Untreated Mothers Research Articles

Detection of Viruses and Elimination of Sweet Potato Feathery Mottle Virus in High-Yielding Varieties of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) from Ethiopia

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) is a major source of food in many parts of Ethiopia. In recent years, viral diseases have become the main threat to sweet potato production in Ethiopia. Previous virus survey studies carried out from 1986 to 2020 reported eight viruses infecting sweet potato in Ethiopia. Consequently, obtaining and multiplying virus-free planting materials have been difficult for farmers and commercial multipliers. This study was conducted to detect viruses infecting the five sweet potato varieties used as source plants and compare the virus elimination efficiency between meristem cultures from untreated and heat-treated mother plants and production of virus-free sweet-potato-planting materials. Seven common viruses were tested for, using grafting to Ipomoea setosa, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) before and after elimination procedures as screening and confirmatory methods. The sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) elimination efficiencies of meristem cultures from untreated (grown at 25 ± 1 °C) and heat-treated (grown at 39 ± 1 °C) potted plants of sweet potato varieties were evaluated and compared. Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) was detected in 12 of the 15 source plants tested. Triple infections of SPFMV, sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), and sweet potato virus C (SPVC) were detected in one of the fifteen plants. This study reports the detection of SPVC for the first time in sweet potato plants from Ethiopia. The cutting of meristems from heat-treated plants further increased the percentage of virus-free plantlets by ca 10% to ca 16%, depending on the plant variety. Elimination efficiency also seemed to vary among varieties: the greatest difference was observed for ‘Tola’, and the least difference was observed for ‘Guntute’. The present study provided protocols for detecting viruses and generating virus-free sweet-potato-planting materials in Ethiopia.

Melatonin supplementation in obese mothers reduces hypothalamic inflammation and enhances thermogenesis in mice progeny

Maternal obesity might induce obesity and metabolic alterations in the progeny. The study aimed to determine the effect of supplementing obese mothers with Mel (Mel) on thermogenesis and inflammation. C57BL/6 female mice (mothers) were fed from weaning to 12 weeks control diet (C, 17% kJ as fat) or a high-fat diet (HF, 49% kJ as fat) and then matted with male mice fed the control diet. Melatonin (10 mg/kg daily) was supplemented to mothers during gestation and lactation, forming the groups C, CMel, HF, and HFMel (n = 10/group). Twelve-week male offspring were studied (plasma biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, protein, and gene expressions at the hypothalamus - Hyp, subcutaneous white adipose tissue - sWAT, and interscapular brown adipose tissue - iBAT). Comparing HFMel vs. HF offspring, fat deposits and plasmatic proinflammatory markers decreased. Also, HFMel showed decreased Hyp proinflammatory markers and neuropeptide Y (anabolic) expression but improved proopiomelanocortin (catabolic) expression. Besides, HFMel sWAT adipocytes changed to a beige phenotype with-beta-3 adrenergic receptor and uncoupling protein-1 activation, concomitant with browning genes activation, triggering the iBAT thermogenic activity. In conclusion, compelling evidence indicated the beneficial effects of supplementing obese mothers with Mel on the health of their mature male offspring. Mel led to sWAT browning-related gene enhancement, increased iBAT thermogenis, and mitigated hypothalamic inflammation. Also, principal component analysis of the data significantly separated the untreated obese mother progeny from the progeny of treated obese mothers. If confirmed in humans, the findings encourage a future guideline recommending Mel supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Biochemical characterization of gamma-ray induced mutants in mango

The volatile compound (VC) compositions of putative mutants were estimated and compared with the untreated seedlings and mother plants of mango genotype Bappakkai. Sesquiterpenes were the major VC detected in mother plants, control plants and putative mutant samples viz., BM4, BM5 and BM6, while, monoterpenes dominated the volatile fractions of other three putative mutant samples. A positive and significantly high correlation between all the mother plants, between mother plants and control seedlings as well as between the control seedlings, suggests a high level of similarity or lack of variability between mother plants and control seedlings, indicating that they might be of nucellar origin. Hence, we conclude that volatile profiling can be used as a biochemical marker for characterization and validation of putative mutants in polyembryonic mango genotypes.

Gestational toxoplasmosis treatment changes the child's prognosis: A cohort study in southern Brazil.

We evaluate the drug treatment for pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis to reduce the risk of congenital infection, side effects (prenatal and postnatal treatment in children) and the hazard of discontinuing the infant's medication. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the risks of congenital toxoplasmosis among children born to acutely infected women with and without treatment. We examined the relationship between "exposed" and "infected children", "number of infant neutrophils", "prenatal" and "postnatal treatment". Factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) was used to analyze the data. All children started treatment at the hospital. Between 2017 and 2021, 233 pregnant women were evaluated at the University Hospital of Maringá; ninety-four met criteria for acute gestational toxoplasmosis. We followed up 61 children; eleven (18%) had the infection confirmed and 50 (82%) were free of toxoplasmosis (exposed). Children born to untreated mothers have 6.5-times higher risk of being infected; the transmission rate among untreated mothers was 50% versus 8.3% among treated ones. Three decreasing values of immunoglobulin G were a security parameter for stopping the child's medication in the exposed group (50/61). Neutropenia was the leading side effect among children and the infected had a 2.7 times higher risk. There was no correlation between maternal use of pyrimethamine and children's neutropenia. The follow-up of women with acute T. gondii infection and their children, through a multidisciplinary team, availability of anti-T. gondii serology and pre- and post-natal treatments reduced the risk of toxoplasmosis transmission.

A novel ion exchange-electrodialysis hybrid system to treat rare-earth oxalic precipitation mother liquid: Contamination reduction, efficient Y3+ recovery, and acid separation

A novel ion exchange process combined with selective electrodialysis (SED) process has been demonstrated to not only efficiently recover low concentration rare-earth elements (REEs) and separate hydrochloric acid, but also significantly reduce membrane fouling. Two resins with different functional groups were selected for pretreatment and recovery of Y3+ from Y rare-earth oxalic precipitation (Y REOP) mother liquor. CH-93 resin showed a Y recovery rate of over 94 %, and the Y recovery efficiency remained above 90 % after 5 cycles. The mother liquor treated with resin (R-T) and the untreated mother liquor (W-R-T) were subjected to acid separation via SED, and membrane fouling was systematically evaluated. Compared with W-R-T group, the hydrochloric acid recovery efficiency of R-T group increased by 21.01 % (12 V), and the unit energy consumption decreased by 54.30 % (12 V). The results of 3D fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) and fluorescent region integration (FRI) showed the dissolved organic matter (DOM) on AEM and CEM in R-T group both decreased by >45 %. The AEM of W-R-T group showed the highest fluorescence intensity ratio in V region (36 %), indicating humic acid-like substances were the main cause of AEM fouling. Generally, this study provides a new approach for the resource utilization of REOP mother liquor.

An Alternative Treatment Option for Congenital Syphilis: A Case Series

ABSTRACT Newborn babies born to untreated syphilis-positive mothers need to be treated adequately and timely to prevent and cure congenital syphilis. Penicillin is one of the most robust and the most recommended drug for the same. However, in case of penicillin shortage or an adverse effect to penicillin, an alternative treatment is warranted. Injection ceftriaxone is a promising drug in case of penicillin unavailability. We present a case series in which we treated five asymptomatic newborn babies having positive venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) titers with ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day in two divided doses for 10 days. The patients were cured and discharged on Day 11.

An In-Depth Review of the Benefits of Antibiotic Use in the Treatment of Borreliosis in Pregnancy

Evidence of congenital transmission of Lyme disease from mother to fetus has been investigated since the 1980s. This study reports the results of a retrospective analysis of 31 studies described in 27 papers published in a 2018 review article. Analysis of these identified statistically probable transmission in 13 (42%) of the 31 studies and possible transmission in 2 (6%). Most studies included mothers who had been treated with antimicrobials. When no antimicrobials were used, 74% of the pregnancies had adverse outcomes. When oral antimicrobials were used, 29% of pregnancies had adverse outcomes. When intravenous (IV) antimicrobials were used, adverse outcomes dropped to 12% of the pregnancies. This is a six-fold reduction in risk compared with no antimicrobial treatment. Some studies did not define whether oral or IV antimicrobials were used. When these results were included, adverse outcomes were 30 times higher for untreated mothers. Adverse outcomes included deaths, heart anomalies, and preterm births.

Congenital syphilis evaluated for syphilitic hepatitis - case series

Objective: To report case series evaluated for congenital syphilitic hepatitis. Method: Study conducted at Maternity Santa Isabel from December 2021 to May 2022. We evaluated newborns with congenital syphilis using data taken from the pregnant woman’s card, the child’s card, the anamnesis and exams performed in the follow-up consultations of these families. Complete medical records of infants who presented the criteria for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis of the Ministry of Health and the Center for Disease Transmission Control were included. Results: The review was 15 of which were selected that fit all the inclusion criteria. The babies were born with good vitality, term, one had low birth weight, six hepatomegaly, all treated with penicillin, nine had altered liver biochemical tests. At ultrasonography, Doppler was normal for all, one case of hepatosplenomegaly and one with splenomegaly. Two mothers who were diagnosed at the time of delivery had fewer than six consultations, their babies had neurosyphilis and presented developmental alertness. The child who had microcephaly and low birth weight also presented altered neurodevelopment. Of the pregnant women, three were over 30 years old, one was white, five had studied less than 8 years, thirteen were not working, family income of 1 minimum wage or less in twelve families. Eight were inadequately treated. Of the parents, eleven had studied less than 8 years and eleven were inadequately treated. Conclusion: The children with syphilis were born vigorous and had adequate treatment. Nine had altered hepatic biochemical exams, two had ultrasonographic alterations, however, without alterations in the Doppler. The children of untreated mothers had neurosyphilis and neurodevelopmental changes.

Toxoplasmosis: A Timeless Challenge for Pregnancy

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, as well as the general characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, and pregnancy and fetal outcomes of pregnant women diagnosed with acute toxoplasma infection (ATI). The toxoplasma IgM, IgG, and IgG avidity test results of pregnant women who applied to our referral hospital between January 2016 and June 2022, and among them, those diagnosed with ATI, were analyzed. The 119 patients diagnosed with ATI during this time period were included for further analysis. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be 46.2%, and the rate of ATI was 4%. The total mother-to-child transmission rate was 5% (5/101). Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) was observed in 1 (1.1%) child of the 87 pregnant women who received spiramycin prophylaxis, though it was found in 4 (30.8%) of the children of the 13 untreated mothers. With respect to prenatal treatment, CT rates were significantly higher in the children born to untreated mothers (p = 0.001). In conclusion, although toxoplasma seroprevalence was found to be high in our region, there was a paucity in diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment. Our findings support that prenatal spiramycin prophylaxis is effective in preventing the transmission of parasites from mother to child.

Maternal Lactobacillus rhamnosus administration impacts neonatal CD4 T-cell activation and prevents murine T helper 2-type allergic airways disease.

Gut microbiota plays a role in the neonatal immune education and could influence susceptibility to Th2-type immune disorders, such as allergies, the most prevalent chronic diseases in early childhood. We studied the impact of oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L.rhamnosus) supplementation to pregnant/breastfeeding C57BL/6 mice on the development of allergic airways disease in their offspring. We observed that mice, from L.rhamnosus-treated mothers, inoculated with ovalbumin (OVA)-Aluminium hydroxide (ALUM) at 3 days of life and challenged intranasally 4 weeks later showed decreased Th2-associated cytokines, IgE and IgG1, lung eosinophilia and airway hyper-reactivity compared to OVA-sensitized mice from untreated mothers. In that setting, the L.rhamnosus treatment increased the number and maturation of splenic neonatal type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) that remained largely dominant over the cDC2 and favored their OVA-specific Th1 differentiation. In response to inhaled house dust mite (HDM) allergen, the maternal L.rhamnosus supplementation increased the number of neonatal pulmonary cDC1 expressing lower amount of costimulatory molecules compared with no supplementation and decreased the number of cDC2 without affecting their costimulatory molecules expression. An HDM-specific Foxp3+RORγt+ Treg polarization was monitored in the lung draining lymph nodes. Finally, we confirmed the inhibitory effect of maternal L.rhamnosus treatment on all the measured features of the HDM allergic airways reaction in their offspring. We conclude that maternal L.rhamnosus administration prevents Th2-type allergic airways disease in their neonates by favoring splenic cDC1/Th1 responses against ALUM-adjuvanted OVA or by promoting a pulmonary Foxp3+RORγt+ Treg activation against inhaled HDM.

1371. Tularemia During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Treatment and Outcomes

Abstract Background Francisella tularensis, the gram-negative bacterium that causes tularemia, is endemic throughout the Northern Hemisphere and is a Tier 1 bioterrorism agent. Signs and symptoms can include fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, or pneumonia. Aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines are effective for treatment; however, data on their use for tularemia in pregnancy is lacking. We performed a systematic review of tularemia during pregnancy to describe antimicrobial treatment and examine maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Methods We searched nine literature databases using terms related to tularemia and pregnancy and included articles describing cases of tularemia with at least one maternal or fetal outcome. Information abstracted included clinical features of tularemia; antimicrobial treatment during pregnancy; and maternal, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes. Results Of 4,181 articles identified, 25 articles describing 47 cases of tularemia in pregnant patients were eligible for inclusion. Cases were reported between 1930 and 2021 from eight countries. Among cases with clinical form described, oropharyngeal tularemia was the most common (n=13/22, 59%), followed by ulceroglandular (n=5/22, 23%), glandular (2/22, 9%), and oculoglandular (n=2/22, 9%) forms. Patients were initially infected during the 1st trimester (26%), 2nd trimester (47%), 3rd trimester (18%), and before pregnancy (9%). Nineteen (40%) mothers were treated with at least one antimicrobial effective against F. tularensis: gentamicin (n=13), ciprofloxacin (n=6), doxycycline (n=1), and streptomycin (n=1). Four intrauterine fetal deaths (IUFD) occurred, all among pregnancies in which the mother received no effective antimicrobials. No pregnancy losses were reported among treated mothers. Among 34 live births, two were preterm and one case of hydranencephaly was identified, all among untreated mothers. No maternal deaths were reported. Conclusion Pregnancy loss and preterm birth have been documented in pregnant patients with tularemia who did not receive effective antimicrobial treatment. Prompt recognition and treatment of tularemia during pregnancy is important and could minimize risk for adverse outcomes. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus in Tenofovir-Treated and Untreated Chronically Infected Mothers and Their Immunoprophylaxis Failure Infants.

Maternal tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy during late pregnancy can reduce mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). We investigated HBV mutations associated with maternal TDF therapy and their role in infant immunonophylaxis failure (IPF). Serum samples from untreated (n = 89) and TDF-treated (n = 68), highly viremic, chronically infected mothers and their infants were analyzed for HBV DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. At delivery, compared with untreated mothers, TDF-treated mothers had a lower HBV DNA titer and a higher frequency of basal core promoter (BCP) gene mutations, but they had similar frequencies in pre-S/S and pre-core/core mutations. The 14 mothers harboring surface "a" determinant mutants did not transmit the mutants to their immunized infants. Such mutants were found in 3 of 13 IPF infants; the 13 mothers had wild-type hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). In univariable analysis, maternal HBV DNA titer (odds ratio [OR]: 1.54; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.02-2.33; P = .039), genotype C (OR: 4.18; 95% CI: 1.28-13.62; P = .018) and pre-S1 wild-type sequence (OR: 6.33; 95% CI: 1.85-21.68; P = .003) at delivery were associated with infant IPF. Multivariable analyses showed that maternal genotype C (OR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.11-12.36; P = .033) and pre-S1 wild-type (OR: 6.34; 95% CI: 1.79-22.44; P = .004) were associated with infant IPF independently of maternal viremia. Along with high maternal HBV DNA titer at delivery, maternal genotype C and pre-S1 wild-type sequence were potential risk factors for infant IPF, although BCP mutations were not. The offspring of pregnant women harboring "a" determinant mutants as major strains seemed to be protected by immunoprophylaxis. NCT01312012.

No Association Between Maternal Post-partum Depression and Vaccination Uptake of Infants: A Matched Cohort Study in a Large Health Maintenance Organization Database in Israel.

BackgroundMaternal post-partum depression is one of the most common medical complications around childbirth. One of its consequences is a possible association with children's receipt of preventive health care, including immunization. This study aimed to explore the association between maternal postpartum depression and children's immunization rates.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of Maccabi Healthcare Services (HMO) members comparing immunization rates between children born between 2006 and 2019 to mothers with post-partum depression and children born to mothers with no documented depression. Post-partum depression was assessed by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, a 10-item questionnaire considered the screening tool of choice in Israel for early Post-partum detection. 1:1 matching was conducted according to criteria: age of the mother ± 2 years, child's year of birth, the newborn baby's gender, the baby's birth order and socioeconomic index. The primary outcome was defined as non-vaccination and the exposure was defined as depression. A sub-analysis was performed, comparing immunization rates of children born to mothers treated with antidepressant medications to rates of children born to untreated mothers.ResultsA total of 709 subjects in the exposed cohort (children born to mothers with post-partum depression symptoms) and 681 subjects in the matched cohort were analyzed. The relative risks among children born to depressed mothers compared with children born to healthy mothers for not receiving any vaccine at 2 months, three doses of pertussis vaccine up to 7 months and four doses of DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccine up to 18 months were 1.15 (95% CI 0.74–1.78), 1.11 (95% CI 0.94–1.31) and 0.82 (95% CI 0.56–1.95), respectively. The relative risks among 139 infants born to treated mothers compared with 570 infants born to untreated mothers for not receiving any vaccine at 2 months, three doses of pertussis vaccine up to 7 months and four doses of DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccine up to 18 months were 1.28 (0.64–2.54), 0.78 (0.57–1.06) and 0.42 (0.17–1.03), respectively.ConclusionWe found no significant association between maternal post-partum depression and uptake of child Immunization.

Candida Albicans Brain Microabscesses in a Preterm Neonate

We report the case of a male preterm at 27 weeks of gestational age, born by emergency cesarean section with 1195 g, of an untreated HIV-infected mother, with an unsupervised pregnancy. After immediate resuscitation, he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). He was started on standard neonatal antiretroviral HIV prophylaxis and completed seven days of ampicillin and gentamicin.

Inherited antithrombin deficiency in pregnancy

Inherited AntiThrombin Deficiency (ATD) is a rare and high-risk thrombophilia. It is associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism, thrombosis, and the risk is escalated further in the prothrombotic state of pregnancy. Due to the thrombotic tendency it is also associated with placental dysfunction due to placental thrombosis. Untreated mothers with ATD have increased rates of second and third trimester loss, pre-eclampsia & eclampsia, placental abruption, and intra-uterine growth restriction resulting in small for gestational age babies.We have conducted a comprehensive review of the literature and guidelines & summarise the role of antithrombin, how to test for it, the evidence for its role in thrombosis and obstetric complications and how best to manage this. We also aim to present what we believe is best practise for managing ATD during pregnancy and therefore provide a much needed practical guide.Managing these women during pregnancy is designed to reduce their risk of thrombosis and late obstetric complications. Due to the rarity of the condition and the ethical difficulties surrounding clinical trials in pregnant women no randomised controlled trials or large observational studies have been conducted in this area; evidence is limited to small cohort studies, which are usually retrospective. Definitions such as ‘miscarriage’ and ‘fetal loss’ are also discordant between studies and associations which makes data comparison difficult. Thus there is limited guidance on the management of ATD in pregnancy. We recommend the use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) during pregnancy with regular anti- Xa monitoring to ensure that women receive adequate antithrombotic therapy. Due to the efficacy of LMWH working through potentiation of antithrombin, in those with ATD, high levels of LMWH are usually required. We discuss the use of antithrombin concentrates at times where the use of LMWH is contraindicated, such as during delivery.Emerging evidence suggests that the type of antithrombin deficiency is important in risk stratification along with the individual's own thrombotic risk factors, thrombosis history and family history.

Blocking Placental Class G Immunoglobulin Transfer Prevents NMDA Receptor Antibody Effects in Newborn Mice.

Background and ObjectivesTo determine in a mouse model whether neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blockade prevents the placental transfer of class G immunoglobulin (IgG) derived from patients with anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis and their pathogenic effects on the fetuses and offspring.MethodsPregnant C57BL/6J mice were administered via tail vein FcRn antibody (FcRn-ab) or saline solution 6 hours before administration of patients' or controls' IgG on days 14, 15, and 16 of gestation. Three experimental groups were established: mice receiving controls' IgG, patients' IgG, or patients' IgG along with pretreatment with FcRn-ab. Immunohistochemical staining, confocal microscopy, hippocampal long-term potentiation, and standardized developmental and behavioral tasks were used to assess the efficacy of treatment with FcRn-ab.ResultsIn pregnant mice that received patients' IgG, treatment with FcRn-ab prevented the IgG from reaching the fetal brain, abrogating the decrease of NMDAR clusters and the reduction of cortical plate thickness that were observed in fetuses from untreated pregnant mice. Moreover, among the offspring of mothers that received patients' IgG, those whose mothers were treated with FcRn-ab did not develop the alterations that occurred in offspring of untreated mothers, including impairment in hippocampal plasticity, delay in innate reflexes, and visuospatial memory deficits.DiscussionFcRn blockade prevents placental transfer of IgG from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and abrogates the synaptic and neurodevelopmental alterations caused by patients' antibodies. This model has potential therapeutic implications for other antibody-mediated diseases of the CNS during pregnancy.

Maternal morphine intake during pregnancy and lactation affects the circadian clock of rat pups

Early-life morphine exposure causes a variety of behavioural and physiological alterations observed later in life. In the present study, we investigated the effects of prenatal and early postnatal morphine on the maturation of the circadian clockwork in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the liver, and the rhythm in aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in the pineal gland. Our data suggest that the most affected animals were those born to control, untreated mothers and cross-fostered by morphine-exposed dams. These animals showed the highest mesor and amplitude in the rhythm of Per2, Nr1d1 but not Per1 gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and arrhythmicity in AA-NAT activity in the pineal gland. In a similar pattern to the rhythm of Per2 expression in the SCN, they also expressed Per2 in a higher amplitude rhythm in the liver. Five of seven specific genes in the liver showed significant differences between groups in their expression. A comparison of mean relative mRNA levels suggests that this variability was caused mostly by cross-fostering, animals born to morphine-exposed dams that were cross-fostered by control mothers and vice versa differed from both groups of natural mothers raising offspring. Our data reveal that the circadian system responds to early-life morphine administration with significant changes in clock gene expression profiles both in the SCN and in the liver. The observed differences between the groups suggest that the dose, timing and accompanying stress events such as cross-fostering may play a role in the final magnitude of the physiological challenge that opioids bring to the developing circadian clock.

Predictors of neonatal adiposity and associations by fetal sex in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and normal glucose-tolerant women

The key findings of this multi-centre prospective cohort study were that neonates born to mothers treated for Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (by lifestyle or medication, e.g. insulin or metformin) had high rates of macrosomia but similar adiposity to those born of mothers with normal glucose tolerance. In contrast, neonates born to untreated mothers who were overweight and had a normal glucose tolerance had increased adiposity. Increased gestational weight gain was associated with increased neonatal adiposity in boys. Maternal BMI, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and gestational weight gain were independent predictors for neonatal adiposity.

Comparison of rat tooth eruption in rats born from diabetic mothers

Background: Tooth eruption begins after crown and root formation and may be delayed by gestational diabetes mellitus. Metformin can control blood glucose levels through gluconeogenesis inhibition, and consuming thymoquinone for diabetic treatment will regenerate pancreatic β cells and reduce oxidative stress. Purpose: The objective of this study is to compare the tooth eruption in rats that were born with diabetes and are being treated with either metformin or thymoquinone. Methods: This study used 48 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus L.), and the rat sample was divided into four groups, including rats who were born from healthy mothers, rats who were born from untreated diabetic mothers, rats who were born from diabetic mothers that were treated with metformin and rats who were born from diabetic mothers that were treated with thymoquinone. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg BB). Each rat sample was taken with simple random sampling from different mothers, and body weight, blood glucose levels and levels of tooth eruption were recorded. Eruptions of the maxillary right first molar were measured from the cusp of the tooth to the alveolar epithelial lining. Results: Based on the measurements of tooth eruption, it was found that groups A, C and D were closer to mucosa on day 1, 7 and 14 than group B. Based on statistical analysis, there were significant differences (p = 0.03) between group B and groups C and D. Conclusions: Rats born from untreated diabetic mothers have more delays in tooth eruption than those born from diabetic mothers who are treated with metformin and thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has the potential to be an alternative to metformin because it has been shown to be similarly effective.

Chloroquine, an Anti-Malaria Drug as Effective Prevention for Hantavirus Infections

We investigated whether chloroquine can prevent hantavirus infection and disease in vitro and in vivo, using the Hantaan virus newborn C57BL/6 mice model and the Syrian hamster model for Andes virus. In vitro antiviral experiments were performed using Vero E6 cells, and Old World and New World hantavirus species. Hantavirus RNA was detected using quantitative RT-PCR. For all hantavirus species tested, results indicate that the IC50 of chloroquine (mean 10.2 ± 1.43 μM) is significantly lower than the CC50 (mean 260 ± 2.52 μM) yielding an overall selectivity index of 25.5. We also investigated the potential of chloroquine to prevent death in newborn mice after Hantaan virus infection and its antiviral effect in the hantavirus Syrian hamster model. For this purpose, C57Bl/6 mother mice were treated subcutaneously with daily doses of chloroquine. Subsequently, 1-day-old suckling mice were inoculated intracerebrally with 5 x 102 Hantaan virus particles. In litters of untreated mothers, none of the pups survived challenge. The highest survival rate (72.7% of pups) was found when mother mice were administered a concentration of 10 mg/kg chloroquine. Survival rates declined in a dose-dependent manner, with 47.6% survival when treated with 5 mg/kg chloroquine, and 4.2% when treated with 1 mg/kg chloroquine. Assessing the antiviral therapeutic and prophylactic effect of chloroquine in the Syrian hamster model was done using two different administration routes (intraperitoneally and subcutaneously using an osmotic pump system). Evaluating the prophylactic effect, a delay in onset of disease was noted and for the osmotic pump, 60% survival was observed. Our results show that chloroquine can be highly effective against Hantaan virus infection in newborn mice and against Andes virus in Syrian hamsters.