Use of Photoacoustic Imaging to Study the Effects of Anemia on Placental Oxygen Saturation in Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions.

We aimed to evaluate fetal and placental oxygen saturation (sO2) in anemic and non-anemic pregnant rats throughout gestation using photoacoustic imaging (PAI). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an iron-restricted or iron-replete diet before and during pregnancy. On gestational days 13, 18, and 21, PAI was coupled with high resolution ultrasound to measure oxygenation of the fetus, whole placenta, mesometrial triangle, as well as the maternal and fetal faces of the placenta. PAI was performed in 3D, which allowed sO2 to be measured within an entire region, as well as in 2D, which enabled sO2 measurements in response to a hypoxic event in real time. Both 3D and 2D PAI were performed at varying levels of FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen). Iron restriction caused anemia in dams and fetuses, a reduction in fetal body weight, and an increase in placental weight, but overall had minimal effects on sO2. Reductions in FiO2 caused corresponding reductions in sO2 which correlated to the severity of the hypoxic challenge. Regional differences in sO2 were evident within the placenta and between the placenta and fetus. In conclusion, PAI enables non-invasive measurement of sO2 both rapidly and with a high degree of sensitivity. The lack of overt changes in sO2 levels between control and anemic fetuses may suggest reduced oxygen extraction and utilization in the latter group, which could be attributed to compensatory changes in growth and developmental trajectories.

Assessing young adults' menopause knowledge to increase understanding of symptoms and help improve quality of life for women going through menopause; a student survey.

BACKGROUND: Due to menopause being a largely invisible and under-discussed topic in wider society, women often deal with menopause-related complications on their own. Social support and awareness have been shown to reduce negative menopausal experiences; however, lack of menopause knowledge, particularly among younger people, may deter support for women suffering from menopause symptoms. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge young adults have on menopause to be able to create interventions that target knowledge gaps and increase understanding of women's experiences and difficulties during their menopause transition. METHODS: We created an electronic questionnaire based on menopause literature and guidelines from Menopause Societies. It was pilot-tested on young people in the target group age (n = 14; 7 male and 7 female), menopause clinicians (n = 5), and women experiencing menopause (n = 4). The final survey included questions on participant demographics, general menopause knowledge, and options to support menopause management and was distributed through university student newsletters. Responses over a two week period were collected anonymously. Descriptive statistics were applied to characterize participants, define menopause knowledge, and identify gaps. Chi-squared statistics was used for group comparison, and open questions were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Survey responses were collected from 828 students; the average age was 22.1 ± 5.1 and 83.6% were female. Participants belonged to all faculties and included students from a variety of family settings and living conditions. Knowledge questions revealed a good understanding of the basic menopause physiology for most respondents, but there were gaps in understanding of symptoms and symptom management. Female sex and personal connection to menopausal women had a positive effect on the degree of menopause knowledge. Both males and females reported increased knowledge confidence at the end of the survey. CONCLUSION: Our survey provides evidence that young adults of both sexes have a general baseline knowledge of menopause and its symptoms and are open to learning strategies to help support menopausal women. Our findings will assist in developing targeted educational resources to increase social support and awareness, reduce stigma and improve the quality of life for menopausal women, and help prepare younger women for their future menopause journey.

A Leukocyte Migration Assay Assists Understanding of Interleukin-1ß-Induced Leukocyte Migration Into Preterm Mouse Uterus.

Neutrophils and other leukocytes invade the mouse uterus at term birth, which is normal for activating the uterus for labor. To better understand the regulation of this migration at term and interleukin (IL)-1ß-induced preterm birth, we developed a mouse leukocyte migration assay (mLMA) and used it with rytvela, an IL-1 receptor allosteric antagonist. The mLMA uses term peripheral blood leukocytes that migrate in a Boyden chamber in response to a chemoattractant. We tested several mouse uterine tissues after homogenization and sedimentation of debris for chemoattractant activity. The most active chemoattractant homogenate came from the mouse lower uterus on gestational day (GD) 18.5. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated that 99% of the cells that migrate are neutrophils. IL-1ß administered on GD 16 stimulated neutrophil migration and invasion into the uterus and the fetal brain along with preterm birth on GD 17. Preterm birth and the increased leukocyte invasion of the maternal uterus and fetal brain were all blocked by the co-administration of rytvela. To test where the site of IL-1ß action might be, we examined the potency of lower uterine chemoattractant and the activation of leukocytes following IL-1ß +/- rytvela administration. IL-1ß did not increase lower uterus homogenate chemoattractant activity, but it significantly (p < 0.05) increased leukocyte activation as defined by cytokine and chemokine expression. Rytvela blocked this activation of leukocytes by IL-1ß. We conclude that IL-1ß stimulates preterm birth in mice by increasing leukocyte activation leading to increased uterine and fetal brain leukocyte invasion.

Social Isolation Stress Modulates Pregnancy Outcomes and the Inflammatory Profile of Rat Uterus.

Prenatal stressors have been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes; including preterm birth (PTB). Recent work demonstrates that social isolation in mothers represents a silent stressor contributing to PTB risk. Here; we investigate the association of inflammatory and stress markers with PTB risk in Long-Evans rats exposed to social isolation stress (SIS) during preconception and pregnancy across four generations (F0-F3). Gestational length; blood glucose; corticosterone levels; and maternal and offspring weights were assessed in two SIS paradigms: transgenerational (TG) and multigenerational (MG) exposure. Maternal uterine tissues were collected 21 days after the dams gave birth. Exposure to SIS reduced pregnancy lengths in the parental generation and neonatal birth weights in the F1 and F2 generations. Interleukin (IL)-1ß (Il1b) mRNA levels increased in F0 animals but decreased in the offspring of both stress lineages. Protein levels of IL-1ß decreased in the TG lineage. Corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (Crhr1) expression decreased in SIS-exposed F0 animals and increased in the TG-F2 and MG-F1 offspring. Expression of enzyme 11-ß hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11bHSD2) was enhanced in F1 animals. These findings suggest SIS has adverse consequences on the F0 mothers; but their F1-F3 progeny may adapt to this chronic stress; thus supporting the fetal programming hypothesis.