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SAGE Open Med 2021 6;9:20503121211023356. Epub 2021 Jun 6.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.

Background: Treatment of patients with traumatic axonotmesis presents challenges. Processed human umbilical cord membrane has been recently developed with improved handling and resorption time compared to other amniotic membrane wraps, and may be beneficial in nerve reconstruction. This study evaluates postoperative outcomes after traumatic peripheral nerve injury after placement of commercially available processed human umbilical cord membrane. Read More

Blood 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain and CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, Valencia, Spain.

Omidubicel is an ex vivo expanded hematopoietic progenitor cell, and non-expanded myeloid and lymphoid cell product derived from a single umbilical cord blood unit. We report results of a phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy of omidubicel compared to standard umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). Between January 2017 and January 2020, 125 patients aged 13-65 with hematologic malignancies were randomized to omidubicel versus standard UCBT. Read More

Am J Transl Res 2021 15;13(5):4553-4560. Epub 2021 May 15.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University Guangzhou, China.

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a new and convenient source of stem cells reported to be safe and effective in preventing and treating preterm complications. The initial processing step for this therapy involves cord blood collection and isolation of the mononuclear cell (MNC) layer. However, there is limited information regarding the feasibility and safety of cord blood collection in preterm infants, and whether cord blood cell quality and quantity are adequate for treating complications in preterm infants. Read More

Biomaterials 2021 May 10;275:120863. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China. Electronic address:

Transvaginal meshes repair for treating pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was halted by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they can lead to severe complications. Read More

Stem Cells Transl Med 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Kern Center Affiliate, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Regenerative, cell-based therapy is a promising treatment option for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which has no cure. To prepare for clinical translation, this systematic review and meta-analysis summarized the effect of cell-based interventions in DKD animal models and treatment-related factors modifying outcomes. Electronic databases were searched for original investigations applying cell-based therapy in diabetic animals with kidney endpoints (January 1998-May 2019). Read More

Ginekol Pol 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Department of Obstetrics, Maternal and child health hospital of Hunan Province Changsha, Hunan, China.

Objectives: Preeclampsia is one of the most feared complications of pregnancy, which can progress rapidly to serious complications such as death of both mother and fetus. To present, the leading cause of preeclampsia is still debated. The purpose of this article was to explore the clinical significance of S100B protein, a kind of Ca2+ -sensor protein, in the early-onset severe preeclampsia. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2021 Jun 3:100405. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lenox Hill Hospital - Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New York, NY.

Objective: Fetal malpresentation complicates approximately 3% to 4% of all term births. It requires special considerations for delivery and exposes the mother and neonate to obstetrical interventions and potential adverse outcomes, such as umbilical cord prolapse, head entrapment and birth trauma, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cesarean delivery and cesarean related complications. We set out to explore maternal and fetal factors associated with non-cephalic malpresentation at term, with specific interest on the impact of maternal race and ethnicity on fetal malpresentation. Read More

Brain Circ 2021 Jan-Mar;7(1):13-17. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Stem Cell Biology and Histology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of acute neonatal brain injury and can lead to disabling long-term neurological complications. Treatment for HIE is limited to supportive care and hypothermia within 6 h injury which is reserved for full-term infants. Preclinical studies suggest the potential for cell-based therapies as effective treatments for HIE. Read More

Commun Biol 2021 Jun 3;4(1):685. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Sue and Bill Stem Cell Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.

Foreign body response (FBR) to biomaterials compromises the function of implants and leads to medical complications. Here, we report a hybrid alginate microcapsule (AlgXO) that attenuated the immune response after implantation, through releasing exosomes derived from human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (XOs). Upon release, XOs suppress the local immune microenvironment, where xenotransplantation of rat islets encapsulated in AlgXO led to >170 days euglycemia in immunocompetent mouse model of Type 1 Diabetes. Read More

Nutrients 2021 May 15;13(5). Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.

Maternal obesity is associated with impaired fetal and neonatal survival, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We examined how prepregnancy BMI and early gestational weight gain (GWG) were associated with cause-specific stillbirth and neonatal death. In 85,822 pregnancies in the Danish National Birth Cohort (1996-2002), we identified causes of death from medical records for 272 late stillbirths and 228 neonatal deaths. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2021 May 28:100411. Epub 2021 May 28.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.

Background: Patient characteristics associated with external cephalic version success are well documented; however, the association between patient characteristics and the chance of external cephalic version complications is poorly understood.

Objective: To assess frequency of and patient characteristics associated with complications leading to unanticipated delivery during external cephalic version.

Study Design: This retrospective study included pregnant individuals at least 18 years of age with singleton gestations who underwent an external cephalic version between 2006-2016 at a single quaternary care center. Read More

Cell Tissue Res 2021 May 29. Epub 2021 May 29.

Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.

The umbilical cord has been proved to be an easy-access, reliable, and useful source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for clinical applications due to its primitive, immunomodulatory, non-immunogenic, secretory and paracrine, migratory, proliferative, and multipotent properties. This set of characteristics has recently attracted great research interest in the fields of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine and cellular therapy. Accumulating evidence supports a pronounced therapeutic potential of MSC in many different pathologies, from hematology to immunology, wound-healing, tissue regeneration, and oncology. Read More

Mater Today Bio 2021 Jun 25;11:100101. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.

Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) refer to the repair disorder after endometrial injury and may lead to uterine infertility, recurrent miscarriage, abnormal menstrual bleeding, and other obstetric complications. It is a pressing public health issue among women of childbearing age. Presently, there are limited clinical treatments for IUA, and there is no sufficient evidence that these treatment modalities can effectively promote regeneration after severe endometrial injury or improve pregnancy outcome. Read More

Enferm Clin 2021 May-Jun;31(3):184-188. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Departamento de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario Valencia, Departamento de Enfermería, Facultat d'Infermeria i Podologia, Universitat de València, Valencia, España.

Objective: To determine the maternal and perinatal impact of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 positive polymerase chain reaction during childbirth and post clinical period.

Method: Observational descriptive, retrospective, and multicentre study carried out through the review of clinical records of pregnant women admitted for delivery from 1 March to 30 June 2020.

Results: Thirteen women with SARS-CoV-2 positive polymerase chain reaction were tested. Read More

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 06 19;31(6):1791-1797. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Nephrology Laboratory, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hyperglycemia diagnosed during pregnancy, is one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy, treated primarily by diet and pharmacotherapy, if indicated. It is well-established that GDM increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term complications in mothers and infants. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is important in processes of cell growth, differentiation, inflammation, and fibrosis. Read More

Mol Reprod Dev 2021 May 20. Epub 2021 May 20.

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

Endometrial damage is an important cause of female reproductive problems, manifested as menstrual abnormalities, infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and other complications. These conditions are collectively termed "Asherman syndrome" (AS) and are typically associated with recurrent induced pregnancy terminations, repeated diagnostic curettage and intrauterine infections. Cancer treatment also has unexpected detrimental side effects on endometrial function in survivors independently of ovarian effects. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 May 19;21(1):386. Epub 2021 May 19.

Non-Communicable Diseases Theme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Plot 51-59, Nakiwogo Road, P. O. BOX 49, Entebbe, Uganda.

Background: Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy (HIP) is associated with complications for both mother and baby. The prevalence of the condition is likely to increase across Africa as the continent undergoes a rapid demographic transition. However, little is known about the management and pregnancy outcomes associated with HIP in the region, particularly less severe forms of hyperglycaemia. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021 May 7;262:99-104. Epub 2021 May 7.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Objectives: To compare the hemoglobin and serum bilirubin concentration of term newborn following delayed and immediate umbilical cord clamping.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial of eligible parturients with singleton pregnancy delivered between July 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020 were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to either delayed clamping of umbilical cord (60 s after delivery) or immediate clamping (0-15 s) was done. The primary outcome measures included hemoglobin and bilirubin levels of the newborn measured at birth and 48 h of life. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Electronic address:

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) has the potential to cure hematologic malignancies but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although deaths during the first year after transplantation are often attributable to treatment toxicities and complications, death after the first year may be due to sequelae of accelerated aging caused by cellular senescence. Cytotoxic therapies and radiation used in cancer treatments and conditioning regimens for HCT can induce aging at the molecular level; HCT patients experience time-dependent effects, such as frailty and aging-associated diseases, more rapidly than people who have not been exposed to these treatments. Read More

J Physiol 2021 Jun 31;599(12):3221-3236. Epub 2021 May 31.

School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Key Points: Brief episodes of severe fetal hypoxia can arise in late gestation as a result of interruption of normal umbilical blood flow Systemic parameters and blood chemistry indicate complete recovery within 1-2 hours, although the long-term effects on fetal brain functions are unknown Fetal sheep were subjected to umbilical cord occlusion (UCO) for 10 min at 131 days of gestation, and then monitored intensively until onset of labour or delivery (<145 days of gestation) Normal patterns of fetal behaviour, including breathing movements, episodes of high and low voltage electorcortical activity, eye movements and postural (neck) muscle activity, were disrupted for 3-10 days after the UCO Preterm labour and delivery occurred in a significant number of the pregnancies after UCO compared to the control (sham-UCO) cohort.

Abstract: Complications arising from antepartum events such as impaired umbilical blood flow can cause significant fetal hypoxia. These complications can be unpredictable, as well as difficult to detect, and thus we lack a detailed understanding of the (patho)physiological changes that occur between the antenatal in utero event and birth. Read More

Cell Transplant 2021 Jan-Dec;30:963689721993774

Cátedra de Citología, Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In normal physiological conditions, restoration of a functional epidermal barrier is highly efficient; nevertheless, when it fails, one of the main consequences is a chronic ulcerative skin defect, one of the most frequently recognized complications of diabetes. Most of these chronic venous ulcers do not heal with conventional treatment, leading to the appearance of infections and complications in the patient. Treatments based on the use of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been successful; however, its implementation entails complications. Read More

Case Rep Womens Health 2021 Jul 4;31:e00321. Epub 2021 May 4.

Division of Birth Cohort Study, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester on the pregnant woman and the fetus remain unclear. We describe the complete follow-up of a pregnant woman with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester. The woman tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in nasopharyngeal swabs in her seventh week of gestation and was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the major complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which remains the sole curative therapy for many malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system. The immunomodulatory potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to treat GVHD is currently being tested in various preclinical and clinical trials. Because the results of the preclinical and clinical trials on the use of MSCs to treat GVHD have not been consistent, we analyzed the potential beneficial effects of syngeneic versus allogenic treatment, culture expansion of MSCs, and various MSC cell doses and time points of MSC transplantation in a murine GVHD model. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 4;14(5). Epub 2021 May 4.

Obstetrics Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 May 4;21(1):356. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.

Background: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) introduced a new standard of care in 2014, extending the duration of the second stage of labor in order to reduce caesarean delivery (CD) rates and its severe complications. The aim of the present study is to evaluate success rates of trial of labor after caesarean section (TOLAC), as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes after the establishment of the recent guidelines.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed at two large departments in Germany from January 2008 to January 2018. Read More

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2021 1;49(3):50-55. Epub 2021 May 1.

Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China;

Introduction And Objectives: Previous studies reported that history of pregnancy and delivery and family environment might influence cord blood IgE (CB-IgE) levels and development of allergies; however, the association between them is not well-established. This study aimed at investigating the IgE level in the newborn's umbilical cord blood and its relationship with maternal, fetal, and environmental factors.

Materials And Methods: A total of 989 mothers and their infants were analyzed in this study. Read More

Antioxidants (Basel) 2021 Apr 9;10(4). Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary.

Nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is fundamental in the regulation of redox balance and functionality of the endothelium, especially in the case of the umbilical cord (UC), which has no innervation. The analysis of UC vessel-related complications could serve as a useful tool in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to neonatal cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the mechanisms that rule the severity of prenatal endothelial dysfunction, induced by the long-term effect of maternal smoking. Read More

Neuroimmunomodulation 2021 28;28(1):1-21. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has devastating effects on the population worldwide. Given this scenario, the extent of the impact of the disease on more vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women, is of great concern. Although pregnancy may be a risk factor in respiratory virus infections, there are no considerable differences regarding COVID-19 severity observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Read More

Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2021 Apr;56(4):244-250

Fetal Medicine Unit and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 201204, China.

To investigate the feasibility and safety of fetal intravascular transfusion via the intrahepatic vein in the treatment of fetal anemia. This was a retrospective analysis of all fetuses requiring intrauterine transfusion (IUT) in the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital between January 2010 and December 2019. According to the different ways of IUT, they were divided into intrahepatic venous transfusion group and umbilical venous transfusion group, fetal outcomes and the incidence of procedure-related complications between the two groups were compared. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Purpose: To determine factors associated with a successful twin trial of labor after Cesarean delivery (TOLAC).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single medical center in a population highly motivated for TOLAC (> 80%). The effect of maternal demographic and obstetric characteristics on the likelihood of twin TOLAC success was analyzed. Read More