Fetal Growth Restriction and Asthma: Is the Damage Done?

Physiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-266
Author(s):  
Kimberley C. W. Wang ◽  
Alan L. James ◽  
Peter B. Noble

Trajectories of airway remodeling and functional impairment in asthma are consistent with the notion that airway pathology precedes or coincides with the onset of asthma symptoms and may be present at birth. An association between intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and asthma development has also been established, and there is value in understanding the underlying mechanism. This review considers airway pathophysiology as a consequence of IUGR that increases susceptibility to asthma.

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 4979-4983 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. McTernan ◽  
N. Draper ◽  
H. Nicholson ◽  
S. M. Chalder ◽  
P. Driver ◽  
...  

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) inactivates cortisol to cortisone. In the placenta 11β-HSD2 activity is thought to protect the fetus from the deleterious effects of maternal glucocorticoids. Patients with apparent mineralocorticoid excess owing to mutations in the 11β-HSD2 gene invariably have reduced birth weight, and we have recently shown reduced placental 11β-HSD2 activity in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction. This is reflected in the literature by evidence of hypercortisolemia in the fetal circulation of small babies. In this study we have determined the levels of placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA expression across normal gestation (n = 86 placentae) and in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (n = 19) and evaluated the underlying mechanism for any aberrant 11β-HSD2 mRNA expression in intrauterine growth restriction. 11β-HSD2 mRNA expression increased more than 50-fold across gestation, peaking at term. Placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies when compared with gestationally matched, appropriately grown placentae [e.g. at termΔ Ct (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2/18S) 12.8 ± 0.8 (mean ± se) vs. 10.2 ± 0.2, respectively, P < 0.001]. These differences were not attributable to changes in trophoblast mass in intrauterine growth restriction placentae, as assessed by parallel analyses of cytokeratin-8 mRNA expression. No mutations were found in the 11β-HSD2 gene in the intrauterine growth restriction cohort, and imprinting analysis revealed that the 11β-HSD2 gene was not imprinted. Although the underlying cause is unknown, 11β-HSD2 gene expression is reduced in intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies. These data highlight the important role of 11β-HSD2 in regulating fetal growth, a known factor in determining fetal morbidity but also the subsequent development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mayeur ◽  
O. Cisse ◽  
A. Gabory ◽  
S. Barbaux ◽  
D. Vaiman ◽  
...  

Genetic variants in the FTO (fat mass- and obesity-associated) gene have the highest association of all obesity-associated genes. Its placental expression was shown to relate to birth weight, suggesting that it may participate in the control of fetal weight gain. To gain more insight into the implication of FTO in fetal growth, we measured its placental expression in samples including extremes of abnormal fetal growth, such as after intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or macrosomia in both rats and humans. In rats, fetal growth was modulated by maternal nutritional modifications. In humans, placental villi were collected from pathological pregnancies (i.e. with IUGR or fetal macrosomia). Placental FTO mRNA expression was reduced by IUGR but was not significantly affected by macrosomia in either rats or humans. Our data suggest that placental FTO may participate in interactions between the in utero environment and the control of fetal growth under IUGR conditions by modulating epigenetic processes.


1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
FH Bloomfield ◽  
JE Harding

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and, as yet, there is no effective treatment. Most fetuses with ultrasound evidence of moderate to severe IUGR do not grow better out of the womb than in, despite early enteral feeds and subsequent calorie supplementation. Research into possible therapies for growth restricted babies has thus also been directed towards the fetus. Major advances have been made in recent years in the understanding of the physiology of fetal growth, and it has become clear that fetal nutrition is the determining factor.


Author(s):  
Virginia Medina Jiménez ◽  
Sandra Acevedo-Gallegos ◽  
Monica Aguinaga Rios ◽  
Juan Manuel Gallardo-Gaona

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare perinatal outcomes between patients with and without prenatal ultrasound markers predictive of complex gastroschisis. Method: A prospective cohort of 98 patients with isolated fetal gastroschisis underwent antenatal ultrasound and delivered in a tertiary referral center. Patients were classified according to eight ultrasonographic markers predictive of complexity, and perinatal outcomes were assessed accordingly. The primary outcome was the presence of fetal growth restriction and staged SILO reduction postnatally. Results: Of all fetuses, 54.1% (n = 53) displayed ultrasonographic markers predictive of complexity at 32.7 ± 4.3 weeks of gestation. Gastric dilatation was the most frequent marker followed by extra-abdominal bowel dilatation. The presence of ultrasound markers predictive of complexity, was not associated with intrauterine growth restriction but its absence was less associated with staged SILO reduction of the abdominal wall postnatally with a RR of 0.79 (CI95% 0.17-0.53) Conclusion: Fetuses with ultrasound markers that predict complexity were not associated with fetal growth restriction but its absence was less associated with staged SILO reduction of the abdominal wall postnatally. It is necessary to unify criteria, establish cut-off points and the optimal moment to measure these markers.


1970 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-82
Author(s):  
Swaraj Rajbhandari ◽  
Sanu Maiya Dali

Objective: To find out the role of micronutrients in intrauterine growth restrictions. Methodology. Desktop review of articles from the year 1986 till 2005 March using key words, Micronutrients AND Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Results: 13.7 million infants are born annually with fetal growth restriction (IUGR) comprising 11% of all births in developing countries affecting up to 40% in some of developing countries varying from 14-38.8% for Nepal. Public health officials have recognized the urgent need for interventions aimed to prevent IUGR as this higher percent is likely due to protein calorie malnutrition, kwown to be the second leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The identification of IUGR is crucial because proper evaluation and management can result in a favourable outcome. Sixty five percent of IUGR are not identified until after delivery. More over, it is unrealistic issue to assume that extra nutrient taken for few months during pregnancy would replace the under nutrition that has been prevalent for over decades in terms of reproductive performance. Conclusion: Although it is frustrating that, most of the interventions aimed to prevent or treat impaired fetal growth have hardly shown any beneficial effect on short-term perinatal outcomes, long term benefit may be rewarding with significant impact. Hence provision of energy supplementation for two (or more, if they occur) consecutive pregnancies must be focused rather than during single pregnancy. Key words: micronutrients, intrauterine growth restriction, malnutrion. doi:10.3126/njog.v1i2.2407 N. J. Obstet. Gynaecol Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 77-82 Nov-Dec 2006


2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 254-254
Author(s):  
J. Nien ◽  
S. Illanes ◽  
C. Cabrera ◽  
M. Schepeler ◽  
H. Figueroa ◽  
...  

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1007
Author(s):  
Asghar Ali ◽  
Eduard Murani ◽  
Frieder Hadlich ◽  
Xuan Liu ◽  
Klaus Wimmers ◽  
...  

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) occurs in 15–20% of pig neonates and poses huge economic losses to the pig industry. IUGR piglets have reduced skeletal muscle growth, which may persist after birth. Prenatal muscle growth is regulated by complex molecular pathways that are not well understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as the main regulators of vital pathways and biological processes in the body. This study was designed to identify miRNA–mRNA networks regulating prenatal skeletal muscle development in pigs. We performed an integrative miRNA–mRNA transcriptomic analysis in longissimus dorsi muscle from IUGR fetuses and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses at 63 days post conception. Our data showed that 47 miRNAs and 3257 mRNAs were significantly upregulated, and six miRNAs and 477 mRNAs were significantly downregulated in IUGR compared to AGA fetuses. Moreover, 47 upregulated miRNAs were negatively correlated and can potentially target 326 downregulated genes, whereas six downregulated miRNAs were negatively correlated and can potentially target 1291 upregulated genes. These miRNA–mRNA networks showed enrichment in biological processes and pathways critical for fetal growth, development, and metabolism. The miRNA–mRNA networks identified in this study can potentially serve as indicators of prenatal fetal growth and development as well as postnatal carcass quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anindita Dutta ◽  
Donee Alexander ◽  
Theodore Karrison ◽  
Oludare Morhasson-Bello ◽  
Nathaniel Wilson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Low birthweight, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and perinatal mortality have been associated with air pollution. However, intervention studies that use ultrasound measurements to assess the effects of household air pollution (HAP) on fetal biometric parameters (FBP) are rare. We investigated the effect of a cookstove intervention on FBP and IUGR in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) cohort of HAP-exposed pregnant Nigerian women. Methods We recruited 324 women early in the second trimester of pregnancy. Between 16 and 18 weeks, we randomized them to either continue cooking with firewood/kerosene (control group) or receive a CleanCook stove and ethanol fuel (intervention group). We measured fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), femur length (FL), abdominal circumference (AC) and ultrasound-estimated fetal weight (U-EFW) in the second and third trimesters. The women were clinically followed up at six regular time points during their pregnancies. Once during the women’s second trimester and once during the third, we made 72-h continuous measurements of their personal exposures to particulate matter having aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5). We adopted a modified intent-to-treat approach for the analysis. Differences between the intervention and control groups on impact of HAP on fetal growth trajectories were analyzed using mixed effects regression models. Results There were no significant differences in fetal growth trajectories between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions Larger studies in a setting of low ambient air pollution are required to further investigate the effect of transitioning to a cleaner fuel such as ethanol on intrauterine growth. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02394574; September 2012


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