Aim: Small for gestational age neonates (SGA) could be subdivided into two groups according to the underlying causes leading to low birth weight. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a pathologic condition with diminished growth velocity and fetal compromised well-being, while non-growth restricted SGA neonates are constitutionally (genetically determined) small. Antenatal sonographic measurements are used to differentiate these two subgroups. Maternal metabolic changes contribute to the pathogenesis of IUGR. A disturbed lipid metabolism and cholesterol supply might affect the fetus, with consequences for fetal programming of cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated fetal serum lipids and hypothesized a more atherogenic lipoprotein profile in IUGR fetuses.
Methods: Umbilical cord serum lipids and oxidative modified, low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) concentrations were measured by colorimetric enzymatic measurements, or by ELISA. Values of IUGR (n=36) and constitutionally small for gestational age neonates (SGA, n=22) were compared with those of healthy, adequate for gestational age, born neonates (CN, n=97). SAS-statistic software was used and two-way ANOVA was adjusted for gestational age at delivery.
Results: Fetal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were found to be lower in the IUGR compared to the CN and SGA groups (HDL-C: P<0.001, TC: P<0.01). Atherogenic indices, including the oxLDL/LDL-C ratio, were increased in the IUGR compared to the CN group (oxLDL/LDL-C ratio: P<0.001).
Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis of a disturbed cholesterol supply in IUGR fetuses. Born SGA has been shown to be a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Since HDL-C has anti-inflammatory properties, a reduced HDL-C during fetal development, and an increase in atherogenic indices, might provide a link to this observation in IUGR fetuses.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jpm.2011.135 | DOI Listing |
BMC Pediatr
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, No.107, West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, 250000, China.
Background: Purulent meningitis (PM) is a commonly encountered infectious condition in newborns, which unfortunately can result in infant mortality. Newborns with PM often present nonspecific symptoms. The success of lumbar puncture, an invasive test, relies on the operator's expertise.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Neurol
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Background: Due to improved treatment options, more SMA patients reach childbearing age. Currently, limited data on pregnant SMA patients is available, especially in relation to disease-modifying therapies (DMT). This case report helps to elucidate new approaches for future guidelines in the management of pregnancy and SMA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlacenta
December 2024
Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA.
Introduction: The placenta produces corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), which rises exponentially in maternal plasma across pregnancy. CRH plays a functional role in fetal development, labor initiation, and the regulation of gestational length. We aimed to understand how maternal plasma CRH during pregnancy reflects placental physiology during parturition by characterizing placental transcriptomic signatures of maternal plasma CRH and comparing to transcriptomic signatures of gestational age at birth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
December 2024
Alberta Respiratory Centre, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Bagchi School of Public Health, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, India. Electronic address:
Despite numerous studies linking prenatal vaping to adverse perinatal outcomes, a systematic assessment for critical comparison remains absent. To investigate these associations, we conducted a systematic search of studies assessing perinatal outcomes in mothers and/or neonates exposed to vaping during pregnancy compared to those in women without prenatal vaping exposure through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO, and Google Scholar until July 5, 2024. We performed inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses for maternal and neonatal outcomes of 23 studies with a total of 924,376 participants with 7552 reporting vaping-only use during pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfr J Reprod Health
November 2024
Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Turkey.
This research was conducted to investigate the relationship between women's attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy and their body image and to determine the predictors of pregnant women's sexual attitudes. The research was conducted with 515 pregnant women in Turkey. Study data were collected using a sociodemographic data form, the Attitude Scale toward Sexuality during Pregnancy, and the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale.
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