Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Reprod Infertil 2018 Oct-Dec;19(4):219-228

- Department of Genetics, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

Background: The study was aimed to investigate the association of V gene polymorphic variants - (rs699947) and - (rs2010963) and gene (rs1800471) and gene expression level with miscarriage in the first trimester.

Methods: 288 women with different courses of pregnancy and 61 chorionic tissue samples were involved in case-control study. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction in real time was used for genotyping. Read More

Melanoma Res 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba.

Although T-cell checkpoint blockade has revolutionized melanoma therapy, metastatic melanoma in pregnancy remains a challenging area of unmet need. Treatment with anti-PD1 therapy decreases foetal-maternal tolerance and increases the risk of pregnancy loss in animal studies and is considered category D by the Food and Drug Administration. We describe a unique case of conception and pregnancy, with successful maternal and foetal outcomes, in a patient with metastatic melanoma who had received combination anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1 therapy. Read More

Thromb Haemost 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.

Background:  Since venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the causes of maternal mortality, several guidelines recommend prophylaxis using low molecular weight heparin for women in high-risk groups. The number of large population-based studies examining predictors for VTE has been limited, and there has been no study based on a Japanese population.

Objective:  Our objective was to examine VTE risk factor during the pregnancy and post-partum period. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Feb 5:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

a Obstetrics Department , Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc , Brussels , Belgium.

Background: The diagnosis of cervical insufficiency is based on previous history of recurrent second or early third trimester losses. Its incidence among pregnant women is 0,5-1%, but can be as high as 75% among women with preterm birth. Transvaginal cerclage (TVC) is the common therapy of cervical insufficiency. Read More

Reprod Biomed Online 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan Shandong 250012, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Research Question: What is the diagnostic value of maternal kisspeptin in patients with asymptomatic first-trimester pregnancies, and what is the prognostic significance of kisspeptin versus beta-HCG in early pregnancies.

Design: Case-control study in academic medical centres. Patients with no confounding co-morbidities who conceived by IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection were analysed. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2019 Feb;99(3):166-174

University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Approximately one-fourth of pregnant women will experience bleeding in the first trimester. The differential diagnosis includes threatened abortion, early pregnancy loss, and ectopic pregnancy. Pain and heavy bleeding are associated with an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. Read More

Semin Perinatol 2018 Dec 20. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, Fertility Center, 5 Columbus Circle, PH, New York, New York, USA.

Objective: To review the current understanding of the role the uterus plays in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Findings: Congenital and acquired uterine abnormalities are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss in the first and second trimester. Relevant congenital Mullerian tract anomalies include unicornuate, didelphys, bicornuate and septate uteri. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Jan 23;16(3). Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Post-graduate Programme in Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia School of Medicine, Praça XV de Novembro-Largo do Terreiro de Jesus, 40025-010 Bahia, Brazil.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection appeared in Brazil in 2015, causing an epidemic outbreak with increased rates of microcephaly and other serious birth disorders. We reviewed 102 cases of children who were diagnosed with microcephaly at birth and who had gestational exposure to ZIKV during the outbreak. We describe the clinical, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological findings. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.

In this opinion article, we provide compelling arguments of why early screening for pregnancies following previous cesarean delivery would be beneficial. First, we provide an overview of the perils of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cesarean scar pregnancies (CSP), mostly with bleeding, but also with other complications, that may lead to multiple surgeries, uterine artery embolization, loss of fertility and in rare cases of documented deaths. There is well-documented histopathological connection between CSP and the placental adherence spectrum (PAS) suggesting that CSP is a precursor to PAS. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 Feb;25(2):247-255

Zika virus infection during pregnancy may result in birth defects and pregnancy complications. We describe the Zika virus outbreak in pregnant women in the Dominican Republic during 2016-2017. We conducted multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with fetal losses and preterm birth. Read More

Acta Otolaryngol 2019 Jan 21:1-4. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

a Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China , Hengyang , China.

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) may occur during pregnancy with a rare prevalence, and little is known about it.

Aims: To retrospectively analyze cases of SSNHL during pregnancy and investigate their clinical characteristics, management and outcome.

Material And Methods: Records of 30 SSNHL patients during pregnancy were reviewed, including age, localization, duration from onset to treatment, gestation period, accompanying symptoms, initial hearing threshold, final hearing threshold, audiogram, treatment and outcome. Read More

Reprod Med Biol 2019 Jan 1;18(1):91-96. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Tokushima Japan.

Purpose: A retrospective, cohort study was conducted between 2009 and 2017 in a private infertility center to determine the predictive value of endogenous estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels in hormone-replacement frozen embryo replacement (FER) treatment cycles.

Methods: A total of 120 consecutive, infertile patients who became pregnant after FER cycles were analyzed (age: 37.4 ± 4. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Jan 11:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

c Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.

This study aimed to explore the knowledge and practice of New Zealand (NZ) general practitioners (GPs) regarding gestational weight gain (GWG), and identify the current level of involvement NZ GPs have in early pregnancy care. In NZ, the majority of antenatal care is carried out by a midwife lead maternity carer (LMC), with government funding for one first trimester appointment with the woman's GP. A mixed methods survey was conducted on a randomly selected sample of 470 NZ GPs. Read More

Anesthesiol Res Pract 2018 2;2018:4051896. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Anesthesiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.

Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in intraoperative bleeding with inhalational versus noninhalational anesthetic agents for patients undergoing suction dilatation and curettage for first-trimester induced abortion.

Methods: This is an IRB-approved retrospective chart review of the electronic medical records of patients undergoing induced abortion at gestational ages between 5 0/7 and 14 0/7 weeks of pregnancy at the New York City Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. The records of 138 patients who underwent suction dilatation and curettage for induced abortion between June 2012 and June 2014 were reviewed for an association between anesthetic technique and intraoperative hemorrhage. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2018 Nov;132(5):1311-1313

Early pregnancy loss, or loss of an intrauterine pregnancy within the first trimester, is encountered commonly in clinical practice. Obstetricians and gynecologists should understand the use of various diagnostic tools to differentiate between viable and nonviable pregnancies and offer the full range of therapeutic options to patients, including expectant, medical, and surgical management. The purpose of this Practice Bulletin is to review diagnostic approaches and describe options for the management of early pregnancy loss. Read More

Arch Endocrinol Metab 2018 ;62(6):641-643

Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.

Objective: Universal screening for thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women is not recommended by the American Thyroid Association (ATA) or the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). This study evaluated the frequency of pregnant women that would have an indication for levothyroxine (L-T4) according to the new ATA/AACE guidelines among low-risk women without an indication for screening with TSH.

Subjects And Methods: The sample consisted of 412 pregnant women ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 7/F, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

Study Question: Does glycodelin-A (GdA) induce conversion of human peripheral blood CD16-CD56bright natural killer (NK) cells to decidual NK (dNK) cells to facilitate placentation?

Summary Answer: GdA binds to blood CD16-CD56bright NK cells via its sialylated glycans and converts them to a dNK-like cells, which in turn regulate endothelial cell angiogenesis and trophoblast invasion via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) secretion, respectively.

What Is Known Already: dNK cells are the most abundant leucocyte population in the decidua. These cells express CD16-CD56bright phenotype. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2019 Feb 21;397:58-60. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pregnancy loss (PL) on MS disease activity.

Methods: Eleven women with first-trimester PLs were identified through a reproductive questionnaire. MS activity (MRI lesions and/or clinical relapses) was compared for the 12 months before conception and after PL. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Dec 20;18(1):502. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.

Background: Nausea and vomiting occur 50-90% during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) may be hospitalized at an incidence rate of 0.8-2% before the 20th week of gestational age. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan;133(1):137-147

Gynuity Health Projects, New York, New York; the University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Elon University, Elon, North Carolina.

Objective: To summarize available data on the effectiveness and safety of single-agent misoprostol for medical abortion in the first trimester.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, CABI, Cochrane, EMBASE, LILACS, the Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov for English-language studies that evaluated misoprostol alone for abortion of a viable pregnancy in the first trimester. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan;133(1):149-154

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Division of Family Planning, and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Objective: To document the terminology patients hear during the treatment course for a nonviable pregnancy and to ask patients their perceived clarity and preference of terminology to identify a patient-centered lexicon.

Methods: We performed a preplanned substudy survey of English-speaking participants in New York, Pennsylvania, and California at the time of enrollment in a randomized multisite trial of medical management of first-trimester early pregnancy loss. The six-item survey, administered on paper or an electronic tablet, was developed and piloted for internal and external validity. Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2019 Feb 22;45(2):429-439. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Electronic address:

As pregnancy progresses, the cervix remodels from a rigid structure to one pliable enough to allow delivery of a fetus, a process that involves progressive disorganization of cervical microstructure. Quantitative ultrasound biomarkers that may detect this process include those derived from the backscattered echo signal, namely, acoustic attenuation and backscattered power loss. We recently reported that attenuation and backscattered power loss are affected by tissue anisotropy and heterogeneity in the ex vivo cervix. Read More

BJOG 2019 Jan;126(2):176-189

Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Background: There is a substantial body of research evaluating ways to prevent and manage miscarriage, but all studies do not report on the same outcomes.

Objective: To review systematically, outcomes reported in existing miscarriage trials.

Search Strategy: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane were searched from inception until January 2017. Read More

Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2018 Nov;53(11):755-760

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.

To compare differences of clinical factors related to early pregnancy loss between invitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment and natural pegnancy. A retrospective analysis was performed on the 363 cases of early pregnancy loss between Dec. 2015 to May 2016 in Peking University Third Hospital, during which 173 cases were after IVF-ET treatment (IVF-ET group) , and others were natural pregnancies (natural group) . Read More

Hum Mol Genet 2019 Feb;28(4):662-674

Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.

Previous studies show that aberrant tryptophan catabolism reduces maternal immune tolerance and adversely impacts pregnancy outcomes. Tryptophan depletion in pregnancy is facilitated by increased activity of tryptophan-depleting enzymes [i.e. Read More

Fertil Steril 2018 Nov;110(6):1109-1117.e2

Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France; Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France. Electronic address:

Objective: To study the impact of in vitro fertilization, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI), frozen-embryo transfer (FET), and intrauterine insemination (IUI) on fetal growth kinetics throughout pregnancy and to compare the different modes of conception.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University. Read More

Am J Hematol 2019 Feb 26;94(2):184-188. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

During pregnancy, iron requirements are increased to support maternal erythropoietic expansion and fetal growth and development. To meet these requirements, dietary iron absorption increases, and available iron stores are mobilized. These adjustments are thought to be in large part mediated by the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin, which controls the concentrations of ferroportin, the sole exporter of iron into the extracellular fluid and blood plasma. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(44):e13038

Department of Gynecology, The Nineth Hospital of Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

This retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of letrozole for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Totally, 136 cases of infertility women with PCOS were analyzed. Of those, 68 patients received letrozole, and were assigned to Letrozole group. Read More

BMC Womens Health 2018 Oct 29;18(1):176. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Background: Miscarriage is a common event which is estimated to occur in approximately one in four confirmed pregnancies (Collins et al, Grief Matters Aust J Grief Bereave_ 17:44, 2014, St John et al, Aust J Adv Nurs_ 23:8, 2006). Social networks play an important role in supporting women following this event and positive support experiences can play a role in buffering women's experiences of grief, loss and psychological distress following miscarriage (Rowlands et al, J Reprod Infant Psychol_ 28:274-86, 2010, Stratton et al, Aust New Zeal J Obstet Gynaecol_ 48:5-11).

Methods: Women were recruited through existing networks known to the researcher, miscarriage support organisations and snowball sampling methods. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb 7;53(2):208-213. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, UK.

Objective: To report on the routine clinical implementation of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis of maternal blood for trisomies 21, 18 and 13, contingent on the results of the first-trimester combined test in twin pregnancy.

Methods: Screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 was carried out in 959 twin pregnancies by assessment of a combination of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency thickness, and serum free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A at 11-13 weeks' gestation in two UK NHS hospitals. Women in the high-risk group (risk ≥ 1 in 100) were offered the option of invasive testing, cfDNA testing or no further testing, and those in the intermediate-risk group (risk 1 in 101 to 1 in 2500 in the first phase of the study and 1 in 101 to 1 in 500 in the second phase) were offered cfDNA or no further testing. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2019 Feb 16;45(2):258-265. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Division of Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Science Research Laboratories, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), defined as multiple consecutive miscarriages, is a devastating disorder for which there are no good treatment options. Two opposing paradigms have emerged to explain RPL. The prevailing clinical viewpoint is that RPL is caused by a spectrum of subclinical disorders, ranging from thrombophilia to anatomical, endocrine and immunological disorders, that somehow converge on a 'fragile' early pregnancy state, leading to miscarriage. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 26;9:546. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, United Kingdom.

Maternal obesity, excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and post-partum weight retention (PPWR) constitute new public health challenges, due to the association with negative short- and long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of this evidence review was to identify effective lifestyle interventions to manage weight and improve maternal and infant outcomes during pregnancy and postpartum. A review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effects of lifestyle interventions on GWG or PPWR was conducted (Jan 2009-2018) via electronic searches in the databases Medline, Pubmed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library using all keywords related to obesity/weight gain/loss, pregnancy or postpartum and lifestyle interventions;15 relevant reviews were selected. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2018 Oct 11. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Sc Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, Universita Degli Studi di Pavia, Sc Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.

Objectives: Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) affects one to ten fetuses per 10 000 live newborns in western countries. Without knowing pre-conception serostatus, it is hard to date the infection when anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies are positive at first screening. Although a high IgG avidity index (AI) in the first trimester excludes CT, the same cannot be said of intermediate and low AI. Read More

Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018 Oct 11;16(1):95. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Background: Studies have commonly assessed the endocrinolgical status of women once miscarriage is threatened or suspected; few studies have explored the antecedent hormonal environment or used a longitudinal strategy. Using refined statistical techniques, we sought to re-evaluate whether gestational hormone trajectories in early pregnancy can identify future miscarriage in asymptomatic pregnancies.

Methods: This prospective cohort study followed 105 women over-conception; 72 had normal term pregnancy outcomes while 33 experienced early pregnancy failure between 35 and 115 days of gestation. Read More

Acta Vet Hung 2018 Sep;66(3):451-461

3 National Agricultural Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Meat Science , Gesztenyés u. 1, H-2053 Herceghalom , Hungary.

Double ovulation occurs more frequently in multiparous cows with high milk production than in primiparous cows and the rate of twin pregnancy/calving is increasing worldwide. Diagnosis of twin pregnancy is possible by ultrasound at the time of early pregnancy examination [28-34 days after artificial insemination (AI)]. Pregnancy proteins are also well-known indicators of gestation. Read More

Adv Neonatal Care 2018 Oct;18(5):350-359

New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, East Windsor, and former consultant, New Jersey Department of Health Critical Congenital Heart Defects Screening Program and Zika Infant Surveillance, Trenton (Ms Grazel); and Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership, Division of Community Health, Durham, North Carolina, and Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital, Middletown, Pennsylvania (Dr Harris-Haman).

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emergent flavivirus, transmitted predominately by Aedes genus mosquitos that recently reached the Americas and was soon implicated in an increase in microcephaly and other serious birth defects.

Purpose: This report provides updated information and recommendations on testing, screening, and care for pregnant women and infants affected by ZIKV.

Methods: Current published recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the American Academy of Pediatrics were reviewed and included in this report. Read More

BMJ Sex Reprod Health 2018 Sep 15. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: Attendance at post-abortion follow-up visits is poor, but little is known about factors affecting it.

Objective: To assess the factors associated with non-compliance with post-abortion services and to evaluate differences in rates of attendance and intrauterine device (IUD) insertion according to the type of service provision.

Methods: 605 women undergoing a first trimester medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP) and planning to use intrauterine contraception were randomised into two groups. Read More

PLoS One 2018 7;13(9):e0203494. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Department of Periodontics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) have been reported to be present in 15-20% of sera from subjects with periodontitis at concentrations exceeding those found in 95% of the healthy adult population. These antibodies, albeit at concentrations exceeding those generally found in periodontitis subjects, are typically present in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombosis and recurrent pregnancy loss. aCL from APS patients are proinflammatory and can activate trophoblasts, macrophages, and platelets via cell-surface interactions with their target antigen beta-2-glycoprotein-I (β2GPI). Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2018 Dec 21;143(3):289-299. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Univeritair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrij Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Objective: To investigate perceptions of early pregnancy assessment units (EPAUs) among perinatal practitioners working in Belgium, France, and Switzerland.

Methods: A prospective multinational survey was conducted between September 1, 2015, and May 21, 2016. Obstetricians, gynecologists, medical doctors, radiologists, and midwives were recruited during meetings, via e-mail invitations, or through the websites of regional obstetrics and gynecology scientific societies. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Aug 31. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Center of Fetal Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of specific neurodevelopmental disorders in children prenatally believed to have isolated mild ventriculomegaly in the second trimester of pregnancy to optimize the counselling process.

Methods: This was a nationwide register based study including all singleton pregnancies which had a first and second trimester scan in the period 1 January 2008 to 1 October 2014, identified through the Danish Fetal Medicine Database and from local clinical databases. All fetuses prenatally believed to have isolated mild ventriculomegaly (measurement of the atrium of the lateral ventricles between 10. Read More

Transl Pediatr 2018 Jul;7(3):211-218

Cyto Labs Pty Ltd, Bentley, WA, Australia.

Background: First trimester miscarriage without underlying medical conditions is most commonly caused by chromosomal abnormalities reported to occur in 50% or more of cases. These chromosomal changes in early losses include both numerical abnormalities and structural alterations that result in gain and/or loss of genetic information. Structural alterations are much less common than numerical changes. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2018 Nov;132(5):e197-e207

Early pregnancy loss, or loss of an intrauterine pregnancy within the first trimester, is encountered commonly in clinical practice. Obstetricians and gynecologists should understand the use of various diagnostic tools to differentiate between viable and nonviable pregnancies and offer the full range of therapeutic options to patients, including expectant, medical, and surgical management. The purpose of this Practice Bulletin is to review diagnostic approaches and describe options for the management of early pregnancy loss. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 10;33(10):1968-1972

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, Aarhus N, Denmark.

Study Question: What is the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the 12 weeks following early pregnancy loss in pregnancies conceived by IVF?

Summary Answer: The VTE risk is low in the 12 weeks following early pregnancy loss in pregnancies conceived by IVF.

What Is Known Already: There is an excess VTE risk during first trimester in complete IVF pregnancies leading to delivery. It is unknown whether this excess VTE risk also is present in IVF pregnancies terminated by early pregnancy loss (implantation failure, missed abortion, or spontaneous or induced abortion before 10 completed gestational weeks). Read More

BMJ Open 2018 Aug 17;8(8):e023579. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Leicester School Nursing & Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore how women experience care within an early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU) and how they are helped to understand, reconcile and make sense of their loss and make informed decisions about how their care will be managed following a first trimester miscarriage.

Design: This was a single centre, prospective qualitative study. An interpretive phenomenological analysis approach was used to interpret the participants' meanings of their experiences. Read More

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2018 Aug 10. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Service de dermatologie, université Côte d'Azur, CHU, Nice, France; Inserm U1065, équipe 12, C3M, université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France. Electronic address:

Introduction: Prurigo pigmentosa is a rare inflammatory dermatosis characterized by pruritic and reticulate papules on the trunk leaving hyperpigmentation. This dermatosis has been rarely described outside Asia. The pathophysiology remains obscure. Read More

Crit Care Med 2018 Oct;46(10):e1002-e1009

Department of Intensive Care Unit, Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Beijing, China.

Objectives: To identify the key points for improving severe maternal morbidity by analyzing pregnancy-related ICU admissions in Beijing.

Design: This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

Setting: Three ICUs in tertiary hospitals in Beijing. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 Sep 19:1-6. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

a Adelaide Medical School, Robinson Research Institute , University of Adelaide , Adelaide , Australia.

Objective: To determine the association between parental MTHFR 677C > T (RS1801133) and 1298A > C (RS1801131), and fetal loss (FL).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH), and the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) in Adelaide, Australia. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Sep 5;44(9):1832-1835. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toho University Medical Center-Sakura Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

Transverse uterine fundal cesarean section in cases of total placenta previa reduces blood loss, but its influence on subsequent pregnancies, including the uterine rupture risk, remains unclear. We report a case of uterine rupture due to placenta percreta in the first trimester in a 43-year-old woman who underwent transverse uterine fundal incision in a previous pregnancy (at 40 years old). The patient did not undergo assessment of the uterine scare after the previous operation. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2018 Nov 9;97(11):1365-1372. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Introduction: Recurrent pregnancy loss occurs in about 1% of fertile couples. Without proper evidence for an effect, different treatments have been used when no etiological factor has been detected. The present trial is the first randomized trial to compare 75 mg acetylsalicylic acid with placebo for women with recurrent pregnancy loss. Read More