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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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Volqvartz T, Andersen HHB, Pedersen LH, Larsen A. Obesity in pregnancy-Long-term effects on offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and associations with placental cortisol metabolism: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:4393-4422. [PMID: 37974556 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16184] [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: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Obesity, affecting one in three pregnant women worldwide, is not only a major obstetric risk factor. The resulting low-grade inflammation may have a long-term impact on the offspring's HPA axis through dysregulation of maternal, placental and fetal corticosteroid metabolism, and children born of obese mothers have increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The long-term effects of maternal obesity on offspring neurodevelopment are, however, undetermined and could depend on the specific effects on placental and fetal cortisol metabolism. This systematic review evaluates how maternal obesity affects placental cortisol metabolism and the offspring's HPA axis. Pubmed, Embase and Scopus were searched for original studies on maternal BMI, obesity, and cortisol metabolism and transfer. Fifteen studies were included after the screening of 4556 identified records. Studies were small with heterogeneous exposures and outcomes. Two studies found that maternal obesity reduced placental HSD11β2 activity. In one study, umbilical cord blood cortisol levels were affected by maternal BMI. In three studies, an altered cortisol response was consistently seen among offspring in childhood (n = 2) or adulthood (n = 1). Maternal BMI was not associated with placental HSD11β1 or HSD11β2 mRNA expression, or placental HSD11β2 methylation. In conclusion, high maternal BMI is associated with reduced placental HSD11β2 activity and a dampened cortisol level among offspring, but the data is sparse. Further investigations are needed to clarify whether the HPA axis is affected by prenatal factors including maternal obesity and investigate if adverse effects can be ameliorated by optimising the intrauterine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabia Volqvartz
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Lars Henning Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Agnete Larsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Mbiydzenyuy NE, Hemmings SMJ, Qulu L. Prenatal maternal stress and offspring aggressive behavior: Intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:977416. [PMID: 36212196 PMCID: PMC9539686 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.977416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though studies have shown that prenatal maternal stress is associated with increased reactivity of the HPA axis, the association between prenatal maternal stress and fetal glucocorticoid exposure is complex and most likely dependent on unidentified and poorly understood variables including nature and timing of prenatal insults. The precise mechanisms in which prenatal maternal stress influence neuroendocrine signaling between the maternal-placental-fetal interface are still unclear. The aim of this review article is to bring comprehensive basic concepts about prenatal maternal stress and mechanisms of transmission of maternal stress to the fetus. This review covers recent studies showing associations between maternal stress and alterations in offspring aggressive behavior, as well as the possible pathways for the “transmission” of maternal stress to the fetus: (1) maternal-fetal HPA axis dysregulation; (2) intrauterine environment disruption due to variations in uterine artery flow; (3) epigenetic modifications of genes implicated in aggressive behavior. Here, we present evidence for the phenomenon of intergenerational and transgenerational transmission, to better understands the mechanism(s) of transmission from parent to offspring. We discuss studies showing associations between maternal stress and alterations in offspring taking note of neuroendocrine, brain architecture and epigenetic changes that may suggest risk for aggressive behavior. We highlight animal and human studies that focus on intergenerational transmission following exposure to stress from a biological mechanistic point of view, and maternal stress-induced epigenetic modifications that have potential to impact on aggressive behavior in later generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy
- Department of Basic Science, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy,
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lihle Qulu
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Aoki M, Urakami T, Nagano N, Aoki R, Morioka I. Association of Plasma Cortisol Levels with Gestational Age and Anthropometric Values at Birth in Preterm Infants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11448. [PMID: 36141720 PMCID: PMC9517663 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There are no study reports to clarify the association between gestational age (GA) or anthropometric values at birth, and plasma cortisol levels in the blood of preterm infants at birth and at one month of age. This hospital-based retrospective cohort study included infants born at <37 weeks' gestation between 2019 and 2021. First, the association between plasma cortisol level and GA or anthropometric values at birth (birth weight standard deviation score [SDS], birth length SDS, and birth head circumference SDS) was identified by regression and multiple regression analyses. Second, plasma cortisol levels in the umbilical cord at birth and at one month of age were compared between small-for-gestational age (SGA) and non-SGA infants. Sixty-one preterm infants were enrolled (SGA: 24 and non-SGA: 37). Plasma cortisol levels at birth were significantly associated with GA. Plasma cortisol levels at one month of age were associated with GA and birth head circumference SDS. Plasma cortisol levels at birth were significantly higher in SGA than non-SGA (p = 0.010). GA was an independent determinant of plasma cortisol levels at birth. SGA infants had a high plasma cortisol level at birth; resulting in speculation that a high plasma cortisol level at birth may predict abnormal neurological outcomes.
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Liu X, Zheng T, Xu YJ, Yang MN, Wang WJ, Huang R, Zhang GH, Guo YN, Zhang J, Ouyang F, Li F, Luo ZC. Sex Dimorphic Associations of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Cord Plasma Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 and Estradiol. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:740902. [PMID: 34621244 PMCID: PMC8490798 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.740902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been associated with insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) impairs fetal insulin sensitivity. Female newborns are more insulin resistant than male newborns. We sought to evaluate the association between GDM and cord blood FABP4, and explore potential sex dimorphic associations and the roles of sex hormones. This was a nested case-control study in the Shanghai Birth Cohort, including 153 pairs of newborns in GDM vs. euglycemic pregnancies matched by infant sex and gestational age at delivery. Cord plasma FABP4, leptin, total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin, testosterone and estradiol concentrations were measured. Adjusting for maternal and neonatal characteristics, cord plasma FABP4 (Mean ± SD: 27.0 ± 19.6 vs. 18.8 ± 9.6 ng/mL, P=0.045) and estradiol (52.0 ± 28.6 vs. 44.2 ± 26.6, ng/mL, P=0.005) concentrations were higher comparing GDM vs. euglycemic pregnancies in males, but similar in females (all P>0.5). Mediation analyses showed that the positive association between GDM and cord plasma FABP4 in males could be partly mediated by estradiol (P=0.03), but not by testosterone (P=0.72). Cord plasma FABP4 was positively correlated with total adiponectin in females (r=0.17, P=0.053), but the correlation was in the opposite direction in males (r=-0.11, P=0.16) (test for difference in r, P=0.02). Cord plasma FABP4 was not correlated with leptin in both sexes. The study is the first to demonstrate sex-dimorphic associations between GDM and cord plasma FABP4 or estradiol, and between FABP4 and adiponectin in newborns. GDM may affect fetal circulating FABP4 and estradiol levels in males only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tao Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Jie Xu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng-Nan Yang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Juan Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Guang-Hui Zhang
- Department of Clinical Assay Laboratory, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Na Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengxiu Ouyang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Li
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Brain and Behavioral Research Unit, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Zhong-Cheng Luo, ; Fei Li,
| | - Zhong-Cheng Luo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric & Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Zhong-Cheng Luo, ; Fei Li,
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Daylight Saving Time and Spontaneous Deliveries: A Case-Control Study in Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17218091. [PMID: 33153052 PMCID: PMC7662372 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Although the current literature shows that daylight saving time (DST) may play a role in human health and behavior, this topic has been poorly investigated with reference to Obstetrics. The aim of this case–control study was to evaluate whether DST may influence the number of spontaneous deliveries. (2) Methods: A low-risk pregnancy cohort with spontaneous onset of labor (n = 7415) was analyzed from a single Italian region for the period 2016–2018. Primary outcome was the number of spontaneous deliveries. Secondary outcomes were: gestational age at delivery, type and time of delivery, use of analgesia, birth weight, and 5-min Apgar at delivery. We compared the outcomes in the two weeks after DST (cases) to the two weeks before DST (controls). (3) Results: Data showed no significant difference between the number of deliveries occurring before and after DST (Chi-square = 0.546, p = 0.46). Vaginal deliveries at any gestational age showed no statistical difference between the two groups (Chi-square = 0.120, p = 0.73). There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes, as well. (4) Conclusions: DST has neither a significant impact on the number of deliveries nor on the obstetric variables investigated by this study.
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Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak A, Szymański JK, Ciebiera M, Sarecka-Hujar B, Jakiel G. Pediatrics Consequences of Caesarean Section-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E8031. [PMID: 33142727 PMCID: PMC7662709 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cesarean section is a surgical procedure, which is the most frequently performed in gynecology and obstetrics. It is commonly believed that an operative delivery is a less painful and safer mode of delivery, which translates into an increasing number of the procedures performed without medical indications. The maternal sequelae of cesarean sections are well elucidated and widely discussed in the literature, while long-term neonatal consequences still remain the issue of research and scientific dispute. The aim of the present paper was to perform a systematic review of current literature regarding pediatrics consequences of cesarean section. METHODS We reviewed available data from PubMed, Science Direct as well as Google Scholar bases concerning early and long-term neonatal sequelae of operative deliveries. The following key words were used: "cesarean section", "caesarean section", "neonatal outcomes", "respiratory disorders", "asthma", "obesity", "overweight", and "neurological disorders". A total of 1636 papers were retrieved out of which 27 were selected for the final systematic review whereas 16 articles provided data for meta-analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4. To determine the strength of association between the caesarean section and respiratory tract infections, asthma, diabetes type 1 as well as obesity the pooled odds ratios (OR) with the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS Conducted meta-analyses revealed that caesarean section is a risk factor for respiratory tract infections (pooled OR = 1.30 95%CI 1.06-1.60, p = 0.001), asthma (pooled OR = 1.23 95%CI 1.14-1.33, p < 0.00001) as well as obesity (pooled OR = 1.35 95%CI 1.29-1.41, p < 0.00001) in offspring. CONCLUSIONS The results of the studies included indicated that children delivered by cesarean section more commonly developed respiratory tract infections, obesity and the manifestations of asthma than children delivered vaginally. The risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 1 or neurological disorders in offspring after caesarean section is still under discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Żelazna 90 Street, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.S.); (G.J.)
| | - Jacek Krzysztof Szymański
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Żelazna 90 Street, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.S.); (G.J.)
| | - Michał Ciebiera
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Cegłowska 80 Street, 01-809 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Beata Sarecka-Hujar
- Department of Basic Biomedical Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Kasztanowa 3 Street, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
| | - Grzegorz Jakiel
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Żelazna 90 Street, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.S.); (G.J.)
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