Maternal Feeding Controls Fetal Biological Clock

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that circadian physiological rhythms of the fetus are affected by oscillators in the maternal brain that are coupled to the environmental light-dark (LD) cycle. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To study the link between fetal and maternal biological clocks, we investigated the effects of cycles of maternal food availability on the rhythms of Per1 gene expression in the fetal suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and liver using a transgenic rat model whose tissues express luciferase in vitro. Although the maternal SCN remained phase-locked to the LD cycle, maternal restricted feeding phase-advanced the fetal SCN and liver by 5 and 7 hours respectively within the 22-day pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that maternal feeding entrains the fetal SCN and liver independently of both the maternal SCN and the LD cycle. This indicates that maternal-feeding signals can be more influential for the fetal SCN and particular organ oscillators than hormonal signals controlled by the maternal SCN, suggesting the importance of a regular maternal feeding schedule for appropriate fetal molecular clockwork during pregnancy

Efect of 25 weeks probiotic supplementation on immune function of HIV patients

Objective: The objective of the study was to use recursive partitioning (RP) to identify gestational age-specific and threshold values for infectious and endocrine biomarkers of imminent delivery. Study Design: RP was developed using a previously collected data set and then applied to a prospectively collected cohort of women in threatened preterm labor. Predictors of preterm birth were considered, including white blood cell count (WBC), corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), cortisol, and maternal age. Results: At 22-27 weeks\u27 gestation, WBC of greater than 12,000/mL was the most accurate predictor of delivery within 48 hours; at 28-31 weeks\u27 gestation, CRH of greater than 684 pg/mL was the most accurate predictor; and at 32-26 weeks\u27 gestation, CRH and maternal age were the most important variables. Conclusions: These results indicate that maternal WBC greater than 12,000/mL prior to 28 weeks\u27 gestation and CRH beyond 28 weeks are the most accurate biomarkers in predicting preterm birth within 48 hours. RP assists in establishing clinically relevant and gestational age-specific threshold levels for these variables. © 2008 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved

Surveys on the Prevalence of Pediatric Bronchial Asthma in Japan: A Comparison between the 1982, 1992, and 2002 Surveys Conducted in the Same Region Using the Same Methodology

Background: We conducted and reported the first (1982; 55,388 subjects), and second (1992; 45,674 subjects), epidemiological surveys conducted on bronchial asthma in elementary students across 11 prefectures in western Japan. The 2 surveys were conducted in the same regions using the same methodology employing a modified Japanese version of the American Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD) Epidemiology Questionnaire. We conducted the third survey in 2002, and compared the findings to those of previous studies. Methods: In the third survey, 37,036 students attending the same schools as in previous surveys (in 11 prefectures) were given the questionnaire. A total of 35,582 responses (96.1%) were collected. An ATS-DLD Epidemiology Questionnaire was also used in this study, and the findings were compared to those of previous studies. Results: 1. The prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) in boys, girls, and all students was 3.8%, 2.5%, and 3.2%, respectively, for the first survey; 5.6%, 3.5%, and 4.6% for the second survey; and 8.1%, 4.9%, and 6.5% for the third survey. 2. A decline in the BA prevalence in older subjects which could be seen in the first survey was absent in the second and third surveys. There were no regional differences in the third survey. 3. The boys-to-girls ratio in the first, second, and third surveys was 1.5, 1.6, and 1.6, respectively. 4. BA was more prevalent among subjects with a past history of respiratory disease in infancy and those with a family history of allergic disease. 5. The prevalence of asthma symptoms and wheezing in the first, second, and third surveys was 7.1%, 9.8%, and 11.8%, respectively. 6. A comparison of the prevalence of other allergic diseases between the second and third surveys revealed a decrease in atopic dermatitis and an increase in allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and cedar pollinosis. Conclusions: BA prevalence in the third survey increased 2.1 and 1.4 times respectively compared to the first survey and second survey, indicating an upward trend in all regions and age groups surveyed

Rhythms of light emission by fetal liver explants.

<p>Shown are raw data (a) and detrended data (c) from a fetus of an <i>ad lib</i> fed control pregnant animal. (b) and (d) show raw and detrended data, respectively, from a fetus of a pregnant animal that had been exposed to a 4-hour RF regimen for 21 days after mating. The peak of the phase during the first full subjective day (1 to 2.5 days after explant) as statistically chosen is indicated by the white and black inverted triangles. The white inverted triangle in (a) and the black inverted triangle in (c) indicate the same peak time statistically chosen, as do the white and black triangles for (b) and (d), respectively.</p