Impacts on prenatal development of the human cerebellum: a systematic review

Purpose: The cerebellum is essential for normal neurodevelopment and is particularlysusceptible for intra-uterine disruptions. Although some causal prenatal exposures havebeen identified, the origin of neurodevelopmental disorders remains mostly unclear. Therefore,a systematic literature search was conducted to provide an overview of parental environmentalexposures and intrinsic factors influencing prenatal cerebellar growth and development inhumans. Materials and methods: The literature search was limited to human studies in the Englishlanguage and was conducted in Embase, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, Pubmed andGoogleScholar. Eligible studies were selected by three independent reviewers and study qualitywas scored by two independent reviewers. Results: The search yielded 3872 articles. We found 15 eligible studies reporting associationsbetween cerebellar development and maternal smoking (4), use of alcohol (3),in vitrofertilization mediums (1), mercury (1), mifepristone (2), aminopropionitriles (1), ethnicity (2) andcortisol levels (1). No studies reported on paternal factors. Conclusions: Current literature on associations between parental environmental exposures,intrinsic factors and human cerebellar development is scarce. Yet, this systematic reviewprovided an essential overview of human studies demonstrating the vulnerability of thecerebellum to the intra-uterine environment

A Priori and a Posteriori Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain: The Generation R Study

Abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We examined whether dietary patterns are associated with GWG. Participants included 3374 pregnant women from a population-based cohort in the Netherlands. Dietary intake during pregnancy was assessed with food-frequency questionnaires. Three a posteriori-derived dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis: a “Vegetable, oil and fish”, a “Nuts, high-fiber cereals and soy”, and a “Margarine, sugar and snacks” pattern. The a priori-defined dietary pattern was based on national dietary recommendations. Weight was repeatedly measured around 13, 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy; pre-pregnancy and maximum weight were self-reported. Normal weight women with high adherence to the “Vegetable, oil and fish” pattern had higher early-pregnancy GWG than those with low adherence (43 g/week (95% CI 16; 69) for highest vs. lowest quartile (Q)). Adherence to the “Margarine, sugar and snacks” pattern was associated with a higher prevalence of excessive GWG (OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.06; 1.99) Q4 vs. Q1). Normal weight women with higher scores on the “Nuts, high-fiber cereals and soy” pattern had more moderate GWG than women with lower scores (−0.01 (95% CI −0.02; −0.00) per SD). The a priori-defined pattern was not associated with GWG. To conclude, specific dietary patterns may play a role in early pregnancy but are not consistently associated with GWG

The effects of lutein on respiratory health across the life course : a systematic review

Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD)Public Health and primary car

დალი ბეჟუაშვილი და ქეთევან დადიანიძე

მარცხნიდან: დალი ბეჟუაშვილი, ქეთევან დადიანიძე. ფოტოს გადაღების თარიღი უცნობიადალი ბეჟუაშვილი - ექიმი პედიატრი. ქეთევან დადიანიძე - ექიმი, მუშაობდა ბავშვთა N1 საავადმყოფოში პედიატრად

Maternal fish consumption, fatty acid levels and angiogenic factors: The Generation R Study

AbstractIntroductionAngiogenic factors, such as placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1), are key regulators of placental vascular development. Evidence from in vitro studies indicates that fatty acids can affect angiogenesis. We investigated the associations of maternal fish consumption and fatty acids levels with angiogenic factors during pregnancy, and in cord blood in a large population-based prospective cohort.MethodsFirst trimester fish consumption was assessed among 3134 pregnant women using a food-frequency questionnaire. Plasma fatty acid levels were measured in second trimester. Plasma PlGF and sFlt-1 were measured in first and second trimester and in cord blood. Associations of fish consumption or fatty acid levels with angiogenic factors were assessed by multivariable linear regression analyses.ResultsThere were no consistent associations of total fish or lean fish consumption with levels of PlGF, sFlt-1, or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Neither fatty fish nor shellfish were associated with angiogenic factors. Plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are the main type of fatty acids in fish, were inconsistently associated with angiogenic factors in second trimester and cord blood. Yet, higher levels of arachidonic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, were associated with lower levels of PlGF and sFlt-1.DiscussionWe found no consistent associations of fish consumption or fatty acids levels with angiogenic factors in a population with low fish consumption. Studies including populations with higher fish consumption are required to fully grasp the potential effects of maternal fish consumption on placental angiogenesis