Delivery Outcome of Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease-Is It Influenced by Prenatal Diagnosis?

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the delivery outcomes of neonates with congenital heart defects (CHD), and to explore the effect of prenatal diagnosis on these outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study including singleton deliveries between 2011 and 2020. All singleton neonates delivered at >24 weeks of gestation were included in this study. Fetuses with known prenatal anomalies other than CHD were excluded from this study. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were analyzed. A comparison was made between pregnancies with CHD and controls; and between pregnancies with prenatal diagnosis of CHD and postnatal diagnosis of CHD. Results: A total of 1598 neonates with CHD (688, 43.1% diagnosed prenatally) comprised the study group, compared to 85,576 singleton controls. Pregnancies with CHD had significantly increased BMI before pregnancy, suffered more from diabetes and chronic hypertension, had more inductions of labor, and had more cesarean deliveries (CD) including both elective CD and urgent CD due to non-reassuring fetal monitor (NRFHR) (OR = 1.75; 95%CI 1.45−2.14). Prenatal diagnosis of CHD is associated with a significant increased rate of induction of labor compared to postnatal diagnosis of CHD (OR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.15−2.22), but did not affect the mode of delivery including the rate of CD and CD due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate (NRFHR). Gestational age at birth and birthweight were significantly lower in pregnancies with CHD compared to controls, with no difference between prenatal to postnatal diagnosis of the anomaly. Neonates with CHD had a higher incidence of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and seizures compared to controls without any impact by prenatal diagnosis. Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis of CHD is associated with an increased rate of induction of labor, with no increased rate of CD and CD due to NRFHR. The 5-min Apgar score is lower in pregnancies with postnatal diagnosis of CHD.

Antenatal Detection of True Knot in the Umbilical Cord - How Accurate Can We Be?

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord knot (UCK) is associated with increased risk of fetal death, but is usually diagnosed only after delivery. Our objective was to examine the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of UCK and the outcomes of these pregnancies. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 56 patients in which UCK was suspected during a routine level-II anatomical scan (study group). Data included demographics, pregnancy outcome, and short-term neonatal follow-up. The control group included pregnant women with normal pregnancy without UCK in a 4:1 ratio matched for gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: True knot was observed postnatally in 54 out of 56 fetuses (detection rate of 96.4 %). Gestational age at diagnosis of UCK was 22.1 ±â€Š3.1 weeks. The female to male ratio was 1:1 in both groups. Maternal age and parity were significantly higher in pregnancies with UCK compared to controls. The mean gestational age at delivery was 37.1 weeks of gestation in the UCK group. There was no difference in the birthweight percentile. 47 patients (87 %) underwent induction of labor. There were no differences in the rate of cesarean section or Apgar scores. No neonate with UCK needed ventilation. None suffered from seizures and none needed brain imaging. There were no cases of fetal or neonatal death in the pregnancies with UCK. CONCLUSION: There is a high detection rate of UCK during targeted scan of the umbilical cord performed during the level-II anatomical scan. Careful pregnancy follow-up and early term delivery may result in excellent obstetrical outcomes.

The perils of true knot of the umbilical cord: antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum complications and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: True knot of the umbilical cord (TKUC) is found in 0.3-2.1% of pregnancies and is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all singleton pregnancies delivered from 2011 to 2019 was performed. Diagnosis of TKUC was made postnatally, immediately after delivery of the baby. Comparison was made between pregnancies with and without TKUC regarding maternal, fetal and neonatal adverse outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 867/85,541 (1%) pregnancies were diagnosed with TKUC. Maternal age, BMI, gravidity and parity were significantly higher in pregnancies with TKUC as well as higher rate of induction of labor, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and delivery prior to 37 weeks. The rate of cesarean deliveries due to non-reassuring-fetal monitor was significantly higher in pregnancies with TKUC. Overall, there were 2.5% IUFD in pregnancies with TKUC vs. 1% in pregnancies without TKUC (p < 0.001). Importantly, the rate of IUFD prior to 37 weeks of gestation was not significantly higher in the group with TKUC, however, the rate of IUFD after 37 weeks of gestation was 10 folds higher in fetuses with TKUC, 0.9% vs. 0.08% (p < 0.001). Significantly, more neonates with TKUC needed phototherapy or suffered from hypoglycemia. There were no differences in the 5 min Apgar scores, admission to the NICU and number of days of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Pregnancies complicated with TKUC are associated with a tenfold higher risk of IUFD beyond 37 weeks of gestation. To the results of this study suggest that it would be prudent to induce labor around 37 weeks of gestation in pregnancies with prenatal diagnosis of TKUC. It may be warranted to use continuous fetal monitoring during labor and delivery in those cases were antenatal diagnosis of TKUC is made.

Relaparotomy post-cesarean delivery: characteristics and risk factors.

PURPOSE: Relaparotomy following cesarean delivery (CD) is performed at a rate of 0.2-1% of CD. The objective of the present study was to identify risk factors for relaparotomy following CD, and to examine whether there is a difference in the risk of relaparotomy between CD performed during different hours of the day. METHODS: A retrospective study on all CD over 10 years compared pregnancies that underwent laparotomy within 1 week following CD to those that did not. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients underwent relaparotomy out of 24,239 CDs (0.26%). In univariate analysis, relaparotomy was significantly associated with pregnancies following assisted-reproductive-technologies odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.15 (1.90-5.22), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy OR 3.05 (1.62-5.72), twin pregnancies OR 95% CI 3.78 (2.21-6.48), preterm deliveries OR 95% CI 2.44 (1.46-4.10), placenta previa OR 95% CI 6.41(2.55-16.09) and urgent CD 1.74 (1.06-2.86), especially during the second-stage of labor OR 95% CI 2.73 (1.34-5.54). The time of day of CD did not influence the rate of relaparotomy. In a multivariable-regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio for relaparotomy was 10.24 in CD due to placenta previa, and 5.28 in CD performed at the second-stage of delivery. At relaparotomy, active bleeding was found in 50 patients (78.1%), nearly half received packed cells, 12.5% developed consumptive coagulopathy, and 17.2% needed hospitalization in the intensive care unit. 6.3% underwent a second relaparotomy, mainly due to bleeding. CONCLUSION: Placenta previa, and urgent CDs mainly those performed at the second stage of labor are risk factors for relaparotomy after CD.

Ethnicity has a multiplex impact upon the risk of a full mutation expansion among female heterozygotes for FMR1 premutation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether ethnicity affects the risk of full mutation expansion among females heterozygous for FMR1 premutation. METHODS: Women who carry the FMR1 premutation alelle of Jewish origin who underwent fragile X prenatal diagnosis between 2011 and 2018 in two medical centers in Israel were included. The heterozygote women and fetuses were analyzed for the number of CGG repeats and AGG interruptions. RESULTS: Seven hundred sixty-six subjects were included. Parental ethnicity was fully concordant in 592 cases (Jewish, Ashkenazi, and non-Ashkenazi). Ashkenazi compared with non-Ashkenazi heterozygotes have a significantly higher mean number of CGG repeats (68 ± 8.7, 64 ± 6.4 respectively, P = 0.03) and a lower mean number of AGG interruptions (0.89 ± 0.83, 1.60 ± 1.18 respectively, p = 0.0001). Overall, 56/198 (28.2%) fetuses of Ashkenazi heterozygotes had an expansion to a full mutation compared with 6/98 among the non-Ashkenazi (6.1%) (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that, in addition to CGG repeats and AGG interruptions (which contributed 68.3% of variance), ethnicity is an independent risk factor for a full mutation expansion (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04, p < 0.001) and accounted for 9% of the variation of a full mutation expansion. CONCLUSION: Apart from significant differences regarding the number of CGG repeats and AGG interruptions between Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi heterozygotes, ethnicity independently affects the risk of a full mutation.

Premature ovarian insufficiency and autoimmune diseases.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome defined by loss of ovarian activity before the age of 40 years and has a potentially devastating effect upon women's health, both physically and psychologically. An underlying autoimmune disease has been identified in approximately 20% of patients with POI, the most common of which are disorders of the thyroid and adrenal glands. Nevertheless, in the majority of cases, the etiology is unknown. The damage mechanism to the ovary is usually caused by antibodies, and autoimmune POI is usually characterized by cellular infiltration of the theca cells of growing follicles by various inflammatory cells. Yet, other various factors and proteins of unknown clinical significance are present. The major diagnostic tool for otherwise idiopathic POI is the presence of autoantibodies against various ovarian components that strongly support the option of autoimmune etiology of POI. Treatment of the underlying cause of POI is the main strategy, although immunosuppressive therapy should be considered in a selected population of well-defined autoimmune POI and, as in idiopathic POI, in whom the resumption of ovarian activity is possible.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis versus prenatal diagnosis-decision-making among pregnant FMR1 premutation carriers.

PURPOSE: To detect which factors influence decision-making among pregnant FMR1 premutation carriers regarding the preferred mode of genetic diagnosis: IVF-PGT-M (in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic gene diseases), or CVS (chorionic villus sampling), or AC (amniocentesis) after spontaneous conception. METHODS: In Israel FMR1 premutation preconception genetic screening is offered, free of charge, to every woman in her reproductive years. FMR1 premutation carriers with ≥ 70 CGG repeats, or a history of FXS offspring, are offered IVF-PGT-M. This is a historical cohort study including all pregnant FMR1 premutation carriers who underwent prenatal diagnosis between the years 2011 and 2016 at a tertiary medical center. Data were collected from electronic charts and through phone interviews. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-five women with high-risk pregnancies who were offered IVF-PGT-M were evaluated. In 37 pregnancies (21%), the women decided to undergo IVF-PGT-M. Using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) statistical method including seven parameters, we found that previous termination of pregnancy due to FXS and advanced woman's age were significantly associated with making the decision to undergo IVF-PGT-M. Previously failed IVF was the most significant parameter in a woman's decision not to undergo IVF-PGT-M. CONCLUSION: The most dominant factor affecting the decision of FMR1 premutation carriers to choose spontaneous conception with prenatal diagnosis versus IVF-PGT-M is a previous experience of failed IVF treatments. Women whose IVF treatments failed in the past tended to try to conceive naturally and later, during the course of the pregnancy, perform CVS or AC. Conversely, women who previously experienced a termination of pregnancy (TOP) due to an affected fetus, and older women, preferred to undergo IVF-PGT-M procedures.

Absence of AGG Interruptions Is a Risk Factor for Full Mutation Expansion Among Israeli FMR1 Premutation Carriers.

Introduction: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common form of X-linked intellectual and developmental disability with a prevalence of 1/4000-5000 in males and 1/6000-8000 in females. Most cases of the syndrome result from expansion of a premutation (55-200 CGGs) to a full mutation (>200 CGGs) repeat located in the 5' untranslated region of the fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene. The risk for full mutation expansions increases dramatically with increasing numbers of CGG repeats. Recent studies, however, revealed AGG interruptions within the repeat area function as a "protective factor" decreasing the risk of intergenerational expansion. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to validate the relevance of AGG analysis for the ethnically diverse Israeli population. To increase the accuracy of our results, we combined results from Israel with those from the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR). To the best of our knowledge this is the largest cohort of different ethnicities to examine risks of unstable transmissions and full mutation expansions among FMR1 premutation carriers. Results: The combined data included 1471 transmissions of maternal premutation alleles: 369 (25.1%) stable and 1,102 (74.9%) unstable transmissions. Full mutation expansions were identified in 20.6% (303/1471) of transmissions. A total of 97.4% (388/397) of transmissions from alleles with no AGGs were unstable, 79.6% (513/644) in alleles with 1 AGG and 46.7% (201/430) in alleles with 2 or more AGGs. The same trend was seen with full mutation expansions where 40% (159/397) of alleles with no AGGs expanded to a full mutation, 20.2% (130/644) for alleles with 1 AGG and only 3.2% (14/430) in alleles with 2 AGGs or more. None of the alleles with 3 or more AGGs expanded to full mutations. Conclusion: We recommend that risk estimates for FMR1 premutation carriers be based on AGG interruptions as well as repeat size in Israel and worldwide.

Non-pharmacological treatment of Helicobacter pylori.

Many food and plant extracts have shown in vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) activity, but are less effective in vivo. The anti-H. pylori effects of these extracts are mainly permeabilitization of the membrane, anti-adhesion, inhibition of bacterial enzymes and bacterial grown. We, herein, review treatment effects of cranberry, garlic, curcumin, ginger and pistacia gum against H. pylori in both in vitro, animal studies and in vivo studies.

Corrigendum: Examining the Correlation between Objective Injury Parameters, Personality Traits and Adjustment Measures among Burn Victims.

[This corrects the article on p. 49 in vol. 3, PMID: 25874193.].

Characteristics of Improvised Explosive Device Trauma Casualties in the Gaza Strip and Other Combat Regions: The Israeli Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Low-intensity conflict is characterized in asymmetrical conventional and nonconventional warfare. The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has evolved over the past few decades to include the addition of diesel, biological agents, shrapnel, and nitroglycerin to the explosive content. Due to its nature and mechanism, an IED injury might present as a multidimensional injury, impairing numerous systems and organs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors present a case series of 5 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers wounded by an IED presenting a typical and similar pattern of burns to their faces, trunks, and limbs, in addition to ocular, ear/nose/throat, and orthopedic injuries. An analysis of the experience in treating the aforementioned injuries is included. RESULTS: Improvement in casualties' burns and traumatic tattoos was observed following debridement, aggressive scrubbing with or without dermabrasion, and conservative local dressing treatment protocol. The authors found a positive correlation between improvement degree and treatment timing. Injury pattern was correlative to the protective gear worn by the soldiers. Wearing protective eye gear and wearing ceramic vests can diminish the extent of IED injuries, while creating typical patterns of injuries to be treated. CONCLUSION: Based on these experiences, such injuries should be brought to a trauma center as soon as possible. Treating multidimensional trauma should be done in a facility with abilities to treat head injuries, eye injuries, penetrating injuries, blast injuries, and burns. Such specialized disciplines and facilities that have past experience with IEDs and war injuries are able to assess and treat these injuries in a more dedicated manner, resulting in better long-term rehabilitation.

Examining the Correlation between Objective Injury Parameters, Personality Traits, and Adjustment Measures among Burn Victims.

BACKGROUND: Burn victims experience immense physical and mental hardship during their process of rehabilitation and regaining functionality. We examined different objective burn-related factors as well as psychological ones, in the form of personality traits that may affect the rehabilitation process and its outcome. OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence and correlation of specific personality traits and objective injury-related parameters on the adjustment of burn victims post-injury. METHODS: Sixty-two male patients admitted to our burn unit due to burn injuries were compared with 36 healthy male individuals by use of questionnaires to assess each group's psychological adjustment parameters. Multivariate and hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to identify differences between the groups. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was found between the objective burn injury severity (e.g., total body surface area and burn depth) and the adjustment of burn victims (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, Table 3). Moreover, patients more severely injured tend to be more neurotic (p < 0.001), and less extroverted and agreeable (p < 0.01, Table 4). CONCLUSION: Extroverted burn victims tend to adjust better to their post-injury life while the neurotic patients tend to have difficulties adjusting. This finding may suggest new tools for early identification of maladjustment-prone patients and therefore provide them with better psychological support in a more dedicated manner.

The role of cervical length in women with threatened preterm labor: is it a valid predictor at any gestational age?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the predictive accuracy of sonographic cervical length (CL) for preterm delivery (PTD) in women with threatened preterm labor (PTL) is related to gestational age (GA) at presentation. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of all women with singleton pregnancies who presented with PTL at less than 34 + 0 weeks and underwent sonographic measurement of CL in a tertiary medical center between 2007 and 2012. The predictive accuracy of CL for PTD was stratified by GA at presentation. RESULTS: Overall, 1077 women who presented with PTL have had sonographic measurement of CL and met the study inclusion criteria. Of those, 223 (20.7%) presented at 24 + 0-26 + 6 weeks (group 1), 274 (25.4%) at 27 + 0-29 + 6 weeks (group 2), 283 (26.3%) at 30 + 0-31 + 6 weeks (group 3), and 297 (27.6%) at 32 + 0-33 + 6 weeks (group 4). The overall performance CL as a predictive test for PTD was similar in the 4 GA groups, as reflected by the similar degree of correlation between CL with the examination to delivery interval (r = 0.27, r = 0.26, r = 0.28, and r = 0.29, respectively, P = .8), the similar area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (0.641-0.690, 0.631-0.698, 0.643-0.654, and 0.678-0.698, respectively, P = .7), and a similar decrease in the risk of PTD of 5-10% for each additional millimeter of CL. The optimal cutoff of CL, however, was affected by GA at presentation, so that a higher cutoff of CL was needed to achieve a target negative predictive value for delivery within 14 days from presentation for women who presented later in pregnancy. The optimal thresholds to maximize the negative predictive value for delivery within 14 days were 36 mm, 32.5 mm, 24 mm and 20.5 mm for women who presented at 32 + 0 to 33 + 6 weeks, 30 + 0 to 31 + 6 weeks, 27 + 0 to 29 + 6 weeks and 24 + 0 to 26 + 6, respectively. CONCLUSION: CL has modest predictive accuracy in women with threatened PTL, regardless of GA at presentation. However, the optimal cutoff of CL for the purpose of clinical decision making in women with PTL needs to be adjusted based on GA at presentation.

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with advanced colorectal neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients diagnosed with advanced colorectal neoplasia undergoing a colonoscopy compared to patients without neoplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated the association of neoplastic lesions diagnosed on colonoscopy with H. pylori infection in a consecutive series of subjects who had undergone a pancolonoscopy in a single academic medical center. All patients were tested by ELISA and the immunoblot technique for serum anti-H. pylori and CagA protein IgG antibodies. Multivariate analyses were adjusted for potential-relevant confounders, including age, sex, smoking, childhood socioeconomic status, and family history of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy-three patients were included in the study: 75% (84/112), diagnosed with neoplastic colorectal lesions and 48% (77/161) without neoplastic lesions, were found to be seropositive for H. pylori infection (p < 0.001). H. pylori infection was found in 66/77 (86 %) patients with advanced neoplasia, 18/35 (51%) patients with nonadvanced neoplasia, and 48% (77/161) patients without neoplasia (p < 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, H. pylori infection was found to be associated with advanced colorectal neoplasia (odds ratio, OR 9.57; 95% CI 4.31-21.2; p < 0.001) and CRC (OR 7.98;95% CI 3.16-20.16; p < 0.001). There was no association in patients who were CagA positive. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection is associated with the development of advanced colorectal neoplasia. More studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Predictive value of cervical length in women with threatened preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive role of ultrasonographic cervical length for preterm delivery in women with threatened preterm labor. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies who presented with preterm labor before 34 weeks of gestation and underwent ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length in a tertiary medical center. Women with cervical cerclage, cervical dilatation greater than 3 cm at presentation, and pregnancies complicated by placental abruption, clinical chorioamnionitis, stillbirth, or major fetal anomalies were excluded. The predictive accuracy of cervical length for preterm delivery was analyzed using both fixed thresholds and outcome-specific thresholds, which are associated with a detection rate of 90%, false-positive rate of 10%, or the inflexion point of the receiver operator characteristic curve. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2012, 1,077 women presented with preterm labor and met the study criteria. The correlation between cervical length and the time interval to delivery was significant but weak (r=0.293, P<.001). Cervical length was independently associated with the risk of preterm delivery at less than 37, 35, and 32 weeks of gestation and within 14 and 7 days from presentation (a 4-7% decrease in the risk for each additional millimeter of cervical length) as well as with the time interval between presentation and delivery (each additional 2 mm was associated with an increase of 1 day). Overall, the accuracy of cervical length in predicting preterm delivery was relatively poor. CONCLUSION: Although cervical length is an independent predictor of preterm delivery in women with preterm labor, its predictive accuracy as a single measure is relatively limited. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : II.

Defying consensus: correct sizing of full-thickness skin grafts.

BACKGROUND: Full-Thickness skin grafts are routinely used to reconstruct defects throughout the body. When planning the size of the graft, the surgeon usually copies a template from the defect and measures the graft to fit its full dimensions. This may lead to an oversized graft, resulting an unaesthetic outcome. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate discrepancy in size between the excised full-thickness skin and the excision (donor) site. METHODS: Data from 20 cases of full-thickness excisions was reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: There was a considerable difference in length of both the short and long axes between the excised full-thickness skin and the excision site. CONCLUSIONS: The initial size of a full-thickness skin graft should be smaller than the defect it is planned to cover.

Slit versus non-slit mesh placement in total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present research was to study patients who underwent laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair using slit and non-slit mesh placement. METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in our hospital between 2005 and 2009 were interviewed and examined. Surgery outcome, hernia recurrence, postoperative pain and time to return to normal physical activities, and surgery satisfaction were compared. RESULTS: During the study period 389 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic groin hernia repair: 387 by the total extraperitoneal (TEP) approach and 2 by the TAPP approach. Six of the TEP patients were converted to TAPP. Eighty-seven patients in the TEP group had slit mesh placement and 300 had non-slit mesh placement. Mean follow-up was 36 months (range: 6-66 months). At follow-up, 387 patients responded to a request for interview and 277 were examined. The overall recurrence rate was 4.7%, the incidence of constant postoperative pain was 1.3%, the presence of permanent testicular pain was 2.8%, and patient satisfaction with the surgery was 94.5%. A significantly lower recurrence rate was found in the slit mesh group than in the non-slit group (0.6% versus 5.9%; p < 0.003). There was no difference in the length of time until return to normal activities, patient satisfaction, and postoperative pain between the groups. Surgery time and the occurrence of testicular pain were significantly greater in the anatomic group. CONCLUSIONS: Total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with slit mesh placement is a safe technique with a very low recurrence rate and is superior to non-slit mesh positioning.