妊娠期糖尿病对子代脐血中造血干细胞质量影响的讨论

目的:探讨母体妊娠期糖尿病对新生儿脐血中造血干细胞质量的影响。方法:对30例妊娠期糖尿病孕妇(GDM组)和30例正常孕妇(对照组)分娩的新生儿的脐血相关指标进行检测并分析差异性,包括:冷冻前有核细胞数(TNC)、CD34+细胞数、细胞活率、造血祖细胞培养集落形成总数。结果:GDM组与对照组的各项研究数据间的差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:妊娠期糖尿病对子代脐血中造血干细胞质量没有显著影响。因此,妊娠期糖尿病孕妇可放心储存脐血造血干细胞。     

血清IL-17 与妊娠期糖尿病发病及新生儿出生体重的相关性研究

目的:探讨母体与脐血清白介素-17(interleukin-17 IL-17)与妊娠期糖尿病发病(gestational diabetes mellitus GDM)及新生儿出生体重相关性。方法:收集我院足月GDM患者26例为病例组,孕24-28周经50g葡萄糖筛查试验无异常者26例为对照组,分娩前收集两组母血清及脐血清,检测母血清空腹血糖及空腹胰岛素,稳态模型评估胰岛素抵抗(homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance HOMA-IR)。检测两组母血清及脐血清IL-17水平,探讨与妊娠期糖尿病发病及新生儿出生体重相关性。结果:GDM组空腹胰岛素、HOMA-IR、母血清IL-17、脐血清IL-17与对照相比具有统计学差异(P<0.05)。相关研究发现,母血清IL-17水平与HOMA-IR存在明显正相关(r=0.718,P<0.001),脐血清IL-17与新生儿体重存在相关性(r=0.686 P<0.001),但脐血清IL-17水平与母血清IL-17水平无相关性(r=-0.339,P=0.0899)。结论:IL-17可能通过胰岛素抵抗参与了GDM的发生。     

脐动脉血流对预测子痫前期新生儿和产妇结局的价值分析

目的:探讨应用脐动脉血流用于预测子痫前期新生儿和产妇结局的临床价值。方法:选择在我院产科建档分娩的120例孕产妇作为研究对象,根据子痫前期发病情况分为子痫前期组60例与对照组60例,记录和比较两组孕产妇的一般资料、血脂、血糖水平、分娩前脐动脉血流与新生儿体重、胎盘的重量及Apgar评分,并进行相关性与危险因素分析。结果:两组孕产妇的年龄、孕次、产次、流产次数、孕周等对比差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。子痫前期组的血清HDL-C水平低于对照组(P0.05),血清TC、TG、LDL-C、FBG水平高于对照组(P0.05)。与对照组比较,子痫前期组脐动脉S/D、RI与PI值显著升高(P0.05)。所有孕产妇都顺利完成分娩,孕产妇与新生儿都存活,子痫前期组的新生儿出生体重及Apgar评分和胎盘的重量均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。在子痫前期组中,脐动脉S/D、RI、PI值与新生儿出生体重呈现显著负相关性(P0.05)。多重线性回归分析显示子痫前期孕产妇的脐动脉S/D、RI、PI值为影响新生儿出生体重的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:脐动脉血流与子痫前期新生儿出生体重显著相关,脐动脉S/D、RI、PI值为影响新生儿出生体重的独立危险因素,子痫前期脐动脉血流监测可为预测新生儿和产妇结局以及预后提供参考。     

羟乙基淀粉沉淀(HES)法分离脐血造血干细胞的临床优势分析

目的:探讨羟乙基淀粉沉淀(HES)法分离脐血单个核细胞(MNCs)的效果。方法:采集脐血31份,应用羟乙基淀粉(HES)沉淀飞和密度离心(Ficoll)法分离脐血MNCs,、纯化CD3+细胞、CD14+细胞、CD34+细胞,以台盼蓝拒染法检测细胞活力。结果:HES法MNCs回收率、CFU-GM计数高于Ficoll法(85.29±3.79 VS 47.06±4.61,t=35.67,P0.05;67.31±11.57/l×105MNCs VS28.54±6.39/l×105MNCs,t=16.33,P0.05);HES法分离的MNCs中CD3+、CD14+、CD34+细胞数均高于Ficoll法(t=5.76,t=2.51,t=6.67,P0.05)。结论:HES法分离MNCs可获得较好的回收率,是人脐血干细胞理想的分离方法。     

新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量与其相关影响因素的探讨

目的　探讨影响新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量的相关因素。方法　以重庆医科大学附属二院和重庆市妇幼保健院的12 0例新生儿为研究对象,每例生后5～7d,均采集新鲜大便做双歧杆菌定量培养,并做10个相关因素的准确登记。结果　母亲分娩方式、临产期及产后是否使用抗生素、母亲妊娠期饮食习惯以及新生儿黄疸期长短与新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量有相关性( P均<0 .0 1)。结论　提倡阴道分娩、临产期及产后不用抗生素、妊娠期多食发酵制品和素食,并尽量设法缩短新生儿黄疸时间,均有益于新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量相对充足     

人脐血间充质干细胞分离培养方法的优化

目的探讨人脐血间充质干细胞（MSCs）体外培养纯化的最佳方法,为脐血MSCs在临床的广泛应用奠定基础。方法无菌条件下采集足月分娩和早产儿脐血,密度梯度离心法分离脐血单个核细胞,比较胎龄、不同培养基、接种密度、首次换液时间对脐血MSCs原代培养过程的影响,通过免疫荧光方法检测表面标记物的表达情况,观察脐血MSCs的生物学特性。结果足月分娩脐血,采用MesencultTM培养基,以5×106/cm2的密度接种,首次换液时间为7d时,脐血MSCs原代培养成功率较高。相同培养条件下,早产儿脐血培养成功率高于足月分娩脐血。人脐血MSCs强表达CD29、CD44和CD90,不表达造血干细胞表面标志CD34。结论优化筛选到一种合适的人脐血MSCs培养纯化条件。     

两种不同密度分离液分离的脐血CD34+、CD34-细胞造血活性比较

目的:比较两种不同密度的ficoll-泛影葡胺分离造血干细胞群的效果,找出更适合分离脐血造血干、祖细胞的分离密度,为脐血造血干细胞的医学研究及临床应用提供一定依据。方法:采集脐血6份,根据密度梯度离心法,用质量分数为(1.068±0.001)g/m L、(1.077±0.001)g/m L ficoll-泛影葡胺分离液等量分离同一份脐血,分别计数这两种分离液的单个核细胞获得率及细胞存活率,得到的单个核细胞再分别经免疫磁珠分选法获得高纯度的CD34~+细胞及除去了CD34~+的单个核细胞(CD34~(-depleted) MNCs),统计分析这两种不同密度分离液获得的CD34~+细胞、CD34~(-depleted)MNCs在甲基纤维素中形成CFU-GM集落数。结果:1(1.068±0.001)g/m L、(1.077±0.001)g/m L两种分离液分离的单个核细胞平均密度分别为(1.52±1.0)×10~6个/m L、(2.84±0.98)×10~6个/m L,(P0.05);经免疫磁珠纯化后的CD34~+细胞占单个核细胞(MNCs)的比率分别是(1.26±0.47)%、(1.07±0.15)%,(P0.05);2(1.068±0.001)g/m L分离的单个核细胞经免疫磁珠纯化后1.5×10~3个CD34~+细胞形成CFU-GM的集落(140.5±14.5)显著多于(1.077±0.001)g/m L的集落数(118.3±13.8)(P0.05);(1.068±0.001)g/m L分离的5×10~4个CD34~(-depleted) MNCs形成的CFU-GM集落数(132.0±5.1)也显著多于(1.077±0.001)g/m L的集落数(101.3±9.4),(P0.05)。结论:与1.077 g/m L Ficoll相比,1.068g/m L Ficoll-泛影葡胺分离液分离的单个核细胞中的CD34~+、CD34~-细胞造血活性更强,更适合用来分离脐血中造血干细胞群。     

影响脐带血采集质量的相关性因素分析

目的回顾性分析影响脐带血采集质量的母婴因素和采集处理因素。 方法记录389份脐带血的采集量、母亲年龄、孕龄、新生儿体重、分娩方式、新生儿性别、胎次及脐带血采集至计数间隔以及采集方式。用KX-21型全自动血液分析仪进行细胞计数并计算有核细胞总数（TNC）。采用Pearson相关和Spearman秩相关进行相关性分析,采用t检验、Mann-Whitney U检验、方差分析及Kruskal-Wallis H检验进行分组比较,分析影响脐带血采集量和TNC的相关因素。? 结果脐带血采集量与TNC显著相关（r = 0.723,P < 0.001）,脐带血采集量大于80 ml时的TNC显著高于低体积者。在母婴因素中,母亲年龄与采集量及TNC差异均无统计学意义;孕龄与采集量负相关（r = -0.119,P = 0.019）,而与TNC正相关（r = 0.138,P = 0.007）,足月儿脐带血的TNC显著高于早产儿（P = 0.038）;婴儿出生体重与采集量及TNC均正相关（r = 0.236,P < 0.001;r = 0.275,P < 0.001）,体重较大婴儿脐带血的采集量和TNC均显著高于体重较小者（P?< 0.001）;剖宫产的脐带血采集量虽高于阴道分娩（P < 0.001）,但其TNC不及阴道分娩;男婴与女婴在脐带血采集量和TNC之间无显著差异。在采集处理因素中,脐带血采集至计数的时间间隔与采集量及TNC均无显著相关。 结论为提高脐带血的保存质量,应侧重选择胎儿体重较大、经阴道分娩的产妇作为脐带血供者,实验室应首先处理采集量较大的脐带血。     

脐血流S/D 比值异常108 例临床分析

目的:应用胎儿脐血流检测仪测定脐动脉S/D值探讨导致脐血流S/D比值升高的主要原因。方法:对2009年9月~2010年12月在我院进行产前检查的1919例孕28~42周的孕妇检测胎儿脐动脉血流(S/D)。结果:异常组108例的脐带因素、胎儿窘迫、羊水过少及妊高征的发生率均明显高于正常组,两者比较差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:脐动脉S/D比值增高可及早地警示和发现胎儿宫内缺氧情况,指导临床提早采取干预和处理措施,提高围产保健质量。     

新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量影响因素与其婴儿期腹泻关系

目的探讨新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量的相关影响因素,并明确它们与婴儿期腹泻的关系。方法以120例新生儿为研究对象,生后5-7 d均做大便双歧杆菌定量培养,并做相关因素的准确登记,同时严密观察随访至1岁,准确记录其发生腹泻情况。结果母亲分娩方式、临产期及产后是否使用抗生素、母亲妊娠期饮食习惯以及新生儿黄疸期长短与新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量有相关性。新生儿黄疸期长、母亲临产期及产后使用抗生素均是婴儿腹泻的危险因素;阴道分娩、母亲喜发酵制品及喜素食均是婴儿腹泻的保护因素。结论为避免导致新生儿肠道双歧杆菌数量不足的影响因素,提倡阴道分娩、临产期及产后不用抗生素、妊娠期多食发酵制品和素食,并尽量设法缩短新生儿黄疸时间,以减少婴儿腹泻的发生。     

Banking or Bankrupting: Strategies for Sustaining the Economic Future of Public Cord Blood Banks

Background

Cord blood is an important source of stem cells. However, nearly 90% of public cord blood banks have declared that they are struggling to maintain their financial sustainability and avoid bankruptcy. The objective of this study is to evaluate how characteristics of cord blood units influence their utilization, then use this information to model the economic viability and therapeutic value of different banking strategies.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of cord blood data registered between January 1st, 2009 and December 31st, 2011 in Bone Marrow Donor Worldwide. Data were collected from four public banks in France, Germany and the USA. Samples were eligible for inclusion in the analysis if data on cord blood and maternal HLA typing and biological characteristics after processing were available (total nucleated and CD34+ cell counts). 9,396 banked cord blood units were analyzed, of which 5,815 were Caucasian in origin. A multivariate logistic regression model assessed the influence of three parameters on the CBU utilization rate: ethnic background, total nucleated and CD34+ cell counts. From this model, we elaborated a Utilization Score reflecting the probability of transplantation for each cord blood unit. We stratified three Utilization Score thresholds representing four different banking strategies, from the least selective (scenario A) to the most selective (scenario D). We measured the cost-effectiveness ratio for each strategy by comparing performance in terms of number of transplanted cord blood units and level of financial deficit.

Results

When comparing inputs and outputs over three years, Scenario A represented the most extreme case as it delivered the highest therapeutic value for patients (284 CBUs transplanted) along with the highest financial deficit (USD 5.89 million). We found that scenario C resulted in 219 CBUs transplanted with a limited deficit (USD 0.98 million) that charities and public health could realistically finance over the long term. We also found that using a pre-freezing level of 18 x 10⁸ TNC would be the most cost-effective strategy for a public bank.

Conclusion

Our study shows that a swift transition from strategy A to C can play a vital role in preventing public cord blood banks worldwide from collapsing.     

High quality cord blood banking is feasible with delayed clamping practices. The eight-year experience and current status of the national Swedish Cord Blood Bank

The National Swedish Cord Blood Bank (NS-CBB) is altruistic and publicly funded. Herein we describe the status of the bank and the impact of delayed versus early clamping on cell number and volume. Cord Blood Units (CBUs) were collected at two University Hospitals in Sweden. Collected volume and nucleated cell content (TNC) were investigated in 146 consecutive Cord Blood (CB) collections sampled during the first quarter of 2012 and in 162 consecutive CB collections done in the first quarter of 2013, before and after clamping practices were changed from immediate to late (60 s) clamping. NS-CBB now holds close to 5000 units whereof 30 % are from non-Caucasian or mixed origins. Delayed clamping had no major effect on collection efficiency. The volume collected was slightly reduced (mean difference, 8.1 ml; 95 % CI, 1.3–15.0 ml; p = 0.02), while cell recovery was not (p = 0.1). The proportion of CBUs that met initial total TNC banking criteria was 60 % using a TNC threshold of 12.5 × 10⁸, and 47 % using a threshold of 15 × 10⁸ for the early clamping group and 52 and 37 % in the late clamping group. Following implementation of delayed clamping practices at NS-CBB; close to 40 % of the collections in the late clamping group still met the high TNC banking threshold and were eligible for banking, implicating that that cord blood banking is feasible with delayed clamping practices.     

Maternal and fetal leptin,adiponectin levels and associations with fetal insulin sensitivity

Objective:

It remains uncertain whether leptin and adiponectin levels are correlated in maternal vs. fetal circulations. Little is known about whether leptin and adiponectin affect insulin sensitivity during fetal life.

Design and Methods:

In a prospective singleton pregnancy cohort (n = 248), we investigated leptin and adiponectin concentrations in maternal (at 24‐28 and 32‐35 weeks of gestation) and fetal circulations, and their associations with fetal insulin sensitivity (glucose/insulin ratio, proinsulin level).

Results:

Comparing concentrations in cord vs. maternal blood, leptin levels were 50% lower, but adiponectin levels more than doubled. Adjusting for gestational age at blood sampling, consistent and similar positive correlations (correlation coefficients: 0.31‐0.34, all P < 0.0001) were observed in leptin or adiponectin levels in maternal (at 24‐28 or 32‐25 weeks of gestation) vs. fetal circulations. For each SD increase in maternal plasma concentration at 24‐28 weeks, cord plasma concentration increased by 12.7 (95% confidence interval 6.8‐18.5) ng/ml for leptin, and 2.9 (1.8‐4.0) µg/ml for adiponectin, respectively (adjusted P < 0.0001). Fetal insulin sensitivity was negatively associated with cord blood leptin (each SD increase was associated with a 5.4 (2.1‐8.7) mg/dl/µU/ml reduction in cord plasma glucose/insulin ratio, and a 5.6 (3.9, 7.4) pmol/l increase in proinsulin level, all adjusted P < 0.01) but not adiponectin (P > 0.4) levels). Similar associations were observed in nondiabetic full‐term pregnancies (n = 211).

Conclusions:

The results consistently suggest a maternal impact on fetal leptin and adiponectin levels, which may be an early life pathway in maternal‐fetal transmission of the propensity to obesity and insulin resistance.     

Cord blood ASP is predicted by maternal lipids and correlates with fetal birth weight

Background: The acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is a potent lipogenic adipokine that correlates with postprandial triglyceride (TG) clearance and is linked to the pathophysiology of obesity and related disorders. Objective: To investigate ASP levels in cord blood and its relation to maternal and cord blood lipid parameters and fetal birth weight. Methods and Procedures: Thirty nondiabetic pregnant women, their newborns, and thirty‐three nonpregnant controls were included in this study. Fasting maternal and cord blood ASP, TGs, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), cholesterol, glucose levels, in addition to maternal BMI and fetal birth weight were measured. Results: No significant difference was found between cord blood ASP (16.3 ± 0.96 nmol/l) and ASP levels in the adult controls (15.7 ± 1.0 nmol/l). Cord blood ASP, however, was lower than maternal plasma ASP levels (25.4 ± 1.6 nmol/l, P < 0.001). Yet, lipid levels in cord blood, particularly TGs were markedly decreased compared to control and maternal TG levels (threefold and 7.4‐fold, P < 0.001 respectively). Maternal TGs significantly correlated with fetal birth weight (r = 0.54, P = 0.002). Multiple regression analysis showed that maternal TGs (β = 0.57, P = 0.01) and NEFAs (β = 0.43, P = 0.024) predicted 45% variation in cord blood ASP levels, independent of all measured maternal and cord blood parameters. Cord blood ASP showed a positive correlation with fetal birth weight (r = 0.524, P = 0.037) in neonates above average fetal birth weight of the studied population. Discussion: This is the first study investigating ASP in cord blood. We suggest that maternal hypertriglyceridemia is associated with increased fetal ASP production, thus enhancing fetal fat storage independent of maternal glucose variations in nondiabetic women.     

Predictive analytics and cord blood banking: toward utilization-based unit selection

Background aimsTotal nucleated cell (TNC) and CD34+ cell doses are considered among the most important parameters when assessing the suitability of a human leukocyte antigen-matched cord blood unit (CBU) for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cord blood banks therefore frequently select CBUs for cryopreservation based on pre-process TNC content. However, cell loss during processing can lead to a significant quantity of CBUs that do not meet desired post-process quality criteria, and such grafts are less likely to be selected by transplant centers for HSCT. Here the authors present a multi-parameter linear regression (MLR) model capable of identifying CBUs that would process poorly, despite meeting established pre-process TNC and CD34+ quality thresholds.MethodsHistorically processed CBUs were graded from A+ to D depending on post-process cell content, and the utilization rate of each grade category was examined. Eight pre-process predictors of post-process cell content were used to train the MLR model, including red blood cell (RBC) content; CBU volume; age of CBU when received; and TNC constituent cell subsets. The selection efficacy of this model was then compared to that of methods conventionally used to select CBUs for processing, with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and mean inventory quality analysis forming the basis of assessment.ResultsWithin the Anthony Nolan Cell Therapy Centre, CBUs graded ‘D’ accounted for 37% of processing expenditures despite providing only 11% of grafts shipped for HSCT. The MLR model significantly improved pre-process identification of 'D' grade CBUs relative to thresholds based primarily on CD34+ cell content (P < 0.0001) and TNC content (P < 0.0001). At a comparable financial investment, this translated to a banked graft inventory of significantly higher quality than that produced by CD34+ (+8.8% mean increase, P = 0.007) and TNC (+9.9% mean increase, P = 0.010) selection methods.ConclusionsA predictive modelling approach to pre-process CBU selection is a simple and effective means to increase graft inventory quality and potentially future graft utilization, at no additional financial investment.     

Increased Maternal and Cord Blood Betatrophin in Gestational Diabetes

Aim

The aim of the study was to compare maternal and cord blood levels of betatrophin – a new peptide potentially controlling beta cell growth - as well as in its mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue and placental tissue obtained from pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and gestational diabetes (GDM).

Methods

Serum betatrophin and irisin concentrations were measured by ELISA in 93 patients with GDM and 97 women with NGT between 24 and 28 week of gestation. Additionally, maternal and cord blood betatrophin and irisin, as well as their genes (C19orf80 and Fndc5) expression were evaluated in 20 patients with GDM and 20 women with NGT at term.

Results

In both groups, serum betatrophin concentrations were significantly higher in the patients with GDM than in the controls (1.91 [1.40-2.60] ng/ml vs 1.63 [1.21-2.22] ng/ml, p=0.03 and 3.45 [2.77-6.53] ng/ml vs 2.78 [2.16-3.65] ng/ml, p=0.03, respectively). Cord blood betatrophin levels were also higher in the GDM than in the NGT group (20.43 [12.97-28.80] ng/ml vs 15.06 [10.11-21.36] ng/ml, p=0.03). In both groups betatrophin concentrations in arterial cord blood were significantly higher than in maternal serum (p=0.0001). Serum irisin levels were significantly lower in the patients with GDM (1679 [1308-2171] ng/ml) than in the healthy women between 24 and 28 week of pregnancy (1880 [1519-2312] ng/ml, p=0.03). Both C19orf80 and Fndc5 mRNA expression in fat and placental tissue did not differ significantly between the groups studied.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that an increase in maternal and cord blood betatrophin might be a compensatory mechanism for enhanced insulin demand in GDM.     

Concentrations of Pentosidine,an Advanced Glycation End-product,in Umbilical Cord Blood

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are formed over several weeks to months by non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation (“glycoxidation”) reactions between carbohydrate-derived carbonyl groups and protein amino groups, known as the Maillard reaction. Pentosidine is one of the best-characterized AGEs and is accepted as a satisfactory marker for glycoxidation in vivo. The present study was intended to measure pentosidine concentrations in umbilical cord blood from newborns with various gestational ages using our recently established high-performance liquid chromatography method [Tsukahara, H. et al. (2003) Pediatr. Res. 54, 419–424]. Our study demonstrates, for the first time, that pentosidine is detected in most of the umbilical blood samples. This study also shows that the umbilical blood concentrations of pentosidine are considerably lower than normal adult values, but that they increase with gestation progression and fetal growth. Umbilical pentosidine concentrations were significantly elevated in newborns of mothers with preeclampsia compared to those of mothers without preeclampsia. We conclude that accumulation of AGEs and oxidative stress occurs in fetal tissues and organs in utero at the early stage of human life and that their accumulation is augmented in the maternal preeclampsic condition.     

The Selenium Levels of Mothers and Their Neonates Using Hair,Breast Milk,Meconium, and Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood in Van Basin

The objective of the present study is to calculate linear regressions between a mother and her child with respect to their selenium concentration (ng/g) in the following traits: maternal blood and umbilical cord blood, maternal and child hair, maternal milk and child umbilical cord blood, maternal milk and meconium, maternal blood plasma, and child meconium. The data were collected at Research Hospital of the University of Yüzüncü Yıl from 30 pairs of mothers and their newborn baby. The mean maternal serum Se level in 30 mothers was 68.52 ± 3.57 ng/g and cord plasma level was 119.90 ± 18.08 ng/g. The Se concentration in maternal and neonatal hair was 330.84 ± 39.03 and 1,124.76 ± 186.84 ng/g, respectively. The Se concentration of maternal milk at day 14 after delivery was determined as 68.63 ± 7.78 ng/g (n = 13) and the concentration of Se was 418.90 ± 45.49 ng/g (n = 22) for meconium of neonatal. There was no significant difference between maternal blood and milk Se levels. However, hair Se concentration was significantly higher than milk and maternal blood Se level. For each trait comparison, the average absolute difference in log₁₀-transformed Se concentration was calculated between a mother and her child. The observed average absolute difference was compared with a test distribution of 1,000 resampled bootstrap averages where the number of samples was maintained but the relationship between a mother and her child was randomized among samples (α = 0.05).     

Spinal Cord Dynorphin Precursor Intermediates Decline During Late Gestation

Abstract: This laboratory has previously reported that the maternal opioid analgesia associated with pregnancy and parturition is mediated, at least in part, by a maternal spinal cord dynorphin/κ opioid system. This analgesia is accompanied by an increase in dynorphin peptides (1–17 and 1–8) in the lumbar spinal cord. Levels of trypsin-generated arginine⁶-leucine-enkephalin (Leu-Enk-Arg)-immunoreactive determinants were also determined and used to reflect the content of dynorphin precursor intermediates. In spinal tissue, the amount of dynorphin A (1–17) contained in the form of precursor is, at a minimum, 10-fold higher than the content of mature dynorphin A (1–17) or dynorphin (1–8). During gestational day 22, the content of dynorphin precursor is reduced significantly (∼50%). The decline in the magnitude of dynorphin precursor intermediates in the spinal cord of pregnant rats vastly exceeds the magnitude of increase in the content of dynorphin peptides (1–17 and 1–8). This difference can best be explained by postulating a corresponding increase in the rate of release of spinal cord dynorphin (1–17). It is suggested that enhanced processing of dynorphin precursor intermediates represents the initial biochemical level of adaptation of spinal dynorphin neurons to increased demands of pregnancy.     

Maternal BMI Associations with Maternal and Cord Blood Vitamin D Levels in a North American Subset of Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study Participants

ObjectiveObesity in pregnancy may be associated with reduced placental transfer of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD). The objective of this study was to examine associations between maternal BMI and maternal and cord blood levels of 25-OHD in full term neonates born to a single racial cohort residing at similar latitude. Secondary objectives were to examine associations between maternal glucose tolerance with maternal levels of 25-OHD and the relationship between cord blood 25-OHD levels and neonatal size.MethodsThis study was conducted among participants of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (HAPO) Study meeting the following criteria: residing at latitudes 41–43°, maternal white race, and gestational age 39–41 weeks. Healthy pregnant women underwent measures of height, weight, and a 75-g fasting oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at approximately 28 weeks gestation. Maternal and cord blood sera were analyzed for total 25-OHD by HPLC tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and linear regression models.ResultsMaternal and cord blood (N = 360) mean levels (sd) of 25-OHD were 37.2 (11.2) and 23.4 (9.2) ng/ml, respectively, and these levels were significantly different among the 3 field centers (ANOVA p< 0.001). Maternal serum 25-OHD was lower by 0.40 ng/ml for BMI higher by 1 kg/m² (p<0.001) in an adjusted model. Maternal fasting plasma glucose, insulin sensitivity, and presence of GDM were not associated with maternal serum 25-OHD level when adjusted for maternal BMI. Cord blood 25-OHD was lower by 0.26 ng/ml for maternal BMI higher by 1 kg/m² (p<0.004). With adjustment for maternal age, field center, birth season and maternal serum 25-OHD, the association of cord blood 25-OHD with maternal BMI was attenuated. Neither birth weight nor neonatal adiposity was significantly associated with cord blood 25-OHD levels.ConclusionThese results suggest that maternal levels of 25-OHD are associated with maternal BMI. The results also suggest that interpretation of neonatal 25-OHD levels may need to incorporate specific maternal factors in addition to season of birth and latitude.