Epigenetic Markers in Growth Restricted Human Pregnancies: a Case-controlled Study

September 18, 2009 updated by: National University Hospital, Singapore

Epigenetic Markets in Growth Restricted Human Pregnancies: A Case- Control Study

This study is carried out to discover if a baby with restricted growth in the womb is subject to specific fetal programming which predisposes to the metabolic syndrome(diabetes,hypertension,heart disease) in adulthood.We have elected to first study this condition in Chinese population in Singapore with the eventual plan of studying all ethnic groups. This is important for understanding the molecular basis of adult-onset disease such as diabetes, identifying children at risk of developing this disease in future and targeting specific strategies for intervention and disease prevention.

Intrauterine fetal programming is effected through epigenetic changes similar to those previously identified in animal studies. The epigenetic markers can be found in growth restricted Chinese pregnancies in the local population.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Fetal growth restriction is associated with accelerated postnatal weight gain and increased obesity risk in later life.International epidemiological data suggest that the phenomenon of fetal programming links poor intrauterine growth to adult disease, primarily type II diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, conditions increasingly common in Singapore. Suboptimal intrauterine environmental condition s are postulated to affect fetal development through effects on developmental plasticity through epigenetic processes. These effects manifest as poor glucose resistance, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease in later life. There is increasing animal data to support this model.

The aim of this study is to determine if epigenetic markers of the metabolic syndrome are present in selected Chinese pregnancies in Singapore.

Hypothesis:

Intrauterine fetal programming is effected through epigenetic changes similar to those previously identified in animal studies. The epigenetic markers can be found in growth restricted Chinese pregnancies in the local population.

Methodology Umbilical cords and cord blood will be collected from twenty unequivocally growth-restricted Chinese pregnancies and twenty appropriately-grown Chinese pregnancies. DNA extracted from these tissues will be subjected to a custom-made DNA methylation array probing for specific changes in 262 candidate genes important to fetal endocrine and metabolic control.

This will be done using either a methylation array or a Sequenorn 2 in the DNA extracts that have been identified through Epigen academic consortium of the Liggins Institute and UK collaborators.

Anthropometric data will be collected from the infants at birth, and subsequently at 3,6,12,18 and 24 months and we will seek differential measures of programming.

Application The discovery of biomarkers indicating shifted developmental trajectories is the most important need in developmental programming research. Birth weight alone is not a valid measure. Biomarkers predictive of later obesity and the metabolic syndrome will be invaluable in formulating preventive strategies for these diseases.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Singapore
      • Singapore, Singapore, 119074
        • National University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Babies from Chinese women with single pregnancies

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Chinese women,
  2. Singleton pregnancies,
  3. fetal growth restriction diagnosed clinically and by ultrasound parameters,
  4. Normally grown fetuses by clinical and ultrasound criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Non-Chinese women
  2. Multiple pregnancies
  3. Co-existing antenatal complications including sever pre-eclampsia

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
growth-restricted Chinese pregnancies
appropriately-grown Chinese pregnancies

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National University Hospital, Singapore

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Yap Seng Chong, MBBS, National University Hospital, Singapore

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2007

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 1, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 1, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 2, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 21, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 18, 2009

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • SIG/07072

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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