Improving the Prediction and Detection of Contributors to Term Stillbirth

Thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) is dysregulated in preeclampsia

SM Botha, LA Bartho, S Hartmann, P Cannon, A Nguyen, TV Nguyen, N Pritchard, R Dechend, O Nonn, S Tong, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino

2026-02-01

Introduction: Preeclampsia involves endothelial dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis. Thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), a pro-thrombotic ..

Reduced circulating NrCAM as a biomarker for fetal growth restriction

LA Bartho, SP Walker, D Idzes, AEP Heazell, LE Higgins, AN Sferruzzi-Perri, NJ Hannan, CA Cluver, L Bergman, GP Wong, M Kandel, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, A Nguyen, S Tong, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino

2025-08-01

Background: Placental insufficiency underpins pregnancy complications, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia, yet predic..

The association between circulating SIGLEC6 and preeclampsia: observational studies of seven cohorts

TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, TM MacDonald, E Keenan, R Hastie, CA Cluver, D Susic, A Henry, JE Myers, LM McCowan, RS Taylor, L Bergman, FZ Marques, DM Kaye, LA Bartho, NJ Hannan, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, M Kandel, C Murphy, GP Wong

2025-08-01

Background: Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy. Methods: We did an observational study using seven tissue bank/co..

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is reduced at 36 weeks’ gestation in pregnancies destined to deliver small for gestational age infants

J Masci, M Kandel, SP Walker, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, GP Wong, TM MacDonald, NJ Hannan, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, LA Bartho

2025-04-17

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein commonly used to screen for aneuploidy in pregnancy. This study measured circulating AFP in m..

Cystatin 6 (CST6) and Legumain (LGMN) are potential mediators in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

SM Botha, LA Bartho, S Hartmann, P Cannon, A Nguyen, TV Nguyen, N Pritchard, R Dechend, O Nonn, S Tong, TJ Kaitu’u-Lino

2025-01-01

Preeclampsia results from placental insufficiency and causes maternal endothelial dysfunction and multi-organ damage. Our in-silic..

Plasma metabolites are altered before and after diagnosis of preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction

Lucy A Bartho, Daniel R McKeating, Susan P Walker, Brunda Nijagal, Teresa M MacDonald, Natasha Pritchard, Natalie J Hannan, Anthony V Perkins, Stephen Tong, Tu’uhevaha J Kaitu’u-Lino

2024-07-09

Metabolomics is the study of small molecules (metabolites), within cells, tissues and biofluids. Maternal metabolites can provide ..

Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LAIR1) is reduced with preeclampsia and small for gestational aged fetuses

Lucy A Bartho, Susan P Walker, Ping Cannon, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Anna Nguyen, Stefan M Botha, Natalie J Hannan, Stephen Tong, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino

2024-01-01

Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LAIR1) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on immune cells. We evaluated LAIR..

Plasma lipids are dysregulated preceding diagnosis of preeclampsia or delivery of a growth restricted infant

LA Bartho, E Keenan, SP Walker, TM MacDonald, B Nijagal, S Tong, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino

2023-08-01

Background: Lipids serve as multifunctional metabolites that have important implications for the pregnant mother and developing fe..

Circulating Chemerin Is Elevated in Women with Preeclampsia

LA Bartho, M Kandel, SP Walker, CA Cluver, R Hastie, L Bergman, N Pritchard, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, GP Wong, TM Macdonald, E Keenan, NJ Hannan, S Tong, TJ Kaitu'U-Lino

2023-05-01

Background: Preeclampsia is a severe complication of pregnancy. Chemerin is an adipokine secreted from adipose tissue and highly e..

Fetal heart rate events during sleep, and the impact of sleep disordered breathing, in pregnancies complicated by preterm fetal growth restriction: An exploratory observational case–control study

H Skrzypek, DL Wilson, AM Fung, G Pell, M Barnes, L Sommers, P Rochford, ME Howard, SP Walker

2022-12-01

Objectives: To evaluate fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns during sleep in pregnancies complicated by preterm fetal growth restrictio..

Placental galectin-3 is reduced in early-onset preeclampsia

M Kandel, S Tong, SP Walker, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, TM MacDonald, NJ Hannan, TJ Kaitu’u-Lino, LA Bartho

2022-10-14

Preeclampsia is a disease of pregnancy responsible for significant maternal and neonatal mortality. Galectin-3 is a β-Galactoside ..

PSG7 and 9 (Pregnancy-Specific β-1 Glycoproteins 7 and 9): Novel Biomarkers for Preeclampsia

M Kandel, TM Macdonald, SP Walker, C Cluver, L Bergman, J Myers, R Hastie, E Keenan, NJ Hannan, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, N Pritchard, S Tong, TJ Kaitu’u-Lino

2022-04-05

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is pregnancy specific, involving significant maternal endothelial dysfunction. Predictive biomark- ers ar..

Maternal sleep behaviours preceding fetal heart rate events on cardiotocography

DL Wilson, AM Fung, H Skrzypek, G Pell, M Barnes, ME Howard, SP Walker

2022-04-01

Abstract: In Australia, a significant proportion of stillbirths remain unexplained. Recent research has highlighted nocturnal mate..

Polysomnographic analysis of maternal sleep position and its relationship to pregnancy complications and sleep-disordered breathing

DL Wilson, AM Fung, G Pell, H Skrzypek, M Barnes, G Bourjeily, SP Walker, ME Howard

2022-04-01

Links between supine "going to sleep"position and stillbirth risk have led to campaigns regarding safe maternal sleep position. Th..

Circulating Activin A is elevated at 36 weeks' gestation preceding a diagnosis of preeclampsia

Georgia P Wong, Faith Andres, Susan P Walker, Teresa M MacDonald, Ping Cannon, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Emerson Keenan, Natalie J Hannan, Stephen Tong, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino

2022-03-01

Activin A is aberrantly expressed by the preeclamptic placenta and circulating levels have been investigated as a potential biomar..

Circulating SPINT1 Is Reduced in a Preeclamptic Cohort with Co-Existing Fetal Growth Restriction.

Ciara N Murphy, Catherine A Cluver, Susan P Walker, Emerson Keenan, Roxanne Hastie, Teresa M MacDonald, Natalie J Hannan, Fiona C Brownfoot, Ping Cannon, Stephen Tong, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino

2022-02-09

Fetal growth restriction (FGR), when undetected antenatally, is the biggest risk factor for preventable stillbirth. Maternal circu..

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12 (ADAM12) is reduced at 36 weeks’ gestation in pregnancies destined to deliver small for gestational age infants: ADAM12 is reduced in SGA

F Andres, GP Wong, SP Walker, TM MacDonald, E Keenan, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, NJ Hannan, S Tong, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino

2022-01-01

First trimester circulating ADAM12 is reduced in fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia. We measured plasma ADAM12 at 36 ..

Estimation of neonatal body fat percentage predicts neonatal hypothermia better than birthweight centile

SA Banting, KM Dane, JK Charlton, S Tong, L Hui, AL Middleton, LK Gibson, SP Walker, TM MacDonald

2022-01-01

Introduction: PEA POD™ air displacement plethysmography quickly and noninvasively estimates neonatal body fat percentage (BF%). Lo..

Circulating syndecan-1 is reduced in pregnancies with poor fetal growth and its secretion regulated by matrix metalloproteinases and the mitochondria

D Garcha, SP Walker, TM MacDonald, J Hyett, J Jellins, J Myers, SE Illanes, JK Nien, M Schepeler, E Keenan, CA Whigham, P Cannon, E Murray, TV Nguyen, M Kandel, J Masci, C Murphy, T Cruickshank, N Pritchard, NJ Hannan

2021-12-01

Fetal growth restriction is a leading cause of stillbirth that often remains undetected during pregnancy. Identifying novel biomar..

Accelerated fetal growth velocity across the third trimester is associated with increased shoulder dystocia risk among fetuses who are not large-for-gestational-age: A prospective observational cohort study

TM MacDonald, AJ Robinson, RJ Hiscock, L Hui, KM Dane, AL Middleton, LM Kennedy, S Tong, SP Walker

2021-10-01

Objective To investigate whether fetuses with accelerated third trimester growth velocity are at increased risk of shoulder dystoc..

Circulating growth differentiation factor 15 is increased preceding preeclampsia diagnosis: Implications as a disease biomarker

T Cruickshank, TM Macdonald, SP Walker, E Keenan, K Dane, A Middleton, V Kyritsis, J Myers, C Cluver, R Hastie, L Bergman, D Garcha, P Cannon, E Murray, TV Nguyen, R Hiscock, N Pritchard, NJ Hannan, S Tong, TJ Kaitu’u-Lino

2021-08-17

BACKGROUND: We investigated the biomarker potential of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a stress response protein highly..

Elevated circulating and placental SPINT2 is associated with placental dysfunction

CN Murphy, SP Walker, TM Macdonald, E Keenan, NJ Hannan, ME Wlodek, J Myers, JF Briffa, T Romano, A Roddy Mitchell, CA Whigham, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, M Kandel, N Pritchard, S Tong, TJ Kaitu’u-lino

2021-07-02

Biomarkers for placental dysfunction are currently lacking. We recently identified SPINT1 as a novel biomarker; SPINT2 is a functi..

Maternal circulating SPINT1 is reduced in small-for-gestational age pregnancies at 26 weeks: Growing up in Singapore towards health outcomes (GUSTO) cohort study

TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, S Tong, SP Walker, TM MacDonald, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, SA Sadananthan, MT Tint, YY Ong, LS Ling, PD Gluckman, YS Chong, KM Godfrey, SY Chan, KH Tan, YS Lee, N Michael, JG Eriksson, ME Wlodek

2021-07-01

Fetal growth restriction arising from placental insufficiency is a leading cause of stillbirth. We recently identified low materna..

Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring During Sleep in Fetal Growth Restriction

H Skrzypek, D Wilson, A Fung, G Pell, M Barnes, L Sommers, P Rochford, M Howard, S Walker

2021-05-01

Circulating Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) is increased preceding preeclampsia diagnosis and in established preeclampsia

TM Macdonald, S Tong, J Myers, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, E Keenan, E Murray, A Harper, N Pritchard, NJ Hannan, KM Dane, AL Middleton, VP Kyritsis, SP Walker, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino

2021-02-01

Introduction: Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) is a part of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, and highly expressed in the p..

Reduced growth velocity from the mid-trimester is associated with placental insufficiency in fetuses born at a normal birthweight.

Lucy M Kennedy, Stephen Tong, Alice J Robinson, Richard J Hiscock, Lisa Hui, Kirsten M Dane, Anna L Middleton, Susan P Walker, Teresa M MacDonald

2020-12-24

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) due to placental insufficiency is a major risk factor for stillbirth. While small-for-g..

MicroRNAs 363 and 149 are differentially expressed in the maternal circulation preceding a diagnosis of preeclampsia

CA Whigham, TM MacDonald, SP Walker, R Hiscock, NJ Hannan, N Pritchard, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, M Miranda, S Tong, TJ Kaitu’u-Lino

2020-12-01

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication associated with angiogenic dysbalance, maternal endothelial dysfunction and end-organ inj..

Appropriate-for-gestational-age infants who exhibit reduced antenatal growth velocity display postnatal catch-up growth

EJ McLaughlin, RJ Hiscock, AJ Robinson, L Hui, S Tong, KM Dane, AL Middleton, SP Walker, TM MacDonald

2020-09-01

Postnatally, small-for-gestational-age (SGA; birthweight <10th centile) infants who are growth restricted due to uteroplacental in..

Circulating SPINT1 is a biomarker of pregnancies with poor placental function and fetal growth restriction

Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino, Teresa M MacDonald, Ping Cannon, Nguyen Tuong-Vi, Richard J Hiscock, Nick Haan, Jenny E Myers, Roxanne Hastie, Kirsten M Dane, Anna L Middleton, Intissar Bittar, Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri, Natasha Pritchard, Alesia Harper, Natalie J Hannan, Valerie Kyritsis, Nick Crinis, Lisa Hui, Susan P Walker, Stephen Tong

2020-05-15

Purpose To investigate the relationship between patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire responses and time to late age-relate..

Circulating Delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1) at 36 weeks is correlated with birthweight and is of placental origin

TM MacDonald, SP Walker, R Hiscock, P Cannon, A Harper, E Murray, L Hui, K Dane, A Middleton, V Kyritsis, N de Alwis, NJ Hannan, S Tong, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino

2020-02-01

Introduction: Recently, Delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1) was identified as a potential marker of small-for-gestational-age (SGA; <10th ..

Circulating GATA2 mRNA is decreased among women destined to develop preeclampsia and may be of endothelial origin

CA Whigham, TM MacDonald, SP Walker, N Pritchard, NJ Hannan, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, R Hastie, S Tong, TJ Kaituu-Lino

2019-12-01

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication associated with elevated placental secretion of anti-angiogenic factors, maternal endothe..

Death associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK-1) is increased in preeclampsia

C Yung, TM MacDonald, SP Walker, P Cannon, A Harper, N Pritchard, NJ Hannan, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, S Tong

2019-12-01

Introduction: Death associated protein kinase-1 (DAPK-1) is highly expressed in the placenta relative to all other human tissues. ..

Blood-based biomarkers in the maternal circulation associated with fetal growth restriction

S Tong, T Joy Kaitu'u-Lino, SP Walker, TM MacDonald

2019-10-01

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with threefold to fourfold increased risk of stillbirth. Identifying FGR, through its..

Screening circulating proteins to identify biomarkers of fetal macrosomia.

Tess Cruickshank, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino, Ping Cannon, Alesia Harper, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Kirsten M Dane, Anna L Middleton, Valerie P Kyritsis, Roxanne Hastie, Stephen Tong, Susan P Walker, Teresa M MacDonald

2019-09-18

OBJECTIVE: Fetal macrosomia is a major risk factor for shoulder dystocia, which can lead to birth asphyxia, maternal and neonatal ..

Circulating adrenomedullin mRNA is decreased in women destined to develop term preeclampsia

CA Whigham, TM MacDonald, SP Walker, N Pritchard, NJ Hannan, R Hastie, ND Alwis, P Cannon, TV Nguyen, S Tong, T Kaitu'u-Lino

2019-04-01

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication associated with elevated placental secretion of anti-angiogenic factors, maternal endothe..

Prospective longitudinal assessment of the fetal left modified Myocardial Performance Index

TM MacDonald, AJ Robinson, SP Walker, L Hui

2019-03-04

Introduction: The fetal left modified Myocardial Performance Index (Mod-myocardial performance index (MPI)) is a measure of systol..

Assessing the sensitivity of placental growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 at 36weeks' gestation to predict small-for-gestational-age infants or late-onset preeclampsia: A prospective nested case-control study

TM MacDonald, C Tran, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, SP Brennecke, RJ Hiscock, L Hui, KM Dane, AL Middleton, P Cannon, SP Walker, S Tong

2018-08-31

Background: Fetal growth restriction is a disorder of placental dysfunction with three to four-fold increased risk of stillbirth. ..

Reduced growth velocity across the third trimester is associated with placental insufficiency in fetuses born at a normal birthweight: A prospective cohort study

TM MacDonald, L Hui, S Tong, AJ Robinson, KM Dane, AL Middleton, SP Walker

2017-08-31

Background: While being small-for-gestational-age due to placental insufficiency is a major risk factor for stillbirth, 50% of sti..

Variable effect of maternal oral glucose load on circulating cell-free placental mRNAs

TM MacDonald, TJ Kaitu’u-Lino, SP Walker, KM Dane, EB Lockie, S Tong, CL Whitehead, L Hui

2017-03-04

Background: It is not known whether fasting affects levels of circulating placenta-specific transcripts. Objective: To assess whet..

Identifying late-onset fetal growth restriction by measuring circulating placental RNA in the maternal blood at 28 weeks' gestation

CL Whitehead, H McNamara, SP Walker, M Alexiadis, PJ Fuller, DK Vickers, NJ Hannan, R Hastie, L Tuohey, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, S Tong

2016-04-01

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. OBJECTIVE: Measuring RNA circulating in the maternal blood may provide a nonin..

Placental insufficiency in fetuses that slow in growth but are born appropriate for gestational age: A prospective longitudinal study

N Bardien, CL Whitehead, S Tong, A Ugoni, S McDonald, SP Walker

2016-01-05

Objectives To determine whether fetuses that slow in growth but are then born appropriate for gestational age (AGA, birthweight >1..