Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy: Past,Present, and Future

Biological Trace Element Research - Iodine is a trace element that is important for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. During pregnancy, iodine requirements are increased by approximately 50%...     

Rubella Virus Infections During Pregnancy,Toronto, 1963-66

Among 670 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics of two Toronto city hospitals and one suburban hospital between May 1963 and January 1966, 29 of 550 patients apparently acquired rubella neutralizing antibodies, including 12 whose initial sera were collected during the first trimester. None developed overt rubella. Although rubella antibodies were detected in 61 to 79% of mothers aged 20 years or more, and antibody conversions were detected in 4 to 10% of mothers in each five-year age group between 16 and 39 years, tho rubella syndrome did not appear among any of their offspring. Five of seven other infants, aged 4 to 22 weeks, with the rubella syndrome excreted rubella virus. Rubella neutralizing antibodies were detected in all seven of these infants; these persisted at least 56 weeks in one subject. One mother who received gamma globulin during the first trimester was delivered of an infant who showed signs of the rubella syndrome.     

Effect of Iodine Nutrition on Pregnancy Outcomes in an Iodine-Sufficient Area in China

Many studies focused on the association between thyroid disease and pregnancy outcomes. The present study explored the effect of iodine nutrition during the first trimester on pregnancy outcomes. One thousand five hundred sixty-nine pregnant, euthyroid women at ≤12 weeks of gestation in an iodine-sufficient area in China were recruited. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for iodine nutrition during pregnancy, participants were divided into four groups: adequate iodine (median urinary iodine concentration (UIC), 150–249 μg/L), mild deficiency (UIC, 100–150 μg/L), moderate and severe deficiency (UIC, <100 μg/L), and more than adequate and excessive (UIC, ≥250 μg/L) groups. Pregnancy outcomes, including abortion, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), placenta previa, placental abruption, preterm labor, low birth weight infants, macrosomia, breech presentation, and cord entanglement, were obtained during follow-up. The results showed that there was no significant difference in general characteristics, including age, body mass index, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, smoking rate, and drinking rate, among the four groups. In the more than adequate and excessive group, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was greater and free thyroxine (FT4) was lower than any other groups but still within normal range. The thyroglobulin (Tg) level was greater in the moderate and severe deficiency group. The incidence of GDM was significantly greater in women with mild iodine deficiency than in women with adequate iodine nutriture (18.38 vs. 13.70%, p < 0.05). Compared with the adequate group, incidence of macrosomia was significantly greater in the more than adequate and excessive group (12.42 vs. 9.79%, p < 0.05). Mild iodine deficiency was an independent risk factor for GDM (odds ratio = 1.566, 95% confidence interval = 1.060–2.313, p = 0.024); more than adequate and excessive iodine was an independent risk factor for macrosomia (OR = 1.917, CI = 1.128–3.256, p = 0.016). In summary, during 1st trimester, both mild iodine deficiency and excessive iodine intake had adverse impacts on pregnancy outcomes in an iodine-sufficient area.     

Total Parenteral Nutrition in Management of Hyperlipidemic Pancreatitis During Pregnancy

ObjectiveTo describe a case of severe gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis successfully managed with minimal-lipid-containing parenteral nutrition (PN) followed by a minimal-fat diet, which resulted in delivery of a healthy full-term neonate.MethodsWe present the case of a young woman with gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis whose management included the use of PN during pregnancy. In addition, we review the literature pertaining to the management of hyperlipidemic pancreatitis during pregnancy and discuss the role for PN.ResultsA 32-year-old gravida 2, para 1 woman at 27 weeks 3 days of gestation presented with 1 day of nausea, bilious emesis, and severe abdominal pain caused by pancreatitis attributable to hypertriglyceridemia. Her initial serum triglyceride concentration was 9,450 mg/dL. She received fluids intravenously and minimal-lipid PN until resolution of her symptoms. The serum triglyceride level remained less than 850 mg/dL during administration of PN. She subsequently tolerated a minimal-fat diet, while the serum triglyceride level was maintained at less than 1,400 mg/dL, until delivery of a full-term, healthy neonate.ConclusionIn severe gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis, PN offers a safe and flexible treatment option by providing pancreatic rest and controlling serum triglyceride concentrations while maintaining fetal and maternal nutritional support. (Endocr Pract. 2005;11:325-330)     

Effect of Different Iodine Nutrition on Cerebellum Pcp-2 in Rat Offspring During Lactation

The thyroid functions of breastfed infants, as well as (indirectly) the development of their central nervous system, are dependent on the iodine status of the lactating mother. Purkinje cell protein-2 is a cell-specific marker of the cerebellum Purkinje cell and is a suitable indicator for observing the postnatal development of the cerebellum after birth. We measured the Purkinje cell protein-2 mRNA and protein levels in the rat cerebellum in the critical postnatal (14 days after birth) and maturation periods (28 days after birth) to determine the effect of different nutritional iodine levels on cerebellum growth in the offspring during lactation. We found that severe iodine deficiency resulted in thyroid dysfunction in lactating rats and their offspring on both 14 and 28 days, showing maternal total T₄ 16.7 ± 12.0 vs 36.4 ± 15.0, P < 0.05 (14 days) and 22.6 ± 18.7 vs 53.4 ± 9.4, P < 0.01 (28 days), and neonatal total T₄ 10.6 ± 2.3 vs 16.4 ± 4.7, P < 0.01(14 days) and 12.8 ± 2.9 vs 16.7 ± 3.4, P < 0.05 (28 days), respectively. The Purkinje cell protein-2 mRNA and its protein levels in offspring rats were significantly reduced that showed Purkinje cell protein-2 mRNA 1.12 ± 0.04 vs 2.25 ± 0.53, P < 0.05 (14 days) and 1.74 ± 0.94 vs 8.69 ± 2.71, P < 0.01 (28 days). However, mild iodine deficiency and excessive iodine maintained almost normal thyroid function in maternal and neonatal rats and normal Purkinje cell protein-2 mRNA and protein levels in offspring’s cerebellum. We conclude that severe iodine deficiency could significantly reduce Purkinje cell protein-2 mRNA and its protein levels, indicating that the cerebellum development was retarded, but mild iodine deficiency and excessive iodine could maintain them at an approximately normal level by the mother’s and offspring’s compensations, especially by the mother’s mammary glands.     

Transgenic Technology meeting 2008 in Toronto, Canada: a meeting report

In a history that goes back to 1999, the Transgenic Technology meetings started out in Sweden and over the years began to attract a growing community of technicians and researchers mainly from Europe. As the meetings started to attract an expanding worldwide audience, the community decided to found the International Society for Transgenic Technologies at the Barcelona meeting in 2005. The 2007 convention was held at Brisbane, Australia, and in 2008, the 8th Transgenic Technology meeting was held for the second time on behalf of ISTT and for the second time outside of Europe in Toronto, Canada. Due to its excellent program with over 400 participants the meeting was able to attract the highest number of delegates of all past TT meetings. With extended times for plenary discussions about technical and organizational aspects, as well as top level scientific presentations, both technicians and scientists enjoyed this as an extremely fruitful meeting from which they could take home solutions for daily routines as well as new insights and ideas for coming projects.     

Urine Selenium Changes During Pregnancy Do Not Correlate with Thyroid Autoantibodies in a Mildly Iodine Deficient Population

Selenium (Se) is a key component of iodinases; higher Se levels are associated with lower titers of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO). Pregnancy exerts profound effects on thyroid function and autoimmunity. To assess the relationship of urine Se levels with thyroid function and autoimmunity in pregnant women residing in Athens, Greece, we studied prospectively 47 euthyroid women in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies (mean age + SD: 30?+?5 years) in each trimester, measuring urine Se levels, urine iodine, plasma thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine and triiodothyronine (FT4 and FT3), as well as levels of anti-TPO antibodies. Changes of the measured parameters were assessed over each trimester; thyroid parameters were assessed with relation to Se levels. Urine Se dropped by the third trimester, whereas urine iodine did not change appreciably during pregnancy. TSH and anti-TPO did not show appreciable changes; FT4 and FT3 gradually decreased as the pregnancy advanced. No relationship between urine Se levels and anti-TPO was found. During pregnancy, changes in urine Se levels accompany mild changes in thyroid function. However, we did not find some association between these changes and thyroid autoimmune activity over this period, probably because the effect of Se on thyroid autoimmunity may only become apparent in case of excess Se fortification.     

Iodine Nutrition and Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women Exposed to Different Iodine Sources

Determination of the public health concern about magnesium (Mg) in health and disease has been confounded by the lack of a practical measure of status. This has resulted in a lack of consistency in associating Mg deficiency with specific pathological conditions. Some attempts at associating Mg with a chronic disease have used the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) as a status assessment measure. Use of current DRIs for Mg is problematic because recent evidence suggests that they should be updated and based on body weight. An evidence-based suggested Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for a 70-kg individual is 175 and 250 mg/day, respectively. However, numerous dietary and physiological factors can affect the need for Mg and thus affect the use of the current or suggested new DRIs to assess Mg status. Calcium intakes above normal requirements can decrease Mg balance and exacerbate signs of Mg deficiency. Mg deficiency apparently occurs often in obesity because of increased need to counteract the inflammatory stress induced by adipose tissue dysfunction. Deficiency in anti-oxidant nutrients such as vitamin E and selenium can exacerbate a response to low dietary Mg indicated by increased oxidative stress which can lead to chronic disease. Dietary modifiers of Mg absorption and excretion affect balance and thus the need for Mg. Factors decreasing Mg balance include low dietary protein and non-fermentable fiber, while factors that can increase balance include fructose and fermentable fiber and fructose-containing oligosaccharides. Use of the DRIs to assess the Mg status of a population or group needs to consider their physiological characteristics and dietary habits and be aware that the DRIs may need updating. The DRIs only can be considered a component of a toolbox that presently includes serum Mg concentration and the daily urinary Mg excretion to assess the Mg status of an individual.

     

Iodine Nutrition and Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women Exposed to Different Iodine Sources

Biological Trace Element Research -     

孕期个性化营养干预对妊娠期糖尿病孕妇糖脂水平及妊娠结局的影响

目的:探讨孕期个性化营养干预对妊娠期糖尿病孕妇糖脂水平及妊娠结局的影响。方法:选择2016年8月-2017年10月期间于我院产检的妊娠期糖尿病孕妇160例,以随机数字表法分为研究组(n=80)和对照组(n=80)。对照组给予常规营养干预,研究组则予以孕期个性化营养干预。比较两组干预前后空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖、总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、高密低脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平,观察孕妇及新生儿并发症发生情况。结果:干预后两组孕妇空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖显著降低,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。干预后对照组孕妇TC、TG、LDL-C较干预前显著升高(P0.05),HDL-C差异无统计学意义(P0.05),研究组血脂水平与干预前比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),与对照组比较,研究组孕妇TC、TG、LDL-C水平更低(P0.05)。研究组妊娠期高血压、胎膜早破发生率均明显低于对照组(P0.05),两组感染、产后出血发生率比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。与对照组比较,研究组新生儿窘迫、巨大儿、新生儿低血糖、早产儿的发生率降低(P0.05)。结论:孕期个性化营养干预可有效改善妊娠期糖尿病孕妇的糖脂水平,且能够有效降低并发症发生率,从而改善妊娠结局。     

环境中的碘元素与畜禽碘的营养关系

环境中的碘元素与畜禽碘的营养关系张庆朝,李同树,李光德（山东农业大学,泰安２７１０１８）ＲｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐＢｅｔｗｅｅｎＥｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔａｌＩｏｄｉｎｅａｎｄＩｏｄｉｎｅＮｕｔｒｉｔｉｏｎｏｆＬｉｖｅｓｔｏｃｋａｎｄＰｏｕｌｔｒｙ．￥Ｚｈ...     

HUPO Biological Reference Material Initiative Workshop 26 September 2009, Toronto,Canada

The Biological Reference Material Initiative Workshop held at the Toronto HUPO congress on 26 September 2009, focused on the development of new biological reference materials and tools for the assessment of reproducibility, the solutions to many of the technical challenges in proteomics and protein‐based molecular diagnostics. This half‐day meeting included presentations from leading scientists from the worldwide proteomic community, who shared a common interest in standardization and increased accuracy of proteomic data. The conclusion was that proteomics is highly sensitive to both biological and technical variability. It is this biological and technical variance, when not accounted for by experiment design, that invalidates proteomic experiments, but both of these issues can be dealt with by tackling reproducibility.     

The third CAPRI assessment meeting Toronto, Canada, April 20-21, 2007

CAPRI is a community-wide experiment to test protein-protein docking methods in blind predictions. The Toronto meeting assessed structure predictions made from 2005-2007 on nine target protein-protein complexes or homodimers, and reported new developments in functions used to score predicted interactions, in treatment of conformational flexibility, and in taking nonstructural information into account in the predictions.