Publications by authors named "Gustaaf A Dekker"

Background: We hypothesized that there is an influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on association between pregnancy complications and premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) risk.

Materials And Methods: This project involved a data linkage approach merging three databases of South Australian cohorts using retrospective, age-matched case-control study design. Cases ( = 721), that is, women aged <60 years from Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA) were linked to South Australian Perinatal Statistics Collection (SAPSC) to ascertain prior pregnancy outcomes and SES.

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Introduction: In the near future, stem cell research may lead to several major therapeutic innovations in medical practice. Secretome, a "by-product" of stem cell line cultures, has many advantages. Its easiness of storage, usage, and fast direct effect are some of those to consider.

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Objectives: Evaluate the association between poor mental health and risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a cohort of women from a socioeconomically disadvantaged community.

Methods: A total of 1363 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies recruited to the Screening Tests to Predict Poor Outcomes of Pregnancy study in Adelaide, Australia. Women were assessed for mental health in the first trimester, including likelihood of depression, high functioning anxiety, perceived stress and risk of developing a mental health disorder.

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There is increasing evidence that women who experience placenta-mediated pregnancy complications and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at higher risk for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) later in life. We hypothesized that there is an association between placenta-mediated pregnancy complications, GDM, and risk of premature CAD (PCAD). This research project involved a data linkage approach merging three databases of South Australian cohorts by using a retrospective, age-matched case-control study design.

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Background: Breastfeeding is important for both mother and child in reducing risk of future cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it may be an effective method to improve cardio-metabolic health, particularly those who are exposed to pregnancy complications which increase later CVD risk for both mother and child. The aim of this study is to assess differences in cardiometabolic health at three years postpartum in mothers who breastfed for at least six months and their children compared to those who did not.

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Folic acid (FA) food fortification in Australia has resulted in a higher-than-expected intake of FA during pregnancy. High FA intake is associated with increased insulin resistance and gestational diabetes. We aimed to establish whether maternal one-carbon metabolism and hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis change in healthy pregnancies post-FA food fortification.

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Purpose: Pregnancy complications affect over one quarter of Australian pregnancies, and this group of mothers is vulnerable and more likely to experience adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in the postpartum period. Metabolic syndrome is common in this population and may be associated with postpartum mental health issues. However, this relationship remains poorly understood.

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Background: Certain maternal complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, birth of a growth restricted infant, idiopathic preterm labour, and placental abruption, are associated with a significantly increased risk of future maternal cardiovascular disease. In Australia, it is relatively unknown how many women with a history of complicated pregnancies are aware of their future cardiovascular disease risk.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine what percentage of women attending a cardiovascular disease prevention clinic in South Australia soon after a complicated pregnancy were aware of their increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Aim: Maternal complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour, and placental abruption, are associated with increased risk of future cardiometabolic disease. Lifestyle interventions that focus on preventative strategies for this young, high-risk population of women may assist in cardiometabolic disease risk reduction. The aim of this preliminary registry analysis was to observe the change in maternal metabolic syndrome status after receiving a nurse practitioner-led lifestyle intervention delivered soon after a complicated pregnancy.

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Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is thought to be associated with cardio-metabolic risk factor development in women and their children during the early postpartum period and early childhood. We hypothesized that these women and their children would exhibit increased abnormal cardio-metabolic risk factors three years after pregnancy.

Methods: Women from the Screening Tests to Predict Poor Outcomes of Pregnancy study were invited to attend a follow-up with the child from their index pregnancy at 3 years postpartum.

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Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a specialized CD4+ T cell subpopulation that are essential for immune homeostasis, immune tolerance, and protection against autoimmunity. There is evidence that sex-steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone modulate Treg cell abundance and phenotype in women. Since natural oscillations in these hormones are modified by hormonal contraceptives, we examined whether oral contraception (OC) use impacts Treg cells and related T cell populations.

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Parturition signals the end of immune tolerance in pregnancy. Term labour is usually a sterile inflammatory process triggered by damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) as a consequence of functional progesterone withdrawal. Activation of DAMPs recruits leukocytes and inflammatory cytokine responses in the myometrium, decidua, cervix and fetal membranes.

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Introduction: Certain complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, and placental abruption, are established independent risk factors for premature cardiovascular disease in women. Metabolic syndrome, which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, may be a suitable alternative to traditional cardiovascular risk calculators that underestimate risk in young women. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women who experienced a complicated pregnancy 6 months earlier.

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Introduction: The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has increased, but the optimal management and the optimal way to achieve vascular control are still controversial. This study aims to compare maternal outcomes between different methods of vascular control in surgical PAS management.

Material And Methods: A retrospective cohort study on consecutive cases diagnosed with PAS between 2013 and 2020 in single tertiary hospital.

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Purpose: To assess the independent and joint contribution of the individual components of metabolic syndrome, and known risk factors for gestational diabetes (GDM), on risk of GDM.

Methods: Two thousand nine hundred and fifteen women from Australia and New Zealand, who participated in The Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints Study (SCOPE), were included. Using the SCOPE clinical data set and biomarkers obtained at 14-16 weeks' gestation, a logistic regression model was fitted to the binary outcome GDM, with individual metabolic syndrome components (waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, HDL-C, triglycerides), recruitment site, and other established factors associated with GDM.

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Background/aims: Maternal and infant morbidities associated with pregnant women with cardiac conditions are a global issue contingent upon appropriate care. This study aimed to describe the clinical variables and their association with the adherence scores to perinatal guidelines for pregnant women with cardiac conditions. The clinical variables included cardiac, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes and complications.

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Introduction: The Indonesian INOVASIA study is an ongoing multicentre randomized, open controlled trial of pravastatin for the prevention of preeclampsia in patients deemed to be high risk. Here we evaluate the effects of pravastatin on circulating inflammatory and endothelial markers, i.e.

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Preeclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH) are pregnancy-specific diseases that occur in around 10% of pregnancies worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that women whose pregnancies were complicated by PE or GH, and their offspring, are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. We hypothesised that PE and GH would associate with CVD risk factors 8-10 years after the first pregnancy in the mother and child and that differences in cardiovascular risk profile would be seen between 8- and 10-year-old male and female children.

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Background: Our study aimed to assess the safety and protective effect of maternal influenza vaccination on pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Methods: The study population comprised 1253 healthy nulliparous pregnant women in South Australia between 2015 and 2018. Participants were followed prospectively, with vaccination status (confirmed by medical records), pregnancy, and birth outcome data collected by midwives.

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Single nucleotide polymorphisms and pre- and peri-conception folic acid (FA) supplementation and dietary data were used to identify one-carbon metabolic factors associated with pregnancy outcomes in 3196 nulliparous women. In 325 participants, we also measured circulating folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine. Pregnancy outcomes included preeclampsia (PE), gestational hypertension (GHT), small for gestational age (SGA), spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

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Article Synopsis
  • Scientists wanted to see if taking folic acid (a vitamin) before and during early pregnancy helps prevent babies from being too small at birth.
  • They studied over 5,600 pregnant women from different countries and found that taking folic acid before pregnancy lowered the chances of having a small baby.
  • The study suggests that taking folic acid might help babies grow better, but more research is needed to find out if taking it longer during pregnancy is even better.
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Objectives: To evaluate whether cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes that are independent of cigarette smoking.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Adelaide (Australia), Auckland (New Zealand), Cork (Ireland), and Leeds, London and Manchester (United Kingdom).

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Background: Asymmetric fetal growth and male sex are both associated with adverse neonatal outcome. However, less is known about the influence of asymmetric growth and fetal sex within SGA neonates, a group of infants already at increased risk for adverse neonatal outcomes. The aim of the present study was to provide insight into variance in risk factors for SGA in a fetal sex- and growth symmetry-specific way.

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Objective: To evaluate the maternal-neonatal outcome in magnesium (Mg)-intoxicated women with preeclampsia with severe features (PESF) treated with magnesium sulfate (MgSO).

Methods: A total of 19 Mg intoxicated PESF women (cases) were compared with 166 PESF women without signs of intoxication (controls).

Results: Mg serum levels of cases was higher compared to control group (12.

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Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide, affecting 2-8% of all pregnancies. Studies suggest a link between complement activation and preeclampsia. The complement system plays an essential role in the innate immunity, leading to opsonization, inflammation, and elimination of potential pathogens.

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