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Prenat Diagn 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Semin Neurol 2018 Dec 6;38(6):627-633. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.

Headache is a neurologic disorder that displays gender dichotomy. It is well established that there is a strong link between migraine headache and sex hormones, specifically estrogen, which influences the severity of migraines during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Furthermore, the epidemiology of headaches during pregnancy and the postpartum period is very distinct from that in males or nonpregnant females, in part due to the hemodynamic and hematologic changes that occur during pregnancy. Read More

Midwifery 2018 Nov 23;69:158-162. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Nursing Department of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No.2699, West Gaoke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201204, China.

Background: Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disease during and after pregnancy (Aktas and Yesilcicek, 2015). Social supportive system (SSS) serves to protect against the development of depressive symptoms (Moshki and Cheravi, 2016). The mitigating effect of SSS on depression among expectant Chinese women is unclear. Read More

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address:

Pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE) require continuous anti-epileptic drug (AED) treatment to avoid risk to themselves and fetal risks secondary to maternal seizures, resulting in prolonged AED exposure to the developing embryo and fetus. The objectives of this study were to determine whether high-resolution metabolomics is able to link the metabolite profile of PWWE receiving lamotrigine or levetiracetam for seizure control to associated pharmacodynamic (PD) biological responses. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of plasma obtained from 82 PWWE was completed using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.

Background: Inositols (INOs) supplementation during pregnancy, specifically the combination of myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI), has been reported to improve vascular parameters in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. We demonstrated previously that offspring born to pregnant mice lacking endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS+/-) gene have hypertension (HTN) as adults and when fed high fat diet (HFD) develop a metabolic syndrome (MS) phenotype.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate if INOs treatment in pregnancy complicated by MS improves the vascular and metabolic profile in mice offspring programmed in utero to develop HTN and MS. Read More

Chem Biol Interact 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China. Electronic address:

Understanding of the mechanism of embryo loss is critical for successful pregnancy considering an increase in the incidence of infertility. In this study, we focus on the effect of alterations in the expression of the AKT/AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway in mouse uterine tissue after embryo loss induced by harmful environmental exposure to carbon disulfide (CS). CS is a material used in certain production processes, and women are sometimes exposed to it in occupational settings. Read More

Public Health Rep 2018 Dec 6:33354918815183. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

2 Health Data Research, Analysis and Mapping Center at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.

Objectives:: The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the United States has increased during the past several decades. The objective of this study was to use birth records and a combination of statistical and geographic information system (GIS) analyses to evaluate GDM rates among subgroups of pregnant women in Michigan.

Materials And Methods:: We obtained data on maternal demographic and health-related characteristics and regions of residence from 2013 Michigan birth records. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):379-386. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia No. 3 “Dr. Víctor Manuel Espinoza de los Reyes Sánchez”, Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Ciudad de México, México

Background: In severe preeclampsia (SP), pregnancy interruption is the first recommendation. However, some patients receive expectant treatment.

Objetive: To determine maternal and perinatal results of expectant treatment of SP in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a high-specialty hospital. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 Dec 5;12:CD009461. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Academic Centre for General Practice, Cochrane Belgium, Kapucijnenvoer 33, blok J bus 7001, Leuven, Belgium, 3000.

Background: Observational studies suggest higher pregnancy rates after the hysteroscopic removal of endometrial polyps, submucous fibroids, uterine septum or intrauterine adhesions, which are present in 10% to 15% of women seeking treatment for subfertility.

Objectives: To assess the effects of the hysteroscopic removal of endometrial polyps, submucous fibroids, uterine septum or intrauterine adhesions suspected on ultrasound, hysterosalpingography, diagnostic hysteroscopy or any combination of these methods in women with otherwise unexplained subfertility or prior to intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Search Methods: We searched the following databases from their inception to 16 April 2018; The Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Studies Online, ; MEDLINE, Embase , CINAHL , and other electronic sources of trials including trial registers, sources of unpublished literature, and reference lists. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208729. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

Background: In Ethiopia, the uptake of antenatal care services has been low. Moreover, there is less frequent and late attendance of antenatal care among women who attend. Using the Anderson-Newman model of health care utilization, this study identified factors that either facilitate or impede antenatal care utilization in Kersa district, Eastern Ethiopia. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208137. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Farr Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Background: Maternal serum concentrations of folate, homocysteine, and vitamin B12 have been associated with pre-eclampsia. Nevertheless, reported studies involve limited number of cases to reliably assess the nature of these associations. Our aim was to examine the relation of these three biomarkers with pre-eclampsia risk in a large Colombian population. Read More

Reproduction 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

L Salamonsen, Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia.

The focus of my life in science, has been to improve reproductive health for women, with an emphasis on the endometrium, the most dynamic tissue in the human body: its remarkable cyclical remodelling is essential for establishment of pregnancy. The most notable events in a woman's endometrial cycle are menstruation and endometrial repair, regeneration of the endometrium during the proliferative phase, attainment of receptivity by the mid-secretory phase of the cycle and the embryo-maternal interactions that initiate peri-implantation events within the microenvironment of the uterine cavity. I have contributed to understanding the molecular and cellular changes underpinning these events, and how disturbance of them leads to menstrual disorders, infertility and endometrial diseases including abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Read More

Acta Med Port 2018 Nov 30;31(11):648-655. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Serviço de Neonatologia. Departamento de Pediatria. Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisboa. Clínica Universitária de Pediatria. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa. Portugal.

Introduction: Prematurity and low birth weight have been associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate possible risk factors for prematurity associated with fetal growth restriction and being small for gestational age and to determine the incidence of morbidity in these two groups of infants.

Material And Methods: Retrospective case-control study of newborns with gestational age of less than 32 weeks, with obstetric diagnosis of fetal growth restriction and with the clinical diagnosis of small for gestational age, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital for a period of six years. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 6:fj201802037R. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.

The placenta plays a pivotal role in the development of the fetal brain and also influences maternal brain function, but our understanding of communication between the placenta and brain remains limited. Using a gene expression and network analysis approach, we provide evidence that the placenta transcriptome is tightly interconnected with the maternal brain and fetal brain in d 15 pregnant C57BL/6J mice. Activation of serotonergic synapse signaling and inhibition of neurotrophin signaling were identified as potential mediators of crosstalk between the placenta and maternal brain and fetal brain, respectively. Read More

Med Anthropol 2018 Dec 6:1-14. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

a Center for the Study of Women and Society, Graduate Center , City University of New York , New York , USA.

In this article, I analyze the birth stories of Black women living in the United States. Their birth stories describe various forms of racism during medical encounters while they were pregnant or during labor and delivery. In the global women's health arena, the issues raised are viewed as obstetric violence. Read More

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

University of Manitoba, Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure is known to induce adverse effects on fetal brain development. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to alleviate these effects by upregulating antioxidant mechanisms in the brain. The liver is the first organ to receive enriched blood after placental transport; therefore, it could be negatively affected by EtOH, but no studies have assessed the effects of DHA on fetal liver. Read More

J Neuroendocrinol 2018 Dec 6:e12666. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.

To understand the contribution of intrinsic membrane properties to the different firing patterns of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) neurons in vivo, in vitro studies are needed, where stable intracellular recordings can be made. Combining immunochemistry for OT and VP and intracellular dye injections allows characterization of identified OT and VP neurons, and several differences between the two cell types have emerged. These include a greater transient K current that delays spiking to stimulus onset, and a higher Na current density leading to greater spike amplitude and a more stable spike threshold, in VP neurons. Read More

Am J Epidemiol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

Time between arrest of pregnancy development and miscarriage represents a window in which pregnancy is nonviable and not developing. In effect, the loss has happened and exposures cannot influence its fate. However, epidemiologic studies of miscarriage traditionally use gestational age at miscarriage to assign time in survival analyses, which overestimates duration of exposure and time at risk. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Clínica EUGIN, Barcelona, Spain.

Study Question: What is the clinical efficacy of an oocyte donation program based on the transportation of frozen semen and embryos between two countries?

Summary Answer: The transnational oocyte donation program is efficient and reliable and it could provide a first-line strategy to overcome the lack of donors in some countries.

What Is Known Already: While there is increasing need for donated oocytes, in many countries the availability of donors is still insufficient to cover the therapeutic demands, and patients are referred abroad for treatment. Since embryo cryopreservation is reliable and efficient, we propose a strategy based on frozen embryos instead of frozen oocytes to satisfy the increasing demand for cross border oocyte donation. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Graduate School of Health Sciences, Koc University, Davutpasa, Topkapi, Istanbul, Turkey.

Study Question: Are there any differences in the molecular characteristics of the luteal granulosa cells (GC) obtained from stimulated versus non-stimulated (natural) IVF cycles that may help explain the defective luteal phase in the former?

Summary Answer: Luteal GC of stimulated IVF cycles, particularly those of agonist-triggered antagonist cycles, are less viable ex vivo, express LH receptor and anti-apoptotic genes at lower levels, undergo apoptosis earlier and fail to maintain their estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) production in comparison to natural cycle GC.

What Is Known Already: Luteal function is defective in stimulated IVF cycles, which necessitates P4 and/or hCG administration (known as luteal phase support) in order to improve clinical pregnancy rates and prevent miscarriage. The luteal phase becomes shorter and menstruation begins earlier than a natural cycle if a pregnancy cannot be achieved, indicative of early demise of corpus luteum (premature luteolysis). Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 av Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif, France.

Study Question: Is conservative surgery (laparoscopic salpingotomy) cost-effective, using fertility as the endpoint compared with medical management (Methotrexate) in women with an early tubal pregnancy?

Summary Answer: Conservative surgery appeared slightly, but not statistically significantly, more effective than medical management but also more costly.

What Is Known Already: Women with an early tubal pregnancy treated with medical therapy (Methotrexate) or conservative surgery (laparoscopic salpingotomy) have comparable future intrauterine pregnancy rates by natural conception. Also, cost-minimisation studies have shown that medical therapy was less expensive than conservative surgery, but there is no cost-effectiveness study comparing these two treatments with fertility as the endpoint. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu Prefectural Tajimi Hospital, Tajimi, Japan.

A 41-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 1) underwent elective termination of pregnancy at approximately 7 weeks of gestation. At 1 month after the elective abortion, she was referred due to abnormal results in a cervical cytological examination. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed a heterogeneous mass of 16 mm in diameter in the left adnexal region. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Fetal Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.

Background: Alloanti-M was once regarded as not clinically significant, with a few exceptions in extremely rare cases. However, an increasing number of cases of severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), resulting in fetal hydrops and recurrent abortion caused by alloanti-M, have been reported mainly in the Asian population.

Study Design And Methods: Three pregnant Chinese women with a history of abnormal pregnancy with hydrops fetalis were encountered. Read More

Saudi Med J 2018 Dec;39(12):1249-1252

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. E-mail.

A mechanical heart valve thrombosis during pregnancy is one of the most lethal conditions to experience due to its detrimental effects on both mother and fetus. Cardiac surgery during pregnancy is reserved for cases where medical treatment fails due to harmful maternal and fetal effects. A 24-year-old female in the 38th week of pregnancy was admitted to the emergency room with aggravated dyspnea, tachypnea, and palpitations. Read More

Acta Bioeng Biomech 2018 ;20(4):69-76

Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.

Purpose: Many pregnant women suffer from pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy. Etiologies are multifactorial and affect the joint stability of the sacroiliac joint. Pelvic belts could restore stability and reduce pain during gait. Read More

Ir Med J 2018 06 7;111(6):774. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Gynaecology, the Adelaide and Meath National Children's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) is one of the rarest forms of ectopic pregnancies. With rising caesarean delivery (CD) rates worldwide, there is an increase in the incidence of CSEP. Patients usually present with painless vaginal bleeding and often misdiagnosed as spontaneous miscarriage. Read More

J Biomed Opt 2018 Dec;23(12):1-6

California Institute of Technology, Caltech Optical Imaging Laboratory, Andrew and Peggy Cherng Depa, United States.

Premature cervical remodeling is a critical precursor of spontaneous preterm birth, and the remodeling process is characterized by an increase in tissue hydration. Nevertheless, current clinical measurements of cervical remodeling are subjective and detect only late events, such as cervical effacement and dilation. Here, we present a photoacoustic endoscope that can quantify tissue hydration by measuring near-infrared cervical spectra. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Molecular & Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on fetal and neonatal cardiac geometry and function around the time of birth.

Methods: A prospective study of 75 pregnant women delivering at term, comprising of 54 normal pregnancies and 21 with a diagnosis GDM. Fetal and neonatal conventional cardiac indices, spectral tissue Doppler and 2D speckle tracking imaging were performed a few days before and within hours of birth. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom.

Background: A minimum data set, known as a core outcome set, should standardise outcome selection, collection, and reporting across future twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome research.

Methods: An international steering group including healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients, guided the development of this core outcome set. Potential core outcomes, identified through a comprehensive literature review, were entered into a three round Delphi survey. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: The prevalence of iron depletion is high among premenopausal women who donate blood frequently. Studies in nondonor populations indicate that iron deficiency anemia is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight. This prompts concerns that iron deficiency induced by frequent blood donation might impair subsequent fetal development. Read More

Health Care Anal 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

School of Law, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.

Smoking is frequently presented as being particularly problematic when the smoker is a pregnant woman because of the potential harm to the future child. This premise is used to justify targeting pregnant women with a unique approach to smoking cessation including policies such as the routine testing of all pregnant women for carbon monoxide at every antenatal appointment. This paper examines the evidence that such policies are justified by the aim of harm prevention and argues that targeting pregnant women in this way is likely to do more harm than good. Read More

J Assist Reprod Genet 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Reproductive Genetics Centre, Istanbul Memorial Hospital, Piyale Pasa Bulvari, 34385, Okmeydani, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: To conduct a non-inferiority study to compare the clinical outcomes of transdermal estrogen patch and oral estrogen in patients undergoing frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer non-donor cycles without GnRHagonist (GnRHa) suppression.

Methods: A total of 317 women with irregular menses or anovulatory cycle undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) non-donor cycles without GnRHa suppression were involved in a prospective randomized clinical trial between May 2017 and October 2017. The trial was conducted in an ART and Reproductive Genetics Centre within a private hospital. Read More

Radiologe 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Universitätsinstitut für Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Österreich.

Background: Acute pelvic pain in women may be due to gynecological, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract disorders. Ectopic pregnancy (EP), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and ruptured ovarian cysts are the most common gynecological causes for acute pelvic pain and their diagnosis can be challenging.

Methods: Patient history, clinical examination, and blood tests as well as patient age and potential pregnancy status help to establish the correct diagnosis. Read More

Osteoporos Int 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Rheumatology Department, INSERM 1153, CHU Paris Cochin, Paris Descartes University, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014, Paris, France.

We performed a study to identify potential causes and risk factors of vertebral fracture cascade. Vertebral fracture cascade is a severe clinical event in patients with bone fragility. Only half of patients have an identified cause of secondary osteoporosis. Read More

Health Econ Rev 2018 Dec 5;8(1):32. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4222, Australia.

Background: Critical evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and clinical effectiveness of continuity of midwifery care models for women experiencing complex pregnancy is an important consideration in the review and reform of maternity services. Most studies either focus on women who experience healthy pregnancy or mixed risk samples. These results may not be generalised across the childbearing continuum to women with risk factors. Read More

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123, Catania, Italy.

Introduction: Varicocele is often associated with impaired sperm parameters. Different procedures have been developed for varicocele treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varicocele treatment on conventional sperm parameters. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2019 Mar 10;13:28-31. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Howard University, 2041 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC, USA.

Purpose: We report 2 cases of young diabetic mothers with pre-eclampsia and no previously documented visual deficits prior to pregnancy who were found to have profound retinal circulation loss during the postpartum period.

Observations: Fluorescein angiogram in both cases documented profound ischemia of retinal and macular circulation with resulting severe vision loss, leading to legal blindness.

Conclusions And Importance: While Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia are well known clinical entities with potentially grave effects on both the mother and child, there is little information about the possible combined effects of diabetes and Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia on the retinal circulation. Read More

Heliyon 2018 Nov 27;4(11):e00965. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Office of Information Technology, University of Texas at Arlington, P.O.B 19407, Arlington, Texas, 76019, USA.

Background: Adolescent childbirth continues as a public health concern, and investigation of postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depression is important to inform future research and practice. Longitudinal studies exploring PTSS alone or in combination with depression are non-existent for postpartum adolescent populations. This study aimed to identify stress/PTSS and depression symptoms at 72 hours and three, six, and nine months postpartum, and determine if symptoms at each time point predicted later symptoms. Read More

Ecol Evol 2018 Nov 28;8(22):10733-10742. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Department of Wildland Resources Utah State University Logan Utah.

Demonstrating disease impacts on the vital rates of free-ranging mammalian hosts typically requires intensive, long-term study. Evidence for chronic pathogens affecting reproduction but not survival is rare, but has the potential for wide-ranging effects. Accurately quantifying disease-associated reductions in fecundity is important for advancing theory, generating accurate predictive models, and achieving effective management. Read More

Mol Cytogenet 2018 28;11:58. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital, affiliated hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou, China.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), rather than traditional chromosome analysis, in prenatal diagnosis of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) for superior prenatal genetic counseling and to reveal a potential correlation between submicroscopic chromosomal aberrations and VSDs.

Results: Among the 151 VSD cases, 79 (52.3%) had isolated defects and 72 (47. Read More

Open Access J Contracept 2018 8;9:81-90. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

UKAid/Nigeria MNCH2 Programme, Kano, Nigeria.

Purpose: The study was designed to provide programmatic recommendations for interventions to increase contraceptive prevalence in northern Nigeria. Family-planning use in North-East and North-West regions of Nigeria has remained very low, despite years of domestic and donor investments. We examine respondents' perceptions of their own need for contraception and specifically focus on young women because of their higher risk for maternal mortality. Read More

Open Access J Contracept 2018 9;9:63-74. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Purpose: To address the high unmet need for postpartum family planning (PPFP) in resource-limited settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, this study aimed to identify PPFP-related barriers and catalysts to inform policies and programs to increase access to postpartum contraception.

Methods: Using qualitative methodology, we explored the perspectives of women, adolescent girls, men, religious and community leaders, service providers, and decision makers from three rural communities in Burkina Faso and three rural-urban communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both countries have high unmet need for PPFP and are priority countries of the French Muskoka Fund for Maternal and Child Health. Read More

Ther Clin Risk Manag 2018 9;14:2221-2228. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Intensive Cardiac Therapy Clinic, Department of Interventional Cardiology and Electrocardiology, Central Clinical Hospital, Lodz, Poland,

Background: Wells and Geneva scores are widely used in the assessment of pretest probability of pulmonary embolism (PE).

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that mean platelet volume (MPV) may better predict PE than the clinical prediction rules.

Methods: A study was performed among patients with PE. Read More

Hypertens Res 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.

Chymase is a major angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-independent angiotensin convertase, and its expression is upregulated in the maternal vascular endothelium in preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder in human pregnancy. Increased chymase-dependent angiotensin II generation has been reported in several cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and aneurysmal lesions. However, it remains unclear how chymase is activated. Read More

Int J Obes (Lond) 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, 3000 CB, The Netherlands.

Background And Aims: Prepregnancy maternal obesity is a global health problem and has been associated with offspring metabolic and mental ill-health. However, there is a knowledge gap in understanding potential neurobiological factors related to these associations. This study explored the relation between maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and offspring brain white matter microstructure at the age of 6, 10, and 26 years in three independent cohorts. Read More

Int J Obes (Lond) 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.

Rapid infant weight gain predicts childhood obesity. We aimed to estimate effect size and identify critical timing for intervention-assisted smoking cessation during pregnancy to impact infant weight gain. We followed 25 mother-infant dyads in the UB Pregnancy and Smoking Cessation Study (Buffalo, NY, USA). Read More

J Perinatol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Anatomical Pathology, ACT Pathology, The Canberra Hospital and the Australian National University Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects about 5-10% pregnancies and is associated with poorer outcomes in the perinatal period. Additionally, long standing epidemiological data support its association with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Cardiac and vascular adaptations in response to chronic hypoxemia due to utero-placental insufficiency are hallmarks of fetal adaptations. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 5;8(1):17659. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Early detection of perinatal depression is an urgent issue. Our study aimed to examine the construct validity and factor structure of the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) from a prospective cohort study from pregnancy to postpartum. A total of 1075 women completed all items of the EPDS at four time points: early pregnancy, late pregnancy, 5 days postpartum and 1 month postpartum. Read More