Effect of Selenium and Iodine on Oxidative Stress in the First Trimester Human Placenta Explants.

Imbalanced maternal micronutrient status, poor placentation, and oxidative stress are associated with greater risk of pregnancy complications, which impact mother and offspring health. As selenium, iodine, and copper are essential micronutrients with key roles in antioxidant systems, this study investigated their potential protective effects on placenta against oxidative stress. First trimester human placenta explants were treated with different concentrations of selenium (sodium selenite), iodine (potassium iodide), their combination or copper (copper (II) sulfate).

The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Athletes' Performance: A Narrative Review.

The effect of the menstrual cycle on physical performance is being increasingly recognised as a key consideration for women's sport and a critical field for further research. This narrative review explores the findings of studies investigating the effects of menstrual cycle phase on perceived and objectively measured performance in an athletic population. Studies examining perceived performance consistently report that female athletes identify their performance to be relatively worse during the early follicular and late luteal phases.

Disrupted Excitatory Synaptic Contacts and Altered Neuronal Network Activity Underpins the Neurological Phenotype in PCDH19-Clustering Epilepsy (PCDH19-CE).

PCDH19-Clustering Epilepsy (PCDH19-CE) is an infantile onset disorder caused by mutation of the X-linked PCDH19 gene. Intriguingly, heterozygous females are affected while hemizygous males are not. While there is compelling evidence that this disorder stems from the coexistence of WT and PCDH19-null cells, the cellular mechanism underpinning the neurological phenotype remains unclear.

Early markers of periodontal disease and altered oral microbiota are associated with glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between periodontal disease and glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes and to characterize the diversity and composition of their oral microbiota.

Methods: Cross-sectional study including children with type 1 diabetes recruited from clinics at the Women's and Children's Hospital (Australia). Participants had a comprehensive dental assessment, periodontal examination, and buccal and gingival samples collected for 16S rRNA sequencing.

Missense variant contribution to USP9X-female syndrome.

USP9X is an X-chromosome gene that escapes X-inactivation. Loss or compromised function of USP9X leads to neurodevelopmental disorders in males and females. While males are impacted primarily by hemizygous partial loss-of-function missense variants, in females de novo heterozygous complete loss-of-function mutations predominate, and give rise to the clinically recognisable USP9X-female syndrome.

Abnormal Behavior and Cortical Connectivity Deficits in Mice Lacking Usp9x.

Genetic association studies have identified many factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the way these genes shape neuroanatomical structure and connectivity is poorly understood. Recent research has focused on proteins that act as points of convergence for multiple factors, as these may provide greater insight into understanding the biology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Q fever vaccination: Australian animal science and veterinary students' One Health perspectives on Q fever prevention.

Unvaccinated animal science and veterinary students are at risk of Q fever, a vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans. We investigated students' perspectives on Q fever prevention using a One Health approach combining animal, human and environmental health. Animal science and veterinary students enrolled at the University of Adelaide in 2019 were invited to participate in an online survey to explore their perceptions about Q fever and prevention strategies.

Genome-wide DNA-binding profile of SRY-box transcription factor 3 (SOX3) in mouse testes.

Spermatogenesis is the male version of gametogenesis, where germ cells are transformed into haploid spermatozoa through a tightly controlled series of mitosis, meiosis and differentiation. This process is reliant on precisely timed changes in gene expression controlled by several different hormonal and transcriptional mechanisms. One important transcription factor is SRY-box transcription factor 3 (SOX3), which is transiently expressed within the uncommitted spermatogonial stem cell population.

Can the use of diagnostic and prognostic categorisation tailor the need for assisted reproductive technology in infertile couples?

Background: The complications associated with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for both the offspring and mother, and its high cost make it essential to tailor the technology to those infertile couples who truly benefit from it.

Aims: To determine whether a simple prognostic algorithm could discriminate between couples who require immediate fertility treatments and couples in whom less invasive strategies should be offered first.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, couples were classified into six groups based on the medical necessity of IVF and their prognosis for natural conception: (i) tubal/severe semen factor mandating immediate IVF due to the very low chance of natural conception; (ii) pure anovulation infertility; (iii) female age ≥39 years; and (iv) unexplained/mild male infertility (no indication for immediate treatment) with (4A) good, (4B) moderate or (4C) poor prognosis of natural conception, as per an existing, validated prognostic model.

External validation of prognostic models predicting pre-eclampsia: individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Early identification of women at risk during pregnancy is required to plan management. Although there are many published prediction models for pre-eclampsia, few have been validated in external data.

Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk in 7000 Youth With Type 1 Diabetes in the Australasian Diabetes Data Network.

Context: Cardiovascular disease occurs prematurely in type 1 diabetes. The additional risk of overweight is not well characterized.

Objective: The primary aim was to measure the impact of body mass index (BMI) in youth with type 1 diabetes on cardiovascular risk factors.

Barriers to and facilitators for addressing overweight and obesity before conception: A qualitative study.

Background: Obesity is a significant global health issue, especially for reproductive-aged women. Women who enter pregnancy overweight or obese are at increased risk of a range of adverse reproductive, maternal, and child health outcomes. The preconception period has been recognised as a critical time to intervene to improve health outcomes for women and their children.

Time-lapse confocal imaging-induced calcium ion discharge from the cumulus-oocyte complex at the time of cattle oocyte activation.

Oocyte activation, the dynamic transformation of an oocyte into an embryo, is largely driven by Ca2+ oscillations that vary in duration and amplitude across species. Previous studies have analysed intraoocyte Ca2+ oscillations in the absence of the oocyte's supporting cumulus cells. Therefore, it is unknown whether cumulus cells also produce an ionic signal that reflects fertilisation success.

Association between metabolic syndrome and gestational diabetes mellitus in women and their children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women and children. Our secondary aim was to assess the development of MetS with respect to the elapsed time postpartum at which MetS was diagnosed.

Methods: This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020173319).

A Review of the Potential Interaction of Selenium and Iodine on Placental and Child Health.

A healthy pregnancy is important for the growth and development of a baby. An adverse pregnancy outcome is associated with increased chronic disease risk for the mother and offspring. An optimal diet both before and during pregnancy is essential to support the health of the mother and offspring.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination during Pregnancy and Effects in Infants.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the dominant cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants, with the most severe cases concentrated among younger infants.

Methods: Healthy pregnant women, at 28 weeks 0 days through 36 weeks 0 days of gestation, with an expected delivery date near the start of the RSV season, were randomly assigned in an overall ratio of approximately 2:1 to receive a single intramuscular dose of RSV fusion (F) protein nanoparticle vaccine or placebo. Infants were followed for 180 days to assess outcomes related to lower respiratory tract infection and for 364 days to assess safety.

Two novel intragenic variants in the FMR1 gene in patients with suspect clinical diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome and no CGG repeat expansion.

The major and most well-studied genetic cause of Fragile-X syndrome (FXS) is expansion of a CGG repeat in the 5'-UTR of the FMR1 gene. Routine testing for this expansion is performed globally. Overall, there is a paucity of intragenic variants explaining FXS, a fact which is being addressed by a more systematic application of whole exome (WES) and whole genome (WGS) sequencing, even in the diagnostic setting.

A synonymous UPF3B variant causing a speech disorder implicates NMD as a regulator of neurodevelopmental disorder gene networks.

Loss-of-function mutations of the X-chromosome gene UPF3B cause male neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) via largely unknown mechanisms. We investigated initially by interrogating a novel synonymous UPF3B variant in a male with absent speech. In silico and functional studies using cell lines derived from this individual show altered UPF3B RNA splicing.

Foxp3 heterozygosity does not overtly affect mammary gland development during puberty or the oestrous cycle in mice.

Female mice heterozygous for a genetic mutation in transcription factor forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) spontaneously develop mammary cancers; however, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. We hypothesised that increased cancer susceptibility is associated with an underlying perturbation in mammary gland development. The role of Foxp3 in mammary ductal morphogenesis was investigated in heterozygous Foxp3Sf/+ and wildtype Foxp3+/+ mice during puberty and at specific stages of the oestrous cycle.

SOX3 promotes generation of committed spermatogonia in postnatal mouse testes.

SOX3 is a transcription factor expressed within the developing and adult nervous system where it mostly functions to help maintain neural precursors. Sox3 is also expressed in other locations, notably within the spermatogonial stem/progenitor cell population in postnatal testis. Independent studies have shown that Sox3 null mice exhibit a spermatogenic block as young adults, the mechanism of which remains poorly understood.

Animal Models of Preeclampsia: Causes, Consequences, and Interventions.

Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy complication, affecting 2% to 8% of pregnancies worldwide, and is an important cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Importantly, although aspirin and calcium are able to prevent preeclampsia in some women, there is no cure apart from delivery of the placenta and fetus, often necessitating iatrogenic preterm birth. Preclinical models of preeclampsia are widely used to investigate the causes and consequences of preeclampsia and to evaluate safety and efficacy of potential preventative and therapeutic interventions.

A randomised controlled trial of SMS messaging and calendar reminders to improve vaccination timeliness in infants.

Background: The effectiveness of SMS reminders in improving vaccination coverage has been assessed previously, with effectiveness varying between settings. However, there are very few studies on their effect on the timeliness of vaccination.

Design: Unblinded, randomised controlled trial with blocked sampling.