MIT researchers developed a new approach to ultrasound imaging that allows the user to visualize a 3D, augmented-reality image of the object being scanned. This technique could be deployed in hospitals or used to assist training technicians in ultrasound interpretation.

Gestational diabetes is commonly viewed as a temporary complication of pregnancy. However, growing evidence suggests that its effects may extend far beyond pregnancy itself, influencing a child’s metabolic health before birth and increasing the risk of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes later in life.

A review published in Frontiers in Endocrinology by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and Wrocław University of Science and Technology examines how adipokines—hormones produced by adipose tissue—shape the metabolic environment of both mother and fetus during gestational diabetes.

The authors focus on leptin, adiponectin and markers of leptin resistance, including the Free Leptin Index (FLI) and Leptin-to-Adiponectin Ratio (LAR). These biomarkers may help identify metabolic disturbances associated with gestational diabetes and could eventually support early detection of children at increased risk of future metabolic disorders.

The review highlights the concept of metabolic programming, which proposes that conditions experienced during fetal development can have long-lasting effects on metabolism and disease susceptibility. According to the authors, the first 1,000 days of life—from conception to approximately two years of age—represent a critical window during which biological mechanisms linked to obesity, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases may be established.

The researchers emphasize that effective prevention begins with proper diagnosis and management of gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Improved monitoring, healthy nutrition, physical activity and multidisciplinary care may help reduce long-term metabolic risks for both mothers and their children.

The findings contribute to growing evidence that the origins of many metabolic diseases may be traced back to fetal life and support the development of earlier and more personalized prevention strategies.

A straightforward blood-based assessment developed at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, can help assess how effectively high-density lipoprotein (HDL) remove cholesterol from blood vessel walls, a function known as cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). The study linked low CEC to a high-risk coronary plaque, supporting the broader clinical use of this method for predicting cardiovascular risk and improving preventive strategies.