Foetal umbilical cord brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus.

The aim of our study was to investigate whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in foetal umbilical cord blood. A total of 96 participants were divided into a GDM group (n = 43) and a non-diabetic control group (n = 53). Cord blood samples of approximately 5 cc were taken immediately after the foetal umbilical cord was clamped during delivery in order to determine BDNF levels. While the mean age, body mass index, birth weight, rate of caesarean delivery, rate of infant macrosomia, and neonatal intensive care unit admission of women with GDM were significantly higher compared to the non-diabetic control group (p < .05), pregnancy complications were comparable between the groups (p > .05). Although no significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to cord blood BDNF levels (0.79 ± 0.37 ng/ml vs. 0.69 ± 017 ng/ml, p = .122), cord blood BDNF values were higher in female infants compared to male infants (0.85 ± 0.33 ng/ml vs. 0.66 ± 0.23 ng/ml, p = .001) and in patients using insulin compared to those not using insulin in the GDM group (0.78 ± 0.14 ng/ml vs. 0.62 ± 0.09 ng/ml, p < .001). This study found that GDM has no effect on cord blood BDNF levels. More in-depth studies with larger series are needed to validate the results of the present study.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) negatively affects the foetal neurodevelopment due to inflammation and oxidative stress caused by hyperglycaemia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression has been shown to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, and there may be a relationship between varying BDNF concentrations and GDM.What do the results of this study add? Our study showed that no significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to cord blood BDNF levels, cord blood BDNF values were higher in female infants compared to male infants, and in patients using insulin compared to those not using insulin in the GDM group.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? GDM negatively affects the foetal neurodevelopment due to inflammation and oxidative stress caused by hyperglycaemia. BDNF expression has also been shown to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, and there may be a relationship between varying BDNF concentrations and GDM. The association between BDNF expression and GDM has not been clearly elucidated in the literature. More in-depth studies with larger series are needed to determine this relationship.

The impact of maternal major depression, anxiety disorders and their comorbidities on gestational age, birth weight, preterm birth and low birth weight in newborns.

BACKGROUND: The present study compared the impact of maternal major depression, anxiety disorders and their comorbidities on gestational age and birth weight of infants. METHODS: A total of 1119 women consisting of 26 women with only major depression, 125 women with only anxiety disorder, 36 women with major depression plus an anxiety disorder and 932 women without any psychiatric disorders were included in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses were determined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. RESULTS: The comorbid group had the highest proportion of newborns with preterm birth and low birth weight. Moreover, these newborns had the lowest birth weight and gestational age. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional study design. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that comorbidity between major depression and anxiety disorders during pregnancy may have noteworthy negative effects on birth weight and gestational age.

The course and clinical correlates of obsessive-compulsive disorder during the postpartum period: A naturalistic observational study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to investigate the course of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the demographic and clinical correlates associated with significant changes in symptom severity in postpartum women. METHODS: Data were collected form 37 consecutive postpartum women who were diagnosed with OCD during psychiatric interviews by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). Psychiatric assessments were carried out on the first day after delivery and at 6 to 8 weeks in the postpartum period. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was administered at both assessments while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Coping orientation to problems Experienced (COPE) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A), were administered to the participants at the first assessment. RESULTS: The mean score of Y-BOCS was significantly reduced from the baseline to the 6-8 week postpartum period. The proportion of patients with a decreaseof at least 35% in the total score of Y-BOCS during the postpartum period was 43.2%. When the patient groups with and without ≥35% decrease in the total score of Y-BOCS were compared, the group showing the decrease had a higher score of COPE-supression of competing activities, COPE-humor and TEMPS-A-hyperthymic affective temperament and more frequently reported a decrease in the severity of OCD symptoms after a previous childbirth. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the last two variables could accurately predict a ≥ 35 decrease in the severity of OCD symptoms during the postpartum period. LIMITATIONS: The study has relatively small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that patients with OCD who exhibit hyperthymic affective temperament character and a decrease in symptoms following a previous childbirth may experience a significant alleviation in the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the postpartum period.

Prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy: A case-control study with a large sample size.

This study aimed to compare pregnant and non-pregnant women in terms of the current prevalence of mood and anxiety. The study sample included 1154 women evaluated on the first day postpartum and 328 control subjects. Mood and anxiety disorders were determined by structured psychiatric interview. The prevalence rate of any mood or anxiety disorder was 18.2% during pregnany. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and comorbidity among anxiety disorders were more prevalent during pregnancy compared to the control subjects. The present results suggest that pregnant women may be at increased risk of depression and anxiety disorders.