A5088083717- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
- Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring
- Urological Disorders and Treatments
- Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research
- Renal and related cancers
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Congenital Anomalies and Fetal Surgery
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
University College London
2016-2025
University College Hospital
2011-2024
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2008-2024
National Institute for Health Research
2010-2023
Wellcome / EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences
2020-2023
London Women's Clinic
2011-2021
UCL Biomedical Research Centre
2017-2021
Institute for Women's Policy Research
2020
Royal London Hospital
2007-2019
Queen Mary University of London
2018
Infection is considered a possible trigger for preterm labour, supported by evidence showing the presence of bacteria in placenta and placental membranes from births. In this study, 16S rDNA pyrosequencing was used to identify membranes. Caesarean sections vaginal deliveries at term were found harbour common genera. Mycoplasma hominis, Aerococcus christensenii, Gardnerella vaginalis Fusobacterium nucleatum either only present or greater abundance than term. These data support previous...
Receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are single-transmembrane that transport the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) to cell surface. RAMP 1-transported CRLR is a gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. 2- or 3-transported an adrenomedullin The role of RAMPs beyond their interaction with CRLR, class II G protein-coupled receptor, unclear. In this study, we have examined in generating amylin phenotypes from (CT) gene product. Cotransfection 1 3 human CT lacking 16-amino acid insert...
<b>Objective</b> To determine the association between depth of excision cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and risk preterm birth. <b>Design</b> Case-control study nested in record linkage cohort study. <b>Setting</b> 12 hospitals England. <b>Participants</b> From a 11 471 women with at least one histological sample taken colposcopy live singleton birth (before or after colposcopy), 1313 (20-36 weeks) were identified frequency matched on maternal age delivery, parity, site to term births...
Background Intrauterine infection may play a role in preterm delivery due to spontaneous labor (PTL) and prolonged rupture of membranes (PPROM). Because bacteria previously associated with are often difficult culture, molecular biology approach was used identify bacterial DNA placenta fetal membranes. Methodology/Principal findings We broad-range 16S rDNA PCR species-specific, real-time assays amplify from placenta. 74 women were recruited the following groups: PPROM <32 weeks (n = 26; 11...
The use of standard dose low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to anticoagulate women with mechanical valves in pregnancy is associated morbidity and mortality. We conducted a prospective audit the adjusted high intensity LMWH 12 pregnancies 11 prosthetic heart valves. ± low-dose aspirin was started at therapeutic-dose monitoring anti-Xa levels achieve target level 1.0–1.2 IU/mL (0.8–1.2 first 3/12 pregnancies). This necessitated mean increase 54.4% (SD±33.2) over initial dose. Eleven resulted...
Abstract Brain microglia are related to peripheral macrophages but undergo a highly specific process of regional maturation and differentiation inside the brain. Here, we examined this deactivation morphological in cerebral cortex periventricular subcortical white matter, main “fountain microglia” site, during postnatal mouse development, 0–28 days after birth (P0–P28). Only matter not cortical exhibited strong expression typical activation markers alpha5, alpha6, alphaM, alphaX, beta2...
Neonatal hypoxic ischaemic (HI) injury frequently causes neural impairment in surviving infants. Our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still limited. Protein deimination a post-translational modification caused by Ca(+2) -regulated peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), group five isozymes that display tissue-specific expression and different preference for target proteins. results altered protein conformation function proteins, associated with neurodegenerative diseases, gene...
Activation of uterine inflammatory pathways leads to preterm labor (PTL), associated with high rates neonatal mortality and morbidity. The transcription factors nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activator protein 1 (AP-1) regulate key proinflammatory procontractile genes involved in normal PTL. Here we show that NFκB activation normally occurs the mouse myometrium at gestation day E18, prior labor, whereas AP-1 JNK onset. Where was induced using progesterone receptor antagonist RU486, NFkB AP-1/JNK...
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a serious obstetric condition for which there currently no treatment. The EVERREST Prospective Study has been designed to characterise the natural history of pregnancies affected by severe early onset FGR and establish well phenotyped bio-bank. findings will provide up-to-date information clinicians patients inform design conduct Clinical Trial: phase I/IIa trial assess safety efficacy maternal vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) gene therapy in FGR. Data...
Intrauterine inflammation is recognized as a key mediator of both normal and preterm birth but also associated with neonatal neurological injury. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) often used to stimulate inflammatory pathways in animal models infection/inflammation-induced labor; however, inconsistencies maternal responses LPS are frequently reported. We hypothesized that serotype-specific may account for portion these inconsistencies. Four different Escherichia coli serotypes (O111:B4, O55:B5,...
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) occurs in ∼8% of pregnancies and is a major cause perinatal mortality morbidity. There no effective treatment. FGR characterized by reduced uterine blood flow (UBF). In normal sheep pregnancies, local artery (UtA) adenovirus (Ad)-mediated overexpression vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) increases UBF. Herein we evaluated Ad.VEGF therapy the overnourished adolescent ewe, an experimental paradigm which UBF from midgestation correlates with lamb birthweight near...
Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have huge potential for regenerative medicine. In particular, the use of pluripotent cell-derived (PSC-MSCs) overcomes hurdle replicative senescence associated with in vitro expansion primary and has increased therapeutic benefits comparison to various adult sources MSCs a wide range animal disease models. On other hand, fetal exhibit faster growth kinetics possess longer telomeres wider differentiation than MSCs. Here, first time, we compare PSC-MSCs...
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is a leading cause of child death, with high mortality and morbidity, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy cognitive disabilities. Hypoxia-ischaemia (HI) strongly up-regulates Signal Transducer Activator Transcription 3 (STAT3) in the immature brain. Our aim was to establish whether STAT3 up-regulation associated neonatal HI-brain damage evaluate phosphorylated STAT3-contribution from different cell types eliciting damage. We subjected postnatal day seven mice...
Preterm birth is now recognized as the primary cause of infant mortality worldwide. Interplay between hormonal and inflammatory signaling in uterus modulates onset contractions; however, relative contribution each remains unclear. In this study we aimed to characterize temporal transcriptome changes preceding term labor preterm (PTL) induced by progesterone withdrawal or inflammation mouse compare these findings with human data. Myometrium was collected at multiple time points during...
ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the effect of frequency uterine contractions on fetal cerebral oxygenation, using near infrared spectroscopy. Design An observational study relating changes in concentrations oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin, measured from start one contraction to that next, time interval between peaks observed by external tocography. Setting A teaching hospital obstetric neonatal unit. Subjects Ten term fetuses during labour. Results Changes concentration were...
Abstract Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of fetal isolated short femur in a cohort women screened for Down syndrome by integrated test, and to compare outcome fetuses with mid‐trimester that normal length (controls). Methods This was retrospective study 1262 booked antenatal care delivery at University College London Hospital. All had testing late first early second trimesters detailed anomaly scan mid‐trimester. reports, screening results neonatal data were analyzed statistically....
Preterm neonates are at increased risk of sepsis compared with those born term. We investigated immune status birth and early neonatal life in very preterm its association short-term outcomes.Prospective observational study conducted a university hospital recruiting 113 (23-32 weeks) 78 controls. Monocyte major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression, serum, ex vivo lipopolysaccharide stimulated levels six cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8,...
To determine pregnancy outcome and risk factors for adverse events in women with congenital heart disease (CHD) residual haemodynamic right ventricular (RV) outflow tract (RVOT) lesions.Pregnancy data CHD RVOT lesions have been recorded since 2001. There were 76 pregnancies 47 that continued beyond 24 weeks gestation. At conception 20% had obstruction, 32% pulmonary regurgitation (PR) 49% mixed obstruction PR. Moderate-to-severe PR was present 30 (39%) > or =30 mmHg 12 (16%) of pregnancies....