circRNA landscape of non-pregnant endometrium during the estrus cycle in dairy goats

Endometrial development is a complicated process involving numerous regulatory factors.Circular RNAs(circRNAs)have been known as a member of the naturally occurring non-coding RNA family,and are reportedly crucial for a variety of physiological processes.This study investigated the circRNA landscape of non-pregnant endometrium of dairy goats during estrus.Non-pregnant endometrial samples of goats at estrus day 5(Ed5)and estrus day 15(Ed15)were used to methodically analyze the circRNA landscape using strand-specific Ribo-Zero RNA-Seq.A total of 2331 differentially expressed(P<0.05)circRNAs(DEciRs)between Ed5 and Ed15 were discovered in the goat endometrium.It was found that Nipped-B-like(NIPBL)and calcium responsive transcription factor(CARF)may participate in the development of the endometrium by decreasing(P<0.05)the levels of their circRNA-transcript forms.Furthermore,Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analyses of DEciR host genes(hgDEciRs)revealed that tight junctions and GTPases may be involved in endometrial development during the estrus cycle.A total of 2331 DEciRs were discovered in the endometrium at Ed5 and Ed15.Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses,it could be inferred that tight junctions and GTPases are likely to play an important role in the development of goat endometrium during the estrus cycle.This circRNA study greatly enhances our knowledge of global trends in the development of non-pregnant endometrium during the estrus cycle in goats;these results help us to better understand the molecular regulation of endometrial development in dairy goats.

Malaria and Anaemia in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women of Child-Bearing Age at the University Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Background: Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions globally. Anaemia is often an adverse outcome of severe parasitic infections during pregnancy in developing countries. Pregnant women in malaria-endemic communities are more susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum infections than non-pregnant women of child-bearing age. Objective: To comparatively investigate malaria and anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women of child-bearing age. Design: A cross-sectional comparative study. Three hundred and eighty pregnant women and 380 non-pregnant women were screened for the study. Setting: The study was conducted at the University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Measurements: Participants’ demographic data were collected via the administration of questionnaires. In addition their blood samples were analyzed for haemoglobin level and malaria parasites, while stool samples from the pregnant women were examined for intestinal parasites. Results: The study revealed that pregnant women have higher malaria parasitaemia (12.6%) and anaemia (62.6%). The species of Plasmodium isolated from the pregnant women were P. falciparum (85.4%), P. malariae (4.2%) and P. ovale (10.4%). Malaria parasitaemia was higher in the primigravidae (14%). However multigravidae recorded the highest anaemia prevalence (67.1%). Age of pregnant women was a factor affecting malaria parasitaemia with a significant P-value and OR (P value = 0.0041, 0R = 7.61). Conclusions: Pregnant women were more susceptible to malaria and anaemia than non-pregnant women of child-bearing age. Most of the pregnant women reported at antenatal clinic during the second trimester. Primigravidae however recorded the highest malaria parasitaemia. The main species of Plasmodium observed in the blood samples was falciparum.

Understanding Suicide in Pregnant and Postpartum Women, Using the National Violent Death Reporting System Data: Are There Differences in Rural and Urban Status?

Background: Suicide rates in the United States have increased by 30% since 1999 and suicide is currently the 10th leading cause of death. Suicide has also become one of the leading causes of death in pregnant and postpartum women. The aim of this study is to examine whether rurality affects the risk of suicide in pregnant and postpartum women. Methods: This study used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, Restricted Access Dataset (2003-2012). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to first describe the pregnant and postpartum population versus non-pregnant females (ages 15 - 54), who all died by suicide, and then to examine urban-rural differences. Results: Rural suicide decedents were much older, married, less likely to have had a mental health diagnosis, and more likely to use a firearm. Recent intimate partner crisis and intimate partner problems were both associated with increased odds that the suicide decedent was pregnant or postpartum in both urban and rural counties, whereas presence of job problems and report of history of suicide attempt decreased the odds that the suicide decedent was pregnant or postpartum in both urban and rural counties. Multivariable polytomous logistic regression analyses revealed differences in suicide risk factors among pregnant, postpartum and non-pregnant decedents when stratified by rural and urban status. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that pregnant and postpartum women should be screened for risk of suicide, in the clinical setting, especially if there are intimate partner problems or a crisis. With proper identification and response, suicide in pregnant and postpartum women might be decreased.