Maternal Hair Research Articles

Amniotic fluid cortisol predicts neonatal and infant development in non-stressed rhesus monkeys: Implications for prenatal stress

Prenatal stress adversely affects offspring development, with fetal cortisol (CORT) exposure being a primary hypothesized mechanism for stress-induced developmental deficits. Fetal CORT exposure can be assessed via measurements in amniotic fluid. However, in humans, amniocentesis is typically only performed for clinical reasons such as karyotyping; thus, amniotic fluid CORT cannot be obtained from a random sample. To test the hypothesis that fetal CORT exposure predicts neonatal and infant development in healthy primates, we measured amniotic fluid CORT in N = 18 healthy rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) dams (50:50 female:male infants) between 80 and 124 days gestation (mean ± SEM = 98.3 ± 2.9 days out of 165 days gestational length; i.e., second trimester). Maternal hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) were assessed throughout pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were assessed for physical growth, neurological development, cognitive development, and HCCs across postnatal days 30–180. Controlling for gestational age at amniocentesis, higher amniotic fluid CORT significantly predicted slower infant growth rate (g/day) in the first 30 days (β = −0.19; R2 = 0.71, p = .008), poorer sensorimotor scores on the day 30 neonatal assessment (β = −0.28; R2 = 0.76, p = .015), and longer time to complete training (β = 0.48; R2 = 0.54, p = .026), but better performance (β = 0.91; R2 = 0.60, p = .011) on a discrimination cognitive task at 120–180 days. Amniotic fluid CORT was not associated with maternal or infant HCCs. Although these results are correlative, they raise the intriguing possibility that fetal CORT exposure in non-stress-exposed primates, as measured by amniotic fluid CORT, programs multiple aspects of neonatal and infant development. On the other hand, amniotic fluid CORT may not relate to chronic CORT levels in either mothers or infants when assessed by hair sampling.

How prenatal cortisol levels may differentially affect the neurodevelopment of boys and girls

Background: Prenatal stress could have serious consequences on maternal and fetal health. In this sense, some studies have stated that maternal HCC during pregnancy could contribute to sex-specific effects on infant neurodevelopment, following the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Hypothesis. Aim: This study aimed to determine whether maternal hair cortisol concentration (HCC) during each trimester of pregnancy and postpartum could predict the neurodevelopmental outcomes of their 12-month-old offspring, with sex-specific differences considered. Study design: longitudinal. Subjects: The study involved 93 pregnant women and their babies. Outcome measure: Hair samples collected during each trimester and postpartum and The Bayley Scales for Infant Development III was used to assess the infants' abilities. Results: The results showed that maternal HCC during the first and second trimesters could predict language and motor abilities. However, when discriminated by sex, only females' cognitive, expressive language, and fine and gross motor skills were predicted by cortisol, not males. Conclusions: These findings support the idea that non-toxic levels of cortisol can positively influence infants' neurodevelopment.

Non-invasive biomonitoring of infant exposure to environmental organic pollutants in north-western Spain based on hair analysis. Identification of potential sources

Recent years have seen growing interest in hair sample analysis to detect organic pollutants (OPs). This biological matrix can be analysed non-invasively for biomonitoring of OPs over a wide exposure window. Obtaining hair sample amounts that meet the needs of the analytical methodology required for the determination of the POs of interest can be challenging, especially in infants. As a result, studies assessing organic pollutants in infant hair have been very scarce. We quantified levels of about 60 OPs, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in 110 hair samples from a patient cohort (60 mothers and 50 infants) from Santiago de Compostela (north-western Spain). For each participant we examined relationship between OP levels and corresponding epidemiological parameters using correlations, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis, and Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). For many OPs we observed significant correlations with place of residence, parity, and maternal age, as well as pet ownership. Evaluation of dietary habits showed significant associations between levels some OPs and the consumption of fish, molluscs, and cereal. There were significant associations between chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin levels and infant birth characteristics such as birthweight and head circumference. Relations between OP levels in the hair of mothers and their infants were also examined, revealing common sources of exposure for dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs), non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDLPCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Levels of fluoranthene (F), pyrene (P), endrin, and some PBDEs in maternal hair were significantly correlated with those in infant hair. Our findings identified common sources of exposure to OPs of distinct chemical classes.

Longitudinal associations between prenatal exposure to phthalates and steroid hormones in maternal hair samples from the SEPAGES cohort

Longitudinal associations between prenatal exposure to phthalates and steroid hormones in maternal hair samples from the SEPAGES cohort

Hair and cord blood element levels and their relationship with air pollution, dietary intake, gestational diabetes mellitus, and infant neurodevelopment

Exposure to a range of elements, air pollution, and specific dietary components in pregnancy has variously been associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk or infant neurodevelopmental problems. We measured a range of pregnancy exposures in maternal hair and/or infant cord serum and tested their relationship to GDM and infant neurodevelopment. A total of 843 pregnant women (GDM=224, Non-GDM=619) were selected from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies cohort study. Forty-eight elements in hair and cord serum were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between hair element concentrations and GDM risk, while multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between hair/cord serum elements and air pollutants, diet exposures, and Bayley Scales of infant neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. After adjusting for maternal age, BMI, and primiparity, we observed that fourteen elements in maternal hair were associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM, particularly Ta (OR=9.49, 95% CI: 6.71, 13.42), Re (OR=5.21, 95% CI: 3.84, 7.07), and Se (OR=5.37, 95% CI: 3.48, 8.28). In the adjusted linear regression model, three elements (Rb, Er, and Tm) in maternal hair and infant cord serum were negatively associated with Mental Development Index scores. For dietary exposures, elements were positively associated with noodles (Nb), sweetened beverages (Rb), poultry (Cs), oils and condiments (Ca), and other seafood (Gd). In addition, air pollutants PM2.5 (LUR) and PM10 were negatively associated with Ta and Re in maternal hair. Our findings highlight the potential influence of maternal element exposure on GDM risk and infant neurodevelopment. We identified links between levels of these elements in both maternal hair and infant cord serum related to air pollutants and dietary factors.

Prenatal Hair Cortisol Concentrations during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Associations with Maternal Psychological Stress and Infant Temperament

Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy, including stress resulting from disasters and trauma, has been linked to temperamental difficulties in offspring. While heightened cortisol concentrations are often hypothesized as an underlying mechanism, evidence supporting this mechanism is inconsistent. To address these issues, this preregistered study investigated the following associations between: 1) prenatal psychological stress and hair cortisol, as a biomarker for chronic stress, during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., as a worldwide psychological stressor), and 2) maternal hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak and later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. Additionally, we explored whether associations were different for women with low versus high socioeconomic status (SES) and at different stages of pregnancy. Pregnant women (N =100) filled out online questionnaires during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Maternal hair samples were collected during home visits. When infants were six months old, mothers reported on their infant’s temperament. While analyses revealed no associations between prenatal COVID-19 psychological stress and hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak, SES proved to be a moderator in this association. Only pregnant women with higher levels of SES, showed a positive association between work-related and social-related COVID-19 worries and hair cortisol. Finally, prenatal hair cortisol was not associated with later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. While the COVID-19 outbreak proved to be a major psychological stressor, the physiological impact of the crisis might be different for pregnant women with higher SES as compared to lower SES.

Associations between psychological distress and hair cortisol during pregnancy and the early postpartum: A meta-analysis

Pregnancy and the early postpartum signify a period of high stress. Perinatal stress can include psychological distress (PD), such as anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as neuroendocrine stress, indexed by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the production of cortisol. Elevated PD and cortisol levels during the perinatal period can have long-term implications for the mother and child. Despite knowing that PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period independently impact health and development, research to date is unclear as to the association between PD and maternal hair cortisol. The present meta-analysis included 27 studies to assess the strength of the relation between PD and hair cortisol levels during pregnancy and early postpartum. Several sample and methodological factors were assessed as moderators. Analyses were conducted using multilevel meta-analysis. The overall effect size between PD and HCC was small and not significant z = 0.044, 95% CI [-0.001, 0.089]. Moderator analyses indicated that the strength of the association between PD and hair cortisol was moderated by pregnancy status (i.e., effects were stronger in pregnant compared to postpartum samples), timing of HCC and PD measurements (i.e., effects were larger when PD was measured before HCC) and geographic location (i.e., effects were larger in North American studies). The findings advance our understanding of the link between PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period, and further underscores the need for longitudinal work to better understand this relationship during a critical developmental period.

Longitudinal course of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in hair of mothers and their children in the first year postpartum: investigating the relevance of maternal childhood maltreatment experiences.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) exerts long-lasting psychological and biological alterations in affected individuals and might also affect the endocannabinoid (eCB) system which modulates inflammation and the endocrine stress response. Here, we investigated the eCB system of women with and without CM and their infants using hair samples representing eCB levels accumulated during the last trimester of pregnancy and 10-12 months postpartum. CM exposure was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. At both timepoints, 3 cm hair strands were collected from mothers and children (N = 170 resp. 150) to measure anandamide (AEA), 2/1-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG/1-AG), stearoylethanolamide (SEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Maternal hair levels of 2-AG/1-AG increased and SEA levels decreased from late pregnancy to one year postpartum. Maternal CM was associated with lower SEA levels in late pregnancy, but not one year later. In the children's hair, levels of 2-AG/1-AG increased while levels of SEA, OEA, and PEA decreased from late pregnancy to one year later. Maternal CM was not consistently associated with the eCB levels measured in children's hair. We provide first evidence for longitudinal change in the eCB system of mothers and infants from pregnancy to one year later. While maternal CM influenced the maternal eCB system, we found no consistent intergenerational effects on early regulation of the eCB system in children. Longitudinal research on the importance of the eCB system for the course and immunoregulation of pregnancy as well as for the children's development.

Hair testing applied to the assessment of in utero exposure to drugs: Critical analysis of 51 cases of the University Hospital of Verona.

The work discusses the results of hair and urine testing performed in 51 cases of suspected in utero drug exposure handled at the University Hospital of Verona from 2016 to 2022. On the day of birth or the day after birth, urine from mother and newborn (UM and UN) and hair from mother (HM), newborn (HN) and father (HF), if possible, were collected. Urine underwent immunoassay and GC-MS analysis, whereas hair underwent LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS analysis. In 50 out of 51 cases, HM and/or HN were available. In 92% of them, hair testing resulted in a positive, often (>50% cases) for more than one class of substance. The most detected substances were cocaine, opiates, methadone and cannabinoids. Maternal segmental analysis showed a prevalent decreasing concentration trend during pregnancy in case of positivity for one class of substances, whereas, as expected, a neatly prevalent increasing trend in the case of positivity for more than one class of substances. In nine cases, HF was also available, resulting in all being positive, usually for the same classes of substances identified in HM, thus questioning parental responsibility. In 33 cases, urine samples from the mother or newborn were also collected. Of them, 27 cases (82%) tested positive, showing peri-partum drug consumption and then confirming the severity of the addiction. Hair testing showed to be a reliable diagnostic tool to investigate in utero drug exposure because of the possibility of obtaining a complete picture of maternal addictive behaviour and family background, thanks to segmental maternal hair analysis and father hair testing.

155 Rams Enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program have Improved Performance and Value in Ram Test Program

Abstract Genetic evaluation programs can provide valuable selection tools for sheep breeders. However, industry acceptance and utilization of these tools is still limited. The objective here was to evaluate the performance and value of rams enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) compared with those not enrolled during a ram test program. Rams (Katahdin = 16, Texel = 3) were delivered to the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center Ram Test on May 31. Rams were dewormed and rested for two weeks. On June 21, rams were given Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae adjusted for body weight (average = 5000 L3). FAMACHA scores and fecal egg counts (FEC) were monitored every two weeks until August 30. Rams were dewormed based on FAMACHA ≥ 3. The top 50% of rams, excluding any dewormed rams, based on the sale index [Sale Index = 0.50*(0.33*average daily gain ratio + 0.67*weight per day of age ratio) + 0.50*logFEC ratio] were sold at auction as breeding stock. Rams were classified as NSIP if enrolled. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Of the19 rams on test, 52% were NSIP. Thirteen rams required deworming during the test (38% of these were NSIP rams). Average sale index of NSIP rams tended to be greater than that of non-NSIP rams (101.4 vs. 98.3, P = 0.06). Of rams with sale index ≥ 100 (top 50%), a greater percentage of these rams were NSIP vs. non-NSIP (61% vs. 39%, respectively; P < 0.05). When NSIP status was evaluated for the top 20% of rams (sale index ≥07), a greater percentage of these rams were also NSIP vs. non-NSIP (78% vs. 22%, respectively; P < 0.01). Rams (n = 57) were sold on September 23 with an average sale price of $1,482. Rams enrolled in NSIP commanded greater prices than those not enrolled ($1,659 vs. $1,222, P < 0.05). When sale price was regressed on sale index for NSIP and non-NSIP rams, R2 for NSIP rams was 0.19 compared with the R2 for non-NSIP rams of 0.76. Given the weaker relationship between price and sale index for NSIP rams, estimated breeding values (EBVs) were evaluated. NSIP rams with EBVs reported for post-weaning weight, post-weaning FEC, and Maternal Hair Index sold for greater prices than those rams missing one or all of these EBVs ($1,837 vs. $971, respectively; P < 0.05). In summary, NSIP rams had greater performance (as indicated by sale index) and value compared with non-NSIP rams. For rams enrolled in NSIP, sale index was a poor predictor of value indicating buyers may be considering other factors besides sale index, such as EBVs, when purchasing NSIP rams.

Who benefits most from a prenatal HEPA filter air cleaner intervention on childhood cognitive development? The UGAAR randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAir pollution exposure during pregnancy affects children's brain function. Maternal stress and nutrition, socioeconomic status, and the child's sex may modify this relationship. ObjectiveTo identify characteristics of children with the largest increases in full-scale IQ (FSIQ) after their mothers used HEPA filter air cleaners during pregnancy. MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial we randomly assigned women to receive 1–2 air cleaners or no air cleaners during pregnancy. We analyzed maternal hair samples for cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). When the children were 48 months old, we measured FSIQ with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. We evaluated ten potential modifiers of the intervention-FSIQ relationship using interaction terms in separate regression models. To account for correlations between modifiers, we also used a single regression model containing main effects and intervention x modifier terms for all potential modifiers. ResultsAmong 242 mother-child dyads with complete data, the intervention was associated with a 2.3-point increase (95% CI: −1.5, 6.0 points) in mean FSIQ. The intervention improved mean FSIQ among children of mothers in the bottom (5.4 points; 95% CI: −0.8, 11.5) and top (6.1 points; 95% CI: 0.5, 11.8) cortisol tertiles, but not among those whose mothers were in the middle tertile. The largest between-group difference in the intervention's effect was a 7.5-point (95% CI: −0.7, 15.7) larger increase in mean FSIQ among children whose mothers did not take vitamins than among children whose mothers did take vitamins (interaction p-value = 0.07). We also observed larger benefits among children whose mothers did not complete university, and those with lower hair DHEA concentrations, hair cortisol concentrations outside the middle tertile, or more perceived stress. ConclusionThe benefits of reducing air pollution during pregnancy on brain development may be greatest for children whose mothers who do not take vitamins, experience more stress, or have less education.

Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Pregnant Dogs: Maternal and Newborn Cotinine Levels: A Pilot Study.

Active and passive smoking in pregnant women is associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality risk, including abortion, preterm birth, low birthweight, and malformations. No data are available on intrauterine exposure to smoking during pregnancy in dogs. This study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the detectability and quantity of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, in maternal (serum and hair) and newborn (amniotic fluid and hair) biospecimens collected at birth in dogs. For this purpose, twelve pregnant bitches, six exposed to the owner's smoke and six unexposed, were enrolled. A further six non-pregnant bitches exposed to passive smoke were included to investigate the role of pregnancy status on cotinine uptake. Exposed dogs, dams, and puppies had greater cotinine concentrations than unexposed ones. Although without statistical significance, serum and hair cotinine concentrations were higher in pregnant compared to non-pregnant bitches, suggesting a different sensitivity to tobacco smoke exposure during gestation. The present results provide evidence for cotinine transplacental passage in the dog. It is conceivable that fragile patients such as pregnant, lactating, and neonate dogs may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke exposure. Owners should be sensitized to the risk of smoke exposure for their pets.

Maternal hair cortisol predicts periodic and aperiodic infant frontal EEG activity longitudinally across infancy.

Maternal stress is known to be an important factor in shaping child development, yet the complex pattern of associations between stress and infant brain development remains understudied. To better understand the nuanced relations between maternal stress and infant neurodevelopment, research investigating longitudinal relations between maternal chronic physiological stress and infant brain function is warranted. In this study, we leveraged longitudinal data to disentangle between- from within-person associations of maternal hair cortisol and frontal electroencephalography (EEG) power at three time points across infancy at 3, 9, and 15months. We analyzed both aperiodic power spectral density (PSD) slope and traditional periodic frequency band activity. On the within-person level, maternal hair cortisol was associated with a flattening of frontal PSD slope and an increase in relative frontal beta. However, on the between-person level, higher maternal hair cortisol was associated with steeper frontal PSD slope, increased relative frontal theta, and decreased relative frontal beta. The within-person findings may reflect an adaptive neural response to relative shifts in maternal stress levels, while the between-person results demonstrate the potentially detrimental effects of chronically elevated maternal stress. This analysis offers a novel, quantitative insight into the relations between maternal physiological stress and infant cortical function.

Pre- and early postpartum psychosocial stress trajectories in mothers and child body mass index at 3 years: a birth cohort study

BackgroundChild overweight remains a prevalent public health concern, but the impact of maternal psychosocial stress and related constructs, the timing, and possible trajectories on child body mass index (BMI) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the association of maternal stress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and maternal hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) at delivery, 6, and 12 months postpartum with child BMI and age- and sex-standardized BMI (BMI-SDS) at age 3 years.MethodsData were derived from the Ulm SPATZ Health Study with a baseline examination between 04/2012 and 05/2013 at the University Medical Centre Ulm, Germany, the only maternity clinic in Ulm, with a good representation of the source population. Adjusted regression analyses based on BMI/BMI-SDS (dependent) and trajectories of stress, depression, and anxiety (independent variables) were investigated in 596 mothers and children. Multiple imputation of missing covariates was performed.ResultsVarious trajectories in independent variables were identified, trajectories of maternal anxiety symptom differed between child sexes. We did not find an association between trajectories of maternal chronic stress, depression symptoms, or HCC and child BMI/BMI-SDS. However, trajectories of low-increasing maternal anxiety symptoms were linked to higher child BMI compared to a low-stable trajectory group (b = 0.58 kg/m2, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.11; 1.04) in girls.ConclusionsTrajectories of maternal anxiety symptoms were associated with the child’s BMI/BMI-SDS in girls at age 3 years. However, further large scale studies should include variables to determine the causal pathway and enlighten sex-specific differences.

Maternal attachment state of mind and perinatal emotional wellbeing: Findings from a pregnancy cohort study

ObjectivesMaternal attachment state of mind is an important potential predictor of risk and resilience to perinatal emotional wellbeing and early parenting. To explore maternal attachment in relation to perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing. MethodsThis study drew on data collected within an ongoing cohort from 170 women recruited in early pregnancy, including 67 who met criteria for Major Depression. Maternal attachment state of mind was assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in pregnancy. Additional measures included the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID), at 12 months the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP), Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Parenting Stress Index, and antenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). LimitationsSample size to be able to undertake all analyses using the 4 way classifications, cortisol measurement is limited to hair only and there is no prospectively collected measure of childhood trauma in mothers. ConclusionsThis study found that maternal attachment, specifically the Non-Autonomous states of mind, adjusted for clinical depression, was associated with higher cortisol in pregnancy and higher depressive symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum. Furthermore, separately those with depression and Non-Autonomous states of mind also had higher postpartum parenting stress. There was no significant intergenerational concordance between AAI and SSP attachment classifications. Our findings support future research exploring the role of maternal attachment state of mind in understanding perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing.

Threat versus deprivation in mother's childhood: Differential relations to hair cortisol and psychopathology in pregnancy

BackgroundThe negative effects of childhood maltreatment can be intergenerational, and the prenatal period may play an important role in this intergenerational transmission. Maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction and maternal psychopathology represent two mechanisms through which the effects of childhood maltreatment are hypothesized to be transmitted across generations. ObjectiveThis study first sought to extend prior research on pathways of intergenerational transmission by examining whether mothers' childhood experiences of abuse versus neglect differentially relate to maternal HPA activity and to maternal psychopathology during the prenatal period. Second, exploratory analyses examined the links between maternal variables and their State Protective Service involvement as a parent, as an indicator of maladaptive caregiving. MethodsDuring the third trimester of pregnancy, 51 women reported on experiences of childhood maltreatment, on State Protective Service involvement as an adult parent, and on current depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and provided a hair sample for cortisol assay. ResultsRegression analyses indicated that greater severity of abuse, but not neglect, in childhood was associated with higher maternal depressive symptoms (β = 0.488, p = .020). In contrast, greater severity of neglect, but not abuse, in mothers' childhood was associated with lower maternal hair cortisol concentration (β = −0.437, p = .031). Lower maternal hair cortisol concentration, but not maternal psychopathology or severity of childhood abuse or neglect, in turn, was associated with State Protective Service involvement (β = −0.785, p < .001). ConclusionsFindings extend prior work by suggesting that childhood abuse and neglect may have different sequelae for mothers during pregnancy and that these sequelae may have different relations to parenting.

Maternal hair cortisol concentrations and its association with increased insulin resistance in midpregnancy

PurposeStress and elevated maternal glycemia have negative effects on pregnancy. We evaluated the association of hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), a marker of chronic stress, with insulin resistance and gestational diabetes (GDM). MethodsIn total, 527 women from Lima, Peru, provided a hair sample in the second trimester of their pregnancy to measure HCC using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Each 6 cm of hair captured HCC in early (T1=1–12 weeks) and midpregnancy (T2 = 13–24 weeks). GDM diagnosis was conducted in midpregnancy. Multivariable regression models adjusted for putative risk factorsincluding maternal sociodemographic factors, diabetes history, and hair characteristics, were used to estimate the association of HCC with GDM and various glycemic traits. ResultsGDM was diagnosed in 122 (23%) women. Mean HCC across pregnancy was T1 = 3.7 (±3.4) pg/mg and T2 = 4.8 (±3.4) pg/mg. HCC was associated with increased log-transformed units of fasting insulin (T1 = 0.15 [0.03, 0.27], T2 = 0.17 [0.04, 0.30]), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (T1 = 0.14 [0.01, 0.26], T2 = 0.17 [0.03, 0.30]), and homeostasis model assessment for β-cell function (T1 = 0.20 [0.05, 0.34], T2 = 0.20 [0.04, 0.36]), but not with GDM (T1 = 0.95 [0.63, 1.40], T2 = 1.11 [0.74, 1.67]). ConclusionsElevated maternal HCC was associated with abnormal insulin homeostasis in pregnancy. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, as reflected by high HCC, may also contribute to insulin resistance syndrome in pregnancy.

Association between trauma exposure and glucocorticosteroid concentration in hair during pregnancy

BackgroundTraumatic events, including child abuse and intimate partner violence, are highly prevalent among women of child-bearing age. These traumatic experiences may impact maternal and offspring physical and mental health. A proposed mechanism for these effects is maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation which can be measured using hair corticosteroid levels. AimsThis study aims to examine the association of child abuse and intimate partner violence exposure with HPA axis functioning, as measured by hair corticosteroid levels in a cohort of pregnant women. MethodsWe included data from 1822 pregnant women (mean gestational age 17 weeks) attending a prenatal clinic in Lima, Peru. We extracted cortisol and cortisone concentrations from hair samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Each participant provided 6-cm hair samples: 3 cm hair segment closest to the scalp reflecting HCC in early pregnancy (first three months), and 3–6 cm from the scalp reflecting HCC in pre-pregnancy (three months prior to conception). Multivariable linear regression procedures were used to assess the association between maternal trauma exposure and hair corticosteroid levels. ResultsOverall, women who experienced child abuse on average had higher levels of cortisol (p < 0.01) and cortisone (p < 0.0001) after adjustment for age, race, adult access to basic foods and hair treatments. For the hair segment reflecting early pregnancy, presence of child abuse was associated with a 0.120 log unit increase in cortisol and a 0.260 log unit increase in cortisone (p < 0.001). For the hair segment reflecting pre-pregnancy, a history of child abuse was associated with a 0.100 log unit increase in cortisol and a 0.180 log unit increase in cortisone (p < 0.01). Results also suggested an impact of intimate partner violence on HPA regulation; however, associations were not statistically significant after controlling for child abuse. ConclusionsThese results underscore the long-lasting impacts of exposure to adversity and trauma during early life. Our study findings will have implications for research investigating HPA axis function and long-term effects of violence on corticosteroid regulation.

Atypical maternal interaction is associated with elevated levels of hair cortisol in children.

The quality of maternal caregiving is an important factor in the healthy development of a child. One consequence of prolonged insensitive and atypical maternal interaction behavior (e.g., withdrawing from interactions with the child and role-reversal, i.e., the takeover of the parental role or parts of it by the child) in mother-child-dyads can cause alteration of the child's stress response system. Higher salivary cortisol concentrations were reported in infants and toddlers directly after negative interactions with their parents. However, no study to date has examined the association between atypical maternal interaction behavior and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in infants. Here, we studied the association of maternal interaction behavior with HCC of the child. Mother-child dyads (N = 112) participated in the longitudinal study My Childhood-Your Childhood. The AMBIANCE scale and its subscales were used to assess atypical maternal interaction behavior during the Strange Situation Procedure. Chronic stress levels in the child were assessed by HCC of 3 cm hair strands at the age of 12 months. Maternal educational level (operationalized in highest education level) served as a control variable. Robust multiple linear regression analyses revealed that role/boundary confusion was associated with HCC, i.e., the higher atypical interaction behavior of the mother the higher the HCC in the children. By measuring hair cortisol in this study, it is possible to determine the average long-term activity of the child's stress response system.Thus, atypical maternal interaction behavior could be a risk factor for persistent stress in children, contributing to a higher risk for negative health outcomes in later life. The results of this study highlight the importance of early intervention programs that focus on the relationship between mother and child.

First Evidence on the Adverse Effect of Maternal Germanium Exposure on Fetal Neural Tube Defects

Germanium (Ge) can induce certain neurotoxic effects and may affect the fetal neural tube development. We aimed to investigate its association with the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) by adopting integrated evidence. The potential associations between maternal hair Ge concentrations were explored using a relatively large case–control study of 285 NTD cases (women delivering a birth affected by NTDs) and 543 controls (those delivering healthy fetus without NTDs). The potential toxicological pathways and the reliability of the exposure biomarker of hair Ge were confirmed using additional population study and rat model, respectively. The epidemiological study showed that there was a significantly positive association between maternal hair Ge and NTD risk, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 1.91 (1.24–2.94) and 1.42 (1.00–2.00) for two concerned time-windows covering the early pregnancy period. Likewise, we found a significantly positive dose–response relationship between Ge intake and its concentration in rats’ fur sample. By using a birth cohort, we found that maternal Ge exposure may increase oxidation stress and the likelihood of fever or flu among pregnant women, which were both related to NTD risk. We first concluded that maternal Ge exposure was positively associated with NTD risk with integrated evidence.