Increase in short telomeres during the third trimester in human placenta.

An increase in telomere shortening in gestational tissues has been proposed as a mechanism involved in the timing for the initiation of parturition. An increase in very short telomeres with increasing gestational age has been observed in mice; this study sought to explore this phenomenon in human pregnancies. Specifically, this study addressed the hypothesis that prior to labor, the quantity of very short telomeres (<3 kilobase (kb) lengths) increases in human placental tissue as term gestation approaches.

Establishing Better Evidence on Remote Monitoring for Postpartum Hypertension: A Silver Lining of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The transformation of our health care system in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) provides a unique opportunity to examine the use of telehealth for postpartum care. The postpartum period can pose significant risks and challenges, particularly for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Remote blood pressure monitoring has proven feasible and acceptable among women and providers but has not been widely implemented or researched.

Modulation of IL10 and Its Receptor Subunits in Normal and Progesterone-Prolonged Gestation in the Mouse.

These experiments aimed to understand the relationship between interleukin 10 (IL10), the IL10 receptor subunits, and progesterone (P4) at the time of parturition. We hypothesized that there is a biologic connection between IL10 and P4, supporting an immunomodulatory mechanism for the onset of labor. Using samples from control and P4-treated pregnant mice, we assessed the production of IL10 and its receptor subunits (IL10Rα and IL10Rβ) in gestational tissues.

The telomere gestational clock: increasing short telomeres at term in the mouse.

Background: The biologic mechanism(s) regulating the length of gestation are currently poorly understood. After peaking at the blastocyst stage, the average telomere lengths have been reported to shorten during the remainder of gestation in the placenta and fetal membranes in both human and mouse pregnancies, thereby providing a potential countdown biologic clock. These previous studies have reported changes in the average telomere lengths, whereas it has now been shown that the shortest telomeres, not the average telomere lengths, are the mediators of telomere dysfunction which limits cellular survival and results in aging.

Cell-Free DNA Release by Mouse Fetal Membranes.

Introduction: Cell-free "fetal" DNA is released from the placenta. Because the fetal membranes also arise from the trophectoderm layer of the blastocyst, these studies sought to test the hypothesis that the membranes also release cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

Methods: Fetal membranes were harvested from pregnant CD-1 mice and cultured in 12-well plates containing media alone or with staurosporine and thapsigargin (apoptosis stimulators), Q-VD-OPh (caspase inhibitor), Trolox (vitamin E analog), and lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα; inflammatory mediators).