Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Autops Case Rep 2018 Oct-Dec;8(4):e2018051. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Hospital Universitário Puerta del Mar, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology. Cádiz, Spain.

Listeriosis is a sporadic infectious disease, which affects high-risk populations, such as the elderly, pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised patients. During pregnancy, listeriosis usually presents like a mild non-specific infection, but it may be responsible for fetal loss, preterm labor, early onset neonatal sepsis, and neonatal death. We report the case of a late stillbirth secondary to maternal chorioamnionitis. Read More

Int J Womens Health 2019 30;11:75-95. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,

Background: In 2012, we performed a needs assessment and gap analysis to qualitatively assess providers' and patients' knowledge and perceptions regarding preterm birth (PTB). During the study, we identified knowledge gaps surrounding methods to reduce the risk of occurrence of PTB and management options if preterm labor/birth occur. We targeted health messages toward these gaps. Read More

Pediatr Neurol 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Background: Concern exists regarding a possible harmful impact of vacuum extraction on the preterm newborn. We aimed to evaluate the long-term pediatric neurodevelopmental outcomes of the preterm offspring after vacuum extraction.

Methods: A population-based cohort analysis was performed comparing the risk for long-term neurological morbidity (up to age 18 years) in preterm (less than 37 completed weeks of gestation) children born via following three delivery modes: vacuum extraction, spontaneous delivery, and cesarean delivery performed during the second stage of labor. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2019 Feb 15:e13102. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Problem: The immunophenotype of B cells at the maternal-fetal interface (decidua) in labor at term and preterm labor is poorly understood.

Method Of Study: Decidual tissues were obtained from women with preterm or term labor and from non-labor gestational age-matched controls. Immunophenotyping of decidual B cells was performed using multi-color flow cytometry. Read More

J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

4 Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: African refugee women in the United States are at risk of poor reproductive health outcomes; however, examination of reproductive health outcomes in this population remains inadequate. We compared: (1) prepregnancy health and prenatal behavior; (2) prenatal history and prenatal care utilization; and (3) labor and birth outcomes between African refugee women and U.S. Read More

J Perinat Med 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objective To determine whether the risk of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation and spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) varies as a function of the concentration of cervical fetal fibronectin (fFN) in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. Methods This prospective study included 180 patients with preterm labor and intact membranes who had a sample collected for quantitative fFN measurement and underwent amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and genital mycoplasmas. Read More

J Perinat Med 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Background Behcet's disease (BD) is a rare, multi-systemic inflammatory disorder for which only limited and contradictory data exists in the context of pregnancy. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of BD in pregnancy and to evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes associated with pregnant women living with BD. Methods Using the 1999-2013 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the United States, we performed a population-based retrospective cohort study consisting of pregnancies that occurred during this time period. Read More

BJOG 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of history of threatened preterm labor (TPL) followed by term delivery with the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) in subsequent pregnancy.

Design: Population based cohort study.

Setting: Data of the National Health Insurance Claims Database and a national health-screening program for infants and children in South Korea. Read More

Placenta 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

In the 1930s the "progestin" hormone produced by the corpus luteum was isolated and found to be a Δ-keto-steroid. It was aptly named progesterone (P4) and in the following 30 years the capacity of P4 and derivatives to prevent preterm birth (PTB) was examined. Outcomes of multiple small studies suggested that progestin prophylaxis beginning at mid-gestation decreases the risk for PTB. Read More

Reprod Sci 2019 Feb 11:1933719119828072. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.

Objective:: Calmodulin (CaM) plays a key role in the orchestration of Ca signaling events, and its regulation is considered an important component of cellular homeostasis. The control of uterine smooth muscle function is largely dependent on the regulation of Ca and CaM signaling. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression, function, and regulation of CaM regulatory proteins in myometrium during pregnancy. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019 Feb 10. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

I read the original research article by Jar-Allah et al. with great interest (1). They report changes of cervical cytology and its relationship to the risk of preterm delivery in singleton pregnancies in a large cohort. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway.

Introduction: In most pregnancies after a cesarean section, a trial of labor is an option. The objective of the study was to explore trial of labor and its failure in pregnancies with medical risk conditions, in a population with a high trial of labor rate.

Material And Methods: In a cohort study (n=57 109), using data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway 1989-2014, women with a second delivery after a first pregnancy cesarean section were included. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Neonatology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, 110002, India.

RMNCH+A is a platform for delivering adolescent, maternal, newborn and child health in an integrated manner using a life cycle approach. The new initiatives under this strategy that would impact newborn health include antenatal corticosteroids in preterm labor, delayed clamping of cord at birth, skin-to-skin contact at birth and Kangaroo mother care, Family participatory care, Lactation management centers and care beyond newborn survival under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. Even though the coverage of many of the existing initiatives has been moderately high, there are concerns about the quality of delivery of these interventions and slow progress in the roll out of the newer interventions. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Division of Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background: Ureaplasma species (spp.) are the bacteria most often isolated from the amniotic cavity of women with preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes, thus, the link between intrauterine Ureaplasma spp. infection and adverse pregnancy outcome is clearly established. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2019 Feb 8:e13098. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Problem: Acute atherosis is a uteroplacental arterial lesion that is associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, the immunobiology of acute atherosis is poorly understood.

Method Of Study: Placental basal plate samples were collected from women who delivered with (n = 11) and without (n = 31) decidua basalis lesions of acute atherosis. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 7;9(1):1550. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Preeclampsia is one of the most serious complications during pregnancy, defined as development of hypertension during late pregnancy affecting other organ systems (proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, liver involvement, cerebral symptoms or pulmonary edema). Preeclampsia is known to be associated with significant dyslipidemia, but the cause or mechanism of this metabolic aberration is not clear. Quantitative analysis of cholesterol precursors and metabolites can reveal metabolic signatures of cholesterol, and provide insight into cholesterol biosynthetic and degradation pathways. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(6):e14404

Research Unit for Neonatal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz.

Children born preterm (PT) have a higher risk of language delays than children born full-term (FT). Expressive vocabulary plays a central role in language development, as later grammar ability can be predicted from earlier vocabulary size.To determine the effects of preterm birth on expressive vocabulary at the age of 36 to 41 months. Read More

J Perinat Med 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Koc, 34010 İstanbul, Turkey.

Background We investigated the roles of inflammatory cytokines and the A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) family in the etiopathogenesis of spontaneous preterm delivery by comparing the ADAMTS4, ADAMTS5, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in second-trimester amniotic fluid between pregnant women with preterm birth and term controls. Methods All pregnant women who underwent second-trimester amniocentesis for genetic analysis between January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018, were enrolled in this study. From this cohort, 22 patients who subsequently experienced spontaneous preterm delivery before 34 weeks of pregnancy formed the study group, and 22 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients without preterm birth constituted the control group. 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

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Mar;144(3):340-346

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82, Gumi-ro 173 Beon-gil, Seongnamsi, Kyeonggido, 463-707, Korea.

Purpose: To determine whether various selected immune-related proteins in maternal plasma, alone or in combination, can predict histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) in women with preterm labor, and to compare the predictive abilities of these biomarkers with that of serum C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 74 consecutive women with preterm labor (23-34 gestational weeks) who delivered within 96 h of blood sampling. Their serum CRP levels were also measured. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.

Purpose: The objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate and compare the pregnancy outcomes of laparoscopy and open surgery in the treatment of ovarian tumors during pregnancy.

Methods: Search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases from January 1990 to November 2018. A broad search strategy was used to identify studies comparing laparoscopy and open surgery in pregnancy. Read More

Cytokine 2019 Apr 28;116:97-105. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics St. Hedwig, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Despite considerable progress in the field of perinatal care, infectious diseases, especially when caused by gram negative bacteria, remain a major reason for neonatal morbidity and mortality. Notably infants born prematurely and those with very low birth weight are at risk due to their immature and deficient immune system and their prolonged hospitalization which promotes nosocomial infections. In case of impending preterm birth, betamethasone is given to induce lung maturation and tocolytic agents like indomethacin or fenoterol are administered to suppress premature labor. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2019 Feb;99(3):141-142

Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Prenat Diagn 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.

Introduction: Abundant research has reported twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) outcomes following fetal therapy. Our research describes TTTS patients who did not undergo fetal therapy.

Methods: Records from TTTS pregnancies evaluated at 16-26 gestational weeks were reviewed between 1/2006 and 3/2017. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Jan 29:1-6. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.

Introduction: Preterm delivery is an important issue in obstetrics, which is the most common cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Therefore, finding a way to prevent it is always under serious concern.

Objective: The study aimed to compare the efficacy of two tocolytic agents, nifedipine and indomethacin, for inhibiting preterm uterine contractions as monotherapy and combination therapy. Read More

Ther Innov Regul Sci 2019 Jan 27:2168479018821087. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

1 Richmond Pharmacology Ltd, St Georges, University of London, London, United Kingdom.

Background:: Adaptive trial designs have the potential to address common challenges in drug development; they decrease timelines and costs of early drug development and efficiently create data that support future trials in target populations. While allowing for flexibility and evolution, adaptive strategies introduce some complexity to the design and implementation of trial protocols. Previously published work by the authors include a retrospective analysis of time savings using adaptive design and a systematic, 3-step methodology for writing early-phase adaptive integrated protocols. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 24;9(1):608. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.

Endocrine factors and signals of fetal organ maturation are reported determinants of birth timing. To test the hypothesis that paracrine signaling by exosomes are key regulators of parturition, maternal plasma exosomes from CD-1 mice were isolated and characterized throughout gestation and the biological pathways associated with differentially-expressed cargo proteins were determined. Results indicate that the shape and size of exosomes remained constant throughout gestation; however, a progressive increase in the quantity of exosomes carrying inflammatory mediators was observed from gestation day (E)5 to E19. Read More

J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2019 Jan/Mar;33(1):35-51

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Dunn); Nurse-Midwifery Program at the Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr Hanson); Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr VandeVusse); and Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Leslie).

The influence of microbial factors on adverse perinatal outcomes has become the focal point of recent investigations, with particular interest in the role of the microbiome and probiotic interventions. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and critique the most recent evidence about these factors as they relate to pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PEC), preterm birth (PTB), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were searched for articles published in English in the last 10 years with the concepts of the microbiome, probiotics, and PEC, PTB, or GDM. Read More

J Perinat Med 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Obstetrics Service, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.

Objectives To evaluate the number of late preterm (LPT) births (between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks) that could have been prevented if expectant management of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) had been applied according to new recommendations. Methods A retrospective cohort study included all births at one Swiss center between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2012. Births were categorized using an adapted evidence-based classification. Read More

Endocrinology 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochsner Baptist Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Introduction: Exosomes are membrane-bound nanovesicles that transport molecular signals between cells. This study determined changes in maternal plasma exosome proteomics contents in term and preterm births.

Methods: Maternal plasma (MP) samples were collected from group 1: term not-in labor (TNIL, n=13); group 2: term in labor (TL, n= 11), group 3: preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM, n=8); and group 4: preterm birth (PTB, n=13). Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Jan 22:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

a Department of Obstetrics , Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil.

Objective: To investigate whether sonographic cervical markers can identify women in true preterm labor and predict delivery within 7 d and before 34 or 37 gestational weeks.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of women with singleton pregnancies and intact membranes given a diagnosis of preterm labor between 25 and 34 weeks and 6 d of gestation and who underwent transvaginal evaluation of the following characteristics: cervical length (CL), CL zeta score, absence of endocervical glandular echo, presence of cervical funneling, and presence of amniotic fluid sludge. The outcomes of interest were spontaneous delivery within 7 d of preterm labor and spontaneous delivery before 34 or 37 gestational weeks. Read More

Int J Womens Health 2019 14;11:41-47. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt,

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of different timing of initiation of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) administration on the pregnancy outcomes in women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Materials And Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted on women with obstetrical APS. All participants were randomly divided at documentation of positive pregnancy test into two groups; early initiation group in which LMWH therapy was started once positive pregnancy test was established (in the fifth week of gestation), and later initiation group in which LMWH therapy was started after sonographic confirmation of fetal cardiac pulsation (in the seventh week of gestation). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14127

Hunan Province Maternal and Children Care Hospital.

Evidence for the acute effects of air pollutants on adverse birth outcomes is not yet conclusive. Furthermore, there are no investigations relating to the association between air pollutants and macrosomia. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between air pollutants and low birth weight, preterm birth, and macrosomia in Changsha. Read More

Obstet Gynecol Surv 2019 Jan;74(1):50-55

Professor, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Importance: Preterm delivery represents an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Various tocolytics have been studied with the objective of stopping preterm labor, increasing gestational age at delivery, and preventing complications related to preterm birth.

Objective: This review aims to summarize the major classes of tocolytics and review the evidence regarding use of each. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Feb 7:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

c Maternal Neonatal Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit , Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) , Cagliari , Italy.

Objective: Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) are frequent conditions with a not fully understood multifactorial etiology. It has been suggested that infection may be the leading cause of pPROM. Metabolomics is nowadays recognized as a successful and versatile approach for the investigation of several pathological conditions, including pregnancy-related ones. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2018 Sep 7;1(5):e182355. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Department of Neonatal Pediatrics and Intensive Care, Neuropediatrics and Rehabilitation Center, Reference Centre for Learning Disabilities of the Child, Rehabilitation Centre, Rouen University Hospital-Charles Nicolle Hospital, Rouen, France.

Importance: No trials to date have demonstrated the benefits of tocolysis on death and/or neonatal morbidity in preterm infants; tocolytics may affect the fetal blood-brain barrier.

Objectives: To assess the risks associated with tocolysis in women delivering prematurely as measured by death and/or intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants and to compare the association of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) nifedipine and nicardipine hydrochloride vs atosiban used for tocolysis with death and/or IVH.

Design, Settings, And Participants: The French 2011 EPIPAGE-2 (Enquête Épidémiologique sur les Petits Âges Gestationnels) cohort was limited to mothers admitted for preterm labor without fever, who delivered from 24 to 31 weeks of gestation from April 1 through December 31, 2011. Read More

Int J Reprod Biomed (Yazd) 2018 Sep;16(9):563-570

Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.

Background: Premature birth is the main cause of neonatal mortality and long-term complications, which imposes heavy financial and psychological burdens on the family and society; therefore, it is important to recognize the factors affecting it.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between socioeconomic status, psychosocial factors, and food insecurity with preterm delivery.

Materials And Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted on 674 pregnant women at 24-28 wk of gestation who met the inclusion criteria. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 10;30:272. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: Preterm birth, a leading cause of neonatal mortality accounts for 35 percent of all neonatal deaths worldwide. Uganda's high preterm birth rate of 13.6 per 1000 live births ranks 28 in the world. Read More

Dev Period Med 2018 ;22(4):301-307

Łomża Medical College of the Universal Educational Society, Łomża, Poland.

Objective: Introduction: Currently there is insufficient evidence to support the routine administration of nitric oxide donors in the treatment of threatened preterm labor. An understanding of the role that nitric oxide plays in the management of threatened preterm labor may lead to more effective treatment and prevention. The aim of our study was to examine the involvement of exogenous nitric oxide release in regulating responses of the human pregnant myometrium to oxytocin. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

A pregnant patient with chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and indwelling spinal cord stimulator presented with twin gestation for induction of preterm labor due to preeclampsia. Intravenous magnesium was initiated and a lumbar epidural catheter was placed uneventfully for labor analgesia. The patient reported complete relief of her CRPS-associated pain during and for 24 hours after delivery, while receiving intravenous magnesium, with her pain symptoms returning shortly after discontinuing magnesium. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb;133(2):364-367

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Division of Gynecology-Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; and Janet Davis, M.D., P.C., Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Background: Cesarean scar dehiscence is rare in pregnancy. When it occurs late in pregnancy, management typically involves delivery of the fetus with concurrent uterine repair. However, consensus regarding management earlier in gestation is lacking. Read More

Turk Patoloji Derg 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University, School of Medicine Istanbul, ISTANBUL, TURKEY.

Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is characterized by a classical triad of congenitally absent abdominal muscles, bilateral cryptorchidism, and a malformed urinary tract. Urorectal septum malformation sequence (URSM) is identified with the absence of urogenital and anal openings. This case report describes a 15-week-old female fetus with megacystis, ascites and oligohydramnios in a 19-year-old nulliparous woman. Read More

AIMS Public Health 2018 7;5(4):463-476. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, THAILAND.

Background: Preventing adolescent pregnancy and childbirth is one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goals. Measuring the burden pregnancy and childbirth places on adolescents is required to convince society and decision makers that this is an important goal.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate (1) the years of healthy life lost due to adolescent pregnancy and childbirth in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs), (2) the contribution of adolescent pregnancy and childbirth to the total DALYs lost from all reproductive ages, and (3) the magnitude of the burden due to five main direct obstetric causes and sequelae in adolescent mothers in Thailand in 2014. Read More

Matern Child Health J 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.

Objectives To identify risk factors associated with urban postpartum emergency department utilization. Methods This case-control study included 100 matched pairs of postpartum women who had delivered at a large, integrated urban medical system in Bronx, New York, in 2012-2013, with the cases having had an emergency department visit within 42 days of delivery. The cases, identified utilizing administrative and billing data, were matched 1:1 with controls by labor unit, delivery mode and date, excluding nonviable pregnancies. 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

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 2;2018:3919106. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 90-549, Poland.

Preterm birth is defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, and it is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is recognized as an important factor in the pathogenesis of premature labor. We conducted this analysis to investigate the safety of administration of the tocolytic drug Atosiban-a reversible, competitive antagonist of the oxytocin receptor in the treatment of preterm birth and its impact on the level of oxidative stress in pregnant women after 48 hours of tocolytic treatment. Read More

Kidney Res Clin Pract 2018 Dec 31;37(4):338-346. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand.

Background: The most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pregnancy is preeclampsia. Serum cystatin C (CysC) is a potential biomarker of early kidney damage as its levels are not disturbed by volume status changes in pregnancy, and serum CysC levels could serve as a replacement for conventionally used creatinine. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of CysC in severe preeclampsia cases and the associations between CysC levels and poor obstetric outcomes. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 20;9:2966. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Complications arising from Preterm Birth are the leading causes of neonatal death globally. Current therapeutic strategies to prevent Preterm Birth are yet to demonstrate success in terms of reducing this neonatal disease burden. Upregulation of intracellular inflammatory pathways in uterine cells, including those involving nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB), have been causally linked to both human term and preterm labor, but the barrier presented by the cell membrane presents an obstacle to interventions aimed at dampening these inflammatory responses. Read More