Fetal liver CD34+ contain human immune and endothelial progenitors and mediate solid tumor rejection in NOG mice.

BACKGROUND: Transplantation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) into immunodeficient mice is an established method to generate humanized mice harbouring a human immune system. Different sources and methods for CD34+ isolation have been employed by various research groups, resulting in customized models that are difficult to compare. A more detailed characterization of CD34+ isolates is needed for a better understanding of engraftable hematopoietic and potentially non-hematopoietic cells. Here we have performed a direct comparison of CD34+ isolated from cord blood (CB-CD34+) or fetal liver (FL-CD34+ and FL-CD34+CD14-) and their engraftment into immunocompromised NOD/Shi-scid Il2rgnull (NOG) mice. METHODS: NOG mice were transplanted with either CB-CD34+, FL-CD34+ or FL-CD34+CD14- to generate CB-NOG, FL-NOG and FL-CD14--NOG, respectively. After 15-20 weeks, the mice were sacrificed and human immune cell reconstitution was assessed in blood and several organs. Liver sections were pathologically assessed upon Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. To assess the capability of allogenic tumor rejection in CB- vs. FL-reconstituted mice, animals were subcutaneously engrafted with an HLA-mismatched melanoma cell line. Tumor growth was assessed by calliper measurements and a Luminex-based assay was used to compare the cytokine/chemokine profiles. RESULTS: We show that CB-CD34+ are a uniform population of HSPC that reconstitute NOG mice more rapidly than FL-CD34+ due to faster B cell development. However, upon long-term engraftment, FL-NOG display increased numbers of neutrophils, dendritic cells and macrophages in multiple tissues. In addition to HSPC, FL-CD34+ isolates contain non-hematopoietic CD14+ endothelial cells that enhance the engraftment of the human immune system in FL-NOG mice. We demonstrate that these CD14+CD34+ cells are capable of reconstituting Factor VIII-producing liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) in FL-NOG. However, CD14+CD34+ also contribute to hepatic sinusoidal dilatation and immune cell infiltration, which may culminate in a graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) pathology upon long-term engraftment. Finally, using an HLA-A mismatched CDX melanoma model, we show that FL-NOG, but not CB-NOG, can mount a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) response resulting in tumor rejection. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight important phenotypical and functional differences between CB- and FL-NOG and reveal FL-NOG as a potential model to study hepatic sinusoidal dilatation and mechanisms of GVT.

Holistic preconception care: Providing real-time guidance via a mobile app to optimise maternal and child health.

Introduction: Preconception is a critical period to optimise gamete function and early placental development, essential for successful conception and long-term maternal-child health. However, there is a lack of preconception services and consequently, global fertility rates continue to fall and mothers embark on their pregnancy journey in poor health. There is an urgent need to implement a holistic community-level preconception care programme to optimise risk factors for poor fecundability and improve long-term maternal-child health. Method: We reviewed current evidence on fecundability lifestyle risk factors, the efficacy of existing preconception interventions and the use of digital platforms for health optimisation, to create a new digital-based preconception intervention model that will be implemented via an app. We present the theory, content and mode of delivery of this holistic model targeting couples planning for pregnancy. Results: We propose a new model featuring a user-friendly mobile app, which enables couples to self-assess fecundability risks through a personalised risk score that drives a tailored management plan. This tiered management provides anticipatory guidance supported by evidence-based recommen-dations, and promotes ongoing engagement for behavioural optimisation and specialist referrals as required. Based on the health belief model, this new model delivered with a mobile app seeks to shift couples' perceptions about their susceptibility and severity of subfertility, benefits of making a change and barriers to change. Conclusion: Our proposed digital-based intervention model via a mobile app stands to enhance preconcep-tion care by providing personalised risk assessments, real-time feedback and tiered management to optimise preconception reproductive health of couples. This model forms a reference content framework for future preconception care intervention delivery.

Functional and immunological mapping of domains of the reticulocyte binding protein, Plasmodium vivax PvRBP2a.

We previously described a novel Plasmodium vivax invasion mechanism into human reticulocytes via the PvRBP2a-CD98 receptor-ligand pair. We assessed the PvRBP2a epitopes involved in CD98 binding and recognised by antibodies from infected patients using linear epitope mapping. We identified two epitope clusters mediating PvRBP2a-CD98 interaction. One cluster named cluster B (PvRBP2a431-448, TAALKEKGKLLANLYNKL) was the target of antibody responses in P. vivax-infected humans. Peptides from each cluster were able to prevent live parasite invasion of human reticulocytes. These results provide new insights for development of a malaria blood stage vaccine against P. vivax.

A machine-learning exploration of the exposome from preconception in early childhood atopic eczema, rhinitis and wheeze development.

BACKGROUND: Most previous research on the environmental epidemiology of childhood atopic eczema, rhinitis and wheeze is limited in the scope of risk factors studied. Our study adopted a machine learning approach to explore the role of the exposome starting already in the preconception phase. METHODS: We performed a combined analysis of two multi-ethnic Asian birth cohorts, the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) and the Singapore PREconception Study of long Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohorts. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect information on demography, lifestyle and childhood atopic eczema, rhinitis and wheeze development. Data training was performed using XGBoost, genetic algorithm and logistic regression models, and the top variables with the highest importance were identified. Additive explanation values were identified and inputted into a final multiple logistic regression model. Generalised structural equation modelling with maternal and child blood micronutrients, metabolites and cytokines was performed to explain possible mechanisms. RESULTS: The final study population included 1151 mother-child pairs. Our findings suggest that these childhood diseases are likely programmed in utero by the preconception and pregnancy exposomes through inflammatory pathways. We identified preconception alcohol consumption and maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy as key modifiable maternal environmental exposures that increased eczema and rhinitis risk. Our mechanistic model suggested that higher maternal blood neopterin and child blood dimethylglycine protected against early childhood wheeze. After birth, early infection was a key driver of atopic eczema and rhinitis development. CONCLUSION: Preconception and antenatal exposomes can programme atopic eczema, rhinitis and wheeze development in utero. Reducing maternal alcohol consumption during preconception and supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy may prevent atopic eczema and rhinitis by promoting an optimal antenatal environment. Our findings suggest a need to include preconception environmental exposures in future research to counter the earliest precursors of disease development in children.

Presence of onco-fetal neighborhoods in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with relapse and response to immunotherapy.

Onco-fetal reprogramming of the tumor ecosystem induces fetal developmental signatures in the tumor microenvironment, leading to immunosuppressive features. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and bulk RNA sequencing to delineate specific cell subsets involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) relapse and response to immunotherapy. We identified POSTN+ extracellular matrix cancer-associated fibroblasts (EM CAFs) as a prominent onco-fetal interacting hub, promoting tumor progression. Cell-cell communication and spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed crosstalk and co-localization of onco-fetal cells, including POSTN+ CAFs, FOLR2+ macrophages and PLVAP+ endothelial cells. Further analyses suggest an association between onco-fetal reprogramming and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor cell proliferation and recruitment of Treg cells, ultimately influencing early relapse and response to immunotherapy. In summary, our study identifies POSTN+ CAFs as part of the HCC onco-fetal niche and highlights its potential influence in EMT, relapse and immunotherapy response, paving the way for the use of onco-fetal signatures for therapeutic stratification.

Preconception maternal retinal arteriolar narrowing and fetal growth throughout pregnancy: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between preconception maternal retinal arteriolar calibre and fetal growth. DESIGN, SETTING AND POPULATION: A hospital-based, prospective preconception cohort including 369 women with a singleton live birth. METHODS: We collected detailed information on sociodemographic status, pregnancy history and lifestyle, and performed retinal imaging at the preconception visit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We retrieved medical records documenting fetal growth biometrics (e.g., abdominal circumference [AC], head circumference [HC], femur length [FL]) at 11-13, 18-21, 24-28, and 32-34 weeks throughout pregnancy. We then computed the z scores for all fetal growth biometrics from 14 weeks of gestation where data were available, referencing the INTERGROWTH-21st fetal growth chart. We used a linear mixed model to estimate the association between maternal preconception retinal arteriolar calibre and fetal growth biometrics z scores throughout pregnancy, with random intercept accounting for repeated measures within individuals. We then performed a multivariable linear regression of maternal preconception retinal arteriolar calibre and z score changes for all fetal growth biometrics between 24-28 weeks and 32-34 weeks of gestation, after full adjustment. RESULTS: Maternal preconception generalised retinal arteriolar narrowing was consistently associated with a reduction in fetal AC z scores (-0.34; 95% CI -0.66 to -0.03) throughout pregnancy. In addition, women with preconception generalised retinal arteriolar narrowing tended to have significantly reduced z score changes in AC (-0.41; 95% CI -0.90 to -0.001) and fetal FL (-0.55; 95% CI -1.00 to -0.10) between 24-28 weeks and 32-34 weeks of gestation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that women with narrower preconception retinal arterioles had smaller fetuses, evidenced by reductions in AC and FL z score throughout pregnancy.

Preconception maternal retinal venular widening and steeper resistance increments in the utero-fetoplacental circulation in pregnancy.

We investigated the relationship of preconception maternal retinal vasculature and utero-fetoplacental circulation in ensuing pregnancy. Embedded in a hospital-based, prospective preconception cohort, 396 women with a singleton live birth were included for analysis. We assessed retinal vascular caliber during preconception phase and retrieved ultrasonogram results documenting utero-fetoplacental circulatory indices using Doppler ultrasonography and documented them at 18-21 weeks, 24-28 weeks, and 32-34 weeks where available. We performed a modified Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk of utero-fetoplacental abnormalities, adjusting for major confounders including pre-pregnancy and blood pressure. Per 10 µm increment in maternal preconception retinal venules was associated with over two-fold risks in developing notching (Relative risk [RR]: 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79, 4.81) and ≥95th percentile umbilical artery pulsatility index (2.36; 1.72, 3.23) during mid-to-late pregnancy, respectively. Women with preconception retinal venular widening tended to demonstrate steeper resistance increments in both maternal uterine arteries and fetal umbilical arteries during mid-to-late pregnancy.

Associations of predominant night-eating with plasma glycemic status and continuous glucose monitoring measures among pregnant women.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To examine whether predominant night-eating, defined as more than 50% of total daily energy intake consumed between 1900 and 0659 h, is associated with glycemic outcomes in pregnancy. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 277 healthy pregnant women with complete 4-day dietary intake records at 18-24 weeks gestation, recruited from KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. Primary outcomes were fasting, 1-h, and 2-h plasma glucose after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks gestation. Secondary outcomes were gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), ß-cell function (HOMA2-%B), and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures. Glucose variables in continuous form were loge-transformed before analyses. RESULTS: Predominant night-eating (11.6%) was associated with higher fasting glucose (geometric mean ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.05 (1.01, 1.08)) and 1-h glucose (1.11 (1.01, 1.21)), but not with 2-h glucose or GDM risk. Predominant night-eating women had lower fasting insulin (0.77 (0.63, 0.95)), lower HOMA2-IR (0.78 (0.64, 0.97)), and lower HOMA2-%B (0.77 (0.67, 0.89)) than their predominant day-eating counterparts. For CGM measures, predominant night-eating was associated with higher mean glucose (1.07 (1.00, 1.15)), higher glucose management indicator (1.05 (1.00, 1.10)), and higher overall glucose levels throughout 24 h (1.10 (1.02, 1.19)). All these associations were adjusted for socio-demographic, lifestyle factors, and diet composition. CONCLUSION: Predominant night-eating was mainly associated with less desirable glycemic outcomes during pregnancy. Future studies should explore dietary interventions aimed at reducing consumption of relatively more calories at night than day during pregnancy.

Neural Cells for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Clinical Trials.

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are an entire spectrum of clinical conditions that affect the central and peripheral nervous system. There is no cure currently, with treatment focusing mainly on slowing down progression or symptomatic relief. Cellular therapies with various cell types from different sources are being conducted as clinical trials for several ND diseases. They include neural, mesenchymal and hemopoietic stem cells, and neural cells derived from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. In this review, we present the list of cellular therapies for ND comprising 33 trials that used neural stem progenitors, 8 that used differentiated neural cells ,and 109 trials that involved non-neural cells in the 7 ND. Encouraging results have been shown in a few early-phase clinical trials that require further investigations in a randomized setting. However, such definitive trials may not be possible given the relative cost of the trials, and in the setting of rare diseases.

Preconception sleep quality moderates the association between preconception hair cortisol levels and mental health in pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Poor sleep quality may elevate cortisol levels and affect prenatal mental health through altered HPA axis functioning. This study aims to examine whether subjective sleep quality during preconception moderates the association between preconception hair cortisol levels and mental health from preconception to pregnancy trimesters. METHODS: Women from a prospective cohort study completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires during preconception (T0) and at each pregnancy trimesters (T1, T2, and T3). We analyzed 266 of these women who conceived and had fully completed measures at preconception for hair cortisol, sleep quality and either EPDS or STAI-state. Changes in EPDS and STAI-state scores were derived (i.e., T1-T0, T2-T0, T3-T0). Johnson-Neyman technique identified PSQI scores with significant moderation of cortisol on mental health. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential covariates, there was a significant positive correlation between preconception hair cortisol levels and depressive symptom at the second trimester (rs (144) = 0.22, p = 0.008), but not the first and third trimesters (all ps > 0.05). The positive association between preconception hair cortisol and change in depressive symptoms between third trimester and preconception was significant only among women with poor preconception sleep quality (PSQI ≥ 7). LIMITATIONS: Sleep quality and prenatal mood were derived from self-reported questionnaires, which may be more susceptible to bias. CONCLUSIONS: The positive association between preconception hair cortisol and change in prenatal depressive symptoms is significant among women who reported poor sleep quality during preconception. Improving preconception sleep quality can potentially mitigate the association between preconception hair cortisol and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Distribution and association of interpregnancy weight change with subsequent pregnancy outcomes in Asian women.

The extent of interpregnancy weight change and its association with subsequent pregnancy outcomes among Asians remain unclear. We examined changes in maternal body mass index (BMI) between the first two deliveries and outcomes in the second delivery. Medical records of women with their first two consecutive deliveries between 2015 and 2020 at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore were retrieved. Gestational-age-adjusted BMI was determined by standardising to 12 weeks gestation and interpregnancy BMI change was calculated as the difference between both pregnancies. Pregnancy outcomes were analysed using modified Poisson regression models. Of 6264 included women with a median interpregnancy interval of 1.44 years, 40.7% had a stable BMI change within ± 1 kg/m2, 10.3% lost > 1 kg/m2, 34.3% gained 1-3 kg/m2 and 14.8% gained ≥ 3 kg/m2. Compared to women with stable BMI change, those with > 1 kg/m2 loss had higher risk of low birthweight (adjusted risk ratio [RR] 1.36; 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.80), while those with 1-3 kg/m2 gain had higher risks of large-for-gestational-age birth (1.16; 1.03-1.31), gestational diabetes (1.25; 1.06-1.49) and emergency Caesarean delivery (1.16; 1.03-1.31); these risks were higher in those with ≥ 3 kg/m2 gain. Our study strengthens the case for interpregnancy weight management to improve subsequent pregnancy outcomes.

Exploring preconception signatures of metabolites in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus using a non-targeted approach.

BACKGROUND: Metabolomic changes during pregnancy have been suggested to underlie the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, research on metabolites during preconception is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate distinctive metabolites during the preconception phase between GDM and non-GDM controls in a nested case-control study in Singapore. METHODS: Within a Singapore preconception cohort, we included 33 Chinese pregnant women diagnosed with GDM according to the IADPSG criteria between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. We then matched them with 33 non-GDM Chinese women by age and pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) within the same cohort. We performed a non-targeted metabolomics approach using fasting serum samples collected within 12 months prior to conception. We used generalized linear mixed model to identify metabolites associated with GDM at preconception after adjusting for maternal age and ppBMI. After annotation and multiple testing, we explored the additional predictive value of novel signatures of preconception metabolites in terms of GDM diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 57 metabolites were significantly associated with GDM, and eight phosphatidylethanolamines were annotated using HMDB. After multiple testing corrections and sensitivity analysis, phosphatidylethanolamines 36:4 (mean difference ß: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11) and 38:6 (ß: 0.06; 0.004, 0.11) remained significantly higher in GDM subjects, compared with non-GDM controls. With all preconception signals of phosphatidylethanolamines in addition to traditional risk factors (e.g., maternal age and ppBMI), the predictive value measured by area under the curve (AUC) increased from 0.620 to 0.843. CONCLUSIONS: Our data identified distinctive signatures of GDM-associated preconception phosphatidylethanolamines, which is of potential value to understand the etiology of GDM as early as in the preconception phase. Future studies with larger sample sizes among alternative populations are warranted to validate the associations of these signatures of metabolites and their predictive value in GDM.

Maternal preconception circulating blood biomarker mixtures, child behavioural symptom scores and the potential mediating role of neonatal brain microstructure: the S-PRESTO cohort.

Human brain development starts in the embryonic period. Maternal preconception nutrition and nutrient availability to the embryo may influence brain development at this critical period following conception and early cellular differentiation, thereby affecting offspring neurodevelopmental and behavioural disorder risk. However, studying this is challenging due to difficulties in characterizing preconception nutritional status and few studies have objective neurodevelopmental imaging measures in children. We investigated the associations of maternal preconception circulating blood nutrient-related biomarker mixtures (~15 weeks before conception) with child behavioural symptoms (Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), aged 3 years) within the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) study. The CBCL preschool form evaluates child behaviours based on syndrome scales and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) oriented scales. These scales consist of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, anxiety problems, pervasive developmental problems, oppositional defiant, etc. We applied data-driven clustering and a method for modelling mixtures (Bayesian kernel machine regression, BKMR) to account for complex, non-linear dependencies between 67 biomarkers. We used effect decomposition analyses to explore the potential mediating role of neonatal (week 1) brain microstructure, specifically orientation dispersion indices (ODI) of 49 cortical and subcortical grey matter regions. We found that higher levels of a nutrient cluster including thiamine, thiamine monophosphate (TMP), pyridoxal phosphate, pyridoxic acid, and pyridoxal were associated with a higher CBCL score for internalizing problems (posterior inclusion probability (PIP) = 0.768). Specifically, thiamine independently influenced CBCL (Conditional PIP = 0.775). Higher maternal preconception thiamine level was also associated with a lower right subthalamic nucleus ODI (P-value = 0.01) while a lower right subthalamic nucleus ODI was associated with higher CBCL scores for multiple domains (P-value < 0.05). One potential mechanism is the suboptimal metabolism of free thiamine to active vitamin B1, but additional follow-up and replication studies in other cohorts are needed.

Peritoneal autoantibody profiling identifies p53 as an autoantibody target in endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To map the peritoneal autoantibody (AAb) landscape in women with endometriosis. DESIGN: Case-control laboratory study. SETTING: Academic medical and research units. PATIENT(S): Women who presented with or without endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Using native-conformation and citrullinated modified protein arrays, proteome-wide analysis of AAbs against 1,623 proteins were profiled in peritoneal fluids (PFs) of 25 women with endometriosis and 25 women without endometriosis. RESULT(S): In women with endometriosis, the median number of AAbs detected was 4, including AAbs that targeted autoantigens involved in implantation, B-cell activation/development, and aberrant migration and mitogenicity. Forty-six percent of women with endometriosis have ≥5 peritoneal AAbs. Conversely, in women without endometriosis, the median number of detected AAbs was 1. Autoantibodies recognizing tumor suppressor protein p53 were the most commonly detected AAbs, being present in 35% of women with endometriosis, and p53 AAb was associated with a monocyte/macrophage-like PF cytokine signature. Further investigation of the global reactivity of AAbs against citrullinated PF antigens by peptidylarginine deiminase enzymes 1, 2, and 6 revealed anticitrullinated p53 as the only AAb target elevated and citrullinated by all 3 peptidylarginine deiminase isotypes. Furthermore, unsupervised hierarchical clustering and integrative pathway analysis revealed that 60% of women with endometriosis-associated infertility were positive for AAbs, which are involved in platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-ß, RAC1/PAK1/p38/MMP2 signaling, LAT2/NTAL/LAB-mediated calcium mobilization, and integrin-mediated cell adhesion. CONCLUSION(S): Together, our data identify peritoneal autoimmunity in a significant subset of women with endometriosis, with implications on infertility and disease pathophysiology. In these patients, p53 was identified as the most frequent PF AAb target, which was present in both the native and citrullinated forms.

Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and women's fertility outcomes in a Singaporean population-based preconception cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Experimental models have demonstrated a link between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and decreased fertility and fecundability; however, human studies are scarce. We assessed the associations between preconception plasma PFAS concentrations and fertility outcomes in women. METHODS: In a case-control study nested within the population-based Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes (S-PRESTO), we measured PFAS in plasma collected in 2015-2017 from 382 women of reproductive age trying to conceive. Using Cox proportional hazards regression (fecundability ratios [FRs]) and logistic regression (odds ratios [ORs]) models, we assessed the associations of individual PFAS with time-to-pregnancy (TTP), and the likelihoods of clinical pregnancy and live birth, respectively, over one year of follow-up, adjusting for analytical batch, age, education, ethnicity, and parity. We used Bayesian weighted quantile sum (BWQS) regression to assess the associations of the PFAS mixture with fertility outcomes. RESULTS: We found a 5-10 % reduction in fecundability per quartile increase of exposure to individual PFAS (FRs [95 % CIs] for clinical pregnancy = 0.90 [0.82, 0.98] for PFDA; 0.88 [0.79, 0.99] for PFOS; 0.95 [0.86, 1.06] for PFOA; 0.92 [0.84, 1.00] for PFHpA). We observed similar decreased odds of clinical pregnancy (ORs [95 % CIs] = 0.74 [0.56, 0.98] for PFDA; 0.76 [0.53, 1.09] for PFOS; 0.83 [0.59, 1.17] for PFOA; 0.92 [0.70, 1.22] for PFHpA) and live birth per quartile increases of individual PFAS and the PFAS mixture (ORs [95 % CIs] = 0.61 [0.37, 1.02] for clinical pregnancy, and 0.66 [0.40, 1.07] for live birth). Within the PFAS mixture, PFDA followed by PFOS, PFOA, and PFHpA were the biggest contributors to these associations. We found no evidence of association for PFHxS, PFNA, and PFHpS and the fertility outcomes examined. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PFAS exposures may be associated with decreased fertility in women. The potential impact of ubiquitous PFAS exposures on infertility mechanisms requires further investigation.

Modifiable Risk Factor Score and Fecundability in a Preconception Cohort in Singapore.

Importance: Although multiple modifiable risk factors have been identified for reduced fecundability (defined as lower probability of conception within a menstrual cycle), no scoring system has been established to systematically evaluate fecundability among females who are attempting to conceive. Objective: To examine the association of a risk score based on 6 modifiable factors with fecundability, and to estimate the percentage reduction in incidence of nonconception if all study participants achieved a minimal risk score level. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study obtained data from the S-PRESTO (Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes) prospective cohort study. Females of reproductive age who were trying to conceive were enrolled from February 2015 to October 2017 and followed for 1 year, ending in November 2018. Data were analyzed from March to May 2022. Exposures: A reduced fecundability risk score was derived by giving participants 1 point for each of the following factors: unhealthy body mass index, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol intake, folic acid supplement nonuser, and older maternal age. Total scores ranged from 0 to 6 and were classified into 5 levels: level 1 (score of 0 or 1), level 2 (score of 2), level 3 (score of 3), level 4 (score of 4), and level 5 (score of 5 or 6). Main Outcomes and Measures: Fecundability, measured by time to conception in cycles, was analyzed using discrete-time proportional hazards models with confounder adjustment. Results: A total of 937 females (mean [SD] age, 30.8 [3.8] years) were included, among whom 401 (42.8%) spontaneously conceived within 1 year of attempting conception; the median (IQR) number of cycles before conception was 4 (2-7). Compared with participants with a level 1 risk score, those with level 2, 3, 4, and 5 risk scores had reductions in fecundability of 31% (adjusted fecundability ratio [FR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.88), 41% (FR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.45-0.78), 54% (FR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.31-0.69) and 77% (FR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.07-0.73), respectively. Assessment of the population attributable fraction showed that all participants achieving a minimal (level 1) risk level would be associated with a reduction of 34% (95% CI, 30%-39%) in nonconception within a year. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this study revealed the co-occurrence of multiple modifiable risk factors for lowered fecundability and a substantially higher conception rate among participants with no or minimal risk factors. The risk assessment scoring system proposed is a simple and potentially useful public health tool for mitigating risks and guiding those who are trying to conceive.

Developmental origins of health and disease: knowledge, attitude and practice of obstetrics & gynecology residents, pediatric residents, and medical students.

Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) explains how the health of the mother influences the offspring's risk of non-communicable diseases in later life. However, this remains underutilized in clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of medical students, Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) and Pediatrics residents, toward DOHaD, identify potential barriers to DOHaD counseling, and translate DOHaD concepts into clinical practice. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a multi-section digital questionnaire, rated on a five-point Likert scale (1-5), with a higher score indicating better KAP. The scores between groups were compared using ANOVA. A total of 117 participants, comprising medical students (n = 75, 64.1 percent), O&G (n = 33, 28.2 percent) and Pediatric residents (n = 9, 7.7 percent), completed the questionnaire. The mean scores for the "Knowledge," "Attitude" and "Practice" sections were 3.73 (standard deviation 0.82), 4.27 (0.59) and 3.03 (0.52), respectively. O&G residents scored higher for the "Practice" section than Pediatric residents (mean scores 3.17 vs. 2.16; p = .048). Overall, the participants demonstrated good knowledge and attitude, but poor practice toward DOHaD. Thus, there is a need to improve education and training for health care professionals, develop a structured implementation framework, and provide a transdisciplinary care continuum for mother and child.

Subtle changes in perivascular endometrial mesenchymal stem cells after local endometrial injury in recurrent implantation failure.

Improvements in reproductive techniques have resulted in the live birth rates from IVF procedures increasing from 5% to approximately 30% in recent decades but has plateaued since. Emerging preclinical and clinical data implicates endometrial receptivity deficiencies in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) as the predominant factor hindering successful implantation. Mechanisms on how local endometrial injury (LEI) improves implantation rates in patients with RIF are currently unknown. We hypothesized that LEI may influence perivascular endometrial mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (eMSCs) which are thought to regenerate the stromal vascular component of the functional layer every month. Here, we assessed the effect of LEI on the proportion and function of eMSCs present in consecutive LEI biopsies. Consecutive paired mid-luteal phase endometrial biopsies obtained from patients with RIF were digested to single cells and the proportion of SUSD2-expressing cells determined. Growth kinetics and decidualization were compared between the consecutive LEI samples. A mid-luteal LEI altered the decidualization capacity of SUSD2+ eMSCs in women with RIF, but not their proportion or clonogenicity. With the potential of LEI to improve IVF outcomes in women with RIF, additional investigations are needed to understand the impact of the altered decidualization response in eMSCs.

The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnant Women with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The impact of vitamin D supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels, metabolic status, and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with overweight and obesity (OW/OB) is uncertain. This study aimed to examine whether administrating 800 IU of vitamin D3 orally would improve maternal serum 25OHD levels, lipid profile, and pregnancy outcomes compared to 400 IU. This was a two-arm, parallel, non-blinded randomised controlled trial involving 274 pregnant women recruited from KK Women's and Children's Hospital, with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 within 16 weeks gestation. The participants were randomly assigned to receive 800 IU/day (intervention group) or 400 IU/day (control group) of oral vitamin D3 supplements. The primary outcomes were maternal serum 25OHD and lipid levels at 24-28 weeks gestation. The secondary outcomes included maternal and birth outcomes. Compared with controls (n = 119), the intervention group (n = 112) exhibited higher 25OHD levels at 24-28 weeks gestation (adjusted mean difference 6.52 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval 2.74, 10.31). More women in the intervention group achieved sufficient 25OHD levels (77.7% vs. 55.5%; p < 0.001). No differences were observed in lipid profiles or maternal or birth outcomes between the groups. An additional 400 IU of oral vitamin D3 supplementation increased serum 25OHD levels but did not impact lipid profiles or pregnancy outcomes.

Effects of an integrated mobile health lifestyle intervention among overweight and obese women planning for pregnancy in Singapore: protocol for the single-arm healthy early life moments in Singapore (HELMS) study.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in social and lifestyle factors have led to increasing rates of metabolic and mental health problems. We hypothesise that a transformation of the current maternal and child health system is required to deliver interventions that effectively promote a good start to life in populations at risk of metabolic and mental health problems. We describe a single-arm implementation study 'Healthy Early Life Moments in Singapore', which aims to examine whether an integrated lifestyle intervention initiated at preconception and continuing throughout pregnancy and postpartum periods can improve the metabolic and mental health of overweight and obese women, and improve early child growth. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This single-centre implementation trial is conducted at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. The trial aims to recruit 500 women, aged 21-40 years with a body mass index of 25-40 kg/m2 who plan to get pregnant, with interventions delivered before conception, until 18 months postdelivery. Primary outcomes comprise pregnancy rate, maternal metabolic and mental health status. Secondary outcomes include maternal reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes and offspring growth. The intervention will be delivered using a mobile health application, to provide anticipatory guidance, raise awareness and guide goal-setting on lifestyle behaviours that include diet, physical activity, mental wellness and sleep hygiene from preconception to postpartum. Women who conceive within 1 year of recruitment will be followed through pregnancy and studied with their infants at six-time points during the first 18 months of life. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and multiple biosamples will be collected at each visit. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Centralised Institutional Review Board of SingHealth (2021/2247). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to national and international policy makers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05207059.