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Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2019 Mar 11;65(3):475-484. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Post-Graduation in Medical Sciences, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Objective: To synthesize the knowledge produced in studies about the association between violence and STI during pregnancy.

Methods: In this systematic review, we conducted basic activities of identification, compilation, and registration of the trials. The instruments of data collection were studies that investigated, explicitly, relationships between violence, gestation, and STI, from July 2012 to July 2017, using PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and LILACS. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

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

The aims of this study were to assess the effect of maternal screening for hepatitis B (HB) virus and a perinatal prevention program of mother-to-child transmission, and to identify clinical characteristics and findings associated with HB exacerbation during pregnancy. This prospective cohort study enrolled 3796 pregnant women and their neonates with informed consent. Pregnant women underwent maternal universal screening for HBs antigen (Ag) in the first trimester. Read More

PLoS One 2019 10;14(4):e0208154. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Asian Liver Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, United States of America.

Background And Aim: Infection at birth due to mother-to-child (MTC) transmission is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Vietnam. This study was undertaken to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant women and mothers in Vietnam concerning HBV prevention and immunization.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Quang Ninh and Hoa Binh provinces in 2017. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(14):e15092

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian Province, China.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine (LdT) and tenofovir (TDF) for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical transmission for HBV-positive pregnant women.Pregnant women (n = 145) from January 2013 to June 2017 were enrolled when they met inclusion criteria, which included HBV DNA ≥1.0 × 10 copies/mL and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019 Mar 25;236:173-176. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcome of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) diagnosed by colposcopy-directed biopsy during pregnancy and to evaluate the risk factors for persistent disease.

Study Design: This retrospective study included pregnant women who were diagnosed with CIN2+ by colposcopy-directed biopsy from January 2005 to December 2014. The clinical characteristics, histopathologic results, and human papillomavirus (HPV) test results were reviewed. Read More

Wiad Lek 2019 ;72(2):175-180

Donetsk National Medical University, Liman, Ukraine.

Objective: Introduction: The article presents information about the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy and childbirth in women with a syphilitic infection in the anamnesis. The peculiarities of the state of newborn babies born from mothers who have suffered syphilis are described. To date, the incidence of syphilis in Ukraine has a clear tendency to decline, but still remains quite high. Read More

Obstet Med 2019 Mar 20;12(1):27-30. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Department of Internal Medicine, Kalafong Hospital, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

Obstetric medicine as a speciality is yet to be developed in South Africa. South Africa is regarded as a developing country. The burden of HIV and metabolic syndrome creates a need for advanced maternal care. Read More

HIV Med 2019 May 14;20(5):337-343. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate darunavir and cobicistat pharmacokinetics in pregnant women with HIV-1 infection.

Methods: This phase 3b, open-label study enrolled HIV-1-infected pregnant women (18-26 weeks of gestation) receiving combination antiretroviral therapy with once-daily darunavir/cobicistat 800/150 mg. The plasma pharmacokinetics of darunavir (total and unbound) and cobicistat were assessed over 24 h during the second and third trimesters (24-28 and 34-38 weeks of gestation, respectively) and 6-12 weeks postpartum. Read More

Brain Behav Immun 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic. 3083, Australia. Electronic address:

The female brain is highly dynamic and can fundamentally remodel throughout the normal ovarian cycle as well as in critical life stages including perinatal development, pregnancy and old-age. As such, females are particularly vulnerable to infections, psychological disorders, certain cancers, and cognitive impairments. We will present the latest evidence on the female brain; how it develops through the neonatal period; how it changes through the ovarian cycle in normal individuals; how it adapts to pregnancy and postpartum; how it responds to illness and disease, particularly cancer; and, finally, how it is shaped by old age. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Mar 7;9(3):e025122. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Introduction: Women in regions with high HIV prevalence are at high risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and postpartum, and acute maternal HIV contributes a substantial proportion of infant HIV infections. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could prevent HIV during pregnancy/postpartum; however, identifying women who would most benefit from PrEP in this period is challenging. Women may not perceive risk, may not know partner HIV status and partners may have external partners during this period. Read More

Reprod Health 2019 Mar 4;16(1):28. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Psychiatry, Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: There have been few studies to examine antenatal predictors of incident postnatal depression, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to investigate antenatal predictors of incident and persistent maternal depression in a rural Ethiopian community in order to inform development of antenatal interventions.

Method: A population-based prospective study was conducted in Sodo district, south central Ethiopia. Read More

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi 2019 Feb;27(2):112-117

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Hospital Infection Management, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China.

To investigate the impact of immediate cessation of antiviral therapy on postpartum liver function and the factors influencing postpartum abnormality in mothers with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. One hundred eighty-eight pregnant women with HBV DNA level > 2×106 IU/ml were enrolled from June 2014 to June 2018. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 28;9(1):3043. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of systemic low-grade inflammation and associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. It is unknown whether maternal and infant hs-CRP levels are correlated and little is known about risk factors in early childhood. Hs-CRP were measured in mothers during pregnancy week 24 (N = 690), and one-week postpartum (N = 675) and in their children age 6 mo (N = 640) enrolled in the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) cohort. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Apr 25;123(8):1220-1227. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Banner University Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during pregnancy is rare but fatal complication. Recent incidence of pregnancy related AMI and trends in the related outcomes are unknown. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was utilized from years 2005 to 2014. Read More

PLoS One 2019 25;14(2):e0212119. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.

Background: The 'Primary HIV Prevention among Pregnant and Lactating Ugandan Women' (PRIMAL) study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an enhanced HIV counseling intervention for preventing HIV acquisition among HIV-uninfected mothers during pregnancy and throughout the breastfeeding period.

Methods: We conducted an unblinded randomized control trial between 22 February 2013 and 22 April 2016 to assess the effectiveness of an extended repeat HIV testing and enhanced counseling (ERHTEC) intervention aimed at preventing primary HIV infection among HIV-uninfected pregnant and lactating women in Uganda. HIV-uninfected pregnant women aged 15-49 were enrolled 1:1 individually or in couples together with their partner. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 Mar;133(3):e226-e234

As adolescents with a genetic syndrome transition to adult medical care, they may be referred to obstetrician-gynecologists for routine preventive or contraceptive services, screening, or counseling for sexually transmitted infection, or for menstrual management. Although some genetic syndromes have no physical or intellectual impairment, others have significant ones; therefore, education and gynecologic care should be based on a patient's intellectual and physical capabilities. It is important to remember that adolescents with or without a genetic syndrome are sexual beings. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 Mar;133(3):598-599

As adolescents with a genetic syndrome transition to adult medical care, they may be referred to obstetrician-gynecologists for routine preventive or contraceptive services, screening, or counseling for sexually transmitted infection, or for menstrual management. Although some genetic syndromes have no physical or intellectual impairment, others have significant ones; therefore, education and gynecologic care should be based on a patient's intellectual and physical capabilities. It is important to remember that adolescents with or without a genetic syndrome are sexual beings. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Feb 20;9(2):e023714. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives: To investigate the association between exposure to biologics during pregnancy and serious infections in mothers and infants.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Population-based. Read More

Indian J Pharmacol 2018 Nov-Dec;50(6):302-308

Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

The management of myasthenia gravis (MG) during pregnancy requires special skills as both diseases as well as its treatment can have deleterious effects on mother and fetus. MG often affects women in second and third decades of life during the childbearing age. Exacerbations of MG are likely to occur during the first trimester and postpartum period. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Apr 14;102(4):3754-3765. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies. Electronic address:

Diseases of postpartum dairy cows impair reproductive processes, resulting in prolonged anestrus, reduced conception, and increased pregnancy attrition, regardless of whether the initial disease precedes insemination (even by many weeks), occurs close to insemination, or follows fertilization. Bacteria and their products activate pattern recognition receptors that respond to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP). These receptors include toll-like receptors (TLR), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors and others, and their activation culminates in upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Read More

PLoS One 2019 12;14(2):e0211955. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé) Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.

Objectives: Most indicators proposed for assessing quality of care in obstetrics are process indicators and do not directly measure health effects, and cannot always be identified from routinely available databases. Our objective was to propose a set of indicators to assess the quality of hospital obstetric care from maternal morbidity outcomes identifiable in permanent hospital discharge databases.

Methods: Various maternal morbidity outcomes potentially reflecting quality of obstetric care were first selected from a systematic literature review. Read More

Environ Res 2019 Apr 11;171:523-529. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Mechanistic studies support the potential for mercury (Hg) to alter immunity, including via in utero exposure. As yet, there are few prospective studies of in utero Hg exposure and subsequent immune-related outcomes, especially in infancy.

Objectives: We investigated the association of biomarkers of prenatal Hg exposure and maternal silver-mercury dental amalgams with the occurrence of infant allergy, respiratory infection, and respiratory symptoms in the first year of life. Read More

J Midwifery Womens Health 2019 Mar 10;64(2):230-235. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee.

Herpes zoster (shingles) is the reactivation of dormant varicella zoster virus in individuals who previously experienced varicella infection or vaccination. Herpes zoster can occur in pregnancy, although it is rare. This case report describes the clinical presentation and diagnosis of herpes zoster and reviews current recommendations for treatment. Read More

Case Rep Womens Health 2019 Jan 23;21:e00097. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

University of South Alabama, Children's and Women's Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 251 Cox Street, Mobile, AL 36604, United States.

Cerebrovascular disease is not uncommon during pregnancy as a result of either venous or arterial occlusion, or a hemorrhagic event, resulting in ischemia. Pregnancy may alter the prognosis of these neurologic disorders, with increased risks of morbidity and mortality for the mother and the developing fetus. Etiologies of stroke during pregnancy and the postpartum period include preeclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), amniotic fluid embolism, postpartum angiopathy, postpartum cardiomyopathy, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), cerebral venous thrombosis, CNS infections, and maternal thrombophilia. Read More

PM R 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

Background: Pregnant women with congenital or acquired spinal cord injury face challenges due to compromised neurological function and mobility; factors that may also affect fetal/infant health. Few studies have examined pregnancy course and longer-term outcomes in this population.

Objective: To assess pregnancy outcomes among women with spinal cord injury, paralysis, or spina bifida using population-based data. Read More

Public Health 2019 Mar 24;168:36-42. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the pattern and predictors of medical care received by hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers during pregnancy and after delivery in Hong Kong.

Study Design: The study is a retrospective analysis.

Methods: Pregnant HBV carriers and their infants were followed up for 9-12 months after delivery. Read More

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi 2018 Dec;26(12):945-950

Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China.

To observe the efficacy and safety related measures by blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus with high viral load and HBeAg positivity during pregnancy in Guizhou province. Outpatient and inpatient cases of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Obstetrics of Guizhou Medical University Affiliated Hospitals from May 2016 to July 2017 were retrospectively divided into intervention group, non-intervention group and non- hepatitis B pregnant women group; with 75 cases in each group. HBsAg and HBeAg were positive in the intervention group. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(2):e14014

Department of Medicine Kidney Center.

Rationale: Adult-onset hepatitis B virus-associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (HBV-MPGN) is generally refractory, and an effective treatment for this condition has not been established. The indications for steroids in HBV-MPGN are an important clinical concern.

Patient Concerns: A 28-year-old woman with a chronic hepatitis B virus infection developed nephrotic syndrome in her second month of pregnancy, with urinary protein levels of 3 to 10 g/d that continued into her postpartum period. Read More

BJOG 2019 May 20;126(6):702-709. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.

Objective: We aimed to predict the risk of common maternal postpartum complications requiring an inpatient episode of care.

Design And Setting: Maternal data from the beginning of gestation up to and including the delivery, and neonatal data recorded at delivery, were used to predict postpartum complications.

Sample: Administrative health data of all inpatient live births (n = 422 509) in the Australian state of Queensland between January 2009 and October 2015. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Jan 9:1-6. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

b Clinical Research Center, Fundación Valle Del Lili , Cali , Colombia.

Objective: There is lack of data on the management of severe dengue infection during labor. The objective of this study was to describe our experience in the management of preterm and term labor of pregnant patients with severe dengue infection and thrombocytopenia.

Materials And Methods: We describe patients with dengue infection confirmed by dengue serology or NS1 antigen in Cali, Colombia. Read More

Reprod Health 2019 Jan 8;16(1). Epub 2019 Jan 8.

International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria has an annual population of ~ 200,000 women who are both pregnant and HIV-positive. High unmet need for family planning in this population could lead to unintended pregnancies, along with the increased risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT). To identify modifiable barriers and facilitators in effective family planning, we examined correlates of modern contraceptive use among HIV-positive women enrolled in the MoMent prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) implementation research study in rural North-Central Nigeria. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Jan 27:1-12. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

a Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology , Peoples' Friendship University of Russia , Moscow , Russia.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the efficacy of antibiotic therapy for the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with the amniotic fluid "sludge" at 15-24 weeks of gestation.

Methods: 245 women underwent transvaginal ultrasound cervical length measurement at 15-24 weeks of pregnancy and 29 out of them with amniotic fluid "sludge" were included in the study. Eight women with the "sludge" had cervical length >25 mm (Group I), seven-an asymptomatic short cervix (Group IIa) and 14 women with a short cervix had symptoms like low abdominal pain, back pain, and menstrual-like cramps (Group IIb). Read More

Georgian Med News 2018 Nov(284):19-23

Maternity Hospital of Lutsk; Lvivsky National Medical University by Danilo Galitsky, Ukraine.

The main aim of our research was to explore influence of calcium and vitamin D on pregnancy, childbirth, qualities of babies' physical development and on the level of their electrolytes in umbilical cord blood: calcium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and to justify the reasonability of prescription the medicine «Calcium - D3 Nikomed" to pregnant women with the risk of pre-eclampsia development. Sixty newborn babies were under the research, which were divided into two principal groups: to the major group entered 30 newborn babies, whose mothers were getting the medicine «Calcium - D3 Nikomed". To the second control group entered 30 another newborn babies, whose mothers were not receiving the mentioned vitamin-medicine. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Mar 3;102(3):2507-2514. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, Chazy, NY 12921.

The objective of this trial was to compare a powdered 0.5% chlorhexidine acetate-based postmilking teat dip with a foamed 1% iodine-based postmilk teat dip during winter on clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis (somatic cell count ≥200,000 cells/mL), linear score, teat skin condition, teat end score for hyperkeratosis, and risk of developing a new intramammary infection (IMI). Holstein cows (n = 331) housed in freestall and tiestall barns on one farm were blocked by pen, parity, lactation stage, and lactation performance. Read More

Am J Infect Control 2019 Jan 6;47(1):e7-e14. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Public Health England, London, UK.

Background: Healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in pregnant/postpartum women is underreported, especially outside of North America. We report a cluster of cases in 2 neighboring secondary care hospitals in South-East England. The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiology and risk factors for infection. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Feb 26;102(2):1457-1472. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Animal Genetics Laboratory, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address:

In neutrophils, toll-like receptor and complement component 5a (C5a) signaling are critical pathways regulating innate immunity. In cows, not much is known about the second C5a receptor, complement component 5a receptor 2 (C5AR2). It is an interesting player in sepsis treatment because it is considered to have an anti-inflammatory effect during normal inflammation. Read More

PLoS One 2018 28;13(12):e0209782. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, United States of America.

In sub-Saharan Africa, most women who test HIV negative at the first antenatal care encounter are rarely tested again during pregnancy and postpartum, yet data suggests that pregnancy is associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition compared to non-pregnant women. We describe HIV incidence during pregnancy and postpartum in Lesotho, a high prevalence setting, and factors associated with HIV seroconversion. We enrolled a cohort of HIV negative women presenting at health facilities for antenatal care and followed them through delivery up to 24 months postpartum. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Feb 24;102(2):1402-1416. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana 61802. Electronic address:

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) and intramammary infection (IMI) increase esterase activity in the glandular secretions of dairy cattle. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical performance of 3 commercially available esterase tests for diagnosing SCM and IMI. Foremilk samples were collected from 380 quarters (96 cows) at dry-off and from 329 quarters (83 cows) within 4 to 7 d after calving. Read More

Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2019 Jan;30(1):1-10

Clinical Trials Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

: Intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces death because of bleeding in patients with trauma and postpartum haemorrhage. However, in some settings intravenous injection is not feasible. To find different routes of administration, we first need to determine the minimal concentration of TXA in the blood that is required to inhibit fibrinolysis. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Dec 17;18(1):498. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Obstetrics and Gynecological Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Circonvallazione Gianicolense 87, 00152, Rome, Italy.

Background: Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the female urogenital tract, characterised by uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. We reported the difficult pregnancy course complicated by an extremely rare and unique case of this syndrome associated with ectrodactyly, a clinical combination never described in literature.

Case Presentation: A 28- year-old nulliparous woman previously diagnosed for HWWS associated with ectrodactyly of the right foot and with a history of abdominal left hemi-hysterectomy, ipsilateral salpingectomy, vaginal reconstruction when she was an adolescent. Read More

Malar J 2018 Dec 14;17(1):470. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Unit of Parasitology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.

Background: Congenital malaria is usually defined as the detection of asexual forms of Plasmodium spp. in a blood sample of a neonate during perinatal age if there is no possibility of postpartum infection by a mosquito bite. The incidence of congenital malaria is highly variable and seems related to several factors, such as different diagnostic methods for Plasmodium spp. Read More

AIDS Care 2019 Jun 6;31(6):707-713. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

a Department of Health Behavior , Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.

HIV-positive women who engage in postpartum unsafe sex are at risk for sexually transmitted infection (STI), unintended pregnancy, and secondary transmission of HIV to uninfected partners. One factor that may increase risk for postpartum unsafe sex among HIV-positive women is intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization; few studies, however, have examined this association. This longitudinal study examined whether patterns of psychological, physical, and sexual IPV, assessed during pregnancy, predicted unsafe sex at 14 weeks postpartum among South African women diagnosed as HIV-positive during pregnancy (n = 561). Read More

J Pediatr 2019 Mar 5;206:156-163.e3. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Center for Asthma Research, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. Electronic address:

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that maternal plasma alpha-tocopherol levels are associated with protection from childhood wheeze and that this protection is modified by gamma-tocopherol.

Study Design: We conducted a prospective nested study in the Infant Susceptibility to Pulmonary Infections and Asthma Following Respiratory Syncytial Virus Exposure birth cohort of 652 children with postpartum maternal plasma vitamin E isoforms used as a surrogate for pregnancy concentrations. Our outcomes were wheezing and recurrent wheezing over a 2-year period, ascertained using validated questionnaires. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Dec 4;18(1):474. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

National AIDS Programme, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Background: Early initiation and longer duration of anti-retroviral therapy either as prophylaxis (pARV) or lifelong treatment (ART) in HIV-positive pregnant women prior to delivery has a huge impact in reducing mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, maternal morbidity, mortality and increasing retention in care. In this study, we aimed to determine the following in a 'prevention of mother-to-child transmission' (PMTCT) programme in Central Women Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar: i) uptake of ART and factors associated with the uptake ii) duration of ART/ pARV received by HIV-positive pregnant women prior to delivery, iii) factors associated with ART/ pARV initiation after delivery and iv) factors associated with shorter duration of ART/ pARV (≤ 8 weeks prior to delivery).

Method: This was a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected data from PMTCT programme. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(48):e13251

Clinical Medicine College, Soochow University, Suzhou Jiangsu, China.

Background: Successful labor induction depends on the cervical status at the time of induction. Currently, both a Foley catheter and a dinoprostone insert are used for effective cervical ripening. This study compared the efficacy and safety of the intracervical Foley catheter and dinoprostone insert for cervical ripening to achieve successful labor induction. Read More

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2019 Jan 26;48(1):37-49. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of women during pregnancy and the postpartum period related to placentophagy.

Design: Mixed methods study (cross-sectional survey and online discussions).

Setting: We used social media to advertise the study to mother/parenting groups. Read More

BJOG 2019 May 5;126(6):719-727. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Objective: To investigate the association of chorioamnionitis and its duration with adverse maternal outcomes by mode of delivery.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Data from the Consortium on Safe Labor Study in the USA (2002-2008). Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Nov 26;18(1):458. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Central Hospital, P O Box ST 14, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Background: Maternal 'near miss' can be a proxy for maternal death and it describes women who nearly died due to obstetric complications. It measures life threatening pregnancy related complications and allows the assessment of the quality of obstetric care.

Methods: A prospective descriptive study was carried out from October 1 2016 to 31 December 2016, using the WHO criteria for maternal 'near miss' at the two tertiary public hospitals which receive referrals of all obstetric complications in Harare city, Zimbabwe. Read More

PLoS One 2018 21;13(11):e0206795. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

International Center for Maternal and Newborn Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.

Introduction: Reducing neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is a challenge in many low- and middle-income countries including Bangladesh. In 2014, the estimated NMR in this country was 28 per 1,000 live births. This rate is higher in rural regions compared to the national average. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2018 Nov 25;33(47):e296. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum preventive measures with antiretroviral drugs, appropriate delivery methods, and discouraging breastfeeding significantly decrease the risk of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Herein, we investigated the pregnancy outcomes in HIV-infected Korean women.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of childbearing-age HIV-infected women between January 2005 and June 2017 at four tertiary care hospitals in Korea. Read More