Estrogen receptor beta in lateral habenula mediates antidepressant effects of estrogen in postpartum-hormone-withdrawal-induced depression.

Dramatic drop in reproductive hormone, especially estrogen level, from pregnancy to postpartum period is known to contribute to postpartum depression (PPD), but the underlying mechanism and the role of the estrogen receptors (ERs) in this process were unclear. Here, we used an estrogen-withdrawal-induced PPD model following hormone simulated pregnancy (HSP) in female Sprague-Dawley rats to induce depressive-like behaviors. After estrogen withdrawal, we observe an up-regulation of astrocyte-specific potassium channel (Kir4.

Loss of function variants in TMPRSS7 linked to a neurodevelopmental disorder disrupt synaptic function.

The molecular etiology of more than half of neurodevelopment disorders remains unknown. In this study, we identified recessive variants in the TMPRSS7 gene in a fetus from a non-consanguineous Chinese family with a history of recurrent central nervous system (CNS) malformations, as the likely genetic cause of a neurodevelopmental disorder. TMPRSS7 encodes matriptase-3, a type II transmembrane serine protease (TTSP) that becomes active when its catalytic domain is released outside the cell.

Causal relationships between leukocyte telomere length and female reproductive system diseases: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: Although numerous observational studies have revealed a correlation between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and female reproductive system diseases (RSDs), the findings of these studies have tended to be consistent. In this study, we accordingly sought to clarify the causal relationships between LTL and RSDs.

Methods: We performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using pooled statistics from genome-wide association studies of LTL and nine female RSDs.

Effects of Maternal Trace Elements Exposure in Early Pregnancy on Maternal Thyroid Hormones and Birth Outcomes.

While heavy metals are established contributors to adverse health outcomes, evidence regarding trace element effects on maternal thyroid hormones and birth outcomes remains limited. This prospective study investigated effects of first-trimester exposure to seven trace elements, including vanadium(V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), and Se (selenium), on maternal third-trimester thyroid hormone levels and birth outcomes in Shanghai, China. Among 2069 enrolled pregnant women, 1351 with complete data were analyzed.

Prediction of the fertile window and menstruation with a wearable device via machine-learning algorithms.

Research Question: Can algorithms for prediction of the fertile window and menstruation be developed through machine learning based on women's physiological parameters collected using a wearable device (Huawei Band 6 Pro) from both regular and irregular menstruators?

Design: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital of Fudan University (China). Participants were recruited from November 2021 to September 2022. Each participant used a wearable device to record their wrist skin temperature (WST), heart rate, heart rate variability and respiratory rate for two menstrual cycles.

Antenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy and offspring allergic diseases during toddlerhood.

Background: While maternal psychological stress during mid-to-late pregnancy has been linked to offspring allergies, the impact of early pregnancy distress remains unclear. This study investigates the association between maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy and allergic diseases in offspring.

Methods: Based on a birth cohort of 5263 children, antenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy were assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, respectively.

Associations of Education Attainment With Postpartum Depression and the Mediating Exploration: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Many studies have explored the relationship between education and postpartum depression (PPD), with inconsistent results. Our study is to identify which education-related factors (education attainment, qualifications, cognitive performance) played the predominant role in PPD using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Then, we explored the factors that may mediate the effect of education on PPD.

Mendelian randomization evidence for lung function mediates the association between childhood allergies (age <16 years) and essential hypertension.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of lung function on the relationship between allergies and hypertension, thereby elucidating significant potential mechanisms from a genetic standpoint. We investigated the causal relationship between childhood allergies (age <16 years) and essential hypertension and identified and quantified the role of lung function (forced vital capacity [FVC] and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC]) as potential mediators.

Methods: Using data from a genome-wide association study and the Fenn Genn consortium, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of genetically predicted childhood allergies (7128 cases and 211,703 controls) and essential hypertension (116,714 cases and 1,032,659 controls) was performed.

Associations between fine particulate matter and its constituents and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Few studies have reported an association between intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and preconception exposure to PM and sunlight duration, but there has been no in-depth analysis of the correlation between ICP and different constituents of PM. Thus, we performed this retrospective analysis among 160,544 pregnant women who delivered between 2014 and 2020, to further estimate the impact of different constituents of PM, as well as the duration of sunlight, on ICP via generalized linear models. During the three months prior to conception, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for ICP were 1.

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Preventing Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Among Pregnant Individuals With Depression: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial in China.

Background: Women are particularly vulnerable to depression during pregnancy, which is one of the strongest risk factors for developing postpartum depression (PPD). Addressing antenatal depressive symptoms in these women is crucial for preventing PPD. However, little is known about the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) in preventing PPD in this high-risk group.

Prospective harmonisation of four international randomised controlled trials in Canada, China, India and South Africa: the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative.

Objectives: The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) is an international multistudy consortium that supports the development and integration of four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in South Africa, India, China and Canada. HeLTI aims to evaluate interventions to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children, starting from preconception through pregnancy and early childhood until age 5 years. This paper describes the process by which we prospectively harmonised the participating studies and provides a descriptive analysis of the study-specific harmonisation potential.

Gestational diabetes induces autistic-like behaviors in offspring by disrupting the GABAergic system.

Background: Increasing evidence have shown that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with the risk of autism in offspring. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated.

Methods: A mouse model of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was established to investigate its impact on offspring.

Genetically predicted circulating immune cells and cytokines reveal the causal role of immune factors on female infertility: a two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: Previous studies suggested that immune factors may play critical roles in female infertility, but their causal links remain unclear. To address this gap, this study employs the Mendelian randomization (MR) to delineate the causal association between circulating immune factors and female infertility.

Methods: This study employed summary-level data from three genome-wide association studies (GWAS) encompassing 731 peripheral immune cell signatures, 41 circulating cytokines, and five female infertility phenotypes to reveal the causal relationship between immune factors and female infertility.

A Novel Heterozygous Intronic FBN1 Variant Contributes to Aberrant RNA Splicing in Marfan Syndrome.

Background: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a complex genetic systemic connective tissue disorder. It is well known that genetic factors play a critical role in the progression of MFS, with nearly all cases attributed to variants in the FBN1 gene.

Methods: We investigated a Chinese family with MFS spanning two generations.

Association between frozen embryo transfer and childhood allergy: a retrospective cohort study.

Research Question: Does frozen embryo transfer (FET) increase the risk of allergic diseases in offspring?

Design: This study followed up 653 singleton children: 166 born through FET and 487 born through natural conception. Demographic characteristics, perinatal information and allergic diseases of children and their parents were collected through clinical medical systems and questionnaires. Among these 653 children, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) testing was performed using peripheral blood samples collected from 207 children: 145 in the FET group and 62 in the natural conception group.

Intrauterine hyperglycaemia during late gestation caused mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle of male offspring through CREB/PGC1A signaling.

Background: Maternal diabetes mellitus can influence the development of offspring. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) creates a short-term intrauterine hyperglycaemic environment in offspring, leading to glucose intolerance in later life, but the long-term effects and specific mechanism involved in skeletal muscle dysfunction in offspring remain to be clarified.

Methods: Pregnant mice were divided into two groups: The GDM group was intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg streptozotocin on gestational days (GDs) 6.

Safety of embryo cryopreservation: insights from mid-term placental transcriptional changes.

Background: In recent years, with benefits from the continuous improvement of clinical technology and the advantage of fertility preservation, the application of embryo cryopreservation has been growing rapidly worldwide. However, amidst this growth, concerns about its safety persist. Numerous studies have highlighted the elevated risk of perinatal complications linked to frozen embryo transfer (FET), such as large for gestational age (LGA) and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Effects of exposure to multiple metallic elements in the first trimester of pregnancy on the risk of preterm birth.

Exposure to certain heavy metals has been demonstrated to be associated with a higher risk of preterm birth (PTB). However, studies focused on the effects of other metal mixtures were limited. A nested case‒control study enrolling 94 PTB cases and 282 controls was conducted.

Sex-Specific Alterations in Placental Proteomics Induced by Intrauterine Hyperglycemia.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with intrauterine hyperglycemia induces a series of changes in the placenta, which have adverse effects on both the mother and the fetus. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the placenta in GDM and its gender differences. In this study, we established an intrauterine hyperglycemia model using ICR mice.

A mutual comparison of pregnancy outcomes between different conception modes: a propensity score matching based retrospective cohort study.

Background: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been reported to have negative effects on maternal and neonatal health. Ovulation induction (OI) was reported to be associated with alteration of epigenetic modification of mice embryos, and extinguishing the influence of ovulation induction and operations on maternal and neonatal health will bring benefits for reducing side effects. The present study aimed to determine whether ovulation induction alone and ART are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and whether ART could induce a higher risk than ovulation induction alone.

Effect of transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation on reversing lower genital tract dysbiosis and improving perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Significant lower genital tract (LGT) dysbiosis and an associated lower rate of clinical pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-frozen embryo transfer (IVF-FET) among polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have been previously reported by our group. We aimed to assess whether transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation can reverse LGT dysbiosis and further improve perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET.

Methods/design: This is a protocol for a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial in China.

Follicle-stimulating hormone orchestrates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of pancreatic islets.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is involved in mammalian reproduction via binding to FSH receptor (FSHR). However, several studies have found that FSH and FSHR play important roles in extragonadal tissue. Here, we identified the expression of FSHR in human and mouse pancreatic islet β-cells.

Overexpression of Pde4d in rat granulosa cells inhibits maturation and atresia of antral follicles to induce polycystic ovary.

Background: Follicle dysplasia can cause polycystic ovary syndrome, which can lead to anovulatory infertility. This study explored gene(s) that may contribute to polycystic ovary syndrome.

Methods: Three animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome were created by treating 3-week-old rats respectively with estradiol valerate, testosterone propionate, or constant illumination for 8 weeks.