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Search Results (537)

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22 pages, 509 KB  
Article
Semaglutide Exposure During Pregnancy: Results from the FAERS Database
by Alessia Zinzi, Mario Gaio, Annamaria Mascolo, Gorizio Pieretti, Mattia Cipriani, Joao Marcos Della Ragione, Rossana D’Amato, Francesco Rossi, Annalisa Capuano and Rosanna Ruggiero
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(8), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19081249 (registering DOI) - 8 Aug 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The increased incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, along with the growing use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), particularly semaglutide, among women of childbearing age makes it especially important to assess their safety profile during pregnancy. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The increased incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, along with the growing use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), particularly semaglutide, among women of childbearing age makes it especially important to assess their safety profile during pregnancy. Methods: A post-marketing study was conducted using reports from the U.S. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database (2017–2025). Descriptive analyses focused on pregnancy outcomes and fetal/neonatal disorders. Disproportionality analyses assessed adverse event (AE) reporting by System Organ Class (SOC) and pregnancy-related AEs associated with semaglutide versus other medications. A Standardized MedDRA Query (SMQ)-based disproportionality analysis was also performed. Results: A total of 249 cases involving semaglutide use during pregnancy were identified, comprising 922 AEs. “Injury, poisoning and procedural complications” was the most frequently reported SOC, while abortion- and pregnancy loss-related events accounted for 27.3% of reported AEs. Compared with other medications, semaglutide showed higher reporting odds for “Pregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditions” (ROR 1.59; 95% CI 1.37–1.86), “Injury, poisoning and procedural complications” (ROR 1.93; 95% CI 1.70–2.20), and gastrointestinal disorders (ROR 1.72; 95% CI 1.38–2.15), with no significant association for “Congenital, familial and genetic disorders” or “Reproductive system and breast disorders”. SMQ-based analysis showed increased reporting odds for “Termination of pregnancy and risk of abortion” (ROR 3.71; 95% CI 3.07–4.48). Conclusions: Disproportionate reporting was identified for pregnancy- and perinatal-related events, procedural/exposure-related complications, and pregnancy termination, with no evidence of a disproportionate congenital-anomaly signal. These findings should be interpreted cautiously and do not necessarily indicate a causal association. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pharmacology)
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59 pages, 990 KB  
Systematic Review
Is Phenylalanine Restricted Dietary Treatment in Phenylketonuria Associated with Disordered Eating: A Systematic Review
by Sharon Evans, Fatma Ilgaz and Anita MacDonald
Nutrients 2026, 18(15), 2576; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18152576 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 102
Abstract
Background: In phenylketonuria (PKU), the lifelong phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet may contribute to altered feeding behaviours and disordered eating. The true prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders remains uncertain, partly because validated PKU-specific assessment tools are lacking. This systematic review aimed to [...] Read more.
Background: In phenylketonuria (PKU), the lifelong phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet may contribute to altered feeding behaviours and disordered eating. The true prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders remains uncertain, partly because validated PKU-specific assessment tools are lacking. This systematic review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesise the evidence on disordered eating and eating disorders in PKU. Methods: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were searched from inception to 24 February 2026. English-language studies reporting disordered eating or eating disorders in early-diagnosed individuals with PKU managed with a Phe-restricted diet, with or without drug therapy, were included. Studies of late- or never-treated patients, pregnancy, lactation, reviews, and preclinical studies were excluded. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction. Outcomes included the prevalence of eating disorders, disordered eating behaviours and attitudes, associated factors, and the influence of drug treatment. Findings were synthesised qualitatively, and risk of bias was assessed using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tools. Results: Twenty-four studies (2928 individuals with PKU) met the inclusion criteria. Most were observational or survey-based. Eating disorders were reported more frequently in PKU (3–13%) than in the general population (n = 4 studies). Common disordered eating features included food neophobia (n = 5 studies), limited food variety (n = 9), food aversion or refusal (n = 5), poor appetite (n = 5), prolonged mealtimes (n = 3), negative parent–child mealtime interactions (n = 6), and specific taste preferences (n = 5). Delayed feeding skill development (n = 6 studies), reduced social eating (n = 6), gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 8), and psychological or neurodevelopmental difficulties (n = 7) were also associated with disordered eating. Early feeding difficulties frequently persisted into adulthood, and longstanding eating behaviours did not consistently improve with pharmaceutical treatment (n = 6 studies). Most studies were rated as fair quality (19/24), with common limitations including small sample sizes, lack of sample-size justification, non-validated assessment tools, and absence of randomised controlled trials. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that people with PKU experience a greater burden of eating-related difficulties than the general population, although robust estimates of eating disorder prevalence remain lacking. Existing screening tools may misclassify treatment-related dietary behaviours as pathological or fail to identify PKU-specific eating concerns. Development of PKU-specific screening tools could support routine clinical discussions about eating behaviours and the psychosocial impact of dietary treatment, facilitating earlier identification of individuals requiring specialist eating disorder assessment. (Prospero registration: CRD42024539600). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Practices and Dietary Treatment in Phenylketonuria)
15 pages, 686 KB  
Article
Severe Vitamin D Deficiency as a Trigger for Metabolic Seizures in Infancy: A Case Series and a Comprehensive Review of the Literature
by Maria Oana Săsăran, Monica Grama, Cristina Roxana Mareș, Andreea Bianca Stoica, Rodica Demenciuc, Brîndușa Căpîlnă, Ancuța Lupu and Cristina Oana Mărginean
Nutrients 2026, 18(15), 2458; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18152458 - 27 Jul 2026
Viewed by 353
Abstract
Introduction: Hypocalcemia represents a major cause of seizures in children in the absence of fever or infections. Hypovitaminosis D, usually associated with a lack of proper prophylactic regimens, can trigger those events. This case series aims to highlight two cases of hypocalcemic seizures [...] Read more.
Introduction: Hypocalcemia represents a major cause of seizures in children in the absence of fever or infections. Hypovitaminosis D, usually associated with a lack of proper prophylactic regimens, can trigger those events. This case series aims to highlight two cases of hypocalcemic seizures in infants, attributed to severe vitamin D deficiency, with the aim of raising awareness regarding the importance of vitamin D prophylaxis. A narrative review of the literature is also provided, which highlights similar reported cases. Methods: We hereby report two cases of male infants (aged 4 months and 5 months) who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary pediatric center with seizures in the absence of fever or infections. Diagnostic work-ups revealed low levels of total serum calcium and ionic calcium deficiency. The cause of the hypocalcemia turned out to be severe vitamin D deficiency in both cases, caused by complete absence of vitamin D supplements since birth and during maternal pregnancy. In both cases, combined oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation led to complete resolution of symptoms and restoration of normal calcium levels. A comprehensive review of the literature is also provided, which focuses on pediatric studies and case reports that analyzed the prevalence, particularities, and outcomes of hypocalcemic seizures related to vitamin D deficiency. Articles including subjects with congenital or endocrine disorders that could have caused hypocalcemia were ruled out. Results: After accessing the full-length form of each article and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 27 articles were included, namely 14 studies and 13 case reports. Hypocalcemic seizures caused by vitamin D deficiency are more common in infants, are usually linked to maternal hypovitaminosis D, and have a higher prevalence in developing countries. Most of the case reports depicting hypocalcemic seizures were distinguished through very low vitamin D levels. Conclusions: These case series emphasize the importance of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of hypocalcemia, which constitutes a major metabolic cause of seizures in infancy. Nevertheless, maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy is the only factor that can ensure the presence of satisfactory deposits in the newborn and prevent hypovitaminosis D-related complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamins and Human Health: 3rd Edition)
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19 pages, 1017 KB  
Review
Mechanisms of Hypertension in Women: Interactions Between Vascular Ageing, Metabolic Dysfunction, and Hormonal Regulation
by Shiva Hooshmandi, Nicholas S. Freestone and Francesca I. F. Arrigoni
Biomedicines 2026, 14(8), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14081667 - 24 Jul 2026
Viewed by 450
Abstract
Purpose: Hypertension in women is a dynamic, hormone sensitive condition shaped by cumulative physiological changes across the life course. This review summarises current evidence relating vascular ageing, hormonal regulation, metabolic dysfunction, and reproductive history to blood pressure regulation in women. Materials and Methods: [...] Read more.
Purpose: Hypertension in women is a dynamic, hormone sensitive condition shaped by cumulative physiological changes across the life course. This review summarises current evidence relating vascular ageing, hormonal regulation, metabolic dysfunction, and reproductive history to blood pressure regulation in women. Materials and Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic studies were synthesised to evaluate factors influencing hypertension in women. Reports in which menopausal status was not defined, or previous reproductive milestones were not documented, were excluded or interpreted with caution. Results: Evidence suggests that menopause, vascular ageing, metabolic dysfunction, androgen to oestrogen balance, and reproductive history interact to influence endothelial function, neurohormonal regulation, renal sodium handling, and vascular resistance. Ageing-related mechanisms, including cellular senescence, chronic low-grade inflammation, and genetic susceptibility, may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy identify women who are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life and provide an opportunity for earlier risk assessment and prevention. Emerging therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, may offer additional options for improving cardiovascular risk management, although their role in sex-specific prevention remains an evolving area of research. Conclusions: Hypertension in women is best understood within a life-course framework. Incorporating reproductive history, menopausal status, metabolic health, and emerging risk markers may improve cardiovascular risk assessment and support earlier intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Endocrinology and Metabolism Research)
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15 pages, 1526 KB  
Article
Triple Network Neuroplasticity and Perinatal Mood Symptoms from Preconception to Postpartum: A Pilot Study
by Sharon Florentin, Atira Bick, Moriah Azoulay, Adi Klein, Amit Klein, Shiri Ben-David, Neta Elbaz Hemo, Noa Yakirevich-Amir, Catherine Monk, Netta Levin and Inbal Reuveni
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(15), 5766; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15155766 - 23 Jul 2026
Viewed by 220
Abstract
Background: Perinatal brain network alterations, including changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), may increase vulnerability for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD). The Fronto-Parietal Network (FPN), the Default-Mode Network (DMN), and the Salience Network (SN) are interconnected networks implicated in mood disorders. However, [...] Read more.
Background: Perinatal brain network alterations, including changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), may increase vulnerability for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD). The Fronto-Parietal Network (FPN), the Default-Mode Network (DMN), and the Salience Network (SN) are interconnected networks implicated in mood disorders. However, these networks’ role in perinatal neuroplasticity and PMAD remains unclear. Methods: This pilot study prospectively followed twenty-two women from preconception to postpartum. Participants completed anxiety and depression questionnaires and underwent fMRI scans at preconception and postpartum. The FPN, DMN, and SN were defined and average connectivity of each network was determined. Differences in connectivity from preconception to postpartum within each network and to each network at the whole-brain level were computed. Results: While connectivity within the FPN, DMN, and SN did not show significant changes from preconception to postpartum, we found increased rsFC from the left anterior prefrontal cortex to the DMN, and decreased rsFC from the right ventral posterior cingulate cortex to the FPN, from preconception to postpartum. Bilateral supplementary motor areas (SMAs) showed increased connectivity to the FPN from preconception to postpartum, and this change in connectivity was negatively correlated with anxiety scores during pregnancy. Right SMA connectivity to the FPN at preconception showed positive association with postpartum depression scores (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions: RsFC perinatal-related changes were demonstrated in cognitive and motor regions connected to the DMN and FPN. Among women with perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms, changes in SMA rsFC to the FPN from preconception to postpartum were observed, indicating possible roles in PMAD. Full article
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24 pages, 1543 KB  
Review
Fermented Foods, Functional Nutrition, and Maternal Gut Microbiota During Pregnancy: Molecular Mechanisms and the Maternal–Infant Microbiome Axis
by Tuğba Küçükkasap, Asmin Yavuz and Özde Kuran
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(14), 6488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146488 - 21 Jul 2026
Viewed by 348
Abstract
Pregnancy is associated with profound metabolic, hormonal, and immunological adaptations accompanied by dynamic alterations in maternal gut microbiota composition and function. Emerging evidence suggests that maternal diet is a major regulator of these microbiota-related changes and may influence maternal–fetal health through microbial metabolites [...] Read more.
Pregnancy is associated with profound metabolic, hormonal, and immunological adaptations accompanied by dynamic alterations in maternal gut microbiota composition and function. Emerging evidence suggests that maternal diet is a major regulator of these microbiota-related changes and may influence maternal–fetal health through microbial metabolites and host signaling pathways. Fermented foods and functional dietary components, including prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and polyphenols, have gained increasing attention because of their potential to modulate gut microbial diversity, intestinal barrier integrity, inflammatory responses, and metabolic homeostasis. Mechanistically, these effects are mediated through pathways involving short-chain fatty acids, G protein-coupled receptors, nuclear factor kappa B signaling, histone deacetylase inhibition, and immune cell regulation. Altered microbiota-associated signaling has been linked to gestational metabolic disorders such as obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preeclampsia, as well as fetal immune and metabolic programming. Particular emphasis is placed on the maternal–infant microbiome axis, highlighting how maternal nutrition and microbiota-mediated signaling may influence microbial transmission, fetal programming, and early-life microbiome development. This review summarizes current evidence regarding pregnancy-associated gut microbiota alterations and discusses the molecular mechanisms through which fermented foods and functional nutrition may influence maternal and fetal health outcomes. Full article
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25 pages, 833 KB  
Perspective
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Proposed Intergenerational Metabolic Continuum Within the DOHaD Framework
by Miroslava Gojnić, Stefan Dugalić, Katarina Ivanović, Miloš Milinčić and Maja Macura
Healthcare 2026, 14(14), 2204; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14142204 - 21 Jul 2026
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are clinically distinct disorders that share important metabolic features. This Perspective proposes a non-causal intergenerational framework linking maternal PCOS-related metabolic vulnerability, susceptibility to GDM, intrauterine metabolic exposure, and later reproductive-metabolic risk in [...] Read more.
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are clinically distinct disorders that share important metabolic features. This Perspective proposes a non-causal intergenerational framework linking maternal PCOS-related metabolic vulnerability, susceptibility to GDM, intrauterine metabolic exposure, and later reproductive-metabolic risk in female offspring. Methods: A narrative synthesis of evidence from reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics, diabetology, developmental biology, and public health was undertaken. The strength of evidence supporting individual components of the proposed continuum was qualitatively appraised. Separately, aggregated surveillance data from Belgrade for 2015–2024 were used as a registry-based illustration of ICD-10 O24.4-coded GDM diagnoses. No formal time-series analysis, causal modeling, or forecasting was performed. Results: Evidence was strongest for the increased risk of GDM among women with PCOS and for the association between intrauterine exposure to maternal diabetes and later offspring metabolic susceptibility. Evidence linking maternal PCOS with offspring metabolic vulnerability was less definitive, while direct evidence that GDM exposure leads to clinically diagnosed PCOS in female offspring remained weak and indirect. Registry-recorded GDM rates varied across years, but this variability may reflect differences in screening, diagnostic criteria, coding, reporting completeness, and healthcare access rather than true changes in prevalence. Conclusions: The proposed GDM–PCOS continuum is a hypothesis-generating and probabilistic framework, not an established causal pathway. Its clinical value lies in connecting prevention opportunities before conception, during pregnancy, after delivery, and across the life course. Longitudinal maternal–offspring studies are required to test the proposed relationships. Full article
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22 pages, 962 KB  
Review
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Women Exposed to High Altitude
by Karen Flores, Karem Arriaza, Samia El Alam, Patricia Pérez and Eduardo Pena
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(14), 6349; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146349 - 17 Jul 2026
Viewed by 319
Abstract
Currently, the number of people living and engaging in activities at high altitude is steadily increasing. Consequently, the physiological effects of altitude exposure have been extensively investigated to protect the health of individuals exposed to these extreme environmental conditions, alongside a notable increase [...] Read more.
Currently, the number of people living and engaging in activities at high altitude is steadily increasing. Consequently, the physiological effects of altitude exposure have been extensively investigated to protect the health of individuals exposed to these extreme environmental conditions, alongside a notable increase in female participation driven by expanding opportunities in occupational, athletic, and residential settings. In addition to established risk factors, growing evidence suggests that cardiometabolic risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing altitude-related illnesses, while women present sex-specific physiological characteristics that contribute to metabolic disorders, including the menstrual cycle, contraceptive use, pregnancy, and menopause. Furthermore, factors such as hypobaric hypoxia, the type of activity performed at altitude, lifestyle, and emotional status may result in distinct physiological responses to altitude. However, little is known about the physiological adaptations experienced by women at high altitude, particularly regarding metabolic alterations that may contribute to impaired acclimatization. Therefore, this review synthesizes current evidence on the role of cardiometabolic risk factors and associated determinants in the development and exacerbation of altitude-related illnesses in women, aiming to identify existing knowledge gaps, guide future research, and improve prevention, acclimatization, clinical management, and women’s health and safety in high-altitude environments through a comprehensive assessment of current evidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifactorial Aspects of Hypertension: Advances and Challenges)
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18 pages, 275 KB  
Article
Antenatal Psychosocial Resources and Obstetric Context Associated with Clinically Diagnosed Postpartum Depression: A Prospective Cohort Study
by Caner Yeşiloğlu, Sinem Çetin Demirtaş, Lut Tamam, Süleyman Cansun Demir, Mehmet Emin Demirkol, Özge Keleş Bayer, Aslı Sena Alagöz and Çağla Boyvadoğlu
Healthcare 2026, 14(14), 2156; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14142156 - 17 Jul 2026
Viewed by 360
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a clinically important perinatal mental health condition affecting maternal functioning and early mother–infant interaction. Prospective studies using clinically diagnosed PPD outcomes while jointly assessing antenatal psychosocial resources and obstetric context remain limited. This study examined antenatal psychosocial and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a clinically important perinatal mental health condition affecting maternal functioning and early mother–infant interaction. Prospective studies using clinically diagnosed PPD outcomes while jointly assessing antenatal psychosocial resources and obstetric context remain limited. This study examined antenatal psychosocial and obstetric factors associated with clinically diagnosed PPD at 6 weeks postpartum. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 85 pregnant women assessed at ≥24 weeks of gestation in a tertiary university hospital. Women receiving psychiatric treatment during pregnancy or meeting DSM-5 criteria for current depressive disorder at baseline were excluded; women with elevated antenatal depressive symptom scores but no current clinical depressive disorder were retained. Antenatal depressive symptoms, perceived stress, perceived social support, psychological resilience, pain catastrophizing, and clinician–patient relational empathy were assessed using standardized measures. Obstetric and neonatal data were extracted from medical records. PPD was assessed at 6 weeks postpartum using a structured DSM-5-based psychiatric interview. Group comparisons, univariable logistic regression analyses, and an exploratory two-domain adjusted logistic regression model were performed. Results: PPD was diagnosed in 25 women (29.4%). Women who developed PPD had higher parity, more frequent maternal obstetric comorbidity, lower infant birth weight and head circumference, higher depressive symptom severity, perceived stress, and pain catastrophizing, and lower perceived social support and psychological resilience. In the exploratory adjusted model, greater perceived social support was associated with lower odds of PPD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35–0.96), whereas higher parity was associated with higher odds (aOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.17–4.28). Conclusions: Clinically diagnosed PPD was associated with antenatal psychosocial vulnerability and obstetric context. Antenatal assessment of perceived social support, parity, and broader psychosocial vulnerability indicators may help identify women requiring closer postpartum monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being)
16 pages, 447 KB  
Review
Restoration of Reproductive Function in Uterine Factor Infertility: Clinical Evaluation of Uterus Transplantation
by Živilė Sabonytė-Balšaitienė and Karolina Kolosovaitė
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(14), 5437; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15145437 - 11 Jul 2026
Viewed by 356
Abstract
Background/Objectives: According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in six couples experience infertility during their lifetime, accounting for about 15–17% of the reproductive-aged population worldwide. Absolute uterine factor infertility is a condition in which a woman is unable to conceive due to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in six couples experience infertility during their lifetime, accounting for about 15–17% of the reproductive-aged population worldwide. Absolute uterine factor infertility is a condition in which a woman is unable to conceive due to the absence of the uterus or irreversible impairment of its function. Uterus transplantation has emerged as a novel treatment option enabling affected women to achieve biological motherhood. Aim of the study was to review current evidence on uterus transplantation as a treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility, focusing on clinical outcomes, surgical aspects, patient selection, and associated risks. Methods: A structured narrative review informed by a literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Publications addressing clinical outcomes, surgical techniques, donor and recipient selection, immunosuppressive therapy, and ethical aspects of uterus transplantation were analyzed. Publications published between 2016 and 2025 addressing uterus transplantation were reviewed. The selected studies comprised clinical trials and case series, systematic reviews, clinical and methodological analyses, and ethical publications. Results: The most common indication for uterus transplantation is MRKH syndrome, although acquired causes such as hysterectomy for oncologic or benign gynecological conditions are also relevant. Patient selection is based on strict medical and psychosocial criteria. Graft survival rates reach approximately 74%, with vascular complications, particularly thrombosis, being the leading cause of graft loss. By 2025, more than 130 uterus transplantations and over 70 live births had been reported worldwide. Clinical pregnancy rates approach 70% among recipients with a functioning graft, while at least one live birth has been achieved in approximately 43% of recipients. Pregnancies following uterus transplantation are considered high-risk and are associated with increased rates of hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, and neonatal complications. Immunosuppressive therapy remains essential but is associated with nephrotoxicity and infectious risks. Conclusions: Current evidence indicates that uterus transplantation can restore reproductive function in carefully selected women with absolute uterine factor infertility. Despite encouraging reproductive outcomes, the procedure remains associated with substantial surgical complexity, vascular complications, and immunosuppression-related risks, limiting its broader implementation in clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Obstetrics & Gynecology)
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9 pages, 256 KB  
Article
The Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Prior-to-Pregnancy Fear of Childbirth Among Nulligravid Women: Implications for Preconception and Obstetric Care
by Meserret Aslan and Sümeyye Öztürk
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(7), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070882 - 8 Jul 2026
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Fear of childbirth may begin before pregnancy and may be shaped by earlier traumatic and relational experiences. This study examined the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and prior-to-pregnancy fear of childbirth among non-pregnant women and considered its implications for preconception and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Fear of childbirth may begin before pregnancy and may be shaped by earlier traumatic and relational experiences. This study examined the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and prior-to-pregnancy fear of childbirth among non-pregnant women and considered its implications for preconception and obstetric care. Methods: This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted online in Türkiye between 1 January and 31 May 2025 after approval from the Non-Interventional Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Istanbul Atlas University (23 December 2024; No. 10/07). The sample comprised 125 nulligravid women, defined as women who had never previously been pregnant, who were aged 18 years or older, were not currently pregnant, were living with an intimate partner, were literate in Turkish, and reported no psychiatric disorder. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Husband Violence Against Women Scale (HVWAS), and the Fear of Childbirth Prior to Pregnancy Scale (FCPPS). Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed. Results: The mean age of participants was 28.84 ± 5.47 years. The mean HVWAS score was 46.11 ± 12.51, and the mean FCPPS score was 36.05 ± 13.56. HVWAS scores were weakly positively correlated with prior-to-pregnancy fear of childbirth (rho = 0.207, p = 0.020). An exploratory association was observed between educational level and HVWAS scores (p = 0.019); however, the educational subgroups were highly unequal in size. No significant association was found between educational level and FCPPS scores (p = 0.219). Conclusions: Higher HVWAS scores were weakly associated with greater prior-to-pregnancy fear of childbirth. Because of the cross-sectional design, the direction and causality of this association cannot be determined. Confidential assessment of IPV and childbirth-related fear during preconception counseling and women’s health encounters may assist in identifying women who could benefit from further psychosocial evaluation and support. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trauma-Informed Healthcare for Women)
14 pages, 246 KB  
Review
Maternal Nutritional Status and Intrauterine Programming: Epigenetic Mechanisms and Their Impact on Offspring Health
by Klaudia Pawlikowska, Anna Koryszewska-Bagińska, Małgorzata Konieczna and Gabriela Olędzka
Nutrients 2026, 18(14), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18142220 - 8 Jul 2026
Viewed by 422
Abstract
Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy is an important modifiable factor that may influence foetal development and long-term offspring health. Both undernutrition and excessive maternal body weight have been associated with adverse metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodevelopmental and immune-related outcomes in offspring. This narrative [...] Read more.
Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy is an important modifiable factor that may influence foetal development and long-term offspring health. Both undernutrition and excessive maternal body weight have been associated with adverse metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodevelopmental and immune-related outcomes in offspring. This narrative review summarises selected experimental, clinical and epidemiological evidence on maternal nutritional status, intrauterine programming and offspring health. Relevant literature was identified by searching the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases covering publications from 2000 to 2026, with the majority of included papers published after 2015. The search terms included maternal nutrition, undernutrition, obesity, intrauterine programming, DOHaD, epigenetics, DNA methylation, microRNA and offspring health. The available evidence suggests that maternal undernutrition is associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and an increased risk of cognitive and metabolic disorders. In contrast, maternal overweight or obesity is associated with macrosomia, as well as an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction in later life. Both extremes of maternal nutritional status may also negatively affect the psychological health of the offspring. These associations suggest a potential role for epigenetic mechanisms; however, causal conclusions from observational studies in humans remain limited. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of optimising maternal nutritional and metabolic status before and during pregnancy as a key strategy for promoting favourable intrauterine programming and improving long-term offspring health. A better understanding of the underlying epigenetic mechanisms could facilitate the development of targeted nutritional and preventive interventions. As a narrative review, this analysis is limited by the associative nature of human observational studies and the inherent challenges in separating intrauterine effects from postnatal environmental confounders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maternal Diet, Epigenetic Mechanisms and Metabolic Programming)
20 pages, 3588 KB  
Systematic Review
Body Weight-Related Parameters in Pregnancies Complicated by Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Maternal and Perinatal Outcome Mapping
by Katarina Ivanovic, Andja Cirkovic, Stefan Dugalic, Milos Milincic, Maja Macura and Miroslava Gojnic Dugalic
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(13), 5260; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15135260 - 6 Jul 2026
Viewed by 394
Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in pregnancy is increasingly recognized as a high-risk metabolic condition, frequently accompanied by overweight, obesity, insulin resistance, and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate body weight-related parameters in pregnancies complicated [...] Read more.
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in pregnancy is increasingly recognized as a high-risk metabolic condition, frequently accompanied by overweight, obesity, insulin resistance, and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate body weight-related parameters in pregnancies complicated by T2DM compared with those in non-T2DM control groups. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted up to 19 August 2025. Original studies reporting body weight, body mass index (BMI), or gestational weight gain (GWG) in pregnant women with T2DM and different control groups were included. Data were synthesized using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with fixed or random-effects models. Maternal, metabolic, delivery, and neonatal outcomes were summarized descriptively. Results: Eighty-seven studies were included in the systematic review and seventy-two were included in the meta-analysis. Pregnant women with T2DM had significantly higher pre-pregnancy body weight and first-trimester body weight than normoglycemic and T1DM controls. Pre-pregnancy BMI was also significantly higher in T2DM pregnancies compared with normoglycemic, T1DM, and gestational diabetes controls. In contrast, GWG did not differ significantly between T2DM and normoglycemic or gestational diabetes pregnancies, while it was significantly lower in T2DM than in type 1 diabetes pregnancies. Adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including hypertensive disorders, preterm delivery, fetal growth abnormalities, macrosomia, congenital anomalies, and fetal/neonatal loss, were frequently reported across the included studies. Conclusions: Pregnancies complicated by T2DM are characterized by an unfavorable preconception anthropometric profile. The contrasting patterns across diabetes types suggest different periods for weight-related care: preconception weight optimization appears particularly relevant in T2DM, whereas the higher gestational weight gain observed in T1DM relative to T2DM supports individualized monitoring of gestational weight trajectories during pregnancy. These strategies should be incorporated into comprehensive preconception and antenatal care alongside glycemic optimization and assessment of diabetes-related complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pregnancy Complications and Maternal-Perinatal Outcomes)
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23 pages, 2055 KB  
Review
From Endometriosis to Lipedema: Toward a Neuroimmune Framework for Pain Amplification in Hormone-Sensitive Disorders
by Diogo Pinto da Costa Viana, Thiago Bracks Oliveira, Adriana Luckow Invitti and Eduardo Schor
Biomedicines 2026, 14(7), 1510; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14071510 - 3 Jul 2026
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Abstract
Background: Endometriosis and lipedema are chronic female-predominant disorders characterized by persistent pain that is frequently disproportionate to anatomical lesion burden. Although traditionally interpreted within distinct lesion-centered frameworks, both conditions exhibit striking clinical and epidemiological parallels, including hormonally modulated symptom dynamics, overlap with [...] Read more.
Background: Endometriosis and lipedema are chronic female-predominant disorders characterized by persistent pain that is frequently disproportionate to anatomical lesion burden. Although traditionally interpreted within distinct lesion-centered frameworks, both conditions exhibit striking clinical and epidemiological parallels, including hormonally modulated symptom dynamics, overlap with central pain syndromes, weak correlation between structural disease severity and pain intensity, and symptom clustering during reproductive transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Methods: This study aims to synthesize clinical, molecular, neuroimmune, and endocrine evidence on the interrelationship between endometriosis and lipedema, and to propose a hypothesis-generating neuroimmune framework linking both conditions. This integrative narrative review conducted a non-systematic literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on mechanisms related to chronic pain, mast cell biology, TRPV1 signaling, CGRP-mediated neurogenic inflammation, intracrine steroidogenesis, and peripheral and central sensitization. Results: The review identifies convergent biological characteristics between the two diseases, including mast cell activation, macrophage polarization, endothelial dysfunction, fibrosis, angiogenesis, intracrine estrogen metabolism, and persistent inflammatory signaling. In endometriosis, direct evidence demonstrates increased sensory innervation, nerve growth factor expression, TRPV1 sensitization, CGRP-positive fibers, and mast cell-nerve interactions. In lipedema, convergent upstream mechanisms, including mast cell infiltration, elevated histamine levels, adipose tissue inflammation, and local estrogen activation, support the plausibility of a functionally analogous neuroimmune organization, despite incomplete direct neural characterization. In this context, the mast cell-TRPV1-CGRP axis is proposed as a biologically plausible framework, directly supported in endometriosis and currently hypothetical in lipedema, connecting peripheral sensitization, neurogenic inflammation, hormonal chronodependence, and central nociceptive amplification. The model further conceptualizes pain crises as transient events of instability within a sensitized neuroimmune network and proposes mechanistic phenotypes that integrate gastrointestinal, inflammatory, central, and hormonal triggers. Conclusion: Endometriosis and lipedema may represent topographically distinct manifestations of a shared neuroimmune process operating within hormone-sensitive tissues. Although the evidentiary basis remains asymmetric, with stronger mechanistic support in endometriosis than in lipedema, this framework provides a biologically plausible and experimentally testable model integrating endocrine, immune, neural, and vascular contributors to chronic pain amplification. This perspective supports coordinated translational investigation across reproductive biology, endocrinology, and pain medicine and may contribute to future mechanism-based stratification and therapeutic development. This work is hypothesis-generating and is not intended to establish causality or to provide clinical recommendations; all proposed mechanistic and therapeutic inferences require prospective experimental validation. Full article
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Article
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Exacerbates Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy Through Vascular and Immune Pathways
by Marta Fabre, Ana Medel-Martinez, Pilar Calvo, Natalia Abadia-Cuchi, Sara Ruiz-Martinez, Maria Peran, Cristina Paules, Alberto Montolío, Beatriz Jimeno-Beltrán, Javier Godino, Alberto Cebollada-Solanas, Mark Strunk, Fatima Crispi, Daniel Oros and Jon Schoorlemmer
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 5891; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135891 - 30 Jun 2026
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been linked to an increased risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia (PE). As both conditions involve vascular and endothelial dysfunction, a mechanistic overlap has been proposed. This study examines the relationship between maternal COVID-19 and preeclampsia by [...] Read more.
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been linked to an increased risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia (PE). As both conditions involve vascular and endothelial dysfunction, a mechanistic overlap has been proposed. This study examines the relationship between maternal COVID-19 and preeclampsia by analyzing inflammatory, endothelial, and angiogenic biomarkers in pregnancies with and without these complications. Methods: A case–control study was conducted, including four groups: healthy pregnancies before 2020 (n = 10), preeclampsia cases before 2020 (n = 10), COVID-19 cases without preeclampsia (n = 10), and COVID-19 cases with preeclampsia (n = 10). The groups were selected to be comparable in terms of gestational age at blood sampling. Biomarkers related to endothelial, inflammatory, and angiogenic pathways were measured. Results: Significant differences in biomarker levels were detected among the four groups. Regarding endothelial damage, sICAM1 levels were significantly higher in the COVID-PE group compared with the COVID-noPE group (p = 0.002). Additionally, vWF (p = 0.006), END1 (p < 0.001), and sVCAM1 (p = 0.030) levels varied significantly across groups. IL8 levels showed significant differences (p < 0.001), and were particularly elevated in preeclampsia cases (preCOVID-PE and COVID-PE groups) compared with controls (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Angiogenic markers sFlt-1, PLGF, and sFlt-1/PLGF exhibited significant group differences (p < 0.001). In contrast, maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in the absence of preeclampsia was not associated with a significant alteration of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Discussion: PE associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection preserved the classical angiogenic signature of preeclampsia, but showed additional endothelial and inflammatory biomarker alterations. These findings support an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and a distinct endothelial and inflammatory biomarker profile in PE, warranting confirmation in larger prospective studies. Full article
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