Publications by authors named "K H Beckers"

Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with an incidence rate of up to 8% worldwide. However, the complete pathogenesis is still unknown. Obesity increases the risk of developing PE three-fold.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a reduced exercise capacity. Although several field tests for exercise capacity have been modified for non-standard settings, i.e.

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The equine uterus is highly interrogated during estrus prior to breeding and establishing pregnancy. Many studies in mares have been performed during estrus under the influence of high estrogen concentrations, including the equine estrual microbiome. To date, it is unknown how the uterine microbiome of the mare is influenced by cyclicity; while, the equine vaginal microbiome is stable throughout the estrous cycle.

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Obesity is becoming a worldwide pandemic with over one billion people affected. Of women in the United States, who are of childbearing age, two-thirds of them are considered overweight/obese. Offspring of women with obesity have a greater likelihood of developing cardiometabolic disease later in life, therefore making obesity a transgenerational issue.

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Article Synopsis
  • Women with obesity are at a higher risk for pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, which also occurs in BPH/5 mice that mimic these conditions.
  • Research aimed to see if reducing maternal obesity and serum leptin levels in these mice could enhance fetal and placental development by lowering markers associated with hypoxia.
  • Findings showed that pair-feeding BPH/5 mice improved placental outcomes and reduced fetal growth restriction by decreasing leptin and hypoxia markers, suggesting potential benefits for similar cases in obese pregnant women.
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