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Objective: Placenta-derived extracellular vesicles and their cargoes, especially microRNAs (EVmiRNAs), may contribute to fetal and placental development. During pregnancy, the levels of several maternal blood EV-miRNAs, including miRNAs of placental origin, vary among individuals and change throughout gestation. However, the effects of these miRNAs on fetal growth and trimester-specificity have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the serum levels of two extracellular vesicles (EV)-miRNAs (miR-127-3p and miR26b-5p), which may be involved in fetoplacental regulation, would be significantly associated with fetal growth in a trimester-specific manner. Materials and methods: This is a single-center birth cohort of maternal serum samples obtained at both the second and third trimesters. To minimize the influence of confounding factors, the analysis was limited to singleton vaginal deliveries, resulting in 27 participants being included in this study. EV RNAs were isolated using a membrane affinity method, and the relative expression levels of miR-127-3p and miR-26b-5p were measured using the RT-qPCR method with miR-484 as control. The associations between the two EV-miRNAs and fetal and placental growth were evaluated using a linear regression model and compared between the two trimesters. Results: EV-miR-127-3p levels tended to correlate inversely with the z-scores of birth weight for gestational age (BWGA) and placental weight for gestational age (PWGA) in the second trimester, but not in the third trimester. EV-miR-26b-5p levels were positively associated with birth weight in the second trimester, but this association was weakened in the third trimester. Conclusion: Our results suggest a trimester-specific association of circulating miRNA levels with fetal and placental growth. The precise roles of EV-miR-127-3p and EV-miR-26b-5p in fetal and placental development warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of the Japanese version of the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (J-ITSEA), a parentreport questionnaire concerning social-emotional/behavioral problems and delays in competence in 1- to 3-year-old children. The differences in score between genders, ages, and between the J-ITSEA and the original Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment were examined. The data of 617 participants recruited from Saitama prefecture through stratified two-stage sampling were analyzed. The Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.76 to 0.93. Gender differences emerged for some problems and all competence scales, with boys rated higher in the Externalizing problem domain and Activity/Impulsivity subscale and girls rated higher in the Internalizing problem domain, Inhibition to Novelty subscale, and all Competence scales. The Competence domain score increased across age groups. Compared with a normative sample in the US, participants in this study rated higher in Aggression/Defiance and Separation Distress, and rated lower in Peer Aggression and most of the Competence scales. The results indicate that the J-ITSEA scores should be interpreted in comparison with standard scores assigned for gender and 6-month age groups, and that specific criteria for the cut-off points for the J-ITSEA are required instead of those in the original questionnaire.

The aim of this study was to compare father-infant interaction with mother-infant interaction, and explore differences and similarities between parents. Related factors for quality of father-infant interaction were also examined. Sixteen pairs of parents with infants aged 0 to 36 months were observed for play interaction between parents and their children. Results suggested no significant differences between parents, but children's interactions were significantly more contingent with fathers than mothers (p =.045). Significant correlations between parents were found in socialemotional growth fostering encouragement for children during interaction (ρ =.73, p =.001). Paternal depressive symptoms were significantly correlated to paternal sensitivity to child's cues (ρ =-.59, p =.017).