Circulating Extracellular Vesicles microRNAs Are Altered in Women Undergoing Preterm Birth.

Preterm labor (PTL) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) lead to high perinatal morbidity/mortality rates worldwide. Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) act in cell communication and contain microRNAs that may contribute to the pathogenesis of these complications. We aimed to compare the expression, in sEV from peripheral blood, of miRNAs between term and preterm pregnancies. This cross-sectional study included women who underwent PTL, PPROM, and term pregnancies, examined at the Botucatu Medical School Hospital, SP, Brazil. sEV were isolated from plasma. Western blot used to detect exosomal protein CD63 and nanoparticle tracking analysis were performed. The expression of 800 miRNAs was assessed by the nCounter Humanv3 miRNA Assay (NanoString). The miRNA expression and relative risk were determined. Samples from 31 women-15 preterm and 16 term-were included. miR-612 expression was increased in the preterm groups. miR-612 has been shown to increase apoptosis in tumor cells and to regulate the nuclear factor κB inflammatory pathway, processes involved in PTL/PPROM pathogenesis. miR-1253, miR-1283, miR378e, and miR-579-3p, all associated with cellular senescence, were downregulated in PPROM compared with term pregnancies. We conclude that miRNAs from circulating sEV are differentially expressed between term and preterm pregnancies and modulate genes in pathways that are relevant to PTL/PPROM pathogenesis.

Association of altered serum glucose and lipid profiles with headaches in young women: clinical, cross-sectional study / Associação de perfis séricos glicêmicos e lipídicos alterados com cefaleias em mulheres jovens: estudo clínico transversal

Introduction: Headaches, including migraines and tension headaches, affect millions of people globally. Migraines are the most common neurological disorder, with around 14.4% of the world's population affected. It is suggested that dysregulation of biochemical markers and individual metabolic differences may contribute to headaches. Objective: We evaluated the frequency of headaches or migraines with changes in lipid, glucose and vitamin D serum levels in young women. Methods: Clinical, cross-sectional study with 139 young women, aged at least 18 years, based on the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3). The individuals were divided into two groups: one without headache and another with headache. Anthropometric analyzes (BMI, WC, BP and DBP) and blood samples were collected for analysis of vitamin D, glycemia and lipid profile. Results: Mean age was 22 (±4.6) years. We observed associations between headache and the following factors: high glucose levels (97 mg/dL, p=0.028), total cholesterol (180.4 mg/dL, p=0.002), HDL (44.2 mg/dL, p=0.017), and LDL (121.6 mg/dL, p=0.005). Longer duration of headache attacks was associated with increased levels of glucose (97.9 mg/dL, p=0.028), total cholesterol (186.8 mg/dL, p=0.05), diastolic blood pressure (74 mmHg, p=0.038), and BMI (24.6 kg/m2, p=0.024). High glucose levels were found to be directly related to the presence of migraine, particularly those with aura (105 mg/dL, p=0.034). However, there was no significant difference in vitamin D levels (p=0.640). Conclusion: Elevated levels of blood glucose and total plasma cholesterol and its fractions seems to be associated can increase with bouts of headache attacks, especially migraine, prolonging the duration of pain.

Introdução: Dores de cabeça, incluindo enxaquecas e dores de cabeça tensionais, afetam milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo. As enxaquecas são o distúrbio neurológico mais comum, afetando cerca de 14,4% da população mundial. Sugere-se que a desregulação dos marcadores bioquímicos e as diferenças metabólicas individuais possam contribuir para as dores de cabeça. Objetivo: Avaliamos a frequência de dores de cabeça ou enxaquecas com alterações nos níveis séricos de lipídios, glicose e vitamina D em mulheres jovens. Métodos: Estudo clínico, transversal, com 139 mulheres jovens, com idade mínima de 18 anos, baseado na terceira edição da Classificação Internacional de Cefaleias (ICHD-3). Os indivíduos foram divididos em dois grupos: um sem cefaleia e outro com cefaleia. Foram coletadas análises antropométricas (IMC, CC, PA e PAD) e amostras de sangue para análise de vitamina D, glicemia e perfil lipídico. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 22 (±4,6) anos. Observamos associações entre cefaleia e os seguintes fatores: níveis elevados de glicose (97 mg/dL, p=0,028), colesterol total (180,4 mg/dL, p=0,002), HDL (44,2 mg/dL, p=0,017) e LDL (121,6 mg/dL, p=0,005). A maior duração das crises de cefaleia foi associada ao aumento dos níveis de glicose (97,9 mg/dL, p=0,028), colesterol total (186,8 mg/dL, p=0,05), pressão arterial diastólica (74 mmHg, p=0,038) e IMC (24,6kg/m2, p=0,024). Verificou-se que níveis elevados de glicose estão diretamente relacionados à presença de enxaqueca, principalmente naqueles com aura (105 mg/dL, p=0,034). Entretanto, não houve diferença significativa nos níveis de vitamina D (p=0,640). Conclusão: Níveis elevados de glicose no sangue e colesterol plasmático total e suas frações parecem estar associados e podem aumentar com crises de dor de cabeça, especialmente enxaqueca, prolongando a duração da dor.