The study employed four gestural models using frame‐by‐frame microanalytic methods, and followed how the behaviours unfolded over time. Forty‐two human newborns (0–3 days) were examined for their imitation of tongue protrusion, ‘head tilt with looking up’, three‐finger and two‐finger gestures. The results showed that all three gesture groups were imitated. Results of the temporal analyses revealed an early and a later, second stage of responses. Later responses were characterized by a suppression of similar, but non‐matching movements. Perinatal imitation is not a phenomenon served by a single underlying mechanism; it has at least two different stages. An early phase is followed by voluntary matching behaviour by the neonatal infant.

Objective: To demonstrate the role of periodontal treatment (PT) in the prevention of preterm delivery (PD). Methods: A comparative prospective study of two groups of pregnant women with threatening PD was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Szeged: group A (n = 39) comprised patients who were merely examined dentally for periodontitis, and group B (n = 44) consisted of patients who received periodontal treatment during pregnancy. Results: Periodontitis was identified in 19 cases (48.7%) in group A and in 18 cases (40.9%) in group B. The mean birth weight of the newborns was significantly higher in group B (3,009.1 g) than in group A (2,580.8 g; p = 0.007). The rate of premature birth was significantly lower in the group who received PT (p = 0.012, odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.38–8.86). Conclusions: The PT of pregnant women can decrease the rate of premature birth and consequently lead to a better neonatal health outcome.

Adequate vitamin D (VD) intake during pregnancy is needed for fetal development and maternal health maintenance. However, while there is no doubt regarding its importance, there is not a unified recommendation regarding adequate intake. The main aim of our study was to measure the VD serum level of studied women, together with its potential influencing factors: demographic (i.e., age, level of education, relationship status and type of residence), conception and pregnancy related factors. Results are based on secondary data analyses of a retrospective case–control study of 100 preterm and 200 term pregnancies, where case and control groups were analyzed together. Data collection was based on a self-administered questionnaire, health documentation, and maternal serum VD laboratory tests. VD intake was evaluated by diet and dietary supplement consumption. According to our results, 68.1% of women took some kind of prenatal vitamin, and only 25.9% of them knew about its VD content. Only 12.1% of included women reached the optimal, 75 nmol/L serum VD level. Higher maternal serum levels were associated with early pregnancy care visits (p = 0.001), assisted reproductive therapy (p = 0.028) and advice from gynecologists (p = 0.049). A correlation was found between VD intake and serum levels (p < 0.001). Despite the compulsory pregnancy counselling in Hungary, health consciousness, VD intake and serum levels remain below the recommendations. The role of healthcare professionals is crucial during pregnancy regarding micronutrients intake and the appropriate supplementation dose.

Perinatal depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in women. The aim of this study was to assess the association of life stressors, perceived stress, obstetric and neonatal complications, and depressive symptoms in the early postpartum period and to compare these variables in two groups of women (preterm and term deliveries). Methods: A case–control study was conducted among 300 women who gave birth in 2019 at the University of Szeged. Cases included women with preterm deliveries (<37 weeks, n = 100), and the controls included women with term deliveries (≥37 weeks, n = 200). Data were collected during postpartum hospital stays through a self-administered questionnaire (containing validated questionnaires: the Holmes–Rahe Life Stress Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) and the medical records of women and newborns. A descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression were used to identify predictors of high EPDS scores (≥10). Results: Perceived stress levels were significantly higher among cases than controls (p < 0.001). Higher perceived stress was associated with a higher risk of depression in cases (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.17–1.48, p < 0.001) and controls (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21–1.45, p < 0.001), too. Newborn complications were associated with an increased perinatal depression risk in the controls (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.05–5.91; p = 0.039) but not in the cases (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 0.79–9.85; p = 0.111). It is supposed that premature birth was stressful itself, and women with preterm babies were less sensitive to any complications occurring in their newborns compared to women with term newborns. Neither maternal age, education, nor obstetric complications predicted depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the impact of maternal perceived stress and newborns’ health status on the risk of developing depression during the early postpartum period. These results emphasize the need for ongoing screening and follow-up measures, especially for women with higher EPDS scores.

Background/Objectives: Preterm birth (PTB) is a major public health concern worldwide, which may lead to detrimental maternal and neonatal outcomes. Maternal nutritional status, gestational weight gain (GWG), and lifestyle factors are potentially modifiable determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study examined the association between PTB and maternal GWG and assessed whether maternal dietary habits and lifestyle factors were related to GWG in women delivering preterm versus at term. Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted at a tertiary center in Hungary (MANOR Study, 2019). The case group included n = 100 women with PTB, while n = 200 matched term deliveries served as controls (1:2 ratio). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and medical records. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was categorized using standard definitions, while GWG was classified as inadequate, recommended, or excessive according to the US 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. A 7-item dietary index score was calculated based on gestational dietary habits. Results: Pre-pregnancy BMI distribution did not considerably differ between groups (p > 0.05); over one-third of women in both groups were overweight or had obesity (38.7% vs. 36.7%). Previous PTB (p < 0.001) and gestational hypertension (GHT) (p = 0.003) were more common among current PTB cases, while smoking, alcohol consumption, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) showed negligible differences (p > 0.05)—28.0% of cases, and 34.5% of controls were classified as having healthy dietary habits, based on the dietary index score calculated. Inadequate GWG was more prevalent among PTB cases (49.0% vs. 26.8%), whereas excessive GWG was less frequent among cases (21.9% vs. 38.4%). Being within the recommended GWG range and the manifestation of gestational hypertension were associated with lower (aOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18–0.87; p = 0.020) and higher (aOR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.44–8.19; p = 0.005) odds of PTB, respectively. Conclusions: Inadequate GWG was more common in PTB, while excessive GWG was more frequent in term pregnancies. Fast-food consumption was associated with excessive GWG among term births. Optimizing GWG and improving maternal diet quality should be included as key, cross-cutting interventions targeting the improvement of antenatal care.

This study investigates the toxic effect of harmful materials, unfiltered by the placenta, on neonatal umbilical cord (UC) vessels, focusing on stress-induced adaptations in transcriptional and translational processes. It aims to analyze changes in pathways related to mRNA condensate formation, transcriptional regulation, and DNA damage response under maternal smoking-induced stress. UC vessels from neonates born to smoking (Sm) and nonsmoking mothers (Ctr) were examined. Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy assessed the localization of key markers, including Transcription Complex Subunit 1 (CNOT1) and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II enzyme (RPB1). Additionally, markers of DNA damage response, such as Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, were evaluated. In Sm samples, dissolution of CNOT1 granules in UC vessels was observed, potentially aiding stalled translation and enhancing transcription via RPB1 assembly and translocation. Control vessels showed predominant cytoplasmic RPB1 localization. Despite adaptive responses, Sm endothelial cells exhibited significant damage, indicated by markers like Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. Ex vivo metal treatment on control vessels mirrored Sm sample alterations, emphasizing marker roles in cell survival under toxic exposure. Maternal smoking induces specific molecular adaptations in UC vessels, affecting mRNA condensate formation, transcriptional regulation, and DNA damage response pathways. Understanding these intricate molecular mechanisms could inform interventions to improve neonatal health outcomes and mitigate adverse effects of toxic exposure during pregnancy.