Maternal Metabolic Health, Lifestyle, and Environment - Understanding How Epigenetics Drives Future Offspring Health.

The incidence of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type two diabetes (T2DM), continues to increase worldwide, and their onset is often attributed to adherence to a western diet and a sedentary lifestyle. However, large variability exists in one's likelihood of developing metabolic dysregulation, illustrating that our understanding of heritability patterns remains poorly understood. Diabetes and obesity are multifactorial diseases, and their onset is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide association studies report a number of alterations in the coding sequence associated with the onset of T2DM and obesity. However, these genes explain only a fraction of the cases, leaving the majority unaccounted for. The missing heritability question implies that other factors are responsible for the onset and development of the disease. Given that the developing fetus is susceptible to the maternal environment, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that maternal metabolic characteristics as well as disruptions to the prenatal environment may induce long-term genetic, phenotypic, and physiologic adaptations in the developing fetus, which could have a permanent effect on its future health. This phenomenon is known as developmental programming and is mediated through epigenetic modifications, which include modulation of gene expressions that do not alter the original deoxyribonucleic (DNA) sequence. Epigenetic modifications are capable of changing gene expression in metabolism-related genes and are accomplished through DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) mechanisms. In this review, we discuss maternal metabolic factors, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and gestational diabetes (GDM) that lead to epigenetic changes in the offspring and predispose future generations to metabolic abnormalities. We will also describe the association between maternal lifestyle factors and exposure to toxins with epigenetic modulations in the offspring. Lastly, we will provide a brief review of the possibility of using epigenetics as potential interventions and therapeutic modalities to help in early diagnosis and prevention of metabolic disorders.

The Potential of Novel Chitosan-Based Scaffolds in Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Treatment through Tissue Engineering.

The growing number of female reproductive system disorders creates a need for novel treatment methods. Tissue engineering brings hope for patients, which enables damaged tissue reconstruction. For this purpose, epithelial cells are cultured on three-dimensional scaffolds. One of the most promising materials is chitosan, which is known for its biocompatibility and biodegradability. The aim of the following study was to verify the potential of chitosan-based biomaterials for pelvic organ prolapse regeneration. The scaffolds were obtained under microwave-assisted conditions in crosslinking reactions, using dicarboxylic acids and aminoacid as crosslinkers, including l-glutamic acid, adipic acid, malonic acid, and levulinic acid. The products were characterized over their physicochemical and biological properties. FT-IR analysis confirmed formation of amide bonds. The scaffolds had a highly porous structure, which was confirmed by SEM analysis. Their porosity was above 90%. The biomaterials had excellent swelling abilities and very good antioxidant properties. The cytotoxicity study was performed on vaginal epithelial VK2/E6E7 and human colon cancer HCT116 cell lines. The results showed that after certain modifications, the proposed scaffolds could be used in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment.

Umbilical catheters as vectors for generalized bacterial infection in premature infants regardless of antibiotic use.

Introduction. Umbilical catheterization offers unique vascular access that is only possible in the neonatal setting due to unobstructed umbilical vessels from foetal circulation. With the cut of the umbilical cord, two arteries and a vein are dissected, allowing quick and painless catheterization of the neonate. Unfortunately, keeping the umbilical access sterile is challenging due to its mobility and necrosis of the umbilical stump, which makes it a perfect model for vessel catheter colonization analysis.Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial colonization of the umbilical catheter, with a focus on the difference between various sections of the catheter, the duration of catheterization, patient status and gestational age.Methodology. We performed bacterial cultures for 44 umbilical catheters, analysing the superficial and deep parts of the catheter separately, and revealed colonization in one-third of cases.Results. One hundred per cent of the colonization occurred in preterm infants, with a shift towards extreme prematurity. The catheters were mainly colonized by coagulase-negative staphylococci. The majority of catheters presented with superficial colonization dominance, and there were no cases of deep colonization. The bacterial strains and their resistance were consistent between the catheter's proximal and distal parts, as well as positive blood cultures. The patients with the most intense bacterial catheter colonization presented with sepsis around removal time or a couple of days later, especially if they were extremely premature and exhibited very low birth weight. Catheterization time did not play a major role.Conclusion. Umbilical catheters are vectors for skin microflora transmission to the bloodstream via biofilm formation, regardless of antibiotic use and the duration of catheterization, especially in preterm neonates.