[Immune function and catch-up growth of 6-month infants with intrauterine growth retardation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of "developmental programming" on immunity function and the correlation between immunologic changes and physical growth. METHODS: Sixty singleton pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and twenty normal pregnant women were enrolled in this study at their third trimester of pregnancy. Birth weight, birth length, mode of delivery, complication of newborn were measured and/or recorded at the moment of delivery. Physical development of the infants was measured every month up to six months old using weight and length as indicators. The deviation of physical growth was evaluated by Z score. Blood samples were taken from the infants at the sixth month. Lymphocyte subpopulations were anaLyzed using flow cytometry. Humoral immunity were measured using immunoturbidimetry. RESULTS: About 27.27% and 29.09% of IUGR infants were found to have small for gestational age (SGA) and neonatal complications. They had lower birth body masses and birth lengths than those of controls (P<0.05). After correcting for gestational age, the IUGR boys had lower body masses at birth and one months old, as well as lower lengths at 0-6 months compared with the controls. The IUGR girls had lower weights at 0, 1, 3, 4, and 6 months, as well as lower lengths at 0, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months. The IUGR infants without intrauterine-catch-up growth had lower proportion of B lymphocyte than those with intrauterine-catch-up growth (P<0.05). The IUGR infants without extrauterine-catch-up growth had higher numbers of B lymphocyte and lower IgG than those of normal controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: IUGR infants without intrauterine-catch-up and extrauterine-catch-up have impaired immunity function. The theory of "development program" needs proof of studies with a large sample size and long-term follow-up.

Mitochondrial translocation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in cord blood mononuclear cells of newborns with gestational diabetes mellitus mothers.

AIMS: To better understand the role of oxidative stress in fetal programming, we assessed the hypothesis that the mitochondrial translocation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) could protect neonatal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from oxidative damage during pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: 26 GDM mothers and 47 controls and their newborns were enrolled. The plasma levels of 8-isoprostaglandin F(2α) in maternal and cord blood were measured to evaluate oxidative stress. Western blotting was then used to assess the mitochondrial localization of hTERT in cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs). Finally, the relative mtDNA content was analyzed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: GDM mothers and their newborns had significantly higher levels of oxidative stress than controls. hTERT was localized in both the nuclei and mitochondria of CBMCs, and the increased CBMC mitochondrial hTERT levels were significantly correlated with elevated oxidative stress in newborns. The neonatal mtDNA content in the GDM group was comparable to controls, and was positively correlated with mitochondrial hTERT levels in CBMCs, suggesting that mitochondrial hTERT in CBMCs may have a protective effect on neonatal mtDNA in GDM pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to suggest that the mitochondrial translocation of hTERT in CBMCs under heightened oxidative stress might protect neonatal mtDNA from oxidative damage in GDM pregnancies. This could be an in utero adaptive response of a fetus that is suffering from elevated oxidative stress, and could help our understanding of the roles of oxidative stress in fetal programming.

Prospective cohort study about the lymphocyte subpopulations' change and impact on the pregnancy outcome in fetal growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lymphocyte subpopulations' change and impact on the pregnancy outcome in fetal growth restriction (FGR) through a prospective cohort study. METHODS: Sixty singleton pregnancies with FGR and 20 normal pregnant women were enrolled at the third trimester of pregnancy in this study. FGR was defined according to fundal height and abdominal circumference through obstetric examination and ultrasound examination. Third trimester peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood lymphocyte subpopulations were analysed by flow cytometry. The cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes using umbilical cord blood mononuclear activated kill cells as the effector cells, K562 cells as the target cells was measured by MTT deoxidation assay. RESULTS: There were no significant differences about the age, parity, gestational age enrolled, BMI before pregnancy between the FGR and control group. The birth weight, length and head circumference of the neonates from FGR group were less than that from normal control. The percentages of B-lymphocytes in peripheral blood at the third trimester were significantly increased in FGR group compared to that in control group (P < 0.05). In umbilical cord blood, FGR group had a higher percentage of both CD3 and CD4 lymphocyte, lower absolute cell counts and percentage of B-lymphocyte, and higher CD4/CD8 ratio than control group (P < 0.05). Most importantly, the kill cell activity of the lymphocytes in cord blood from FGR group was significantly higher than that from control group (P < 0.05). The significant positive correlations were also found that the percentage and number of B lymphocytes in umbilical cord blood with birthweight, birthlength and birth head circumference, but CD4/CD8 ratio, the kill cell activity in umbilical cord blood had negative correlations with that. The percentage of B lmyphocyte in third trimester and CD4/CD8 ratio, kill cell activity in umbilical cord blood are associated with an increased risk of prematurity and SGA birth, but contrary result was found with the percentage and number of B lmyphocyte in cord blood. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal immunological rejection could be involved in the pathogenesis of FGR. The changes of T lymphocyte subpopulations and B-cells, enhanced kill cell activity might cause FGR and preterm birth.

Nutritional status and risk factors of overweight and obesity for children aged 9-15 years in Chengdu, Southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is widespread in the world including developing countries. However malnutrition in poor areas is still a serious problem. Few investigations, especially in a large sample, have been performed in Western area of China. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of school children aged 9-15 years in large Southwest city of China, and identify the differential impact of aberrant birth categories and family history of obesity related disease on childhood overweight and obesity development. METHODS: A multistage random cluster sampling was performed to evaluate the prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity, which were defined by the new age-, sex-, specific BMI reference developed by World Health Organization (WHO) (2007). And then a frequency matched case-control study was performed to identify the risk factors of overweight and obesity. RESULTS: 7,194 children (3,494 boys, 3,700 girls) were recruited, and 1,282 (17.8%) had excess bodyweight (14.5% overweight, 3.3% obesity). The combined prevalence gradually decreased with age, and were more prevalent among boys than girls (P <0.05). Meanwhile 6.3% were found thinness and there were little differences in genders (P >0.05). Preterm large for gestational age (OR = 2.746), maternal history of obesity related disease (OR = 1.713), paternal history of obesity related disease (OR = 1.583), preterm appropriate for gestational age (OR = 1.564), full term small for gestational age (OR = 1.454) and full term large for gestational age (OR = 1.418) were recognized as significant risk factors in the multivariate regression analysis (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While overweight and obesity was dramatically spreading, malnutrition still remained a serious problem. This unmatched nutritional status should be emphasized in backward cities of China. Children born of both preterm and LGA, whose parents particularly mothers had a history of obesity related disease, should be emphatically intervened as early as possible.

[Epidemiological investigation of birth information and physique status in 9 to 15-year-old children from Chengdu City of Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE: As the intrauterine environment can affect childhood growth and development, this study aims to understand the relationship between birth gestational age, birth weight and physique development in 9 to 15-year-old children by a cross sectional investigation in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. METHODS: A total of 7194 9 to 15-year-old school children were classified according to birth gestational age and birth weight: small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). Their heights and weights were measured. Parents completed a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of SGA was 6.23% (448 cases), and 5.13% of children in the SGA group did not undergo "catch-up growth" (lower than -2 SD). The mean height in these children at various stages was significantly lower than in the AGA group (P<0.05). The prevalence of LGA was 18.06% (1299 cases). A total of 179 children (13.78%) were found to be overweight and 57 children (4.39%) were found to be obese in the LGA group. The mean weight in the LGA group at various stages was significantly higher than in the AGA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Height and weight development in children born SGA and LGA are different from normal children. More attention should be given to aspects of height and weight development in these school children.