Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
14:27
Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
Published on: June 26, 2013
15.6K
Identification of Putative Biomarkers in Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression
Vinay Suresh1, Shiva Gupta1, Yashita Khulbe1
1King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Pediatric Neurology
|September 12, 2024
Summary
Lower levels of maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) during pregnancy are linked to an increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP). Early identification of these biomarkers may aid in timely diagnosis and intervention for CP.
Area of Science:
- Maternal-fetal medicine
- Developmental neurology
- Biomarker research
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder affecting motor function.
- Early diagnosis of CP is crucial for improving clinical outcomes.
- Maternal biomarker derangements during pregnancy may serve as early indicators for CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal biomarker levels and the development of cerebral palsy (CP).
- To identify potential antenatal biomarkers for early CP detection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases.
- Meta-analysis of five observational studies involving 1552 cases and 484,985 controls.
- Analysis of biomarker levels using odds ratios (OR) and geometric mean differences (multiples of the median - MoMs).
Main Results:
- Lower maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein A levels were associated with CP (OR = 1.60).
- Lower maternal beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels in the first and second trimesters showed a trend towards association with CP (OR = 1.18).
- Sensitivity analysis indicated a significant association for lower beta-HCG (OR = 1.40).
Conclusions:
- Reduced levels of maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (first trimester) and beta-HCG (first and second trimesters) are associated with CP.
- Further large-scale studies are needed to validate these biomarkers for predictive utility in CP.
- Exploration of novel biomarkers for CP detection is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Mass Spectrum
A mass spectrum is the graphical representation of the relative abundance of the charged fragments in an analyte plotted against their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The plot's x-axis represents the ratio of the mass of the charged fragment to the number of charges it carries. The y axis of the plot represents the relative abundance of each charged species. The relative abundance is calculated from the signal intensity of each charged species recorded at the detector. The most intense signal (the...
01:13Mass Spectrometry: Isotope Effect
Most elements exist in nature as a mixture of isotopes. The isotopes differ in weight due to their respective number of neutrons. The molecular weight of a molecule is different depending on the specific isotope of its elements involved. As a result, the mass spectrum of the molecule exhibits peaks from the same fragment at multiple positions. The positions of these mass signals depend on the mass differences between isotopes. Furthermore, the intensity of these signals is dependent on the...
01:19MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is a powerful characterization technique that can identify and separate a wide variety of compounds ranging from chemical to biological entities, based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The instruments that allow this detection, known as mass spectrometers, have three components: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. These spectrometers differ based on the nature of their ion source and analyzers.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a commonly...
01:24Mass Spectrum: Interpretation
An unknown compound can be established by identifying the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak is often weak or absent due to the predominance of fragmentation in high-energy electron beams. In such cases, a soft-energy electron beam can be used to scan the spectrum to enhance the intensity of the molecular ion peak. Additionally, chemical ionization, field ionization, and desorption ionization spectra are used to obtain a relatively intense molecular ion peak.To...