Despite the vital and diverse roles of the placenta, remarkably little is known about its actual composition. Moreover, as placentophagy becomes increasingly popular, understanding the nutritional ...and heavy metal composition of the human placenta has practical implications. Here we evaluated the carbohydrate, sugar, protein, fat, cholesterol, vitamin, and heavy metal composition of the human placenta from uncomplicated singleton pregnancies and found that it contains a significant amount of cholesterol, protein, iron, and selenium, but no detectable levels of cadmium, arsenic, or mercury.
•A nutritional label for the human placenta is presented.•Human placenta contained a significant amount of cholesterol, protein, iron, and selenium.•There were no detectable levels of cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in the placentas.
To determine whether allogenic fetal cells resulting from donor egg pregnancies persist in maternal circulation.
Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the DYS14 sequence, a region ...of the Y chromosome, from DNA purified from peripheral blood cells.
Academic medical center.
Healthy 18-60-year-old women who have had donor egg pregnancies resulting in a male offspring (n = 11) or, as a control, female offspring (n = 8), at least 1 year previously and without any other source for male cells in their peripheral blood or a healthy male.
None.
Detection of DYS14 sequence by nested PCR.
DYS14 was detected in 5/11 (45%) of women who had donor egg pregnancies resulting in a male offspring, but in 0/8 (0) of women who had donor egg pregnancies resulting in a female offspring. The longest interval between delivery of a male offspring and detection of the DYS14 gene was 9 years.
Unmatched, allogenic fetal cells from donor egg pregnancies are able to persist in the circulation of healthy women for at least 9 years after delivery. This implies a novel mechanism by which immunologic detection is avoided by these cells and may impact on how they may be used for regenerative and transplant medicine.
Assessing research gaps and unmet needs in endometriosis As-Sanie, Sawsan; Black, Rebecca; Giudice, Linda C. ...
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
August 2019, 2019-08-00, 20190801, Letnik:
221, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Endometriosis, a systemic disease that is often painful and chronic, affects ∼10% of reproductive-age women. The disease can have a negative impact on a patient’s physical and emotional well-being, ...quality of life, and productivity. Endometriosis also places significant economic and social burden on patients, their families, and society as a whole. Despite its high prevalence and cost, endometriosis remains underfunded and underresearched, greatly limiting our understanding of the disease and slowing much-needed innovation in diagnostic and treatment options. Due in part to the societal normalization of women’s pain and stigma around menstrual issues, there is also a lack of disease awareness among patients, health care providers, and the public. The Society for Women’s Health Research convened an interdisciplinary group of expert researchers, clinicians, and patients for a roundtable meeting to review the current state of the science on endometriosis and identify areas of need to improve a woman’s diagnosis, treatment, and access to quality care. Comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to disease management and increased education and disease awareness for patients, health care providers, and the public are needed to remove stigma, increase timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment, and allow for new advancements.
Mammalian fertilization has been the subject of intensified research in recent times. Application of recombinant DNA, transgenic and gene targeting technology, in particular, to issues in mammalian ...fertilization has revolutionized the field. Here, we present some of the latest results coming from application of these and other technologies to four aspects of mammalian fertilization:
1.
formation of the egg zona pellucida (ZP) during oocyte growth;
2.
species-specific binding of sperm to the egg zona pellucida;
3.
induction of the sperm acrosome reaction (AR) by the egg zona pellucida;
4.
binding of sperm to and fusion with egg plasma membrane.
In virtually every instance, new information and new insights have come from relatively recent investigations.
The placenta and decidua interact dynamically to enable embryonic and fetal development. Here, we report single-cell RNA sequencing of 14,341 and 6754 cells from first-trimester human placental ...villous and decidual tissues, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis identified major cell types, many known and some subtypes previously unknown in placental villi and decidual context. Further detailed analysis revealed proliferating subpopulations, enrichment of cell type-specific transcription factors, and putative intercellular communication in the fetomaternal microenvironment. This study provides a blueprint to further the understanding of the roles of these cells in the placenta and decidua for maintenance of early gestation as well as pathogenesis in pregnancy-related disorders.
Although mass vaccination against COVID-19 may prove to be the most efficacious end to this deadly pandemic, there remain concern and indecision among the public toward vaccination. Because pregnant ...and reproductive-aged women account for a large proportion of the population with particular concerns regarding vaccination against COVID-19, this survey aimed at investigating their current attitudes and beliefs within our own institution.
This study aimed to understand vaccine acceptability among pregnant, nonpregnant, and breastfeeding respondents and elucidate factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
We administered an anonymous online survey to all women (including patients, providers, and staff) at our institution assessing rates of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents were contacted in 1 of 3 ways: by email, advertisement flyers, and distribution of quick response codes at virtual town halls regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Based on their responses, respondents were divided into 3 mutually exclusive groups: (1) nonpregnant respondents, (2) pregnant respondents, and (3) breastfeeding respondents. The primary outcome was acceptance of vaccination. Prevalence ratios were calculated to ascertain the independent effects of multiple patient-level factors on vaccine acceptability.
The survey was administered from January 7, 2021, to January 29, 2021, with 1012 respondents of whom 466 (46.9%) identified as non-Hispanic White, 108 (10.9%) as non-Hispanic Black, 286 (28.8%) as Hispanic, and 82 (8.2%) as non-Hispanic Asian. The median age was 36 years (interquartile range, 25–47 years). Of all the respondents, 656 respondents (64.8%) were nonpregnant, 216 (21.3%) were pregnant, and 122 (12.1%) were breastfeeding. There was no difference in chronic comorbidities when evaluated as a composite variable (Table 1). A total of 390 respondents (39.2%) reported working in healthcare. Nonpregnant respondents were most likely to accept vaccination (457 respondents, 76.2%; P<.001) with breastfeeding respondents the second most likely (55.2%). Pregnant respondents had the lowest rate of vaccine acceptance (44.3%; P<.001). Prevalence ratios revealed all non-White races except for non-Hispanic Asian respondents, and Spanish-speaking respondents were less likely to accept vaccination (Table 3). Working in healthcare was not found to be associated with vaccine acceptance among our cohort.
In this survey study of only women at a single institution, pregnant respondents of non-White or non-Asian races were more likely to decline vaccination than nonpregnant and breastfeeding respondents. Working in healthcare was not associated with vaccine acceptance.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a multi-organ disease that leads to mental retardation, macro-orchidism in males and premature ovarian insufficiency in female carriers. FXS is also a prominent monogenic ...disease associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). FXS is typically caused by the loss of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) expression, which codes for the RNA-binding protein FMRP. Here we report the discovery of distinct RNA-recognition elements that correspond to the two independent RNA-binding domains of FMRP, in addition to the binding sites within the messenger RNA targets for wild-type and I304N mutant FMRP isoforms and the FMRP paralogues FXR1P and FXR2P (also known as FXR1 and FXR2). RNA-recognition-element frequency, ratio and distribution determine target mRNA association with FMRP. Among highly enriched targets, we identify many genes involved in ASD and show that FMRP affects their protein levels in human cell culture, mouse ovaries and human brain. Notably, we discovered that these targets are also dysregulated in Fmr1(-/-) mouse ovaries showing signs of premature follicular overdevelopment. These results indicate that FMRP targets share signalling pathways across different cellular contexts. As the importance of signalling pathways in both FXS and ASD is becoming increasingly apparent, our results provide a ranked list of genes as basis for the pursuit of new therapeutic targets for these neurological disorders.
Objective
To determine how frequently and effectively products of conception can be obtained among women pursuing medical management of early pregnancy loss.
Methods
This pilot study was conducted to ...assess products of conception recovery outcomes for participants opting for medical management compared with women opting for surgical aspiration A tissue‐collection kit was provided to women opting for medical management. Outcome measures included successful collection of products of conception, quantity and integrity of DNA, and participant satisfaction with the process.
Results
Tissue was collected from 19 of 22 participants in the medical management group (84%) and 39 participants (100%) in the surgical management group (P = .02). DNA yield and integrity were similar among both groups (P = .03 and P = .003, respectively). Participants in the medical group reported a high comfort level with the kit and the process of tissue collection.
Conclusions
Medical management of a missed abortion followed by patient‐controlled collection of products of conception for subsequent cytogenetic analysis is well tolerated and highly effective. This methodology may reduce the need for surgical management, empower women to have more agency in their medical decisions, and increase access to genetic testing.
What is already known about this topic?
In instances when cytogenetic testing of products of conception is clinically indicated, surgical aspiration is typically recommended. Medical management is often discouraged because of a long‐standing assumption that tissue may not be successfully obtained for subsequent cytogenetic testing. Reliable products of conception collection with medical management of a missed abortion would give women greater choice in the management of their losses and the option to avoid surgical management.
What does this study add?
This study validates a patient‐controlled tissue‐collection approach that has the potential to expand access to care and improve patient‐centered outcomes. Offering women more options for management of an early pregnancy loss could significantly impact a clinician's ability to provide optimal preconception counseling and management guidance for future pregnancies.
Circulating extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) have the potential to serve as biomarkers for a wide range of medical conditions. However, limitations in existing exRNA isolation methods and a lack of ...knowledge on parameters affecting exRNA variability in human samples may hinder their successful discovery and clinical implementation. Using combinations of denaturants, reducing agents, proteolysis, and revised organic extraction, we developed an automated, high-throughput approach for recovery of exRNAs and exDNA from the same biofluid sample. We applied this method to characterize exRNAs from 312 plasma and serum samples collected from 13 healthy volunteers at 12 time points over a 2-month period. Small RNA cDNA library sequencing identified nearly twofold increased epithelial-, muscle-, and neuroendocrine-cell–specific miRNAs in females, while fasting and hormonal cycle showed little effect. External standardization helped to detect quantitative differences in erythrocyte and platelet-specific miRNA contributions and in miRNA concentrations between biofluids. It also helped to identify a study participant with a unique exRNA phenotype featuring a miRNA signature of up to 20-fold elevated endocrine-cell–specific miRNAs and twofold elevated total miRNA concentrations stable for over 1 year. Collectively, these results demonstrate an efficient and quantitative method to discern exRNA phenotypes and suggest that plasma and serum RNA profiles are stable over months and can be routinely monitored in long-term clinical studies.
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