Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Acta Biomed 2022 May 11;93(2):e2022038. Epub 2022 May 11.

a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:134:"2. Health Sciences University, Istanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology";}.

Aim: To demonstrate the duration of negative psychological effects of elective curettage on both nulliparous and multiparous women and to determine the association between parity and post-abortion depression and anxiety.

Materials And Methods: A total of 168 women who applied to our reproductive health clinic for elective abortion were included in this prospective study. 84 nulliparous and 84 multiparous women were asked to fill out Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI-II) forms by a psychiatrist at their pre-abortion consultation and at 3 months follow-up. Read More

Cad Saude Publica 2022 29;38(4):ES124221. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, U.S.A.

The study aimed to identify the most frequent barriers in access to abortions in both clandestine and legal clinical contexts, from the perspective of accompanying persons, namely feminist activists who accompanied women that opted for voluntary abortions with medication. We performed 14 semi-structured interviews with accompanying persons in three regions of Mexico: Baja California and Chiapas, both of which are restrictive contexts, and Mexico City, where elective abortion is legal up to 12 weeks' gestational age. We identified four categories in which the social vulnerabilities of women who elect to undergo abortion intersect, namely lack of information, persistence of stigma, influence of the legal framework, and flaws in abortion care, including in clinics for legal termination of pregnancy (in Mexico City), and poor quality of the services provided, with verbal abuse, conscientious objection, and healthcare provider complaints, and finally the antichoice groups and their strategies. Read More

Cureus 2022 Feb 28;14(2):e22699. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Anesthesiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in pregnancy, irrespective of etiology, is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. This case describes a novel approach to providing anesthesia for a hemodynamically fragile patient. It demonstrates the careful planning and weighted decision-making that is required when approaching a parturient with severe pulmonary hypertension. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2022 Apr 6;16(1):136. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Department Obstetrics & Gynecology, Helios Klinikum Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.

Background: Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence is a rare complication of monochorionic multifetal pregnancies. In this syndrome, the acardiac twin has a nonfunctional heart, while the other twin, the pump twin, has normal development. The pump twin perfuses the acardiac twin and is therefore at risk for cardiac decompensation. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022 15;13:832665. Epub 2022 Mar 15.

Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of the vanishing twin (VT) on the perinatal outcomes in the surviving singleton and further identify the susceptible window.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: A total of 636 survivors of a vanished co-twin and 11,148 singleton controls were enrolled. Read More

Fertil Steril 2022 Mar 30. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Center of Reproduction and Genetics, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.

Objective: To determine whether time-lapse monitoring (TLM) for cleavage-stage embryo selection improves reproductive outcomes in comparison with conventional morphological assessment (CMA) selection.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Single academic center. Read More

Mod Pathol 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.

Current public health initiatives to contain the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic focus on expanding vaccination efforts to include vulnerable populations such as pregnant people. Vaccines using messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology rely on translation by immune cells, primarily at the injection site. Hesitancy remains among the general population regarding the safety of mRNA vaccines during gestation, and it remains unknown whether the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (the product of mRNA vaccines available) accumulates in the placenta after vaccination. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022 7;13:797121. Epub 2022 Mar 7.

Fertility Preservation Lab, Guangdong-Hong Kong Metabolism and Reproduction Joint Laboratory, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.

Objective: Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) has been increasingly advocated to achieve the goal of delivering a single healthy baby. A novel endometrial preparation approach down-regulation ovulation-induction (DROI) proposed by our team was demonstrated in an RCT that DROI could significantly improve the reproductive outcome compared with modified natural cycle. We aimed to evaluate whether DROI improved clinic pregnancy rate in this single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer RCT compared with hormone replace treatment (HRT). Read More

Gynecol Minim Invasive Ther 2022 Jan-Mar;11(1):54-56. Epub 2022 Feb 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysms are caused by damage to blood vessel walls from iatrogenic changes including cesarean section or cervical dilatation and uterine curettage. Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) is becoming increasingly popular from the perspective of reducing the risk of endometrial injury. This is a case report of a 33-year-old primigravida female patient diagnosed with an unruptured uterine artery pseudoaneurysm that spontaneously resolved after surgery for miscarriage using MVA. Read More

Mol Hum Reprod 2022 03;28(3)

The Center for Reproductive Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Maternal immunotolerance towards the semi-allogeneic foetus is critical for normal pregnancy (NP). As a secretory protein, growth arrest-specific factor 6 (GAS6) promotes cancer progression by inducing the conversion of tumour-associated macrophages to an immunosuppressive M2-like phenotype. However, little is known about whether GAS6 regulates decidual macrophages (dMφs) in the early maternal-foetal interface. Read More

Reprod Sci 2022 05 4;29(5):1506-1512. Epub 2022 Mar 4.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.

Limited data is available to assess the burden of maternal morbidity, mortality, and perinatal outcome after subsequent pregnancy in women with prior uterine rupture. Therefore, this retrospective descriptive study was conducted to determine subsequent pregnancy outcomes in a larger series of women with prior complete uterine rupture. All pregnant women who had complete uterine rupture were managed according to the standard Institute protocol. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 Mar;101(9):e28992

Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.

Abstract: We aimed to determine the clinical outcome of double cleavage-stage embryo transfers in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles for older women.This study analyzed a total of 8189 cleavage-stage frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles between January 2013 and December 2017 at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. All cycles were sorted into 3 groups based on patient age: ≤35 years (Group A), 36 to 37 years (Group B), and ≥38 years (Group C). Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi 2022 Feb;39(2):205-208

Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, The Affiliated Hospital of Putian College, Putian, Fujian 351100, China.

Objective: To explore the genetic basis for a fetus featuring infantile polycystic kidney disease (IPKD).

Methods: Following elective abortion, fetal tissue and peripheral blood samples of its parents were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect potential variants correlated with the phenotype. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2022 Mar 6;270:105-110. Epub 2022 Jan 6.

Obstetric Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna and IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Orsola-Malpighi, Italy.

Objectives: First trimester miscarriage is a multifactorial event. Various angiogenic factors have been proposed as possible early markers of non-viable pregnancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the systemic nitric oxide (NO) production in healthy early pregnancy and its possible role in first trimester miscarriage. Read More

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2022 17;60(1):24-30. Epub 2022 Jan 17.

Laboratories of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.

Introduction: Apoptosis is a key process during normal trophoblastic development and, consequently, the whole gestation. However, in trophoblastic differentiation in spontaneous abortions apoptosis has been hardly investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between apoptotic frequency in trophoblast and spontaneous abortion incidences. Read More

Reprod Sci 2022 04 7;29(4):1102-1110. Epub 2022 Jan 7.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1/F, Block E, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

The purpose of this retrospective cohort study is to determine if iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is associated with increased atonic postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) following labour. Women with singleton pregnancy carried to 24 or more weeks gestation, who were delivered under our care from 1997 to 2019, constituted the study population. A diagnosis of IDA was based on the finding of haemoglobin <10 g/dL and serum ferritin <15 μg/L in the absence of haemoglobinopathies. Read More

Gynecol Oncol Rep 2021 Nov 8;38:100879. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8550, Japan.

Background: Vaginal cancer is rare, accounting for only about 2% of all cancers of the female reproductive organs, and it is a disease that is rarely encountered in routine clinical practice. Vaginal cancer is mainly treated with radiation therapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). However, in stage I-II cases, when the lesion is confined to the upper third of the vagina, surgical treatment may include total hysterectomy and vaginal resection with an adequate resection margin. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi 2021 Dec;38(12):1204-1207

Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.

Objective: To carry out genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis for a Chinese couple whom had conceived two fetuses featuring multiple malformations including polycystic kidney, polydactyly and encephalocele.

Methods: Following elective abortion, the fetus from the second pregnancy was subjected to whole exome sequencing. Suspected pathogenic variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of the fetus and its parents. Read More

J Magn Reson Imaging 2022 Jun 1;55(6):1761-1770. Epub 2021 Nov 1.

Department of Physiology, Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.

Background: Despite concerns about safety, gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are still used for abdominal and pelvic imaging during pregnancy. Researchers have mainly focused on teratogenicity, while very little is known about their possible direct effects on uterine contractility, yet free gadolinium potentially impacts contractility through interaction with calcium channels.

Purpose: To investigate possible effects of selected GBCAs (namely gadoteridol, gadoversetamide, gadobutrol, gadoterate meglumine, and gadoxetic acid) on the contractility of rat myometrium. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2022 03 23;4(2S):100521. Epub 2021 Oct 23.

Comprehensive Genetics, Fetal Medicine Foundation of America, New York, NY (Dr Evans, Ms Curtis, Ms Evans, and Dr Britt).

Infertility treatments have allowed millions of couples to have their own children, but resultant multiple pregnancies with their increased morbidity and mortality have been a significant complication. Fetal reduction was developed to ameliorate this issue. Over 30 years of publications show that fetal reduction has been highly successful in substantially reducing both mortality and morbidity related to multiple pregnancies. Read More

Hum Reprod 2021 11;36(12):3049-3061

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Department of Biobank, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Study Question: Is the protein l-arginine methyltransferase 3 (PRMT3)/asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway involved in the development of recurrent miscarriage (RM), and what is the potential mechanism?

Summary Answer: Elevated levels of PRMT3 and ADMA inhibit NO formation in the decidua, thereby impairing the functions of trophoblast cells at the maternal-foetal interface.

What Is Known Already: Decreased NO bioavailability is associated with RM. ADMA, an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is derived from the methylation of protein arginine residues by PRMTs and serves as a predictor of mortality in critical illness. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021 22;12:709648. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Background: With the development of embryo freezing and warming technology, frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) has been widely utilized. However, studies investigating the association between cryopreservation duration and FET outcomes are limited and controversial, and previous studies did not conduct stratification analyses based on demographic or clinical characteristics.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 17,826 women who underwent their first FET following the freeze-all strategy during the period from January 2014 to December 2018. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 11 10;336:1-11. Epub 2021 Sep 10.

Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy, due to their potential teratogenicity. However, data are still inconsistent and some even suggest a potential benefit of statin use against pregnancy complications. We aimed to investigate the effects of statins on pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, fetal abortion, and preterm delivery, through a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of the available clinical studies. Read More

J Nephrol 2021 10 30;34(5):1599-1609. Epub 2021 Sep 30.

Department of Nephrology, Shizuoka General Hospital, 4-27-1 Kita-ando, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, 420-8527, Japan.

Introduction: Average dialysis vintage in Japan is among the longest in the world, providing a unique opportunity to characterize pregnancy under conditions of long dialysis vintage. In 2017, we carried out a nationwide survey following up on a similar survey in 1996, in which we investigated the prevalence and outcomes of pregnancy in women undergoing dialysis and assessed risk factors associated with neonatal and maternal complications.

Methods: The target population was women aged 15-44 years undergoing maintenance dialysis between 2012 and 2016. Read More

Front Cell Dev Biol 2021 9;9:702590. Epub 2021 Aug 9.

College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.

High level of uric acid (UA) is the major origin of gout, and is highly associated with various pregnant complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, UA's level and role in the very early stage of pregnancy has not been uncovered. This study aims to investigate the relevance of serum UA and decidualization, an essential process for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in women and mice during the early stage of pregnancy. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2022 Jan 16;44(1):60-70.e12. Epub 2021 Aug 16.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.

Objective: To review the existing literature on fetal and maternal health outcomes following elective pregnancy reduction.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register.

Study Selection: Studies involving women pregnant with dichorionic twins, trichorionic triplets, or quadra-chorionic quadruplets who underwent elective fetal reduction of 1 or more fetuses to reduce the risks associated with multiple gestation pregnancies. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2021 2;12:619684. Epub 2021 Aug 2.

Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.

This qualitative study considers the relationship between abortion, bereavement, and the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown nine women who had undergone an elective abortion, which is voluntarily termination of a pregnancy at the woman's request. These women were interviewed in three time points (1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after the event) to consider the possible evolution of their experience. The third phase was concurrent with the COVID-19 pandemic and particularly with Pope Francis's Easter declaration against abortion. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2021 11 24;3(6):100447. Epub 2021 Jul 24.

Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science (Ms Rao, Drs Vieira and Johnson, Ms Paul, and Drs Lookstein, Rebarber, Fox, and Stone).

Background: Multifetal pregnancy reduction is a technique used to reduce the fetal number to mitigate the risks of adverse outcomes associated with multiple gestations. Monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies are subject to unique complications, contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, patients have an option to electively reduce 1 fetus to improve outcomes. Read More

Psychol Health Med 2022 Apr 23;27(4):896-901. Epub 2021 Jul 23.

Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

A woman's first childbirth represents a moment of elevated maternal emotional vulnerability. Indeed, there is a prevalence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in primiparas during the postpartum period that negatively influences the well-being of the woman, of her newborn, and of the quality of their attachment bond. Much attention has been paid to the possible risk factors involved in the onset of mood disturbance in the postpartum. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 Jul 6;21(1):485. Epub 2021 Jul 6.

Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgery Specialties, Gynecological Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Background: It is believed that HPV infection can result in the death of placental trophoblasts and cause miscarriages or preterm birth. In clinical cases of placental villi positive for HPV DNA reported by other authors, contamination is suspected in the act of crossing the cervical canal. We analyzed placental samples of women who resorted to elective abortion obtained by hysterosuction of ovular material, bypassing any contact with the cervical canal and vagina. Read More