Associations of early pregnancy serum uric acid levels with risk of gestational diabetes and birth outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous evidence suggests that higher blood uric acid (UA) levels are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes during pregnancy and subsequent birth outcomes. However, it has been relatively unclear whether these associations persist in normotensive pregnant women. METHODS: The study was based on a retrospective analysis of 18,250 mother-infant pairs in a large obstetric center in China. Serum UA concentrations in early pregnancy (median: 17.6, IQR: 16.3, 18.6 gestational weeks) were assessed. Hyperuricemia was defined as ≥ one standard deviation (SD) of the reference value for the corresponding gestational age. Outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth (PB), low birth weight (LBW), macrosomia, small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) were extracted from the medical records. RESULTS: The mean maternal UA level was 0.22 ± 0.05 mmol/L, and 2,896 (15.9%) subjects had hyperuricemia. After adjustment for several covariates, UA was associated with several adverse outcomes. The ORs (95%CI) per one SD increase in serum UA concentration were 1.250 (1.136, 1.277) for GDM, 1.137 (1.060, 1.221) for PB, 1.134 (1.051, 1.223) for LBW, and 1.077 (1.020, 1.137) for SGA, respectively. Similar adverse associations were found between hyperuricemia and GDM, PB (ORs: 1.394 and 1.385, P < 0.001), but not for LBW, macrosomia, SGA, and LGA. Adverse associations tended to be more pronounced in subjects with higher BMI for outcomes including PB, LBW, and SGA (P interaction = 0.001-0.028). CONCLUSION: Higher UA levels in early pregnancy were associated with higher risk of GDM, PB, LBW, and SGA in normotensive Chinese women.

Associations of serum concentrations of metal nutrients with postpartum anemia among pregnant Chinese women: A large retrospective cohort study.

Background and Aims: The association between serum concentrations of metal nutrients in pregnancy and postpartum anemia has not been widely studied. This study aimed to determine this association in a large retrospective cohort study. Methods: We included 14,829 Chinese women with singleton pregnancies. Serum concentrations of metals before 28 weeks of gestation, the occurrence of postpartum anemia and other potential covariates were obtained from their laboratory or medical records. Cox regression and restricted cubic spline regression models were used to explore the relationship between serum concentrations of metal nutrients in pregnancy and postpartum anemia. Results: After adjustment for covariates, higher concentrations of iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) and lower concentrations of copper (Cu) were associated with a lower risk of postpartum anemia. Compared with those whose serum concentrations of metal nutrients were in the bottom quintile (Q1), the hazard ratios (HRs) of those whose serum concentrations of metal nutrients were in the top quintile (Q5) were 0.57 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50, 0.64) for Fe, 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.76) for Mg, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.93) for Zn, and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.63) for Cu. L-shaped curve relationships were found between increasing concentrations of Fe, Mg, and Zn and incidence of postpartum anemia. Higher serum concentrations of Cu were associated with an increased risk of postpartum anemia. Serum concentrations of Fe in Q5 were associated with a lower risk of postpartum anemia when they coincided with serum concentrations of Mg in Q5, Zn in Q5, or Cu in Q1. Conclusion: Higher serum concentrations of Fe, Mg, and Zn, and lower serum concentrations of Cu were associated with a lower risk of postpartum anemia among pregnant women.

Associations between thyroid function and gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese pregnant women: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid function is known to be closely linked with type 2 diabetes, but data on the association between thyroid function and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are inconsistent. METHODS: A total of 2849 pregnant women were included in this retrospective study. Serum concentrations of thyroid indicators (free tetraiodothyronine, FT4; thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH; and thyroid peroxidase antibody, TPO Ab) were obtained from a clinical laboratory. The presence of GDM were drawn from medical records. The clinical subtypes of thyroid function (euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and isolated hypothyroxinemia) were categorized according to the thresholds of the 2.5th/97.5th and 10th/90th percentiles of TSH and FT4 concentrations. A concentration of > 34 IU/L was defined as indicating TPO Ab-positivity. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-five (8.25%) of the 2849 women were TPO Ab-positive. Higher serum concentrations of FT4 (top vs. bottom tertiles) was found to be negatively associated with the risk of GDM. The corresponding odds (OR) values (top tertile vs. bottom tertile) were 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54, 0.93]. No significant associations were observed between the extremely 2.5th/97.5th or 10th/90th percentiles of FT4 concentration, TSH concentration, thyroid function subtypes (vs. euthyroidism), TPO Ab-positivity (vs. -negativity), and the GDM risk. The corresponding results remained similar when TPO Ab-positive subjects were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: A negative association with the risk of GDM was observed for the highest FT4 concentrations tertile. No significant associations were found between the TSH concentration, thyroid function subtypes, TPO Ab positivity, and the GDM risk.

Early pregnancy vitamin D and the risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous evidence has suggested that lower gestational vitamin D levels might increase the risks of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. The results remain inconsistent and require further exploration. METHODS: A total of 2814 Chinese mother-infant pairs were included in this retrospective cohort study. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were reviewed in early pregnancy (16.3 ± 2.3 weeks). Outcomes of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), cesarean section, fetal distress, preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), and macrosomia were extracted from the medical records. Cox regression analysis was used to explore these associations. RESULTS: In total, 19.3% of mothers were pregnant at an advanced age (≥35 years), and 40.3% of pregnant women had vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L). After adjusting for potential covariates, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) per standard deviation (SD) increase of serum 25(OH)D concentrations was 0.86 (0.779, 0.951) for GDM, 0.844 (0.730, 0.976) for preterm birth, and 0.849 (0.726, 0.993) for LBW. Similar protective associations were found for GDM, cesarean section, and preterm birth for a better vitamin D status when compared with vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION: Higher early pregnancy vitamin D was associated with a lower risk of GDM, cesarean section, preterm birth, and LBW.

Associations Between Maternal Thyroid Function and Birth Outcomes in Chinese Mother-Child Dyads: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Although research suggests a close association between maternal thyroid function and birth outcomes, no clear conclusion has been reached. We aimed to explore this potential association in a retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study included 8985 mother-child dyads. The maternal serum free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) concentrations and birth outcome data were reviewed from medical records. Subjects with TPO Ab concentrations of >34 and ≤34 IU/ml were classified into the TPO Ab positivity (+) and TPO Ab negativity (-) groups, respectively. Results: Compared with subjects in the normal group (0.1 ≤ TSH < 2.5 mIU/L and TPO Ab-), those with TSH concentrations of 2.5-4.0 mIU/L and TPO Ab- had a 0.65-fold lower risk of low birth weight (LBW). In contrast, those with TSH concentrations of >4.0 mIU/L, regardless of the TPO Ab status, had a 2.01-fold increased risk of LBW. Subclinical hypothyroidism, regardless of the TPO Ab status, was associated with a 1.94-fold higher risk of LBW when compared with that in subjects with euthyroidism and TPO Ab-. No other significant associations were observed. Conclusion: A maternal TSH concentration of 2.5-4.0 mIU/L was associated with a lower risk of LBW when combined with TPO Ab-, whereas subjects with a TSH concentration of >4.0 mIU/L had an increased risk of LBW. Subclinical hypothyroidism appears to be associated with a higher risk of LBW.

Electroacupuncture at ST25 inhibits jejunal motility: Role of sympathetic pathways and TRPV1.

AIM: To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at ST25 affects jejunal motility in vivo and if so, whether a sympathetic pathway is involved. METHODS: Jejunal motility was assessed using a manometric balloon placed in the jejunum approximately about 3-5 cm away from the suspensory ligament of the duodenum in anesthetized animals. The effects of EA at ST25 were measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats, some of which were treated with propranolol or clenbuterol (EA intensities: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mA), and in male transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) (capsaicin receptor) knockout mice (EA intensities: 1, 2, and 4 mA). RESULTS: Anesthetized rats exhibited three types of fasting jejunal motor patterns (types A, B, and C), and only type C rats responded to EA stimulation. In type C rats, EA at ST25 significantly suppressed the motor activity of the jejunum in an intensity-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of EA was weakened by propranolol (ß adrenoceptor antagonist) and disappeared with clenbuterol (ß adrenoceptor agonist) induced inhibition of motility, suggesting that the effect of EA on motility is mediated via a sympathetic pathway. Compared with wild-type mice, EA at ST25 was less effective in TRPV1 knockout mice, suggesting that this multi-modal sensor channel participates in the mechanism. CONCLUSION: EA at ST25 was found to inhibit jejunal motility in an intensity-dependent manner, via a mechanism in which sympathetic nerves and TRPV1 receptors play an important role.