Impact of maternal diabetes on epigenetic modifications leading to diseases in the offspring.

Gestational diabetes, occurring during the hyperglycemic period of pregnancy in maternal life, is a pathologic state that increases the incidence of complications in both mother and fetus. Offspring thus exposed to an adverse fetal and early postnatal environment may manifest increased susceptibility to a number of chronic diseases later in life. Compelling evidence for the role of epigenetic transmission in these complications has come from comparison of siblings born before and after the development of maternal diabetes, exposure to this intrauterine diabetic environment being shown to cause alterations in fetal growth patterns which predispose these infants to developing overweight and obesity later in life.

Polycystic ovary syndrome offspring display increased oxidative stress markers comparable to gestational diabetes offspring.

Objective: To study oxidative stress (OS) markers on neonates. The specific aim was to evaluate advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) serum levels along with the hormonal/metabolic profile and their possible relationship in a cohort of polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS(N) and gestational diabetes GDM(N) neonates and their mothers PCOS(M) and GDM(M).

Design: Prospective controlled study.

Changes in maternal serum thioredoxin (TRX) levels after delivery in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women.

Objective: To investigate changes of maternal plasma thioredoxin (TRX) levels after delivery in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women.

Methods: Ten normotensive women (group A) were compared to 17 women with severe preeclampsia (group B). TRX levels were assessed in maternal plasma, immediately after delivery and 12-16 weeks postpartum.

Elevated circulating IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, and unaltered IL-6 in first-trimester pregnancies complicated by threatened abortion with an adverse outcome.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the profile of selected proinflammatory cytokines in maternal serum of first-trimester pregnancies complicated by threatened abortion (TACP) and its relevance to obstetric outcome. Serum levels of Th1-type cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and Th2-type cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured, by ELISA, in 22 women with TACP and adverse outcome at admission (group A) and compared with the corresponding levels of 31 gestational age-matched women with TACP and successful outcome at admission (group B1) and discharge (group B2) and 22 gestational age-matched women with first-trimester uncomplicated pregnancy (group C) who served as controls. Mann-Whitney U or Wilcoxon test was applied as appropriate to compare differences between groups.

Association between serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and corticotropin-releasing hormone levels in women with preterm labor.

Aim: To evaluate the association of serum corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in preterm labor.

Methods: Forty-nine primigravidas with a singleton viable pregnancy between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation were studied. They were divided into two groups.

Sigmoid colon cancer during pregnancy.

Colorectal carcinoma during pregnancy is a rare event. We report a 23-year-old primigravida with advanced stage adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon diagnosed at 34 weeks of gestation. A healthy female infant was delivered by cesarean section.