Cord Blood Research Articles

STEM-02. INSIGHTS INTO STEM CELL THERAPIES FOR GLIOBLASTOMA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract BACKGROUND Glioblastoma accounts for the majority of gliomas, which are the most common brain tumors. Classified as grade 4 by the WHO, it carries a poor prognosis. Various stem cell therapies have been tested and analyzed for their efficacy in treating glioblastoma. The aim of this review is to examine the type, efficacy, and future considerations for different stem cell therapies in glioblastoma treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature review was conducted using Boolean operators in the form of Stem Cell Therapy AND Glioblastoma; Neural Stem Cells AND Glioblastoma; Cord Blood AND Glioblastoma. Electronic databases including Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus were searched. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Statement. RESULTS Targeting Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) may be crucial for effective GBM treatment, as these cells are considered key drivers of tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. Future research and clinical trials in this area are necessary to fully understand the potential of stem cells in combating glioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS While some stem cell therapies have shown promising initial results, it is important to consider the complexity of targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells (GSCs), including malignant transformation, the heterogeneity of glioblastoma, and glioma-associated mesenchymal stem cells.

May the indication for a previous cesarean section affect the outcome at trial of labor in women with induction of labor? Aretrospective cohort study.

Cesarean sections are increasing worldwide and are associated with altered risks of complications for both mother and child. Vaginal birth after cesarean section is associated with lower maternal and neonatal morbidity than in repeat cesarean section. Only a few studies have considered the indication for the previous cesarean section to be of importance for the outcome of subsequent labor. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the indication for a previous cesarean section affects the outcomes at a subsequent delivery in women with induction of labor. This retrospective cohort study of the four largest delivery units in Stockholm during 2012-2015 included 1150 women with one previous cesarean section with induction of labor. women with induced labor and a previous cesarean section, singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation, gestational age of ≥34 weeks. The women were grouped by indication for the previous cesarean section. mode of delivery (vaginal birth after previous cesarean section or repeat cesarean section). induction to delivery time, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture. Neonatal outcomes: birth weight, Apgar score <7, arterial umbilical cord blood gas pH <7.0. Our study found that the indication of labor dystocia at the previous cesarean section, increased the risk of repeat cesarean section (aOR 5.35; 95% CI: 1.64-17.50) in women with induction of labor. Other risk factors for repeat cesarean section were birth weight >4000 g, maternal BMI ≥30 or if vaginal prostaglandin was used as the method for induction of labor. A previous vaginal delivery and use of oxytocin increased the chance of a vaginal delivery in this group of women. Our study showed that the indication for the previous cesarean section affects the outcome in the subsequent delivery in women with induction of labor. If the indication for the previous cesarean section was labor dystocia, the risk of repeat cesarean section was increased.

Exposure to drinking water pollutants and non-syndromic birth defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis synthesis

ObjectivesTo evaluate the association between drinking water pollutants and non-syndromic birth defects.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis synthesis.Data sourcesA search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar was performed to review relevant citations...

Cord Blood Platelet Lysate-Loaded Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogels for Potential Treatment of Chronic Skin Wounds.

Chronic skin wounds (CSWs) are a worldwide healthcare problem with relevant impacts on both patients and healthcare systems. In this context, innovative treatments are needed to improve tissue repair and patient recovery and quality of life. Cord blood platelet lysate (CB-PL) holds great promise in CSW treatment thanks to its high growth factors and signal molecule content. In this work, thermo-sensitive hydrogels based on an amphiphilic poly(ether urethane) (PEU) were developed as CB-PL carriers for CSW treatment. A Poloxamer 407®-based PEU was solubilized in aqueous medium (10 and 15% w/v) and added with CB-PL at a final concentration of 20% v/v. Hydrogels were characterized for their gelation potential, rheological properties, and swelling/dissolution behavior in a watery environment. CB-PL release was also tested, and the bioactivity of released CB-PL was evaluated through cell viability, proliferation, and migration assays. PEU aqueous solutions with concentrations in the range 10-15% w/v exhibited quick (within a few minutes) sol-to-gel transition at around 30-37 °C and rheological properties modulated by the PEU concentration. Moreover, CB-PL loading within the gels did not affect the overall gel properties. Stability in aqueous media was dependent on the PEU concentration, and payload release was completed between 7 and 14 days depending on the polymer content. The CB-PL-loaded hydrogels also showed biocompatibility and released CB-PL induced keratinocyte migration and proliferation, with scratch wound recovery similar to the positive control (i.e., CB-PL alone). The developed hydrogels represent promising tools for CSW treatment, with tunable gelation properties and residence time and the ability to encapsulate and deliver active biomolecules with sustained and controlled kinetics.

Cord Blood Metabolic Markers as Mediators of the Effect of Maternal Adiposity on Fetal Growth in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Mothers

Cord Blood Metabolic Markers as Mediators of the Effect of Maternal Adiposity on Fetal Growth in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Mothers

Methylation Patterns of Diabetes and Obesity Susceptibility Genes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their offspring have an increased risk of adverse perinatal and long-term health outcomes, which may be attributable to epigenetic modification of diabetes and obesity susceptibility genes. We aimed to investigate the methylation patterns of eight genes in GDM and normoglycemic (NG) mothers, and their respective offspring. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at Aga Khan University from August 2019 to December 2022, recruited pregnant women in the first trimester of gestation from the outpatient obstetrics clinic. Participants were classified as NG or GDM based on the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Pakistan. Venous blood samples were collected from mothers and cord blood from neonates. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for DNA extraction and methylation analysis using methylation-specific PCR. Maternal and neonatal clinical data were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using R, including binary logistic regression to assess the association between various gene methylation levels and GDM. Results: The study found that GDM mothers had significantly higher fasting blood glucose, 2-hr OGTT, and serum carboxymethyl lysine (CML) levels compared to NG mothers, but no significant differences in neonatal birth weight or serum CML levels. Chemerin methylation was significantly lower in GDM mothers and their babies, while NAMPT, MTNR1B, FNDC5, FAT4, and FTO methylation levels were higher in GDM offspring compared to NG offspring. GDM mothers also had higher methylation levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF). Multivariable binary logistic regression identified methylation levels of maternal BDNF and neonatal MTNR1B to be independently associated with GDM. Conclusions: Our study shows a trend of epigenetic modifications in both GDM mothers and their offspring in various genes related to metabolism and inflammation, suggesting an intergenerational transmission of increased risk of developing metabolic disorders. These findings emphasize the need for high throughput studies, early screening, tight glucose control during pregnancy, and postnatal follow-up to mitigate long-term health risks.

Fetal Red Blood Cells: A Comprehensive Review of Biological Properties and Implications for Neonatal Transfusion.

Transfusion guidelines worldwide include recommendations regarding the storage length, irradiation, or even donor cytomegalovirus serostatus of red blood cell (RBC) units for anemic neonates. Nevertheless, it is totally overlooked that RBCs of these patients fundamentally differ from those of older children and adults. These differences vary from size, shape, hemoglobin composition, and oxygen transport to membrane characteristics, cellular metabolism, and lifespan. Due to these profound dissimilarities, repeated transfusions of adult RBCs in neonates deeply modify the physiology of circulating RBC populations. Unsurprisingly, the number of RBC transfusions in preterm neonates, particularly if born before 28 weeks of gestation, predicts morbidity and mortality. This review provides a comprehensive description of the biological properties of fetal, cord blood, and neonatal RBCs, including the implications that neonatal RBCs, and their replacement by adult RBCs, may have for perinatal disease pathophysiology.

CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM IN NEWBORN AND ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS AMONG NEONATE DELIVERED AT MILITARY HOSPITAL IN A CITY OF CENTRAL INDIA

Objectives: The present study aims to assess the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) among neonates in a tertiary care hospital in central India, examining its association with various sociodemographic parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January and December 2022, included all live births at a tertiary care center in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Cord blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured for all newborns as part of routine screening. Sociodemographic data, including maternal age, gestational age, birth order, and newborn sex, were collected. Universal sampling was employed, encompassing all consenting parents and their neonates. Results: Among 388 live births, TSH values ranged from 0.23 to 35.59 mIU/L, with a mean TSH of 8.76±5.92 mIU/L. Of the neonates, 95.9% had normal TSH levels, while 4.1% exhibited elevated levels. Subsequent follow-up identified CH in two neonates (5.2 per thousand live births). Analysis revealed no significant association between elevated TSH levels and maternal age or newborn sex. However, a significant association was observed with gestational age. Birth order also displayed significance, with the third birth order having a higher proportion of neonates with raised TSH levels. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of CH screening in preventing long-term complications and the various sociodemographic factors linked to CH, such as maternal age, gestational age, and birth order.

Cyclosporin H Improves the Transduction of CD34+ Cells with an Anti-Sickling Globin Vector, a Possible Therapeutic Approach for Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating monogenic disease originating from mutations in the hemoglobin beta chain gene producing an abnormal hemoglobin HbS. The polymerization of HbS is responsible for the sickling of erythrocytes leading to anemia and vaso-occlusive events. Gene therapy is a promising treatment of SCD, and two different gene therapy drugs, using gene editing or gene transfer, have already reached the marketing stage. There is still a need to improve the efficacy of gene therapy in SCD, particularly when using anti-sickling beta-globin gene transfer strategies, which must outcompete the pathological HbS. One possibility is to increase transduction by inhibiting lentiviral restriction factors such as interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs). This can be achieved by the addition of cyclosporin H (CsH) during the transduction process. This strategy was applied here in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells obtained from cord blood (CB). A first series of experiments with lentiviral vector coding for a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene confirmed that the addition of CsH enhanced transgene expression levels and vector copy number per cell (VCN), while CD34+ cells remained viable and functional. Notably, the production of colony-forming cells (CFC) remained unaffected unless very high VCN values were reached. In a second step, CD34+ cells obtained from the CB of newborns with homozygous (n = 2) or heterozygous (n = 1) SCD mutations were transduced with the GLOBE-AS3 lentiviral vector coding for the HbAS3 anti-sickling beta globin. As with GFP, GLOBE-AS3 lentiviral transduction was clearly enhanced by CsH, leading to VCN > 2 and therapeutic levels of expression of the HbAS3. Moreover, the process did not affect the viability or functions of CFC. The combination of CB progenitors, the GLOBE-AS3 vector, and CsH is thus shown here to be a promising approach for the treatment of SCD.

Risk of introducing Zika virus in the Canadian cord blood supply: A risk analysis.

In Canada, as many as 24% of mothers are deferred from cord blood (CB) donation due to risk factors for Zika virus (ZIKV). However, the ZIKV epidemic has waned considerably since 2016, and there has not been any report of ZIKV transmission by CB transplantation, which questions this policy. Thus, we performed an analysis of the risk of introducing ZIKV in the CB supply maintained by Héma-Québec (HQ) and Canadian Blood Services (CBS). This simulation considered the following parameters: the risk of travel exposure in a high-risk ZIKV country, the duration of travel, the daily risk of acquiring ZIKV in a high-risk country, the probability of materno-fetal ZIKV transmission, the probability of asymptomatic fetal viremia, and the probability of sexual transmission. A hundred million Monte Carlo simulations were run. In the most-likely scenario (probability of traveling to a high-risk ZIKV country while pregnant = 0.178), the risk was estimated at 0.9 ZIKV-positive donations per million donations (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4-1.6)-or one every 868 years at HQ and one every 453 years at CBS. In the pessimistic model (probability of traveling to a high-risk ZIKV country while pregnant = 0.240), the risk was estimated at 1.2 ZIKV-positive donations per million donations (95% CI = 0.6-2.1)-or one every 644 years at HQ and one every 340 years at CBS. We conclude that the risk of introducing ZIKV in the Canadian CB supply is too small to justify maintaining the current policy.

Effects of gestational age on blood cortisol and prolactin levels during pregnancy in malaria endemic area.

The hormonal shift occurring in pregnant women is crucial for the outcome of pregnancy. We conducted a study in pregnant women living in a malaria endemic area to determine the potential effect of gestational age on the modulation of the endocrine system by cortisol and prolactin production during pregnancy. Primigravidae and multigravidae with a gestational age between 16-20 weeks were included in the study and followed up to delivery and 6-7 weeks thereafter. Venous blood was collected at scheduled visit: Visit 1 (V1; 16-20 weeks of amenorrhea), Visit 2 (V2; 28 ±1 weeks of pregnancy), Visit 3 (V3; 32 ±1 weeks of pregnancy), Visit4 (V4; delivery) and Visit5 (V5; 6-7 weeks after delivery). In addition, a cord blood sample was also collected during labour at delivery. Nulliparous and primiparous/multiparous non-pregnant women were enrolled in the control group. Cortisol and prolactin plasma concentrations were measured using ichroma II and i-chamber apparatus. Light microscopy was used to detect Plasmodium falciparum infections. A linear mixed-effects regression (LMER) model was used to assess the association between the variation of cortisol titres and prolactin levels during the pregnancy and the post-partum. Results showed that cortisol and prolactin levels in the peripheral blood were globally up-regulated during pregnancy. Concentrations of cortisol during follow-up was significantly higher in primigravidae than in multigravidae during the whole pregnancy (p<0.024). Moreover, the level of prolactin which was higher before delivery in primigravidae reversed at delivery and postpartum visit, but the difference was not statistically significant during the follow-up (V1 to V5) (p = 0.60). The cortisol level in peripheral blood at delivery was higher than that in the cord blood, and conversely for prolactin. Cortisol and prolactin levels decreased after delivery, though the level of prolactin was still higher than that at enrolment. An increase of one unit of prolactin was associated with the decrease of the average concentration of cortisol by 0.04 ng/ml (p = 0.009). However, when cortisol increases with one unit, the average concentration of prolactin decreases by 1.16 ng/ml (p = 0.013). These results showed that the up-regulation effects of cortisol and prolactin are related to gestational age. A The downward regulation effect that both hormones have on each other during the pregnancy when each increase to 1 unit (1.0 ng/ml) was also reported.

The Relationship between the Improvement Level in Blood Gas Parameters in Time and Brain MRI Findings in Newborns with the Diagnosis of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the level of improvement in blood gas parameters in the first hours of age and normal and diffusion-restriction brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study is a retrospective cohort study. Cases of the diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who received therapeutic hypothermia in our unit between January 2022 and January 2024 were included in the study. Clinical findings, blood gas values (first, cord; second, first hours of age; third, 24th hour of age), and MRI results were recorded from the case files and compared between normal and diffusion-restricted brain MRI groups. Diffusion-restricted brain MRI was detected in 10 out of a total of 19 cases. The 5-minute Apgar score was lower (p=0.038) and mechanical ventilator support was higher (P=.003) in the diffusion-restricted MRI group than in the normal MRI group. The relationship was shown between high base excess (P=.022) in cord blood gas, low HCO₃ (p=0.025) in the 24th hour blood gas, and convulsion (P=.033) in the diffusion-restricted MRI group. Additionally, it was found that only the improvement level of the pH value in the first hour of age was significant (P=.025) in the diffusion-restricted brain MRI group than in the normal MRI group. We showed that there was a relationship between diffusion-restricted brain MRI and the improvement level in the pH value in the first hours of age of patients diagnosed with HIE who received treatment for therapeutic hypothermia.

Machine learning for forecasting initial seizure onset in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

This study was undertaken to develop a machine learning (ML) model to forecast initial seizure onset in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) utilizing clinical and quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) features. We developed a gradient boosting ML model (Neo-GB) that utilizes clinical features and QEEG to forecast time-dependent seizure risk. Clinical variables included cord blood gas values, Apgar scores, gestational age at birth, postmenstrual age (PMA), postnatal age, and birth weight. QEEG features included statistical moments, spectral power, and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) features. We trained and evaluated Neo-GB on a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) neonatal HIE dataset, augmenting training with publicly available neonatal electroencephalogram (EEG) datasets from Cork University and Helsinki University Hospitals. We assessed the performance of Neo-GB at providing dynamic and static forecasts with diagnostic performance metrics and incident/dynamic area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (iAUC) analyses. Model explanations were performed to assess contributions of QEEG features and channels to model predictions. The UCSF dataset included 60 neonates with HIE (30 with seizures). In subject-level static forecasting at 30 min after EEG initiation, baseline Neo-GB without time-dependent features had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of .76 and Neo-GB with time-dependent features had an AUROC of .89. In time-dependent evaluation of the initial seizure onset within a 24-h seizure occurrence period, dynamic forecast with Neo-GB demonstrated median iAUC = .79 (interquartile range [IQR] .75-.82) and concordance index (C-index) = .82, whereas baseline static forecast at 30 min demonstrated median iAUC = .75 (IQR .72-.76) and C-index = .69. Model explanation analysis revealed that spectral power, PMA, RQA, and cord blood gas values made the strongest contributions in driving Neo-GB predictions. Within the most influential EEG channels, as the preictal period advanced toward eventual seizure, there was an upward trend in broadband spectral power. This study demonstrates an ML model that combines QEEG with clinical features to forecast time-dependent risk of initial seizure onset in neonatal HIE. Spectral power evolution is an early EEG marker of seizure risk in neonatal HIE.

Studies of Lipid Profiles Among Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is known as hyaline membrane disease (HMD). It is the major cause of neonatal respiratory distress, especially in preterm infants Infants with RDS present with tachapnea, cyanosis, grunting, subcostal and intercostal retractions and nasal flaring. Oliguria with mild generalized edema may be present. Oxygen requirement may increase rapidly and is typically higher than that seen in infant with transient tachapnea of the newborn (TTN). Objective: to evaluate the relationship between the maternal and cord blood lipid profiles in preterm babies with respiratory distress syndrome. Methods: This is a case control study which was conducted on 50 preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Shebin El-Kom teaching hospital between January 2020 and October 2021. Results: the mean of total cholesterol was significantly higher in infants whose mothers had received antenatal steroid for lung maturity than those whose mothers had not (P&lt;0.05). But there was no significant difference in the mean of levels of TG, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol between both groups. Also, There is a positive correlation between weight gain during pregnancy and neonatal cord blood levels of (Total cholesterol, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C), There is a positive correlation between maternal blood levels of (total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C) and their neonatal cord blood levels of (total cholesterol, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C), There is a positive correlation between the maternal blood level of HDL-C and their neonatal cord blood levels of (total cholesterol and HDL-C).also, the cutoff values of cord blood (total Cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C) below which RDS can be predicted are 80, 45.5 and 23.2 mg/dl respectively with a sensitivity of 83.3%, 86.7% and86.7% and with specificity of 95%, 80% and 70% respectively. Conclusion: RDS is accompanied with lipid alteration in the infants and their mothers. The results of this study point to the importance of measuring maternal serum and cord blood lipid profile as a predictor for the occurrence of RDS.

Omidubicel for Hematopoietic Cell Transplants: Considerations for Patients and Treatment Outcomes.

For patients with hematologic malignancies requiring allogeneic stem cell transplantation, alternative donor sources are needed when lacking access to a matched related or unrelated donor. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been an important alternative allograft donor source for these patients; however, several limitations exist. Omidubicel is a nicotinamide modified allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell therapy derived from UCB. Omidubicel was approved in May 2023 by the United States Food and Drug Administration based on the results of a Phase III trial comparing it to UCB transplantation in patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies. Median time to neutrophil engraftment was faster with omidubicel compared to UCB transplantation (12 days vs 22 days; p<0.001). There was also a lower incidence of grade 2/3 bacterial or invasive fungal infections with omidubicel compared to UCB transplantation (37% vs 57%; p=0.027). From a safety perspective, omidubicel has a boxed warning due to the risk of life-threatening infusion reactions, graft-versus-host disease, graft failure, and engraftment syndrome. Omidubicel represents an important advancement in developing novel alternative allograft donor sources. This also has important implications in ensuring access to alternative donor sources for ethnic and minority populations.

Using Lipid Parameters in Predicting Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome is a clinical diagnosis which is warranted in a preterm newborn with respiratory difficulty, including tachypnea (&gt;60 breaths/min), chest retractions, and cyanosis in room air that persist or progress over the first 48-96 hr of life, and a characteristic chest radiographic appearance. Objective: to assess the cord blood lipid profile for predicting of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Methods: This is a case control study which was conducted on 50 preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Shebin El-Kom teaching hospital between January 2011 and October 2011. Results: the mean of weight gain during pregnancy in mothers of preterm with RDS was lower than the control group and the difference was statistically highly significant (P&lt;0.01). Also, there was significant difference (P&lt;0.05) regarding mode of delivery and antenatal steroid, however; no statistical significant difference was detected regarding maternal age, maternal weight, maternal BMI, pre-gravid height, the ruptured membrane &gt; 24 hr and parity between both groups. the mean of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the cord blood was lower in group A than in group B and the difference was statistically highly significant (P &lt;0.01), but there was no significant difference regarding the mean of both triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol in both groups (P&gt;0.05).the mean of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was lower in mothers of preterm infants with RDS than in control group and the difference was statistically highly significant (P &lt;0.01), but there was no significant difference was detected regarding the mean of levels triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol in both groups (P &gt;0.05).the cutoff values of cord blood (total Cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C) below which RDS can be predicted are 80, 45.5 and 23.2 mg/dl respectively with a sensitivity of 83.3%, 86.7% and 86.7% and with specificity of 95%, 80% and 70% respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that RDS is accompanied with lipid alteration in the infants and their mothers. The results of this study point to the importance of measuring of maternal serum and cord blood lipid profile as a predictor for the occurrence of RDS.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Pregnant Women and Risk of Vertical Transmission in Newborns in Chiapas, Mexico.

The Mexican state of Chiapas is considered epidemiologically significant for Chagas disease due to the coexistence of infected reservoirs and vectors, including migratory populations from Central and South America. However, there is a lack of monitoring programs for the timely detection of this disease. The objective of this study was to elucidate the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in pregnant women and the risk of vertical transmission in newborns at two hospitals located in the Metropolitan Region of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas State Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 193 pregnant women with gestational ages between 32 and 40 weeks, who underwent immunological testing to diagnose Chagas disease. Conventional PCR testing on cord blood revealed the presence of T. cruzi in newborns. The prevalence of T. cruzi infection in pregnant women was 32.12% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25, 0.38). The 62 pregnant women who tested positive for Chagas disease gave birth to 63 children, and in 5 newborns (8% (5/62), 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02, 0.19), PCR tests on umbilical cord blood were positive for T. cruzi. In conclusion, the dataset showed a high prevalence of Chagas disease in the sample of pregnant women studied and a maternal-fetal transmission rate of 8%.

Analysis of the relationship between neonatal birth weight and meconium metabolites based on birth cohort metabolomics

Neonatal birth weight is a crucial indicator of intrauterine growth and development with important implications for child development and adult health. The birth weight of a newborn is closely linked to the nutrition and health of the mother during pregnancy as well as genetic factors. Therefore, assessing the metabolic status of the fetus in utero is greatly significant for understanding the mechanisms responsible for abnormal birth weight. While previous studies often analyzed the impact of maternal metabolism on fetal development using umbilical cord blood from pregnant women, such blood may not accurately reflect the actual intrauterine environment owing to the barrier function of the placenta; moreover, obtaining biological samples during the fetal period is challenging. Meconium, the first feces excreted by a newborn, provides ideal biological material for studying maternal and infant health. Metabolomics can reveal metabolic changes in living organisms by analyzing small molecules in biological samples; hence studying meconium samples using metabolomics technology is expected to reveal fetal metabolic changes during pregnancy, thereby providing new insights into fetal nutritional intake, growth, and development, as well as metabolic pathways related to birth weight. To gain a deeper understanding of the metabolic changes associated with birth weight, this study collected metabolomic data from the meconium of 484 newborns in the established Xiaogan birth cohort using an untargeted metabolomics technique based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and analyzed the association between meconium metabolites and birth weight. This cohort exhibited incidence rates of low birth weight (<2500 g) and macrosomia (>4000 g) of 3.3% and 7.2%, respectively, which were roughly equivalent to the national average. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between the meconium metabolomes of the low birth weight and macrosomic groups when compared to the normal weight group. We discovered significant distinctions between the differential metabolites of newborns of low birth weight and those of normal weight, as well as between macrosomic and normal weight newborns that point to disparate biological pathways. Newborns with low birth weight exhibited significantly lower levels of critical amino acids, such as glutamate and proline, compared to the normal weight group, which may be associated with placental dysfunction and maternal nutritional deficiencies. Conversely, the meconium of macrosomic newborns contained significantly elevated levels of hormone metabolites such as estrone that reflected the pathophysiological state associated with maternal metabolic diseases or excessive placental hormone levels. Our study suggests that the metabolomic profile of the meconium reflects the metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms at play during fetal growth and development, and offers potential metabolic biomarkers and directions for future in-depth research into diseases related to fetal development. However, this study was based solely on the Xiaogan birth cohort, which was limited to specific regions and populations. A multicenter, multiethnic, and multiregional study is expected to help validate the universality of our research findings.

Orthobiologic Products: Preservation Options for Orthopedic Research and Clinical Applications.

The biological products used in orthopedics include musculoskeletal allografts-such as bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage-as well as biological therapies. Musculoskeletal allografts support the body's healing process by utilizing preserved and sterilized donor tissue. These allografts are becoming increasingly common in surgical practice, allowing patients to avoid more invasive procedures and the risks associated with donor site morbidity. Bone grafting is one of the most frequently used procedures in orthopedics and traumatology. Biologic approaches aim to improve clinical outcomes by enhancing the body's natural healing capacity and reducing inflammation. They serve as an alternative to surgical interventions. While preliminary results from animal studies and small-scale clinical trials have been promising, the field of biologics still lacks robust clinical evidence supporting their efficacy. Biological therapies include PRP (platelet-rich plasma), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)/stromal cells/progenitor cells, bone marrow stem/stromal cells (BMSCs), adipose stem/stromal cells/progenitor cells (ASCs), cord blood (CB), and extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes. The proper preservation and storage of these cellular therapies are essential for future use. Preservation techniques include cryopreservation, vitrification, lyophilization, and the use of cryoprotective agents (CPAs). The most commonly used CPA is DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). The highest success rates and post-thaw viability have been achieved by preserving PRP with a rate-controlled freezer using 6% DMSO and storing other cellular treatments using a rate-controlled freezer with 5% or 10% DMSO as the CPA. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown the best results when lyophilized with 50 mM or 4% trehalose to prevent aggregation and stored at room temperature.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for newborns dried blood spot thyroglobulin.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a biomarker of iodine status. Newborn Tg is a more sensitive marker than neonatal TSH in detecting variations in iodine intake. This study aims to validate a Tg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Tg determination on dried blood spots (DBS) in newborns. This study also set out to assess the stability of Tg and the influence of newborns' hematocrit on Tg determination. A commercially available ELISA Tg assay was adapted for use on DBS. DBS-Tg in cord blood were measured in 209 newborns delivered from healthy euthyroid pregnant women. Sensitivity, linearity, repeatability, and intermediate fidelity were determined using the appropriate standards and quality control materials. The limit of detection (LoD) of the DBS-Tg assay was 2.4 µg/L, and the limit of quantification (LoQ) was 5.8 µg/L. Repeatability and intermediate fidelity were 7.7-8.3% and 11.0-11.2%, respectively. The median cord plasma Tg and DBS-Tg values in newborns were not significantly different, 30.2 (21.3-44.4) µg/L and 31.6 (19.3-48.7) µg/L (p=0.48) with the ELISA respectively, and 76.5 (40.0-101.5) µg/L with the Elecsys assay with an R=0.88. DBS-Tg concentrations decrease with increasing hematocrit values (p<0.05). DBS-Tg values were stable at a concentration of 25 µg/L for 12 months at -20ºC and 4ºC. This DBS-Tg assay demonstrated good analytical performances over a wide range of Tg concentrations, suggesting it is well suited to detecting variations in Tg concentrations. Studies comparing populations with different prevalence of anemia should consider the effect of hematocrit on DBS-Tg determination. The availability of a DBS-Tg assay for newborns makes it possible to integrate iodine status monitoring with newborn screening for inherited metabolic diseases.