Search

We aimed to evaluate metabolic outcomes in overweight/obese nulliparous and multiparous women and their offspring.Seventy-two overweight and obese women who participated in a randomized controlled trial of exercise in pregnancy were included in the study, comparing 18 nulliparous and 54 multiparous women and their singleton offspring. Women were assessed at 19 and 36 weeks of gestation. Fetal growth was measured using standard obstetric ultrasound techniques. Cord blood was collected at birth. Maternal and offspring body composition was assessed using DXA ~2 weeks after delivery.Nulliparous women had higher HbA1c in the third trimester of pregnancy than multiparous women (5.48% vs 5.29%; P=.002) and were more insulin-resistant based on the surrogate marker sex hormone-binding globulin (354 vs 408 nmol/L; P=.047). Nulliparous women also had higher levels of the inflammatory marker tumour necrosis factor-alpha (4.74 vs 3.62 pg/mL; P=.025). At birth, the offspring of nulliparous women were on average 340 g (P=.013) and 0.69 standard deviation scores (P=.026) lighter than those born of multiparous women. Cord blood data showed lower insulin-like growth factor-II (P=.026) and higher IGF binding protein-1 (P=.002) levels in the offspring of nulliparous women. In addition, a less favourable metabolic profile was observed in the offspring of nulliparous women, as indicated by higher triglyceride (P.001) and interleukin-6 (P=.039) concentrations.Infants born of nulliparous overweight and obese women appear to be exposed to a less favourable metabolic environment in utero, with evidence of subtle adverse metabolic outcomes at birth compared to infants of overweight/obese multiparous women.

OBJECTIVE We compared growth hormone sensitivity to an insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) generation test in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and of normal stature (NS) across the birthweight range. METHODS Forty-six prepubertal children (~7.1 years) born at term were studied: ISS (n = 23; 74% boys) and NS (n = 23; 57% boys). Children underwent a modified IGF-I generation test with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; 0.05 mg/kg/d) over four consecutive days. Hormonal concentrations were measured at baseline and day 5. RESULTS Children with idiopathic short stature were 1.90 SDS lighter (P

Structural traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in late-occurring health sequelae, consisting mainly of neuroendocrine dysfunctions. Studies have suggested that hypopituitarism is relatively common following TBI in childhood, but recent evidence suggests that the incidence appears to be frequently over-estimated. We recently showed that permanent hypopituitarism is rare after both inflicted and accidental structural TBI in early childhood. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Language: en