Visually determined disease extent on CT images is a strong independent predictor of mortality in IPF. Serial evaluation of quantitative CT measures can show disease progression in these patients.

Maternal prepregnancy BMI and GWG, including period-specific GWG, were positively and independently associated with neonatal adiposity. Associations of early and midpregnancy weight gain with neonatal adiposity support the hypothesis that greater maternal weight gain during pregnancy, regardless of prepregnancy BMI, is directly related to offspring adiposity at birth. The Healthy Start study was registered as an observational study at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02273297.

Thin-section CT histograms of the lungs were found to correlate with results of PFTs in patients with IPF, which supports the claim that histogram features can be used as valid indexes of IPF in a multiinstitutional nonspirometrically controlled study.

Background Our objective was to determine whether preconception-initiated low dose aspirin (LDA) improved live birth rates in women with one to two prior pregnancy losses. Methods This multi-center, block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial recruited from four medical centers in the US (2006–2012). Women aged 18–40 years attempting pregnancy were stratified by eligibility criteria: “original”: women with one loss <20 weeks’ gestation during the past year; or “expanded”: women with one to two prior losses regardless of gestational length or time of loss. Women were block-randomized (615 LDA, 613 placebo) by center and eligibility stratum. Preconception-initiated daily LDA (81 mg/day) was compared with placebo for up to six menstrual cycles; for those who conceived, study treatment continued until 36 weeks’ gestation. The primary outcome was live birth rate. The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT00467363). Findings Overall, 1078 women completed the trial (LDA 535, placebo 543). Live birth rates were 58% (309/535) in women assigned LDA vs. 53% placebo (286/543; risk difference [RD] 5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0·8, 11). Pregnancy loss rates were similar between groups (13% [68/535] LDA, 12% [65/543] placebo; p=0·7812). In the original stratum, live birth rates were 62% (151/242) LDA vs. 53% (133/250) placebo (RD 9%; 95% CI 0·5, 18), and in the expanded, 54% (158/293) LDA vs. 52% (153/293) placebo (RD 2%; 95% CI −6, 10). Major adverse events were similar between treatment arms. LDA was associated with increased bleeding per vaginam, but this was not associated with losses. Interpretation Preconception-initiated LDA was not significantly associated with live birth or pregnancy loss among women with one to two prior losses. However, higher live birth rates were observed among women with a single documented loss at <20 weeks’ gestation during the previous year. LDA is not recommended for the prevention of pregnancy loss.

No abstract

Differential transcription of identical DNA sequences leads to distinct tissue lineages and then multiple cell types within a lineage, an epigenetic process central to progenitor and stem cell biology. The associated genome-wide changes, especially in native tissues, remain insufficiently understood, and are hereby addressed in the mouse lung, where the same lineage transcription factor NKX2-1 promotes the diametrically opposed alveolar type 1 (AT1) and AT2 cell fates. Here, we report that the cell-type-specific function of NKX2-1 is attributed to its differential chromatin binding that is acquired or retained during development in coordination with partner transcriptional factors. Loss of YAP/TAZ redirects NKX2-1 from its AT1-specific to AT2-specific binding sites, leading to transcriptionally exaggerated AT2 cells when deleted in progenitors or AT1-to-AT2 conversion when deleted after fate commitment. Nkx2-1 mutant AT1 and AT2 cells gain distinct chromatin accessible sites, including those specific to the opposite fate while adopting a gastrointestinal fate, suggesting an epigenetic plasticity unexpected from transcriptional changes. Our genomic analysis of single or purified cells, coupled with precision genetics, provides an epigenetic basis for alveolar cell fate and potential, and introduces an experimental benchmark for deciphering the in vivo function of lineage transcription factors.

Patients with elevated aPL levels at their initial prenatal visit had an increase in fetal loss but no increase in maternal pregnancy complications, low birth weight, or low Apgar scores. Immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin antibody was the only single test of aPL significantly associated with fetal loss.

OBJECTIVE To estimate whether elevations of complement C3a early in pregnancy are predictive of the subsequent development of adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS A plasma sample was obtained from each enrolled pregnant woman before 20 weeks of gestation. The cohort (n=1,002) was evaluated for the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes defined as hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (gestational hypertension or preeclampsia), preterm birth (before 37 weeks of gestation), premature rupture of the membranes, pregnancy loss (during the embryonic and fetal period), intrauterine growth restriction, and the composite outcome of any adverse outcome. RESULTS One or more adverse pregnancy outcomes occurred in 211 (21%) of the cohort. The mean levels (ng/mL) of C3a in early pregnancy were significantly (P=<.001) higher among women with one or more adverse outcomes (858±435) compared with women with an uncomplicated pregnancy (741±407). Adjusted for parity and prepregnancy body mass index, women with levels of C3a in the upper quartile in early pregnancy were three times more likely to have an adverse outcome later in pregnancy compared with women in the lowest quartile (95% confidence interval, 1.8–4.8; P<.001). The link between early elevated C3a levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes was driven primarily by individual significant (P<.05) associations of C3a with hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, preterm birth, and premature rupture of the membranes. CONCLUSION Elevated C3a as early as the first trimester of pregnancy is an independent predictive factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting that complement-related inflammatory events in pregnancy contribute to the subsequent development of poor outcomes at later stages of pregnancy.