Search Results (6,235)

Maternal overnutrition and targeted supplements during pregnancy strongly affect fetal development in beef cattle, influencing gene expression, tissue development, and productivity after birth. As modern feeding practices often result in cows receiving energy and protein above requirements, understanding the balance between adequate nutrition and overconditioning is critical for sustainable beef production. This review synthesizes findings from recent studies on maternal overnutrition and supplementation, focusing on macronutrients (energy, protein, methionine) and key micronutrients (e.g., selenium, zinc). It evaluates the timing and impact of supplementation during different gestational stages, with emphasis on fetal muscle and adipose tissue development, immune function, and metabolic programming. The role of epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs, is also discussed in relation to maternal dietary inputs. Mid-gestation supplementation promotes muscle growth by activating muscle-specific genes, whereas late-gestation diets enhance marbling and carcass traits. However, maternal overnutrition may impair mitochondrial efficiency, encourage fat deposition over muscle, and promote collagen synthesis, reducing meat tenderness. Recent evidence highlights sex-specific fetal programming differences, the significant impact of maternal diets on offspring gut microbiomes, and breed-specific nutritional responses, and multi-OMICs integration reveals metabolic reprogramming mechanisms. Targeted trace mineral and methionine supplementation enhance antioxidant capacity, immune function, and reproductive performance. Precision feeding strategies aligned with gestational requirements improve feed efficiency and minimize overfeeding risks. Early interventions, including protein and vitamin supplementation, optimize placental function and fetal development, supporting stronger postnatal growth, immunity, and fertility. Balancing nutritional adequacy without excessive feeding supports animal welfare, profitability, and sustainability in beef cattle systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: The pubic symphysis is formed by the fusion of the right and left pubic bones. The metrics, such as breadth, length, and depth, increase during pregnancy and can be measured and analyzed using standard sonography. Obstetricians require clear and consistent criteria for standard sonography evaluation. Methods: Sonographic examinations were performed on a cohort of 225 pregnant women, aged between 23 and 41 years, as part of a prospective observational study. The parameters measured included pubic symphysis entry middle width, intertubercular distance, pubic symphysis width, and pubic symphysis depth. Results: The width of the pubic symphysis exhibited the greatest consistency, measuring between 2.2 and 11.3 mm, whereas the depth displayed the highest variability, ranging from 5.4 to 22.6 mm. The measurements most correlated with fetal weight included pubic symphysis entry width (6.5 ± 3.4 mm; p ˂ 0.001), pubic symphysis width (6.4 ± 2.9 mm; p ˂ 0.001), and depth (14.8 ± 4.8 mm; p = 0.03). The intertubercular distance exhibited the strongest correlation with maternal age (15.1 ± 5.4 mm; p = 0.03). In contrast, pubic symphysis entry width (6.4 ± 3.3 mm; p = 0.02; 6.4 ± 3.4 mm; p ˂ 0.001) and pubic symphysis width (6.3 ± 2.6 mm; p = 0.01; 6.3 ± 2.6; p ˂ 0.001) demonstrated stronger associations with maternal weight and weight gained during pregnancy, respectively. In the singular pregnancy group, the width of the pubic symphysis exhibited significant correlations with fetal weight categories: under or equal to 1000 g (4.56 ± 1.5 mm; p = 0.02), 1001–2000 g (5.51 ± 2.6 mm; p = 0.02), and more than 3000 g (7.3 ± 3.9 mm; p = 0.02). Pubic symphysis entry width is significantly correlated with fetal weight in the range of 1001–2000 g (5.5 ± 3 mm; p = 0.02) and fetal weight exceeding 3000 g (7.4 ± 3.9 mm; p = 0.02). In singular pregnancies, statistically significant differences were noted in intertubercular distance (15.9 ± 7.2 mm vs. 13.4 ± 6.2 mm; p = 0.03) when comparing fetuses weighing 2000 g or less between nulliparous and multiparous women. Conclusions: Fetal and maternal weight were the primary parameters that were positively correlated with these measurements. The term ‘pubic symphysis entry’ is proposed to describe a trapezoidal space situated superior to the pubic symphysis disc, delineated by an imaginary line connecting the bilateral pubic tubercles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Equine rhinopneumonia, caused by equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), continues to be a significant health and economic concern in the global equine industry, particularly in Kazakhstan. While vaccines targeting EHV-1 are available, there is currently no licensed monovalent vaccine for EHV-4, and existing formulations offer limited protection against this serotype. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a freeze-dried, live-attenuated EHV-4 vaccine with improved safety, stability, and immunogenicity. Methods: A field isolate of EHV-4 was attenuated through serial passaging in primary lamb testicle (LT-KK49) cell cultures. Viral biomass was concentrated and formulated with various stabilizers before freeze-drying. The most effective stabilizer composition—sucrose, gelatin, and lactalbumin hydrolysate—was selected based on viral titer retention. Safety and immunogenicity were assessed in mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, donkeys, and horses. A guinea pig reproductive challenge model was used to evaluate protective efficacy. Results: The optimized lyophilized vaccine retained infectivity (>6.0 log₁₀ TCID_50/cm³) for at least six months at 4 °C. No adverse clinical signs were observed in any test species. Immunization induced robust neutralizing antibody responses in both small animals and equines. In the guinea pig model, vaccinated females demonstrated 100% pregnancy retention and fetal viability following challenge with a virulent EHV-4 strain. Conclusions: This freeze-dried, live-attenuated EHV-4 vaccine candidate is safe, immunogenic, and thermostable. It offers a promising platform for the targeted prevention of EHV-4 infection, particularly in young horses and in regions with limited cold-chain infrastructure. Full article

Preterm birth and low birth weight remain major contributors to neonatal morbidity and mortality, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Maternal microbiota has been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes, but key mediators remain unidentified. We previously showed that the microbiota-derived peptide corisin induces epithelial apoptosis via mitochondrial membrane depolarization and reactive oxygen species accumulation. In this retrospective preliminary study, we evaluated the association between maternal serum corisin levels and pregnancy outcomes in 84 eligible women. Among them, 10 experienced preterm birth, and 22 delivered low-birth-weight infants. Corisin levels were significantly elevated in these groups compared with women with full-term, normal-weight deliveries. Preterm birth was associated with increased tissue factor, while low birth weight correlated with higher thrombin–antithrombin complex and soluble thrombomodulin and lower fibrinogen levels. Corisin concentrations showed negative correlations with maternal BMI, birth weight and length, and estimated fetal weight. Positive correlations were observed between corisin, myeloperoxidase, and several coagulation markers. These preliminary findings suggest that elevated maternal corisin levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and may reflect underlying mechanisms involving oxidative stress and coagulation activation. Further investigation is warranted to clarify its potential role as a microbiota-derived biomarker in pregnancy complications. Full article

The relevance of O₃ exposure in critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) remains uncertain and requires further investigation. The present study aims at quantitatively assessing the association between ambient O₃ exposure during the early pregnancy period with fetal CCHD and identifying possible susceptible exposure windows. A retrospective cohort study involving 24,516 pregnant women was conducted using data from the Maternal–Fetal Medicine Consultation Network, which encompassed 1313 medical centers across China from 2013 to 2021. We extracted daily O₃ concentrations from a validated grid dataset with a spatial resolution of 0.1° at each participant’s residential county to assess ambient O₃ exposure, followed by calculating the average exposure levels in the periconceptional period, embryonic period, first trimester, and preconception period. The diagnosis of CCHD was based on fetal echocardiography. Exposure–response analyses were carried out using logistic regression models. During the study period, a total of 1541 (17.4%) subjects were diagnosed with fetal CCHD. Each 10 µg/m³ increase in ambient O₃ exposure in the periconceptional period was associated with a 26.0% increase in the odds of CCHD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.260, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.189, 1.335; p < 0.001). Importantly, the association was not modified by factors including maternal age and occupation status, paternal age and smoking status, conception mode, and the presence of risk factors. In the sensitivity analysis, significant associations were observed between O₃ exposure and CCHD in the embryonic period, first trimester, and preconception period, which was consistent with the results of the main analyses. These findings suggest that lowering ambient O₃ exposure in the preconception and early pregnancy periods may be beneficial in reducing the risk of fetal CCHD, especially in regions with elevated O₃ levels. Full article

Testicular orphan receptors TR2 and TR4 serve as central regulators of erythropoiesis, orchestrating the entire continuum of erythroid progenitor cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. As core components of the direct repeat erythroid determinant (DRED) complex, they activate erythroid-specific transcriptional programs to dynamically control the spatiotemporal expression of globin genes. These nuclear receptors not only engage in functional interactions with key erythroid transcription factors GATA1 and KLF1 to coregulate erythroid differentiation and maturation but also recruit epigenetic modifier complexes such as DNMT1 and LSD1 to modulate chromatin states dynamically. Research has established that dysfunctions in TR2/TR4 are implicated in β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD): β-thalassemia is associated with the defective silencing of γ-globin genes, while in SCD, TR2/TR4 antagonizes BCL11A to reactivate fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression. This review systematically dissects the molecular regulatory networks of TR2/TR4 in erythroid cells, interprets their dual regulatory properties across different stages of erythroid differentiation, and explores the therapeutic potential of targeting TR2/TR4 for treating erythroid-related disorders such as β-thalassemia and SCD, thereby providing novel directions for hematological disorder therapy. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of sonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) in predicting small (SGA)- or large-for-gestational-age (LGA) birthweight and examine whether the accuracy is associated with maternal body mass index (BMI). Methods: The participants of NICHD Fetal Growth Studies with complete data on maternal BMI (10–13.9 weeks), EFW within 14 days of delivery (18–41.3 weeks), and birthweight were included in this study. Participants were categorized as normal (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m²) or overweight/obese (BMI > 24.9 to 44.9 kg/m²). EFW accuracy was evaluated using area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (AUCs) for SGA and LGA classification, and EFW error was analyzed across BMI groups. Results: Among 1289 women, 714 (55.4%) were in the normal BMI group. AUCs for LGA prediction were similar between BMI groups (0.77 ± 0.03 for normal vs. 0.79 ± 0.02 for overweight/obese, p = 0.593). However, for SGA, AUCs were higher in the overweight/obese group (.91 ± 0.01 vs. 0.84 ± 0.02, p = 0.004), indicating improved accuracy. EFW absolute and percent errors were comparable across BMI groups in the full, AGA, and LGA birth cohorts separately, but they trended lower (p = 0.12 and 0.15 for absolute and percent errors, respectively) in the overweight/obese group in the SGA birth cohort. Conclusions: EFW has acceptable accuracy for predicting LGA, unaffected by BMI. However, for SGA, EFW accuracy is significantly higher in the overweight/obese group, suggesting that BMI influences diagnostic performance in SGA but not LGA classification. Full article

In 2024, Europe experienced a significant upsurge in cases of Parvovirus B19 (B19V), the etiological agent of erythema infectiosum, also known as fifth disease. The prevalence of B19V in pregnant women, a particularly vulnerable population, holds critical clinical significance. Typically, B19V follows a well-documented seasonal pattern, with annual epidemics peaking in the spring and larger outbreaks occurring approximately every four years. B19V exhibits a tropism for erythroid precursor cells, potentially resulting in fetal anemia and, in the most severe scenarios, intrauterine demise. Severe in utero infections necessitate intrauterine erythrocyte transfusion (IUT), a highly specialized and technically demanding procedure that is exclusively performed in tertiary-level prenatal care units. This study delineates how the notable increase in B19V infections is also reflected in our prenatal diagnosis unit at Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli (FPG) IRCCS, Rome, Italy. According to our case series, since 2018, B19V has been identified as the second most common cause of fetal anemia during the study period (29%, 6 patients), yet it accounted for the majority of IUT procedures performed in 2024 (16 out of 19 cases, 84.2%). Given the rising incidence of severe intrauterine infections in recent epidemic cycles, healthcare professionals should maintain a high index of suspicion regarding the clinical manifestations of maternal B19V infection and its potential obstetric complications. Further research is imperative to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of routine screening for B19V immunity in pregnant women and to investigate the long-term neurodevelopmental and clinical outcomes of neonates affected by intrauterine B19V infection. Full article

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is crucial for identifying risk reduction opportunities in design. This study aims to aid in the design of sophisticated medical devices by setting guidelines and addressing weaknesses in data collection and risk priority numbers (RPNs). This is achieved by developing an FMEA framework with potential efficiency and efficacy benefits for design engineers, surgeons and patients. The FMEA framework covered risk analysis and risk evaluation by integrating a cascading Delphi method to address data collection and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) technique to address RPN calculations. This study involved the design of a flexible fetoscope for minimally invasive fetal intervention, analyzing and evaluating risks. The cascading FMEA framework had two stages for data collection, namely risk identification by individual interview and risk evaluation by individual email. The cascading Delphi FMEA framework with MCDM identified the potential risks for the mother at the tip (risk score = 0.927) and subsequent risks such as debris loss (risk score = 0.896), material degradation (risk score = 0.896), and glue dislodging (risk score = 0.896) as critical issues. By identifying failure modes early, medical device designers can better mitigate risks during the initial design stages. Full article

Background/Objective: Early pregnancy loss is often caused by chromosomal abnormalities, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools. While product of conception (POC) chromosomal testing is commonly used, it can be limited by culture failure or an inability to obtain fetal tissue due to spontaneous expulsion. Cell-free fetal DNA (cff DNA) analysis provides a non-invasive alternative; however, its effectiveness in early pregnancy loss, particularly in cases where fetal components are still minimal, has not been fully established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of pre- and postoperative cff DNA analysis for detecting fetal aneuploidy by comparing the results to those of POC chromosomal testing. Methods: In this single-center prospective cohort study, 50 women undergoing manual vacuum aspiration for pregnancy loss before 12 weeks of gestation were enrolled (February 2022–December 2024). Cff DNA analysis was performed on maternal blood samples collected pre- and postoperatively. The primary outcome was concordance between the cff DNA and POC results. Sensitivity, specificity, and factors affecting concordance were also assessed. Results: Eight participants were excluded due to unsuccessful POC culture (n = 3), suspected maternal tissue contamination in the POC sample (n = 1), mosaicism (n = 3), or triploidy (n = 1), resulting in 42 evaluable cases. Preoperative cff DNA analysis showed 88.1% concordance with POC (sensitivity 86.4% and specificity 90.0%). Postoperative analysis showed 78.6% concordance (sensitivity 72.7% and specificity 85.0%). Conclusions: The Cff DNA analysis of preoperative and postoperative maternal blood samples showed generally good concordance with conventional POC chromosomal testing in detecting fetal aneuploidy in early pregnancy loss. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), which include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and related disorders), gestational diabetes, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age newborn, placental abruption, and stillbirth, are health risks for pregnant women that can have fatal outcomes. This study’s aim is to investigate the usefulness of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving these outcomes and includes changes in the utilization of ultrasound, continuous monitoring, and an earlier prediction of complications, as well as being able to individualize processes and support clinical decision-making. This study evaluates the use of AI in improving at least one APO. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched and limited to the English language, humans, and between 2020 and 2024. This scoping review included peer-reviewed articles across any study design. However, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, unpublished studies, and grey literature sources (e.g., reports and conference abstracts) were excluded. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they described the use of AI in improving APOs and the associated ethical issues. Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. Although this review initially aimed to evaluate AI’s role across a wide range of APOs, including placental abruption and stillbirth, the five selected studies focused primarily on preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and gestational diabetes. None of the included studies addressed placental abruption or stillbirth directly. The studies primarily utilized machine-learning models, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and random forest (RF), showing promising results in enhancing prenatal care and supporting clinical decision-making. Ethical considerations, including algorithmic bias, transparency, and the need for regulatory oversight, were highlighted as critical challenges. Conclusions: The application of these tools can improve prenatal care by predicting obstetric complications, but ethics and transparency are pivotal. Empathy and humanization in healthcare must remain fundamental, and flexible training mechanisms are needed to keep up with rapid innovation. AI offers an opportunity to support, not replace, the doctor–patient relationship and must be subject to strict legislation if it is to be used safely and fairly. Full article

Women exhibit marked physiological transformations in pregnancy, mandating regular and holistic assessment. Maternal and fetal vitality is governed by a spectrum of clinical, demographic, and lifestyle factors throughout this critical period. The existing maternal health monitoring techniques lack precision in assessing pregnancy-related risks, often leading to late interventions and adverse outcomes. Accurate and timely risk prediction is crucial to avoid miscarriages. This research proposes a deep learning framework for personalized pregnancy risk prediction using the NFHS-5 dataset, and class imbalance is addressed through a hybrid NearMiss-SMOTE approach. Fifty-one primary features are selected via the LASSO to refine the dataset and enhance model interpretability and efficiency. The framework integrates a multimodal model (NFHS-5, fetal plane images, and EHG time series) along with two core architectures. ResRNN-Net further combines Bi-LSTM, CNNs, and attention mechanisms to capture sequential dependencies. MultiScaleFusion-Net leverages GRU and multiscale convolutions for effective feature extraction. Additionally, TabNet and MLP models are explored to compare interpretability and computational efficiency. SHAP and Grad-CAM are used to ensure transparency and explainability, offering both feature importance and visual explanations of predictions. The proposed models are trained using 5-fold stratified cross-validation and evaluated with metrics including accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC–AUC. The results demonstrate that MultiScaleFusion-Net balances accuracy and computational efficiency, making it suitable for real-time clinical deployment, while ResRNN-Net achieves higher precision at a slight computational cost. Performance comparisons with baseline machine learning models confirm the superiority of deep learning approaches, achieving over 80% accuracy in pregnancy complication prediction. Full article

Background: Mitochondria are essential for placental function as they regulate energy metabolism, oxidative balance, and apoptotic signaling. Increasing evidence suggests that placental mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in the development of many poor perinatal outcomes, including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), premature birth, and stillbirth. Nonetheless, no systematic review has thoroughly investigated this connection across human research. This study aims to consolidate evidence from human research concerning the link between placental mitochondrial dysfunction and negative birth outcomes. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified human research examining placental mitochondrial features (e.g., mtDNA copy number, ATP production, oxidative stress indicators) in connection with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methodological variety resulted in narrative data extraction and synthesis. Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Mitochondrial dysfunction was consistently associated with PE, IUGR, FGR, and PTB. The most often observed outcomes included diminished mtDNA copy number, decreased ATP production, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and disrupted mitochondrial dynamics, characterized by increased DRP1 and decreased MFN2. Early-onset preeclampsia and symmetric fetal growth restriction exhibited particularly severe mitochondrial abnormalities, indicating a primary placental origin of the condition. Conclusions: A significant factor contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes is the dysfunction of placental mitochondria. The analogous molecular signatures across many disorders suggest promising avenues for developing targeted therapies aimed at improving maternal–fetal health and predictive biomarkers. Full article

Breast milk provides significant health benefits to both infants and mothers, offering protection against infections and enhancing cognitive development. This paper examines the complex effects of substance use disorder (SUD) during pregnancy and lactation, focusing on the pharmacokinetics of drug transfer into breast milk. It highlights the mechanisms by which drugs enter milk, emphasizing the roles of passive diffusion and active transport, particularly through breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). The study explores the impact of various substances on fetal and infant health, with a focus on the relative infant dose (RID) and milk-to-plasma (MP) ratio as key metrics for assessing drug safety in breastfeeding. The findings underscore the need for careful evaluation of maternal drug use during lactation to balance the benefits of breastfeeding with potential risks. Full article

Pregnancy orchestrates profound neurological, hormonal, and anatomical transformations in the maternal brain, preparing it for caregiving and infant bonding. Neuroimaging reveals structural changes such as gray matter reductions and white matter reorganization during pregnancy, followed by partial recovery postpartum. These adaptations are modulated by fluctuating levels of estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and oxytocin, which coordinate neuroplasticity and behavioral readiness. At the molecular and cellular levels, pregnancy hormones drive synaptic remodeling, neurogenesis, and glial activity. Together, these changes support maternal motivation, attachment, and responsiveness, highlighting the maternal brain’s dynamic plasticity across gestation and the postpartum period. Also, pregnancy induces profound physiological changes, particularly in vascular, hormonal, and neurologic systems, to support maternal and fetal health. While these adaptations are essential, they can predispose pregnant individuals to various neurologic and ophthalmic pathologies. This review explores how pregnancy-related changes—including hypercoagulability, pituitary enlargement, hormonal fluctuations, and immunological modulation—contribute to conditions such as stroke, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, preeclampsia-associated visual disturbances, and demyelinating disorders like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, ocular manifestations of systemic diseases like diabetic retinopathy and thyroid orbitopathy are discussed. Understanding these complex interactions is critical for prompt recognition, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate management of vision-threatening and neurologically significant complications during pregnancy. Nevertheless, many aspects of physiological and pathological changes during and after pregnancy remain unknown and warrant further investigation. Full article