Maternal anxiety during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies concerning the association between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes have provided controversial findings. METHODS: In this systematic review, a meta-analysis was utilized to investigate the association between maternal anxiety and preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW). Literature was searched until June 2013. Only prospective cohort studies that reported data on maternal anxiety during pregnancy with PTB and/or LBW were included. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or random effects models depending on the size of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twelve studies totaling 17,304 pregnant women reported PTB data; and six studies totaling 4948 pregnant women reported LBW data. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy was associated with significant increased risk of PTB (pooled RR=1.50, 95% CI=1.33-1.70) and LBW (pooled RR=1.76, 95% CI=1.32-2.33). LIMITATIONS: Potential moderators could not be adequately considered due to insufficient information. In addition, the effects of different types of anxiety disorder on the risk of these adverse birth outcomes could not be investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that maternal anxiety during pregnancy was positively related to an increased risk of PTB and LBW. Healthcare providers should give close attention to anxiety in pregnant women and provide appropriate mental health support in order to improve outcomes for both mothers and infants.

A systematic review and quantitative assessment of sleep-disordered breathing during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.

PURPOSE: Previous investigations have suggested a strong association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. However, the results of the following replication studies were not always concordant. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the more reliable estimate. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Springer Link, and EMBASE to identify all eligible studies published before August 2013. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 24 publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. Findings demonstrated that moderate-to-severe SDB during pregnancy was associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (OR=1.78; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.46), pregnancy-related hypertension (OR=2.38; 95% CI, 1.63 to 3.47), preeclampsia (OR=2.19; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.80), preterm delivery (OR=1.98; 95% CI, 1.59 to 2.48), low birth weight (OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.32), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (OR=2.43; 95% CI, 1.61 to 3.68), intrauterine growth restriction (OR=1.44; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.71), and Apgar score of <7 at 1 min (OR=1.78; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.91) based on all studies but not gestational age and birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis revealed that moderate-to-severe SDB during pregnancy may be associated with most of adverse perinatal outcomes. Further well-designed studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

[MicroRNA383 regulates expression of PRDX3 in human medulloblastomas].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of microRNA-383 (miR-383) on PRDX3 gene expression, cell proliferation and apoptosis of human medulloblastma. METHODS: PRDX3 and miR-383 RNA expression was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in human medulloblastoma tumor tissue samples, Daoy cell line and normal brain tissue samples. Western blot was used to detect protein expression of PRDX3. Synthetic miR-383 mimics were transfected into Daoy cells by lipofectamine. Using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method, flow cytometry was used to investigate the cell proliferation and apoptosis, cells reactive oxgen species(ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential changes in each experimental groups. RESULTS: Of 15 cases of human medulloblastoma tumor, 13 cases had miR-383 expression levels significantly lower than that of normal brain tissue, and 14 had PRDX3 mRNA expression levels significantly higher than that of normal brain tissue. The expression levels of miR-383 and PRDX3 in Daoy cells were 0.353 and 1.315 times than those of normal brain tissue, respectively. The protein expression levels of PRDX3 were higher in human medulloblatoma tumors and Daoy cells than that of normal brain tissue. Transfected miR-383 mimics increased the expression level of miR-383 after 24 h and 48 h was significantly higher than that of the control. In contrast, PRDX3 gene mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly decreased at 48 h compared with the control group. Using CCK-8 assay, the cell proliferation rate in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Annexin V-FITC assay demonstrated that early apoptosis rate of the experimental group (11.60 ± 0.30)% was significantly higher than those of the control group (2.3 ± 0.20)% and negative control group (10.37 ± 0.25)% (P = 0.000) after 48 h of transfection. The intracellular ROS levels after transfection at 24 and 48 h significantly increased than those of the control group. Mitochondrial membrane potential level at 24 h after transfection significantly decreased, comparing with the blank control group and the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with normal brain tissue, decreased expression of miR-383 but elevated expression of PRDX3 are medulloblastoma tumour and Daoy cell lines. Up-regulation of miR-383 knockdowns the expression of PRDX3, inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of Daoy cells, leading to increased intracellular ROS and decreased levels of mitochondrial membrane potential.

[Study on effects of microRNA-21 antisense oligonucleotide in vivo and in vitro on bionomics of human cervical squamous carcinoma cell lines SiHa].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of microRNA-21 (miR-21) antisense oligonucleotide on the biological characteristics of human cervical squamous carcinoma cell lines SiHa in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Specific phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting miR-21 were synthesized and transfected into cervical cancer cells in vitro. Expression of miR-21 in SiHa after transfection was detected by real-time RT-PCR. The cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay and colony formation experiment. The cell apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V-FITC/PI analysis. The inhibitory effect of miR-21 antisense oligonucleotide on tumor growth was evaluated by tumor growth curves and immunohistochemistry (MaxVision method). H-E staining was used to document morphological changes and fluorometric TUNEL assay was to detect the apoptotic activity. RESULTS: After the transfection of antisense miR-21, the expression of miR-21 decreased along with an obvious growth inhibition, compared with that of the control groups (P < 0.05). Colony formation of both cell lines was markedly inhibited with antisense miR-21 (55.6% ± 1.4%), as compared with that in the negative group (98.3% ± 2.0%, P < 0.05). Flow cytometry assay showed that antisense miR-21 expression significantly enhanced the cell apoptosis (6.7% ± 1.3% and 29.4% ± 1.7%, P < 0.05). The tumor-forming rates of miR-21 transfected group, and negative control groups were 3/8 and 6/8, respectively (P < 0.05). Ki-67 proliferative marker staining decreased significantly (42% vs 90%) in the transfected group compared with negative control groups. Extensive dead tumor cells were seen in the miR-21 transfected cells along with a marked increase of apoptosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Targeted antisense oligonucleotide miR-21 effectively suppresses the growth of cervical carcinoma SiHa cells both in vitro and in vivo through an induction of apoptosis.