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Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jun 14. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Maternal and Fetal Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK.

Background: Villous cytotrophoblast (vCTB) is a precursor cell population that supports the development of syncytiotrophoblast (vSTB), the high surface area barrier epithelium of the placental villus, and the primary interface between maternal and fetal tissue. In light of increasing evidence that the placenta can adapt to changing maternal environments or, under stress, can trigger maternal disease, we consider what properties of these cells empower them to exert a controlling influence on pregnancy progression and outcome.

Objective And Rationale: How are cytotrophoblast proliferation and differentiation regulated in the human placental villus to allow for the increasing demands of the fetal and environmental challenges and stresses that may arise during pregnancy?

Search Methods: PubMed was interrogated using relevant keywords and word roots combining trophoblast, villus/villous, syncytio/syncytium, placenta, stem, transcription factor (and the individual genes), signalling, apoptosis, autophagy (and the respective genes) from 1960 to the present. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2021 18;38:286. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Service de Radiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Obstetric ultrasound performed according to standards from its prescription to the report is a guarantee of quality. The aim of our study was to take stock of obstetrical ultrasounds in order to make rational the ultrasound follow-ups of pregnancy. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection through the reports of obstetrical ultrasounds performed from the 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Jun 11;14(6). Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Women with Turner syndrome (TS) are subfertile due to premature ovarian insufficiency. Most women require hormone replacement therapy for attaining menarche and assisted reproductive technology (ART) using donor oocytes, autologous oocytes or in-vitro fertilisation for conception. Irrespective of the karyotype, monosomy X (45, X) or mosaic pattern, women with TS hold a very high risk for pregnancy due to high mortality rate secondary to aortic dissection and severe pre-eclampsia. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2021 Jun 2;25:116-122. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland.

Objectives: Maternal serum inhibin-A, pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and PAPP-A2 together with placental growth factor (PlGF), maternal risk factors and uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA PI) were analysed to study their ability to predict pre-eclampsia (PE).

Study Design: Serial serum samples for the nested case-control study were collected prospectively at 12-14, 18-20 and 26-28 weeks of gestation from 11 women who later developed early-onset PE (EO PE, diagnosis < 34 + 0 weeks of gestation), 34 women who developed late-onset PE (LO PE, diagnosis ≥ 34 + 0 weeks) and 89 controls.

Main Outcome Measures: Gestational age -adjusted multiples of the median (MoM) values were calculated for biomarker concentrations. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021 Jun 8. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Level 3 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Whitty Building, Annerley Road, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; NHMRC Stillbirth Centre For Research Excellence, Mater Research Institute, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. Electronic address:

Objective: Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have recently been used for the treatment of severe early onset pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. There are however concerns that they may increase the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the safety profile and clinical outcomes of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors use in pregnancy. Read More

Reproduction 2021 Jun 1. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

M Du, Gyn/Obs Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Deficient decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. Decidualization is regulated by multiple factors such as hormones and circadian genes. Melatonin, a circadian-controlled hormone, is reported to be important for various reproductive process, including oocyte maturation and placenta development. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Read More

Qatar Med J 2019 20;2019(1):10. Epub 2019 Sep 20.

Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are two hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that significantly contribute to higher morbidity and mortality rates. Eclampsia is the occurrence of seizures in patients with preeclampsia without any previous history of seizure disorders. The incidence and prevalence of eclampsia varies, and there is scarce literature about the prevalence and trends of eclampsia in the Arabian Gulf countries. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021 25;12:653407. Epub 2021 May 25.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Pregnancy is a complex state with many endocrinological challenges to a woman's physiology. Gestational Hypothyroidism (GHT) is an emerging condition where insufficiency of the thyroid gland has developed during pregnancy in a previously euthyroid woman. It is different to overt hypothyroidism, where marked elevation of thyroid-stimulating hormone with corresponding reduction in free thyroxine levels, is well known to cause detrimental effects to both the mother and the baby. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021 Jun 10:1-9. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Women's Wellness and Research Center, Doha, Qatar.

Background: We aimed to study the maternal characteristics and obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant mothers with pre-eclampsia (PE) compared to normotensive.

Methods: This was a population-based retrospective data analysis. Data were obtained from the PEARL-Peristat Study perinatal registry (Perinatal Neonatal Outcomes Research Study in the Arabian Gulf) Qatar. Read More

Ginekol Pol 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Bursa, Turkey.

Objectives: We aimed to compare perinatal outcomes of oligohydramnios or fetal growth restriction with normal amniotic fluid index and fetal growth in preeclampsia and to compare the outcomes of only oligohydramnios, only fetal growth restriction and oligohydramnios with fetal growth restriction preeclamptic groups.

Material And Methods: A total of 743 preeclamptic patients were evaluated between June 2016 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: preeclampsia with oligohydramnios or fetal growth restriction (n = 237) and preeclampsia with normal amniotic fluid index and fetal growth (n = 506). Read More

Glob Pediatr Health 2021 25;8:2333794X211018350. Epub 2021 May 25.

Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.

The adverse neonatal outcome is defined as the presence of birth asphyxia, respiratory distress, birth trauma, hypothermia, meconium aspiration syndrome, neonatal intensive care admission, and neonatal death. It is a major concern in developing countries, including Ethiopia. This study tried to identify predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes at selected public hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia. Read More

Pulm Circ 2021 Apr-Jun;11(2):20458940211013671. Epub 2021 May 14.

Division of Cardiology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Pregnancy is hazardous with pulmonary arterial hypertension, but maternal mortality may have fallen in recent years. We sought to systematically evaluate pulmonary arterial hypertension and pregnancy-related outcomes in the last decade. We searched for articles describing outcomes in pregnancy cohorts published between 2008 and 2018. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021 Jun 8:1-8. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Objective: To examine the relationship between race/ethnicity, pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity status, and pregnancy complications.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among mothers with singleton live births using data from hospitals contributing to the Obstetrical Care Outcomes Assessment Program database ( = 72,697). Race was categorized as Non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH African-American, Hispanic, NH Asian, NH American Indian/Alaskan Native, and NH Native-Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. Read More

Hypertension 2021 Jun 8:HYPERTENSIONAHA12117104. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

From the Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (A.S.M., A.G.H., E.D.M.).

Women with pregnancy-induced hypertension, defined as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia/eclampsia, are at increased risk of long-term cardiovascular disease, but less is known about the spectrum of acute cardiovascular outcomes, especially across racial/ethnic groups. We evaluated the risk of cardiovascular events at delivery associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia/eclampsia, compared with no pregnancy-induced hypertension, overall and by race/ethnicity. We used the 2016 to 2018 National Inpatient Sample data. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2021 May 28;25:91-102. Epub 2021 May 28.

Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Preeclampsia (PE) is categorized as a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder and is a serious concern in pregnancies. Several factors, including genetic factors (placenta gene expression, and imprinting), oxidative stress, the inaccurate immune response of the mother, and the environmental factors are responsible for PE development, but still, the exact mechanism of the pathogenesis has remained unknown. The main aim of the present study is to identify the gene expression signature in placenta tissue, to unveil disease etiology mechanisms. Read More

Placenta 2021 Jul 1;110:16-23. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address:

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a dangerous placental condition that can lead to premature labour, seizures and death of mother and infant. Several studies have identified altered placental DNA methylation in PE; however, there is widespread inconsistency between studies and most findings have not been replicated. This study aimed to identify and validate consistent differences in methylation across multiple PE cohorts. Read More

Mol Biol (Mosk) 2021 May-Jun;55(3):441-459

Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Medical Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, 634050 Russia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe hypertensive pathology and affects 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide. Its etiopathogenesis is poorly understood, and prognostic biomarkers and effective treatments are unavailable for this pregnancy complication, determining the high rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Racial and ethnic differences in PE incidence are of interest to study in terms of evolutionary medicine because such variability can be considered as a side effect of adaptive changes that have occurred in the genetic structure of modern populations since the dispersal of Homo sapiens from Africa. Read More

J Pak Med Assoc 2021 May;71(5):1332-1336

Department of Anatomy, Islamic International Medical College, Riphah University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Objectives: To find the association between interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 rs3027898 gene polymorphism and preeclampsia.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted from October, 2018 to September, 2019 at the Railway General Hospital and the Department of Biochemistry, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and comprised patients diagnosed with preeclampsia and healthy controls. The interleukin receptor-associated kinase-1 polymorphism was determined using multiplex tetra primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 Jun 4;21(1):416. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mpilo Central Hospital, Vera Road, Mzilikazi, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Background: On the 27 of March 2020 the Zimbabwean government declared the Covid-19 pandemic a 'national disaster'. Travel restrictions and emergency regulations have had significant impacts on maternity services, including resource stock-outs, and closure of antenatal clinics during the lockdown period. Estimates of the indirect impact of Covid-19 on maternal and perinatal mortality was expected it to be considerable, but little data was yet available. Read More

J Clin Pathol 2021 Jun 3. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Padua University Hospital, Padova, Italy.

Aims: This study aimed to identify any microscopic features associated with abnormal (membranous/velamentous or marginal) placental cord insertions and to analyse their adverse neonatal outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the records-including pathological findings, clinical information and pregnancy outcomes-for 1060 singleton pregnancies, involving newborn delivered after 24 weeks of gestation.

Results: Marginal cord insertions were identified in 26. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2021 May 14;25:62-67. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between blood pressure (BP) achieved during pregnancy and pregnant outcomes in non-severe chronic hypertensive women.

Study Design: This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women who diagnosed as non-severe chronic hypertension and delivered in Shanghai Renji Hospital from January 2010 to March 2017. Based on their mean antenatal office diastolic BP (dBP), patients were divided into higher BP achieved (HBPA, dBP ≥ 90 mmHg) group or lower BP achieved (LBPA, dBP < 90 mmHg) group. Read More

Reprod Health 2021 Jun 2;18(1):110. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

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

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity globally. Planned delivery between 34 and 36 weeks may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes but is yet to be evaluated in a low and middle-income setting. Prior to designing a randomised controlled trial to evaluate this in India and Zambia, we carried out a 6-month feasibility study in order to better understand the proposed trial environment and guide development of our intervention. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 Jun 2;21(1):413. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.

Background: In the African region, 5.6% of pregnancies are estimated to be complicated by preeclampsia and 2.9% by eclampsia, with almost one in ten maternal deaths being associated with hypertensive disorders. Read More

Afr J Reprod Health 2020 Dec;24(4):138-146

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.

Teenage pregnancy has become a common global public health issue, associated with increased risk of obstetric complications and adverse neonatal outcomes. Teenagers are more prone to obstetric complications compared to older women. This study examined the maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes among teenagers, and compared them with older pregnant women. Read More

Nutrients 2021 May 28;13(6). Epub 2021 May 28.

Neurological Health Foundation, Dallas, TX 75230, USA.

The levels of many essential minerals decrease during pregnancy if un-supplemented, including calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc, and possibly chromium and iodine. Sub-optimal intake of minerals from preconception through pregnancy increases the risk of many pregnancy complications and infant health problems. In the U. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 May 18;22(10). Epub 2021 May 18.

Gynecology Research Unit, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.

Preeclampsia is associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity of mother and offspring, thus contributing to a substantial burden in women and children's health. It has been proven that endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) numbers and functional characteristics are impaired in cardiovascular disease and preeclampsia, although causative factors for the latter have remained elusive. MicroRNA (miRNA) modifications are a potential mechanism through which exposure to an altered environment translates into the development of chronic disease. Read More

Viruses 2021 05 7;13(5). Epub 2021 May 7.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital of Majadahonda, 28222 Majadahonda, Spain.

Pregnant women who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. With this study, we aimed to better understand the relationship between maternal infection and perinatal outcomes, especially preterm births, and the underlying medical and interventionist factors. This was a prospective observational study carried out in 78 centers (Spanish Obstetric Emergency Group) with a cohort of 1347 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive pregnant women registered consecutively between 26 February and 5 November 2020, and a concurrent sample of PCR-negative mothers. Read More

Cells 2021 May 8;10(5). Epub 2021 May 8.

Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.

Eclampsia is diagnosed in pregnant women who develop novel seizures. Our laboratory showed that the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of preeclampsia displays reduced latency to drug-induced seizures. While acid sensing ion channels (ASIC1a and 3) are important for reducing seizure longevity and severity, the role of ASIC2a in mediating seizure sensitivity in pregnancy has not been investigated. Read More

BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2021 05;9(1)

Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

Introduction: Recent research has demonstrated the benefits of metformin treatment in gestational diabetes (GDM) on short-term pregnancy outcomes (including excessive fetal growth and pre-eclampsia), but its effects on fetal metabolism remain mostly unknown. Our aim was to study the effects of metformin treatment compared with insulin or diet on the cord serum metabolome and also to assess how these metabolites are related to birth weight (BW) in pregnancies complicated by GDM.

Research Design And Methods: Cord serum samples were available from 113, 97, and 98 patients with GDM treated with diet, insulin, and metformin, respectively. Read More