Evaluation of the G145R Mutant of the Hepatitis B Virus as a Minor Strain in Mother-to-Child Transmission

The role of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutant G145R, with a single change in amino acid 145 of the surface protein, as a minor population remains unknown in mother-to-child transmission. The minor strain as well as the major strain of the G145R mutant were evaluated in three cohorts using a locked nucleic acid probe-based real-time PCR. The breakthrough cohort consisted of children who were born to HBV carrier mothers and became HBV carriers despite immnoprophylaxis (n = 25). The control cohort consisted of HBV carriers who had no history of receiving the hepatitis B vaccine, hepatitis B immunoglobulin or antiviral treatment (n = 126). The pregnant cohort comprised pregnant women with chronic HBV infection (n = 31). In the breakthrough cohort, 6 showed positive PCR results (major, 2; minor, 4). In the control cohort, 13 showed positive PCR results (major, 0; minor, 13). HBeAg-positive patients were prone to have the G145R mutant as a minor population. Deep sequencing was performed in a total of 32 children (PCR positive, n = 13; negative, n = 19). In the breakthrough cohort, the frequency of the G145R mutant ranged from 0.54% to 6.58%. In the control cohort, the frequency of the G145R mutant ranged from 0.42% to 4.1%. Of the 31 pregnant women, 4 showed positive PCR results (major, n = 0; minor, n = 4). All of the pregnant women were positive for HBeAg and showed a high viral load. Three babies born to 3 pregnant women with the G145R mutant were evaluated. After the completion of immunoprophylaxis, 2 infants became negative for HBsAg. The remaining infant became negative for HBsAg after the first dose of HB vaccine. G145R was detected in one-fourth of the children with immunoprophylaxis failure. However, the pre-existence of the G145R mutant as a minor population in pregnant women does not always cause breakthrough infection in infants.     

The organization of medical aid to children of various cohorts of supervision, undergone to the influence of small dozes of radiation

In clause the stages of organization of medical aid to children who undergone to the influence of the ecopathologic factors, including small dozes of ionizing radiation are submitted. The features of various stages of medical aid in nearest time after influence of the radiating agent are shown. The methodological complexities of diagnostic measures in the late times after the ecopathologic influence of small dozes of ionizing radiation are submitted, the role of the radiosensitivity in formation of pathological somatic diseases of condition at children is considered. The opportunity of the differential treating and preventive help rendering to the children various cohorts of supervision is shown.     

Experimental study of the radioprotective action of melanin on the somatic development during irradiation in the antenatal period of ontogenesis

Daily introduction per os of the exogenous melanin in a doze of weight of 10 mg/kg pregnant female rats Wistar eliminated the functional deficiency of somatic development revealed at posterity at chronic gamma-irradiation in a doze 1.00-1.25 Gy for all period of pregnancy. The irradiation or introduction melanin antenatal to a phase ontogenesis resulted in stimulation of the immune answer, which was determined at offspring on 3rd week after birth. On the basis of the received data it is concluded presence radioembryoprotective actions melanin in the relation embryotoxic effects of small dozes of ionizing radiation and its participation in regulation immunogenes.     

Geographical distribution of preconceptional radiation doses to fathers employed at the Sellafield nuclear installation,West Cumbria.

OBJECTIVE--To examine whether the geographical distribution of births associated with preconceptional exposure of fathers to radiation at the Sellafield nuclear installation is consistent with the suggestion that this exposure explains the excess of childhood lymphoid malignancy in the adjacent village of Seascale. DESIGN--Retrospective birth cohort study. SETTING--Cumbria, West Cumbria health district, and Seascale civil parish. SUBJECTS--The 10,363 children born in Cumbria during 1950-89 to fathers employed at Sellafield. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--The doses of external whole body ionising radiation received by fathers at Sellafield in the total time and in the six months before conception of their children; the proportions of the collective doses associated with Seascale and the rest of West Cumbria. RESULTS--9256 children were born to fathers who had been exposed to radiation before the child''s conception. Of these, 7318 had fathers who were exposed in the six months before conception. Overall 7% (38 person-Sv) of the collective total preconceptional dose and 7% (3 person-Sv) of the collective dose for the six months before conception were associated with children born in Seascale. Of all the children whose fathers worked at Sellafield, 842 (8%) were born in Seascale. The mean individual doses before conception were consistently lower in Seascale than in the rest of West Cumbria. CONCLUSIONS--The distribution of the paternal preconceptional radiation dose is statistically incompatible with this exposure providing a causal explanation for the cluster of childhood leukaemias in Seascale.     

Experimental study of the neuroprotective properties of the melanin in embryos irradiated during antenatal development

Daily introduction per os of the exogenous melanin in a doze of weight of 10 mg/kg pregnant female rats of line Wistar on a background continuous irradiations (dose rate of 2.6 mGy/h within 20 days of pregnancy) eliminated deficiency cognitive functions at posterity. On the basis of the received data it is concluded presence radioembryoprotective actions of melanin in the relation neuro embryotoxic effects of small dozes ionizing radiation. Taking into account small toxicity of melanin, the preparation can be perspective for practical application.     

Estimation and reduction of the radiation dose to the fetus from external-beam radiotherapy

The appearance of a malignant disease during pregnancy is relatively rare. The use of external-beam radiation therapy is limited to non-pelvic tumors which are usually located above the diaphragm. However, supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy unavoidably exposes the fetus to secondary radiation due to head leakage, scatter from the machine and scatter produced inside the patient. This fetal exposure may be associated with an elevated risk for the development of deterministic harmful effects and/or carcinogenesis. The decision about the administration of radiotherapy in a pregnant patient is influenced by the fetal dose which must always be estimated before the patient’s treatment course. The methods employed for fetal dosimetry in external-beam radiotherapy are described in this review study. Direct dose measurements using thermoluminescent dosemeters or large ionization chambers placed on physical phantoms may be used. Monte Carlo simulations on computational phantoms may also provide accurate fetal dose calculations. The physical and/or computational phantoms need to simulate the full-scatter geometry of the pregnant patient. Typical fetal dose values attributable to radiation therapy for brain tumors, head and neck cancer, breast carcinoma and Hodgkin lymphoma at the first, second and third trimesters of gestation are presented. The effectiveness of different shielding devices for fetal dose reduction in radiotherapy is discussed. The effect of the dimensions and setup of the shielding material on the radiation dose received by the fetus is described. Moreover, practical methods for reducing the fetal dose by selecting the appropriate irradiation parameters are presented.     

A Safe Vaccine (DV-STM-07) against Salmonella Infection Prevents Abortion and Confers Protective Immunity to the Pregnant and New Born Mice

Pregnancy is a transient immuno-compromised condition which has evolved to avoid the immune rejection of the fetus by the maternal immune system. The altered immune response of the pregnant female leads to increased susceptibility to invading pathogens, resulting in abortion and congenital defects of the fetus and a subnormal response to vaccination. Active vaccination during pregnancy may lead to abortion induced by heightened cell mediated immune response. In this study, we have administered the highly attenuated vaccine strain ΔpmrG-HM-D (DV-STM-07) in female mice before the onset of pregnancy and followed the immune reaction against challenge with virulent S. Typhimurium in pregnant mice. Here we demonstrate that DV-STM-07 vaccine gives protection against Salmonella in pregnant mice and also prevents Salmonella induced abortion. This protection is conferred by directing the immune response towards Th2 activation and Th1 suppression. The low Th1 response prevents abortion. The use of live attenuated vaccine just before pregnancy carries the risk of transmission to the fetus. We have shown that this vaccine is safe as the vaccine strain is quickly eliminated from the mother and is not transmitted to the fetus. This vaccine also confers immunity to the new born mice of vaccinated mothers. Since there is no evidence of the vaccine candidate reaching the new born mice, we hypothesize that it may be due to trans-colostral transfer of protective anti-Salmonella antibodies. These results suggest that our vaccine DV-STM-07 can be very useful in preventing abortion in the pregnant individuals and confer immunity to the new born. Since there are no such vaccine candidates which can be given to the new born and to the pregnant women, this vaccine holds a very bright future to combat Salmonella induced pregnancy loss.     

Radiation and pregnancy

Irradiation during pregnancy may occur either as the result of radioactive pollution of the environment, or during a medical procedure using x-rays or radionuclides. While the former is usually unforeseeable, the latter is known and accepted by both physician and patient.Recent statistics estimate that about one quarter of pregnant women have had a radiographic experience during the pregnancy, either for obstetrical reasons or in the course of medical and dental examinations. The amount of radiation delivered to the fetus is in the range of one rad or less. Radionuclidic procedures may result in fetal radiocontamination, chiefly after placental transfer and fetal uptake. Radioiodine, radioactive calcium and selenomethionine are dangerous for the fetus, since they cross the placenta freely and are taken up by fetal tissues. The labelled proteins, radiocolloids and some mercury compounds remain in the maternal compartment and therefore can affect the fetus only through their gamma radiation at some distance from the fetus.The teratogenic effect, the leukemogenic threshold and the lowered resistance to neonatal infections have been demonstrated after irradiation with doses far higher than those encountered during diagnostic applications of ionizing radiation. Statistical data suggest an increase of susceptibility to leukemia in infancy after intra-uterine irradiation at a diagnostic level. Cytogenic analysis may.... offer valuable data for the establishment of the extent of radiation damage.     

Outcome at Two Years of Very Preterm Infants Born after Rupture of Membranes before Viability

PurposeTo compare the respiratory and neurological outcomes at two years of age of preterm children born before 33 weeks of gestation (WG) after early preterm premature rupture of membranes (EPPROM) between 14 and 24 WG with preterm children without EPPROM.ResultsNinety-four cases with EPPROM before 24WG have been included. The 31 children born from 26WG to 32WG were matched with 62 controls. The EPPROM group had poorer clinical evaluation at one year for motor (p = 0.003) and cognitive developmental scores (p = 0.016). Neuromotor rehabilitation was performed more often (p = 0.013). However, there was no difference at 2 years of age. Children born after EPPROM were hospitalized more often for bronchiolitis (p<0.001) during their first 2 years, which correlates with increased incidence of pneumothorax (p = 0.017), pulmonary hypoplasia (p = 0.004) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p = 0.005) during neonatal period.ConclusionAt two years, despite an increase in severe bronchiolitis and the need for more neuromotor rehabilitation during the first month of the life after discharge, there was no difference in neurological outcomes in the very preterm children of the EPPROM group compared to those born at a similar GA without EPPROM.     

Effect of different growth hormone dosages on the growth velocity in children born small for gestational age

To assess whether short-term growth hormone (GH) treatment can improve the linear growth in children who were born small for gestational age (SGA), we started a randomized multicenter trial in 26 age- and sex-matched prepubertal children born SGA. During the 1st year of GH therapy, all children received GH 0.23 mg/kg/week, then during the 2nd year, 13 children received the same dose (group A), and in the other 13 children, the dose of GH was doubled, i.e., 0.46 mg/kg/week (group B). During the 1st year of therapy, the growth velocity significantly (p<0.0001) increased in all patients. During the 2nd year, group A showed a significant decrease of the growth velocity (p<0.015), whereas group B maintained the growth rate. The height in group A children significantly increased during the 1st and the 2nd year of GH therapy (p<0.000002 and p<0.000001, respectively), reaching the normal range in 8 out of 13 children at the end of 2 years of GH therapy. The height in group B children significantly increased during the 1st and the 2nd year of GH therapy (p<0.000001 and p<0.000001, respectively), reaching the normal range in all 11 children who completed the GH therapy. The height gain was similar in groups A and B treated with the same GH dosage during the 1st year of therapy. A greater increase in height gain was found in children of group B treated with the higher GH dosage during the 2nd year of therapy as compared with group A (p<0.02). Significant increases in insulin-like growth factor I (p<0.0001), acid-labile subunit (p<0.0002), and bone/chronological age ratio (p<0.0001) were found after the 1st year of GH therapy, but no significant changes were observed during the 2nd year, independently of the GH dose. In conclusion, the height velocity of children born SGA significantly increases during the 1st year of GH therapy, diminishes, but can decrease during the 2nd year, if the GH dosage is not raised.     

Mortality in the Children of Atomic Bomb Survivors and Controls

A continuing study of mortality rates among children born to survivors of the atomic bombings and a suitable group of controls has been updated; the average interval between birth and verification of death or survival is 17 years. The mortality experience is now based on 18,946 children liveborn to parents one or both of whom were proximally exposed, receiving jointly an estimated dose of 117 rem; 16,516 children born to distally exposed parents receiving essentially no radiation; and 17,263 children born to parents not in Hiroshima or Nagasaki at the time of the bombings. No clearly significant effect of parental exposure on child's survival can be demonstrated either by a contingency chi(2) type of analysis or regression analysis. On the basis of the regression data, the minimal gametic doubling dose of radiation of this type for mutations resulting in death during (on the average) the first 17 years of life among liveborn infants conceived 0-13 years after parental exposure is estimated at 46 rem for fathers and 125 rem for mothers. On the basis of experimental data, the gametic doubling dose for chronic, low-level radiation would be expected to be three to four times this value for males and as much as 1000 rem for females.     

Hereditary minisatellite mutations among the offspring of Estonian Chernobyl cleanup workers

A single accidental event such as the fallout released from the Chernobyl reactor in 1986 can expose millions of people to non-natural environmental radiation. Ionizing radiation increases the frequency of germline mutations in experimental studies, but the genetic effects of radiation in humans remain largely undefined. To evaluate the hereditary effects of low radiation doses, we compared the minisatellite mutation rates of 155 children born to Estonian Chernobyl cleanup workers after the accident with those of their siblings born prior to it. All together, 94 de novo paternal minisatellite mutations were found at eight tested loci (52 and 42 mutants among children born after and before the accident, respectively). The minisatellite mutation rate was nonsignificantly increased among children born after the accident (0.042 compared to 0.036, OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.80-2.20). Furthermore, there was some indication of an increased mutation rate among offspring born after the accident to workers who had received doses of 20 cSv or above compared with their siblings born before the accident (OR 3.0, 95% CI 0.97-9.30). The mutation rate was not associated with the father's age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.94-1.15) or the sex of the child (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.50-1.79). Our results are consistent with both no effect of radiation on minisatellite mutations and a slight increase at dose levels exceeding 20 cSv.     

Somatic mutagenesis at T-cell receptor locus in inhabitants of radiation polluted regions as a result of the Chernobyl disaster

In the period of 2001-2004, frequency of cells bearing mutations at T-cell receptor (TCR) locus was assessed in 553 inhabitants of radiation polluted regions of the Russian Federation and 154 unexposed control persons. The inhabitants were divided into three groups according to age at the moment of the Chernobyl disaster and 137Cs pollution density: 1) in utero, 37-555 kBq/m2; 2) 0-14 years old, 20-555 kBq/m2; 3) 18 and more years old, highest 137Cs density (185 more than 555 kBq/m2). The most intense changes of the TCR-mutant cell frequency were observed in the group of persons exposed to ionizing radiation in utero. The mean frequency of the mutant cells was higher in the first group than in age-matched control group by about 1.5-fold: 4.0 x 10(-4) vs 2.7 x 10(-4) accordingly (p < 0.0001). Elevation in the mean TCR-mutant cell frequency was less expressed in group of inhabitants aged 0-14 years at the moment of irradiation start: 1.3-fold increase in comparison to age-matched control (3.8 x 10(-4) vs 2.9 x 10(-4), p = 0.0002). It was not found significant differences in mutant cell frequencies between control group and adults consisting in the third group (18 and more years old at the moment of the Chernobyl accident). The changes of the TCR-mutant cell frequency in persons exposed in pre- and postnatal periods differ not only quantitatively, but qualitatively. In the fist case all persons react to irradiation by increasing number of the TCR-mutant cells in some degree. In the second case - only a part of population. Proportion of reacting persons depends on age at the start of irradiation and, perhaps, on dose absorbed. The TCR-mutant frequency was significantly higher in persons with benign tumors of different localizations and nodules in thyroid gland than in persons without this pathology.     

Prenatal and postnatal effects of dengue infection during pregnancy

The risk of dengue virus infection during pregnancy has increased due to the current rash of frequent and severe dengue epidemics. The effects of dengue virus in the fetus and newborn children have been studied only superficially and with contradictory results. Therefore, a retrospective cohort study was conducted in Medellin, Colombia, to describe the fetal and postnatal effects of dengue virus infection acquired during pregnancy. Twenty-two babies born from mothers who suffered dengue during the epidemics of 1998 were compared with babies from non-infected mothers. In the exposed cohort, three premature births occurred, three children suffered from fetal anomalies and four children were born with low weight. In the non-exposed children, none of these problems were found. Psychomotor development was normal in both groups. Only the low weight subgroup was statistically significant (Fisher test, p = 0.045). These results suggested that the children from women with dengue during pregnancy present low weight, greater frequency of premature birth and increased fetal distress. A larger sample is necessary to confirm these results.     

A correlation between the cellular composition of the spleen and the change in splenocyte chemiluminescence after laser irradiation]

Chemiluminescence (CL) of splenocytes of A/Sn mice (1.5-9-month old) was recorded after irradiation of the cells with lambda semiconductor laser at 820 nm (dose 1.1 x 10(3) J/m2, pulse repetition rate 292 Hz). Laser radiation was found to stimulate or suppress the spontaneous CL (SCL) of splenocytes, the amplitude and its sign depending on cellular composition of the spleen. Direct correlations between effect of laser radiation (per cent in changes in SCL) and per cent of plasmatic cells (r = 0.743, p < 0.001), neutrophils (r = 0.650, p < 0.001) and myelocytes and metamyelocytes (r = 0.507, p < 0.01) were established. The correlation with per cent of lymphocytes (r = -0.590, p < 0.001) was found to be a reverse one.     

Cardiovascular disease,obesity, and type 2 diabetes in children born after assisted reproductive technology: A population-based cohort study

BackgroundSome earlier studies have found indications of significant changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART). Most of these studies are based on small cohorts with high risk of selection bias. In this study, we compared the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes between singleton children born after ART and singleton children born after spontaneous conception (SC).Methods and findingsThis was a large population-based cohort study of individuals born in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark between 1984 and 2015. Data were obtained from national ART and medical birth registers and cross-linked with data from national patient registers and other population-based registers in the respective countries. In total, 122,429 children born after ART and 7,574,685 children born after SC were included. Mean (SD) maternal age was 33.9 (4.3) years for ART and 29.7 (5.2) for SC, 67.7% versus 41.8% were primiparous, and 45.2% versus 32.1% had more than 12 years of education. Preterm birth (<37 weeks 0 days) occurred in 7.9% of children born after ART and 4.8% in children born after SC, and 5.7% versus 3.3% had a low birth weight (<2,500 g). Mean (SD) follow-up time was 8.6 (6.2) years for children born after ART and 14.0 (8.6) years for children born after SC. In total, 135 (0.11%), 645 (0.65%), and 18 (0.01%) children born after ART were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or cerebrovascular disease), obesity or type 2 diabetes, respectively. The corresponding values were 10,702 (0.14%), 30,308 (0.74%), and 2,919 (0.04%) for children born after SC. In the unadjusted analysis, children born after ART had a significantly higher risk of any cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1.24; 95% CI 1.04–1.48; p = 0.02), obesity (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.05–1.23; p = 0.002), and type 2 diabetes (HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.08–2.73; p = 0.02). After adjustment, there was no significant difference between children born after ART and children born after SC for any cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR [aHR]1.02; 95% CI 0.86–1.22; p = 0.80) or type 2 diabetes (aHR 1.31; 95% CI 0.82–2.09; p = 0.25). For any cardiovascular disease, the 95% CI was reasonably narrow, excluding effects of a substantial magnitude, while the 95% CI for type 2 diabetes was wide, not excluding clinically meaningful effects. For obesity, there was a small but significant increased risk among children born after ART (aHR 1.14; 95% CI 1.06–1.23; p = 0.001). Important limitations of the study were the relatively short follow-up time, the limited number of events for some outcomes, and that the outcome obesity is often not considered as a disease and therefore not caught by registers, likely leading to an underestimation of obesity in both children born after ART and children born after SC.ConclusionsIn this study, we observed no difference in the risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes between children born after ART and children born after SC. For obesity, there was a small but significant increased risk for children born after ART.Trial registration numberISRCTN11780826.

Emma Norrman and co-workers study the health of children born with and without assisted reproductive technology.     

Pre-Pubertal Children Born Post-Term Have Reduced Insulin Sensitivity and Other Markers of the Metabolic Syndrome

Background

There are no data on the metabolic consequences of post-term birth (≥42 weeks gestation). We hypothesized that post-term birth would adversely affect insulin sensitivity, as well as other metabolic parameters and body composition in childhood.

Methods

77 healthy pre-pubertal children, born appropriate-for-gestational-age were studied in Auckland, New Zealand: 36 born post-term (18 boys) and 41 (27 boys) born at term (38–40 weeks gestation). Primary outcome was insulin sensitivity measured using intravenous glucose tolerance tests and Bergman’s minimal model. Other assessments included fasting hormone concentrations and lipid profiles, body composition from whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and inflammatory markers.

Results

Insulin sensitivity was 34% lower in post-term than in term children (7.7 vs. 11.6 x10^-4·min^-1·(mU/l); p<0.0001). There was a compensatory increase in acute insulin response among post-term children (418 vs 304 mU/l; p=0.037), who also displayed lower glucose effectiveness than those born at term (2.25 vs 3.11 x10^-2·min^-1; p=0.047). Post-term children not only had more body fat (p=0.014) and less fat-free mass (p=0.014), but also had increased central adiposity with more truncal fat (p=0.017) and greater android to gynoid fat ratio (p=0.007) compared to term controls. Further, post-term children displayed other markers of the metabolic syndrome: lower normal nocturnal systolic blood pressure dipping (p=0.027), lower adiponectin concentrations (p=0.005), as well as higher leptin (p=0.008) and uric acid (p=0.033) concentrations. Post-term boys (but not girls) also displayed a less favourable lipid profile, with higher total cholesterol (p=0.018) and LDL-C (p=0.006) concentrations, and total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio (p=0.048).

Conclusions

Post-term children have reduced insulin sensitivity and display a number of early markers of the metabolic syndrome. These findings could have important implications for the management of prolonged pregnancies. Future studies need to examine potential impacts later in life, as well as possible underlying mechanisms.     

Delayed effect of prenatal irradiation on the critical organs functional state in children after Chernobyl accident

Some indexes of a metabolism in 186 children exposed in utero through the Chernobyl accident were investigated ten years after the irradiation. All the children (basic and control groups) live in the territory with contamination less than 15 Ci/km2. It was shown, that the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase and the level of bilirubin (conjugated and unconjugated) differed from the corresponding indexes in the control group (p < 0.05). These change depended on sex. The correlation between the levels of the total bilirubin, activity of the ACT, ALT in serum and absorbed doze to the thyroid of fetus was found (correlation coefficient > -0.8, p < 0.05). The linear regression equations for these three indexes are straight line: the total bilirubin, ACT and ALT decreased with the increase of the absorbed dose to the thyroid of fetus (p < 0.05). The relationship between the all indexes in serum and effective doze and levels of cesium accumulation was not detected.     

Increased Adiposity in Adults Born Preterm and Their Children

Background

Preterm birth is associated with abnormalities in growth, body composition, and metabolism during childhood, but adult data are scarce and none exist for their offspring. We therefore aimed to examine body composition and cardiovascular risk factors in adults born preterm and their children.

Methods

A cohort of 52 adults (aged 35.7 years, 54% female, 31 born preterm) and their term-born children (n=61, aged 8.0 years, 54% female, 60% from a preterm parent) were studied. Auxology and body composition (whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were measured, and fasting blood samples taken for metabolic and hormonal assessments.

Results

Adults born preterm had greater abdominal adiposity, displaying more truncal fat (p=0.006) and higher android to gynoid fat ratio (p=0.004). Although women born preterm and at term were of similar weight and BMI, men born preterm (n=8) were on average 20 kg heavier (p=0.010) and of greater BMI (34.2 vs 28.4 kg/m²; p=0.021) than men born at term (n=16). Adults born preterm also displayed a less favourable lipid profile, including lower HDL-C concentrations (p=0.007) and greater total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio (p=0.047). Children of parents born preterm tended to have more body fat than the children of parents born at term (21.3 vs 17.6%; p=0.055). Even after adjustment for mean parental BMI, children of parents born preterm had altered fat distribution, with more truncal fat (p=0.048) and greater android to gynoid fat ratio (p=0.009).

Conclusions

Adults born preterm, particularly men, have markedly increased fat mass and altered fat distribution. A similar increase in abdominal adiposity was observed in the term born offspring of parents born preterm, indicating that adverse outcomes associated with preterm birth may extend to the next generation.     

Features of action of low doses of gamma-radiation on yeast cells

Lethal effect of low doses and adaptive response to low doses of prolonged irradiation were investigated in experiments on yeast cells. The phenomenon of hypersensitivity at low dozes was not found in yeast cells at gamma-irradiation. The adaptive response was observed after exposure to low doses of prolonged irradiation, the degree of the reaction depends on a dose rate. The adaptive reaction was kept for some time after the termination of adaptive irradiation then the sensitivity of cells increased even in comparison with unirradiated ones.