Mood and anxiety disorders in very preterm/very low-birth weight individuals from 6 to 26 years

Background Very preterm (<32 weeks’ gestational age; VP) or very low–birth weight (<1,500 g; VLBW) birth has been associated with increased risk for anxiety and mood disorders and less partnering in adulthood. The aim was to test whether (a) VP/VLBW are at increased risk of any anxiety or mood disorders from 6 to 26 years compared with term-born individuals; (b) social support from romantic partners is associated with protection from anxiety and mood disorders; and (c) VP/VLBW adults’ lower social support mediates their risk for any anxiety and mood disorders. Methods Data are from a prospective geographically defined longitudinal whole-population study in South Bavaria (Germany). Two hundred VP/VLBW and 197 term individuals were studied from birth to adulthood. Anxiety and mood disorders were assessed at 6, 8, and 26 years with standardized diagnostic interviews and social support via self-report at age 26. Results At age 6, VP/VLBW children were not at increased risk of any anxiety or mood disorder. At age 8, VP/VLBW more often had any anxiety disorder than term comparisons (11.8% vs. 6.6%, OR = 2.10, 95% CI [1.08–4.10]). VP/VLBW adults had an increased risk for any mood (27.5% vs. 18.8%, OR = 1.65 [1.02–2.67]) but not for any anxiety disorder (33.0% vs. 28.4%, OR = 1.27 [0.82–1.96]). None of the significant differences survived correction for multiple testing. Social support was associated with a lower risk of anxiety or mood disorders in both groups (OR = 0.81 [0.68–0.96]) and mediated the association of VP/VLBW birth with any anxiety or any mood disorders at age 26. Conclusions This study does not show a persistently increased risk for any anxiety or mood disorder after VP/VLBW birth. Low social support from a romantic partner mediates the risk for anxiety or mood disorders after VP/VLBW birth

Inhibition of Cxcr 1 and 2 Delays Preterm Delivery and Reduces Neonatal Mortality in a Mouse Model of Chorioamnionitis

Intrauterine infection is one of the main etiologies associated with preterm delivery. Cytokines involved in chorioamnionitis, including IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP1, activate different pathways that lead to preterm delivery. Antileukinate (AL) is a potent selective IL-8 inhibitor that binds to CXC receptors 1&2 on neutrophils, thereby inhibiting IL-8-induced neutrophil chemotaxis and degranulation. Since CXC receptors 1&2 are critically involved in the pathology of chorioamnionitis, their inhibition with AL may have therapeutic potential. Four timed-pregnant C57BL6 mice groups were studied. LPS group received LPS intraperitoneally on gestational day (GD) 15. The AL group received LPS on GD15 followed immediately by intraperitoneal AL injection and repeated on GD16, and 17. Control groups received either saline, or no injections. In the LPS group, 90% delivered within 24 hours after LPS administration compared to 20% in the AL group. The LPS group had 85% stillborn compared to 15% in the AL group. Uterine histopathology AL group showed evidence of less inflammatory reaction compared to the LPS group. Uterine tissue and serum from the AL group had a significant reduction of inflammatory cytokines compared with the LPS group. Cytokine levels in brain and lung tissues from surviving pups were not significantly different between the AL and control groups. Our data show that antileukinate significantly delays preterm delivery in a mouse model of chorioamnionitis, and reduces neonatal mortality and morbidity