Aurora magazine

Prenatal exposure to high levels of fine dust is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure. This was revealed by a study by Johns Hopkins University, which examined data from 1293 mother-child pairs. The most exposed children to smog in utero had 61% more chance of suffering from high blood pressure. The most affected were newborns born prematurely or underweight.

The nefarious effects of pollution on the fetus were already known. It is known that fine powders act on fetal development and weight of the child. However, the association between smog and high blood pressure is new. For the first time it is shown that breathing polluted air during pregnancy damages the cardiovascular health of the fetus.

Data on mothers and children were collected between 1998 and 2012. Doctors first collected data on the concentration of fine particles in places frequented by pregnant women. As for follow-up, they measured the pressure of children aged 3 and 9. Combining data, it emerged that children's pressure and pollution were proportional. The more fine powders there were in the area frequented by the mother, the greater the risk of high blood pressure for the child.

According to the study, the most significant consequences were recorded with exposure during the third quarter. In this period the fetus acquires a good part of its weight, an element that could also influence the pressure. If this data were confirmed, new criteria could be developed for the early diagnosis of hypertension. To have a clearer picture, however, it would have been useful to acquire data on the pressure of children in the adolescent period.

Source: medpagetoday.com

For the first time, researchers have created artificial embryos without using gametes. Instead, they used mouse stem cells, modeled to create a structure similar to that of blastocysts. The study does not aim to replace natural conception. Rather, artificial embryos will help to better understand the causes of infertility.

The main author of the study is Nicolas Rivron, biologist and engineer at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. It was he who explained how they moved from stem cells to an embryo in the early stages of development.

The researchers used two types of stem cells: trophoblasts and embryonic stem cells. From the first comes the placenta and from the second comes the embryo itself. The scholars have succeeded in organizing these two types of stem cells, so that they formed a proto-embryo. At this point, they implanted everything in the belly of a guinea pig. The proto-embryo was implanted and continued with its development.

The procedure allowed researchers to observe the very early stages of embryonic development. Although at this stage many women do not know they are pregnant, what happens to them is essential for the correct implantation of the embryo. A minimal anomaly is enough to prevent the implantation. It is therefore important to understand as much as possible the dynamics that allow the embryo to develop properly.

What is the use of which anomalies prevent the system? For example, it serves to improve in vitro fertilization techniques, making them more effective and efficient. It also serves to identify anomalies that, if not addressed, could turn into diseases later in life. The possible applications of a study like this are very numerous and range from IVF to contraception.

Source: medicaldaily.com

Erythropoietin or EPO is an anti-anemia drug also used on premature babies. It helps to protect and repair their little brains, even if the how remains a mystery. A mystery that the team of Dr. An Massaro has partly unveiled. It seems that the drug acts on some genes responsible for nervous development and regulating inflammation.

During the third trimester, the fetal brain grows very importantly. So when a baby is born weeks before the term, his brain is not yet fully developed. The EPO protects and repairs the neurons of these small brains, supporting the last stages of brain development.

The team analyzed the DNA of 18 newborns born between 24th and 27th week. The material was collected 24 hours after delivery and 14 days later. The 11 children treated with erythropoietin had different DNA methylation profiles and, consequently, a different gene expression. The difference was evident particularly in genes linked to the regulation of inflammation, hypoxia and oxidative stress.

DNA analysis has unveiled 240 methylated regions and 50 genes possibly influenced by the drug. A second analysis narrowed the field to 5 genes, essential for normal brain development. These include a transcription factor that regulates neurogenesis and an essential gene to generate new brain cells.

The discovery gives a possible explanation for the positive effects of erythropoietin. These could be mediated by the epigenetic regulation of genes involved in the development of the nervous system. Furthermore, genes may play a primary role in the way the body responds to inflammation and hypoxia.

Source: childrensnational.org

There is a wide range of factors that cause infertility or reduced fertility. According to a study by Pennsylvania State University, zinc deficiency could be among them. The substance appears to be essential in the early stages of oocyte development. When missing, the oocyte loses the ability to divide and be fertilized. For this reason, the zinc deficiency would affect the fertility of several months to come.

Most studies focus on the antral follicles, the most numerous and stimulated by the pituitary gland. The study in question, however, examines the preantral follicles. These are less numerous and still developing, therefore unable to respond to hormonal signals. The preantral follicles develop for about 90 days before being ready for ovulation. During the three months of their development, zinc plays an essential role.

The researchers analyzed the prenatal follicles of some guinea pigs and had them developed in vitro. They compared oocytes matured in zinc deficiency conditions and those matured under normal conditions. Furthermore, they exposed both growth factor groups to mimic ovulation. Oocytes matured without zinc were much less fertile and sometimes unable to divide.

The World Health Organization estimates that 17% of the global population suffers from zinc deficiency. However, the numbers indicate the most serious cases, leaving aside cases of moderate deficiency. Also within them there are both those who follow an unbalanced diet and those who suffer from particular diseases. The problem is therefore very common and the discovery could influence hundreds of women who can not conceive.

Source: the-aps.org