Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Photochem Photobiol B 2019 Mar 22;194:183-187. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Shandong Province, Shandong, China. Electronic address:

The purpose of this study is to synthesize Nomega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) adsorbed reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets and demonstrate their protective impact on the detrimental effect detected in investigational pre-eclampsia, a prerequisite where increase in oxidative stress and decreased Nitric Oxide (NO) production were present. The synthesized graphene sheets were studies by using various characterization techniques. Later, a prerequisite similar to pre-eclampsia has been induced through chronic inhibition of NO fabrication using a 60 mg/kg/day L-NAME, orally in pregnant mice. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Apr 17;116:108836. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Obstetrics, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, People's Republic of China.

Background: An impaired trophoblast invasion ability contributes to the development of pre-eclampsia (PE), and can be induced by the altered expression of various microRNAs (miRs). MiR-141 and CXCL12β (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) signaling regulate trophoblast invasion and vascularization capabilities during PE pathogenesis; however, their interactions and underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. We investigated how miR-141 modulates trophoblast invasion, with a focus on its interaction with CXCL12β signaling. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that remains a leading cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Placental ischemia/hypoxia and the secretion of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) into maternal circulation are involved in the pathogenesis of PE. Although low-dose aspirin (LDA) has beneficial effects on the prevention of PE, the exact mechanisms of action of LDA, particularly on placental dysfunction, and sFlt1 release, have not been well investigated. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Apr 19:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , KasrAlAini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.

This is a cohort study which included 100 cases with pre-eclampsia (PE) and 100 controls, done to compare the antepartum and postpartum uterine artery (UtA) Doppler velocimetry between them. UtA PI and RI were measured before and within 48-72 h after delivery. There was a highly significant difference between the cases and controls, regarding the UtA RI (0. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 29;10:659. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Feto-maternal microchimerism (FMM) involves bidirectional cross-placental trafficking during pregnancy, leading to a micro-chimeric state that can persist for decades. In this manner a pregnant woman will harbor cells from her mother, as well as, cells from her child. Historically, eclampsia, a severe disorder of pregnancy provided the basis for FMM following the detection of trophoblast cells in the lungs of deceased women. Read More

J Dev Orig Health Dis 2019 Apr;10(2):141-143

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit,The Aga Khan University,Karachi,Pakistan.

Adverse intrauterine environment could serve as an important stimulus for postnatal altered health status and for increased susceptibility to long-term non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The notion is now recognized as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), which was first proposed by Sir David Barker. Since then, several scientific disciplines have strived to measure the magnitude of the early fetal programming and later risk of diseases. Read More

Int Urol Nephrol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Nephrology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shuifuyuan 1, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100730, China.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors and renal prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome.

Methods: Women with HELLP syndrome over a 15-year period at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China, were retrospectively studied.

Results: A total of 108 patients with HELLP syndrome were included. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Apr 15:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

a Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar , Doha , Qatar.

Preeclampsia occurs in 3-8% of the pregnancies and is associated with a high rate of morbi-mortality, both for mothers and the fetus. Screening and prevention of patients at risk are the optimal way to reduce the morbi-mortality of this disease. To set-up a preventive approach to preeclampsia (PE), one has to identify using a screening strategy for the population at risk and propose them an appropriate therapeutic intervention that would bear a favorable benefits/risk ratio. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 3;20(7). Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, 07740 Jena, Germany.

The IL-36 subfamily of cytokines has been recently described as part of the IL-1 superfamily. It comprises three pro-inflammatory agonists (IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ), their receptor (IL-36R), and one antagonist (IL-36Ra). Although expressed in a variety of cells, the biological relevance of IL-36 cytokines is most evident in the communication between epithelial cells, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, which constitute the common triad responsible for the initiation, maintenance, and expansion of inflammation. Read More

J Family Med Prim Care 2019 Feb;8(2):356-360

Department of Medicine, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

Background: Studies of vitamin D (VD) physiology suggest that effects of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) could be much broader than rickets including cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, infection, and allergy and pregnancy complications. Data regarding the prevalence of hypovitaminosis in pregnancy are scanty especially in north eastern part of India. Therefore, this study has undertaken with the intention to find out prevalence and outcome of hypovitaminosis of VD in pregnancy. Read More

Case Rep Rheumatol 2019 11;2019:4914631. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Rheumatology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Polymyositis-dermatomyositis is extremely rare during pregnancy, and immunosuppressive therapy should be administered after carefully considering the effects on both the mother and fetus. Several reports have associated the disease activity with fetal prognosis, higher rates of eclampsia, preterm births, and fetal deaths. We report our experience with a patient who was diagnosed with polymyositis-dermatomyositis complicated by interstitial lung disease during pregnancy and was treated with a combination-immunosuppressant regimen. Read More

Platelets 2019 Apr 14:1-14. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

a Centre for Haemophilia and Thrombosis, Department of Clinical Biochemistry , Aarhus University Hospital , Aarhus , Denmark.

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-related complication. Platelets are potentially important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and platelet function analyses may prove as sensitive preeclampsia biomarkers. This study aimed to systematically review and summarise the literature on platelet function markers in preeclampsia. Read More

Curr Eye Res 2019 Apr 15:1-5. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

a Department of Ophthalmology , Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.

Purpose: To evaluate qualitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and quantitative parameters, such as central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveolar choroidal thickness (SFCT), in the eyes of preeclamptic women.

Methods: The prospective, comparative, cross-sectional study included 52 eyes of 52 preeclamptic (PE) women and 54 eyes of 54 healthy pregnant women in their second or third trimester. Central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveolar choroidal thickness (SFCT), were evaluated in relation to presence of positive qualitative OCT findings such as any subretinal or intraretinal fluid, irregularity on the external photoreceptor and RPE layer, or presence of pigment epithelial detachment. Read More

Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Department of Physiology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is considered a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in pregnant women worldwide. Eicosanoids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their metabolites might play an important role in the occurrence and development of PE. Omega-3 PUFAs are nutrients that are popular supplements for pregnant women and can reduce blood pressure. Read More

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Objective: To describe quality improvement opportunities (QIOs) associated with the five leading causes of pregnancy-related death in California and the methods by which the QIOs were collected by the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review committee.

Design: Qualitative, descriptive design using thematic analysis.

Sample: A total of 907 QIOs identified from 203 cases of pregnancy-related deaths from cardiovascular disease, preeclampsia/eclampsia, hemorrhage, venous thromboembolism, and sepsis that occurred in California from 2002 to 2007. Read More

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Objective: To analyze quality improvement opportunities (QIOs) identified through review of cases of maternal death from preeclampsia/eclampsia by the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Committee.

Design: Qualitative descriptive design using thematic analysis.

Sample: A total of 242 QIOs identified from 54 cases of pregnancy-related deaths from preeclampsia/eclampsia in California between 2002 and 2007. Read More

Transplant Proc 2019 Apr 9;51(3):805-812. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address:

Background: Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome is a life-threatening form of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, with liver transplantation being the life-saving option for treatment for those who develop severe hepatic complications.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) through October 1, 1987, to December 31, 2014. Forty patients were listed for liver transplantation, with 18 patients finally receiving their transplant. Read More

PLoS One 2019 12;14(4):e0215326. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest cause of liver disease worldwide and is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Effects of NAFLD on pregnancy is still unclear with few studies showing an association to gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. We aimed to describe the association between the NAFLD and pregnancy complications. Read More

PLoS Med 2019 Apr 12;16(4):e1002783. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.

Background: Most pregnancy hypertension estimates in less-developed countries are from cross-sectional hospital surveys and are considered overestimates. We estimated population-based rates by standardised methods in 27 intervention clusters of the Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomised trials.

Methods And Findings: CLIP-eligible pregnant women identified in their homes or local primary health centres (2013-2017). Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019 Apr 11;19(1):126. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-4475, USA.

Background: Maternal obesity has a wide range of health effects on both the pregnant woman and developing fetus. The clinical significance of these disorders, combined with a dramatically increasing prevalence of obesity among pregnant women has precipitated a major health crisis in the United States. The most commonly used recommendations for gestational weight gain were established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2009 and have become well known and often adopted. Read More

Pak J Biol Sci 2019 Jan;22(3):148-153

Background And Objective: Preeclampsia(PE) is adisordercharacterized byhypertensionandproteinuria. There is accumulating evidence that this is a disease of the endothelium. Angiogenic factors may be responsible for the regulation of placental vascular development. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York. Electronic address:

There is limited data on postpartum maternal postpartum major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) among women with heart disease (HD) in the US. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of MACCE in the US. The Nationwide Readmissions Databases (2010 to 2014) were screened for patients with and without HD undergoing delivery. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Apr 8;8(4). Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Nefrológicas, CMN Siglo XXI, 06720 CdMx, México.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with reduction of fertility and increased complications during pregnancy. The aim of this work is to analyze the clinical outcomes and risk factors in pregnant women who needed to start dialysis with different schedules in a public hospital in Mexico City, with particular attention on the interference of social and cultural elements as well as resource limitations.

Material And Methods: CKD women who needed dialysis in pregnancy over the period 2002⁻2014 and had with complete demographic and outcome data were included in this retrospective study. Read More

PLoS One 2019 9;14(4):e0214807. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

National Institute for Medical Research, Headquarters, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Maternal mortality is among the most important public health concerns in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is limited data on hospital-based maternal mortality in Tanzania. The objective of this study was to determine the causes and maternal mortality trends in public hospitals of Tanzania from 2006-2015. Read More

J Perinatol 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Implantation and Placental Development Laboratory, Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Objective: To investigate a potential new marker for the prediction of small for gestational age (SGA) infants.

Study Design: Nested case-control study involving 280 uncomplicated pregnancies and 70 cases of SGA without pre-eclampsia. Serum podocalyxin was measured at 11-13 weeks of gestation and results were expressed in multiples of the median (MoM). Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Pharmacology and Vascular Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam. Netherlands.

Background: Adequate development of the placenta is essential for optimal pregnancy outcome. Pre-eclampsia (PE) is increasingly recognized to be a consequence of placental dysfunction and can cause serious maternal and fetal complications during pregnancy. Furthermore, PE increases the risk of neonatal problems and has been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease of the mother later in life. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Institute for Fetology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Pre-eclampsia is associated with inadequate placental blood flow and placental ischaemia. Placental vascular tone is essential for maintaining adequate placental blood flow. Oxytocin is increased in placental system at late pregnancy and onset of labour, and presented strongly concentration-dependent contractions in placental vascular, suggesting that oxytocin could be involved in regulating placental vascular tone and circulation. Read More

Lancet 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Previous prospective cohort studies have shown that angiogenic factors have a high diagnostic accuracy in women with suspected pre-eclampsia, but we remain uncertain of the effectiveness of these tests in a real-world setting. We therefore aimed to determine whether knowledge of the circulating concentration of placental growth factor (PlGF), an angiogenic factor, integrated with a clinical management algorithm, decreased the time for clinicians to make a diagnosis in women with suspected pre-eclampsia, and whether this approach reduced subsequent maternal or perinatal adverse outcomes.

Methods: We did a multicentre, pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial in 11 maternity units in the UK, which were each responsible for 3000-9000 deliveries per year. Read More

J Reprod Immunol 2019 Apr 20;132:49-53. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

U976 INSERM Hopital Saint Louis Pavillon Bazin, 75010 Paris France. Electronic address:

In this summary of my presentation in the last Reunion workshop I discuss a few assertions on preeclampsia, then turn on a (not fully testable) model where an embryonic defect in expression of embryo/ placental regulatory proteins results in complement activation, itself responsible for a down regulation of the T regs activity, resulting in a very early lack of complete down regulation of the preimplantation decidual inflammation, causing in the post implantation stage a low grade but chronic inflammatory state. Read More

Biochimie 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531, boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, H7V 1B7, Canada; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-Being, Health, Society and Environment (Cinbiose), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada. Electronic address:

We have reviewed the scientific literature related to four diseases in which to serotonin (5-HT) is involved in the etiology, herein named 5-HT-linked diseases, and whose prevalence is influenced by estrogenic status: depression, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome and eating disorders. These diseases all have in common a sex-dimorphic prevalence, with women more frequently affected than men. The co-occurrence between these 5-HT-linked diseases suggests that they have common physiopathological mechanisms. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(14):e15080

State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, Department of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital and Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. It affects about 5% to 8% of pregnancies and causes maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The immune imbalance and excessive inflammatory response play vital roles in the pathogenesis of PE. Read More

Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2019 Apr 3:e3164. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Obese pregnant women are likely to face several gestational and neonatal complications. Metformin is an effective oral anti-hyperglycemic agent that is considered to be effective during pregnancy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on obstetric and perinatal outcomes in obese pregnant women. Read More

Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019 Apr 3:1-20. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine , Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense, CIBERCV , Madrid , Spain.

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represent a major cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and identifies women at risk for cardiovascular and other chronic diseases later in life. When antihypertensive drugs are used during pregnancy, their benefit and harm to both mother and fetus should be evaluated. Areas covered: This review summarizes the pharmacological characteristics of the recommended antihypertensive drugs and their impact on mother and fetus when administered during pregnancy and/or post-partum. Read More

J Hum Nutr Diet 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Clinical Nutrition, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Background: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet serves as a dietary pattern for the prevention and control of hypertension. The present study aimed to investigate whether the DASH diet can improve the outcomes of pregnancy with gestational hypertension (GH) and chronic hypertension.

Methods: The current randomised controlled clinical trial was performed in 85 pregnant women diagnosed with GH and chronic hypertension between July 2015 and December 2017. Read More

J Pregnancy 2019 3;2019:9795765. Epub 2019 Mar 3.

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess maternal cardiac function in the postpartum period, after 2 and 6 months in the parturient with preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Materials And Methods: Prospective study: 90 postpartum women after preeclampsia and eclampsia and 55 patients after an uncomplicated pregnancy. The parameters of maternal hemodynamics were recorded on days 1, 3, 5, 9, and 14 of postpartum period, after 2 and 6 months. Read More

Front Genet 2019 19;10:227. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

The Curtin UWA Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Curtin University, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious heritable disorder that affects 5-8% of pregnancies worldwide. While classical genetic studies have identified several susceptibility genes they do not fully explain the heritability of pre-eclampsia. An additional contribution to risk can be quantified by examining the epigenome, in particular the methylome, which is a representation of interactions between environmental and genetic influences on the phenotype. Read More

BMJ 2019 Apr 2;365:l1543. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

The BMJ.

Emerg Med Clin North Am 2019 May;37(2):301-316

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, Suite 200; 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, Suite 200; 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

The 4 categories of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia-eclampsia, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia. These disorders are among the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Proper diagnosis in the emergency department is crucial in order to initiate appropriate treatment to reduce the potential harm to the mother and the fetus. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is closely associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality and we want to investigate tetramethylpyrazine (TMP)'s effects on PE. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal pregnant (PC), PE, PE+TMP 20 mg/kg, PE+TMP 40 mg/kg, and PE+TMP 60 mg/kg group. The PE rat model was established via L-NAME treatment. Read More

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study examined predictors for GDM recurrence at their next pregnancy in a multi-ethnic population. Clinical outcomes of women with GDM at the index as well as the subsequent pregnancies were also compared. Read More

J Glob Health 2019 Jun;9(1):010420

Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Antenatal screening is useful for early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies. In low-resource settings, provision of the full complement of tests is limited and diagnostic referrals incure additional costs for pregnant women. We assessed the viability of Bliss4Midwives (B4M) - a point-of-care diagnostic decision support device for decentralized screening of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and anaemia during antenatal care (ANC). Read More

Int J Womens Health 2019 19;11:177-190. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba, South Sudan.

Background: This study investigates the frequency of near-miss events and compares correlates in the world's newest nation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to audit near-miss events and their causes. A total of 1,041 mothers were sampled. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan Branch, Arsanjan, Iran.

Objectives: To determine the association between ERAP2 rs2549782 and rs17408150 polymorphisms and pre-eclampsia among Iranian women.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study comparing 319 women with pre-eclampsia and 291 normotensive pregnant Iranian women between January and August 2016. Pre-eclampsia was diagnosed by the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy's criteria. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2019 Mar;181(12)

This case report of a 31-year-old primiparous woman discusses the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of acute fatty liver in pregnancy (AFLP) to prevent maternal or/and foetal death. AFLP is a rare disease, which is characterised by maternal liver dysfunction and/or failure. Because of similar symptoms and laboratory findings AFLP may mimic and is often mistaken for 1) the more frequent HELLP syndrome with haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet levels and 2) and severe pre-eclampsia. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address:

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly being recognized. However, data supporting diagnosis and management are scarce. We analyze a contemporary and comprehensive SCAD registry to advance the understanding of SCAD risk factors, angiographic appearance, and gender differences. Read More

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019 Mar 26;190:152-160. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Centre for Women's & Newborn Health, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Women's & Children's Foundation Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address:

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia (PET) but remains defined by serum measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) alone. To identify broader changes in vitamin D metabolism during normal and PET pregnancies we developed a relatively simple but fully parametrised mathematical model of the vitamin D metabolic pathway. The data used for parametrisation were serum vitamin D metabolites analysed for a cross-sectional group of women (n = 88); including normal pregnant women at 1 st (NP1, n = 25) and 3rd trimester (NP3, n = 21) and pregnant women with PET (n = 22), as well as non-pregnant female controls (n = 20). Read More

PLoS Med 2019 Mar 29;16(3):e1002775. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.

Background: In 2015, approximately 42,000 women died as a result of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy worldwide; over 99% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this paper is to describe the incidence and characteristics of eclampsia and related complications from hypertensive disorders of pregnancy across 10 low- and middle-income geographical regions in 8 countries, in relation to magnesium sulfate availability.

Methods And Findings: This is a secondary analysis of a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Haiti. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

Objective: To design and examine the feasibility of a sustainable training program to build local capacity and improve obstetric outcomes in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.

Methods: A "train-the-trainers" model was used to conduct an obstetrics course between 2012 and 2015, its aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. All Cambodian healthcare providers trained by the program were included in the study. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Aim: This study aimed to examine how the number of patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia increased according to the Japanese classification of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) that was revised in 2018. The effect of new classification on perinatal outcomes was also analyzed.

Methods: We enrolled 181 women with HDP who delivered at Hokkaido University Hospital between February 2011 and December 2017. Read More

Mol Neurobiol 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Université de Tours, INSERM, Centre d'étude des pathologies respiratoires (CEPR) - UMR 1100, CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, CIC 1415, réseau CRICS-TRIGGERSEP, Tours, France.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiological entity characterized by a typical brain edema. Its pathogenesis is still debated through hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion theories, which have many limitations. As PRES occurs almost exclusively in clinical situations with arginine vasopressin (AVP) hypersecretion, such as eclampsia and sepsis, we hypothesize that AVP plays a central pathophysiologic role. Read More