Metformin Inhibits Zika Virus Infection in Trophoblast Cell Line.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have been associated with severe clinical outcomes, which may include neurological manifestations, especially in newborns with intrauterine infection. However, licensed vaccines and specific antiviral agents are not yet available. Therefore, a safe and low-cost therapy is required, especially for pregnant women. In this regard, metformin, an FDA-approved drug used to treat gestational diabetes, has previously exhibited an anti-ZIKA effect in vitro in HUVEC cells by activating AMPK. In this study, we evaluated metformin treatment during ZIKV infection in vitro in a JEG3-permissive trophoblast cell line. Our results demonstrate that metformin affects viral replication and protein synthesis and reverses cytoskeletal changes promoted by ZIKV infection. In addition, it reduces lipid droplet formation, which is associated with lipogenic activation of infection. Taken together, our results indicate that metformin has potential as an antiviral agent against ZIKV infection in vitro in trophoblast cells.

Infection of Fetal Membranes with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Tissue Processing to Isolate RNA for Expression Analysis.

This chapter outlines the methodology employed to infect the chorionic and amniotic membranes with Mycobacterium tuberculosis during pregnancy. Particularly, congenital tuberculosis, a rare and serious condition associated with cases in neonates and reactivation of latent tuberculosis in pregnant mothers, is interesting to study. Understanding the mechanisms of infection and the response of fetal membranes is crucial for developing effective treatments in these cases, which will promote better neonatal and maternal health in situations of tuberculosis during pregnancy. Establishing a standardized infection model in the chorioamniotic membranes is imperative, followed by a treatment protocol for isolating both cellular and mycobacterial RNA. This will enable the expression analysis during the maternal-fetal interface interaction with M. tuberculosis. The proposed methodology might be invaluable for qRT-PCR, microarrays, and sequencing research.

Isolation of total DNA from Placenta Samples, both Fresh and following Formalin and Paraffin Treatment.

The isolation of DNA from placental tissue suspected of infection is an important tool for identifying microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses associated with complications during and after pregnancy. While experts primarily process placental tissue, the preservation methods employed pose challenges to extracting complete DNA. Therefore, selecting the appropriate protocol is paramount to achieving greater efficiency in obtaining genetic material.

Impact of Pre-Gestational BMI and Gestational Weight Gain on Fetal Development Outcomes in Adolescent Pregnant Women.

Background. Gestational weight gain (GWG) constitutes an essential aspect of the gestational process. Due to factors such as pregestational body mass index (BMI), nutritional intake, level of physical activity, and psychological aspects, the recommended GWG may not be achieved, leading to adverse neonatal outcomes. Adolescents, due to their physiological and mental developmental stage, are at a higher risk of inappropriate GWG. Our aim is to highlight the importance of GWG in our population and to determine the correlation with perinatal outcomes. Methods. Pregnant adolescents who attended a tertiary care institution for prenatal care were included; maternal data such as preBMI and GWG were used to determine maternal and neonatal outcomes using the chi-square test and OR determination. Results. A total of 202 adolescent pregnant patients were included, comprising those with inadequate GWG (n = 70), adequate GWG (n = 85), and excessive GWG (n = 47). A statistically significant association was found between low BMI and inadequate GWG. Patients with inadequate GWG demonstrated a correlation with IUGR and low birth weight, while patients with excessive GWG gave birth to macrosomic neonates. Conclusion. We concluded that previous habits play a significant role in determining weight gain throughout pregnancy. GWG has a direct impact on neonatal growth and development.