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Seebeck J, Sznajder KK, Kjerulff KH. The association between prenatal psychosocial factors and autism spectrum disorder in offspring at 3 years: a prospective cohort study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:1639-1649. [PMID: 37556019 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02538-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Few studies of risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been prospective in design or investigated the role of psychosocial factors measured during pregnancy. We aimed to investigate associations between prenatal psychosocial factors and risk of ASD in offspring, as part of a multicenter prospective cohort study of more than 2000 mother-child pairs. METHODS Nulliparous women aged 18-35 years, living in Pennsylvania, USA, were interviewed during pregnancy and multiple times postpartum over the course of a 3-year period. There were 2388 mothers who completed the Screen for Social Interaction Toddler Version (SSI-T), a measure of risk of ASD, when their child was 3-years old. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between prenatal psychosocial factors-including total scores on three scales (social-support, stress and depression), trouble paying for basic needs, mental illness diagnosis and use of antidepressants-and risk of ASD in offspring at the age of 3-years, controlling for relevant confounding variables. RESULTS There were 102 children (4.3%) who were scored as at-risk of ASD at 3-years. Prenatal psychosocial factors that were significantly associated with risk of ASD in the adjusted models were lower social-support (p < 0.001); stress (p = 0.003): depression (< 0.001), trouble paying for basic needs (p = 0.012), mental illness diagnosis (p = 0.016), and use of antidepressants (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that maternal experience of adverse psychosocial factors during pregnancy may be important intrauterine exposures related to the pathogenesis of ASD.
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Gong Y, Liu Y, Wang J, Wei T, Yan J, Yang D, Zheng X, Weng J, Luo S. Health-related quality of life in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and associations with maternal and neonatal complications. Qual Life Res 2024; 33:2429-2437. [PMID: 38888675 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-024-03716-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Preexisting type 1 diabetes is a stressful situation for women in pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes and examine the association between HRQoL and pregnancy outcomes. METHODS This multicenter prospective cohort study involved 115 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes from 11 participating centers in China. HRQoL was investigated in three trimesters using European Quality-of-life 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5 L). Chinese time trade-off value method was used to calculate the EQ-5D-5 L score. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effect of HRQoL on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves and distribution-based methods were employed to estimate minimally important differences of clinically important decline in HRQoL. RESULTS 50.43% of the studied women with type 1 diabetes reported impaired HRQoL in pregnancy. Estimated maternal HRQoL significantly decreased from early to mid-pregnancy (mean EQ-5D-5 L score 0.97 in the first trimester and 0.91 in the second trimester) and improved slightly in late pregnancy (mean EQ-5D-5 L score 0.95). Multivariable regression model showed that women who experienced impaired HRQoL in pregnancy had higher risk of hypertensive disorder, preterm birth, and composite pregnancy outcome. The estimated minimally important difference for composite pregnancy outcome was -0.045 to -0.043. CONCLUSIONS Experiencing impaired HRQoL during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of hypertensive disorder and preterm birth in women with type 1 diabetes. The estimated minimally important difference of EQ-5D-5 L might serve as a clinically important tool in prenatal care. TRIAL REGISTRATION No.ChiCTR1900025955.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Gong
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tian Wei
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jinhua Yan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Daizhi Yang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueying Zheng
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianping Weng
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Sihui Luo
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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Shaaban M, Shepelak ZD, Stanford JB, Silver RM, Mumford SL, Schisterman EF, Hinkle SN, Nkoy FL, Theilen L, Page J, Woo JG, Brown BH, Varner MW, Schliep KC. Low-dose aspirin, maternal cardiometabolic health, and offspring respiratory health 9 to 14 years after delivery: Findings from the EAGeR Follow-up Study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2024; 38:570-580. [PMID: 38886184 PMCID: PMC11427166 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.13097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence shows that peri-conceptional and in-utero exposures have lifetime health impacts for mothers and their offspring. OBJECTIVES We conducted a Follow-Up Study of the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction (EAGeR) trial with two objectives. First, we determined if women who enrolled at the Utah site (N = 1001) of the EAGeR trial (2007-2011, N = 1228) could successfully be contacted and agree to complete an online questionnaire on their reproductive, cardio-metabolic, and offspring respiratory health 9-14 years after original enrollment. Second, we evaluated if maternal exposure to low-dose aspirin (LDA) during pregnancy was associated with maternal cardio-metabolic health and offspring respiratory health. METHODS The original EAGeR study population included women, 18-40 years of age, who had 1-2 prior pregnancy losses, and who were trying to become pregnant. At follow-up (2020-2021), participants from the Utah cohort completed a 13-item online questionnaire on reproductive and cardio-metabolic health, and those who had a live birth during EAGeR additionally completed a 7-item questionnaire on the index child's respiratory health. Primary maternal outcomes included hypertension and hypercholesterolemia; primary offspring outcomes included wheezing and asthma. RESULTS Sixty-eight percent (n = 678) of participants enrolled in the follow-up study, with 10% and 15% reporting maternal hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, respectively; and 18% and 10% reporting offspring wheezing and asthma. We found no association between maternal LDA exposure and hypertension (risk difference [RD] -0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.05, 0.04) or hypercholesterolemia (RD -0.01, 95% CI -0.06, 0.05) at 9-14 years follow-up. Maternal LDA exposure was not associated with offspring wheezing (RD -0.002, 95% CI -0.08, 0.08) or asthma (RD 0.13, 95% CI 0.11, 0.37) at follow-up. Findings remained robust after considering potential confounding and selection bias. CONCLUSIONS We observed no association between LDA exposure during pregnancy and maternal cardiometabolic or offspring respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Shaaban
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Zachary D Shepelak
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Joseph B Stanford
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Robert M Silver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Sunni L Mumford
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Enrique F Schisterman
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stefanie N Hinkle
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Flory L Nkoy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lauren Theilen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jessica Page
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jessica G Woo
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Benjamin H Brown
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Michael W Varner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Karen C Schliep
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Blumrich L, Sousa BLA, Barbieri MA, Simões VMF, da Silva AAM, Bettiol H, Ferraro AA. Intergenerational consequences of violence: violence during pregnancy as a risk factor for infection in infancy. Front Glob Womens Health 2024; 5:1397194. [PMID: 39070081 PMCID: PMC11272521 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1397194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Psychosocial stress during pregnancy has long-lasting and important consequences in the following generations, as it can affect intrauterine development. The impact on the developing immune system is notoriously important due to the associated morbidity and mortality in the first years of life. Little attention has been given to the role of violence during pregnancy (VDP), especially its impact on infant infectious morbidity. Methods We analyzed data from two Brazilian birth cohorts (n = 2,847) in two distinct cities (Ribeirão Preto and São Luís), collected during pregnancy and at the beginning of the second year of life. The association between VDP and infection in infancy was analyzed with structural equation modeling, using the WHO-VAW questionnaire as exposure and a latent variable for infection as the outcome. Results VDP was reported by 2.48% (sexual), 11.56% (physical), and 45.90% (psychological) of the mothers. The models presented an adequate fit. In the city of São Luís, VDP was significantly associated with the latent construct for infection (standardized beta = 0.182; p = 0.022), while that was not the case for the Ribeirão Preto sample (standardized beta = 0.113; p = 0.113). Further analyses showed a gradient effect for the different dimensions of the exposure, from psychological to physical and sexual violence. Conclusion Our results suggest an association of VDP with infant morbidity in a poorer socioeconomic setting, and highlight the importance of considering the different dimensions of intimate partner violence. These findings may have important implications for the comprehension of global health inequalities and of the effects of gender-based violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Blumrich
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Antônio Barbieri
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Heloisa Bettiol
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Eckermann HA, Lugones M, Abdala D, Roge H, de Weerth C. Maternal early life and prenatal stress in relation to birth outcomes in Argentinian mothers. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22502. [PMID: 38807271 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Environmental influences before and during pregnancy significantly impact offspring development. This study investigates open research questions regarding the associations between maternal early life stress (ELS), prenatal psychosocial stress, prenatal hair cortisol (HC), and birth outcomes in Argentinian women. Data on ELS, prenatal life events, HC (two samples representing first and second half of pregnancy), and birth outcomes were collected from middle-class Argentinian women (N = 69) upon delivery. Linear mixed models indicated that HC increased from the first half to the second half of pregnancy with considerable variability in the starting values and slopes between individuals. Mothers who experienced more ELS, were taller, or more educated, tended to show lower increases in HC. Older age was positively related to HC increases. Our data did not suggest an interaction between ELS and prenatal life events in relation to HC. We found that the change in HC was most likely negatively associated with birth weight. Our data are most compatible with either a weak or the absence of an association between ELS or prenatal life events and absolute values of HC. Mothers with stronger increases in hair cortisol tended to have newborns with slightly lower birth weight. Hence, ELS and birthweight may either have been related to changes in cortisol exposure during pregnancy or to factors that influence accumulation or retention of cortisol in hair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Andreas Eckermann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Micaela Lugones
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Abdala
- Department of Neonatology, Hospital Español de Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Horacio Roge
- Department of Neonatology, Hospital Español de Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Borairi S, Ozdemir B, Jenkins J, Shah PS, Kingdom J, Ganea P. A follow up investigation of placental pathology, responsive parenting, and preschool children's executive functioning and language development. Child Neuropsychol 2024; 30:684-701. [PMID: 37811813 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2264535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Despite documented effects linking underlying placental diseases and neurological impairments in children, little is known about the long-term effects of placental pathology on children's neurocognitive outcomes. In addition, maternal responsivity, known to positively influence early postnatal cognitive development, may act to protect children from putative adverse effects of placental pathology. The current study is a follow up of medically healthy, term born, preschool age children, born with placental pathology. A sample of 118 children (45 comparison children with normal placental findings, 73 born with placental pathology) were followed when children were 3-4 years old. In comparison to children born to mothers with normal placentas, placental pathology was associated with poorer performance in the executive function involving cognitive flexibility, but not inhibitory control or receptive language. Maternal responsivity was observed to be marginally protective on the impact of placental pathology risk on cognitive flexibility, but this was not seen for either inhibitory control or receptive language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Borairi
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Begum Ozdemir
- Department of Psychology, Maltepe University, Maltepe, Turkey
| | - Jennifer Jenkins
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Prakesh S Shah
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - John Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine Division, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Patricia Ganea
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Christensen GM, Marcus M, Naudé PJW, Vanker A, Eick SM, Caudle WM, Malcolm-Smith S, Suglia SF, Chang HH, Zar HJ, Stein DJ, Hüls A. Joint effects of prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on early life inflammation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118822. [PMID: 38565416 PMCID: PMC11188991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
It is hypothesized that air pollution and stress impact the central nervous system through neuroinflammatory pathways Despite this, the association between prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on inflammatory markers in infancy has been underexplored in epidemiology studies. This study investigates the individual and joint effects of prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on early life inflammation (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). We analyzed data from the South African Drakenstein Child Health Study (N = 225). Indoor air pollution and psychosocial factor measurements were taken in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Circulating inflammatory markers (IL-1β, Il-6, and TNF-α) were measured in serum in the infants at 6 weeks postnatal. Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between individual exposures and inflammatory markers. To investigate joint effects of environmental and psychosocial factors, Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were used to create exposure profile clusters. These clusters were added to linear regression models to investigate the associations between exposure profiles and inflammatory markers. All models were adjusted for maternal age, maternal HIV status, and ancestry to control for confounding. Most indoor air pollutants were positively associated with inflammatory markers, particularly benzene and TNF-α in single pollutant models. No consistent patterns were found for psychosocial factors in single-exposure linear regression models. In joint effects analyses, the SOM profile with high indoor air pollution, low SES, and high maternal depressive symptoms were associated with higher inflammation. Indoor air pollutants were consistently associated with increased inflammation in both individual and joint effects models, particularly in combination with low SES and maternal depressive symptoms. The trend for individual psychosocial factors was not as clear, with mainly null associations. As we have observed pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, future research should investigate joint effects of these exposures on inflammation and their health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michele Marcus
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Petrus J W Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Aneesa Vanker
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stephanie M Eick
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - W Michael Caudle
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Susan Malcolm-Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shakira F Suglia
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Howard H Chang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anke Hüls
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Cai Y, Ma G, Fan J. Effects of sleep quality in early pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes and mood state. Sleep Breath 2024; 28:1079-1087. [PMID: 38150103 DOI: 10.1007/s11325-023-02968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To clarify the relationship between quality of sleep and pregnancy outcomes and to explore how sleep quality affects mood state in the first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS This prospective cohort study enrolled pregnant women from June 2020 to June 2021. Maternal sleep conditions, daytime sleepiness, and mood state in the first trimester were assessed using four Chinese self-rating scales, namely, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Sleep Hygiene Practice Scale (SHPS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the abbreviated version of the Profile of Mood States (a-POMS). Participants were divided into an exposed group (PSQI score > 5, poor sleep quality group) and a non-exposed group (PSQI score ≤ 5, good sleep quality group). Maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and the relationship among sleep quality, sleepiness, and mood state were analyzed. Comparisons of sleep hygiene behavior variables between the two subgroups were also analyzed. RESULTS A total of 2703 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Poor sleep quality increased the probability of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (1.573, 1.315-1.863), liver function damage (1.467, 1.021-2.107), preterm delivery (1.468, 1.077-2.002), mild sleepiness (1.612, 1.357-1.915), and excessive sleepiness (2.134, 1.686-2.701). Poor maternal sleep quality was significantly associated with the occurrence of preterm premature rupture of membranes (1.947, 1.168-3.243) and perinatal death (1.003, 1.000-1.006). Additionally, a significant positive correlation between the PSQI score and the total mood disturbance (TMD) score was revealed by Spearman's correlation analysis (r = 0.378, P < 0.01). Enter Regression analysis demonstrated that sleep quality (R2 = 0.390, P < 0.01) and sleepiness (R2 = 0.234, P < 0.01) exerted significant direct effects on mood state during pregnancy. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation analysis indicated a positive association between the PSQI score and the SHPS total score (r = 0.227, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Poor sleep quality is significantly associated with elevated rates of maternal mood disturbances, obstetric complications, and adverse outcomes in infants. The findings suggest that it may be useful to provide comprehensive sleep assessment and education on sleep hygiene during the early stages of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 910 Hengshan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Guojun Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 910 Hengshan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianxia Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 910 Hengshan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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Groppetti D, Pecile A, Filipe J, Riva F, Inglesi A, Kuhn PA, Giussani E, Dall’Ara P. Canine Amniotic Fluid at Birth Holds Information about Neonatal Antibody Titres against Core Vaccine Viruses. Vet Sci 2024; 11:234. [PMID: 38921981 PMCID: PMC11209429 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11060234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the composition of amniotic fluid (AF) in both humans and animals. In addition to its nutritional and protective functions for the foetus, current knowledge demonstrates that AF also serves advanced diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic roles. Newborn dogs have an underdeveloped immune system, making them highly susceptible to dangerous pathogens such as canine parvovirus (CPV-2), canine infectious hepatitis virus (CAdV-1), and canine distemper virus (CDV), thus exposing them to a high risk of mortality in the first weeks of life. Immunoglobulins G (IgGs) represent the only antibody isotype capable of crossing the placenta in a small amount and have been detected also in canine AF. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of AF collected at birth as a marker of passive immunity in canine species. For this purpose, total and specific IgGs against CPV-2, CAdV-1, and CDV were investigated and quantified in both maternal plasma and AF collected at the time of caesarean section. The vaccination status of the bitches was also taken into consideration. Since the immune system can be influenced by gestational age, with preterm infants having immature innate and adaptive immunity, IgG concentrations were correlated with amniotic lecithin, sphingomyelin, cortisol, surfactant protein A, and pentraxin 3 levels. In a previous study from our group on foetal maturity these molecules were measured in the same samples. Finally, correlations between their amniotic content and neonatal outcomes were investigated. This study demonstrates that AF analysis at birth can provide valuable insights into neonatal immunity in puppies, offering a non-invasive method to detect potential early health risks, for improved puppy care and management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joel Filipe
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (D.G.); (A.P.); (F.R.); (A.I.); (P.A.K.); (E.G.); (P.D.)
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Falck FAOK, Dhejne CMU, Frisén LMM, Armuand GM. Subjective Experiences of Pregnancy, Delivery, and Nursing in Transgender Men and Non-Binary Individuals: A Qualitative Analysis of Gender and Mental Health Concerns. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:1981-2002. [PMID: 38228983 PMCID: PMC11106200 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Studies of how gender-diverse individuals experience pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing remain few, mainly focus on the US and contain scarce information about mental health concerns peri-partum. This hinders informed reproductive health decisions and counseling. We used in-depth interviews to examine how gestational gender-diverse individuals in Sweden experience the process of planning and undergoing pregnancy, delivery, and nursing. In total, 12 participants, identifying on the masculine side of the gender spectrum or as non-binary, who had attended Swedish antenatal care and delivered a live birth, were included in the study. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic content analysis. The analysis resulted in one overarching theme: sustaining gender congruence during pregnancy and three main categories: (1) considering pregnancy; (2) undergoing pregnancy and childbirth; and (3) postnatal reflections. The association between childbearing and being regarded as female permeated narratives. Participants renegotiated the feminine connotations of pregnancy, accessed gender-affirming treatment, and concealed their pregnancy to safeguard their gender congruence. Mis-gendering and breast enlargement triggered gender dysphoria. Social judgment, loneliness, information shortages, hormonal influence and cessation of testosterone increased gender dysphoria and strained their mental health. Depression exacerbated gender dysphoria and made it harder to claim one's gender identity. Dissociation was used to handle a feminized body, vaginal delivery, and nursing. Pregnancy was easier to envision and handle after masculinizing gender-affirming treatments. The results deepen the understanding of gender dysphoria and may be used to inform reproductive counseling and healthcare development. Research outcomes on mental health concerns provide a basis for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas A O K Falck
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Psychiatry Southwest, Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Cecilia M U Dhejne
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louise M M Frisén
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gabriela M Armuand
- School of Health and Welfare, Faculty of Health Sciences 1, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
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11
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Mustonen P, Kortesluoma S, Scheinin NM, Perasto L, Kataja EL, Tervahartiala K, Tuulari JJ, Coimbra B, Carter AS, Rodrigues AJ, Sousa N, Paavonen EJ, Korja R, Karlsson H, Karlsson L. Negative associations between maternal prenatal hair cortisol and child socioemotional problems. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 162:106955. [PMID: 38232530 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Maternal prenatal distress can participate in the programming of offspring development, in which exposure to altered maternal long-term cortisol levels as measured by hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) may contribute. Yet, studies investigating whether and how maternal prenatal HCC associates with problems in child socioemotional development are scarce. Furthermore, questions remain regarding the timing and potential sex-specificity of fetal exposure to altered cortisol levels and whether there are interactions with maternal prenatal distress, such as depressive symptoms. The subjects were drawn from those FinnBrain Birth Cohort families that had maternal reports of child socioemotional problems (the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment [BITSEA] at 2 years and/or the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ] at 5 years) as follows: HCC1 population: maternal mid-pregnancy HCC measured at gestational week 24 with 5 cm segments to depict cortisol levels from the previous five months (n = 321); and HCC2 population: end-of-pregnancy HCC measured 1-3 days after childbirth (5 cm segment; n = 121). Stepwise regression models were utilized in the main analyses and a sensitivity analysis was performed to detect potential biases. Negative associations were observed between maternal HCC2 and child BITSEA Total Problems at 2 years but not with SDQ Total difficulties at 5 years, and neither problem score was associated with HCC1. In descriptive analyses, HCC2 was negatively associated with Internalizing problems at 2 years and SDQ Emotional problems at 5 years. A negative association was observed among 5-year-old girls between maternal HCC1 and SDQ Total Difficulties and the subscales of Conduct and Hyperactivity/inattentive problems. When interactions were also considered, inverse associations between HCC2 and BITSEA Internalizing and Dysregulation Problems were observed in subjects with elevated prenatal depressive symptoms. It was somewhat surprising that only negative associations were observed between maternal HCC and child socioemotional problems. However, there are previous observations of elevated end-of-pregnancy cortisol levels associating with better developmental outcomes. The magnitudes of the observed associations were, as expected, mainly modest. Future studies with a focus on the individual changes of maternal cortisol levels throughout pregnancy as well as studies assessing both maternal and child HPA axis functioning together with child socioemotional development are indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Mustonen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Susanna Kortesluoma
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Noora M Scheinin
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Satakunta Wellbeing Services County, Sairaalantie 3, 28500 Pori, Finland
| | - Laura Perasto
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Assistentinkatu 7, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Katja Tervahartiala
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, 20014 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Seminaarinkatu 15, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Collegium for Science, Medicine and Technology, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Bárbara Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, R. da Universidade, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Alice S Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, R. da Universidade, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center-Braga (2CA), Hospital de Braga, Lugar de Sete Fontes, S. Victor, 4710-243 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, R. da Universidade, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - E Juulia Paavonen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, 00271 Helsinki, Finland; Pediatric Research Center, Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Korja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Assistentinkatu 7, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Medisiina A, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Savitehtaankatu 5, 20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Savitehtaankatu 5, 20520 Turku, Finland
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12
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Kloosterboer S, Anolda Naber FB, Heyman H, Hoffmann-Haringsma A, Brunt TM. A Preliminary Study of Correlates of Premature Birth and Their Influence on Cortisol Levels in Young Children. Biol Res Nurs 2024; 26:240-247. [PMID: 37863478 PMCID: PMC10938487 DOI: 10.1177/10998004231209429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The HPA-axis is programmed during early infancy, but a lot is unknown about the programming of the HPA-axis in prematurely born or small for gestational age (SGA) children. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the influence of prematurity and variables associated with birth on cortisol levels in young children. METHODS Cortisol was measured in a cross-sectional design in 38 premature born participants (<37 weeks of gestation), aged between 3 - 9 years old. Correlates of prematurity (degree of prematurity and birth delivery route) were investigated in relationship with cortisol levels with regression analysis. RESULTS Corrected for sex, delivery by C-section was associated with lower cortisol levels in the children (ß = -.42, p = .028), with an explained variance of 34%. CONCLUSION Birth delivery route by C-section is associated with lowered (or flattened) cortisol levels in children born prematurely. This is clinically relevant and might have important implications, because an HPA-axis disturbance might lead to developmental problems later on in life. However, future research is necessary to investigate the underlying indications for performing a C-section, which will help to understand factors that influence the HPA-axis development in children born prematurely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Kloosterboer
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Angelique Hoffmann-Haringsma
- Het Kleine Heldenhuis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Neonatology, St Fransiscus Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tibor Markus Brunt
- Het Kleine Heldenhuis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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13
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Werchan DM, Hendrix CL, Hume AM, Zhang M, Thomason ME, Brito NH. Effects of prenatal psychosocial stress and COVID-19 infection on infant attention and socioemotional development. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:1279-1287. [PMID: 37752245 PMCID: PMC10965506 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02807-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the psychosocial environment of pregnant women and new mothers. In addition, prenatal infection is a known risk factor for altered fetal development. Here we examine joint effects of maternal psychosocial stress and COVID-19 infection during pregnancy on infant attention at 6 months postpartum. METHOD One-hundred and sixty-seven pregnant mothers and infants (40% non-White; n = 71 females) were recruited in New York City (n = 50 COVID+, n = 117 COVID-). Infants' attentional processing was assessed at 6 months, and socioemotional function and neurodevelopmental risk were evaluated at 12 months. RESULTS Maternal psychosocial stress and COVID-19 infection during pregnancy jointly predicted infant attention at 6 months. In mothers reporting positive COVID-19 infection, higher prenatal psychosocial stress was associated with lower infant attention at 6 months. Exploratory analyses indicated that infant attention in turn predicted socioemotional function and neurodevelopmental risk at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that maternal psychosocial stress and COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may have joint effects on infant attention at 6 months. This work adds to a growing literature on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant development, and may point to maternal psychosocial stress as an important target for intervention. IMPACT This study found that elevated maternal psychosocial stress and COVID-19 infection during pregnancy jointly predicted lower infant attention scores at 6 months, which is a known marker of risk for neurodevelopmental disorder. In turn, infant attention predicted socioemotional function and risk for neurodevelopmental disorder at 12 months. These data suggest that maternal psychosocial stress may modulate the effects of gestational infection on neurodevelopment and highlight malleable targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise M Werchan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - Amy M Hume
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Margaret Zhang
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Moriah E Thomason
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalie H Brito
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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14
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George J, Muzik M, Townsel C. Placental Cortisol Dysregulation in Mothers with Experiences of Childhood Adversity: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2020. [PMID: 38610785 PMCID: PMC11012865 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are extremely prevalent in the United States population. Although ACEs occurs in childhood, exposure to them has been associated with adverse future pregnancy outcomes and an increased risk of poorer social determinants of health, which further drive the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. In addition, maternal ACE exposure has been linked to poor infant and child outcomes, highlighting the intergenerational transmission of risk from mother to child. While alterations along the Maternal-Placental-Fetal Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is hypothesized to be involved, the exact biological pathway underlying this intergenerational passage of risk is mostly unknown. This present work will highlight what is known about pregnancy-related stress hormone physiology, discuss the potential mechanisms of action of ACEs on cortisol regulation, and suggest opportunities for further clinical and translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua George
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maria Muzik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Courtney Townsel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 20742, USA;
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15
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Deflorin N, Ehlert U, Amiel Castro RT. Associations of maternal prenatal psychological symptoms and saliva cortisol with neonatal meconium microbiota: A cross-sectional study. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110895. [PMID: 37951341 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in the diversity and relative abundances of the gut microbiome have been associated with a broad spectrum of medical conditions. Maternal psychological symptoms during pregnancy may impact on offspring development by altering the maternal and the foetal gut microbiome. We aimed to investigate whether self-reported maternal anxiety, depressive symptoms, and distress as well as saliva cortisol levels in late pregnancy alter the bacterial composition of the infant's meconium. METHODS A total of N = 100 mother-infant pairs were included. Maternal psychological symptoms were measured using psychological questionnaires (EPDS, PSS-10, STAI) at 34-36 weeks gestation and salivary cortisol was measured at 34-36 and 38 weeks gestation. Infant meconium samples were collected in the first five days postpartum and analysed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. RESULTS Correlations showed that lower alpha diversity of the meconium microbiome was significantly associated with increased maternal prenatal depressive symptoms in late gestation (τ = -0.15, p = .04). Increased saliva cortisol AUCg at T2 was significantly related to higher beta diversity of the meconium samples (Pr(>F) = 0.003*). Pseudomonas was the most abundant phylum and was associated with maternal saliva cortisol total decline. No other associations were found. CONCLUSIONS Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms are associated with infant faecal microbiome alpha diversity, whereas maternal saliva cortisol AUCg is linked to increased beta diversity and total decline related to increased Psuedomonas. Future studies are warranted to understand how these microbiota community alterations are linked to child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Deflorin
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita T Amiel Castro
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
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16
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Yan CY, Ye Y, Mu HL, Wu T, Huang WS, Wu YP, Sun WY, Liang L, Duan WJ, Ouyang SH, Huang RT, Wang R, Sun XX, Kurihara H, Li YF, He RR. Prenatal hormone stress triggers embryonic cardiac hypertrophy outcome by ubiquitin-dependent degradation of mitochondrial mitofusin 2. iScience 2024; 27:108690. [PMID: 38235340 PMCID: PMC10792244 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress has been extensively documented as a contributing factor to adverse cardiac development and function in fetuses and infants. The release of glucocorticoids (GCs), identified as a significant stressor, may be a potential factor inducing cardiac hypertrophy. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Herein, we discovered that corticosterone (CORT) overload induced cardiac hypertrophy in embryonic chicks and fetal mice in vivo, as well as enlarged cardiomyocytes in vitro. The impaired mitochondria dynamics were observed in CORT-exposed cardiomyocytes, accompanied by dysfunction in oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production. This phenomenon was found to be linked to decreased mitochondrial fusion protein mitofusin 2 (MFN2). Subsequently, we found that CORT facilitated the ubiquitin-proteasome-system-dependent degradation of MFN2 with an enhanced binding of appoptosin to MFN2, serving as the underlying cause. Collectively, our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which exposure to stress hormones induces cardiac hypertrophy in fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Yu Yan
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yue Ye
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Han-Lu Mu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wen-Shan Huang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yan-Ping Wu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wan-Yang Sun
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lei Liang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wen-Jun Duan
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shu-Hua Ouyang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Rui-Ting Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China
| | - Rong Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xin-Xin Sun
- Jiujiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Jiujiang 332000, China
| | - Hiroshi Kurihara
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yi-Fang Li
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Rong-Rong He
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China
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17
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Peng Z, Apfelbacher C, Brandstetter S, Eils R, Kabesch M, Lehmann I, Trump S, Wellmann S, Genuneit J. Directed acyclic graph for epidemiological studies in childhood food allergy: Construction, user's guide, and application. Allergy 2024. [PMID: 38234010 DOI: 10.1111/all.16025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Understanding modifiable prenatal and early life causal determinants of food allergy is important for the prevention of the disease. Randomized clinical trials studying environmental and dietary determinants of food allergy may not always be feasible. Identifying risk/protective factors for early-life food allergy often relies on observational studies, which may be affected by confounding bias. The directed acyclic graph (DAG) is a causal diagram useful to guide causal inference from observational epidemiological research. To date, research on food allergy has made little use of this promising method. We performed a literature review of existing evidence with a systematic search, synthesized 32 known risk/protective factors, and constructed a comprehensive DAG for early-life food allergy development. We present an easy-to-use online tool for researchers to re-construct, amend, and modify the DAG along with a user's guide to minimize confounding bias. We estimated that adjustment strategies in 57% of previous observational studies on modifiable factors of childhood food allergy could be improved if the researchers determined their adjustment sets by DAG. Future researchers who are interested in the causal inference of food allergy development in early life can apply the DAG to identify covariates that should and should not be controlled in observational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoxin Peng
- Pediatric Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Apfelbacher
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Brandstetter
- Member of the Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Clinic St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO-Clinics), University of Regensburg, Clinic St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Center for Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
- German Center of Child and Youth Health (DZKJ), Germany
| | - Michael Kabesch
- Member of the Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Clinic St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO-Clinics), University of Regensburg, Clinic St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Irina Lehmann
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
- German Center of Child and Youth Health (DZKJ), Germany
- Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saskia Trump
- Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Wellmann
- Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jon Genuneit
- Pediatric Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- German Center of Child and Youth Health (DZKJ), Germany
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18
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Branson Dame K, Jazz Harvey M, Aichele S, Kralewski Van Denburg A, Hoyer L, Joslin S, McKenna A, Lincoln M, Closson L, Flykt M, Salo S, Harvey A, Biringen Z. Movement through motherhood: Exploring mood, wellbeing, and prenatal emotional availability (EA) through EA-based dance intervention. Infant Ment Health J 2024; 45:22-39. [PMID: 38081788 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Emotional availability (EA) is a construct that describes the observed emotional connection in parent-child relationships. During pregnancy, EA is assessed only using caregiver sensitivity and nonhostility. We used the nonverbal aspects of these qualities to create a new dance/movement intervention ("EA-Based Dance Intervention"). Given the scarcity of pregnancy interventions, we provided training to participants on how to be emotionally engaged with their unborn babies through dance/movement. The EA-Based Dance Intervention alone comprised the first intervention arm (n = 12). A second intervention arm involved the combination of EA-Based Dance Intervention with brief psychoeducation (n = 10). The third arm was a control group, which received only the assessments (n = 7). Measures of self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional expressivity, flourishing, and the (newly developed) self-reported prenatal EA were used at pre- and posttest. The measure of observed prenatal EA was used to compare intervention versus control at posttest only. In this pilot study, we found that participants receiving the EA-Based Dance Intervention alone or combined with psychoeducation, self-reported improved anxiety symptoms and self-reported higher prenatal EA. When compared with the control group, those experiencing EA-Based Dance Intervention reported fewer depressive symptoms from pre- to posttest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Branson Dame
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Madeline Jazz Harvey
- School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Stephen Aichele
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Ann Kralewski Van Denburg
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Lillian Hoyer
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Steffany Joslin
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Alexandria McKenna
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael Lincoln
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Lia Closson
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Marjo Flykt
- Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- University of Tampere, Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland
| | - Saara Salo
- Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ashley Harvey
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Zeynep Biringen
- Human Development and Family Studies and the Prevention Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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19
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Yang MT. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and neurodevelopment in children. Pediatr Neonatol 2024; 65:1. [PMID: 38145919 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Tao Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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20
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Mattera JA, Campagna AX, Goodman SH, Gartstein MA, Hancock GR, Stowe ZN, Newport DJ, Knight BT. Associations between mothers' and fathers' depression and anxiety prior to birth and infant temperament trajectories over the first year of life: Evidence from diagnoses and symptom severity. J Affect Disord 2023; 343:31-41. [PMID: 37741466 PMCID: PMC10672733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developmental shifts in infant temperament predict distal outcomes including emerging symptoms of psychopathology in childhood. Thus, it is critical to gain insight into factors that shape these developmental shifts. Although parental depression and anxiety represent strong predictors of infant temperament in cross-sectional research, few studies have examined how these factors influence temperament trajectories across infancy. METHODS We used latent growth curve modeling to examine whether mothers' and fathers' anxiety and depression, measured in two ways - as diagnostic status and symptom severity - serve as unique predictors of developmental shifts in infant temperament from 3 to 12 months. Participants included mothers (N = 234) and a subset of fathers (N = 142). Prior to or during pregnancy, both parents were assessed for lifetime diagnoses of depression and anxiety as well as current severity levels. Mothers rated their infants' temperament at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. RESULTS Mothers' depression and anxiety primarily predicted initial levels of temperament at 3 months. Controlling for mothers' symptoms, fathers' depression and anxiety largely related to temperament trajectories across infancy. Lifetime diagnoses and symptom severities were associated with distinct patterns. LIMITATIONS Infant temperament was assessed using a parent-report measure. Including an observational measure would provide a more comprehensive picture of the infants' functioning. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that mothers' and fathers' mental health are uniquely associated with infant temperament development when measured using diagnostic status and/or symptom severity. Future studies should examine whether these temperament trajectories mediate intergenerational transmission of risk for depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maria A Gartstein
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Gregory R Hancock
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Zachary N Stowe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D Jeffrey Newport
- Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Bettina T Knight
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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21
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van Gelder MMHJ, van Wijk EJC, Roukema J, Roeleveld N, Verhaak CM, Merkus PJFM. Maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and infant wheezing up to 2 years of age. Ann Epidemiol 2023; 88:43-50. [PMID: 37944679 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether maternal depressive symptoms at multiple time points during pregnancy are associated with infant wheezing in the first 2 years of life to assess etiologically relevant time windows. METHODS We included Dutch women participating in the PRIDE Study with delivery in 2013-2019. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Edinburgh Depression Scale at enrollment and in gestational weeks 17 and 34. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used to assess infant wheezing biannually postpartum. Adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with modified Poisson regression. RESULTS Among 5294 pregnancies included, maternal depressive symptoms in gestational weeks 15-22 was associated with any wheezing in the first 2 years of life (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.04-1.78) and with current wheezing at 12 (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.61) and 18 months (RR 1.33, 1.04-1.69). Depressive symptoms in gestational weeks 32-35 seemed to be associated with any wheezing reported at two years (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.96-1.69) and current wheezing at 12 months (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.02-1.60). Four trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified. Only the trajectory with increasing symptoms throughout pregnancy seemed to be associated with infant wheezing (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.97-1.89). CONCLUSIONS Maternal depressive symptoms in mid- and late pregnancy may be associated with development of infant wheezing, particularly those with onset in the second half of pregnancy. Research is needed to identify biological pathways and associations with more objective, long-term respiratory morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma J C van Wijk
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jolt Roukema
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nel Roeleveld
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Chris M Verhaak
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J F M Merkus
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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22
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Mongan D, Lynch J, Anderson J, Robinson L, Mulholland C. Perinatal mental healthcare in Northern Ireland: challenges and opportunities. Ir J Psychol Med 2023; 40:601-606. [PMID: 34839853 DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2021.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Perinatal mental health is a vital component of public mental health. The perinatal period represents the time in a woman's life when she is at the highest risk of developing new-onset psychiatric disorders or relapse of an existing mental illness. Optimisation of maternal mental health in the perinatal period is associated with both short- and long-term benefits not only for the mother, but also for her infant and family. However, perinatal mental health service provision remains variable across the world. At present in Northern Ireland, 80% of women do not have access to specialist community perinatal mental health services, and without access to a mother and baby unit, mothers who require a psychiatric admission in the postnatal period are separated from their baby. However, following successful campaigns, funding for development of specialist perinatal mental health community teams has recently been approved. In this article, we discuss the importance of perinatal mental health from a public health perspective and explore challenges and opportunities in the ongoing journey of specialist service development in Northern Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Mongan
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Lynch
- Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - J Anderson
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland
| | - L Robinson
- Independent Researcher, Northern Ireland
| | - C Mulholland
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland
- School of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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23
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Suleri A, White T, Blok E, Cecil CAM, Reiss I, Jaddoe VWV, Gigase FAJ, Hillegers MHJ, de Witte L, Bergink V, Rommel AS. The Association Between Prenatal Infection and Adolescent Behavior: Investigating Multiple Prenatal, Perinatal, and Childhood Second Hits. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:1340-1350. [PMID: 37400063 PMCID: PMC10981534 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exposure to infections during pregnancy may be a potential risk factor for later psychopathology, but large-scale epidemiological studies investigating associations between prenatal infection and long-term offspring behavioral problems in the general population are scarce. In our study, we aimed to investigate the following: (1) the association between prenatal infection and adolescent behavior, (2) putative underlying pathways (mediation), and (3) "second hits" interacting with prenatal infection to increase the risk of adolescent behavior problems (moderation). METHOD Our study was embedded in a prospective Dutch pregnancy cohort (Generation R; n = 2,213 mother-child dyads). We constructed a comprehensive prenatal infection score comprising common infections for each trimester of pregnancy. At age 13 to 16 years, we assessed total, internalizing, and externalizing problems, and autistic traits using the Child Behavioral Checklist and the Social Responsiveness Scale, respectively. We investigated maternal lifestyle and nutrition, perinatal factors (placental health and delivery outcomes), and child health (lifestyle, traumatic events, infections) as mediators and moderators. RESULTS We observed associations of prenatal infection with adolescent total behavioral, internalizing, and externalizing problems. The association between prenatal infection and internalizing problems was moderated by higher levels of maternal psychopathology, alcohol and tobacco use, and a higher number of traumatic childhood events. We found no association between prenatal infection and autistic traits. Yet, children exposed to prenatal infections and maternal substance use, and/or traumatic childhood events, had a higher risk of autistic traits in adolescence. CONCLUSION Prenatal infection may be a risk factor for later psychiatric problems as well as a disease primer making individuals susceptible to other hits later in life. STUDY PREREGISTRATION INFORMATION Prenatal maternal infection and adverse neurodevelopment: a structural equation modelling approach to downstream environmental hits; https://osf.io/cp85a; cp85a. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure that the study questionnaires were prepared in an inclusive way. We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Suleri
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Tonya White
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabet Blok
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Irwin Reiss
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - F A J Gigase
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Lot de Witte
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
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24
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Riggan KA, Weaver AL, Ashby G, Huang L, Long ME, Torbenson VE, Wick MJ, Allyse MA, Rivera-Chiauzzi EY. Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on prenatal and postpartum patient experiences and well-being. Birth 2023; 50:1034-1044. [PMID: 37555375 PMCID: PMC10843728 DOI: 10.1111/birt.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has yet to be fully elucidated how differing populations of obstetric patients adapted to the disruptions in perinatal care and postpartum support from the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed an enriched sample of socioeconomically advantaged patients to understand the influence of COVID-19 on their perinatal care experience, well-being, and coping. METHODS We surveyed pregnant and postpartum patients (n = 6140) at a large academic medical center in the Midwest of the United States using the Coronavirus and Perinatal Experiences instrument in Spring 2021. RESULTS The survey was sent to 6141 pregnant and postpartum patients; 1180 (17.8%) respondents completed the survey, including 256 who were pregnant and 834 postpartum. Most pregnant patients experienced no changes in their prenatal care with 16.5% indicating somewhat worsened care. In the postpartum cohort, 37.5% stated their care had somewhat worsened. In describing influences on stress and mental health, 58.1% of postpartum respondents stated it was moderately, and 17.4% significantly, worse. The pandemic had a somewhat or moderately negative influence for 72.7% of respondents, with 11.0% stating these effects were extremely negative. Both cohorts characterized a range of coping strategies, most commonly, talking with friends and family (76.3%). CONCLUSION(S) Even among this sample of socioeconomically advantaged patients, respondents indicated that the pandemic disrupted many facets of their medical care and daily life, especially social activities and postpartum support. Our findings suggest that counseling on coping and adaptation strategies for stressors and increased health systems support be part of perinatal care during public health emergencies for all demographic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy L. Weaver
- Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | - Lily Huang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Margaret E. Long
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | - Myra J. Wick
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Megan A. Allyse
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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25
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van Esch JJA, Bolte AC, Spaanderman MEA, Vandenbussche FPHA, de Weerth C, Beijers R. Maternal anxiety forecasts shorter prolongation of pregnancies complicated by early-onset preeclampsia. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2023; 308:1703-1711. [PMID: 36434441 PMCID: PMC10579132 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06836-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In early-onset preeclampsia, each additional day of pregnancy prolongation reduces offspring infant mortality about 9%. We evaluated if maternal stress at admission to hospital for early-onset preeclampsia predicted admission-to-delivery intervals in days. METHODS This prospective, longitudinal cohort-study involved 15 singleton pregnancies with a diagnosis of preeclampsia before 34 weeks gestation with intended expectant management. Upon hospital admission, maternal psychological stress was assessed with questionnaires and physiological stress with hair cortisol. Hair samples were analyzed in three hair segments representing the preconception period, and the first and second trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS Mean pregnancy prolongation was 16.2 days. Higher maternal anxiety at hospital admission significantly correlated with shorter admission-to-delivery intervals (r = - 0.54, p = 0.04). Chronically increased hair cortisol concentrations (i.e. from preconception through the second trimester) of pregnancy tended to be related to shorter admission-to-delivery intervals (p <. 10). CONCLUSION Higher reported anxiety is, and chronically high hair cortisol tended to be, related with fewer days of prolongation from admission to delivery in women with early-onset preeclampsia. These findings suggest that maternal stress might be a potential determinant of disease progression. Future research into early innovative stress-reducing interventions for early-onset preeclampsia may shed more light on the etiology and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris J. A. van Esch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Post 623, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Antoinette C. Bolte
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Post 623, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc E. A. Spaanderman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Post 623, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank P. H. A. Vandenbussche
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Post 623, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute, Radboud University Medical Centre, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute, Radboud University Medical Centre, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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26
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Lean RE. Editorial: Maternal Inflammation During Pregnancy: A Modifiable Pathway Toward Improving Offspring Socioemotional Outcomes in Childhood and Adolescence. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:1310-1312. [PMID: 37433428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Childhood psychopathology is a well-established predictor of poor adult life-course outcomes including lower rates of educational attainment and reduced family income, with a total economic loss of $2.1 trillion in the United States.1 Given this high level of individual and societal burden, much effort has been devoted to identifying the modifiable risk factors that confer risk for psychiatric disorders during early childhood. Indeed, numerous aspects of early life adversity, such as socioeconomic disadvantage, stressful/traumatic life events, and disrupted parent-child relationships, demonstrate strong associations with socioemotional problems and psychiatric disorders into adolescence.2 However, the underlying biological mechanisms that also contribute to this risk trajectory remain less well understood. One proposed biological mechanism that is rapidly gaining momentum in the field of developmental psychopathology concerns excessive immune system activation and/or proinflammatory responses in the origins of health and disease.3 Of particular interest is the prenatal period, representing a window of vulnerability in which prenatal exposures prepare or program the fetus for the expected postnatal environment.3-5 More specifically, fetal programming posits that the effects of maternal adversity during pregnancy are, at least in part, transmitted to the fetus via multiple related pathways including chronic maternal inflammation and/or overactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in aberrant maternal-fetal immune/glucocorticoid systems and downstream epigenetic alterations in the developing fetus. Together, these factors work to increase the susceptibility of offspring to adversity in the postnatal environment and, in turn, enhance risk for psychiatric disorders.3-6 However, much of the existing literature is based on preclinical animal models with comparatively fewer clinical studies.3 As such, there remains a paucity of large, prospectively designed clinical studies examining maternal proinflammatory conditions during pregnancy in relation to psychopathology in offspring. As part of the landmark National Institutes of Health-funded ECHO (Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes) consortium, the study by Frazier et al.7 represents one of the largest investigations linking perinatal maternal proinflammatory conditions with co-occurring psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Lean
- Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.
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27
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Gailey S. Changes in Residential Greenspace and Birth Outcomes among Siblings: Differences by Maternal Race. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6790. [PMID: 37754649 PMCID: PMC10531468 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20186790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Growing research investigates the perinatal health benefits of greenspace in a mother's prenatal environment. However, evidence of associations between residential greenspace and birth outcomes remains mixed, limiting the relevance this work holds for urban policy and greening interventions. Past research relies predominantly on cross-sectional designs that are vulnerable to residential selection bias, and rarely tests effect modification by maternal race/ethnicity, which may contribute to heterogeneous findings. This study uses a rigorous, longitudinal sibling comparison design and maternal fixed effect analyses to test whether increases in maternal exposure to residential greenspace between pregnancies precede improved birth outcomes among non-Hispanic (NH) white (n = 247,285) and Black (n = 54,995) mothers (mean age = 28 years) who had at least two consecutive live births in California between 2005 and 2015. Results show that increases in residential greenspace correspond with higher birthweight (coef. = 75.49, 95% CI: 23.48, 127.50) among Black, but not white (coef. = -0.51, 95% CI: -22.90, 21.90), infants. Additional analyses suggest that prior evidence of perinatal benefits associated with residential greenspace among white mothers may arise from residential selection; no such bias is observed for Black mothers. Taken together, these findings support urban greening initiatives in historically under-resourced neighborhoods. Efforts to evenly distribute residential greenspace may reduce persistent racial disparities in birth outcomes, an important step towards promoting health equity across the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Gailey
- Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
- Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI 48502, USA
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28
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Laifer LM, DiLillo D, Brock RL. Prenatal negative affectivity and trauma-related distress predict mindful parenting during toddler age: Examining parent-infant bonding as a mechanism. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1036-1050. [PMID: 34649640 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Despite findings demonstrating the importance of parental present-centered awareness, factors undermining mindful parenting have received less attention. Increasingly, evidence points to parental psychopathology as a salient risk factor for parenting difficulties. Thus, the goal of the present study was to investigate specific dimensions of parental trauma-related distress and general negative affectivity during pregnancy as predictors of mindful parenting during toddler age. Parental psychopathology, parent-infant bonding, and mindful parenting were assessed in a sample of heterosexual couples (N = 159) across four waves of data collection spanning pregnancy to child age two. Data were analyzed using path analysis within a dyadic framework. Results demonstrated the unique impact of maternal trauma-related distress during pregnancy (e.g., intrusions and avoidance) on facets of mindful parenting more than two years later. Further, among both mothers and fathers, general negative affectivity common across internalizing disorders undermined mindful parenting through impaired parent-infant bonding. Findings highlight the need for early intervention efforts that incorporate mindfulness strategies to reduce subthreshold symptoms of prenatal psychopathology, promote healthy bonding, and improve parental awareness and self-regulation, thereby enhancing the overall parent-child relationship.
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29
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Michalik A, Pracowity M, Wójcicka L. The Assessment of Natural Vaginal Delivery in Relation to Pregnancy-Related Anxiety-A Single-Center Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11101435. [PMID: 37239721 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA) is a specific type of anxiety experienced during the perinatal period. It may concern a person's health and physical appearance, fetal development, hospital and health care experiences, impending childbirth, and early parenthood. PrA is considered to be a stronger predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes than general anxiety and depression. The purpose of this research was to conduct a pilot study and evaluate the course of vaginal birth (VB) in relation to PrA levels in a population of pregnant women with low obstetrical risk. METHODS This cross-sectional exploratory study included 84 pregnant women (with a mean age of 28.61 ± 4.99) (without cesarean section (CS) indications and with a low risk of complications during VB). Research questionnaires were distributed and filled in in person during the course of hospitalization. Groups that varied at the level of PrA were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Fisher's exact test, or chi-square test of independence, as appropriate. RESULTS More than two-thirds of the respondents (72.6%) were medicated in labor. Women with high PrA, selected based on a cut-off point with a total PRAQ-R2 score of 60, experienced significantly longer first (start of established labor to fully dilated cervix) and second (lasts from when cervix is fully dilated until the birth) periods of labor, instrumental delivery, or emergency CS. In the group with high PrA levels, a episiotMmentation of evidence-based recommendations for the affected population to identify and further treat women with elevated levels of PrA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Michalik
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki 7, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michalina Pracowity
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki 7, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lucyna Wójcicka
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki 7, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
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Lee JJ, Flouri E. The relationship between diurnal cortisol slope and cognitive development among children maltreated as infants. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 2023; 148:106873. [PMID: 36876149 PMCID: PMC9983686 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning for children's cognitive development, especially among vulnerable groups. The current study explores the relationship between diurnal cortisol slope and cognitive outcomes among children at the ages of 5 and 6 who have been maltreated as infants and involved with child protective services, using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) I (N=158). Multiple regression analyses showed that a greater decline in salivary cortisol from morning to evening was positively associated with scores on applied problems and expressive communication, even after adjustment for confounding. It was also associated with lower odds of cognitive disability. There were null associations with letter-word identification, passage comprehension, auditory comprehension, matrices, and vocabulary. Results suggest that children involved with child protective services as infants, and thus exposed early to likely 'toxic' levels of stressors, may face dysregulation of the HPA axis and particular difficulties in some aspects of cognitive function. Potential explanations and implications for policy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Jiyoun Lee
- Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, Social Science Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, 202 Henderson Building, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Eirini Flouri
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, 20 Bedford, Way, London, WC1H 0AL
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Mawson ER, Morris BJ. A consideration of the increased risk of schizophrenia due to prenatal maternal stress, and the possible role of microglia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110773. [PMID: 37116354 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is caused by interaction of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Of the latter, prenatal exposure to maternal stress is reportedly associated with elevated disease risk. The main orchestrators of inflammatory processes within the brain are microglia, and aberrant microglial activation/function has been proposed to contribute to the aetiology of schizophrenia. Here, we evaluate the epidemiological and preclinical evidence connecting prenatal stress to schizophrenia risk, and consider the possible mediating role of microglia in the prenatal stress-schizophrenia relationship. Epidemiological findings are rather consistent in supporting the association, albeit they are mitigated by effects of sex and gestational timing, while the evidence for microglial activation is more variable. Rodent models of prenatal stress generally report lasting effects on offspring neurobiology. However, many uncertainties remain as to the mechanisms underlying the influence of maternal stress on the developing foetal brain. Future studies should aim to characterise the exact processes mediating this aspect of schizophrenia risk, as well as focussing on how prenatal stress may interact with other risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Mawson
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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Liu YW, Liu H, Huang K, Zhu BB, Yan SQ, Hao JH, Zhu P, Tao FB, Shao SS. The association between pregnancy-related anxiety and behavioral development in 18-month-old children: The mediating effects of parenting styles and breastfeeding methods. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:392-402. [PMID: 37086809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy-related anxiety (PRA) is a distinct type of anxiety from general anxiety, affects many pregnant women, and is correlated with poor behavioral development in children. However, the mediation paths were unclear. METHODS A total of 2032 mother-infant pairs from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort were included in the current study. Maternal PRA was assessed in the second and third trimesters. Children's behavioral development was evaluated at the age of 18 months. In addition, information on parenting styles and breastfeeding methods was obtained at postpartum. Multivariate regression and structural equation modeling were used to examine the associations between maternal PRA and children's behavioral development. RESULTS Significant intercorrelations were found between maternal PRA, the potential mediators (parenting styles and breastfeeding methods), and 18-month-old children's ASQ scores. Parenting styles played an intermediary role in the relationship between maternal PRA and children's behavioral development (β = 0.030, 95 % confidence interval: 0.017-0.051), and the mediating effect accounted for 29.1 % of the total effect. However, breastfeeding methods did not mediate the link between PRA and children's behavior. LIMITATIONS Depression and postpartum anxiety were not controlled for in our analysis, which left us unable to estimate the independent impact of PRA on children's behavior. CONCLUSIONS Parenting rather than breastfeeding is the mediating factor of behavioral problems in children caused by PRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Wei Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Bei-Bei Zhu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shuang-Qin Yan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Maternal and Child Health Care Center of Ma'anshan, No 24 Jiashan Road, Ma'anshan 243011, Anhui, China
| | - Jia-Hu Hao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fang-Biao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Shan-Shan Shao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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Noda M, Yoshida S, Kawakami C, Takeuchi M, Kawakami K, Ito S. Association between combined spinal-epidural analgesia and neurodevelopment at 3 years old: The Japan Environment and Children's Study. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2023. [PMID: 37005004 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the association between maternal combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery and neurodevelopment in 3-year-old children. METHODS Using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a birth cohort study on pregnant women and their offspring, we described the background, perinatal outcomes, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of participants with a singleton pregnancy who received combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery and those who did not. The association between maternal combined spinal-epidural analgesia and abnormalities in five domains of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition, was analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. RESULTS Among 59 379 participants, 82 (0.1%) children (exposed group) were born to mothers who received combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery. In the exposed versus control groups, 1.2% versus 3.7% had communication abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.30 [0.04-2.19]), 6.1% versus 4.1% exhibited gross-motor abnormalities (1.36 [95% CI: 0.55-3.36]), 10.9% vs. 7.1% had fine-motor abnormalities (1.46 [95% CI: 0.72-2.96]), 6.1% vs. 6.9% showed difficulties with problem-solving (0.81 [95% CI: 0.33-2.01]), and 2.4% vs. 3.0% had personal-social problems (0.70 [95% CI: 0.17-2.85]). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to combined spinal-epidural analgesia during vaginal delivery was not associated with the risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities; however, the sample size of our study might not be appropriate for the study design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Noda
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satomi Yoshida
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kawakami
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Masato Takeuchi
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koji Kawakami
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shuichi Ito
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
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Buka SL, Lee YH, Goldstein JM. Infections During Pregnancy and Risks for Adult Psychosis: Findings from the New England Family Study. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 61:49-69. [PMID: 36376640 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the past 40 years, our team has conducted a unique program of research investigating the prenatal risks for schizophrenia and related adult psychiatric disorders. The New England Family Study is a long-term prospective cohort study of over 16,000 individuals followed from the prenatal period for over 50 years. This chapter summarizes several major phases and findings from this work, highlighting recent results on maternal prenatal bacterial infections and brain imaging. Implications regarding the causes and potential prevention of major psychotic disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L Buka
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Younga Heather Lee
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Gutierrez C, Dollar NT. Birth and prenatal care outcomes of Latina mothers in the Trump era: Analysis by nativity and country/region of origin. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281803. [PMID: 36857329 PMCID: PMC9977052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined whether and how birth outcomes and prenatal care utilization among Latina mothers changed over time across years associated with the Trump sociopolitical environment, using restricted-use birth records from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). To assess potential variation among subpopulations, we disaggregated the analyses by maternal nativity and country/region of origin. Our results indicate that both US- and foreign-born Latina mothers experienced increasingly higher risks of delivering low birthweight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) infants over the years associated with Trump's political career. Among foreign-born Latinas, adverse birth outcomes increased significantly among mothers from Mexico and Central America but not among mothers from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and South America. Levels of inadequate prenatal care utilization remained largely unchanged among groups who saw increases in LBW and PTB, suggesting that changes in prenatal care did not generally explain the observed worsening of birth outcomes among Latina mothers during the Trump era. Results from this study draw attention to the possibility that the Trump era may have represented a source of chronic stress among the Latinx population in the US and add to the growing body of literature linking racism and xenophobia in the sociopolitical environment to declines in health among Latinx people, especially among targeted groups from Mexico and Central America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Gutierrez
- Department of Public Policy, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Nathan T. Dollar
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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Wang S, Ding C, Dou C, Zhu Z, Zhang D, Yi Q, Wu H, Xie L, Zhu Z, Song D, Li H. Associations between maternal prenatal depression and neonatal behavior and brain function - Evidence from the functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 146:105896. [PMID: 36037574 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal prenatal depression is a significant public health issue associated with mental disorders of offspring. This study aimed to determine if maternal prenatal depressive symptoms are associated with changes in neonatal behaviors and brain function at the resting state. METHODS A total of 204 pregnant women were recruited during the third trimester and were evaluated by Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). The mother-infant pairs were divided into the depressed group (n = 75) and control group (n = 129) based on the EPDS, using a cut-off value of 10. Cortisol levels in the cord blood and maternal blood collected on admission for delivery were measured. On day three of life, all study newborns were evaluated by the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS) and 165 infants were evaluated by resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (rs-fNIRS). To minimize the influences of potential bias on the rs-fNIRS results, we used a binary logistic regression model to carry out propensity score matching between the depressed group and the control group. Rs-fNIRS data from 21 pairs of propensity score-matched newborns were used for analysis. The associations between maternal EPDS scores, neonatal NBAS scores, and cortisol levels were analyzed using linear regressions and the mediation analysis models. RESULTS Compared to the control group, the newborns in the depressed group had lower scores in the social-interaction and autonomic system dimensions of NBAS (P < 0.01). Maternal and umbilical cord plasma cortisol levels in the depressed group were higher (P < 0.01) than in the control group. However, only umbilical cord plasma cortisol played a negative mediating role in the relationship between maternal EPDS and NBAS in the social-interaction and autonomic system (β med = -0.054 [-0.115,-0.018] and -0.052 [-0.105,-0.019]. Proportional mediation was 13.57 % and 12.33 for social-interaction and autonomic systems, respectively. The newborns in the depressed group showed decreases in the strength of rs-fNIRS functional connections, primarily the connectivity of the left frontal-parietal and temporal-parietal regions. However, infants in the depressed and control groups showed no differences in topological characteristics of the brain network, including standardized clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, small-world property, global efficiency, and local efficiency (P > 0.05). The social-interaction Z-scores had positive correlations with functional connectivity strength of left prefrontal cortex-left parietal lobe (r = 0.57, p < 0.01),prefrontal cortex-left parietal lobe - left temporal lobe (r = 0.593, p < 0.01) and left parietal lobe - left temporal lobe (r = 0.498, p < 0.01). Autonomic system Z-scores were also significantly positive correlation with prefrontal cortex-left parietal lobe (r = 0.509, p < 0.01),prefrontal cortex-left parietal lobe - left temporal lobe (r = 0.464, p < 0.01), left parietal lobe - left temporal lobe (r = 0.381, p < 0.05), and right temporal lobe and left temporal lobe (r = 0.310, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study shows that maternal prenatal depression may affect the development of neonatal social-interaction and autonomic system and the strength of neonatal brain functional connectivity. The fetal cortisol may play a role in behavioral development in infants exposed to maternal prenatal depression. Our findings highlight the importance of prenatal screening for maternal depression and early postnatal behavioral evaluation that provide the opportunity for early diagnosis and intervention to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Wang
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Neonatology, the Affiliated Children Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenxi Ding
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chengyin Dou
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zeen Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiqi Yi
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haoyue Wu
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Longshan Xie
- Department of Functional Neuroscience, The First People's Hospital of Foshan (The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat -sen University), Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongliang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Maternal and Infant Health Research Institute and Medical College, Northwestern University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dongli Song
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Neonatology, the Affiliated Children Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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Maternal stress induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and impaired pancreatic islets’ insulin secretion via glucocorticoid receptor upregulation in adult male rat offspring. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12552. [PMID: 35869151 PMCID: PMC9307850 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16621-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to perinatal (prenatal and/or postnatal) stress is considered as a risk factor for metabolic disorders in later life. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the perinatal stress effects on the pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction, insulin secretion impairment and WFS1 (wolframin ER transmembrane Glycoprotein, which is involved in ER homeostasis and insulin secretion) expression changes, in rat offspring. According to the dams’ period of exposure to variable stress, their male offspring were divided into, control (CTRL); pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, lactation stress (PPPLS); pre-pregnancy stress (PPS); pregnancy stress (PS); lactation stress (LS); pre-pregnancy, pregnancy stress (PPPS); pregnancy, lactation stress (PLS); pre-pregnancy, lactation stress (PPLS) groups. Offspring pancreases were removed for ER extraction and the assessment of ER stress biomarkers, WFS1 gene DNA methylation, and isolated islets’ insulin secretion. Glucose tolerance was also tested. In the stressed groups, maternal stress significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels. In PPS, PS, and PPPS groups, maternal stress increased Bip (Hsp70; heat shock protein family A member 4), Chop (Ddit3; DNA- damage inducible transcript3), and WFS1 protein levels in pancreatic extracted ER. Moreover, the islets’ insulin secretion and content along with glucose tolerance were impaired in these groups. In PPS, PS, LS and PPPS groups, the pancreatic glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression increased. Maternal stress did not affect pancreatic WFS1 DNA methylation. Thus, maternal stress, during prenatal period, impaired the islets’ insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in adult male offspring, possibly through the induction of ER stress and GR expression in the pancreas, in this regard the role of WFS1 protein alteration in pancreatic ER should also be considered.
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Zhang X, Mao F, Li Y, Wang J, Wu L, Sun J, Cao F. Effects of a maternal mindfulness intervention targeting prenatal psychological distress on infants' meconium microbiota: A randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 145:105913. [PMID: 36081227 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychological distress could affect gut microbiota of the infant; however, previous studies to date have been observational. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) during pregnancy on the meconium microbiota of infants by alleviating maternal psychological distress. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. METHOD Pregnant women with symptoms of depression or anxiety were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 80), comprising usual perinatal care and six digitally guided self-help MBI sessions, or the control group (n = 80) who underwent usual perinatal care. Meconium was collected within 48 h of birth to evaluate the infant's gut microbiota. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, analysis of similarities, and DESeq2 were performed to explore the effects of the MBI on alpha and beta diversity indices and specific genera. RESULTS There were no significant differences between groups regarding the alpha diversity indices, including Chao1 and Simpson (p = 0.83 and p = 0.58). However, there was a significant between-group difference in the beta diversity index (R=0.02, p = 0.03). Bifidobacterium (log2 fold change=-1.90, FDR=0.002) and Blautia (log2 fold change=-1.45, FDR=0.01) were abundant in the intervention group, whereas Staphylococcus (log2 fold change=1.44, FDR=0.01) was abundant in the control group. CONCLUSIONS MBI aimed at alleviating maternal psychological distress can positively alter the meconium microbiota of infants. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal mindfulness during pregnancy on infant meconium microbiota require further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fangxiang Mao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Juan Wang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liuliu Wu
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiwei Sun
- School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Fenglin Cao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Bruinhof N, Vacaru SV, van den Heuvel MI, de Weerth C, Beijers R. Prenatal hair cortisol concentrations during the COVID-19 outbreak: Associations with maternal psychological stress and infant temperament. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105863. [PMID: 35868205 PMCID: PMC9270179 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy, including stress resulting from disasters and trauma, has been linked to temperamental difficulties in offspring. Although heightened cortisol concentrations are often hypothesized as an underlying mechanism, evidence supporting this mechanism is not consistent, potentially because of methodological issues and low stress in the population. AIM To address these issues, this preregistered study investigated the following associations between: 1) prenatal psychological stress and hair cortisol, as a biomarker for chronic stress, during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., as a major worldwide psychological stressor), and 2) maternal hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak and later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. Additionally, we explored whether associations were different for women with low versus high socioeconomic status (SES; maternal education and annual household income) and at different stages of pregnancy. METHOD Pregnant women (N = 100) filled out online questionnaires during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Six months later, when most mothers were still pregnant or had just given birth, maternal hair samples were collected during home visits. When infants were six months old, mothers reported on their infant's temperament. RESULTS Although hierarchical regression analyses revealed no associations between prenatal COVID-19 psychological stress and hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak, SES proved to be a moderator in this association. Only pregnant women with higher levels of SES, not lower levels, showed a positive association between work-related and social support-related COVID-19 worries and hair cortisol. Finally, prenatal hair cortisol was not associated with later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. CONCLUSION Although the COVID-19 outbreak proved to be a major psychological stressor worldwide, the physiological impact of the crisis might be different for pregnant women with higher SES as compared to lower SES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Bruinhof
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Stefania V. Vacaru
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands,Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Perinatal and early childhood biomarkers of psychosocial stress and adverse experiences. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:956-965. [PMID: 35091705 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-01933-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The human brain develops through a complex interplay of genetic and environmental influences. During critical periods of development, experiences shape brain architecture, often with long-lasting effects. If experiences are adverse, the effects may include the risk of mental and physical disease, whereas positive environments may increase the likelihood of healthy outcomes. Understanding how psychosocial stress and adverse experiences are embedded in biological systems and how we can identify markers of risk may lead to discovering new approaches to improve patient care and outcomes. Biomarkers can be used to identify specific intervention targets and at-risk children early when physiological system malleability increases the likelihood of intervention success. However, identifying reliable biomarkers has been challenging, particularly in the perinatal period and the first years of life, including in preterm infants. This review explores the landscape of psychosocial stress and adverse experience biomarkers. We highlight potential benefits and challenges of identifying risk clinically and different sub-signatures of stress, and in their ability to inform targeted interventions. Finally, we propose that the combination of preterm birth and adversity amplifies the risk for abnormal development and calls for a focus on this group of infants within the field of psychosocial stress and adverse experience biomarkers. IMPACT: Reviews the landscape of biomarkers of psychosocial stress and adverse experiences in the perinatal period and early childhood and highlights the potential benefits and challenges of their clinical utility in identifying risk status in children, and in developing targeted interventions. Explores associations between psychosocial stress and adverse experiences in childhood with prematurity and identifies potential areas of assessment and intervention to improve outcomes in this at-risk group.
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Sznajder KK, Teti DM, Kjerulff KH. Maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in offspring at 3 years: A prospective cohort study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272593. [PMID: 36170224 PMCID: PMC9518858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs during pregnancy globally. Recent studies have reported associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and neurobehavioral problems in children, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. Little research has investigated these associations in preschool-age children or the potential confounding effects of prenatal stress. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and offspring neurobehavioral problems at the age of 3 years, with a focus on the potentially confounding effects of prenatal stress. METHODS We used data from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, with 2,423 mother-child pairs. Women reported medication use and completed a prenatal stress inventory during their third trimester. Child behavioral problems were measured at the age of 3 years, using the 7 syndrome scale scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for ages 1 ½ to 5. RESULTS There were 1,011 women (41.7%) who reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy. Children who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy scored significantly higher on 3 of the 7 CBCL syndrome scales: withdrawn, sleep problems and attention problems. Scores on all 7 of the CBCL syndrome scales were significantly associated with prenatal stress. After adjustment for prenatal stress and other confounders, 2 syndrome scales remained significantly higher in children exposed to acetaminophen: sleep problems (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.51) and attention problems (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.45). CONCLUSIONS These findings corroborate previous studies reporting associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and attention problems in offspring and also show an association with sleep problems at age 3 years. Because use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is common, these results are of public health concern and suggest caution in the use of medications containing acetaminophen during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin K. Sznajder
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Douglas M. Teti
- Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kristen H. Kjerulff
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Tyborowska A, Gruber K, Beijers R, Kühn S, Roelofs K, de Weerth C. No evidence for association between late pregnancy maternal cortisol and gray matter volume in a healthy community sample of young adolescents. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:893847. [PMID: 36117621 PMCID: PMC9470950 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.893847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A compelling amount of animal and human research has shown that perceived maternal stress during pregnancy can affect the neurodevelopment of the offspring. Prenatal maternal cortisol is frequently proposed as the biological key mechanism underlying this link; however, literature that investigates the effects of prenatal cortisol on subsequent neurodevelopment in humans is scarce. By using longitudinal data from a relatively large community sample of mother-child dyads (N = 73), this pre-registered study prospectively examined the role of maternal prenatal cortisol concentrations on subsequent individual differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and hippocampal subfield volumes at the onset of puberty of the offspring (12 years of age). Two markers of cortisol, that is, evening cortisol and circadian decline over the day, were used as indicators of maternal physiological stress during the last trimester of pregnancy. The results indicate that prenatal maternal cortisol levels were not associated with GMV or hippocampal subfield volumes of the children. These findings suggest that late pregnancy maternal cortisol may not be related to the structural development of the offspring's brain, at least not in healthy community samples and at the onset of puberty. When examining the influence of prenatal stress on offspring neurodevelopment, future investigations should delineate gestational timing effects of the cortisol exposure, cortisol assessment method, and impact of additional biomarkers, as these were not investigated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tyborowska
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Katharina Gruber
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Simone Kühn
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Lin B, Appleton AA. Developmental Origins of Pregnancy-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Black U.S. Women. Front Public Health 2022; 10:853018. [PMID: 35769781 PMCID: PMC9234444 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.853018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the US, Black women are at disproportionate risk for pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality (PRMM). Disparities in PRMM have been tied to elevated rates of obstetric cardiometabolic complications for Black women. Research seeking to elucidate the determinants of Black PRMM to date have focused predominantly on risk factors occurring during pregnancy (e.g., health risk behaviors, quantity and quality of prenatal care, provider behaviors, and attitudes). Meanwhile, other research investigating the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) model indicates that the origins of adult cardiometabolic health can be traced back to stress exposures occurring during the intrauterine and early life periods. Despite the relevancy of this work to Black PRMM, the DOHaD model has never been applied to investigate the determinants of Black PRMM. We argue that the DOHaD model represents a compelling theoretical framework from which to conceptualize factors that drive racial disparities PRMM. Research and intervention working from a developmental origins orientation may help address this urgent public health crisis of Black PRMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Lin
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Betty Lin
| | - Allison A. Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States
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Mudra S, Göbel A, Möhler E, Stuhrmann LY, Schulte-Markwort M, Arck P, Hecher K, Diemert A. Behavioral Inhibition in the Second Year of Life Is Predicted by Prenatal Maternal Anxiety, Overprotective Parenting and Infant Temperament in Early Infancy. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:844291. [PMID: 35722567 PMCID: PMC9203734 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.844291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Behavioral inhibition, characterized by shyness, fear and avoidance of novel stimuli, has been linked with internalizing personality traits in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, and particularly later social anxiety disorder. Little is known about the relevance of potential prenatal precursors and early predictors for the development of inhibited behavior, such as infant vulnerability and family risk factors like parental anxiety and overprotection. Pregnancy-related anxiety has been associated with both infant temperament and maternal overprotective parenting. Thus, the aim of this study was investigating the predictive relevance of prenatal pregnancy-related anxiety for behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood, by considering the mediating role of maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty. Materials and Methods As part of a longitudinal pregnancy cohort, behavioral inhibition at 24 months postpartum was assessed in N = 170 mother-child pairs. Maternal pregnancy-related anxiety was examined in the third trimester of pregnancy, and maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty at 12 months postpartum. Results Mediation analysis with two parallel mediators showed that the significant direct effect of pregnancy-related anxiety on child behavioral inhibition was fully mediated by infant distress to novelty p < 0.001 and maternal overprotection (p < 0.05). The included variables explained 26% of variance in behavioral inhibition. A subsequent explorative mediation analysis with serial mediators further showed a significant positive association between distress to novelty and maternal overprotective parenting (p < 0.05). Conclusion Results indicate a predictive relevance of both infant and maternal factors for the development of behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood. Mothers who perceived more pregnancy-related anxiety showed more overprotective parenting and had infants with more distress to novelty. Further, mothers being more overprotective reported their child to be more inhibited in toddlerhood. Our findings also indicate the stability of reported infant distress to novelty as one aspect of later behavioral inhibition. Addressing specific forms of parental anxiety from pregnancy on and in interaction with child-related variables seems to be a promising approach for future studies and clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Mudra
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ariane Göbel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Möhler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Saarland University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lydia Yao Stuhrmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schulte-Markwort
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Arck
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kurt Hecher
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Diemert
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Determinants of adolescent sleep: Early family environment, obstetric factors, and emotion regulation. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2022.101420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084710. [PMID: 35457577 PMCID: PMC9029063 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on society, particularly affecting its vulnerable members, including pregnant women and their unborn children. Pregnant mothers reported fear of infection, fear of vertical transmission, fear of poor birth and child outcomes, social isolation, uncertainty about their partner's presence during medical appointments and delivery, increased domestic abuse, and other collateral damage, including vaccine hesitancy. Accordingly, pregnant women's known vulnerability for mental health problems has become a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, also because of the known effects of prenatal stress for the unborn child. The current narrative review provides a historical overview of transgenerational effects of exposure to disasters during pregnancy, and the role of maternal prenatal stress. We place these effects into the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hereby, we aim to draw attention to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women of reproductive age (15-49 year) and its potential associated short-term and long-term consequences for the health of children who are conceived, carried, and born during this pandemic. Timely detection and intervention during the first 1000 days is essential to reduce the burden of transgenerational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Oxytocin receptor genotype moderates the association between maternal prenatal stress and infant early self-regulation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 138:105669. [PMID: 35063684 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal prenatal stress may have long-term adverse consequences for child development. Accumulating evidence shows that the oxytocin-receptor genotype may play a role in differential susceptibility to early-life adversity, but no studies have examined whether this moderation extends to the prenatal stress exposures. METHODS In the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, a sample of 1173 mother-child dyads were examined. We studied the possible moderating effect of the cumulative effect of infant oxytocin-receptor risk genotypes (rs53576GG and rs2254298A) in the association between maternal prenatal stress, and infant negative reactivity and emerging self-regulation at 6 months of age. RESULTS The number of OTr risk genotypes moderated the association between maternal prenatal anxiety and infant self-regulation, implying a cumulative effect of genotype, although effects sizes were small. In infants with two risk genotypes, a negative association between prenatal anxiety and self-regulation was observed, whereas in infants with one or no risk genotypes, the association between maternal prenatal anxiety and temperament was non-significant. CONCLUSION Oxytocin-receptor genotype may moderate the association of maternal stress during pregnancy and child social-emotional development. Possible mechanisms for this moderation effect are discussed. Further studies with a more comprehensive polygenic approach are needed to confirm these results.
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Triplett RL, Lean RE, Parikh A, Miller JP, Alexopoulos D, Kaplan S, Meyer D, Adamson C, Smyser TA, Rogers CE, Barch DM, Warner B, Luby JL, Smyser CD. Association of Prenatal Exposure to Early-Life Adversity With Neonatal Brain Volumes at Birth. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e227045. [PMID: 35412624 PMCID: PMC9006107 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Exposure to early-life adversity alters the structural development of key brain regions underlying neurodevelopmental impairments. The association between prenatal exposure to adversity and brain structure at birth remains poorly understood. Objective To examine whether prenatal exposure to maternal social disadvantage and psychosocial stress is associated with neonatal global and regional brain volumes and cortical folding. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective, longitudinal cohort study included 399 mother-infant dyads of sociodemographically diverse mothers recruited in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy and their infants, who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging in the first weeks of life. Mothers were recruited from local obstetric clinics in St Louis, Missouri from September 1, 2017, to February 28, 2020. Exposures Maternal social disadvantage and psychosocial stress in pregnancy. Main Outcomes and Measures Confirmatory factor analyses were used to create latent constructs of maternal social disadvantage (income-to-needs ratio, Area Deprivation Index, Healthy Eating Index, educational level, and insurance status) and psychosocial stress (Perceived Stress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Everyday Discrimination Scale, and Stress and Adversity Inventory). Neonatal cortical and subcortical gray matter, white matter, cerebellum, hippocampus, and amygdala volumes were generated using semiautomated, age-specific, segmentation pipelines. Results A total of 280 mothers (mean [SD] age, 29.1 [5.3] years; 170 [60.7%] Black or African American, 100 [35.7%] White, and 10 [3.6%] other race or ethnicity) and their healthy, term-born infants (149 [53.2%] male; mean [SD] infant gestational age, 38.6 [1.0] weeks) were included in the analysis. After covariate adjustment and multiple comparisons correction, greater social disadvantage was associated with reduced cortical gray matter (unstandardized β = -2.0; 95% CI, -3.5 to -0.5; P = .01), subcortical gray matter (unstandardized β = -0.4; 95% CI, -0.7 to -0.2; P = .003), and white matter (unstandardized β = -5.5; 95% CI, -7.8 to -3.3; P < .001) volumes and cortical folding (unstandardized β = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.01; P < .001). Psychosocial stress showed no association with brain metrics. Although social disadvantage accounted for an additional 2.3% of the variance of the left hippocampus (unstandardized β = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01), 2.3% of the right hippocampus (unstandardized β = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01), 3.1% of the left amygdala (unstandardized β = -0.02; 95% CI, -0.03 to -0.01), and 2.9% of the right amygdala (unstandardized β = -0.02; 95% CI, -0.03 to -0.01), no regional effects were found after accounting for total brain volume. Conclusions and Relevance In this baseline assessment of an ongoing cohort study, prenatal social disadvantage was associated with global reductions in brain volumes and cortical folding at birth. No regional specificity for the hippocampus or amygdala was detected. Results highlight that associations between poverty and brain development begin in utero and are evident early in life. These findings emphasize that preventive interventions that support fetal brain development should address parental socioeconomic hardships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina L. Triplett
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Rachel E. Lean
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Amisha Parikh
- School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - J. Philip Miller
- Department of Biostatistics, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | | | - Sydney Kaplan
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Dominique Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Christopher Adamson
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children’s Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tara A. Smyser
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Cynthia E. Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Deanna M. Barch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Barbara Warner
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Joan L. Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Christopher D. Smyser
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
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Exposure to War Prior to Conception: Maternal Emotional Distress Forecasts Sex-Specific Child Behavior Problems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073802. [PMID: 35409484 PMCID: PMC8997367 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Exposure to maternal stress during the prenatal period adversely affects child outcomes. Recent investigations have shifted to an even earlier period, the preconception period, to better understand the role of this formative period in human health and disease. We investigated the links between maternal emotional distress following preconception exposure to war, and child outcomes at age 10. Material and Methods: Before becoming pregnant, mothers were exposed to missile bombardment on the north of Israel in the 2006 war. Mothers who conceived within 12 months after the war were recruited and compared to mothers who conceived during the same period but lived in Israel but outside missile range. During the initial assessment, mothers completed a questionnaire on emotional distress. At 10 years of age, mothers and children (N = 68) reported on child socio-emotional outcomes. Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that, in girls, higher maternal emotional distress following preconception war exposure predicted more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and more behavior regulation problems. In boys, maternal emotional distress was not significantly related to outcomes. Conclusion: Maternal emotional distress following preconception exposure to war forecasts sex-specific child behavioral problems as reported by the mother and the child. Though the results warrant cautious interpretation because of the relatively small sample size and differential attrition, our findings add to the small but growing body of research on the consequences of maternal stress exposure prior to conception for the next generation.
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LoBue V, Ogren M. How the Emotional Environment Shapes the Emotional Life of the Child. POLICY INSIGHTS FROM THE BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES 2022; 9:137-144. [PMID: 36059861 PMCID: PMC9435752 DOI: 10.1177/23727322211067264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Emotion understanding facilitates the development of healthy social interactions. To develop emotion knowledge, infants and young children must learn to make inferences about people's dynamically changing facial and vocal expressions in the context of their everyday lives. Given that emotional information varies so widely, the emotional input that children receive might particularly shape their emotion understanding over time. This review explores how variation in children's received emotional input shapes their emotion understanding and their emotional behavior over the course of development. Variation in emotional input from caregivers shapes individual differences in infants' emotion perception and understanding, as well as older children's emotional behavior. Finally, this work can inform policy and focus interventions designed to help infants and young children with social-emotional development.
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