Dendritic polyglycerol nanoparticles show charge dependent bio-distribution in early human placental explants and reduce hCG secretion

A thorough understanding of nanoparticle bio-distribution at the feto-maternal interface will be a prerequisite for their diagnostic or therapeutic application in women of childbearing age and for teratologic risk assessment. Therefore, the tissue interaction of biocompatible dendritic polyglycerol nanoparticles (dPG-NPs) with first- trimester human placental explants were analyzed and compared to less sophisticated trophoblast-cell based models. First-trimester human placental explants, BeWo cells and primary trophoblast cells from human term placenta were exposed to fluorescence labeled, ∼5 nm dPG-NPs, with differently charged surfaces, at concentrations of 1 µM and 10 nM, for 6 and 24 h. Accumulation of dPGs was visualized by fluorescence microscopy. To assess the impact of dPG-NP on trophoblast integrity and endocrine function, LDH, and hCG releases were measured. A dose- and charge- dependent accumulation of dPG-NPs was observed at the early placental barrier and in cell lines, with positive dPG-NP-surface causing deposits even in the mesenchymal core of the placental villi. No signs of plasma membrane damage could be detected. After 24 h we observed a significant reduction of hCG secretion in placental explants, without significant changes in trophoblast apoptosis, at low concentrations of charged dPG-NPs. In conclusion, dPG-NP’s surface charge substantially influences their bio-distribution at the feto- maternal interface, with positive charge facilitating trans-trophoblast passage, and in contrast to more artificial models, the first-trimester placental explant culture model reveals potentially hazardous influences of charged dPG-NPs on early placental physiology

Self-reported perinatal depressive symptoms and postnatal symptom severity after treatment with antidepressants in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in 12 European countries using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Purpose: To explore the prevalence of self-reported antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms by severity across multiple countries and the association between antidepressant treatment in pregnancy and postnatal symptom severity. Patients and methods: Multinational web-based study in 12 European countries (n=8069). Uniform data collection was ensured via an electronic questionnaire. Pregnant women at any gestational week and mothers of children with less than one year of age, could participate. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to measure prevalence of antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms according to severity, which were corrected by survey-weight adjustment (descriptive analysis). Within mothers with a psychiatric disorder (n=173), we estimated the association between antidepressant treatment in pregnancy and postnatal depressive symptom severity, as standardized EPDS mean scores, via inverse probability of treatment weight (association analysis). Results: In the descriptive analysis (n=8069), the period prevalence of moderate to very severe depressive symptoms was higher in the Western and Eastern regions relative to the Northern, both in the ante- (6.8-7.5% vs 4.3%) and postnatal period (7.6% vs 4.7%). One in two mothers with psychiatric disorders used antidepressant in pregnancy (86 out of 173). In the association analysis, women medicated at any time during pregnancy (adjusted β: -0.34, 95% CI: -0.66, -0.02) had a significant postnatal symptom severity reduction compared with the nonmedicated counterpart. This effect was larger (β: -0.74, 95% CI: -1.24, -0.24) when the analysis was restricted to mothers within six months after childbirth. Conclusions: The prevalence of self-reported antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms differs across European countries. Among women with psychiatric disorders, those who had been on treatment with antidepressants during pregnancy were less likely to report postnatal depressive symptoms, particularly within the six-month period after childbirth, compared to the nonmedicated counterpart

New insights into oculodermal nevogenesis and proposal for a new iris nevus classification

To gain more knowledge about presence and dermatological associations of iris nevi as well as possible pathways involved in the formation of iris nevi

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Immunosuppressives and biologics during pregnancy and lactation : A consensus report issued by the Austrian Societies of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

An increasing and early-onset use of immunosuppressives and biologics has become more frequently seen among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and rheumatic disorders. Many women in their childbearing years currently receive such medications, and some of them in an interdisciplinary setting. Many questions arise in women already pregnant or wishing to conceive with respect to continuing or discontinuing treatment, the risks borne by the newborns and their mothers and long-term safety. Together with the Austrian Society of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, the IBD working group of the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology has elaborated consensus statements on the use of immunosuppressives and biologics in pregnancy and lactation. This is the first Austrian interdisciplinary consensus on this topic. It is intended to serve as a basis and support for providing advice to our patients and their treating physicians.(VLID)365891