Objective-The role of post-transcription regulation in preeclampsia is largely unknown. We investigated preeclampsia related placental microRNA (miRNA) expression using microarray and confirmatory qRT-PCR experiments.Study design-Placental expressions of characterized and novel miRNAs (1,295 probes) were measured in samples collected from 20 preeclampsia cases and 20 controls. Differential expression was evaluated using Students T-test and fold change analyses. In pathway analysis, we examined functions/functional relationships of targets of differentially expressed miRNAs.Results-Eight miRNAs were differentially expressed (1 up-and 7 down-regulated) among preeclampsia cases compared with controls. These included previously identified candidates (miR-210, miR-1 and a miRNA in the 14q32.31 cluster region) and others that are novel (miR-584 and miR-34c-5p). These miRNAs target genes that participate in organ/system development (cardiovascular and reproductive system), immunologic dysfunction, cell adhesion, cell cycle and signaling.Conclusion-Expression of microRNAs that target genes in diverse pathophysiological processes is altered in the setting of preeclampsia.

BackgroundInsufficient sleep and poor sleep quality, considered endemic in modern society, are associated with obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes. Little, however, is known about the consequences of insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality during pregnancy on glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes.MethodsA cohort of 1,290 women was interviewed during early pregnancy. We collected information about sleep duration and snoring during early pregnancy. Results from screening and diagnostic testing for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were abstracted from medical records. Generalized linear models were fitted to derive relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of GDM associated with sleep duration and snoring, respectively.ResultsAfter adjusting for maternal age and race/ethnicity, GDM risk was increased among women sleeping ≤ 4 hours compared with those sleeping 9 hours per night (RR = 5.56; 95% CI 1.31-23.69). The corresponding RR for lean women (<25 kg/m2) was 3.23 (95% CI 0.34-30.41) and 9.83 (95% CI 1.12-86.32) for overweight women (≥ 25 kg/m2). Overall, snoring was associated with a 1.86-fold increased risk of GDM (RR = 1.86; 95% CI 0.88-3.94). The risk of GDM was particularly elevated among overweight women who snored. Compared with lean women who did not snore, those who were overweight and snored had a 6.9-fold increased risk of GDM (95% CI 2.87-16.6).ConclusionsThese preliminary findings suggest associations of short sleep duration and snoring with glucose intolerance and GDM. Though consistent with studies of men and non-pregnant women, larger studies that include objective measures of sleep duration, quality and apnea are needed to obtain more precise estimates of observed associations.

Aim We investigated association of maternal retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) with risk of gestational diabetes (GDM). Methods GDM cases (N=173) and controls (N=187) were selected from among participants of a cohort study of risk factors of pregnancy complications. Early pregnancy (16 weeks on average) serum RBP4 concentration was measured using an ELISA-based immunoassay. Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs/aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results Mean serum RBP4 was significantly higher among GDM cases compared with controls (47.1 vs. 41.1 μg/ml, respectively; p-value<0.05). Participants in the highest quartile for serum RBP4 had a 1.89-fold higher risk of GDM compared with participants in the lowest quartile (95%CI: 1.05-3.43). However, this relationship did not reach statistical significance after adjustment for confounders (aOR: 1.54; 95%CI: 0.82-2.90). Women who were ≥35 years old and who had high RBP4 (≥38.3 μg/ml, the median) had a 2.31-fold higher risk of GDM compared with women who were < 35 years old and had low RBP4 (<38.3 μg/ml) (aOR: 2.31; 95%CI: 1.26-4.23; p-value for interaction=0.021). Conclusion Overall, there is modest evidence of a positive association of early pregnancy elevated RBP4 concentration with increased GDM risk, particularly among women with advanced age.

OBJECTIVES To examine the association of maternal early pregnancy oxidative stress with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). DESIGN AND METHODS A pilot prospective, nested case-control study was conducted. Study participants were recruited before 20 weeks gestation. Maternal urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of systemic oxidative DNA damage and repair, was measured using competitive immunoassays. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS Elevations in early pregnancy urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were associated with increased GDM risk. After adjusting for confounders, the OR for extreme quartiles (≥8.01 vs. <4.23ng/mg creatinine) of 8-OHdG was 3.79 (95%CI 1.03-14.00). The risk for GDM was highest for overweight women with urine 8-OHdG concentrations ≥ 8.01ng/mg creatinine (OR=5.36, 95%CI 1.33-21.55) when compared with lean women who had 8-OHdG concentrations < 8.01ng/mg creatinine. CONCLUSIONS Elevated urine 8-OHdG concentrations in early pregnancy appear to be associated with increased GDM risk.