Adiponectin and leptin profiles among obese pregnant women with preeclampsia vs. non-preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) affects only about 10% of women who meet the criteria for obesity based on their body mass index (BMI). Obesity is suggested to play a role in preeclampsia pathophysiology, and in addition to BMI, associated biomarkers with higher sensitivity and specificity, such as with adipokines from adipose tissue, are needed to enable clinical risk assessment. This study aimed to investigate obese pregnant women with and without PE by comparing clinical profiles and adipokine profiles specific to general adipose tissue (adiponectin and leptin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023478706). We utilized Cochrane, Scopus, and PubMed/Medline databases. The Cochrane ROBINS-I instrument was employed to assess the quality of studies. Pooled standard mean difference (SMD) and p-value were analyzed using a random-effects model with the DerSimonian-Laird method, while subgroup analysis with the Chi-square test and the inconsistency index (I2) were used to assess potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Three observational studies included a total of 2,646 obese pregnant women and found that adiponectin was more likely to have a lower level in pregnant women with obesity [SMD=-0.32; 95% CI: -0.34-0.17, p=0.003] and leptin was more likely to be higher in obese pregnant women with PE rather than non-PE [SMD=0.53; 95% CI: -0.19-1.08, p<0.00001]. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin levels were more likely to be lower in pregnant women with obesity in the PE group than in the non-PE group, and leptin levels were more likely to be higher.

Relationship of Anterior Knee Pain with Quadriceps Angle and Anthropometric Measurements in an Asian Female Population.

Introduction: Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) is the angle formed from the intersection of quadriceps femoris muscle and patellar tendon. Q-angle can be used to assess mechanical aspects of the patellofemoral discomfort and attracts considerable attention from clinicians. Anterior knee pain (AKP) is defined as mild pain localised around the peripatellar area exacerbated by physical activity such as climbing stairs, squatting, jumping, running, and/or sitting with the knee flexed for long periods. A higher Q-angle is one of the risk factors for AKP. In addition, several studies have found a relationship between anthropometric parameters, especially body mass index (BMI), to the occurrence of AKP. This study aims to determine the Q-angle and several anthropometric parameters between the population with AKP and without AKP in the adult population in Indonesia. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional, analytic experimental study was performed on female population divided into the comparison group consisted of 40 patients aged between 18-25 years with right side anterior knee pain (Kujala score <82) and the control group consisted of 40 patients aged between 18-25 years without anterior knee pain (Kujala score >82). Both groups had to be right-handed and had no history of knee fractures, knee surgery, congenital anomalies, or obesity. The Q-angle of the right knee was measured in all participants using a universal goniometer. Results: The mean Q-angle in the comparison group was 20.60±1.26°, and in the control group was 14.85±0.99°. All of these differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between anthropometric parameters (body weight, body height, and body mass index) with AKP. Conclusion: The Q-angle can be used to predict the risk of AKP in the female population. The greater the Q-angle the higher the risk of AKP. Anthropometric measurements cannot predict the risk of AKP.