Stages Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Maternal occupational exposures during early stages of pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in the NINFEA birth-cohort.

Maternal occupational exposures during early pregnancy can be detrimental to foetus health and have short- and long-term health effects on the child. This study examined their association with adverse birth outcomes. The study included 3938 nulliparous women from the Italian NINFEA mother-child cohort. Their occupational exposures during the first trimester of pregnancy were assessed through prospectively collected questionnaire information and job-exposure matrices. Associations between maternal exposures and birthweight, preterm birth, and delivery by caesarean section were analysed by multivariable linear and logistic regression models. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out to explore co-exposure profiles in association with birth outcomes. Women exposed to passive smoking at work and those who reduced their working hours during pregnancy were found to have an increased likelihood of all analysed birth outcomes. Children of mothers performing a demanding work were less likely to be born preterm [OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.95)] and more likely to have a higher birthweight [β = 40.4 g (95% CI 7.5 to 73.4)]. Maternal exposures to heat and dust were associated with a lower birthweight [β = -160.1 g (95% CI -299.6 to -20.7)] and increased odds of caesarean section [OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.36 to 25.47)], respectively. This study provides some evidence of the selection of healthy population into the workforce and of association between work-related passive smoking, heat and dust and adverse birth outcomes.

Reichert's membrane - a continuing enigma for developmental biologists.

Reichert's membrane (RM) is a basement membrane of gigantic proportions that surrounds the mammalian embryo following implantation. It is part of the parietal yolk sac, which originates from the wall of the preimplantation blastocyst. RM persists from implantation to birth in rodents and analogous structures occur in other mammals, including primates. RM fulfils a vital role in early postimplantation rodent development, by mechanically buffering the elongating, pre-gastrulation embryo against vigorous uterine contractions, which occur at that stage of pregnancy. It persists and enlarges throughout the remainder of gestation, to match the increasing volume of the embryo/fetus and its extraembryonic membranes, although its function at these later stages is unknown. By contrast, in whole embryo culture, RM fails to expand sufficiently to enable normal embryonic development, so that routine preparation for culture includes opening and removal of RM. Modifying the culture conditions can improve embryonic outcomes when RM is intact, but does not normalise development. Possible reasons for the dichotomy between the in vivo and in vitro significance of RM include: the absence of uterine contractions in vitro, which may serve to induce RM expansion in vivo; the absence of a decidual influence, which plays a vital role in maintaining embryos beyond implantation; failure of RM to grow in vitro, owing to insufficient proliferation or survival of the parietal endoderm, which synthesises RM; insufficient cellular recruitment into the parietal endoderm from the visceral endoderm; failure of RM to lose its physical integrity in vitro, thereby limiting its expansion. Distinguishing between these possible mechanisms will require new experimental research on RM.

Clinical values of serum platelet-activating factor in hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.

Serum platelet-activating factor (PAF) was proven to be associated with gestational hypertension. However, the predictive value of serum PAF at early pregnancy for the occurrence and outcomes of hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) remained unclear. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were compared among the different subgroups. The serum PAF level was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The predictive value of serum PAF for the occurrence and outcomes of HDCP was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The correlation of serum PAF with blood pressure was assessed using Spearman analysis. Both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in HDCP patients, as well as the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β at diagnosis/enrollment, while serum levels of IL-10 showed the opposite trend. Serum PAF levels were significantly higher in patients with HDCP compared to normal pregnant women. Furthermore, serum PAF levels were higher in HDCP patients with mild preeclampsia compared to those with gestational hypertension and even more elevated in HDCP patients with severe preeclampsia at the early pregnancy stage and at diagnosis. In HDCP patients, increased serum PAF levels at early pregnancy and at diagnosis were associated with poor outcomes. Additionally, serum PAF levels could predict the occurrence of HDCP and poor outcomes. Serum PAF from HDCP patients at both the early pregnancy and diagnosis stages could effectively predict the occurrence and outcome of HDCP.

Effect of maternal heat stress at different stages of pregnancy on the reproductive performance and antral follicle count of the progeny of Holstein cows

The objective was to evaluate the effect of maternal exposure to heat stress conditions at different stages of pregnancy on the reproductive performance and antral follicle count of progeny. The study was conducted at five commercial dairy farms located in southeastern Brazil. Retrospective data (2002 and 2015) on reproductive indices of daughters of Holstein cows that were exposed to heat stress conditions in the first (n = 447), second (n = 729) or third (n = 746) trimester of pregnancy and daughters of cows not exposed to heat stress (n = 359) were analyzed. Antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian size were determined in a subgroup of animals (n = 242) by transrectal ultrasound. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS GLIMMIX procedure. The number of services after first calving was lower in daughters of cows not exposed to heat stress conditions than in those exposed during different trimesters of pregnancy (P = 0.03). The calving interval was longer for daughters of cows exposed to heat stress conditions in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy than for those not exposed to heat stress (P = 0.01). In addition, the probability of pregnancy at first AI, (P = 0.01) and the AFC (P = 0.001) were greater in daughters of cows not exposed to heat stress conditions than in those exposed during the different phases of the gestational period. These findings indicate that maternal heat stress in different stages of pregnancy negatively affect the future fertility and AFC of bovine offspring.

Gene expression profiles based on maternal plasma cfDNA nucleosome footprints indicate fetal development and maternal immunity changes during pregnancy progress.

Pregnancy significantly alters the maternal immune system, affecting fetal development. The collection of tissues from the human placenta and fetus is not ethically or practically feasible at various gestational stages, thus limiting the study of gene expression in the fetus and placenta. Recent studies have shown that plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) nucleosome patterns can predict gene expression in the source tissue, offering insights into an individual's health status. This study aimed to identify pregnancy-related gene expression changes across gestational periods using cfDNA nucleosome distribution to understand fetal development and maternal immune changes. Plasma samples were collected from 150 healthy pregnant women in different trimesters (early, mid, and late) and 32 healthy nonpregnant women. The correlation between gene expression and physiological changes during pregnancy was evaluated by inferring differential expression profiles around the transcription start site (TSS) using cfDNA nucleosome distribution patterns obtained through whole-genome sequencing. We utilized Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses to annotate differentially expressed genes with the mother and fetus. We identified gene expression changes that support the regulation of fetal development and immune system function during pregnancy. Differential coverage genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to transcription and translation, organic compound metabolism, and immune regulation. In addition, differentially expressed genes with significant temporal trends were identified. Among them, the upregulated differential genes were mainly related to development, whereas those with downregulated trends were mainly related to the immune system response. This indicates that differential changes of the placenta and maternal are significantly correlated with the pregnancy status. This study demonstrated the differential gene expression represented by the characteristic distribution of cfDNA nucleosome in maternal peripheral blood can effectively capture significant changes in maternal immunity and fetal development throughout pregnancy stages. It may help identify abnormal gene expression patterns associated with complications in pregnancy and childbirth, enhancing the quality of life and safety for both mother and fetus.

Evaluation of neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 omicron subvariant during pregnancy - A case series study.

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy poses health risks to both mother and fetus. This study investigates neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 Omicron subvariant in pregnant women, focusing on responses to natural infection, vaccination, and passive immunity. A single-center, prospective study collected blood samples from 19 pregnant women at various pregnancy stages and postpartum. NAb titers were analyzed using a pseudovirus neutralization assay, with statistical analyses (p-value <0.05) conducted using unpaired t-test with Welch's correction. Among participants, 63.2% had at least one positive NAb titer, with only one vaccinated case. No significant difference in NAb titers was found between symptomatic and asymptomatic women. NAbs were detected in cord blood, especially when infection or vaccination occurred close to delivery, indicating passive immunity transfer to the newborn. NAb titers change dynamically during pregnancy, increasing then decreasing. Most pregnant women were asymptomatic and NAbs were effectively transferred to the fetus when infection or vaccination occurred near delivery. These findings highlight the importance of vaccination timing, suggesting late second or third trimester vaccination may provide better protection, emphasizing the need for adherence to vaccination guidelines to optimize maternal and neonatal immunity.

Perinatal Exposure to Trace Elements: The Dubious Culprit of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children.

There is evidence that few trace elements in the environment work as hazardous materials in terms of their exposure in the perinatal period, causing autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, and avoiding these exposures in the environment can reduce the number of new cases. This perspective study provides preliminary evidence to consider a few trace elements as culprits for ASD. More studies with larger cohorts are needed, but meanwhile, as per available evidence, exposure to these hazardous materials must be warranted during pregnancy and early stages of life.

Foetal Wastage and the Future of Cattle Production in Nigeria: A Review

Livestock remains an essential and integral component of Nigeria's agriculture and vital to the socio-economic and food security of the country. Bovine, the most prominent ruminant animal, serves as a source of household income, food security, draft power, transportation, revenue generation, employment opportunities and a well-balanced agricultural system through manure production and utilization of forages, which are of no value to man but converted to useful products. These resources were mismanaged through indiscriminate slaughter of breeding stock and subsequent foetal wastages across abattoirs, which serves as a center of the practice. This unhealthy and unethical practice results to the depletion of national herd size with poor replacement capacity. The review report focuses on the reported cases of gravid bovine slaughter and foetal damages in the registered abattoirs across the country. Lack of post-mortem examinations, crude facilities/equipment, farmer’s ignorance of pregnancy and developmental stages of the animal, poor management practices, poor or lack of implementations of international meat act, lack of law at state or national level that offer protection of pregnant animals were among the factors that accelerate the practice in the country. This practice is a threat to the livestock industry, which must be addressed through proper conservation programmes for substantial benefits of the livestock sector. Laws must be enacted with strict penalties to the principal actors to safe guard the livestock and meat industry in general.

Prevalence of state anxiety in Mayan pregnant women from communities in southern Yucatan

During the pregnancy stage, both biological and mental alterations can occur in mothers, which put their health and that of the future being at risk. In Mexico there are few studies on mental disorders in pregnant women. This study describes the prevalence of anxiety as a state in a sample of Mayan pregnant women from communities in southern Yucatan, Mexico. State anxiety inventory was applied. Anxiety levels were classified. The prevalence of anxiety as a state was 100%, with 85.1% at high risk and 14.9% above average. The pregnant women studied were found in transitory states of anxiety that could progress to permanent states of trait-anxiety, which would place them in a “gateway” for depression, if resilience tools are not provided that allow them to control these states. It is important to incorporate human resources in medical units to address care emotional disorders in pregnant women.

COVID-19 AND PREGNANCY

Physiological changes that occur during pregnancy may alter the response to COVID-19 infection. Pregnancy is considered a risk factor for infectious diseases, but the increased risk of complications with COVID-19 is controversial. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the impact of the disease on the condition of the mother and fetus has been questioned. The aim of the study. To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the course of pregnancy, fetal growth depending on the period of pregnancy, when the disease occurred in a pregnant woman in a mild and moderate form. Materials and methods. Two groups were formed: 1st main group 60 pregnant women suffering from COVID-19 in different stages of pregnancy, 2nd control group 20 healthy pregnant women without COVID-19 infection. A general clinical, bacterioscopic, bacteriological, immunoenzymatic, ultrasound examination was performed. Statistical analysis was performed according to generally accepted methods of variational statistics. Approval of the scientific work was obtained from the Bioethics Commission of the Bukovyna State Medical University (Ukraine). The work is a part of the research work "Prevention, diagnostics and treatment of disorders of perinatal period and reproductive system of women and adolescent girls" (No. 201110H, state registration No. 0111U006499). Research results. A significant decrease in free estriol was revealed by 3.82±0.29 (p&lt;0.01) in the main group when infected in the first trimester of pregnancy with the subsequent development of fetal growth retardation syndrome in 14.29% in the first trimester and in 12.5% ​​in in the third trimester of pregnancy, intrauterine infection of the fetus in 25%. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the third trimester of pregnancy led to a decrease in fetal growth and the birth of children with a weight of 2962.55±56.73 (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions. The most favorable period for infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy is the second trimester (50%), however, a decrease in the hormone-producing function of the placenta is observed during infection in the first trimester, which leads to the development of fetal growth retardation, however, the weight at birth does not differ from the control group , unlike infection in the third trimester, where there is a significant decrease in fetal growth, the study is important for timely prevention of complications.

Clinical and immunological characteristics of full-term newborns from mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy

The long-term consequences of COVID-19 still remain among priority issues. Special attention should be paid to the state of health of newborns whose mothers suffered a coronavirus infection during pregnancy. The aim of our study was to evaluate clinical and immunological parameters in full-term newborns from mothers who underwent COVID-19 during pregnancy. We have performed a prospective cohort comparative study. A group of full-term newborns from mothers who had mild or moderate COVID-19 at different stages of pregnancy (n = 134) was compared with a group of newborns from mothers who were not exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection during their pregnancy (n = 84). Individual health indices and immunological characteristics were also evaluated at the age of 3 months of infants’ life. For statistical analysis, the Microsoft Excel computer software package (2010), SPSS Statistics version 22.0 (IBM Microsoft, USA) was used. Statistical hypotheses about the absence of intergroup differences in quantitative characteristics were tested using the Mann–Whitney U criterion, the Student’s criterion, and binary characteristics were assessed with Chi-square test (÷2). Qualitative data are presented as an absolute value (n) and percentages. The results were considered reliable at a significance level of p0.05. It was found that, in the neonatal period, there were no statistically significant differences in gender characteristics, anthropometric characteristics and Apgar scores between the groups. There were no differences in the incidence rate in the neonatal period. At the age of 3 months of life, there was a higher incidence of somatic and neurological morbidity in children whose mothers had suffered a new coronavirus infection during pregnancy (OR = 3.78 (1.5; 9.51); p0.001). It was found that the levels of hematocrit (p = 0.001), lymphocytes (p0.001), platelets (p0.001) were statistically significantly lower in newborns in group I. When analyzing the levels of umbilical cord blood cytokines in the two groups, it was found that the levels of TNF, IL-6, VEGF-A, IL-10, IL-1á, IL-1â, IL-8 (p ≤ 0.001) were higher in group I compared with group II. The levels of cytokines in their mothers showed a positive correlation with appropriate indexes in umbilical cord blood. Strong positive associations were found in the mother-child pairs on the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, in terms of TNFá, IL-1â, moderate positive correlations were revealed for IL-8, IL-10. Hence, despite the absence of clinical manifestations of infectious process and other disorders of early neonatal adaptation, the laboratory changes in general blood counts and active expression of proinflammatory cytokines in newborns whose mothers suffered COVID-19 during pregnancy may suggest the presence of a fetal systemic inflammatory response. An increased morbidity at the age of 3 months may be the result of low-level inflammation.

A Case Series: Is the Use of Acetaminophen Still Safe in Pregnancy?

Acetaminophen is a common over-the-counter medication taken for fever and pain relief, during pregnancy. However, concerns have emerged regarding its potential to induce constriction of the ductus arteriosus, which is an essential fetal vessel. This case series investigated the potential association between acetaminophen usage during pregnancy and fetal ductus arteriosus constriction. This study is based on four pregnant patients who took acetaminophen at different stages of pregnancy and experienced premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus, in the fetus. The cases were identified on fetal echocardiograms, and pertinent details such as maternal acetaminophen usage, gestational age, ductus arteriosus characteristics, and clinical outcomes were gathered from medical records. All cases demonstrated ductus arteriosus constriction, with improvement seen in ductal velocities in two of the cases, after acetaminophen cessation. The additional case had sustained elevated velocities, with a stable outcome. The final case had progression of ductal constriction, leading to right ventricular dilation, and cesarean delivery at 36 weeks. Maternal acetaminophen use varied across the three trimesters. This case series underscores a potential link between acetaminophen use, during pregnancy, and premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus. Further research is needed to examine the correlation between acetaminophen exposure and premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus.

Prenatal Histomorphological and Histochemical Study of Stomach in Indigenous Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The present study was designed to investigate the normal histological features of the stomach at the prenatal stage from ten healthy pregnant rabbits at the third period of pregnancy. The stomach appeared as J-shaped situated at the left part of the abdominal cavity. It found in the front part entirely within the rib. The non-glandular region act as a reservoir, the septa prevented ingesta reflux into the esophagus. Histologically the stomach in both periods composed of four tunics', which were mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. The stomach also has different regions cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions, glands in the cardiac region were coiled branched tubular gland and almost present of the mucous cells with a few chief cells. In the fundic region the glands in this part were long and simple tubular. There are four secretory cell types: mucous cells, chief cells, parietal cells and endocrine cells, glands in the pyloric region were branched coiled tubular glands which opened at the pits of the pyloric part. The mucous-secreting cell always persists, the pyloric sphincter muscle found as thickened muscle in the pyloric duodenal junction. With PAS stain reaction gave a positive reaction for Cardiac and pyloric glands secretion which indicates the present of neutral mucopolysaccharides. In conclusion, it was found that the histomorphological features of the stomach in prenatal period embryos at the third stage of pregnancy of rabbit it was changed according to the age and food intake after birth.

Flexibility of cutaneous evaporative water loss in response to hydration in pregnant Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) and their neonates.

Viviparous snakes may be particularly vulnerable to predicted increases in drought due to the high hydric costs associated with embryonic development, gestation, and their reliance on limited free-standing bodies of water or rain events for hydration. Drought will have negative implications for viper populations if females become increasingly water-stressed and resorb developing embryos to conserve bodily water. We conducted a study to investigate the importance of drinking water in late-term pregnancy and its effect on cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL). We measured hydration and water loss in response to supplemental hydration during the final stages of embryonic development and gestation in arid-adapted Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis). Our goal was to assess how supplemental water affects hydration status and water loss (via CEWL) of females during and after pregnancy, and of their neonates before and after their first ecdysis. Supplemental hydration of pregnant C. viridis improved their hydration state and their neonates were also born more hydrated than those from control mothers, showing that they transfer water to neonates via the placenta even over a very short period in the late stages of pregnancy. The supplementally hydrated maternal C. viridis experienced slightly higher rates of CEWL compared to control snakes, but CEWL was primarily driven by ambient temperature and vapor pressure deficit at the time of measurement. At birth, neonate plasma osmolality and CEWL were both directly associated with their mothers' plasma osmolality and CEWL. Additionally, we found that neonate CEWL increased after the first ecdysis, suggesting that natal skin may help neonates avoid desiccation. Investigating and quantifying physiological implications of water shortage and dehydration can help us better understand the effects of drought and predict how wild populations of arid-adapted reptiles may respond to the predicted increase in frequency and severity of droughts.

Managing supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in pregnant patients within the emergency department

BackgroundPregnancy increases the risk of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) due to physiological changes. This study reviews the management of SVT in pregnant patients in the emergency department (ED).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 15 pregnant patients with SVT treated at Shenzhen Second People's Hospital ED from 2015 to 2023. Treatments included vagal nerve stimulation, pharmacotherapy, esophageal pacing, cardioversion, and radiofrequency ablation.ResultsThe average patient age was 30.3 years. All presented with palpitations, and none had hemodynamic instability. Treatment success varied: 3 patients reverted spontaneously, 5 responded to vagal stimulation, and 4 to esophageal pacing. One required verapamil, and another responded to labetalol after failing vagal and pacing treatments.ConclusionWhen managing SVT during pregnancy, it is important to consider the patient's stability, the stage of pregnancy, and the safety of medications. For unstable patients, electrical cardioversion is the preferred option; for stable patients, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or other alternative treatments, such as adenosine, should be considered.

Knowledge, attitude, practice and influencing factors on influenza and influenza vaccine among pregnant women in Suzhou

Objective: To understand the current knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on influenza and influenza vaccine among pregnant women in Suzhou and to analyze its influencing factors to provide technical support data for public health strategies for promoting influenza vaccination in pregnant women. Methods: A questionnaire was designed, and a stratified sampling method was used to conduct a face-to-face survey among pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy who received antenatal examinations at different levels of medical institutions in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, in 2023. KAP status and influencing factors were analyzed by χ² test and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 2 195 valid questionnaires were collected in this survey. The M(Q1, Q3) of knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccine among pregnant women in Suzhou was 7.60 (5.23, 9.80) points, and the score range was 0.20-14.71 points, the passing rate was 34.12%, the awareness rate of influenza vaccine was 57.45%, and the vaccination rate of influenza vaccine was 1.91% within one year before the survey. The willingness to receive influenza vaccine during pregnancy was only 3.57%. Multivariate analysis of influenza and influenza vaccine-related knowledge scores showed that the passing rate was positively correlated with education level and gestational age. In contrast, family income was negatively correlated with living in rural areas, working as migrant workers, and having no medical insurance. Multivariate analysis of vaccination intention showed that decreased effectiveness of influenza vaccine and increased adverse reactions decreased vaccination intention during pregnancy. Conclusions: The pregnant women in Suzhou pay more attention to influenza, and vaccination rates and intentions are generally low. Pregnant women with early and second trimester of pregnancy, low education, living in rural areas, working as migrant workers, and not purchasing medical insurance are the key groups to popularize the knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccine.

Impact of the Timed and Targeted Counselling Model on Maternal Health Continuum of Care Outcomes in Northern Uganda: Protocol of a Quasi-Experimental Study.

About 287,000 women died globally during their pregnancy journey in 2020, yet most of these deaths could have been prevented. In Uganda, studies show that using Community Health Worker (CHW) visits to households with a pregnant woman can support the prevention of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. One such intervention is through the timed and targeted counselling (ttC) approach, where CHWs deliver tailored messages to mothers and their male caregivers at key stages of pregnancy. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the ttC approach on maternal health in Northern Uganda. The main outcomes include antenatal care attendance, advised place of delivery, and postnatal care visit. We will employ a cross-sectional quasi-experimental design, with retrospective data to compare an intervention group (where ttC is implemented) to a control group (without intervention) using the propensity score matching (PSM) technique applying a 1:1 ratio with a caliper width of 20% of the standard deviation to estimate the average treatment effects. Adjusted odds ratios after generating matched pairs will be reported with 95% confidence intervals with Rosenbaum sensitivity analysis carried out for robustness. These findings can be used to modify the implementation of the ttC approach, thereby enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness.

Contribution of Sex Differences to Development of Cardiovascular Disease in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Sex differences are a complex and crucial variable in developing and progressing metabolic and cardiovascular disease pathophysiology and clinical outcomes. The female sex, compared to the male sex, is protected from metabolic disturbances and their resulting cardiovascular events. However, the peculiar life phases associated with females, such as puberty, pregnancy, and premenopausal and menopausal stages, are all associated with different risks for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition of hepatic steatosis, and at least one feature of metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The risk of MASLD and its progression to the development of CVD differs between men and women. Differences in several factors, including formyl peptide receptor (FPR) 2, adipose tissue distribution, liver pyruvate kinase (LPK), and ketone body production, may underlie the sex differences in the risk of development of MASLD-induced CVD. Understanding the specific risk factors involved in the development and progression of MASLD between the sexes is crucial. This knowledge will provide important insights into the mechanisms responsible for its cardiovascular complications and can potentially lead to therapeutics targeted explicitly for each sex, offering new hope in the fight against MASLD-induced CVD.

The effect of exposure to prenatal life events and social support levels on low birth weight in offspring: a prospective cohort study

Objective: To analyze the effects of exposure to life events and social support levels during different stages of pregnancy on low birth weight in offspring. Methods: From 2021 to 2023, pregnant women in early pregnancy who were registered with health cards in Linping District, Hangzhou City, were recruited and followed up. The Life Events Scale for Pregnant Women (LESPW) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to evaluate the exposure to life events and social support levels of pregnant women in early, middle and late pregnancy, respectively. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the impact and critical period of exposure to prenatal life events and social support levels on the risk of low birth weight in offspring. Results: A total of 3 663 pregnant women with ages M (Q1, Q3) of 29.18 (26.59, 32.21) years were included in this study. 116 cases (3.17%) of infants with low birth weight were delivered. Generalized linear model analysis showed no correlation between the level of social support in early, middle and late pregnancy and low birth weight in offspring (all P>0.05). The risk of low birth weight in offspring of pregnant women with high exposure to early pregnancy life events was 1.78 times higher than that of the low exposure group (RR=1.78, 95%CI: 1.13-2.73, P=0.010), and there was no association in the middle and late stages of pregnancy (both P>0.05). Pregnant women with high exposure to early life events and low levels of social support had a 2.08-fold higher risk of low birth weight in their offspring compared to the low exposure group (RR=2.08, 95%CI: 1.17-6.78, P=0.010), while this situation was not associated with high social support stratification. Conclusion: Exposure to life events during pregnancy has an early window effect on birth weight. Increased exposure to life events during early pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of low birth weight in offspring. This association is more pronounced in pregnant women with low social support.

Investigating the Impact of Chronical Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Fetal Vascular Development Across Pregnancy Stages Using Photoacoustic Tomography.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a major contributor to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), resulting in neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This study utilizes photoacoustic tomography (PAT) to investigate the effects of PAE on fetal brain vasculature in mice. PAT imaging was conducted from embryonic Day 10 (E10) to Day 20 (E20), aimed to compare two alcohol-exposed groups with a control group. Key vascular parameters, including blood vessel diameter and density, and oxygen saturation (sO2), were analyzed. Results show significant reductions in vessel size and density, as well as reduced sO2 levels, in alcohol-exposed groups, especially from E14 onward, compared to controls. These findings underscore the vulnerability of the fetal brain to alcohol exposure during early development and highlight the potential of PAT as a valuable tool for investigating FASD-related vascular changes.