Progression Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Trophoblastic signals facilitate endometrial interferon response and lipid metabolism, ensuring normal decidualization

The decidua plays a crucial role in providing structural and trophic support to the developing conceptus before placentation. Following embryo attachment, embryonic components intimately interact with the decidual tissue. While evidence indicates the participation of embryo-derived factors in crosstalk with the uterus, the extent of their impact on post-implantation decidual development requires further investigation. Here, we utilize transgenic mouse models to selectively eliminate primary trophoblast giant cells (pTGCs), the embryonic cells that interface with maternal tissue at the forefront. pTGC ablation impairs decidualization and compromises decidual interferon response and lipid metabolism. Mechanistically, pTGCs release factors such as interferon kappa (IFNK) to strengthen the decidual interferon response and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to enhance lipid accumulation within the decidua, thereby promoting decidualization. This study presents genetic and metabolomic evidence reinforcing the proactive role of pTGC-derived factors in mobilizing maternal resources to strengthen decidualization, facilitating the normal progression of early pregnancy.

Exploring the Relationship Between Maternal Nutrition During Pregnancy and Childhood Amblyopia and Myopia Risk: Longitudinal Cohort Studies

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy and myopia onset or progression in young adult women, utilizing a longitudinal cohort design with a substantial sample size. Myopia is a prevalent refractive error with significant public health and economic implications. There are genetic and environmental risk factors for myopia; however, the role of pregnancy in the development of myopia is unknown. No longitudinal studies with extensive sample sizes have clarified the relationship between pregnancy and myopia. This study included 100 women aged 20–50 years, who were followed up biennially for up to 14 years. Pregnancy occurrences and myopia assessments were recorded. A comparison of individuals with and without pregnancies revealed differences in the incidence of myopia and amblyopia, their ages, and body mass index. Hazard ratios for myopia onset or progression were significantly lower in individuals with at least one pregnancy, particularly during the early follow-up periods. Sensitivity analyses and adjustments for confounders supported these findings. This study demonstrated that pregnancy may prevent myopia onset or progression, particularly during early adulthood. Future research should confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms, informing clinical decisions, including refractive surgery timing in women of childbearing age.

Changes in Lipid Profiles with the Progression of Pregnancy in Black Women.

Background/Objectives: Lipid metabolism plays an important role in maternal health and fetal development. There is a gap in the knowledge of how lipid metabolism changes during pregnancy for Black women who are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that the comprehensive lipidome profiles would show variation across pregnancy indicative of requirements during gestation and fetal development. Methods: Black women were recruited at prenatal clinics. Plasma samples were collected at 8-18 weeks (T1), 22-29 weeks (T2), and 30-36 weeks (T3) of pregnancy. Samples from 64 women who had term births (≥37 weeks gestation) were subjected to "shotgun" Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Mixed-effects models were used to quantify systematic changes and dimensionality reduction models were used to visualize patterns and identify reliable lipid signatures. Results: Total lipids and major lipid classes showed significant increases with the progression of pregnancy. Phospholipids and glycerolipids exhibited a gradual increase from T1 to T2 to T3, while sphingolipids and total sterol lipids displayed a more pronounced increase from T2 to T3. Acylcarnitines, hydroxy acylcarnitines, and Lyso phospholipid levels significantly decreased from T1 to T3. A deviation was that non-esterified fatty acids decreased from T1 to T2 and increased again from T2 to T3, suggestive of a potential role for these lipids during the later stages of pregnancy. The fatty acids showing this trend included key fatty acids-non-esterified Linoleic acid, Arachidonic acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid, and Docosahexaenoic acid. Conclusions: Mapping lipid patterns and identifying lipid signatures would help develop intervention strategies to reduce perinatal health disparities among pregnant Black women.

The influence of pre-existing diabetes type on the progression of pregnancy

The influence of pre-existing diabetes type on the progression of pregnancy

Rapid label-free impedimetric detection of progesterone enhanced by immunomagnetic bead-based competitive immunoreaction

Detecting progesterone (P4) concentration in cow serum is essential for monitoring the pregnancy progress after fertilization and is significant for the dairy farming industry and veterinary medicine. This study reports enzyme-free immunomagnetic beads (IMBs)-based competitive immunoassay for detecting P4 by P4-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-modified biosensors. The anti-P4 antibody-conjugated IMBs serve as collectors to capture P4 in undiluted serum samples to prevent the biosensor surface from biosample contamination and as insulated labels to report the electron-transfer resistance signal of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. The IMBs and P4-containing samples were mixed for 15−30 min, capable of obtaining stable P4@IMB complexes. The 0.2-kGauss pulsed magnetic field (PMF) of the 20-s pulse width and 20-s relaxation time applied for 5 min can shorten the immunoreaction time between the P4@IMBs and the P4-BSA-modified biosensor and reduce the IMB's nonspecific adsorption on the biosensor surface. This competitive immunoassay's cut-off value and detection limit were 7.71 ng/mL and 7.33 ng/mL, respectively, which is lower than the serum's P4 plateau concentration (over 8 ng/mL) of dairy cows on days 6–16 of estrus cycles and that in pregnancy. The IMB-based immunoassay combining the PMF attraction and the label-free EIS measurement exhibits promising potential for rapidly detecting P4 in undiluted serum.

The Role of Beta hCG Value Measured on the 12th and 14th Days After Embryo Transfer in Determining Early Complications of Pregnancy

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) levels on post embryo transfer (ET) 12th- and 14th-day, and its folding after 48 hours in predicting live birth, abortion, and biochemical pregnancy. Material and Methods: The study included 124 patients who had a positive pregnancy test after a fresh single day 3 ET at the in vitro fertilization (IVF) center between 2017 and 2021. The first beta hCG value was measured 12th day and the second 14th day after ET. The beta hCG fold was calculated by dividing the second beta hCG value by the first beta hCG value. Results: The patients' IVF indications included unexplained (n=40, 41.1%), poor ovarian reserve (n=23, 25.0%), male factor (n=31, 29.8%), and tubal factor (n=3, 4.1%). Of the 124 patients, 97 (78.2%) had a fetal sac, 81 (63.5%) had a fetal heartbeat (FHB), and 70 (56.5%) had a live birth. The results indicated that the post-ET 14th-day beta hCG level was the best predictor of biochemical pregnancy. It has a high sensitivity (92.5%) and specificity (86.6%), with an optimal cut-off value of 175 U/L. The post-ET 14th-day beta hCG level was the best predictor of a live birth. The post-ET 14th-day beta hCG value of 214.5 U/L had an 82.7% sensitivity and 74.4% specificity to predict the FHB. Conclusion: The beta hCG value, measured between the 12th and 14th days after ET, as well as the folding rate on these two days, can provide information about the pregnancy progression.

Fluctuation Analysis of Uterine Contractions in Term Pregnancies Using Electrohysterography Signals and Empirical Mode Decomposition-Based Multifractal Features

Investigating the fluctuations of uterine contractions is an indispensable diagnostic practice to evaluate the onset of labor. This work aims to differentiate the fluctuations associated with Term (gestation ≥ 37 weeks) pregnancies during varied gestational ages using electrohysterography (EHG) signals. The signals in the second and third trimesters are subjected to Multifractal-Empirical Mode Decomposition-based Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-EMDDFA). Multifractal spectrum is estimated and features namely, Holder exponents ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), broadness (BD), root slopes (LS, RS) and tangential slopes (TL, TR) are extracted. Machine learning methods, such as Naïve Bayes, adaptive boosting and random forest (RF) classifiers, are utilized to discriminate the contractions during different weeks of gestation. Results show that five multifractal features, namely [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], BD, LS and TL, show significant differences between the considered gestational ages. An increase in regularity of the uterine contractions is observed as the gestational age increases. These features along with the RF classifier provide an accuracy, sensitivity, precision, recall and F1-score of greater than 98.30%. As the differentiation of uterine contractions during different weeks of gestation is vital to understanding the pregnancy progress, the proposed multifractal features could be used as potential biomarkers in clinical practices.

460 Changes in Lipid Profiles with Progression of Pregnancy in Black Women

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Pregnant African American (Black women) have higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to other races and routine monitoring of lipid levels is not currently in practice in prenatal care. We hypothesized that lipid profiles would show variation across pregnancy indicative of specific requirements during gestation and fetal development. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We used an untargeted lipidome analysis approach to investigate lipid metabolism with the progression of pregnancy. Pregnant Black women were recruited at prenatal clinics in Midwest (Metro Detroit, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio), women under 18 or above 45 years of age were not enrolled due to metabolic changes associated with these age groups. Women signed the consent forms and plasma samples were collected at 8-18 weeks at (T1), 22-29 weeks (T2) and 30-36 weeks (T3) of pregnancy. Samples from sixty-three women (mean age 27.41 ± 5.61 years) who had term birth (completed 37 weeks of pregnancy) were subjected to “shotgun” Orbitrap high resolution/ accurate mass spectrometry. Mixed-effects models were used to quantify systematic changes in relative lipid abundances over time using R lme4 and ggplot2 packages. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Total lipids and some major lipid classes showed a significant increase with the progression of pregnancy. Phospholipids and glycerolipids exhibited a gradual increase throughout pregnancy, while sphingolipids and total sterol lipids displayed a more pronounced increase at the T3 timepoint. Acylcarnitines, hydroxy acylcarnitines and Lyso phospholipids levels significantly decrease from T1 to T3. One of the interesting finding was that non-esterified fatty acids decreased from T1 to T2 and increased again from T2 to T3, suggesting a possible role for these lipids during the later stages of pregnancy. The fatty acids showing this trend included key fatty acids- Linoleic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid, Docosahexaenoic acid. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Mapping lipid trends during pregnancy could lend support to a precision health approach to reduce perinatal health disparities among pregnant Black women. The findings from this study will be used to identify biomarkers and study associations with social and environmental factors responsible for adverse perinatal outcome in pregnant Black women.

Pregnancy enhances facial recognition of anger: Transition from early to late pregnancy

IntroductionPregnancy and the postpartum period involve several physiological adaptations crucial for offspring care. Recent research has highlighted reproduction-related brain plasticity in human mothers. Associations with aspects of maternal caregiving suggest adaptive changes that facilitate a woman’s transition to motherhood. However, the dynamic changes that affect a woman’s brain are not merely adaptive, and they likely confer a vulnerability for the mental disorders. To elucidate the pathophysiology of psychiatric problems that occur during the perinatal period, gaining insights into the physiological changes in brain function due to pregnancy is crucial.ObjectivesAlthough it has been hypothesized that pregnancy enhances social cognitive functions in mothers to adapt to the offspring care, there are few reports to support this hypothesis. This study aims to investigate whether social cognitive functions change during the first pregnancy, with a focus on maternal adaptation to offspring care.MethodsThe study included a first pregnancy group and a never-pregnant control group. We conducted a prospective study comparing pregnant women between two-time points (T1, T2); at less than 21 weeks of gestation [T1] and those after 30 weeks of gestation [T2]. To assess the effects of pregnancy and gestational age (< 21 weeks or 30 weeks or more), both the control (never-pregnant) group and pregnant group were evaluated at two time points with similar intervals. The Emotion Recognition Task [ERT] of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was performed to examine the emotion recognition of six basic emotions in facial expressions. We analyzed a cohort of 26 participants in the pregnant group and 25 in the control group. We performed a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with pregnancy status and gestational period (T1, T2) as independent variables.Results Significant interactions between group and time points (T1, T2) were observed only for Unbiased Hit Rate Anger (p<0.01); facial recognition accuracy for anger increased with the progression of pregnancy. There were no significant interactions for Unbiased Hit Rate Sadness, Happiness, Fear, Disgust, or Surprise.Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that facial recognition of anger enhances with the progression of pregnancy, utilizing never-pregnant women as a never-pregnant control group. The results of this study contribute to the physiological effects of pregnancy on the brain and cognitive function and have potential for further study of perinatal mental health problems.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Pre-pregnancy preparation of women with hypoandrogenism and female sexual dysfunction

The onset of pregnancy in the natural cycle is a task that requires the coordinated work of both central and peripheral levels of regulation of hypothalamic‑pituitary hormones. An analysis of the reproductive health of women with a menstrual cycle disorder against the background of hypoandrogenism indicates an unsatisfactory course of the early stages of the pregnancy process with the subsequent formation of infertility against the background of a reduced ovarian reserve. Hypolubrication is considered a clinical marker of hypoandrogenism in women of reproductive age.
 Objective — Optimization of pre‑pregnancy training in women with hypoandrogenism, menstrual cycle disorders and early pregnancy losses in the anamnesis.
 Materials and methods. A comprehensive clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination involved 90 women with menstrual cycle disorders and hypoandrogenism, from them 45 women received the proposed therapy (group Ia), and 45 patients traditional therapy (group IIa). The control group consisted of 30 healthy women at the stage of pre‑gravid examination. The age of women was 18 to 35 years. Hormonal reproductive background was determined on the 5 ‑ 7th day of the menstrual cycle in all examined women, as well as levels of thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody, vitamin D, homocysteine. The proposed algorithm of pre‑gravid measures included: 1) optimization of thyroid gland function (after consultation with an endocrinologist); 2) restoration of pituitary‑ovarian relationships in case of functional central hypogonadism; 3) therapy aimed at optimizing the prolactin level (target value 12.5ng/ml); 4) reduction of homocysteine level (target level 5.6 mmol/l); 5) normalization of vitamin D level (norm is 75—125 nM/l, insufficiency defined as 50—75 nM/l, and deficiency <50 nM/l). The target control parameters included restoration of lubrication, ovulatory menstrual cycle, onset and progression of pregnancy. IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0 software was used for statistical processing of the obtained data. The control periods of therapy were 3, 6 and 9 months.
 Results. In women with proposed treatment algorithm, therapy resulted in the recovery of vitamin D levels, starting from the 6th month of therapy, and complete normalization was recorded at the 9th month of treatment. This indicates the need for long‑term supplementation of vitamin D in women with hypoandrogenism. A decrease in the homocysteine levels was also noted on the 6th month of treatment, and its normalization after 9 months of treatment. Elevated homocysteine levels and vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency were observed throughout the follow‑up period in the conventional therapy group. In women with the proposed therapy, the levels of follicle‑stimulating hormone (FSH), TSH, luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin tend to normalize already from the 3rd month of therapy, while the highest positive increase was noted in the LH indicator on the 3rd‑6th month of treatment. Ovarian steroidogenesis approached the indicators of the control group after 6—9 months of therapy. Proandrogenic steroidogenesis began to increase on the 3rd month of therapy, reaching maximum on the 9th month. Unsatisfactory indicators of changes in free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA‑C) were noted in women from the group of the traditional pre‑pregnancy preparation even after 9 months.
 The specified features of steroid support of the hormonal background of women’s reproductive health demonstrated the following: signs of female sexual dysfunction in the group with the proposed therapy completely disappeared after the 9th month of treatment, and in the group of traditional therapy they continued to bother 91.1% of women. At the end of the observation period, the regular menstrual cycle was gained in 40.0% of women with the proposed therapy and in 6.7% with the traditional one. Progressive pregnancies in the group with the proposed algorithm were achieved in 37.5% of women (successfully overcame the luteoplacental barrier), and in 8.8% in the group of the traditional approach (ended by early termination of pregnancy).
 Conclusions. The period of formation of the luteal phase insufficiency is the specific feature of the restoration of menstrual cycle fullness in women with hypoandrogenism, which requires additional therapy to ensure the conditions for a full‑fledged secretory endometrium transformation. The pregnancy process takes place in unfavorable conditions, which can lead to early pregnancy losses. The period of pre‑pregnancy measures in this group of patients should last at least 6—9 months. Traditional pre‑pregnancy preparation does not contribute to the restoration of the central mechanisms of menstrual cycle regulation in women with hypoandrogenism, nor does it contribute to the restoration of full‑fledged ovarian steroidogenesis, it is accompanied by anovulation and insufficiency of the luteal phase, early pregnancy losses. Symptoms of female sexual dysfunction do not disappear under the influence of traditional treatment.

9 Randel Lecture: In Vivo investigation of pregnancy Physiology

Abstract Pregnancy in any mammal requires the integration of three distinct compartments; the maternal, placental and fetal compartments. Compromised function of any of the three compartments can result in suboptimal pregnancy outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality at delivery, reduced livestock production efficiency and adult-onset of metabolically-related disease in humans. To accurately understand the progression of both normal and compromised pregnancies, therefore, requires the simultaneous assessment of all three compartments, which for most species is not technically feasible. Consequently, over the past 60 yr the pregnant sheep has been used extensively for in vivo investigation of pregnancy physiology. The ability to place indwelling catheters, within both maternal and fetal vessels, allows the simultaneous steady-state assessment of uterine and umbilical blood flows, hormone secretion, and nutrient uptake and utilization of nutrients by each of the three compartments, under non-stressed and non-anesthetized conditions. This has provided unrivalled insight into the physiology of pregnancy, and the realization that the placenta is a highly metabolic tissue, utilizing the majority of oxygen and glucose taken up by the uterus. However, the deficit in studying pregnant sheep is the lack of genetic models, readily available in rodents, that could help define specific gene function during pregnancy. Consequently, we developed in vivo lentiviral-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) methods to specifically alter the abundance of specific gene transcripts/proteins within the placenta, beginning at 9 d of gestation (dGA). Our lentiviral-mediated approach limits the RNAi to the trophectoderm derivatives of the placenta. Initially we used this approach to determine the importance of PRR15 and LIN28 during the establishment of pregnancies, but turned our efforts towards combining in vivo RNAi with steady-state physiological assessments during late gestation to examine the function of genes involved in placental nutrient transport (SLC2A3) and placenta derived hormones (CSH). By creating a placental deficiency in SLC2A3, not only was the fetus smaller and hypoglycemic at mid-gestation, but by interfering with placental glucose uptake, maternal hormone concentrations were also impacted, yet near-term, a distinctly different phenotype was present. For the placental hormone CSH (a.k.a. placental lactogen), CSH RNAi not only impacts placental and fetal growth, but also reductions in uterine blood flow, nutrient fluxes to the fetus, and produces an altered hormonal environment. Combining these methodological approaches provides new and often unexpected insights into the physiological integration of the maternal, placental and fetal compartments. Supported by NIH-NICHD grants HD093701 and HD094952.

Are innate lymphoid cells friend or foe in human pregnancy?

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are involved in the innate immune system because they lack specific antigen receptors and lineage markers. ILCs also display phenotypic and characteristic features of adaptive immune cells. Therefore, ILCs are functional in essential interactions between adaptive and innate immunity. ILCs are found in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues and migrate to the area of inflammation during the inflammatory process. ILCs respond to pathogens by producing a variety of cytokines and are involved in the barrier defense of antigens and in many immunological processes such as allergic events. Recent research has shown that ILCs are functional during human pregnancy and have been suggested to be essential for the healthy progression of pregnancy. In this review, we focus on the role of ILCs in human pregnancy by discussing the relationship between ILCs and the pregnancy microenvironment, specifically summarizing the role of ILCs in physiological and pathological pregnancies.

Exploring parents’ experiences and holistic needs following late miscarriage: a narrative systematic review

ABSTRACT Background Up to 2% of all pregnancies result in pregnancy loss between 14 + 0 and 23 + 6 weeks’ gestation, which is defined as ‘late miscarriage’. Lack of consensus about definition of viability paired with existing multiple definitions of perinatal loss make it difficult to define the term ‘late miscarriage’. Parents who experience late miscarriage often have had reassuring scan-milestones, which established their confidence in healthy pregnancy progression and identity formation, which socially integrates their baby into their family. The clinical lexicon alongside the lack of support offered to parents experiencing late miscarriage may disclaim their needs, which has potential to cause adverse psychological responses. Aim To review what primary research reports about parents’ experiences and their perceived holistic needs following late miscarriage. Methods A narrative systematic review was carried out. Papers were screened based on gestational age at time of loss (i.e. between 14 + 0 and 23 + 6 weeks’ gestation). The focus was set on experience and holistic needs arising from the loss rather than its clinical care and pathophysiology. Studies were selected using PRISMA-S checklist, and quality assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool. Thematic analysis was used to guide the narrative synthesis of findings. Results Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes emerged: communication and information-giving; feelings post-event; and impact of support provision. Conclusion Literature about the experience of late miscarriage is scarce, with what was found reporting a lack of compassionate and individually tailored psychological follow-up care for parents following late miscarriage. Hence, more research in this arena is required to inform and develop this area of maternity care provision.

Dynamics of the Gut Microbiota and Faecal and Serum Metabolomes during Pregnancy-A Longitudinal Study.

Normal pregnancy involves numerous physiological changes, including changes in hormone levels, immune responses, and metabolism. Although several studies have shown that the gut microbiota may have an important role in the progression of pregnancy, these findings have been inconsistent, and the relationship between the gut microbiota and metabolites that change dynamically during and after pregnancy remains to be clarified. In this longitudinal study, we comprehensively profiled the temporal dynamics of the gut microbiota, Bifidobacterium communities, and serum and faecal metabolomes of 31 women during their pregnancies and postpartum periods. The microbial composition changed as gestation progressed, with the pregnancy and postpartum periods exhibiting distinct bacterial community characteristics, including significant alterations in the genera of the Lachnospiraceae or Ruminococcaceae families, especially the Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-003. Metabolic dynamics, characterised by changes in nutrients important for fetal growth (e.g., docosatrienoic acid), anti-inflammatory metabolites (e.g., trans-3-indoleacrylic acid), and steroid hormones (e.g., progesterone), were observed in both serum and faecal samples during pregnancy. Moreover, a complex correlation was identified between the pregnancy-related microbiota and metabolites, with Ruminococcus1 and Ruminococcaceae UCG-013 making important contributions to changes in faecal and serum metabolites, respectively. Overall, a highly coordinated microbiota-metabolite regulatory network may underlie the pregnancy process. These findings provide a foundation for enhancing our understanding of the molecular processes occurring during the progression of pregnancy, thereby contributing to nutrition and health management during this period.

The dependence between glycodelin and selected metalloproteinases concentrations in bovine placenta during early gestation and parturition with and without retained foetal membranes

Pregnancy course depends on the appropriate connection between the mother and the developing foetus. Pregnancy is completed when the placenta is timely expelled. Placental retention is one of the possible pregnancy complications. Extracellular matrix, including adhesive proteins and enzymes that can break down collagens, seems to be responsible for it. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of one of the adhesive proteins – glycodelin (Gd) – on selected metalloproteinases degrading collagens (MMP2, MMP3, MMP7). Placental tissues from healthy pregnant cows collected during early-mid pregnancy (2nd month n = 7, 3rd month n = 8, 4th month n = 6) and in cows that properly released placenta (NR; n = 6) and cows with retained foetal membranes (R; n = 6) were experimental material. The concentrations of glycodelin and protein content of selected metalloproteinases were measured by ELISA in the maternal and foetal placental homogenates as well as in the culture of epithelial cells derived from the maternal part of the placenta. The presence of these protein molecules was confirmed by Western Blotting.In the bovine placenta, the concentrations of examined proteins exhibit significant changes during placental formation. Gd, MMP3 and MMP7 concentrations decrease with pregnancy progress (between the 2nd and 4th month), while MMP2 concentrations were on the same level in this period. During parturition, concentrations of Gd and MMP3 were significantly higher in the R group compared to the NR group. In parallel, MMP2 concentrations did not show significant differences between the groups (NR vs R), and MMP7 concentrations decreased significantly in the maternal part of the placenta in cows with retained foetal membranes (R).Obtained results show correlations between the gestational age and proteins’ (Gd, MMP3, MMP7) concentration, both in the maternal and foetal part of the placenta.

Морфологические особенности эндометрия у пациенток с ожирением и ранними репродуктивными потерями

Aim. To clarify and summarize current data on the relationship between morphological features of gravid transformation of the endometrium and early reproductive losses in women with obesity. Key points. The growing prevalence of obesity worldwide is of serious concern not only due to numerous metabolic complications associated with excess visceral adipose tissue, but also due to reproductive dysfunction in women. Obesity is considered a key factor that increases several times the likelihood of pregnancy complications such as spontaneous abortion, non-viable pregnancy, stillbirth, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preeclampsia. The development of adverse events in the context of maternal obesity may be based on the interaction of biological processes associated with pregnancy and chronic inflammation caused by obesity. However, the causal relationship between BMI and spontaneous abortion is not fully understood, possibly due to the multifactorial effects of excess body weight on pregnancy progression. In addition, BMI as an isolated variable may not reflect other important health risk factors such as nutrition, physical activity, and insulin resistance. Conclusion. Female obesity is associated with worse natural and assisted conception outcomes, including an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Low-grade inflammation affecting arterial remodeling, placentation, and uterine immune cell composition and activity in maternal obesity contributes to a high incidence of pregnancy complications. The development of a unified morphological panel that takes into account the main indicators of endometrial transformation processes with an assessment of its receptor profile and diagnostically significant immunological factors will allow verification of endometrial pathology at the molecular level and justification of pathogenetic therapy in the risk group of early reproductive losses in women with obesity. Keywords: gravid endometrium, obesity, reproductive function, reproductive losses, miscarriage.

Ulcerative Colitis in Pregnancy: A Japanese Multicenter Cohort Study Focusing on Their Mutual Influence.

Objective To investigate the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) during pregnancy, focusing on their mutual influence. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 58 patients with UC who had 73 pregnancies and 3 patients with newly developed UC during pregnancy. We recorded the rate of relapse of UC; the relationship between medication use and UC relapse during pregnancy; treatment for relapse; and the incidence of pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn abnormalities. Results UC was in remission at conception in 78% of the patients. The relapse rate during pregnancy was 27.3%, with most relapses occurring during the second and third trimesters. The relapse rate in patients in whom any UC drug had been discontinued was 50%, a rate significantly higher than the 20.5% of patients for whom all medications were continued (p = 0.016). Thiopurine was discontinued in 60% (6/10) of patients at conception, and the disease relapsed in 50% (3/6) of the patients. Most relapses were successfully treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid or corticosteroids. UC relapse occurred in 26.1% (18/70) of the patients after delivery, mostly within 2 months. Pregnancy, delivery, or neonatal abnormalities occurred in 23.3% (17/73) of patients. In two of the three patients with new-onset UC, UC was severe and required intensive care; however, the pregnancies continued uneventfully. Conclusion Although the progress of pregnancies complicated by UC was mostly uneventful, discontinuing medication carries the risk of UC relapse. Thus, appropriate management of medical treatments for UC during pregnancy is important.

Specific expression and blood kinetics for relaxin 2, lipocalin 2, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 at the canine placenta and pregnant bloods.

In general, humoral factors released from the placenta influence pregnancy progression, but the involvement of the canine placenta is often unidentified. We investigated specific genes in canine placentas and analyzed the blood dynamics of the translated proteins. Furthermore, RNAs are known to be released from placentas embedding in exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicles. Here, the presence of cell-free RNAs in pregnant serums was also confirmed. RNA specimens were purified from the normal healthy dog placentas and applied to RNA-Seq analysis. Expressions of frequent genes were confirmed by RT-PCR using placentas from other individuals and breeds. Relaxin (RLN) 2, lipocalin (LCN) 2, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) 2 were selected as high-expressed and placenta-specific genes. By western blot, the three factors were clearly detected in the pregnant serums. Quantitative analysis revealed that the amount of RLN2 increased significantly from non-pregnancy to day 41 of pregnancy. Regarding LCN2 and TFPI2, the protein serum levels elevated during pregnancy, but the statistical differences were not detected. Exosomes were found in all pregnant serums; however, the percentage was less than 6% in total extracellular vesicles. The cell-free RNA related to RLN2 was detected, but no elevation was confirmed during pregnancy. We found specific genes in the canine placenta and the transition of their translated protein into the blood. These factors may become useful tools for research on canine pregnancy and monitoring of reproductive management. Exosomes and cell-free RNA could not be found to be valid in canine reproduction.

Diagnostic and prognostic role of soft ultrasound markers in prenatal detection and assessment of foetal abnormalities.

Various soft markers can be detected in the ultrasonography of foetuses, which can be related to chromosomal abnormalities and increases the risk of abnormalities, or they can be considered as normal variations that can disappear due to the pregnancy progress. There are different tools to detect chromosomal abnormalities like conventional karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), and non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS). Therefore, in the present study, we aim to assess the accuracy of ultrasonic soft markers in the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities such as chromosomal structural abnormalities, aneuploidy, and triploidy, especially Trisomy 21 and Trisomy 18. A systemic literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We gathered all articles published before August 2023. We selected English studies such as retrospective and cross-sectional ones that assessed the relationship between ultrasonic soft markers and foetal chromosomal abnormalities. A total of 10 articles with 18,580 cases were included in our systematic review article that assessed the foetal abnormalities and aneuploidies by using conventional karyotyping, SNP array, CMA, and NIPT (or NIPS). Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, and chromosomal structural abnormalities were the most common abnormalities related to ultrasonic soft markers by karyotyping; however, Trisomy 13, 47, XXY, 45, X, and mosaic chromosomal abnormalities were other abnormalities detected. Results by CMA showed Trisomy 21 and Trisomy 18 as the most common abnormalities in the foetuses also with ultrasonic soft markers, and other abnormalities were pathogenic copy-number variations, Turner (XO), polyploidy, 22q11.2deletion, and Trisomy13, respectively. It was discovered that there is a greater possibility of having pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) in the groups with multiple ultrasonic soft markers, while foetuses with ultrasonic soft markers have a decreased prevalence of CMA abnormality compared to those who had significant abnormalities or abnormal nuchal translucency. Trisomy 21 was the only abnormality found by NIPT in the groups with 1 and 2 soft markers, while groups with multiple soft markers were all normal. By using SNP array, it was identified that the rate of chromosomal abnormalities such as aneuploidy and triploidy, LOH, and CNVs was lower in the group with a single ultrasonic soft marker compared to the group with structural abnormalities in multiple systems. Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, and chromosomal structural abnormalities were the most common chromosomal abnormalities that ultrasound soft markers could diagnose. Therefore, it is recommended to employ soft markers besides CMA, SNP array, and NIPS (or NIPT) for greater accuracy in detecting foetus abnormalities.

Bisphenol S moderately decreases the expression of syncytiotrophoblast marker genes and induces apoptosis in human trophoblast lineages

Bisphenol S (BPS) is currently used in the manufacturing of several household equipment such as water pipes and food containers. Hence, its entrance into the human body is almost inevitable. The presence of BPS in body fluids has been reported. However, its potential toxicity, especially on human placenta development and pregnancy progression, has not been explored. In this study, we assessed the impacts of BPS on the self-renewal and differentiation potentials of placental stem cells, also known as trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), by exposing them to three different BPS concentrations during their self-renewal and differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast (ST), extravillous trophoblast (EVT), and trophoblast organoids. Interestingly, BPS treatment did not affect the stemness, cell cycle and proliferation of the TSCs but it induced apoptosis in each trophoblast lineage. BPS altered the expression of several fusion-related genes. However, this alteration did not translate into significant morphological defects in the STs and organoids. Moreover, BPS did not impair the differentiation of TSCs into EVTs. These findings suggest that the presence of BPS at the feto-maternal interface may exaggerate trophoblast apoptosis and moderately inhibit the trophoblast fusion pathway to affect placenta development and pregnancy. Our study offers valuable insights into the potential toxicity of BPS on human placenta development, emphasizing the need for epidemiological assessment of the relationship between maternal serum levels of BPS and pregnancy complications.