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Anemia during pregnancy is known to be associated with an increased risk of antenatal and/or postnatal depression, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, there are few studies evaluating psychological health throughout the antepartum and postpartum periods in women with anemia in early pregnancy. This study analyzed data collected by the Korean Pregnancy Outcome Study, a multicenter prospective cohort study conducted in South Korea, to determine the impact of anemia during the first trimester on birth outcomes and maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. Hemoglobin levels were measured during the first trimester, and psychological health was evaluated at 12, 24, and 36 gestational weeks and 4−6 weeks postpartum. Anxiety and depression were defined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, respectively. Among 4067 Korean participants, 119 (2.9%) were diagnosed with anemia during the first trimester. Incidences of anxiety and depression did not differ over the pregnancy period between those with and without anemia during the first trimester. However, postpartum anxiety and depression were significantly more common in participants with anemia than in those without (p < 0.05, both). Hence, obstetricians should pay attention to postpartum mental health in women with anemia during the first trimester., Competing Interests: There are no conflict of interest to declare.

Background/objective: Healthy weight maintenance before and during pregnancy has a significant effect on pregnancy outcomes; however, there are no specific guidelines for gestational weight gain in pregnant Korean women. Therefore, we investigated the impact of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain on the risk of maternal and infant pregnancy complications in pregnant Korean women., Methods: Study participants comprised 3454 singleton pregnant women from the Korean Pregnancy Outcome Study who had baseline examination and pregnancy outcome data. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain were categorized according to the Asia-pacific regional guidelines and the Institute of Medicine recommendations, respectively. The primary outcome was any adverse outcomes, defined as the presence of one or more of the following: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, peripartum depressive symptom, cesarean delivery, delivery complications, preterm birth, small or large weight infant, neonatal intensive care unit admission, or a congenital anomaly. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to examine the independent and combined impact of pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain on the risk of maternal and infant outcomes., Results: Obesity before pregnancy significantly increased the risk of perinatal adverse outcomes by more than 2.5 times [odds ratio (OR): 2.512, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.817-3.473]. Compared to that in women with appropriate gestational weight gain, women with excessive weight gain had a 36.4% incremental increase in the risk of any adverse outcomes [OR: 1.364, 95% CI: 1.115-1.670]. Moreover, women who were overweight or obese before pregnancy and had excessive gestational weight gain had a three-fold increase in the risk of adverse outcomes [OR: 3.460, 95% CI: 2.210-5.417]., Conclusion: This study highlights the need for appropriate weight recommendations before and during pregnancy to prevent perinatal complications in Korean women of childbearing age., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: The Korean Pregnancy Outcome Study (KPOS) was established to investigate the determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes among Korean women., Methods: We recruited 4,537 pregnant women between 2013 and 2017 from two tertiary centers located in Seoul, Korea, and a total of 4,195 Korean women met inclusion criteria in the baseline analysis. A range of data on socio-demographics, past medical histories, reproductive information, health-related behaviors, psychological health and clinical information were obtained using interviewer-based questionnaires and clinical assessment at 12, 24, and 36 gestational weeks (GW), delivery and 6-8 weeks postpartum. Blood samplings were performed at 12, 24 and 36 GW, and placental tissues were obtained after delivery. The main outcome of this study was pregnancy-related complications including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension, and screening positive for peripartum depression. Depression was assessed using the Korean version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and a score of ≥10 indicated a positive screen for depression., Results: Among 4,195 eligible pregnant women with a median age of 33.0 years, 3,565 (85.0%) pregnancy outcomes were available in this study, including 30 miscarriages, 16 stillbirths, and 3,519 deliveries. Mean gestational age was 38.8 GW, and mean birth weight was 3,236 gram. The prevalence of pregnancy complications of GDM, hypertensive disorders, and screening positive of depression during pregnancy and postpartum was 7.0%, 1.4%, 27.8%, and 16.6%, respectively., Conclusions: We designed KPOS to identify the determinants of pregnancy-related outcomes, and it may provide effective strategies for the prevention of pregnancy complications in Korean pregnant women.

Background: Alcohol exposure has been shown to cause devastating effects on neurobehavioral development in numerous animal and human studies. The alteration of DNA methylation levels in gene-specific promoter regions has been investigated in some studies of human alcoholics. This study was aimed to investigate whether social alcohol consumption during periconceptional period is associated with epigenetic alteration and its generational transmission in the blood cells., Methods: We investigated patterns of alcohol intake in a prospective cohort of 355 pairs of pregnant women and their spouses who reported alcohol intake during the periconceptional period. A subpopulation of 164 families was established for the epigenetic study based on the availability of peripheral blood and cord blood DNA. The relative methylation changes of dopamine transporter (DAT), serotonin transporter (SERT), and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene promoters were analyzed using methylation-specific endonuclease digestion followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction., Results: The relative methylation level of the DAT gene promoter was decreased in the group of mothers reporting above moderate drinking (p = 0.029) and binge drinking (p = 0.037) during pregnancy. The relative methylation level of the DAT promoter was decreased in the group of fathers reporting heavy binge drinking (p = 0.003). The relative methylation levels of the SERT gene promoter were decreased in the group of newborns of light drinking mothers before pregnancy (p = 0.012) and during pregnancy (p = 0.003). The methylation level in the MeCP2 promoter region of babies whose mothers reported above moderate drinking during pregnancy was increased (p = 0.02). In addition, methylation pattern in the DAT promoter region of babies whose fathers reported heavy binge drinking was decreased (p = 0.049)., Conclusions: These findings suggest that periconceptional alcohol intake may cause epigenetic changes in specific locus of parental and newborn genomes as follows: Alcohol consumption decreases the methylation level of the DAT promoter region of the parent themselves, maternal alcohol drinking during the periconceptional period decreases the methylation level of the SERT promoter region of newborns, and maternal alcohol consumption increases the methylation level of the MeCP2 promoter region of newborns., (Copyright © 2015 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)

Objectives: To investigate the risks of increasing maternal age on the perinatal and obstetric outcomes., Materials and Methods: Information about 29,760 singleton pregnancies delivered between 2005 and 2008 was extracted from our database. Patients were categorized into four groups according to age: 20-29 years, 30-34 years, 35-39 years, and ≥40 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the adjusted odd ratios (AORs) of adverse pregnancy outcomes according to maternal age after adjusting for parity, body mass index, medical history and use of in vitro fertilization., Results: The majority of adverse perinatal outcomes were associated with a maternal age ≥35 years as follows: low birth weight (AOR 1.2 and 1.6 for women aged 35-39 years and ≥40 years, respectively); Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute (AOR: 1.7 and 1.8); and chromosomal anomaly (AOR: 2.7 and 12.3). However, women aged ≥30 years also had greater risks for adverse maternal outcomes such as: gestational diabetes (AOR: 2.0, 3.6 and 5.1 for women aged 30-34 years, 35-39 years and ≥40 years, respectively); placenta previa (AOR: 1.6, 2.1 and 3.6); and cesarean delivery (AOR: 1.5, 2.3, and 4.1), as well as adverse fetal outcomes such as: preterm delivery (AOR: 1.2, 1.4 and 1.8) and neonatal intensive care unit transfer (AOR: 1.1, 1.2, and 1.6)., Conclusion: Increasing maternal age is an independent and substantial risk factor for adverse perinatal and obstetric outcomes. These adverse outcomes become more common as increasing maternal age without a clear cutoff age., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Elevation of total cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with preeclampsia is well-known; however, whether this change precedes the onset of symptoms remains inconclusive. Here, we conducted a nested case–control study to determine the elevation of cfDNA levels in women who subsequently developed preeclampsia. Methylated HYP2 (m-HYP2) levels were determined in 68 blood samples collected from women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, along with 136 control samples, using real-time quantitative PCR. The measured m-HYP2 levels were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) values for correction of maternal characteristics. The m-HYP2 levels and MoM values in patients with preeclampsia were significantly higher than in controls during the third trimester (P < 0.001, both), whereas those for women who subsequently developed preeclampsia did not differ during the second trimester. However, when patients with preeclampsia were divided based on the onset-time of preeclampsia or 10th percentile birth weight, both values were significantly higher in women who subsequently developed early-onset preeclampsia (P < 0.05, both) and preeclampsia with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate (P < 0.01, both) than controls. These results suggested that total cfDNA levels could be used to predict early-onset preeclampsia or preeclampsia with SGA neonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse perinatal outcomes in ofloxacin-exposed pregnancies. This prospective study was conducted on 143 singleton pregnancies between January 2001 and April 2014, after oral ofloxacin exposure in the first trimester. A total of 33 exposed mothers were compared with 110 age-matched controls who were not exposed to teratogen. The mean maternal age was 31.4 ± 3.6 years, and the median gestational age was 4.1 weeks at the exposure. No significant differences were observed in either gestational age or in the foetal ultrasonographic long bone length between the exposed and control groups. Spontaneous abortions occurred without a significant difference (6.1% versus 10.0%, p = .733). In addition, no significant differences were found in either the stillbirths or in the major birth defects between the exposed and control groups (0% versus 2.0%, p = 1.000 and 0% versus 4.0%, p = .572, respectively). Ofloxacin has no significant effect on perinatal outcomes. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Ofloxacin and other quinolones are avoided during pregnancy because of concerns about cartilage toxicity. But we do not find human data reporting such toxicity in a case report. What the results of this study add? Previous studies were designed for evaluation of just congenital anomaly. But in this study, we measured the fetal long bone length to replace for evaluation of fetal cartilage toxicity. In fetal stage, we can not measure the cartilage of fetus. so we measure fetal long bone length for evaluation that ofloxacin might influence to fetal cartilage growth. Even though this sample size is small. this results will be helpful to counsel pregnant women who exposed to ofloxacin during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recently, fetal placenta-specific epigenetic regions (FSERs) have been identified for quantification of cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiencies of a column-based kit and magnetic bead-based kit for quantification of methylated FSERs from maternal plasma.Methods: Maternal plasma was extracted from normal pregnant women within the gestational age of 10~13 weeks (n = 24). Total cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) was extracted using a column-based kit and magnetic bead-based kit from the plasma of the same pregnant woman, respectively. Methylated FSERs were enriched from the extracted total cf-DNA using a methyl-CpG-binding domain-based protein method. The four FSERs were simultaneously quantified by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: Methylated FSERs were detected in all samples extracted from both kits. However, the amplification of FSERs showed significant differences in the extraction efficiency of methylated FSERs between the two extraction methods. The Ct values of methylated FSERs extracted using the column-based kit were significantly lower than those obtained using the magnetic bead-based kit (P < 0.001 for all FSERs). The quantity of methylated FSERs was significantly higher for extracted DNA using the column-based kit than that extracted using the magnetic bead-based kit (P < 0.001 for all FSERs). Time and cost for the process of extraction were similar for the column kit and magnetic bead-based kit.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the column-based kit was more effective than the magnetic bead-based kit for isolation of methylated FSERs from maternal plasma as assessed by FSER detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate pregnancy outcomes of women who were inadvertently exposed to levosulpiride in early pregnancy. All 162 consecutive singleton pregnant women counselled through the Korean Motherisk Program, Cheil General Hospital, between April 2001 and April 2014, on teratogenic risk after inadvertent exposure to levosulpiride in early pregnancy were enrolled in this study. The women were exposed to levosulpiride at median 4.8 gestational weeks. The rate of miscarriage was not significantly different between groups (9.2% in those exposed and 5.5% in the non-exposed; p = .084). The rate of major malformations was not significantly different between exposed (2.7%) and non-exposed pregnancies (4.4%) (p = .481). All other pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were comparable (p > .05). Our data suggest that levosulpiride causes no significant adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes and therefore may be not a major teratogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA in maternal circulation have been proposed as potential markers for noninvasive monitoring of the placental condition during the pregnancy. However, the correlation of and change in cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA in spontaneous abortion (SA) with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy have not yet been reported. Therefore, we investigated cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA levels in SA women with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy. Methodology/Principal Findings: A nested case-control study was conducted with maternal plasma collected from 268 women in their first trimester of pregnancy. Subjects included 41 SA with normal fetal karyotype, 26 SA with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy, and 201 normal controls. The unmethylated PDE9A gene was used to measure the maternal plasma levels of cell-free fetal DNA. The GAPDH gene was used to measure the maternal plasma levels of cell-free total DNA. The diagnostic accuracy was measured using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Levels of cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA were significantly higher in both SA women with normal fetal karyotype and SA women with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy in comparison with the normal controls (P<0.001 in both). The correlation between cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA levels was stronger in the normal controls (r = 0.843, P<0.001) than in SA women with normal karyotype (r = 0.465, P = 0.002) and SA women with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy (r = 0.412, P = 0.037). The area under the ROC curve for cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA was 0.898 (95% CI, 0.852–0.945) and 0.939 (95% CI, 0.903–0.975), respectively. Conclusions: Significantly high levels of cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA were found in SA women with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy. Our findings suggest that cell-free fetal DNA and cell-free total DNA may be useful biomarkers for the prediction of SA with fetal chromosomal aneuploidy, regardless of fetal gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We aimed to study the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to isotretinoin and to identify the factors influencing their decision to request an abortion. Methods. The study prospectively identified 79 women who had been treated for acne with isotretinoin during the periconceptional period, and who were followed up until completion of their pregnancy. Characteristics of exposure and doses were self-reported by participants. Results. Of the 56 participants who decided to continue their pregnancy, there were 11 spontaneous abortions and 44 women who delivered healthy full-term babies of which 19 had been exposed to isotretinoin <1 month before conception or during pregnancy. In a nominal logistic regression analysis including 68 patients who provided adequate information for analysis, exposure to isotretinoin >2 weeks post-conception and pregnancy termination recommended by the first-contact physician were found to be significantly associated with patients' decision to undergo elective abortion: adjusted OR = 9.87 (95% CI 1.18-82.34) and 12.51 (95% CI 2.36-66.29), respectively. Conclusions. Our study reports an elevated rate of babies born without evidence of gross malformation or neurofunctional abnormality even tough exposure occurred during the teratogenic risk period. However, caution is recommended since a substantial risk of congenital malformations has been reported with low doses of isotretinoin and at exposures limited to early pregnancy. We also found that primary-care physicians may influence patients' decision to request pregnancy termination independently of their timing of exposure to isotretinoin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented concerning a study to investigate association between filaggrin mutations and atopic dermatitis in Korean pregnant women.