison arm continued with the usual practice where mothers could receive nutrition counselling at routine antenatal and postnatal care, and during careseeking for childhood illnesses. We assessed breastfeeding indicators at birth and monthly until the child was 6 months old, in both intervention and comparison arms. To evaluate the effect of nutrition counselling on breastfeeding, we combined all four intervention arms and compared them with the comparison arm. Intervention newborns had half the risk (relative risk [RR]: 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39, 0.76) of receiving prelacteal feeds than those in the comparison arm. EBF declined steeply in the comparison arm after 3 months of age. EBF was 16% higher in the intervention than the comparison arm at 4 months (RR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.23) and 22% higher at 5 months of age (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.33). Maternal background and household characteristics did not modify the intervention effect, and we observed no difference in EBF among caesarean versus vaginal births. Breastfeeding counselling and practical demonstration using an electronic job aid by CHWs are promising interventions to improve EBF and are scalable into existing community‐based programmes.

Do family and maternal background matter? A multilevel approach to modelling mental health status of Australian youth using longitudinal data

Most previous research place great importance on the influence of family and maternal background on child and adolescents' mental health. However, age of onset studies indicates that the majority of the mental health disease prevalence occurs during the youth years. This study investigates the relationship of family and maternal background, as well as individual circumstance on youth mental health status. Data from 975 participants and 4632 observations of aged cohort 15 to 19 years in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) longitudinal study were followed for 10 years (2007-2017). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyse the impact of youth circumstances on mental health status. The findings suggests that not all dimensions of family and maternal background (especially maternal education) have impacts on youth mental health. We found low household income (AOR: 1.572, 95% CI: 1.017-2.43) and adverse living arrangement (AOR: 1.586, 95% CI: 1.097-2.294) significantly increases mental disorder odds whereas maternal education or occupation fixed effects were not significant. Individual level circumstances have much stronger impact on youth mental health. We found financial shock (AOR: 1.412, 95% CI: 1.277-1.561), life event shock (AOR: 1.157, 95% CI: 1.01-1.326), long term health conditions (AOR: 2.855, 95% CI: 2.042-3.99), smoking (AOR: 1.676, 95% CI: 1.162-2.416), drinking (AOR: 1.649, 95% CI: 1.286-2.114) and being female (AOR: 2.021, 95% CI: 1.431-2.851) have significant deteriorating effects on youth mental health. Our finding is in contrast to the majority of studies in the literature which give a preeminent role to maternal characteristics in child and youth mental health status. Mental health interventions should consider heterogeneity of adverse youth circumstances and health-related behaviours.

Appropriate Method of Administering Vasopressors for Maternal Hypotension Associated with Combined Spinal Epidural Anesthesia in Elective Cesarean Section: Impact on Postnatal Respiratory Support for Newborns.

Background and Objectives: Vasopressors are used for treating maternal hypotension. However, the appropriate administration method and effects on newborns have not been reported. We evaluated maternal blood pressure fluctuation and neonatal findings in patients who received continuous vasopressor administration during elective cesarean sections and those who received bolus vasopressor administration upon onset of hypotension. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 220 patients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at Mie University Hospital between April 2017 and March 2021. The patients were classified according to the method of vasopressor administration. Maternal information, intraoperative maternal blood pressure fluctuation, and neonatal findings were examined. A multiple regression analysis was performed for the administration of postpartum neonatal respiratory support using maternal background information and other variables related to blood pressure changes as independent variables. Results: The Continuous group and the Bolus group were composed of 98 and 122 patients, respectively. No difference was observed in maternal background information between the groups. Significant changes were noted in several blood pressure parameters between both groups. As for neonatal parameters, newborns of Bolus group patients had lower pO2, 1 min and 5 min Apgar scores, and required more respiratory support than those of Continuous group patients. In the multiple regression analysis, the groups and maternal post-anesthesia diastolic blood pressure variability were considered explanatory variables. Conclusions: Maternal hypotension and the need for neonatal respiratory support associated with anesthesia administration in elective cesarean section may be improved by continuous vasopressor administration upon induction of combined spinal–epidural anesthesia.

Evaluation of Bone Mineral Density in Children Conceived via Assisted Reproductive Technology.

ObjectivesTo investigate bone mineral density (BMD) differences between assisted reproductive technology (ART)-conceived children and naturally conceived (NC) children.Study DesignThis retrospective cohort study included ART-conceived children and controls aged 1 to 12 years assessed with a follow-up protocol. Maternal and paternal background, birth condition, and growth and development indicators were analyzed.ResultsThe ART and NC groups exhibited differences in maternal and paternal childbearing age; maternal weight; maternal body mass index (BMI); maternal alcohol consumption; paternal smoking; delivery method; and serum zinc, iron, and lead levels. Multifactor analysis adjusted for relevant factors showed that paternal childbearing age and group significantly affected the BMD Z score. In the subgroup analysis, in vitro fertilization (IVF) (p=0.026) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (p=0.008) had a positive impact on the BMD Z score. Male infertility only (p=0.010) or male infertility combined with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (p=0.026) may affect the BMD Z score. In the embryo transfer cycle subgroup analysis, compared with natural conception, both stimulation cycle fresh embryo transfer (p=0.019) and natural cycle frozen embryo transfer (p=0.006) had a positive effect on the BMD Z score.ConclusionsThe BMD levels of the ART and control groups were generally in the normal range. Paternal childbearing age and the use of ART independently affected the BMD Z score of the offspring.

Effect of rumen-protected fat on performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of the progeny from Nellore cows fed by different planes of nutrition during gestation

The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance, carcass traits, meat quality and the expression of myogenic and lipogenic genes in muscle of steers finished with or without rumen-protected fat and born from dams that were supplemented with protein or not during mid- to late gestation. Forty-eight Nellore steers with an initial body weight (BW) of 341 ± 7.54 kg at 21 ± 0.7 months of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the following treatments: two offspring feedlot diets and two nutritional planes for pregnant dams. Steers born from dams of both maternal nutritional planes and reared on pasture, were allocated to individual pens for 135 days, with half of each group being fed a diet without (NFAT) or with rumen-protected fat (RPF; 6% calcium salts and 7.6% ether extract - EE). Regarding maternal nutritional planes, after 124 ± 21 days of gestation until calving, half of the grazed cows received 1 kg/cow/day protein supplement (SUPP; ∼369 g of crude protein [CP] per kg of dry matter [DM]), and the other half received only mineral salt (CTL). Steers were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period, and the weight of the feed and orts was recorded daily for performance measures. After slaughter in a commercial slaughterhouse, carcass evaluations were performed and longissimus thoracis muscle samples were collected for meat quality and gene expression analyzes using RT-qPCR. There was no interaction between the finishing diets and the maternal nutritional background for performance, carcass and meat quality traits, and gene expression of the offspring. Feeding with RPF decreased the dry matter intake, final BW, average daily gain and carcass weight (P < 0.05). Diet with RPF upregulated the MyHCI, MyHCIIx, IGFR1, COL3A1, FN1 and ACACA genes (P < 0.05) and tended to upregulate the SREBF1 (P = 0.07). Maternal supplementation did not affect feedlot performance, carcass and meat quality traits (P > 0.05). Maternal supplementation upregulated the MyHCI and CPT2 genes (P < 0.05) and tended to upregulate the FASN and ACACA genes (P < 0.10) of the offspring. In conclusion, feeding RPF to the offspring regardless of maternal nutritional background affected the performance and weight of the carcasses, as well as the expression of myogenic and fibro/lipogenic genes, without affecting the deposition of intramuscular fat, total collagen or meat tenderness.

The usefulness of maternally inherited genetic markers for phylogeographic studies in village chicken

Phylogeography plays a major role in understanding micro and macroevolutionary processes dealing with evolutionary interpretations of geographical distribution. This field integrates information from molecular genetics, population genetics, demography, and phylogeny for the interpretation of the geographical distribution of lineages. The full mtDNA sequence and W chromosome polymorphisms were exploited to assess the usefulness of two maternally-inherited genetic markers for phylogeographic studies of village chickens. We studied 243 full mtDNA sequences from three countries (Iraq, n = 27; Ethiopia, n = 211; and Saudi Arabia, n = 5) and a 13-kb fragment of the W chromosome from 20 Iraqi and 137 Ethiopian female chickens. The results show a high level of genetic diversity for the mtDNA within and among countries as well as within populations. On the other hand, sequence analysis of the W chromosome shows low genetic diversity both within and among populations. Six full mtDNA haplogroups (A, B, C1, C2, D1, and E1) were observed and 25 distinct W haplotypes. The results support the effectiveness of full mtDNA sequences but not the W chromosome in tracing the maternal historical genome background with, however, weak within a country phylogeographic signal.

Evaluation of Maternal Genetic Background of Two Hungarian Autochthonous Sheep Breeds Coming from Different Geographical Directions.

Simple SummaryBy the 19th century, adequately producing, independent domestic animal breeds had developed in many regions around the globe. However, from the middle of the 20th century they have largely been replaced by high-performing, specialized, single-purpose cosmopolitan breeds. Breed maintenance is an activity aimed at rescuing old breeds from the threat of extinction. This process includes recording the valuable traits of a rare breed, specific diversity conservation selection, and utilization in the original production environment. Additionally, it deals with the history of breeds and the study of their genetic makeup. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the maternal genetic background of two autochthonous sheep breeds in Hungary.The aim of our research was the evaluation of the maternal genetic background of two Hungarian autochthonous sheep breeds of different geographical origin. A major argument for the preservation of endangered animal breeds is their documented past and historical importance. These also include the registration of pedigree data. This is the first study to evaluate and compare Tsigai and Cikta sheep in Hungary. Our investigation is based on two complete sequences of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b gene and control region). Our research was performed on these two sheep breeds with markedly different breed histories and breed characteristics to determine a possible common maternal genetic background, as ultimately the origin of both breeds can be traced back to Asia Minor. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 203 biological samples were taken using a newly introduced founder sampling method. We found that the prevailing haplogroup B accounted for over 80% of both breeds, strengthening the common ancestral root. However, the pairwise genetic differentiation estimates (KST) calculated using the sequence-based statistics for cytochrome b gene and control region were 0.034 and 0.021, respectively (both at level p < 0.05); thus, revealing genetic differentiation in both sequences between the Tsigai and Cikta. We note that the known different history of the breeds is clearly justified by the currently studied deviations in their maternal genetic background.

Stunting, a linear growth anomaly in under-five year (U5) children: A risk factors’ analysis from maternal, household and individual background in Indian context

Stunting, a linear growth anomaly in under-five year (U5) children: A risk factors’ analysis from maternal, household and individual background in Indian context

Association between maternal body mass index and congenital anomalies: A case-control study in Tuscany (Italy).

To investigate the relationship between prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) and congenital anomalies (CAs). Case-control study on data collected by the registry of CAs of Tuscany (Italy) and birth certificates from 2005 to 2017. Maternal prepregnancy BMI. Any major CAs and groups of organ-specific anomalies. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for maternal factors. Maternal BMI ≥25 was significantly associated with all nervous system anomalies (OR=1.61, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.13-2.29) and with neural tube defects (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.00-4.12); maternal underweight was significantly associated with orofacial clefts (OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.12-2.48). After stratification by education, in the low education group, mothers with BMI ≥25 had an increased risk of nervous system anomalies (OR=2.19, 95% CI 1.01-4.76), whereas underweight mothers had an increased risk of nervous system anomalies (OR=3.89, 95% CI 1.44-10.53), orofacial clefts (OR=2.59, 95% CI 1.24-5.42), and urinary anomalies (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.07-2.82). In the medium/high education group, the only significantly increased risk was found in mothers with BMI ≥25 for nervous system anomalies (OR=1.50, 95% CI 1.00-2.25). Main results have shown a positive association of maternal BMI ≥25 with nervous system anomalies and maternal underweight with orofacial clefts. The study has also evidenced the impact of social status and provided clues to the role of maternal ethnic background.