Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Lancet 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, but the association with the concentration of specific biochemical markers is unclear. We aimed to quantify the adverse perinatal effects of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in women with increased serum bile acid concentrations and determine whether elevated bile acid concentrations were associated with the risk of stillbirth and preterm birth.

Methods: We did a systematic review by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for studies published from database inception to June 1, 2018, reporting perinatal outcomes for women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy when serum bile acid concentrations were available. Read More

Reprod Toxicol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan 430071, China. Electronic address:

Hepatic and pulmonary toxicity in fetal rats induced by pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) was investigated. Retrorsine (RTS) or monocrotaline (MCT) was intragastrically administered during pregnancy. The reduction of body and tail lengths was consistent with body weight loss in PA-exposed fetuses, and pathological lesions in liver and lung were observed only in fetuses. Read More

J Trop Pediatr 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Hepatology, School of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) are major contributors to neonatal mortality in India. However, social determinates of preterm births and SGA are poorly characterized. We use population-based data from a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in rural West Bengal, India, to examine risk factors for preterm birth and SGA. Read More

Am J Gastroenterol 2019 Feb;114(2):209-211

University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.

Rates of cirrhosis and pregnancy in women of reproductive age are increasing, making pregnancy-specific prognostic markers of disease severity increasingly important. Gonsalkorala et al. describe albumin-bilirubin score and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index as superior prognostic tools to the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in predicting live births and gestation beyond 37 weeks in pregnant women with cirrhosis, among 165 pregnancies in women with chronic liver disease. Read More

Biol Chem 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.

Several ABC transporters of the human liver are responsible for the secretion of bile salts, lipids and cholesterol. Their interplay protects the biliary tree from the harsh detergent activity of bile salts. Among these transporters, ABCB4 is essential for the translocation of phosphatidylcholine lipids from the inner to the outer leaflet of the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2019 Feb 4;19(1):22. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Faculty of Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology, Cairo, Egypt.

Background: Gilbert syndrome (GS) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of bilirubin glucuronidation which has not been investigated in Egypt. This longitudinal study investigated the frequency, clinical course, genetic profile and health related quality of life in Egyptian adults.

Methods: An initial cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the frequency of Gilbert syndrome among Egyptian adults. Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: In young men, high body mass index (BMI) has been linked to liver disease later in life, but it is unclear if this also applies to women.

Aim: To study the association between BMI early in life and development of liver disease later in life in women.

Methods: We obtained data on early pregnancy BMI from 1 139 458 Swedish women between 1992 and 2015. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.

Background: The risk of common chronic medical conditions among infertile women is not known.

Objective: To study the association between female infertility and risk of incident chronic disease.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis using the Optum® de-identified Clinformatics© Datamart from 2003-2016. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Jan 31:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

a Optics and Imaging Center, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.

Preeclampsia is a multisystemic disorder which accounts for the high prevalence of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in middle and low-income countries. Currently, the primary intervention is the urgent delivery of the fetus, hence it would be advantageous to identify those who are likely to develop preeclampsia and the maternal and fetal outcomes. However, an array of risk factors makes these challenging. Read More

Hamostaseologie 2019 Feb 31;39(1):49-61. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

A thrombophilic disorder is a hereditary or acquired condition that increases the risk of thrombosis. The most common hereditary thrombophilias that predispose to venous thrombosis in the Caucasian population are the heterozygous forms of the factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutation that are generally detected by direct DNA genotyping. Immunologic antigen assays and chromogenic or clot-based activity assays are used to identify deficiencies in the natural coagulation inhibitors antithrombin, protein C and protein S. Read More

Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2019 Jan;54(1):38-43

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.

To explore whether pravastatin (Pra) inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal pathway by regulating Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) protein through the comparison of gene and protein expression changes of Rheb in liver and placenta in preeclampsia (PE)-like mouse model treated with Pra. C57BL/6J pregnant mice were randomly divided into two groups. The PE group was established by injecting N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) daily at gestational 7-18 days, saline was injected as contol group (Con); then giving mice Pra (PE+Pra, Con+Pra group, =8) or normal saline (PE+N, Con+N group, =8) every day from the 8th gestational day of pregnancy. Read More

Gynecol Endocrinol 2019 Jan 27:1-3. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

a Obstetrics and Gynecology Department , Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital , İstanbul , Turkey.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a diagnosis of exclusion and presents with unexplained pruritus, abnormal liver function tests, and increased serum bile acid levels, particularly in the third trimester of pregnancy. Serum YKL-40 levels are increased in liver diseases and our aim was to investigate YKL-40 levels in pregnant women with ICP. 40 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and 40 healthy pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Read More

Vet Pathol 2019 Jan 27:300985818823776. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

6 Paragon Research and Analysis Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Thirty-seven adult female moose ( Alces alces) from 2 distinct but adjacent populations in Elk Island National Park (EINP), Alberta, Canada (19 in north EINP and 18 in south EINP), were fitted with mortality-sensing VHF radio-collars, and radio signals were acquired daily to ascertain mortality status. At capture, serum, whole blood, and feces were collected; pregnancy was determined; teeth were aged by visual inspection; and a portion of liver was assessed by ultrasound examination. Postmortem examination was conducted on 20 suitable carcasses. Read More

Wiad Lek 2018 ;71(8):1541-1549

Kharkov National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Objective: Introduction: In children population of Ukraine the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are quite common, among which a significant number of cases occur in liver diseases. The complexity of the liver functions formation in antenatal and intranatal periods, its morphofunctional immaturity lead to the high sensitivity of this organ to the influence of various factors from the mother organism. Actual issues are the detection of the mother's pathology influence on the formation of diseases «cargo» in children remote stages of ontogenesis. Read More

Molecules 2019 Jan 22;24(3). Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Liaoning Province, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110161, China.

Metabolic diseases, such as ketosis, are closely associated with decreased reproductive performance (such as delayed estrus and decreased pregnancy rate) in dairy cows. The change of () concentration in dairy cattle is an important mechanism leading to ketosis, and its blood concentration in ketotic cows is always significantly higher than in nonketotic cows. Many studies indicated that can induce oxidative damage in liver and other organs. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2019 Jan 14;162. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei, afd. Gynaecologie & Verloskunde, Ede.

Background: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare complication of pregnancy which is potentially fatal to mother and child.

Case Description: A primigravida at term with gestational diabetes presented at hospital complaining mainly of nausea and vomiting. Test results were consistent with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). Read More

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi 2018 Dec;26(12):945-950

Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China.

To observe the efficacy and safety related measures by blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus with high viral load and HBeAg positivity during pregnancy in Guizhou province. Outpatient and inpatient cases of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Obstetrics of Guizhou Medical University Affiliated Hospitals from May 2016 to July 2017 were retrospectively divided into intervention group, non-intervention group and non- hepatitis B pregnant women group; with 75 cases in each group. HBsAg and HBeAg were positive in the intervention group. Read More

Biomedicines 2019 Jan 18;7(1). Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Background: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a challenging disease, with limited treatment options at the moment. Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) have demonstrated promising regenerative abilities in several diseases including POI.

Materials And Method: A pre-clinical murine case versus vehicle control randomized study. Read More

Circ J 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Medical Research Experiment Center, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study aim is to investigate the role and mechanisms of PAPP-A in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and inflammation during the development of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: PAPP-A was silenced in apolipoprotein E (apoE) mice with administration of PAPP-A shRNA. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Jan 17;12(1). Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

Gingival bleeding is a common intraoral finding, typically associated with inflamed tissues and periodontal disease. It is easily provoked by periodontal probing or toothbrushing. Spontaneous gingival bleeding rarely occurs and may be the only sign of systemic bleeding problems such as thrombocytopenia, leukaemia or coagulopathy. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2019 Jan 19;13(1):16. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Kliniken Nordoberpfalz AG, Klinikum Weiden, Söllnerstraße 16, 92637, Weiden, Germany.

Background: For the past decades the mean age of primiparae in Western societies is constantly increasing. At the same time, there is a growing demand for assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Subsequently, a higher prevalence of pregnancy-associated diseases such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia is observed. Read More

Postepy Biochem 2018 12;64(4):232-229

Pracownia Białek Wiążących Wapń, Instytut Biologii Doświadczalnej im. M. Nenckiego PAN, Warszawa.

Preeclampsia, also known as EPH-gestosis, is a pregnancy-specific syndrome. It affects 3-5% of pregnant women and is characterized by edemas, high blood pressure and proteinuria. Moreover, in women with preeclampsia dysfunction of many organs, such as kidney and liver, is diagnosed, while in the case of fetus growth restriction is observed. Read More

Haematologica 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

EA 4666 HEMATIM UPJV and Service Hématologie Biologique, CHU Amiens, France

We describe clinical, hematological and genetic characteristics of a retrospective series of 126 subjects from 64 families with hereditary xerocytosis. Twelve patients from 6 families carried a KCNN4 mutation, 5 recurrent p.Arg352His mutations and one new deletion at the exon 7-intron 7 junction. Read More

Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2019 Jan 17;17(1):12. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Detrimental exposures during pregnancy have been implicated in programming offspring to develop permanent changes in physiology and metabolism, increasing the risk for developing diseases in adulthood such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. This study investigated the effects of protein restriction on the metabolism of amino acids within the oocyte, liver, and whole organism in a rat model as well as effects on mitochondrial ultrastructure and function in the cumulus oocyte complex.

Methods: Wistar outbred female rats 8-11 weeks of age (n = 24) were assigned to three isocaloric dietary groups, including control (C), low protein (LP) and low protein supplemented with folate (LPF). Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Research Area for Multifactorial Disease, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.

Context: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is being increasingly diagnosed at younger ages, pointing toward an early-life origin.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and risk factors for bright liver (BL) in 1-year toddlers.

Design: Secondary analysis of the 1-year follow-up of the Feeding Study. Read More

J Surg Case Rep 2019 Jan 9;2019(1):rjy324. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

General Surgery Department and Surgical Oncology, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey.

Hydatid cyst in pregnancy is a rare condition. Moreover, it is very rare that it is in the soft tissue other than the liver. In this case, there are no data in the literature on treatment options, but only experience in case presentations. Read More

Top Antivir Med 2019 Jan;26(4):112-116

University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a lifelong dynamic disease that can be controlled with treatment but cannot yet be cured. Risk of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases with ongoing inflammation and HBV viremia. Initial treatments consist of tenofovir or entecavir. Read More

Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, 133-791, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Relaxin (RLX) is an insulin-like polypeptide hormone that was initially introduced for its pregnancy-related function. Subsequent studies revealed that RLX possesses anti-fibrotic functions in tumors and nonreproductive tissues, such as skin, lungs, and others. This aspect of the RLX has been explored for the treatment of various illnesses, such as cardiac fibrosis, liver fibrosis, and solid tumors. Read More

J Clin Virol 2019 Feb 7;111:42-47. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) flares have been reported due to alterations in the immune system during pregnancy. Recent studies in non-pregnant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) carriers have indicated that serum HBV RNA is a novel viral marker to assess treatment response and risk of disease flares.

Objectives: To analyze serum HBV RNA levels in association with established HBV markers in pregnant and/or post-partum CHB carriers. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(2):e14014

Department of Medicine Kidney Center.

Rationale: Adult-onset hepatitis B virus-associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (HBV-MPGN) is generally refractory, and an effective treatment for this condition has not been established. The indications for steroids in HBV-MPGN are an important clinical concern.

Patient Concerns: A 28-year-old woman with a chronic hepatitis B virus infection developed nephrotic syndrome in her second month of pregnancy, with urinary protein levels of 3 to 10 g/d that continued into her postpartum period. Read More

FASEB J 2019 Jan 10:fj201801551R. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

A maternal high-fat/sucrose diet, in the presence of maternal obesity, can program increased susceptibility to obesity and metabolic disease in offspring. In particular, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk is associated with poor maternal nutrition and obesity status, which may manifest via alterations in gut microbiota. Here, we report that in a preclinical model of diet-induced maternal obesity, maternal supplementation of a high-fat/sucrose diet with the prebiotic oligofructose improves glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic steatosis in offspring following a long-term high-fat/sucrose dietary challenge compared with offspring of untreated dams. Read More

Mol Genet Metab Rep 2019 Mar 4;18:19-21. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Gaucher disease (GD) is one of the commonest lysosomal storage diseases that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and affects 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 people in the general population. The frequency is much higher (1 in 500 to 1000) in people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage due to a founder effect. GD is caused by decreased or absent activity of β-glucosidase with subsequent accumulation of the substrate glucosylceramide in macrophages due to genetic alterations in the gene. Read More

Med Lett Drugs Ther 2018 Nov 19;60(1560):e192-e194. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Inflamm Bowel Dis 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago Illinois.

Background: Human alpha-fetoprotein (hAFP) is a glycoprotein derived from the gut entoderm and expressed sequentially by cells of the yolk sac, fetal liver, and gastrointestinal tract. By adulthood, serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are undetectable in healthy, nonpregnant adults. Despite the clinical utilities of AFP monitoring in pregnancy and malignancy, much remains to be determined regarding its potential physiological functions. Read More

Hepatol Commun 2019 Jan 30;3(1):20-28. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Division of Gastroenterology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA.

Hepatitis C has increasingly affected women of child-bearing age over the past few years as a result of the opioid epidemic. In this review, we discuss the effect of hepatitis C on pregnancy outcomes, effect of pregnancy on hepatitis C, as well as implications on management of hepatitis C during pregnancy. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) frequently affects women of childbearing age in whom the desire to have a family raises the question regarding the potential risks for the fetus and the mother. The information on AIH in pregnant patients is scarce. The aims of this study were (1) to identify the risk factors associated with flares in pregnant patients diagnosed with AIH, (2) to determine the course of AIH in patients with pregnancy-related flares, and (3) to describe the outcome of AIH diagnosed in the postpartum period. Read More

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2019 Jan 7:1-27. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

a Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences and Technology , Northwest A & F University , Yangling , Shaanxi Province , P.R. China.

Coffee is a composite mixture of more than a thousand diverse phytochemicals like alkaloids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals and nitrogenous compounds. Coffee has multifunctional properties as a food additive and nutraceutical. As a nutraceutical, coffee has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antidyslipidemic, anti-obesity, type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which can serve for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome and associated disorders. Read More

Anaesthesia 2019 Jan 1. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Anaesthesia Critical and Emergency Care Science Unit, Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Butyrylcholinesterase deficiency prolongs the effects of the drugs it degrades; succinylcholine and mivacurium. Existing literature on butyrylcholinesterase deficiency is dominated by genetic and biochemical studies. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Biosis to systematically review the causes and clinical consequences of butyrylcholinesterase deficiency. Read More

Ann Hepatol 2018 Oct;17(6):1035-1041

Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, United States.

Introduction And Aim: The impact of type of liver disease on parity rates hasn't been described. Our aim was to assess the parity rates among women with CLD.

Material And Methods: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-III (1988-1994) data were used to identify adult female participants with a diagnosis of CLD. Read More

Ann Hepatol 2018 Dec;18(1):40-47

Cangzhou Central Hospital, No. 16, Xinhuazhong Road, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, China.

Introduction And Aim: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are reported to participate in several pregnancy-related diseases, including intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), which is a severe liver disorder in pregnant women. Meanwhile, ample evidences have demonstrated that celastrol inhibits the activity and expression of MMPs. The present study aims to examine the effect of celastrol to alleviate symptoms of ICP in rat model. Read More

Clin Calcium 2019 ;29(1):39-45

Niigata City General Hospital, Niigata, Japan.

Post-pregnancy osteoporosis is a rare condition with little known pathophysiology. Most cases are diagnosed in the late stage of pregnancy or in the post partum while breastfeeding, particularly in first pregnancy. Non-traumatic vertebral fragility fractures are most commonly observed and characterized by prolonged severe pain and functional limitations. Read More

Transplant Proc 2018 Dec 30;50(10):3995-3999. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Division of Internal Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address:

Liver transplantation (LT) for acute liver failure is an uncommon occurrence in the setting of pregnancy given the risk of fetal demise, and rarely is it undertaken with a viable fetus. Maternal hyperthyroidism increases fetal risk in the setting of LT, particularly in the setting of thyrotoxicosis. We report the first case of propylthiouracil-induced acute liver failure in a hyperthyroid patient in her second trimester resulting in LT. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Medical School, UWA, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.

Study Question: Are early signs of metabolic disorder in late adolescence associated with features of impaired testicular function many years before the majority seek parenthood?

Summary Answer: Adolescents with features of metabolic disorder at 17 years, or insulin resistance (IR) at 20 years of age, show impaired testicular function and altered hormone levels compared to those without metabolic disorder.

What Is Known Already: Controversial evidence suggests a recent decline in sperm production potentially linked to environmental influences, but its cause remains unclear. Concomitant increases in obesity and diabetes suggest that lifestyle factors may contribute to this decline in testicular function. Read More

Obstet Med 2018 Dec 5;11(4):178-181. Epub 2018 Jun 5.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare complication of pregnancy that may result in fulminant hepatic failure. We present a review of all patients presenting to a quaternary obstetric hospital over a 15-year period, with particular regard to biochemical changes, results of gene testing, and pre-existing conditions. Seventeen patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy were identified. Read More

Sheng Li Xue Bao 2018 Dec;70(6):607-611

Advanced Institute of Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an intermediate metabolite of methionine metabolism. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is defined as a condition characterized by plasma Hcy level above 16 μmol/L which can result from abnormal Hcy metabolism. HHcy has been confirmed to be related to cardio-cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, liver cirrhosis and kidney diseases. Read More

Malar J 2018 Dec 14;17(1):470. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Unit of Parasitology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.

Background: Congenital malaria is usually defined as the detection of asexual forms of Plasmodium spp. in a blood sample of a neonate during perinatal age if there is no possibility of postpartum infection by a mosquito bite. The incidence of congenital malaria is highly variable and seems related to several factors, such as different diagnostic methods for Plasmodium spp. Read More

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan China.

Hypercholesterolaemia is considered a disease with intrauterine origin. Recently, we reported that prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) induced an abnormal level of total cholesterol in rat offspring before and after birth. However, there were little data about sex differences in serum cholesterol level in PNE offspring. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2019 Jan 10;123:546-552. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

We studied in rats the effects of cafeteria diet (CD) supplemented (or not) with fish oil (FO) during just the first 12 days of pregnancy, or during the whole of pregnancy and lactation in 14-month old offspring. Female rats were given standard diet (STD) or CD and after mating some animals remained on STD or CD; for some CD rats the diet was supplemented with 8.78% FO. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):267-273

Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Background: Hepatitis B and C are diseases with high morbimortality and constitute a global public health problem. In Brazil, the prevalence is not homogeneous, oscillating among different regions, but it is estimated that currently about 1% of the population present chronic disease related to the B virus and that there are 1.5 million infected with the C virus. Read More

Acta Haematol 2019 7;141(1):55-60. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and severe clinical syndrome that can be classified as either primary or secondary. Secondary HLH can be triggered by a variety of diseases. Pregnancy-related HLH has already been observed clinically. Read More