Evidence supporting the relationship between maternal asthma and risk for autism spectrum disorders

During pregnancy,maternal immune activation(MIA),due to infection,chronic inflammatory disorders,or toxic exposures,can result in lasting health impacts on the developing fetus.MIA has been associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders,such as autism spectrum disorder(ASD)in the offspring.ASD is characterized by increased repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and decreased sociability.As of 2020,1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD by the age of 8 years,with ASD rates continuing to increase in prevalence in USA(Tamayo et al.,2023).Post-mortem brain studies,biomarker and transcriptomic studies,and epidemiology studies have provided compelling evidence of immune dysregulation in the circulation and brain of individuals diagnosed with ASD.Currently,the etiology of ASD is largely unknown,however,genetic components and environmental factors can contribute to increased susceptibility.Maternal allergic asthma(MAA),a form of MIA,has been identified as a potential risk factor for developing neurodevelopmental disorders(Patel et al.,2020).Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition driven by a T-helper type(TH)2 immune response.

Changes in sexual activity in young women during pregnancy

Objective:To conduct changes in sexual activity during pregnancy and its related factors in pregnant women.Methods:The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on pregnant women who referred to the women's clinic of Afzalipour Hospital in the southeast of Iran.Participants were included in the study through convenient sampling.The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of two parts of personal social information of the couple and questions to measure the level of sexual activity and the attitude of the subjects during pregnancy compared to before pregnancy.Results:201 Pregnant women were included.The average age of pregnant women was(27.3±6.1)years and their average gestational age was(24.7±11.8)years.More than 62%of women had decreased sexual activity.There was a significant relationship between the amount of changes in sexual activity and delivery time(P=0.013),abortion history(P=0.001)and premature birth history(P=0.002).Most pregnant women believed that sex during pregnancy caused damage to the fetus(67.7%).A decrease in the intensity of sexual desire was reported in 63%of pregnant women.More than 60%of the subjects did not consult with doctors and midwives with regards to sexual issues(63.5%).The most common reason for not consulting was not feeling the need(32%).Most women experienced back pain during(42.8%)and after(39.8%)intercourse.Conclusions:Changes in sex life during pregnancy are often caused by the lack of sexual knowledge and the increase in misconceptions among couples,which can affect the quality of relationships.The role of education is essential.Therefore,it is suggested that by including sexual counseling along with pregnancy care,wrong beliefs and information among women will be corrected.

Ultrasound blood flow characteristics changes in fetal umbilical artery thrombosis:A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND Umbilical artery thrombosis(UAT)is extremely uncommon and leads to adverse perinatal outcomes.Hypercoagulation of blood in pregnant women is suspected to be an important risk for UAT.Ultrasound is an effective way to detect thrombosis.The mother can monitor her own fetal health using ultrasound,which enables her to take preventative action in case of emergency.AIM To investigate ultrasonic blood signal after UAT in the umbilical artery,and evaluate the relationship between hypercoagulability and UAT.METHODS We described a case of a newly formed UAT with markedly altered ultrasonic indices of umbilical artery blood flow,and retrospectively studied it with 18 UAT patients confirmed by histopathology from October 2019 and March 2023 in Xiamen Women and Children's Hospital.Patients’information was collected from medical archives,including maternal clinical data,neonatal outcomes,pathological findings and ultrasonic indices of umbilical artery blood flow,such as systolic-diastolic duration ratio(S/D),resistance index(RI),pulsatility index(PI)and peak systolic velocity(PSV).Ultrasound and coagulation indices were analyzed with matched samples t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test using the statistical packages in R(version 4.2.1)including car(version 3.1-0)and stats(version 4.2.1),and visualized by ggplot2 package(version 3.3.6).RESULTS A patient with normal findings in second and third-trimester routine ultrasound scan developed UAT with severe changes in ultrasonic indices of umbilical artery blood flow(within 2.5th of reference ranges)in a short period of time.Statistical analysis of umbilical artery blood flow ultrasound indices for 19 patients with UAT showed that the decrease in S/D,RI,and PI and increase of PSV during the disease process was greater than that of non-UAT.All 18 patients delivered in our hospital showed characteristic manifestations of UAT on histological examination after delivery,most of which(16/18)showed umbilical cord abnormalities,with 15 umbilical cord torsion and 1 pseudoknot.Coagulation parameters were not significantly changed in UAT patients compared with normal pregnancy women.CONCLUSION Significant changes in ultrasound indicators after UAT were demonstrated.PSV can play important roles in the diagnosis of UAT.Hypercoagulability alone is not sufficient for the occurrence of UAT.

Assessment of Awareness and Understanding of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn in the Beninese Population

Background: Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) arises from blood group incompatibility, especially the RhD antigen. In Benin, systematic ABO RhD blood grouping is poorly understood by many midwives and nurses. Nearly one in ten women risk having children with HDFN. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of the Beninese population on HDFN. Methods: Data were collected from June 2023 to March 2024. Participants completed a Kobotoolbox questionnaire on WhatsApp, with in-person assistance for illiterate participants. The study involved 521 participants from across Benin. Data were analyzed using SigmaPlot version 14.0. Results: Among the 521 participants, 298 were women (57.20%) aged 18 to 77 years. The majority (40.69%) were aged 26 - 35. Over a third (35.51%) did not know their RhD blood group. Most (59.12%) were unaware of the risks for RhD discordant couples. Among those with a partner, 25.16% were in at-risk couples for HDFN, and over half (59.12%) were unaware of this risk. There was no significant association between being in a high-risk union and knowledge of the risk or education level. Conclusion: Only 40.88% of the Beninese population are aware of HDFN, indicating a low level of knowledge.

参考文献著录说明及格式示例

[期刊][1]张漫,顾宪红.陈小秋,等我国普药行业现状概述[J].中国猪业,2012.7(5):57-9.[2]Tembly G F.Mare J J.Dofour J J,et al.Srvival rale and development of fetuses during the first 30 days of gestation after folic acid addition to a swine diet[J].Journal of Animal Science,1989,67(3):724-732.

胎儿弯杆菌病TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

为建立胎儿弯杆菌(C.fetus)定量检测方法,本研究根据C.fetus毒力因子表面蛋白(SapA)的基因序列设计引物和一条特异的TaqMan水解探针,建立了一种敏感、特异、重复性好的快速检测C.fetus的TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法。对该方法的特异性与敏感性研究,结果显示,该方法检测C.fetus结果均为阳性,而非C.fetus均为阴性;对带有SapA基因的阳性质粒的检测敏感性为108拷贝～102拷贝/μL范围内具有良好的线性关系,可敏感地检测到模板中13个拷贝的细菌DNA,其灵敏度是常规PCR方法的100倍。该方法具有简便、快速、特异性强、敏感性高等特点。该方法为C.fetus快速检测试剂盒的研制打下了良好的基础。

人胎视皮质皮质下层NPY－IR神经元的发育

本文用免疫组化方法研究了１６周至足月人胎视皮质皮质下层ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元的发育。各胎龄视皮质ＳＰ层内均有ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元分布。从１６周至２６周，ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元密度逐渐增高并于２６周达高峰；３２周以后阳性神经元密度随胎龄增长而下降。人胎视皮质ＳＰ层ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元形态也随胎龄而变化；２０周以前，ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元大多是胞体较小，突起短而少的未分化神经元、ＳＰ层内ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ纤维少。２０周以后，ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元胞体增大，突起增多、变长；多极和双极、双簇神经元随胎龄增长而增多；ＳＰ层内的ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ纤维大量增加，部分纤维穿入皮质板。３２周以后，多极ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元逐渐减少，双极双簇神经元所占比例相对增高。ＮＰＹ免疫组化结合ＮＡＤＰＨ－ｄ组化显示人胎视皮质ＳＰ层大多数ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元同时呈ＮＯＳ阳性。本研究观察到人胎视皮质ＳＰ层内ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ神经元发育可分为发生、成熟和退化三个阶段。

Nestin-positive progenitor cells isolated from human fetal pancreas have phenotypic markers identical to mesenchymal stem cells

AIM: To isolate nestin-positive progenitor cells from human fetal pancreas and to detect their surface markers and their capability of proliferation and differentiation into pancreatic islet endocrine cells in vitro.METHODS: Islet-like cell clusters (ICCs) were isolated from human fetal pancreas by using collagenase digestion. The free-floating ICCs were handpicked and cultured in a new dish. After the ICCs developed into monolayer epithelium-like cells, they were passaged and induced for differentiation. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence stain, fluorescenceactivated cell sorting (FACS) and radioimmunoassay (RIA)were used to detect the expression of cell markers. RESULTS: (1) The monolayer epithelium-like cells had highly proliferative potential and could be passaged more than 16 timesin vitro; (2) RT-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence stain showed that these cells expressed both nestin and ABCG2, two of stem cellmarkers; (3) FACS analysis revealed that CD44, CD90and CD147 were positive, whereas CD34, CD38, CD45, CD71, CD117, CD133 and HLA-DR were negative on the nestin-positive cells; (4) RT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression of insulin, glucagon and pancreaticduodenal homeobox gene-1 was detected, whereas the expression of nestin and neurogenin 3 disappeared in these cells treated with serum-free media supplemented with the cocktail of growth factors. Furthermore, the intracellular insulin content was detected by RIA after the induction culture.CONCLUSION: Nestin-positive cells isolated from human fetal pancreas possess the characteristics of pancreatic progenitor cells since they have highly proliferative potential and the capability of differentiation into insulinproducing cells in vitro. Interestingly, the nestin-positive pancreatic progenitor cells share many phenotypic markers with mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital fetal heart abnormalities and clinical analysis

Objective: To study the value of detecting fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) using the five transverse planes technique of fetal echocardiography. Methods: Nine hundred and eighty-two high-risk pregnancies for fetal CHD were included in this study, the fetal heart was scanned with the five transverse planes technique of fetal echocardiography described by Yagel, autopsy was conducted when pregnancy was terminated. Blood from fetal heart was collected for fetal chromosome analysis. A close follow-up was given for normal fetal heart pregnancies and neonatal echocardiography was performed to check the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis. Results: (1) Forty-six cases (4.68%) were found to have fetal heart abnormalities in this study, 69.56% of them were diagnosed by single four-chamber view, another 30.43% fetal CHD were found by combining other views; (2) Forty-one parents of prenatal fetuses with CHD chose to terminate pregnancy, thirty-two of them gave consent to conduct autopsy, 93.75% of which yielded unanimous conclusion between prenatal fetal echocardiography and autopsy; (3) Thirty-two of 46 cases underwent fetal chromosome analysis, 8 cases (25%) were found to have abnormal chromosome; (4) Five cases were found to have right ventricle and atrium a little bigger than those on the left side, with the unequal condition being the same after birth, but there were no clinical manifestations and they are healthy for the time being; (5) Nine hundred and thirty-six cases were not found with abnormality in this study, but one case was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect after birth, one case was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus, one case had atrial septal defect after birth. Conclusions: (1) The detected CHD rate was 4.68% by screening fetal heart with five transverse planes according to Yagel’s description of high risk population basis for CHD. The coinciding rate of prenatal diagnosis and autopsy was 93.75%; (2) The sensitivity of detecting fetal heart abnormality is 92%, the specificity is 99.6% using the five transverse planes technique of fetal echocardiography; (3) Fetuses with mild or moderate disproportion of right and left side in the heart are potentially healthy babies.

Cardiovascular Cast Model Fabrication and Casting Effectiveness Evaluation in Fetus with Severe Congenital Heart Disease or Normal Heart

To investigate the application and effectiveness of vascular corrosion technique in preparing fetal cardiovascular cast models, 10 normal fetal heart specimens with other congenital disease（control group） and 18 specimens with severe congenital heart disease（case group） from induced abortions were enrolled in this study from March 2013 to June 2015 in our hospital. Cast models were prepared by injecting casting material into vascular lumen to demonstrate real geometries of fetal cardiovascular system. Casting effectiveness was analyzed in terms of local anatomic structures and different anatomical levels（including overall level, atrioventricular and great vascular system, left-sided and right-sided heart）, as well as different trimesters of pregnancy. In our study, all specimens were successfully casted. Casting effectiveness analysis of local anatomic structures showed a mean score from 1.90±1.45 to 3.60±0.52, without significant differences between case and control groups in most local anatomic structures except left ventricle, which had a higher score in control group（P=0.027）. Inter-group comparison of casting effectiveness in different anatomical levels showed no significant differences between the two groups. Intra-group comparison also revealed undifferentiated casting effectiveness between atrioventricular and great vascular system, or left-sided and right-sided heart in corresponding group. Third-trimester group had a significantly higher perfusion score in great vascular system than second-trimester group（P=0.046）, while the other anatomical levels displayed no such difference. Vascular corrosion technique can be successfully used in fabrication of fetal cardiovascular cast model. It is also a reliable method to demonstrate three-dimensional anatomy of severe congenital heart disease and normal heart in fetus.

Fetal stem cell transplantation: Past, present, and future

Since 1928, human fetal tissues and stem cells have been used worldwide to treat various conditions. Although the transplantation of the fetal midbrain substantia nigra and dopaminergic neurons in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease is particularly noteworthy, the history of other types of grafts, such as those of the fetal liver, thymus, and pancreas, should be addressed as there are many lessons to be learnt for future stem cell transplantation. This report describes previous practices and complications that led to current clinical trials of isolated fetal stem cells and embryonic stem(ES) cells. Moreover, strategies for transplantation are considered, with a particular focus on donor cells, cell processing, and the therapeutic cell niche, in addition to ethical issues associated with fetal origin. With the advent of autologous induced pluripotent stem cells and ES cells, clinical dependence on fetal transplantation is expected to gradually decline due to lasting ethical controversies, despite landmark achievements.

Maternal zinc deficiency impairs brain nestin expression in prenatal and postnatal mice

Effects of maternal dietary zinc deficiency on prenatal and postnatal brain development were investigated in ICR strain mice. From d 1 of pregnancy (E0) until postnatal d 20 (P20), maternal mice were fed experimental diets that contained 1 mg Zn/kg/day (severe zinc deficient, SZD), 5 mg Zn/kg/day (marginal zinc deficient, MZD), 30 mg Zn/kg/day (zinc adequately supplied, ZA) or 100 mg Zn/kg/day (zinc supplemented, ZS and pair-fed, PF). Brains of offspring from these dietary groups were examined at various developmental stages for expression of nestin, an intermediate filament protein found in neural stem cells and young neurons. Immunocytochemistry showed nestin expression in neural tube 10.5 d post citrus (dpc) as well as in the cerebral cortex and neural tube from 10.5 dpc to postnatal d 10 (P10). Nestin immunoreactivities in both brain and neural tube of those zinc-supplemented control groups (ZA, ZS, PF) were stronger than those in zinc-deficient groups (SZD and MZD). Western blot analysis confirmed that nestin levels in pooled brain extracts from each of the zinc-supplemented groups (ZA, ZS, PF) were much higher than those from the zinc-deficient groups (SZD and MZD) from 10.5 dpc to P10. Immunostaining and Western blots showed no detectable nestin in any of the experimental and control group brains after P20. These observations of an association between maternal zinc deficiency and decreased nestin protein levels in brains of offspring suggest that zinc deficiency suppresses development of neural stem cells, an effect which may lead to neuroanatomical and behavioral abnormalities in adults.

人胎脊髓胸段一氧化氮合酶阳性神经元发育的研究

人胎脊髓胸段一氧化氮合酶阳性神经元发育的研究神经生物学研究室雷德亮，卢大华，刘丹，周丙林，陈二云，严小新，罗学港，刘忠浩提要取１２例妊娠１５１３６周胎儿脊髓胸段标本，用还原型辅酶Ⅱ组化方法观察含一氧化氨合酶（ＮＯＳ）神经元的发育，并用体视学方法对其数...

Could serotonin play a role in abnormal brain outcomes in fetal growth restriction?

Fetal growth restriction(FGR)describes a fetus that has not grown to its expected biological potential in utero.FGR can result from maternal,fetal,or placental complications,though it is commonly caused by placental insufficiency.The prolonged hypoxic environment the FGR fetus is exposed to has detrimental effects on the newborn,which extends to adverse long-term neurological outcomes in a significant proportion of FGR infants(Malhotra et al.,2019).Unfortunately,there are currently no therapies to reduce the adverse neurological outcomes in FGR.Neuronal injury is evident in the FGR brain,and therefore understanding which neurons are lost and how they are lost will aid in the selection of treatment options for FGR.

Blood Lead Dynamics of Lead-Exposed Pregnant Women and Its Effects on Fetus Development

The dynamics of blood lead (Pb-B) and blood zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP-B) of women in early pregnancy and parturient women with lead exposure and the effects on fetus development were investigated. Pb-B of lead-exposed women was high: 0.984 μmol/L (20.38 μg/dl) and ZPP was 84.52μg/dl. Cord blood Pb-B was 0.896 μmol/L(18.56μg/dl)and cord blood ZPP was 69.24μg/dl. In the control group, Pb-B was 0.261μmol/L(5.41μg/dl), ZPP-B, 37.59 μg/dl, cord blood, Pb-B 0.34 μmol/L (7.93 μg/dl), and cord ZPP-B 49.0μg/dl. There was a significant correlation between blood lead and blood ZPP, maternal Pb-B and cord Pb-B, maternal Pb-B and cord ZPP-B. The significance of the consistency of high level Pb-B and the effects on fetus development is discussed.

Growing and aging of hematopoietic stem cells

In the hematopoietic system, a small number of stem cells produce a progeny ofseveral distinct lineages. During ontogeny, they arise in the aorta-gonadmesonephrosregion of the embryo and the placenta, afterwards colonise the liverand finally the bone marrow. After this fetal phase of rapid expansion, thenumber of hematopoietic stem cells continues to grow, in order to sustain theincreasing blood volume of the developing newborn, and eventually reaches asteady-state. The kinetics of this growth are mirrored by the rates of telomereshortening in leukocytes. During adulthood, hematopoietic stem cells undergo avery small number of cell divisions. Nonetheless, they are subjected to aging,eventually reducing their potential to produce differentiated progeny. The causalrelationships between telomere shortening, DNA damage, epigenetic changes,and aging have still to be elucidated.

Fetal brain tumors:Prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging

Congenital central nervous system tumors diagnosed during pregnancy are rare, and often have a poor prognosis. The most frequent type is the teratoma. Use of ultrasound and magnetic resonance image allows the suspicion of brain tumors during pregnancy. However, the definitive diagnosis is only confirmed after birth by histology. The purpose of this mini-review article is to describe the general clinical aspects of intracranial tumors and describe the main fetal brain tumors.

Prognosis of 591 Fetuses with Ultrasonic Soft Markers during Mid-Term Pregnancy

The present study aimed to examine the value of ultrasonic soft markers in prenatal screening by analyzing the clinical outcome of fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers during the second trimester of pregnancy. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the outcome of 591 fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers from January 2015 to August 2016 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, China. It was found that 591 fetuses showed ultrasonic soft markers in 4927 cases with the occurrence rate being 12.0%. Among them, 564 fetuses（95.4%） were delivered and the remaining 27 cases（4.6%） were aborted. Five hundred and sixty-seven cases had single ultrasonic soft marker, including echogenic intracardiac focus（n=343）, mild renal pelvis dilatation（n=116）, short long bones（n=72）, single umbilical artery（n=31）, mild lateral ventriculomegaly（n=21）, choroid plexus cysts（n=19）, and echogenic bowel（n=13）, with the disappearing rates in pregnancy being 97.1%（333/343）, 77.6%（90/116）, 0%（0/72）, 0%（0/31）, 57.1%（12/21）, 89.5%（17/19） and 61.5%（8/13） respectively. The rate of pregnancy termination due to single ultrasonic soft marker was 3.4%（19/567）, and that was 33.3%（8/24） due to two ultrasonic soft markers with the difference being statistically significant（P〈0.05）. The reasons of pregnancy termination included malformations（polycystic kidney, cleft lip and palate, congenital heart diseases, pcromphalus, hypospadias, hydrocephalus）, chromosome abnormality, and stillbirth. It was concluded that single ultrasonic soft marker is usually transient manifestation in pregnancy. Without the other structural defects, single ultrasonic soft marker usually disappears spontaneously with favorable prognosis in a low-risk population. It is suggested that ultrasonic soft markers should be appropriately interpreted to avoid unnecessary invasive examination.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON CORRECTING MALPOSITION OF FETUS BY ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE

Forty-eight cases of malposition of fetus were treated by electro-acupuncture, using Zhiyin (UB 67) points. 39 cases were corrected with a rate of 81.3%, the average session of treatment being 1.41. Two control groups were set up: moxibustion and blank control group. Statistical analysis shows that efficacy of electro-acupuncture is markedly superior to that of the blank. Sessions of electro-acupuncture were less than that of moxibustion and the difference was statistically significant, though there is no significant difference of efficacy between the two groups.

Study of concentration of amniotic fluid Alpha-fetal protein in thalassemia fetus

Objective:To test the hypothesis that concentration of amniotic fluid alpha-fetal protein(AFAFP) is increased in thalassemia fetus.Methods:A total of 135 cases of amniocentesis admitted from July 2013 to December 2014 were included in this study.Among them 98 cases of normal fetuses were assigned into control group and 37 cases of thalassemia fetus were included as thalassemia fetus group.Alpha-fetoprotein levels detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and the alpha-fetoprotein concentration were compared between the two groups.There is no significant difference in gestrational age between the two groups.Results:1.AFP concentration in thalassemia fetus group was significantly higher than that of normal control group [(1541.65±734.78) μg/mL vs.(2728.84± 1539.97) μg/mL ],and amniotic fluid AFP concentration was related to fetal thalassemia.2.AFAFP concentration in pureα-thalassemia fetus was higher than that of β thalassemia fetus or mixed αand was not significant.Conclusions:Concentration of a β thalassemia fetus,but the difference mniotic fluid alpha-fetal protein is increased in thalassemia fetus.AFP concentration inα-thalassemia fetus was higher than that of β thalassemia or mixed αand lore β thalassemia fetus but difference was not significance.Further studies are needed to exp the possible correlation between Down syndrome and biochemical markers of Thalassemia.