Myelomeningocele, the most common neural tube defect, involves the incomplete fusion of the posterior spinal column, leading to the protrusion of neural tissue and meninges through the fetus’s posterior aspect [ 1 ]. This condition lacks skin …

Long-chain marine n -3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) have anti-inflammatory effects [ 1 ] and may influence the development of type 1 diabetes [ 2 ]. Studies in experimental animals and retrospective …

Mothers of better cardiovascular health (CVH) categories in early pregnancy showed reduced risks of having children with congenital heart disease (CHD), compared to those of low CVH. Integrating maternal CVH monitoring and risk management into …

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common causes of maternal death and morbidity during pregnancy in developed countries, including the United States [ 1 ]. The global prevalence of pregnancy-associated heart failure (HF) has increased …

Chronic hypertension complicated by pregnancy refers to the occurrence of elevated blood pressure before pregnancy or before 20 weeks of gestation, with no significant aggravation during pregnancy, or diagnosed as hypertension after 20 weeks of …

There is limited understanding regarding the etiology of childhood brain tumors (CBTs), which are the most common solid tumors among children [ 1 ]. Evidence from animal studies has led to a hypothesis that the central nervous system is susceptible …

Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs); these conditions have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), are linked to serious comorbidities and complications, including …

Vaccinating pregnant women against respiratory syncytial virus may protect their infants from lower respiratory tract disease, but carries a risk of premature birth.

With advances in medicine, antibiotics are commonly prescribed around the world [ 1 ]. The special physiology of pregnant women makes them more susceptible to infection, such as urinary tract infection. Thus, antibiotics are often used during the …

There is currently considerable interest in the intersection of pregnancy, body weight and future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [ 1 – 3 ]. Indeed, maternal weight gain over the 9-months of gestation is an anticipated feature of normal …

Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) has become a major challenge of obstetric care. For example, of the mothers who gave birth in Finland in 2021, 18.4% were living with obesity at the start of their pregnancy [ 1 ].