Preterm AND Stress

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disease characterized by proteinuria, endothelial dysfunction, and placental hypoxia. Reduced placental blood flow causes changes in red blood cell (RBC) rheological characteristics. Herein, we used microfluidics techniques and new image flow analysis to evaluate RBC aggregation in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women. The results demonstrate that RBC aggregation depends on the disease severity and was higher in patients with preterm birth and low birth weight. The RBC aggregation indices (EAI) at low shear rates were higher for non-severe (0...

BACKGROUND: Maternal depression is considered a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in pregnancy. A population at risk are U.S. born or immigrant Hispanic women, and few prenatal depression or immune studies have focused on this population. OBJECTIVE: The research questions for the study were 1) What are the occurrences, risk factors and outcomes associated with depression in Hispanic pregnant women in the United States and 2) What are the associations of plasma immune cytokines and prenatal depression in this population...

INTRODUCTION: Progestin, commonly used in oral contraception and preventing preterm birth, elicits various off-target side effects on brain and gastrointestinal (GI) functions, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to probe progestin's impact on GI function and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. METHODS: Colon stem cells were utilized to explore the mechanism underlying progestin 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC)-mediated suppression of claudin-1 (CLDN1), crucial for epithelial integrity...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of web neonatal intensive care unit diaries on the mental health, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and hormone levels of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled parallel-group clinical trial. SETTING: Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Fujian, China. METHODS: The control group received routine neonatal intensive care unit care, while the intervention group received a web neonatal intensive care unit diary based on routine care...

BACKGROUND: The risk of preterm birth (PTB) increases when experiencing stress during pregnancy. Chronic stress has been associated with a dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, for which hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a promising biomarker. However, previous studies on the association between HCC and PTB yielded inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized previous studies on the association between maternal HCC before and during pregnancy and spontaneous PTB...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We summarize the recent literature investigating exposure to four nonchemical stressors (financial stress, racism, psychosocial stress, and trauma) and DNA methylation, miRNA expression, and mRNA expression. We also highlight the relationships between these epigenetic changes and six critical perinatal outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, childhood allergic disease, and childhood neurocognition). RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple studies have found financial stress, psychosocial stress, and trauma to be associated with DNA methylation and/or miRNA and mRNA expression...

AIMS: Preterm birth, recognized as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is a multifactorial syndrome characterizing as the main cause of neonatal mortality. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been identified as proinflammatory factors to cause placental inflammation, thereby resulting in several pregnancy outcomes. To date, limited knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms of ROS-induced preterm birth has been reported. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of oxidative stress in preterm birth and the protective effects of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoTEMPO (MT) on preterm labor and offspring mice...

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder affecting low birthweight, preterm neonates. In the preterm eye, the retina is not fully developed and neovascularization may occur at the margin between the developed vascular retina and undeveloped avascular retina. Without timely treatment by laser or intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, this can lead to tractional retinal detachment and blindness. Visualization of the retina in regular examinations by indirect ophthalmoscopy is hence the current standard of care, but the exams are stressful and interpretation of images is subjective...

BACKGROUND: Premature birth rates have slightly increased globally, making its prevention critical for both short-term and long-term health outcomes. Various interventions have been developed in response to the multifaceted risk factors for premature birth, including internet-based programs. These programs offer accessibility and enhanced engagement; however, their overall efficacy in preventing premature births requires thorough evaluation. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to identify the study designs and assess the effectiveness of internet-based interventions in preventing premature birth among pregnant women...

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been a wide array of research studies published on parental mental health and stress following very preterm birth. This review aims at reviewing the prevalence and risk factors of long-term parental depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms and parenting stress following very preterm birth. METHODS: We searched PubMed, PsychINFO and Web of Science for descriptive, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies published between January 2013 and August 2022...

BACKGROUND: Parents with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The NICU experience may also lead to impaired parenting and early childhood socio-emotional problems. Psychosocial interventions can reduce NICU parent distress. Yet many are time-intensive and costly to deliver. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based psychological therapy, may address these needs. ACT has been shown to be effective in reducing distress of parents of children with chronic illnesses, particularly when combined with parent education...

The parenteral nutrition (PN) received by premature newborns is contaminated with peroxides that induce global DNA hypermethylation via oxidative stress. Exposure to peroxides could be an important factor in the induction of chronic diseases such as those observed in adults who were born preterm. As endogenous H2 O2 is a major regulator of glucose-lipid metabolism, our hypothesis was that early exposure to PN induces permanent epigenetic changes in H2 O2 metabolism. Three-day-old guinea pigs were fed orally (ON), PN or glutathione-enriched PN (PN+GSSG)...

Inflammation, oxidative injury, and gut dysbiosis play an important role in the pathogenesis of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Plant-derived substances have historically been used as therapeutic agents due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. We aimed to review pre-clinical evidence for plant-derived substances in the prevention and treatment of NEC. A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, EMCARE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library (PROSPERO CRD42022365477)...

INTRODUCTION: The wrapping of the newborn in an orthopedic tubular mesh, simulating a cocoon, can allow the infant to regain the feeling of security and stability experienced in the uterus given that the movement of one of the parts of the body exerts tactile and pressure variation in others. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the influence of an orthopedic tubular mesh, simulating a cocoon, in therapeutic positioning, on the variables of the autonomous, motor, and regulatory systems of preterm newborns...

BACKGROUND: Maternal stress is pervasive in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Maternal stress is associated with changes in human milk (HM) immunomodulatory agents, which may impact neonatal health. We sought to determine the association between maternal stress, HM immunoglobulin A (IgA) and cortisol, and to assess how these milk components correlate with infant immune and neurodevelopmental outcomes. We then compared how these associations persist over time. METHODS: The study design involved a cohort study of exclusively breastfeeding mothers and their singleton moderately preterm (28-34 weeks) infants admitted to the NICU...

BACKGROUND: Premature birth (PTB) remains a major global health concern due to its association with neonatal morbidity and mortality. The unfolded protein response (UPR) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is tightly regulated by Inositol-requiring enzyme type 1 (IRE-1), a pivotal cellular modulator. This study seeks to elucidate the role of the ER stress (ERS)-related IRE-1 pathway in PTB. METHODS: Human placental trophoblast cells HTR8/Svneo were exposed to the ER-stress inducer tunicamycin (TM)...

INTRODUCTION: Mothers of preterm infants need support to deal with the issues caused by the early birth of their infants. OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the impact of a multifaceted supportive approach on the mothers' perceived support levels. METHODS: The present quasi-experimental study was performed on 143 mother-preterm infant pairs, in two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of referral and educational hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The base of developed interventions was known to support system patterns of mothers with preterm infants...

The impact of conflict and crisis on maternal and child health underscores the need for reliable research in vulnerable populations. Lebanon, amidst ongoing economic collapse, political instability, and healthcare system strain, offers a case study for exploring these impacts, particularly on preterm babies and their development. This study aims to assess the feasibility of establishing a prospective cohort of mothers and their full-term and preterm babies in Lebanon, examining the association between social determinants, preterm birth, and developmental outcomes amidst the nation's multifaceted crises...

BACKGROUND: Being exposed to crises during pregnancy can affect maternal health through stress exposure, which can in return impact neonatal health. We investigated temporal trends in neonatal outcomes in Switzerland between 2007 and 2022 and their variations depending on exposure to the economic crisis of 2008, the flu pandemic of 2009, heatwaves (2015 and 2018) and the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using individual cross-sectional data encompassing all births occurring in Switzerland at the monthly level (2007-2022), we analysed changes in birth weight and in the rates of preterm birth (PTB) and stillbirth through time with generalized additive models...

BACKGROUND: Neonatal unit (NU) admissions for premature babies can last for months, which can significantly impact parental mental health (MH) with symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. Literature suggests fathers experience comparable MH symptoms to mothers. Family integrated care (FICare) is a culture where parents are collaborators and partners in caring for their hospitalized newborns. FICare improves infant outcomes and maternal MH. Similar reports on fathers are limited. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study is to investigate the impact of supporting father or partner engagement in FICare of preterm infants on their MH up to 6 weeks postdischarge...