Sex Of Newborn Research Articles

Associations between obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood and newborn adiposity: findings from the Araraquara Cohort study.

Genes involved in the regulation of metabolism, adipose tissue deposition, inflammation, and the appetite-satiety axis may play an important role in fetal development, and possibly induce permanent metabolic changes and fat accumulation. In this study we investigated: (1) obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood of overweight/obese and normal-weight pregnant women; (2) associations between obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood; and (3) associations of gene expression in each of maternal and cord blood with newborn adiposity. Twenty-five overweight/obese and 32 normal-weight pregnant women were selected from the Araraquara Cohort Study according to their pre-pregnancy BMI. Maternal and cord blood gene expression of LEPR, STAT3, PPARG, TLR4, IL-6, IL-10, FTO, MC4R, TNF-α, and NFκB were investigated by relative real-time PCR quantification. The body composition of the newborns was assessed by air displacement plethysmography. Associations between maternal and cord blood gene expression and markers of newborn adiposity (weight, BMI, and fat mass%) were explored by linear regression models controlling for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal gestational weight gain, gestational age, and newborn sex. There was higher TLR4, NFκB, and TNF-a expression, and lower IL-6 expression, in overweight/obese pregnant women and their respective newborns compared with normal-weight women and their newborns (p < 0.001). Maternal PPARG gene expression was associated with both weight and fat mass % of the newborns, and cord blood IL-10 expression was associated with BMI and fat mass %, controlling for confounders. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship of maternal and cord blood gene expression with adiposity markers of the newborn. Our results provide evidence for the contribution of maternal and cord blood gene expression-particularly maternal PPARG and TLR4 expression, and cord blood IL-10 expression-to newborn weight, BMI, and fat mass %.

Novel associations between parental and newborn cord blood metabolic profiles in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

BackgroundMore than one third of Norwegian women and men between 20 and 40 years of age have elevated cholesterol concentration. Parental metabolic health around conception or during pregnancy may affect the offspring’s cardiovascular disease risk. Lipids are important for fetal development, but the determinants of cord blood lipids have scarcely been studied. We therefore aimed to describe the associations between maternal and paternal peri-pregnancy lipid and metabolic profile and newborn cord blood lipid and metabolic profile.MethodsThis study is based on 710 mother–father–newborn trios from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). The sample included in this study consisted of parents with and without self-reported hypercholesterolemia the last 6 months before pregnancy and their partners and newborns. Sixty-four cord blood metabolites detected by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were analyzed by linear mixed model analyses. The false discovery rate procedure was used to correct for multiple testing.ResultsAmong mothers with hypercholesterolemia, maternal and newborn plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, alanine, glutamine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, creatinine, and particle concentration of medium high-density lipoprotein were significantly positively associated (0.001 ≤ q ≤ 0.09). Among mothers without hypercholesterolemia, maternal and newborn linoleic acid, valine, tyrosine, citrate, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein size, and particle concentration of small high-density lipoprotein were significantly positively associated (0.02 ≤ q ≤ 0.08). Among fathers with hypercholesterolemia, paternal and newborn ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A1 were significantly positively associated (q = 0.04). Among fathers without hypercholesterolemia, no significant associations were found between paternal and newborn metabolites. Sex differences were found for many cord blood lipids.ConclusionsMaternal and paternal metabolites and newborn sex were associated with several cord blood metabolites. This may potentially affect the offspring’s long-term cardiovascular disease risk.

Prenatal maternal transdiagnostic, RDoC-informed predictors of newborn neurobehavior: Differences by sex.

We examined whether Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)-informed measures of prenatal stress predicted newborn neurobehavior and whether these effects differed by newborn sex. Multilevel, prenatal markers of prenatal stress were obtained from 162 pregnant women. Markers of the Negative Valence System included physiological functioning (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] and electrodermal [EDA] reactivity to a speech task, hair cortisol), self-reported stress (state anxiety, pregnancy-specific anxiety, daily stress, childhood trauma, economic hardship, and family resources), and interviewer-rated stress (episodic stress, chronic stress). Markers of the Arousal/Regulatory System included physiological functioning (baseline RSA, RSA, and EDA responses to infant cries) and self-reported affect intensity, urgency, emotion regulation strategies, and dispositional mindfulness. Newborns' arousal and attention were assessed via the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Network Neurobehavioral Scale. Path analyses showed that high maternal episodic and daily stress, low economic hardship, few emotion regulation strategies, and high baseline RSA predicted female newborns' low attention; maternal mindfulness predicted female newborns' high arousal. As for male newborns, high episodic stress predicted low arousal, and high pregnancy-specific anxiety predicted high attention. Findings suggest that RDoC-informed markers of prenatal stress could aid detection of variance in newborn neurobehavioral outcomes within hours after birth. Implications for intergenerational transmission of risk for psychopathology are discussed.

Annual trend of neonatal mortality and its underlying causes: population-based study \u2013 S\xe3o Paulo State, Brazil, 2004\u20132013

BackgroundPopulation-based studies analyzing neonatal deaths in middle-income countries may contribute to design interventions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, established by United Nations. This study goal is to analyze the annual trend of neonatal mortality in São Paulo State, Brazil, over a 10-year period and its underlying causes and to identify maternal and neonatal characteristics at birth associated with neonatal mortality.MethodA population-based study of births and deaths from 0 to 27 days between 2004 and 2013 in São Paulo State, Brazil, was performed. The annual trend of neonatal mortality rate according to gestational age was analyzed by Poisson or by Negative Binomial Regression models. Basic causes of neonatal death were classified according to ICD-10. Association of maternal demographic variables (block 1), prenatal and delivery care variables (block 2), and neonatal characteristics at birth (block 3) with neonatal mortality was evaluated by Poisson regression analysis adjusted by year of birth. ResultsAmong 6,056,883 live births in São Paulo State during the study period, 48,309 died from 0 to 27 days (neonatal mortality rate: 8.0/1,000 live births). For the whole group and for infants with gestational age 22–27, 28–31, 32–36, 37–41 and ≥ 42 weeks, reduction of neonatal mortality rate was, respectively, 18 %, 15 %, 38 %, 53 %, 31 %, and 58 %. Median time until 50 % of deaths occurred was 3 days. Main basic causes of death were respiratory disorders (25 %), malformations (20 %), infections (17 %), and perinatal asphyxia (7 %). Variables independently associated with neonatal deaths were maternal schooling, prenatal care, parity, newborn sex, 1st minute Apgar, and malformations. Cesarean delivery, compared to vaginal, was protective against neonatal mortality for infants at 22–31 weeks, but it was a risk factor for those with 32–41 weeks.ConclusionsDespite the significant decrease in neonatal mortality rate over the 10-year period in São Paulo State, improved access to qualified health care is needed in order to avoid preventable neonatal deaths and increase survival of infants that need more complex levels of assistance.

Fetal sex and maternal postpartum depressive symptoms: findings from two prospective pregnancy cohorts

BackgroundFetal sex is known to modify the course and complications of pregnancy, with recent evidence of sex-differential fetal influences on the maternal immune and endocrine systems. In turn, heightened inflammation and surges in reproductive hormone levels associated with pregnancy and parturition have been linked with the development of perinatal depression. Here, we examined whether there is an association between fetal sex and maternal depression assessed during the prenatal and postnatal periods.MethodsThe study included two multi-ethnic, prospective pregnancy cohorts that enrolled women from prenatal clinics in the Northeastern United States between 2001 and 2018. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured during the prenatal and postnatal periods using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and newborn sex was reported by the mother following delivery. We used logistic regression to examine associations between fetal sex and maternal depressive symptoms (EPDS > 10) during the prenatal period only, postnatal period only, or both periods versus no depressive symptoms during either period. We considered both unadjusted models and models adjusted for a core set of sociodemographic and lifestyle variables.ResultsIn adjusted models using PRISM data (N = 528), women pregnant with a male versus female fetus had significantly greater odds of depressive symptoms during the postnatal period compared to women without depressive symptoms during either period (odds ratio [OR] = 5.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.93, 14.21). The direction of results was consistent in the ACCESS cohort, although the findings did not reach statistical significance (OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 0.86, 4.93). Significant associations were not observed in either cohort among women with prenatal symptoms only or women with prenatal and postnatal symptoms.ConclusionsMale fetal sex was associated with the onset of depressive symptoms during the postnatal period.

Evaluation of Head Circumference Index in Children under 18 Months and its Associated Factors in Zanjan City: A Retrospective Cohort

Background The growth and development of infancy are vital to health and the quality of life throughout a person's life. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the growth of head circumference in a sample of Iranian children under 18 months. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted among 274 children aged under 18 months in Zanjan, Iran. Multi-stage cluster sampling was applied to obtain a representative sample of residents. About eight representative healthcare centers, including four urban health centers and four rural health centers, as clusters, were randomly selected. We used multiple linear regression and marginal models of Generalized Equation Estimators to examine the predictors of head circumference cross-sectionally and longitudinaly, respectively. Results: Of the subjects, 49.5% (n=136) were females. The mean head circumference of newborns was 34.5±1.57. The marginal model showed that there is a significant association between sex of newborns, gestational age, high risk pregnancy, height and weight of newborns with head circumference over time (p <0.005). In multiple regression models, mothers' job and educational level also showed a significant association with head circumference in addition to sex of newborns (B=0.33, 95% CI:[0.31, 0.53]), gestational age (B=1.47, 95% CI:[0.99, 1.94]), high risk pregnancy (B=0.37; 95% CI:[0.15, 0.57]), height and weight of newborns (p <0.005). Conclusion In our study the mean of head circumference was similar to standard value of 34.9 cm. The sex, gestational age, high risk pregnancy, height and weight of newborns showed a significant association with head circumference, both in cross-sectional (at birth), and longitudinal models (at birth to 18 months); mothers job and educational level showed a significant association with head circumference only at birth.

Assessment of Chromosomal Damage in Umbilical Blood Lymphocytes of Newborns from Kragujevac in Central Serbia Born 18 Years after Environmental Contamination.

The measurement of micronuclei (MN) in umbilical blood lymphocytes of newborns are increasingly used in cytogenetic epidemiology as one of the preferred methods for assessing chromosomal damage resulted from maternal exposure to mutagen. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of strong environmental contamination (EC) (which occured in the City of Kragujevac, Central Serbia in 1999) on the MN frequency in group of 22 newborns born in Kragujevac 18 years after EC, using cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The mean MN frequency in umbilical lymphocytes of these newborns was 5.14 ± 2.17/1,000 binucleated (BN) cells, which is significantly lower than mean MN frequency of newborns born 12 months after contamination (9.36 ± 5.60/1,000 BN cells). Sex of newborns, age of mothers, cigarette smoking, and number of pregnancies did not affect the MN frequency of newborns. Our results showed that in utero exposure to environmental pollution affected genome instability of the fetuses, but that by improving the quality of environmental conditions there was a decrease in mean MN frequency of newborns born 18 years after contamination. In general, genome of umbilical lymphocytes shows a realistic picture of all changes in body and the environment.

Incompleteness and inaccuracies in Certificates of Live Birth in a city in Southern Brazil.

To evaluate inadequacies in Certificates of Live Birth in a city in Southern Brazil between 2011 and 2015. This is a retrospective quantitative study based on Certificates of Live Birth of mothers living in Itapema, Santa Catarina, issued from 2011 to 2015, using data from the Live Birth Information System. Among 3,537 certificates, we found no mistakes in the variables newborn's sex, birth weight, maternal age, type of pregnancy, and type of delivery. Concerning incompleteness, the variable "cesarean section was performed before the start of labor" had a mean rate considered poor, while occupation was classified as good (above 6%), neighborhood as excellent (between 0.8 and 4.5%), and induction also as excellent (0.7 to 2.9%). Inaccuracies were greater in the ethnicity (up to 0.7%) and neighborhood (up to 1.3%) variables, both considered excellent. In the comparison between sections, the pregnancy and childbirth section was the most incomplete. Data completeness in Certificates of Live Birth was considered excellent for most variables, and the classification of inaccuracies was excellent for all variables, evidencing the quality of the information found in these certificates.

Role of Morphometry of Placenta in Determination of Birth Weight of Fetus in Hypertensive Mothers

Background: The present study was conducted to assess the association of morphometry of the placenta and birth weight of fetus in hypertensive mothers. Subjects and Methods: The present study was conducted on 74 pregnant women with an uncomplicated pregnancy and those with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). The following morphometric parameters of each placenta were recorded: weight, volume, thickness, transverse diameter, and shape. Gestational age of mothers, sex and birth weight of newborns were recorded. Results: The majority of male babies with weight &gt; 2500 grams had &gt; 37 weeks of gestational age and the majority of female babies with weight &gt;2500 grams had &gt;37 weeks of gestational age. The mean weight of placentae in male babies was 416.7 grams, the mean surface area was 226.5 sq cm, mean volume was 372.2 ml and mean thickness were 2.04 cm. while the mean weight of placentae in female babies was 407.5 grams, the mean surface area was 220.4 sq cm, mean volume was 354.6 ml and mean thickness was 2.10 cm. Statistics show that the highest sensitivity and specificity for determining the low birth weight of babies in hypertensive mothers was seen with a surface area of the placenta which was 82.3% and 75.6% respectively. The positive predictive value for the weight of the placenta was 65.4%, for the surface area it was 67.8% and for the volume of the placenta, it was 64.2%. Conclusion: To conclude, it was found that placental morphometry like weight, surface area, volume and sex of the baby determined the birth weight efficiently in hypertensive mothers.

Postpartum amenorrhea duration by sex of the newborn in two natural fertility populations.

Postpartum amenorrhea (PA) affects the length of interbirth intervals and thus is intimately related to human life history strategies. PA duration appears to be influenced by maternal energetic status. In humans, as in other mammals, sons are costlier than daughters. Thus, we hypothesize that, in energetically constrained environments, a newborn's sex should be associated with PA duration. We analyzed data from two natural fertility populations in which mothers have differing energy budgets: Qom women (n = 121) from a periurban village in Argentina, who have a comparatively calorically dense diet and are sedentary (prepregnancy mean BMI = 24.8 ± 4.5 kg/m2 in 1997), and agropastoral Kaqchikel Maya women (n = 88), who have a comparatively calorically restricted diet and high physical activity levels (mean BMI = 21.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2 ). We predict that (a) mothers of sons exhibit longer PA duration than mothers of daughters and (b) this association between offspring sex and PA duration is stronger in the Maya, who have smaller energy budgets. Maya mothers with sons exhibited estimated mean and median PA durations that were 1.34 times the estimated mean and median PA duration of mothers with daughters (p = 0.02). Among the Qom, mean, and median PA duration did not differ significantly in relation to offspring sex (p = 0.94). Maya mothers with sons exhibited longer PA duration than those with daughters. This phenomenon was not observed in the well-nourished Qom, possibly due to "buffering" effects from larger energy budgets. Offspring sex may influence birth spacing and maternal life history strategies in energetically constrained environments.

Metabolic Profiling of 713 Newborns and Parents in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Background: Lipids are important for fetal development, but the determinants of cord blood lipids have scarcely been studied. We therefore aimed to describe the associations between newborn cord blood lipid and metabolic profile, and maternal and paternal lipid and metabolic profile. Methods: This study is based on 713 mother-father-newborn trios from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Sixty-four cord blood metabolites detected by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were analyzed. The false discovery rate (FDR) procedure was used to correct for multiple testing. Findings: We found positive associations between maternal and newborn high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, glutamine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, glucose, citrate, creatinine, and particle concentration of medium and small HDL (0·001 ≤ qFDR ≤ 0·049). Paternal and newborn total-, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-, HDL3-, remnant-, esterified- and free cholesterol, phosphoglycerides, cholines, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, apolipoprotein B and A1, total fatty acids, and particle concentration of intermediate-density lipoprotein, large- and medium LDL were positively associated (0·004 ≤ qFDR ≤ 0·047). Sex differences were found for many cord blood lipids. Interpretation: Several cord blood metabolites were associated with maternal and paternal metabolites and newborn sex. This may potentially affect pregnancy- and long-term outcomes. Funding: The University of Oslo; the National Advisory Unit on Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Oslo University Hospital; the Throne Holst Foundation for Nutrition Research; the Norwegian Health Association; Eckbos Legate; the Freia Corporation Medical Fund; and the Blix Foundation for the Promotion of Medical Research, Norway. Declaration of Interests: During the past five years, MPB reports grants and personal fees from Amgen, grants and personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from MSD, personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, grants and personal fees from Mills AS, and grants from Kaneka, none of which are related to the content of this manuscript. JJC reports grants or personal fees from Mills DA and Amgen, none of which are related to the content of this manuscript. SMU has received research grants and/or personal fees from Mills AS, Tine DA, and Olympic Seafood, none of which are related to the content of this manuscript. KR reports personal fees from Amgen, personal fees from Mills AS, personal fees from The Norwegian Medical Association, personal fees from The Norwegian Directorate of Health, personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from Takeda, personal fees from Chiesi, personal fees from Bayer, and personal fees from MSD, none of which are related to the content of this manuscript. JRVL has received research grants from Amryt, which are not related to the content of this manuscript. KBH has received research grants or honoraria from Mills AS, Tine SA, Olympic Seafood, Amgen, Sanofi, and Pronova, none of which are related to the content of this manuscript. LKLO, ALB, HKB, TMM, TH, PMM, and MBV declare no conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The current study was approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (no. 2017/1285). The study was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and all MoBa participants gave written informed consent at the time of inclusion.

Transgenerational effects of methyl farnesoate on Daphnia pulex clones: Male and ephippia production and expression of genes involved in sex determination

Abstract Environmental sex determination implies that sex is defined by environmental factors influencing the maternal organism and/or oocytes. It provides population sex ratios that will maximise the sustainability of the population under incipient environmental conditions. Environmental factors responsible for sex determination include temperature, photoperiod, food availability, and population density. These cues stimulate the release of chemical signalling molecules (i.e. hormones) that determine the sex of newborns. We have analysed the responses of three Daphnia pulex clones (I, K, and S), isolated from different natural populations, to juvenile hormone methyl farnesoate (MF) in terms of survivorship, fecundity, production of males and ephippia, and expression of genes involved in sex determination (dsx1) and hormonal regulation (JHAMT, Met, RXR). Clonal individuals were exposed to: (1) high MF concentration (0.8 µM) combined with stressful conditions; (2) low MF concentration (0.15 µM) combined with optimal conditions of population density and food availability in two subsequent generations. The genetically different clones of D. pulex differed in the propensity for male and ephippia production and in the sensitivity to the stimuli that lead to the switch from parthenogenetic to sexual reproduction. A significant induction of male production was observed in all three clones when exposed to MF. In conditions mimicking crowding, only clone S produced male offspring even in absence of MF and showed higher expression levels of JHAMT and dsx1 genes. This response suggests that clone S has a high propensity to produce males probably due to a high sensitivity of receptors to environmental stimuli activating the endogenous biosynthesis of MF. However, clone S exposed to high MF concentration produced fewer males than clones I and K, which generally have a low natural propensity to produce males. High MF concentration coupled with conditions mimicking crowding, probably activated a feedback mechanism in clone S via the differential modulation of genes involved in the synthesis as well in the degradation of MF. Exposure to low MF concentration for two subsequent generations resulted in a reduction of male progeny production from the first (G1) to the second (G2) generation. All analysed genes were up‐regulated in both generations treated with MF, but with lower expression in G2. The reduced up‐regulation of the dsx1 gene matched with the lower male production. Based on our results and literature data, we hypothesised that the maternal dsx1 mRNA probably plays some role early in oocyte development, and causes the eggs that receive the dsx1 signal to develop into males. Exposure to MF for two generations significantly increased ephippia production. These results suggest that the induction of male and ephippia might have a common root in the MF pathway. The effect of MF on life‐history traits (delay in the age at maturity and fecundity reduction), sex ratio, and ephippia production suggests a direct impact of the juvenile hormone on the level of population growth. Thus, as a consequence of the switch from parthenogenetic to sexual reproduction, MF influences Daphnia population metrics and in this way probably maximises the sustainability of the population under variable environmental conditions.

Placental maternally expressed gene3 differentially methylated region methylation profile is associated with maternal glucose concentration and newborn birthweight.

Aims/IntroductionEmerging evidence shows that epigenetic modifications occurring during fetal development in response to intrauterine exposures could be one of the mechanisms involved in the early determinants of adult metabolic disorders. This study aimed to investigate whether the placental maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation profile is associated with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus status and newborn birthweight.Materials and MethodsSamples for measurement were collected from 23 women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 23 healthy controls. MEG3 gene expression and DNA methylation levels were assessed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and MethylTargetTM, respectively. Pearson correlation analyses were used to examine associations between placental DNA methylation levels and clinical variables of interest. The associated results were adjusted by multivariate linear regression for maternal age, body mass index, height, gestational age and newborn sex as confounders.ResultsWe found that the DNA methylation levels in the MEG3 differentially methylated region were significantly different between the gestational diabetes mellitus and control groups on the maternal side of the placenta (40.64 ± 2.15 vs 38.33 ± 2.92; P = 0.004). Furthermore, the mean MEG3 DNA methylation levels were correlated positively with maternal fasting glucose concentrations (R = 0.603, P < 0.001) and newborn birthweight (R = 0.568, P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe placental DNA methylation status in the MEG3 differentially methylated region was correlated with maternal glucose concentrations and newborn birthweight. These epigenetic adaptations might contribute to late‐onset obesity, underlining the adverse intrauterine environment.

Testing direct and indirect effects of green space availability on reproductive outcomes

Background/Aim:Adverse reproductive effects can lead to cognitive development problems, medical conditions, morbidity and mortality in future stages of lives. Surrounding residential greenness has a positive effect in reproductive health. Different studies have proposed that this effect could be both direct and indirect. Indirect effects of greenness may happen through the reduction of environmental exposure (air pollution, noise and temperature regulation), the promotion of physical activity and the improvement of psychological health. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between surrounding residential greenness and reproductive health, studying the possible role of said mediators.Methods:441 pregnant women (mean age 33.52, SD = 4.88) were recruited in Donostialdea, Basque Country, Spain, during the first ultrasound in the Basque Health Service. After signing the informed consent form, participants were given the study questionnaire and one accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X-BT) which they used it for one week. In the second trimester of pregnancy they repeated the whole process again. Environmental exposures (NO2 and availability of &gt;5000 m2 green space in 300m) were assigned to all participants. Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) was determined with the accelerometer. Psychological health was measured with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Birth weight, preterm birth, small and large for gestational age (SGA &amp; LGA) were defined as outcome variables and newborn sex, season, deprivation index and parity as covariates. Natural effects models were used to analyze aforementioned direct and indirect effects.Results:Greenness availability had a negative effect on birth weight (-138g; p-value = 0.022). A marginal protective effect of greenness availability on LGA (OR = 0.54; p-value = 0.091) was detected in the model with GHQ as mediator.Conclusions:Greenness availability in 300m had limited effects on reproductive outcomes. Using other measures of greenness may help to understand this question better.

Does preeclampsia mediate the impact of air pollution on reduced birth weight?

Background: Maternal exposure to air pollution has been linked to reduced birth weight and increased risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia has been associated with an increased risk of reduced birth weight. We speculate that the impact of air pollution on birth weight could partially attribute to its impact on preeclampsia.Methods: We analyzed data from a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China from 2010-2012. We included 8046 mothers, who gave birth (singleton) at Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, and reported residence at birth in Lanzhou urban area. Maternal exposures to particulate matter with diameter &lt; 10 µm (PM10) during the entire pregnancy were estimated using inverse distance weighting based on government monitoring data. We conducted a mediation analysis to investigate the role of preeclampsia in the causal relationship between PM10 and birth weight. The covariates in the analysis included newborn sex, maternal age, education, income, gestational weeks, C-section, previous preterm birth, body mass index, folate intake, and smoking.Results: Maternal exposure to PM10 during entire pregnancy was significantly associated with reduced birth weight after adjusting for the above covariates [-16 g; 95% CI: -30 g, -2 g; for interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM10]. Maternal preeclampsia was significantly associated with reduced birth weight [-384 g; 95% CI: -525 g, -243 g], and PM10 exposures (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4, 3.4; for IQR increase in PM10). For an IQR increase in PM10, preeclampsia explained 4.5% (p: 0.042) of the total effects of elevated PM10 exposures on reduced birth weight.Conclusions: Preeclampsia mediates the impact of maternal exposure to PM10 on reduced birth weight, but other pathways through which air pollution impacts birth weight need to be further explored. Preventative measures or proactive management of preeclampsia during pregnancy might help to reduce the adverse impact of air pollution on birth weight.

Exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers during pregnancy: Thyroid endocrine disruption and mediation role of oxidative stress

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in consumer and industrial products. Human exposure to OPEs raises concerns due to their endocrine disruptive potentials. Till now, the effects of OPEs on thyroid hormones (THs) and the mediating role of oxidative stress in pregnant women have not been studied. In this study, prenatal urinary concentrations of OPE metabolites (mOPEs), levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and oxidative stress levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in pregnant women (n = 360) from a coastal urbanized region and moderate socioeconomic status. Neonatal TSH in heel blood was also measured in newborns (n = 309). Dibutyl phosphate (DBP) and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) were extensively detected with a median creatinine-adjusted level of 0.19 μg/g and 0.66 μg/g, respectively, and the median of ∑mOPEs was 1.82 μg/g. DBP and DPHP were included in the analysis. The concentrations of DBP and DPHP were positively associated with either maternal or neonatal TSH levels, while not for maternal FT3 and FT4 levels. Positive associations for maternal and neonatal TSH were particularly observed in girls as stratified by newborn sex suggesting a sex-selective difference. Furthermore, 8-OHdG, the biomarker of DNA damage, was found to be a major mediator (>60%) for the association between neonatal TSH and DPHP, suggesting that DNA damage is involved in fetal thyroid function disruption. On the other hand, MDA showed a partially suppressing effect (<40%) for the associations between mOPEs and neonatal TSH, which needs further clarification. For maternal TSH, both 8-OHdG and MDA showed moderate mediating effects while the direct effects of mOPEs on maternal TSH also contributed. These results suggest thyroid disrupting effects of OPE exposure on mothers and fetuses during pregnancy and the potential influence mediated by the oxidative stresses of DNA damage and lipid peroxidation.

Maternal trauma and fear history predict BDNF methylation and gene expression in newborns.

Trauma and related fear exert significant influence on mental and physical health throughout the lifespan and are associated with intergenerational patterns of development, health, and behavior. DNA methylation and gene expression are involved in our developmental adaptations to our experiences and can be influenced by social interventions. Patterns of DNA methylation and expression of a gene involved in neurodevelopment and psychiatric risk (BDNF) have been linked with childhood trauma. Given the intergenerational patterns of health and behavior, and previous links between childhood trauma and BDNF methylation and expression, this study investigated the potential for maternal history of traumatic experiences to influence development in her newborn, via changes in her newborn’s BDNF methylation and expression. We found that mothers’ trauma history was associated with epigenetic regulation of BDNF in their newborns. Moreover, the association between maternal trauma and BDNF methylation and expression patterns were moderated by newborn sex. Male newborns showed increased BDNF expression with maternal exposure to child abuse (p = .001), and increased BDNF methylation with greater maternal fear (p = .001). Female newborns showed reduced BDNF expression with greater maternal fear (p = .004). Practitioners strive to identify prevention and intervention avenues that will reduce the harmful effects of trauma. Future research should consider the potential for maternal historical trauma experiences to influence offspring DNA methylation and gene expression in a manner that could alter development and inform novel prevention strategies.

Association between Breast Milk Mineral Content and Maternal Adherence to Healthy Dietary Patterns in Spain: A Transversal Study.

The composition of breast milk is influenced by many factors, some of which dependent on the mother and others on the child. Changes in lactation and other factors depending on the mother’s physiology and anthropometric characteristics, as well as her nutritional status and diet, are of key importance. Breast milk minerals have been extensively studied with highly uneven results. In this work, a comparison will made with data across the world. To understand the factors that might explain the disparity, several minerals (Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Se and I) have been analyzed using ICP-MS in a set of human milk samples (n = 75). The samples had an identical geographical origin (Galicia, in northwestern Spain) but different lactation circumstances, including maternal anthropometric data, lactating time, newborn sex and maternal adherence to healthy dietary patterns (Mediterranean Diet, MD, or Atlantic Diet, AD). The required concentrations of essential elements reported in the literature are similar to those found in these Spanish women. A univariate approach revealed that factors such as lactating time, body mass index (BMI) and newborn sex have a significant influence in breastmilk mineral content. According to multivariate linear regression analysis, minerals in milk are particularly associated with lactating time, but also with newborn sex, maternal BMI, age and diet pattern in some cases. More precisely, these results suggest that the iron and selenium concentrations in the milk of Galician donors may be positively influenced by maternal adherence to AD and MD, respectively.

Newborn body composition after maternal bariatric surgery.

In pregnancy after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), there is increased risk of low birthweight in the offspring. The present study examined how offspring body composition was affected by RYGB. Mother-newborn dyads, where the mothers had undergone RYGB were included. Main outcome measure was neonatal body composition. Neonatal body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning (DXA) within 48 hours after birth. In a statistical model offspring born after RYGB were compared with a reference material of offspring and analyses were made to estimate the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain, parity, gestational age at birth and newborn sex on newborn body composition. Analyses were made to estimate the impact of maternal weight loss before pregnancy and of other effects of bariatric surgery respectively. The study was performed at a university hospital between October 2012 and December 2013. We included 25 mother-newborn dyads where the mothers had undergone RYGB and compared them to a reference material of 311 mother-newborn dyads with comparable pre-pregnancy BMI. Offspring born by mothers after RYGB had lower birthweight (335g, p<0.001), fat-free mass (268g, p<0.001) and fat% (2.8%, p<0.001) compared with reference material. Only 2% of the average reduction in newborn fat free mass could be attributed to maternal pre-pregnancy weight loss whereas other effects of RYGB accounted for 98%. Regarding reduction in fat mass 52% was attributed to weight loss and 47% to other effects of surgery. Offspring born after maternal bariatric surgery, had lower birthweight, fat-free mass and fat percentage when compared with a reference material. RYGB itself and not the pre-pregnancy weight loss seems to have had the greatest impact on fetal growth.

Effects of the sperm DNA fragmentation index on the clinical and neonatal outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

BackgroundMost studies have mainly focused on the effects of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) on fertilization, embryonic developmental potential and aneuploidy, pregnancy and abortion rates after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and have remained controversial. However, few studies have reported the effects of sperm DFI on neonatal outcomes, including stillbirths, neonatal deaths, sex, gestational age, prematurity, birthweight, low birth weight (LBW) and birth defects in newborns. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of sperm DFI on the clinical and neonatal outcomes of ICSI cycles.MethodsThis retrospective study analysed a total of 2067 oocyte retrieval, 1139 transfer and 713 delivery cycles from conventional ICSI cycles, including 301, 469, and 214 live-born infants in groups segregated according to sperm DFI as the < 15%, 15–30% and > 30% groups, respectively. The clinical and neonatal outcomes were compared among the three groups.ResultsSperm DFI did not significantly affect the rates of fertilization, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage or ongoing pregnancy. Sperm DFI did not increase the risk of stillbirths or neonatal deaths. The rates of stillbirths and neonatal deaths were not significantly different among the three groups. The sex, gestational age, prematurity, birthweight and LBW of newborns in the three groups were not significantly affected by sperm DFI. Moreover, sperm DFI did not increase the number of birth defects in children.ConclusionsSperm DFI did not affect the clinical or neonatal outcomes of ICSI cycles.