Association between Lactobacillus species and bacterial vaginosis-related bacteria, and bacterial vaginosis scores in pregnant Japanese women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the etiology of which is still uncertain, increases the risk of preterm birth. Recent PCR-based studies suggested that BV is associated with complex vaginal bacterial communities, including many newly recognized bacterial species in non-pregnant women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To examine whether these bacteria are also involved in BV in pregnant Japanese women, vaginal fluid samples were taken from 132 women, classified as normal (n = 98), intermediate (n = 21), or BV (n = 13) using the Nugent gram stain criteria, and studied. DNA extracted from these samples was analyzed for bacterial sequences of any <it>Lactobacillus</it>, four <it>Lactobacillus </it>species, and four BV-related bacteria by PCR with primers for 16S ribosomal DNA including a universal <it>Lactobacillus </it>primer, <it>Lactobacillus </it>species-specific primers for <it>L. crispatus</it>, <it>L. jensenii</it>, <it>L. gasseri</it>, and <it>L. iners</it>, and BV-related bacterium-specific primers for BVAB2, <it>Megasphaera</it>, <it>Leptotrichia</it>, and <it>Eggerthella</it>-like bacterium.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalences of <it>L. crispatus</it>, <it>L. jensenii</it>, and <it>L. gasseri </it>were significantly higher, while those of BVAB2, <it>Megasphaera</it>, <it>Leptotrichia</it>, and <it>Eggerthella</it>-like bacterium were significantly lower in the normal group than in the BV group. Unlike other <it>Lactobacillus </it>species, the prevalence of <it>L. iners </it>did not differ between the three groups and women with <it>L. iners </it>were significantly more likely to have BVAB2, <it>Megasphaera, Leptotrichia</it>, and <it>Eggerthella</it>-like bacterium. Linear regression analysis revealed associations of BVAB2 and <it>Megasphaera </it>with Nugent score, and multivariate regression analyses suggested a close relationship between <it>Eggerthella</it>-like bacterium and BV.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The BV-related bacteria, including BVAB2, <it>Megasphaera</it>, <it>Leptotrichia</it>, and <it>Eggerthella</it>-like bacterium, are common in the vagina of pregnant Japanese women with BV. The presence of <it>L. iners </it>may be correlated with vaginal colonization by these BV-related bacteria.</p

Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common disorder worldwide, comprised of reflux esophagitis (RE) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). As more than half of GERD patients are classified into the NERD group, precise evaluation of bothersome epigastric symptoms is essential. Nevertheless, compared with many reports targeting endoscopic reflux esophagitis, large-scale studies focusing on GERD symptoms have been very scarce.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To elucidate lifestyle factors affecting GERD symptoms, 19,864 healthy adults in Japan were analyzed. Sub-analyses of 371 proton pump inhibitor (PPI) users and 539 histamine H₂-receptor antagonist (H₂RA) users were also performed. Using the FSSG (Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD) score as a response variable, 25 lifestyle-related factors were univariately evaluated by Student's <it>t</it>-test or Pearson's correlation coefficient, and were further analyzed with multiple linear regression modelling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Average FSSG scores were 4.8 ± 5.2 for total subjects, 9.0 ± 7.3 for PPI users, and 8.2 ± 6.6 for H₂RA users. Among the total population, positively correlated factors and standardized coefficients (β) for FSSG scores are inadequate sleep (β = 0.158), digestive drug users (β = 0.0972 for PPI, β = 0.0903 for H₂RA, and β = 0.104 for others), increased body weight in adulthood (β = 0.081), dinner just before bedtime (β = 0.061), the habit of midnight snack (β = 0.055), lower body mass index (β = 0.054), NSAID users (β = 0.051), female gender (β = 0.048), lack of breakfast (β = 0.045), lack of physical exercise (β = 0.035), younger age (β = 0.033), antihyperglycemic agents non-users (β = 0.026), the habit of quick eating (β = 0.025), alcohol drinking (β = 0.025), history of gastrectomy (β = 0.024), history of cardiovascular disease (β = 0.020), and smoking (β = 0.018). Positively correlated factors for PPI users are female gender (β = 0.198), inadequate sleep (β = 0.150), lack of breakfast (β = 0.146), antihypertensive agent non-users (β = 0.134), and dinner just before bedtime (β = 0.129), whereas those for H₂RA users are inadequate sleep (β = 0.248), habit of midnight snack (β = 0.160), anticoagulants non-users (β = 0.106), and antihypertensive agents non-users (β = 0.095).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Among many lifestyle-related factors correlated with GERD symptoms, poor quality of sleep and irregular dietary habits are strong risk factors for high FSSG scores. At present, usual dose of PPI or H₂RA in Japan cannot fully relieve GERD symptoms.</p

Plasma Aldosterone Concentration and Plasma Renin Activity Decrease during the Third Trimester in Women with Twin Pregnancies

Objective: Changes in the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and the plasma renin activity (PRA) have not been extensively studied in women with twin pregnancies. Methods: The PAC and PRA levels were determined during the second and third trime-sters and on postpartum day 3 in 14 normotensive women with twin pregnancies and 80 normotensive and 7 preeclamptic women with singleton pregnancies. Results: In women with twin pregnancies, elevated PAC and PRA levels (598 ± 248 pg/mL and 10.0 ±4.7 ng/ mL/h, respectively) in the second trimester decreased significantly during the third trimester (to 396 ± 210 pg/mL and 3.5 ± 2.9 ng/mL/h, respectively), whereas the corre-sponding PAC increased significantly (from 421 ± 207 to 667 ± 371 pg/mL) and the PRA did not change significantly (from 7.3 ± 3.4 to 6.9 ± 4.2 ng/mL/h) in women with normal singleton pregnancies. These changes in the PAC and PRA levels in women with twin pregnancies resembled those in hypertensive women with singleton pregnancies. Conclusions: In women with twin pregnancies, both the PAC and PRA levels were significantly enhanced during the second trimester, whereas those in the third trimester were significantly reduced compared with those in women with normal singleton pregnancies

Association of Antithrombin Activity with Plasma Aldosterone Concentration and Plasma Renin Activity in Pregnant Women

Objective. To test the hypothesis that the blood antithrombin (AT) activity is correlated with the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), the plasma renin activity (PRA), and/or the PAC-to-PRA ratio during the late stage of pregnancy. Methods. The AT activity, PAC, and PRA were determined within 7 days prior to delivery in 47 women, consisting of 30 normotensive and 6 hypertensive women with singleton pregnancies and 11 normotensive women with twin pregnancies. Results. The median values of the 47 women were 86% of the normal activity level for the AT activity, 442 pg/mL for the PAC, 3.7 ng/mL/h for the PRA, and 108 pg/mL per ng/mL/h for the PAC-to-PRA ratio. Women with an AT activity ≤86% had a significantly lower PRA and a higher PAC-to-PRA ratio than women with an AT activity >86% (3.5 ± 3.0 vs. 6.6 ± 4.7 ng/mL/h for PRA, p = 0.008; 156 ± 109 vs. 97 ± 46 pg/mL per ng/h for PAC-to-PRA ratio, p = 0.021). The AT activity was significantly correlated positively with the PRA and negatively with the PAC-to-PRA ratio. Conclusions. The existence of a common pathophysiological background between a reduced AT activity and a reduced PRA during the late stage of pregnancy was suggested

Association between nephrinuria, podocyturia, and proteinuria in women with pre-eclampsia

Aim: Podocyte depletion in the kidney is associated with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Pre-eclampsia (PE) increases the risk of ESKD in later life. This study was performed to determine whether nephrinuria (soluble nephrin in the urine) is correlated with proteinuria and/or podocyturia (podocytes in the urine) in PE women. Methods: Eighty-three urine samples, consisting of 45 and 38 samples from 27 normotensive and nine PE women, respectively, underwent simultaneous determination of nephrin, protein, and creatinine concentrations in the urine supernatant and quantitative analysis of podocyte-specific protein mRNA expression. This included podocin (Pod-mRNA) and nephrin (Nep-mRNA), using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the pelleted urine. Nephrinuria and proteinuria were corrected by creatinine concentration. Pod- and Nep-mRNA expression levels were corrected by GAPDH. Results: Nephrinuria, proteinuria, Pod-mRNA expression, and Nep-mRNA expression all increased with advancing gestation in PE women, while not in normotensive women. The nephrinuria was strongly correlated with proteinuria (R = 0.901, P < 0.001), Pod-mRNA expression level (R = 0.824, P < 0.001), and Nep-mRNA expression level (R = 0.724, P < 0.001) in urine samples from PE women, while the nephrinuria was significantly correlated with proteinuria alone (R = 0.419, P < 0.005) in urine samples from normotensive women. Conclusion: Nephrinuria reflected well the degrees of proteinuria and podocyturia in PE women. This suggested that increased nephrinuria/proteinuria was associated with podocyte loss in the kidneys of PE women

Platelet aggregation in citrated whole blood of the first trimester of pregnancy

Background: It was recently suggested that platelet reactivity is reduced in early pregnancy. This study was performed to determine whether the citrated whole blood from 33 pregnant women in their first trimester showed spontaneous platelet aggregation and whether it differed in extent from that of 11 non-pregnant women. Methods: The platelet count and number of platelet aggregates (PA) were serially determined in the same citrated whole blood specimens at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 min after blood sampling using a hematology analyzer. Results: The number of PA increased significantly at 30 min and thereafter in both groups, but was consistently lower for pregnant than non-pregnant women over the 90-min observation period. The platelet count decreased significantly in a time-dependent manner in both groups, but was significantly lower at 30 and 90 min for nonpregnant than pregnant women. The number of PA showed a significant positive correlation with net decrease in platelet count for both pregnant and non-pregnant women. PA counts were also significantly positively correlated with the mean platelet volume. Conclusion: Platelet reactivity monitored by the increase in number of PA and the fall in platelet count was reduced in early pregnancy compared with non-pregnant healthy controls

Platelet reactivity in twin pregnancies

Background: Gestational thrombocytopenia is more likely to occur in twin than singleton pregnancies. However, it is unclear whether platelets are more reactive in twin than singleton pregnancies. Methods: Changes in spontaneous platelet aggregation and concomitant fall in platelet count were examined over 90 min after blood sampling in 171 and 52 citrated whole blood (CWB) samples from 59 and 17 women with singleton and twin pregnancies, respectively. Soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) levels in the plasma were also determined. Results: CWB 60 min after blood sampling during 2nd trimester exhibited significantly larger numbers of platelet aggregates (1297 ± 1600 vs. 497 ± 432/μl, P = 0.040) concomitant with significantly greater net decrease in platelet count (152 ± 55 vs. 115 ± 45 × 10^9/μl, P = 0.036) in twin than singleton pregnancies, respectively. This was followed by significantly lower 3rd trimester platelet count (181 ± 43 vs. 229 ± 62 × 10^9/l, P = 0.009) with significantly greater mean platelet volume (8.0 ± 1.2 vs. 7.1 ± 1.1 fl, P = 0.021) in twin than singleton pregnancies, respectively. The 3rd trimester sP-selectin per platelet was significantly higher in twin than singleton pregnancies. Conclusions: Platelets were more reactive in the 2nd trimester of twin than singleton pregnancies. This enhanced platelet reactivity may explain the decreased platelet count in the 3rd trimester of twin pregnancy

Serum levels of N-terminal fragment of precursor protein brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in twin pregnancy

Twin pregnancy differs considerably from singleton pregnancy in many aspects and it is unknown how serum NT-proBNP level behaves in women with twin regnancies. Serum NT-proBNP levels were determined longitudinally at gestational weeks (GW) 24 and 35 in normotensive women with 13 twin and 99 singleton pregnancies. The effects of maternal demographic characteristics on NT-proBNP levels were also analyzed. The serum NT-proBNP levels (pg/ml) in twin pregnancies, which were not different from those in singleton pregnancies at 24 GW (26±15 vs. 40±27, respectively, P=0.0718), increased significantly (P=0.0038) and were significantly higher than those in singleton pregnancies at 35 GW (72±49 vs. 34±24, Pb0.0001). In the analysis including women with singleton pregnancies, the serum levels of NT-proBNP at 35 GW were significantly inversely correlated with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and were significantly higher in nulliparous than multiparous women. Thus, women with twin pregnancy were likely to exhibit an increase in serum NT-proBNP levels in the late stage of pregnancy, especially in lean and nulliparous women. The relative greater blood volume expansion occurring in twin than in singleton pregnancies was considered to be responsible for this phenomenon

Alteration of podocyte phenotype in the urine of women with preeclampsia

Podocyte injury has been suggested to induce phenotypic alteration of glomerular podocytes and accelerate the detachment of podocytes from the glomeruli resulting in podocyturia. However, it is not clear whether podocyte phenotypic alteration occurs in the urine of women with preeclampsia (PE). Seventy-seven and 116 pelleted urine samples from 38 and 18 women at various stages of normal and PE pregnancies, respectively underwent quantitative analysis of podocyte-specific or associated protein mRNA expression, including podocin, nephrin, and synaptopodin using RT-PCR. Significant proteinuria in pregnancy (SPIP) is defined as protein:creatinine ratio (P/Cr, mg/mg) ≥0.27 in the urine supernatant. All three urine-pellet mRNAs expression levels were significantly positively correlated with P/Cr levels, suggesting that podocyturia increased with proteinuria. The podocin:nephrin mRNA ratio (PNR) and synaptopodin:nephrin mRNA ratio (SNR) increased significantly with increasing P/Cr, while the podocin:synaptopodin mRNA ratio (PSR) did not change significantly according to P/Cr, resulting in significantly higher PNR and SNR, but not PSR levels, in urine from PE women with than without SPIP. The PNR, SNR, and PSR in urine from PE women before onset of SPIP were comparable to those from controls. Thus, nephrin mRNA expression was reduced in the podocytes recovered from PE women