Association of DNA Methylation with Infant Birth Weight in Women with Gestational Diabetes.

Offspring exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exhibit greater adiposity at birth. This early-life phenotype may increase offspring risk of developing obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease later in life. Infants born to women with GDM have a dysregulation of several hormones, cytokines, and growth factors related to fetal fat mass growth. One of the molecular mechanisms of GDM influencing these factors is epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation (DNAm). This review will examine the role of DNAm as a potential biomarker for monitoring fetal growth during pregnancy in women with GDM. This information is relevant since it may provide useful new biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of fetal growth and its later-life health consequences.

Gestational Weight Gain Is Associated with the Expression of Genes Involved in Inflammation in Maternal Visceral Adipose Tissue and Offspring Anthropometric Measures.

BACKGROUND: Adequate gestational weight gain (GWG) is essential for maternal and fetal health. GWG may be a sign of higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accretion. A higher proportion of VAT is associated with an inflammatory process that may play a role in the fetal programming of obesity. This study aimed to (1) compare the expression of genes involved in inflammatory responses (TLR2, TLR4, NFκB, IKKß, IL-1RA, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) in the VAT of pregnant women according to GWG and (2) explore whether VAT inflammation and GWG are related to offspring anthropometric measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 women scheduled for cesarean section who delivered term infants were included in the study. We collected maternal omental VAT, and the expression of genes was examined with RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Women with excessive and with adequate GWG had significantly higher expressions of most inflammatory genes than women with insufficient GWG. Neonates from mothers with excessive GWG had greater birth weight and chest circumference than those from mothers with insufficient GWG. GWG was positively correlated with fetal birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: The VAT expression of most genes associated with inflammatory pathways was higher in excessive and adequate GWG than in pregnant women with insufficient GWG. Moreover, GWG was found to be positively associated with newborn weight.

Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy complications. It is related to several gestational and fetal adverse outcomes. Moreover, women with GDM and their infants have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. The pathogenesis of GDM is not completely understood; nevertheless, two factors that contribute to its development are oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation are related; reactive oxygen species (ROS) production can activate inflammatory cells and enhance the production of inflammatory mediators. Inflammation, in turn, leads to an increased ROS release, causing a vicious circle to ensue. Inflammatory responses can be achieved via the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Herein, we review the English literature regarding oxidative stress and inflammation evaluated simultaneously in the same population, attempting to identify mechanisms through which these factors contribute to the development of GDM. Furthermore, the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation by different therapies used in women with GDM and in cell models of GDM is included in the review. Probiotics and nutrient supplementations have been shown to reduce biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in vitro and in women with GDM.

Differential Expression of FXR and Genes Involved in Inflammation and lipid Metabolism Indicate Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Gestational Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most frequent metabolic alteration in pregnancy. Several abnormalities in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) have been described as part of its pathophysiology including hypertrophy, inflammation and altered lipid metabolism. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is involved in adipocyte physiology and inflammation, so its expression may correlate with the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and two fatty acid transporters (SLC27A2, and SLC27A4). AIM: To compare the FXR, LPL, SLC27A2, SLC27A4, TNF-α, and IL-10 mRNA expression in VAT between women with GDM and healthy pregnant (HP) women. Secondarily, to evaluate the potential correlation between these expression levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 50 GDM and 50 HP women. Conventional biochemical tests were performed and relative mRNA expression in VAT was measured by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Gene expression levels of FXR and IL-10 were lower, whereas those of LPL, as well as the TNF-α/IL-10 ratio, were higher in women with GDM compared to HP. Pre-pregnancy BMI was the main significant independent variable for FXR levels in VAT from women with GDM. In all women, LPL expression levels correlated positively with those of SLC27A2. Only in women with GDM, IL-10 expression levels correlated negatively with those of SLC27A2, and SLC27A4. CONCLUSIONS: GDM is associated with decreased expression of FXR and IL-10 and increased expression of LPL, as well as a higher TNF/IL-10 ratio in VAT. These results suggest increased lipid storage and pro-inflammatory state indicating VAT dysfunction in this metabolic disorder.

Maternal serum adipokines and inflammatory markers at late gestation and newborn weight in mothers with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: Maternal obesity increases the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and is positively correlated with neonatal obesity increasing the risk of adiposity in both young and adult offspring. Maternal secreted factors from adipose tissue such as adipokines and inflammatory cytokines may regulate fetal growth. This study investigated associations between maternal adipokines and inflammatory markers at late gestation, and neonatal anthropometric characteristics in mothers with and without GDM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 65 women with GDM and 65 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance evaluated at the time of term elective Caesarean section. Adiponectin, leptin, resistin, adipsin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), nerve growth factor (NGF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations were measured in maternal serum by the multiplex immunoassay using Magpix technology. C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured with a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay and neonatal anthropometric variables were assessed. The association of birthweight with individual biomarkers was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for maternal factors. RESULTS: Adiponectin, leptin, resistin, adipsin, NGAL and NGF were not significantly associated with higher birthweight. The maternal factors in association with higher birthweight observed in GDM were CRP, MCP-1 and TNF-alpha levels. Regression analysis showed that TNF-alpha was an independent risk factor for higher birthweight (p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an involvement of maternal inflammatory markers at late gestation and fetal growth in mothers with GDM, and that TNF-alpha could play a major role.

Coronavirus disease 2019 and pregnancy. / Enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 y embarazo.

Historically, viral respiratory infections in pregnant women have shown an increase in the risk of morbidity and mortality. With regards to COVID-19, information is limited and a greater risk of severe morbidity or mortality has not been shown, when compared to general population; however, pregnant women with comorbidities such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension have shown a greater severity of the disease, consistent with the general population with these comorbidities. The risk of vertical transmission appears to be low: it has not been demonstrated in any case during the current outbreak of COVID-19 in China, nor in previous epidemics of similar coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV). Existing studies have not demonstrated the presence of the virus in genital fluid, amniotic fluid or maternal milk. Described cases of infection in newborns probably come from horizontal transmission, which suggests breastfeeding with respiratory hygiene measures. Given that COVID-19 is a new disease that has extended around the world and that current knowledge is still insufficient, it is mandatory the continued accumulation of data to discover in depth the action mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for the disease, and constant update of means of prevention and handling of the disease.

Históricamente, las infecciones respiratorias virales en mujeres embarazadas han mostrado un incremento en el riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad. En relación con el COVID-19 la información es limitada y no ha mostrado un mayor riesgo de morbilidad severa o mortalidad en comparación con la población en general; sin embargo, las mujeres embarazadas con comorbilidades como obesidad, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e hipertensión arterial han presentado una mayor severidad de la enfermedad de manera más consistente a lo que ocurre en la población general con esas comorbilidades. El riesgo de transmisión vertical parece bajo: no se ha podido demostrar en ningún caso durante el brote actual de COVID-19 en China, ni tampoco en epidemias previas por otros coronavirus similares (SARS-CoV y MERS-CoV). Los estudios existentes no han evidenciado presencia del virus en fluidos genitales, líquido amniótico, ni tampoco en la leche materna. Los casos descritos de infección en recién nacidos provienen probablemente de transmisión horizontal, por lo que se sugiere la lactancia materna con medidas de higiene respiratoria. Debido a que la enfermedad por coronavirus se ha extendido a nivel mundial y el conocimiento actual es aún insuficiente, es imperativo el cúmulo de evidencia y profundizar en los mecanismos de acción del virus SARS-CoV-2, responsable de la enfermedad, y también que se actualicen constantemente las medidas de prevención y manejo de la enfermedad.

[Clinical guideline. Obstetrical hemorrhage in the second half of pregnancy]. / Guía de práctica clínica. Hemorragia obstétrica en la segunda mitad del embarazo.

Pregnancy at older ages and the increased frequency of caesarean births may increase the incidence of diseases associated with obstetric haemorrhage. Obstetric haemorrhage is the second leading cause of maternal mortality, preceded only by preeclampsia-eclampsia in Mexico and the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. In recent years several studies have been conducted to improve the detection, diagnosis and treatment of women at risk of obstetric haemorrhage to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality. The objective of this clinical practice guideline is defining recommendations based in the best available evidence to standardize actions regarding the diagnosis and management of obstetric haemorrhage in hospital units.

[Abdominal pregnancy care. Case report]. / Atención del embarazo abdominal. Comunicación de un caso.

Abdominal pregnancies are the implantation of gestation in some of the abdominal structures. This kind of pregnancies represents sevenfold maternal death risk than tubarian ectopic pregnancies, and 90-fold death risk than normal ones. Previous cases have erroneously reported as abscess in Douglas punch, and frequently result in obitus or postnatal deaths. We report a case of a patient with 27 years old, and diagnosis of 25.2 weeks of pregnancy, prior placenta and anhidramnios, referred due to difficult in uterine contour delimitation, easy palpation of fetal parts, cephalic pole in left hypochondrious and presence of mass in hypogastria, no delimitations, pain with mobilization, no transvaginal bleed and fetal movements. Interruption of pregnancy is decided by virtue of severe oligohidramnios, retardation in fetal intrabdominal growth, and recurrent maternal abdominal pain. Surgical intervention was carried out for resolution of the obstetrical event, in which was found ectopic abdominal pregnancy with bed placental in right uterine horn that corresponded to a pregnancy of 30 weeks of gestation. Abdominal pregnancy is still a challenge for obstetrics due to its diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis is oriented to prevent an intrabdominal hemorrhage that is the main maternal cause of mortality.