Publications by authors named "S T Davidge"
Pregnancy induces significant changes in the maternal cardiovascular system, and insufficient vascular endothelial adaptations to pregnancy contribute to the development of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is not only a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, but also a significant risk factor for the development of later-life cardiovascular disease. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, as well as the mechanisms for an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular disease later in life, are not fully characterized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Relatively few studies have examined the association between the entire spectrum of adverse birth outcomes [stillbirth, preterm birth (PTB), term births that are low birth weight (LBW) or high birth weight (HBW)] and long-term risk of CVD in the mother. Our objective was to examine the association between birth outcomes and risk of premature CVD or death in a contemporary cohort of pregnant women.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study of women in Alberta, Canada, between 01/01/2005 and 01/01/2023.
Article Synopsis
- Regulatory T (Treg) cells are crucial for maintaining immune tolerance during pregnancy, ensuring that the mother’s body accepts the developing fetus and placenta.
- In a study using a specific mouse model, researchers found that depleting Treg cells early in pregnancy led to problems with the remodeling of uterine arteries, reduced natural killer (uNK) cell numbers, and resulted in fetal loss and growth restriction.
- By transferring Treg cells from healthy donors, the negative effects on vascular function and fetal health were mitigated, highlighting the important role Treg cells play in adapting the uterine environment for a successful pregnancy and their connection to issues like preeclampsia.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate the relationships between diabetes, mental health conditions, asthma, and their impact on gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women from Alberta, Canada.
- A total of 18,381 women were analyzed, revealing a direct link between anxiety during pregnancy and GH, as well as the influence of pre-pregnancy diabetes and asthma on PE.
- The results emphasize the importance of considering mental health and chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma when assessing risks for GH and PE during pregnancy.
Background: Prenatal hypoxia, a common pregnancy complication, leads to impaired cardiovascular outcomes in the adult offspring. It results in impaired vasodilation in coronary and mesenteric arteries of the adult offspring, due to reduced nitric oxide (NO). Thromboxane A (TxA) is a potent vasoconstrictor increased in cardiovascular diseases, but its role in the impact of prenatal hypoxia is unknown.
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