Pregnancy as a window of opportunity for dementia prevention: a narrative review.

Dementia is a debilitating condition with a disproportionate impact on women. While sex differences in longevity contribute to the disparity, the role of the female sex as a biological variable in disease progression is not yet fully elucidated. Metabolic dysfunctions are drivers of dementia etiology, and cardiometabolic diseases are among the most influential modifiable risk factors.

The Effect of Prenatal Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Offspring Fat Mass and Distribution at 24 Months Old.

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is related to increased offspring fat accrual, and increased fat mass (FM) is related to obesity development. Prenatal DHA supplementation has been linked to lower levels of offspring FM; however, conflicting data exist.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine if there is a protective effect of prenatal DHA supplementation on offspring fat accrual and adipose tissue deposition at 24 mo in offspring born to females who gain excessive weight compared with nonexcessive weight during pregnancy.

Ischemic Stroke with Comorbid Cancer Has Specific miRNA-mRNA Networks in Blood That Vary by Ischemic Stroke Mechanism.

Objective: Approximately half of ischemic strokes (IS) in cancer patients are cryptogenic, with many presumed cardioembolic. We evaluated whether there were specific miRNA and mRNA transcriptome architectures in peripheral blood of IS patients with and without comorbid cancer, and between cardioembolic versus noncardioembolic IS etiologies in comorbid cancer.

Methods: We studied patients with cancer and IS (CS; n = 42), stroke only (SO; n = 41), and cancer only (n = 28), and vascular risk factor-matched controls (n = 30).

Air Quality and Health Impacts of Onshore Oil and Gas Flaring and Venting Activities Estimated Using Refined Satellite-Based Emissions.

Emissions from flaring and venting (FV) in oil and gas (O&G) production are difficult to quantify due to their intermittent activities and lack of adequate monitoring and reporting. Given their potentially significant contribution to total emissions from the O&G sector in the United States, we estimate emissions from FV using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite satellite observations and state/local reported data on flared gas volume. These refined estimates are higher than those reported in the National Emission Inventory: by up to 15 times for fine particulate matter (PM), two times for sulfur dioxides, and 22% higher for nitrogen oxides (NO).

A high fiber diet intervention during pregnancy: The SPROUT (Single goal in PRegnancy to optimize OUTcomes) protocol paper.

Background: Interventions to prevent excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) have had a limited impact on maternal and infant outcomes. Dietary fiber is a nutrient with benefits that counters many of the metabolic and inflammatory changes that occur during pregnancy. We will determine if a high dietary fiber (HFib) intervention provides benefit to maternal and infant outcomes.

Iodine Intake From Diet and Supplements and Urinary Iodine Concentration in a Cohort of Pregnant Women in the United States.

Background: The DRI Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) in pregnancy for Iodine (I), an essential nutrient for fetal neurodevelopment, is 160 μg/d. Supplementation with 150 μg/d I/day is recommended during pregnancy, however, neither dietary intake or the combination of diet and supplement intake has been reported in US pregnant women.

Objective: Determine iodine intake from diet and supplements and iodine status in pregnancy by urinary iodine concentration in a large cohort of pregnant women.

Gene expression changes implicate specific peripheral immune responses to Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhages in humans.

The peripheral immune system response to Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) may differ with ICH in different brain locations. Thus, we investigated peripheral blood mRNA expression of Deep ICH, Lobar ICH, and vascular risk factor-matched control subjects (n = 59). Deep ICH subjects usually had hypertension.

Monocyte, neutrophil, and whole blood transcriptome dynamics following ischemic stroke.

Background: After ischemic stroke (IS), peripheral leukocytes infiltrate the damaged region and modulate the response to injury. Peripheral blood cells display distinctive gene expression signatures post-IS and these transcriptional programs reflect changes in immune responses to IS. Dissecting the temporal dynamics of gene expression after IS improves our understanding of immune and clotting responses at the molecular and cellular level that are involved in acute brain injury and may assist with time-targeted, cell-specific therapy.

A Scoping Review of Iodine and Fluoride in Pregnancy in Relation to Maternal Thyroid Function and Offspring Neurodevelopment.

Iodine (I), an essential nutrient, is important for thyroid function and therefore growth and development. Fluoride (F), also an essential nutrient, strengthens bones and teeth, and prevents childhood dental caries. Both severe and mild-to-moderate I deficiency and high F exposure during development are associated to decreased intelligence quotient with recent reports associating high levels of F exposure during pregnancy and infancy to low intelligence quotient.

Early peripheral blood gene expression associated with good and poor 90-day ischemic stroke outcomes.

Background: This study identified early immune gene responses in peripheral blood associated with 90-day ischemic stroke (IS) outcomes.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples from the CLEAR trial IS patients at ≤ 3 h, 5 h, and 24 h after stroke were compared to vascular risk factor matched controls. Whole-transcriptome analyses identified genes and networks associated with 90-day IS outcome assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS).

Prenatal interventions and the development of childhood obesity.

Background: Excess maternal adiposity during pregnancy has lasting effects on child outcomes including increased risk of overweight/obesity, which drives disease development. Prenatal interventions are a potential avenue to curb childhood obesity rates, but little is known on their long-term influence on offspring adiposity.

Objective: Review the evidence for lasting effects of prenatal interventions on child adiposity.

Sustained ICP Elevation Is a Driver of Spatial Memory Deficits After Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Leads to Activation of Distinct Microglial Signaling Pathways.

The mechanisms of cognitive decline after intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in some patients continue to be poorly understood. Multiple rodent models of intraventricular or subarachnoid hemorrhage have only shown mild or even no cognitive impairment on subsequent behavioral testing. In this study, we show that intraventricular hemorrhage only leads to a significant spatial memory deficit in the Morris water maze if it occurs in the setting of an elevated intracranial pressure (ICP).

Progression of cerebral white matter hyperintensities is related to leucocyte gene expression.

Cerebral white matter hyperintensities are an important contributor to ageing brain pathology. Progression in white matter hyperintensity volume is associated with cognitive decline and gait impairment. Understanding the factors associated with white matter hyperintensity progression provides insight into pathogenesis and may identify novel treatment targets to improve cognitive health.

A prenatal group based phone counseling intervention to improve breastfeeding rates and complementary feeding: a randomized, controlled pilot and feasibility trial.

Background: Despite numerous benefits for both mom and baby, few infants are exclusively breastfed for the recommended first six months. Additionally, infants are given solids too early. Prenatal education increases rates of breastfeeding initiation and we hypothesize it can also improve exclusive breastfeeding rates and prevent the early introduction of solids.

Calcium, fiber, iron, and sodium intake in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and overweight and obesity.

Background: Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and overweight or obesity (OW/OB) are a nutritionally vulnerable group with increased risk of nutritional deficiencies. However, there are limited data examining micronutrient intake in adolescents with IDD and OW/OB.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the adequacy of calcium, iron, fiber, and sodium intake referenced against the United States Dietary Reference Intakes in adolescents with IDD and OW/OB.

Association Between Added Sugars from Infant Formulas and Rapid Weight Gain in US Infants and Toddlers.

Background: Formulas often contain high amounts of added sugars, though little research has studied their connection to obesity.

Objectives: This study assessed the contribution of added sugars from formulas during complementary feeding on total added sugar intakes, and the association between these sugars and upward weight-for-age percentile (WFA%) crossing (i.e.

Intermittent and continuous energy restriction result in similar weight loss, weight loss maintenance, and body composition changes in a 6 month randomized pilot study.

Poor adherence is a barrier to successful weight control. Intermittent energy restriction (IER) provides an alternative approach to those for whom daily energy restriction is not ideal. This study assessed changes in weight, body composition, and macronutrient intake for an IER and a continuous energy restriction (CONT) approach within a multicomponent weight management intervention.

Molecular Correlates of Hemorrhage and Edema Volumes Following Human Intracerebral Hemorrhage Implicate Inflammation, Autophagy, mRNA Splicing, and T Cell Receptor Signaling.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and perihematomal edema (PHE) volumes are major determinants of ICH outcomes as is the immune system which plays a significant role in damage and repair. Thus, we performed whole-transcriptome analyses of 18 ICH patients to delineate peripheral blood genes and networks associated with ICH volume, absolute perihematomal edema (aPHE) volume, and relative PHE (aPHE/ICH; rPHE). We found 440, 266, and 391 genes correlated with ICH and aPHE volumes and rPHE, respectively (p < 0.

Alternative Splicing of Putative Stroke/Vascular Risk Factor Genes Expressed in Blood Following Ischemic Stroke Is Sexually Dimorphic and Cause-Specific.

Genome-wide association studies have identified putative ischemic stroke risk genes, yet, their expression after stroke is unexplored in spite of growing interest in elucidating their specific role and identifying candidate genes for stroke treatment. Thus, we took an exploratory approach to investigate sexual dimorphism, alternative splicing, and etiology in putative risk gene expression in blood following cardioembolic, atherosclerotic large vessel disease and small vessel disease/lacunar causes of ischemic stroke in each sex compared to controls. Whole transcriptome arrays assessed 71 putative stroke/vascular risk factor genes for blood RNA expression at gene-, exon-, and alternative splicing-levels.

Distinct peripheral blood monocyte and neutrophil transcriptional programs following intracerebral hemorrhage and different etiologies of ischemic stroke.

Understanding cell-specific transcriptome responses following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and ischemic stroke (IS) will improve knowledge of the immune response to brain injury. Transcriptomic profiles of 141 samples from 48 subjects with ICH, different IS etiologies, and vascular risk factor controls were characterized using RNA-seq in isolated neutrophils, monocytes and whole blood. In both IS and ICH, monocyte genes were down-regulated, whereas neutrophil gene expression changes were generally up-regulated.

Genetic variation contributes to gene expression response in ischemic stroke: an eQTL study.

Objective: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contribute to complex disorders such as ischemic stroke (IS). Since SNPs could affect IS by altering gene expression, we studied the association of common SNPs with changes in mRNA expression (i.e.

The effect of high dietary fiber intake on gestational weight gain, fat accrual, and postpartum weight retention: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Interventions to prevent excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) have had limited success This pilot study examined the effectiveness of a single goal (SG) high dietary fiber intervention to prevent excessive GWG.

Methods: Twelve weekly lessons focused on consuming a high fiber diet (≥30 g/day). Snacks containing 10-12 g of dietary fiber were given for the first 6 weeks only.

Correction to: Validity of anthropometric equations to estimate infant fat mass at birth and in early infancy.

Following the publication of article by Cauble et al. [1], typographical errors were discovered. The Lingwood et al.

Evaluating body composition in infancy and childhood: A comparison between 4C, QMR, DXA, and ADP.

Background: Accurate and precise methods to measure of body composition in infancy and childhood are needed.

Objectives: This study evaluated differences and precision of three methods when compared with the four-compartment (4C) model for estimating fat mass (FM).

Methods: FM of children (age 14 days to 6 years of age, N = 346) was obtained using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (QMR, EchoMRI-AH), air-displacement plethysmography (ADP, PeaPod, less than or equal to 8 kg, BodPod age 6 years or older), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Hologic QDR).