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Front Public Health 2020 10;8:200. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Surgery Program, School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.

The birth rate of late premature babies has been increasing in recent years, composing now 75% of all premature births. This growing trend can be explained by different demographic transformations such as an increase in the demand for infertility treatments, older maternal age and the higher incidence of multiple pregnancies, cesarean sections, and labor induction. These premature babies contribute 30% to the global neonatal mortality rate. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2020 8;36:70. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Military Training Hospital Mohammed V, Hay Riyad, 10100, Rabat, Morocco.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020 Aug 3;20(1):442. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France.

Background: Threatened preterm delivery (TPD) is the leading cause of inpatient admissions during pregnancy. The ability to predict the risk of imminent preterm delivery is thus a major priority in obstetrics. The aim of our study is to assess the diagnostic performance of the test to detect the placental alpha microglobulin 1 (PAMG-1) for the prediction of delivery within 7 days in women with TPD. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2020 Aug 3;20(1):564. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) of Ministry of Education, Postal address: No. 20, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Cheng Du, Sichuan province, 610041, P. R. China.

Background: The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, has quickly spread throughout the world. In this study, we systematically reviewed the clinical features and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched from January 1, 2020, to April 16, 2020. Read More

Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2020 Aug 4:1089253220945918. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

Noonan syndrome is a relatively common genetic disorder and the second most common cause of congenital heart disease after trisomy 21. The spectrum of cardiac anomalies in Noonan syndrome typically involves pulmonary valve stenosis occasionally in conjunction with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Mitral valve involvement is a rare finding in Noonan syndrome and is most commonly associated with either mitral valve prolapse or abnormal valvular insertion causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Read More

Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi 2020 Aug;49(8):782-787

Department of Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China.

Placental pathology reflects the health condition of both mother and fetus during pregnancy, providing information about pathogenesis especially in adverse pregnancies, and may provide guidance on subsequent pregnancies. Description on the placental changes after long-term use of rivanol is lacking, and this evaluated the placental changes, with emphasis on the differential diagnosis from other primary placental lesions. A total of 85 placentas from rivanol induced abortion submitted to the Department of Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from Januaury 2017 to October 2019 were reviewed; and 81 gestational-age-matched cases of spontaneous abortion or preterm delivery during the same period were also included as the control group. Read More

J Med Life 2020 Apr-Jun;13(2):200-205

Lukianova Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology of the NAMS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.

The work assessed the state of the intestinal microbiocenosis in 52 puerperae at the in whom the pregnancy developed against the background of the metabolic syndrome. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was determined according to the criteria approved by the World Health Organization for pregnant women. The state of intestinal microbiocenosis was assessed by a bacteriological examination of feces immediately after delivery. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2020 Aug;102(3):145-146

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020 Jul 30:1-8. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

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

Objective: To evaluate the impact of cesarean delivery (CD) on offspring risk for long-term cardiovascular morbidity.

Study Design: A population-based cohort analysis was performed, including all singleton term deliveries occurring between 1991 and 2014 at a single tertiary medical center. A comparison was performed between children delivered via CD and those delivered vaginally. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020 Jul 29:1-6. Epub 2020 Jul 29.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Foggia, Università di Chieti, Chieti, Italy.

Objective: To elucidate whether antenatal administration of corticosteroids in pregnancies with threatened preterm labor affects growth velocity.

Methods: A cohort of 262 pregnancies exposed to antenatal corticosteroids longitudinally studied and delivered from 36 weeks (cases) were compared to an unexposed group of 270 women (controls).

Methods: Fetal growth was assessed analyzing the growth velocity of head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL) and estimated fetal weight (EFW). Read More

BMJ 2020 07 27;370:m2921. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Department of Anaesthetics, Whiston Hospital, Prescot L35 5DR, UK.

Clin Exp Pediatr 2020 Jul 21. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia.

Background: Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest preterm birth rate. Preterm infants are more likely than term and normal weight infants to experience neonatal mortality and morbidity due to acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, immunologic, central nervous system, hearing, and vision problems. Kangaroo mother case (KMC) is a proven cost-effective intervention to help reduce mortality rates among preterm infants; however, it has not been fully implemented in hospitals. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020 Jul 24. Epub 2020 Jul 24.

BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain.; Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER). Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: While the influence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity on the development of spontaneous preterm delivery is unquestionable, the use of an invasive procedure to diagnosis the status of infection limits its clinical translation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to use exploratory and confirmatory analysis to investigate the presence of vaginal metabolome expression of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in women diagnosed with preterm labor using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Study Design: In a total of 140 women with singleton pregnancies and a diagnosis of preterm labor below 34 weeks of gestation, we analyzed vaginal amino acid concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography. Read More

Vaccine 2020 Jul 22. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.

Introduction: The Department of Defense encourages service members ≤26 years of age to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Although this vaccine is not recommended in pregnancy, inadvertent vaccination may occur. The objective of this study was to assess whether active duty US military women who received the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) during pregnancy were at increased risk for adverse maternal or infant outcomes. Read More

J Perinat Med 2020 Jul 27. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinic of Perinatology, Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Objectives To evaluate the effects of nifedipine treatment on fetal hemodynamics and cardiac function during preterm labor. This prospective study assessed several quantitative parameters of fetal cardiac circulation and function, and found no significant changes at 48 h after nifedipine treatment. These findings suggest that tocolytic nifedipine may be safe for fetuses. Read More

Pain Med 2020 Jul 25. Epub 2020 Jul 25.

Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas.

Objective: Opioid use during pregnancy has increased in recent years, parallel with the opioid epidemic in the general population. Opioids are commonly used as an analgesic for pain crisis, a hallmark symptom of sickle cell disease (SCD). With the amplified frequency and severity of SCD pain crisis during pregnancy, the use of opioids may increase concurrently. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Jul 19;17(14). Epub 2020 Jul 19.

Center for Big Data Analytics and Statistics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.

To evaluate labor and delivery complications and delivery modes between physicians and white-collar workers in Taiwan, this retrospective population-based study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We compared 1530 physicians aged 25 to 50 years old who worked and had singleton births between 2007 and 2013 with 3060 white-collar workers matched by age groups, groups of monthly insured payroll-related premiums, previous cesarean delivery, perinatal history anemia, and gestational diabetes mellitus. The logistic regression models were used to assess the labor and delivery complications between the two groups. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jul;99(29):e21334

aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology bEmergency Department, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central People's Hospital, Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, PR China.

Rationale: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2019 has become a global pandemic. It is not known whether the disease is associated with a higher risk of infection in pregnant women or whether intrauterine vertical transmission can occur. We report 2 cases of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19. Read More

BMJ Open 2020 07 22;10(7):e038004. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Introduction: An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in Wuhan, China starting in December 2019. Yet the clinical features and long-term outcomes of neonates with SARS-CoV-2 exposure are lacking. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical course and prognosis of the neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Read More

Reproduction 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

M Lappas, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

Spontaneous preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity globally. Activation of the maternal immune system leads to a downstream cascade of pro-inflammatory events that culminate in the activation of spontaneous uterine contractions and the rupture of the fetal membranes. Anti-inflammatory agents may be a novel therapeutic approach to prevent inflammation-induced myometrial contractions and premature rupture of fetal membranes. Read More

Cad Saude Publica 2020 17;36(7):e00087320. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracajú, Brazil.

In less than four months, the total of confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 1,684,833 worldwide. Outcomes among the public of pregnant women with COVID-19 are still unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze whether COVID-19 in pregnant women is related to premature birth and birth weight, and to summarize the diagnostic results of neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 for investigating the possibility of vertical transmission. Read More

Front Physiol 2020 30;11:715. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.

The placenta and fetal membrane act as a protective barrier throughout pregnancy while maintaining communication and nutrient exchange between the baby and the mother. Disruption of this barrier leads to various pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, which can have lasting negative consequences. Thus, understanding the role of the feto-maternal interface during pregnancy and parturition is vital to advancing basic and clinical research in the field of obstetrics. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020 Jul 20;20(1):413. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang District, Tainan City, 710, Taiwan.

Background: The explanation of epidural analgesia by anesthesiologist would often begin after the parturient is admitted to the hospital. Because of labor pain, the decision of receiving epidural analgesia would often be made by the family members, instead of the parturient herself. We aimed to test whether earlier prenatal shared decision-making (SDM) interventions increase parturient's comprehension and satisfaction of epidural labor analgesia, compared to conventional explanation after labor pain begun. Read More

Obstet Gynecol Sci 2020 Jul 21. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: The aim of this survey was to investigate the recommendations and clinical practice patterns of the Korean Society of Maternal and Fetal Medicine (KSMFM) members, regarding management of isolated oligohydramnios (IO).

Methods: From December 2018 to February 2019, questionnaires were e-mailed to the KSMFM members at 257 institutes that are listed by the Korean Statistical Information Services (KOSIS) as suitable labor premises. Responses to the seven questions on the management of IO, from diagnosis to treatment, were evaluated. Read More

J Reprod Infertil 2020 Jul-Sep;21(3):157-168

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: There is a growing need for information regarding maternal and neonatal outcomes during coronavirus pandemic. In this study, a comprehensive investigation was done regarding the possibility of vertical transmission using the available data in the literature.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Scholar. Read More

Tohoku J Exp Med 2020 07;251(3):231-239

Department of Health and Psychosocial Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine.

As the number of women who postpone their first pregnancy until their late 30s or early 40s is increasing, adenomyosis is more frequently encountered by obstetricians. Some studies have reported on the relationship between adenomyosis and pregnancy complications. We aimed to investigate the effect of adenomyosis on pregnancy complications and outcomes and associations between adenomyosis type and pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Biol Res Nurs 2020 Jul 17:1099800420941253. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Nursing Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.

Background: Threatened preterm labor is a common problem that causes women to be hospitalized. During this period, physical problems such as a decrease in muscle functions, edema and pain, and psychological problems such as anxiety and stress may develop.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relaxation-focused nursing care state anxiety, cortisol, contraction severity, nursing care satisfaction, knowledge, and birth weeks on threatened preterm labor. Read More

Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 2020 ;131:72-79

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Bacterial chorioamnionitis is an intrauterine infection that occurs during pregnancy and involves the membranes that extend from the placenta to form the sac encasing the amniotic fluid and developing fetus. Chorioamnionitis is most commonly caused by bacteria that likely ascend from the vagina into the gravid uterus and can result in devastating complications such as preterm labor, membrane rupture, fetal stillbirth, or severe infection of the newborn. Surviving babies exposed to chorioamnionitis have an increased risk of lifelong disability. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020 Jul 16:1-15. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with the Course of Perinatology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia.

Endometriosis is a disease that has a profound impact on the quality of life of women, due to the associated chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and infertility. However, even getting long-awaited pregnancy (often after assisted reproductive technologies), patients with endometriosis have a high risk of obstetric complications, such as miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia, placental abnormalities, hemorrhage in labor, birth of small for gestational age infants, stillbirth and higher cesarean section rate. In addition, during pregnancy acute complications of endometriosis may occur, such as spontaneous hemoperitoneum, which is rare but life-threatening conditions that in most cases require surgical intervention. Read More

J Bras Nefrol 2020 Jul 15. Epub 2020 Jul 15.

Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Divisão de Nefrologia, Unidade de Transplante Renal, Laboratório de Investigação em Transplante, Campinas, SP, Brasil.

Background: Kidney transplantation is associated with fertility restoration in more than 50% of women with chronic kidney disease. Pregnancy after transplantation may affect women's health and fetal development, with higher rates of abortion, fetal growth restriction, and neonatal deaths. Twin pregnancy is a condition of high-risk for adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, and its occurrence in women with previous kidney transplantation is rare. Read More

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2020 Jul;22(7):706-710

Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China.

Objective: To study the level of neuropsychological development in late preterm infants and early term infants at the age of 1 year.

Methods: A total of 1 257 children with a corrected age of 1 year were enrolled as subjects. According to gestational age at birth, they were divided into an early preterm group (28-33 weeks), a late preterm group (34-36 weeks), an early term group (37-38 weeks), and a full-term group (39-41 weeks). Read More

Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2020 Jun;62(2):230-237

Hematology Laboratory-Blood Bank, Aretaieion Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11528, Greece, Athens, Greece.

Pregnancy short- or long-term complications may involve the mother's health, the fetus's health, or both. A systematic literature review was performed, including studies up to October 2018 from Medline (PubMed), Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The following inclusion criteria were applied: studies published until 2018 concerning the genetic background of pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy loss, endometrial death, placental abruption, premature labor, and intrauterine growth retardation which may render pregnancy a high risk condition. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jul;99(28):e21172

Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004.

Preterm birth is the most important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with preterm birth and examine the heterogeneity and interactions between these factors.We collected data from 1607 pregnant women treated at Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in China. Read More

JBRA Assist Reprod 2020 07 14;24(3):351-357. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

University College London Hospital NIHR Biomedical Research Centre London UK University College London Hospital NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. London, UK.

Am J Reprod Immunol 2020 Jul 14:e13304. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Caused by a novel type of virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) constitutes a global public health emergency. Pregnant women are considered to have a higher risk of severe morbidity and even mortality due to their susceptibility to respiratory pathogens and their particular immunologic state. Several studies assessing SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy reported adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe conditions, including spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, fetal distress, cesarean section, preterm birth, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal pneumonia, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Read More

Semin Immunopathol 2020 Jul 13. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.

Almost half of all preterm births are caused or triggered by an inflammatory process at the feto-maternal interface resulting in preterm labor or rupture of membranes with or without chorioamnionitis ("first inflammatory hit"). Preterm babies have highly vulnerable body surfaces and immature organ systems. They are postnatally confronted with a drastically altered antigen exposure including hospital-specific microbes, artificial devices, drugs, nutritional antigens, and hypoxia or hyperoxia ("second inflammatory hit"). Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Jun 29;252:344-348. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

Objective: Parturients in second delivery undergoing vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) are divided to those who had their cesarean delivery (CD) while in labor as opposed to those who had an elective CD. We aimed to study if the stage of labor that was present during the primary CD is associated with the duration of subsequent spontaneous VBAC.

Methods: A retrospective study (2006-2014). Read More

Front Physiol 2020 19;11:687. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.

Premature preterm rupture of membranes (PPROM), rupture of fetal membranes before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading identifiable cause of spontaneous preterm births. Often there is no obvious cause that is identified in a patient who presents with PPROM. Identifying the upstream molecular events that lead to fetal membrane weakening presents potentially actionable mechanisms which could lead to the identification of at-risk patients and to the development of new therapeutic interventions. Read More

Mol Hum Reprod 2020 Jul 9. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

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 (NICHD/NIH/DHHS); Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 and Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.

Sterile intra-amniotic inflammation is a clinical condition frequently observed in women with preterm labor and birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Growing evidence suggests that alarmins found in amniotic fluid, such as interleukin (IL)-1α, are central initiators of sterile intra-amniotic inflammation. However, no causal link between elevated intra-amniotic concentrations of IL-1α and preterm birth exists. Read More

Cureus 2020 Jun 3;12(6):e8433. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Neonatology, Zulekha Hospital, Dubai, ARE.

A moderately preterm, 2.68 kg, male child was born to para 3 live 3 mother by Cesarean delivery done in view of preterm labor with fetal ascites. The baby had antenatally detected ascites. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020 Jul 8;20(1):394. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Department Of Reproductive Medicine Center, Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Renmin Hospital Of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.

Background: Compared with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) spread more rapidly and widely. The population was generally susceptible. However, reports on pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 were very limited. Read More

Cell Rep 2020 Jul;32(1):107874

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, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been exhaustively investigated during early pregnancy; however, their role later in gestation is poorly understood. Herein, we report that functional Tregs are reduced at the maternal-fetal interface in a subset of women with idiopathic preterm labor/birth, which is accompanied by a concomitant increase in Tc17 cells. In mice, depletion of functional Tregs during late gestation induces preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes, which are rescued by the adoptive transfer of such cells. Read More

Int J Reprod Biomed (Yazd) 2020 May 31;18(5):339-346. Epub 2020 May 31.

Shahid Sadougui Hospital, Shahid Sadougui University of Medical Sciences, and Health Services, Yazd, Iran.

Background: Pregnancy is a process associated with various metabolic and hormonal changes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect this process.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with different polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 pregnant women with PCOS according to the 2003 ESHRE/ASRM criteria were categorized into four phenotype groups (A-D). Read More

J Biomech 2020 Jul 13;108:109896. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technion, Haifa 3200003, Israel.

We study irreversible collagen arrangement processes in ex-vivo human amnions subjected to inflation tests, which simulate the mechanical conditions prior to and during the initiation of labor uterine contractions. The investigation is focused on the center of the membrane where the stresses are maximal and equibiaxial. Second harmonic generation reveals an unexpected collagen rearrangement in the compact layer that is responsible for the structural integrity of the fetal membrane. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Red de Investigación de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducción, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain.

Aim: This study explored the association between the presence of uterine fibroids (UF), as determined by ultrasound, and preterm birth (PB) risk.

Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Studies reporting women with and without UF demonstrated by an ultrasound exam. Read More

Semin Perinatol 2020 Jun 19:151270. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02906, United States.

Some complications of pregnancy that occur in the second trimester, such as preeclampsia, bleeding placenta previa, and preterm premature rupture of membranes, require delivery to avoid maternal morbidity and mortality. When these situations occur before fetal viability, pregnancy termination, either by induction of labor or dilation and evacuation, can be lifesaving. To optimize maternal health in these situations, Maternal Fetal Medicine providers should be trained to provide all needed medical services, including termination. Read More

Niger J Clin Pract 2020 Jul;23(7):928-933

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Short inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) is a potential risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Previous reports from sub-Sahara Africa documented increasing incidence of short IPI but evidence is lacking in its effect on pregnancy outcome.

Aim: The study aimed to determine the effect of short IPI on pregnancy outcome in Nigeria. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Division of Pulmonology, Departments of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) administration to pregnant women for threatened preterm labor is standard obstetric care to reduce neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and the associated respiratory morbidity. While ACS stimulates surfactant production in the fetal lung, the effects of ACS upon the subsequent growth and development of the lung are unclear. Follow-up studies outside of the neonatal period have been primarily limited to spirometry, and most subjects evaluated were born prematurely. Read More