Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in vaginally collected amniotic fluid predicting fetal inflammatory response syndrome: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Improving noninvasive antenatal diagnosis of fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) can assist in the evaluation of prenatal risk and reduce perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in vaginally collected amniotic fluid is significant in identifying FIRS after preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 114 pregnant women and their newborns after preterm premature rupture of membranes at 22-34+6 weeks of gestation. SuPAR was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in vaginally collected amniotic fluid. Patients were classified according to the presence or absence of FIRS. FIRS was defined by umbilical cord blood interleukin-6 level > 11 pg/mL or histological funisitis. The data were analyzed using the R package (R-4.0.5). RESULTS: SuPAR was detected in all amniotic fluid samples with a median of 26.23 ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR), 15.19-51.14). The median level of suPAR was higher in the FIRS group than in the non-FIRS group, 32.36 ng/mL (IQR, 17.27-84.16) vs. 20.46 ng/mL (IQR, 11.49-36.63) (P = 0.01), respectively. The presence of histological chorioamnionitis significantly increased the suPAR concentration in the FIRS group (P < 0.001). The areas under the curve for FIRS and FIRS with histological chorioamnionitis were 0.65 and 0.74, respectively, with an optimum cutoff value of 27.60 ng/mL. Controlling for gestational age, the cutoff of suPAR more than 27.60 ng/mL predicted threefold higher odds for FIRS and sixfold higher odds for FIRS with histologic chorioamnionitis. CONCLUSION: Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in vaginally obtained amniotic fluid may assist in evaluating prenatal risk of FIRS in patients after preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation.

The association between sonographic features and clinical symptoms of adenomyosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association of sonographic features and clinical symptoms of adenomyosis. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Only reproductive age women who underwent standardized transvaginal ultrasound examination were included. The diagnosis of adenomyosis was based on sonographic features proposed by Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment (MUSA) group. Pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) and numerical rating scale (NRS) were respectively used for the evaluation of menstrual bleeding and pain. RESULTS: Fifty-three women were recruited. Adenomyosis group consisted of 33 (62.3%) representative cases, whereas control group consisted of 20 (37.7%). Women with adenomyosis experienced significantly heavier menstrual bleeding (p = 0.008) and more painful menstrual periods (p = 0.003). Significant positive correlation between the number of sonographic adenomyosis features and both PBAC (r = 0.613, p < 0.001) and NRS scores (r = 0.402, p = 0.022) was found. PBAC score was significantly higher if either fan-shaped shadowing (r = 0.548, p = 0.001), interrupted junctional zone (JZ) (r = 0.548, p = 0.001) or globular uterus (r = 0.445, p = 0.011) was detected. Interrupted JZ (r = 0.440, p = 0.012) was associated with higher NRS score. Significant positive correlation between PBAC score and adenomyosis spread in uterine layers (r = 0.495, p = 0.004) was established. CONCLUSION: Certain sonographic features of adenomyosis and assessment of its involvement in uterine layers may predict the severity of adenomyosis symptoms.

A targeted educational programme improves fundamental knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis in young women: The Endometriosis Awareness Promotion Project.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Would a properly designed educational programme offered to young women improve their awareness and fundamental knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis? DESIGN: A multinational cross-sectional study using a pen-and-paper questionnaire among women aged 19-24 years was conducted between 2017 and 2019 to assess fundamental knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis. Improvement in knowledge was also analysed using a separate questionnaire completed before, and 1-3 months after, a group discussion, lecture on menstrual pain and endometriosis, or both. RESULTS: Among three groups of students (college [n = 271], medical [n = 877] and nursing [n = 763]), knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis was lowest among college students, modest among nursing students and fair among medical students (P < 0.001 for each). The experience of cyclical pain, even when painkillers were taken, was reported by 15.5%, 4.6% and 3.8% of students, respectively. Most students managed their cyclical pain by enduring it or by taking over-the-counter medication. An informative education programme with group discussions, lectures, or both, was successful in improving knowledge and consequences of menstrual pain and endometriosis. Proper education and dissemination of knowledge to college students failed to motivate them to visit gynaecologists; however, medical and nursing students became highly interested in visiting gynaecologists. CONCLUSIONS: An educational programme can improve awareness and knowledge of endometriosis and dysmenorrhoea among young women. The programme motivated nursing and medical students, but not college students, to seek medical attention for early detection and management of endometriosis.

Preventing hemorrhoids during pregnancy: a multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To compare specific dietary and behavioral recommendations for hemorrhoids prevention during pregnancy. METHODS: This was a randomized, single-blind, multicenter trial conducted in three different clinical centers. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups in a ratio of 1:1. Intervention consisted of specific dietary and behavioral counseling. The primary outcome of this study was the rate of hemorrhoids at the time of discharge from the obstetrics unit. Categorical variables were compared by the Chi-Squared or Fisher exact tests, as appropriate. Continuous variables were compared using either the Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of hemorrhoids after delivery. This analysis was performed on factors with a p-value < 0.10 in univariate analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 23.0 and GraphPad Prism 9 software. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant for all tests. RESULTS: We observed a significantly lower hemorrhoids rate in the intervention group at the time of discharge from the obstetrics unit after delivery (intention-to-treat (ITT) (the relative risk (RR) 0.38; 95% the confidence interval (CI) 0.24-0.59; p < 0.001) per-protocol (PP) (RR 0.42; 95% CI 0.27-0.64; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in spontaneous miscarriage rate between the groups for both ITT and PP analysis. Additional binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the intervention applied in this study was the only protective factor. Both, the history of hemorrhoids before pregnancy and the increase of newborn height was associated with a higher risk of hemorrhoids. CONCLUSIONS: Our suggested intervention, aimed to modify dietary and behavioral habits, significantly reduces the rate of hemorrhoids after pregnancy and can be safely recommended to pregnant women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Date of registration: 2016-05-09; Date of initial patient enrollment: 2016-06-02; Trial registration number: 158200-16-843-357; Trial registration site URL: https://www.mf.vu.lt/mokslas/vilniaus-regioninis-biomedicininiu-39tyrimu-etikos-komitetas#isduoti40vrbtek-leidimai .

The Significance of Epidermal Growth Factor in Noninvasively Obtained Amniotic Fluid Predicting Respiratory Outcomes of Preterm Neonates.

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) interrupts normal lung development, resulting in neonatal respiratory morbidity. Although post-PPROM risks have been researched, only a few studies have investigated noninvasively obtained amniotic fluid (AF) to predict neonatal outcomes. In this study, we aimed to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) in vaginally-collected AF is a significant predictor of neonatal respiratory outcomes after PPROM. We analyzed EGF in vaginally-obtained AF from 145 women with PPROM at 22−34 weeks of gestation. The following neonatal outcomes were included: respiratory distress syndrome, surfactant need, duration and type of respiratory support, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We found that EGF concentration was associated with gestational age, and its medians were lower in neonates with respiratory morbidities than unaffected ones. EGF concentrations gradually declined, the lowest being in the most clinically ill patients. EGF < 35 pg/mL significantly predicted the odds of severe respiratory outcomes. EGF in noninvasively collected AF may be a reliable predictor for respiratory outcomes of preterm neonates with PPROM before 34 weeks of gestation. The results of our study may have implications for further research both in noninvasive amniotic fluid analysis and the management of patients after PPROM.

Relaxin and Erythropoietin Significantly Reduce Uterine Tissue Damage during Experimental Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Successful uterus transplantation, a potential treatment method for women suffering from absolute uterine infertility, is negatively affected by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of relaxin (RLX) or/and erythropoietin (EPO) on experimental uterus IRI. Eighty rats, randomly assigned into eight groups (n = 10/group), were pretreated with either saline, 5 µg/kg human relaxin-2, 4000 IU/kg recombinant human erythropoietin or their combination. Ischemia was achieved by clamping the aorta and ovarian arteries for 60 min, following 120 min of reperfusion and tissue sampling. For sham animals, clamping was omitted during surgery. There were no differences in tissue histological score, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and TUNEL-positive cell count between all sham-operated rats. Pretreatment with RLX preserved normal tissue morphology, reduced MDA levels, MPO and TUNEL-positive cell count, preserved SOD activity and upregulated NICD and HES1 gene expression when compared to the control group. Pretreatment with EPO reduced MDA levels. In conclusion, pretreatment with RLX, EPO or a combination of both EPO and RLX significantly alleviates uterine tissue damage caused by IRI.

Prognostic Gene Predictors of Gestational Diabetes in Endometrium and Follicular Fluid of Women after Infertility.

Background and objectives. Gestational diabetes mellitus is an increasingly diagnosed metabolic disorder during pregnancy with unknown pathological pathways. Taking into account the growing numbers of women who are conceiving after assisted reproductive technologies, they comprise an engaging target group for gestational diabetes mellitus etiopathogenesis research. In terms of metabolism and genetics, as the evidence shows, both unexplained infertility and gestational diabetes mellitus pose challenges for their interpretation due to the complex bodily processes. Materials and Methods. Our study examined the expression of genes (IGF2, GRB10, CRTC2, HMGA2, ESR1, DLK1, SLC6A15, GPT2, PLAGL1) associated with glucose metabolism in unexplained infertility patients who conceived after in vitro fertilization procedure, were diagnosed with GDM and their findings were compared with control population. Results. There were no significant differences in gene expression of endometrium stromal cells between healthy pregnant women and women with gestational diabetes, although the significant downregulation of CRTC2 was observed in the follicular fluid of women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Moreover, expression of HMGA2 and ESR1 was significantly reduced in FF cells when compared to endometrial cells. Conclusions. These findings may indicate about the importance of follicular fluid as an indicator for gestational diabetes and should be explored more by further research.

Pregnancy in Congenital Heart Disease, Complicated by Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-A Challenging Issue for the Pregnant Woman, the Foetus, and Healthcare Professionals.

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy and delivery in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) carry a very high risk for maternal and foetal complications and are contraindicated according to the guidelines. In the last decades, when an available modern PAH-targeted medication therapy and a new management concept improved patients' well-being and survival, some PAH-CHD females decided to conceive. Of note, despite advanced treatment and modern healthcare system possibilities, dealing with pregnancy in a diverse PAH-CHD population is still challenging. The study aimed to share our experience with PAH-CHD pregnancies and discuss the risk assessment and current management of these patients with the combination of two rare diseases. Materials and Methods: The retrospective search of pulmonary hypertension and adult CHD registries in our hospital was performed, selecting all patients with CHD and PAH who conceived pregnancy from 2013 to 2021. Baseline demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected. Results: Thirteen pregnancies in eight patients with PAH-CHD resulted in seven live births, three miscarriages, and three terminations. Five women were diagnosed with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) and three with residual PAH after CHD repair. Before pregnancy, half of them were in WHO functional class III. Seven (87.5%) patients received targeted PAH treatment with sildenafil during pregnancy. In addition, the two most severe cases were administered with iloprost during peripartum. Three ES patients delivered preterm by Caesarean section under general anaesthesia. No neonatal mortality was reported. Maternal complications were observed in half of our cases. One patient died 12 days after the delivery in another hospital due to deterioration of heart failure. Conclusions: On the basis of our clinical experience, we conclude that pregnancy and delivery carry a high risk for maternal complications and should be avoided in women with PAH-CHD. The individualised approach of multidisciplinary care and appropriate monitoring are mandatory in reducing the risk of adverse outcomes.

Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: an update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide the latest evidence and treatment advances of multiple sclerosis in women of childbearing age prior to conception, during pregnancy and postpartum. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent changes permitting interferon beta (IFN-ß) use in pregnancy and breastfeeding has broadened the choices of disease modifying treatments (DMTs) for patients with high relapse rates. Natalizumab may also be continued until 34 weeks of pregnancy for patients requiring persisting treatment. Drugs with a known potential of teratogenicity such as fingolimod or teriflunomide should be avoided and recommended wash-out times for medications such as cladribine, alemtuzumab or ocrelizumab should be considered. Teriflunomide and fingolimod are not recommended during breastfeeding, however, glatiramer acetate and IFN-ß are considered to be safe. SUMMARY: The evidence of potential fetotoxicities and adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with DMTs is increasing, although more research is needed to evaluate the safety of drugs and to track long-term health outcomes for the mother and the child.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis in cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is easily calculated blood test parameter, which can be used as marker to predict many inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the NLR in maternal blood with the white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis. METHODS: This was a case-control study of 137 woman with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at a gestational age between 22+ 0 and 34+ 6 weeks. Blood samples, collected less than 48 h before delivery and at least 48 h after the administration of corticosteroids, were selected for the analysis. The NLR was calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes. Chorioamnionitis was diagnosed by the histopathological evaluation of placental membranes and chorionic plate. RESULTS: Patients with diagnosed histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) had significantly higher levels of WBC, CRP and NLR (p-value < 0.001). Levels of WBC, CRP and NLR predicted HCA with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81, 0.81 and 0.89, respectively. NLR had statistically significantly higher AUC than WBC, but no significant difference was found between AUCs of NLR and CRP. The cut-off level of NLR was found to be 5,97, which had a sensitivity of 77 % and a specificity of 95 %. CONCLUSION: NLR has a good predictive value for HCA and could be used as an additional diagnostic marker for predicting histological chorioamnionitis in cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation.

A value of soluble Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 in vaginally obtained amniotic fluid for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to evaluate soluble Toll-like receptor 2 (sTLR-2) and soluble Toll-like receptor 4 (sTLR-4) levels in vaginally obtained amniotic fluid and investigate their value in the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective case-control study included patients who had been diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation and were admitted to Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos. Free leaking amniotic fluid was obtained vaginally using a sterile speculum up to 48 h before delivery. Amniotic fluid levels of sTLR-2 and sTLR-4 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnosis of chorioamnionitis was confirmed by histological examination of the placenta and membranes after delivery. RESULTS: The study included 156 patients, 65 with (HCA Group) and 91 without (non-HCA Group) HCA. No statistically significant differences were noted in the concentrations of sTLR-2 and sTLR-4 in vaginally obtained amniotic fluid between patients with and without HCA: the median sTLR-2 level was 0.09 ng/mL in the HCA Group vs 0.1 ng/mL in non-HCA Group, and the median sTLR-4 level was 0.23 ng/mL in the HCA Group vs 0.28 ng/mL in non-HCA Group (p > 0.05). A positive correlation between sTLR-2 and sTLR-4 levels was identified (ρ = 0.57, p < 0.001), but no correlation was found between these markers and gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of sTLR-2 and sTLR-4 in vaginally obtained amniotic fluid do not reflect the presence of HCA in pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation.

The use of vaginal wet smear: can we predict Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the agreement of wet smear microscopy with Gram stain microscopy and to assess whether it is possible to predict Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas when analysing vaginal secretion with Gram stain and wet smear microscopy. METHODS: Women with complaints of the abnormal vaginal discharge were invited to participate. A sample of vaginal secretion was taken for wet smear microscopy and for Gram staining analysis. A sample from the endocervical canal was taken for DNA detection of seven infections: Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis. The percentage agreement between wet smear and Gram stain was determined and the Cohen's Kappa values were calculated. RESULTS: Of 158 consecutive women included, one (or a few) of the infections were detected in 54% of them and the most frequent infection was Ureaplasma parvum (79% of all the cases with infections). The percentage agreement between vaginal wet smear and Gram stain was 73% (Cohen's Kappa value 0.63). A statistically significant association between the DNA detected Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas and bacterial vaginosis was found (positive amine test p = 0.046, wet smear p = 0.005 and Gram stain p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: There was a statistically significant association between bacterial vaginosis and the DNA detected Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas. The agreement of vaginal wet smear with Gram stain was good.

Menstrual Blood-Derived Endometrial Stem Cells' Impact for the Treatment Perspective of Female Infertility.

When looking for the causes and treatments of infertility, much attention is paid to one of the reproductive tissues-the endometrium. Therefore, endometrial stem cells are an attractive target for infertility studies in women of unexplained origin. Menstrual blood stem cells (MenSCs) are morphologically and functionally similar to cells derived directly from the endometrium; with dual expression of mesenchymal and embryonic cell markers, they proliferate and regenerate better than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, menstrual blood stem cells are extracted in a non-invasive and painless manner. In our study, we analyzed the characteristics and the potential for decidualization of menstrual blood stem cells isolated from healthy volunteers and women diagnosed with infertility. We demonstrated that MenSCs express CD44, CD166, CD16, CD15, BMSC, CD56, CD13 and HLA-ABC surface markers, have proliferative properties, and after induction of menstrual stem cell differentiation into epithelial direction, expression of genes related to decidualization (PRL, ESR, IGFBP and FOXO1) and angiogenesis (HIF1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3) increased. Additionally, the p53, p21, H3K27me3 and HyperAcH4 proteins' expression increased during MenSCs decidualization, they secrete proteins that are involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, estrogen and relaxin signaling pathways and the management of inflammatory processes. Our findings reveal the potential use of MenSCs for the treatment of reproductive disorders.

Melatonin and Glycine Reduce Uterus Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model of Warm Ischemia.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a significant problem to be solved in uterus transplantation (UTx). Melatonin and glycine have been shown to possess direct cytoprotective activities, mainly due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of melatonin and glycine and their combination on IRI in a rat model of warm ischemia. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to eight groups, including sham and IRI (n = 80). Melatonin and glycine alone or their combination were administered prior to 1 h of uterus ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion. Melatonin (50 mg/kg) was administered via gavage 2 h before IRI and glycine in an enriched diet for 5 days prior to intervention. Uterus IRI was estimated by histology, including immunohistochemistry, and biochemical tissue analyses. Histology revealed that uterus IRI was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with melatonin (p = 0.019) and glycine (p = 0.044) alone as well as their combination (p = 0.003). Uterus IRI led to increased myeloperoxidase expression, which was significantly reduced by melatonin (p = 0.004), glycine (p < 0.001) or their combination (p < 0.001). The decline in superoxide dismutase activity was significantly reduced in the melatonin (p = 0.027), glycine (p = 0.038) and combined treatment groups (p = 0.015) when compared to the IRI control group. In conclusion, melatonin, glycine and their combination significantly reduced oxidative stress-induced cell damage after IRI in a small animal warm ischemia model, and, therefore, clinical studies are required to evaluate the protective effects of these well-characterized substances in uterus IRI.

Doppler Ultrasonography of the Fetal Tibial Artery in High-Risk Pregnancy and Its Value in Predicting and Monitoring Fetal Hypoxia in IUGR Fetuses.

Background and Objectives: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is the term used to describe a fetus whose estimated weight is less than the 10th percentile of its age growth curve. IUGR is the second most common cause of perinatal death. In many cases there is a deficiency in the standardization of optimal management, prenatal follow-up and timing of delivery. Doppler examination is the most sensitive test that can assess the condition of the fetus and indicate fetal intrauterine hypoxia. Numerous studies of the fetal intrauterine state focus on the umbilical artery and the fetal cerebral blood vessels, while the peripheral arteries have so far received insufficient attention. Materials and Methods: We present a case of an IUGR fetus monitored with a non-stress test (NST) and a Doppler examination of the fetal arteries (tibial, umbilical, middle cerebral and uterine) and the ductus venosus. In this case the first early sign of fetal hypoxia was revealed by blood flow changes in the tibial artery. Results: We hypothesize that peripheral vascular changes (in the tibial artery) may more accurately reflect the onset of deterioration in the condition of the IUGR fetus, such that peripheral blood flow monitoring ought to be employed along with other techniques already in use. Conclusion: This paper describes the clinical presentation of an early detection of late IUGR hypoxia and claims that blood flow changes in the tibial artery signal the worsening of the fetus's condition.

Lithuania's experience in reducing caesarean sections among nulliparas: the impact of the quality improvement course.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of the quality improvement course (QIC) to reduce the caesarean section (CS) rate among nulliparas (Robson groups 1 and 2) and to find out which group of women have reduced the CS rate following attendance at the course. METHODS: The QIC was organized in 2015. For the evaluation of the CS rate after the OIC, deliveries from the selected hospitals in 2014 and 2016 were compared using MS EXCEL and SPSS 23.0. RESULTS: Nulliparas accounted for 44.6% (3585/8046) and 42.9% (3628/8460) of all the deliveries in 2014 and 2016 years, respectively. The CS rate among nulliparas decreased from 19.0% (665/3502) in 2014 to 16.8% (593/3526) in 2016 (p = 0.018). The greatest decrease in absolute contribution to the overall CS rate was recorded in group 1 (p = 0.08). Perinatal mortality was 3.1 in 2014 and 3.9 in 2016 per 1000 deliveries (p = 0.569). CONCLUSION: The QIC has helped to reduce the CS rate among nulliparas without a negative influence on perinatal mortality. The greatest decrease in the overall CS rate was recorded among nulliparous women who were treated with oxytocin and managed to reach a full cervical dilatation.

The Accuracy of 22 Fetal Weight Estimation Formulas in Diabetic Pregnancies.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of 22 fetal weight estimation formulas in diabetic pregnancies uncomplicated and complicated by fetal macrosomia. METHODS: Retrospectively collected data of 317 pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus and 78 cases of fetal macrosomia were used in this study. Study inclusion criteria were women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, full-term singleton pregnancy, and an interval from the ultrasound to delivery of ≤7 days. The estimated fetal weight was calculated using 22 formulas. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and two-way random interclass correlation coefficient were chosen for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the group of gestational diabetes, MAPE ranged from 8.43 ± 10.17 to 54.01 ± 9.50%. Most of the formulas showed a tendency to estimate a lower fetal weight in comparison to the actual birth weight. In the group of fetal macrosomia, the correlations were poor. Only three formulas reached the threshold of MAPE <10%. CONCLUSIONS: The formula by Hsieh might be considered the best for fetal weight estimation in diabetic pregnancies. The combination of the best formulas might improve the accuracy of estimation. None of the formulas were accurate enough to predict fetal macrosomia.

Custodiol-N Is Superior to Custodiol® Solution in Experimental Rat Uterus Preservation.

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is the first and only available treatment for women with absolute uterine factor infertility. However, clinical application is limited by the lack of organs, ischemia/reperfusion injury, as well as immunosuppression after UTx. Several different preservation solutions are used in experimental and clinical UTx, including Custodiol® solution. Recently, the novel Custodiol-N solution was developed with superior results in organ preservation. However, the solution was not tested yet in UTx. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of Custodiol-N in uterus prolonged cold preservation time (8 and 24 h), compared to Custodiol® solution. Uterus tissue samples were obtained from adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 10/group). Cold ischemic injury was estimated by histology, including immunohistochemistry, and biochemical tissue analyses. After 8 h of cold ischemia, higher percentage of tissue edema, necrosis signs and myeloperoxidase expression, as well as lower superoxide dismutase activity were found in Custodiol® compared to Custodiol-N (p < 0.05). These differences were more pronounced after 24 h of cold preservation time (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that Custodiol-N protects uterus grafts from cold ischemic injury better than standard Custodiol® most likely via inhibition of oxidative stress and tissue edema. It seems that iron chelators in the composition of Custodiol-N play an important protective role against cold ischemia.

Is it necessary to postpone pregnancy after bariatric surgery: a national cohort study.

The optimal interval between bariatric surgery (BS) and pregnancy remains clearly undefined. The aim of this study was to assess pregnancy outcomes according to the interval from BS to conception. The nationwide study cohort consisted of 130 women with previous BS and postoperative singleton delivery during 2005-2015 in Lithuania. Women who conceived within the first 12 months after BS were included in the early conception (EC) group (n = 30); who became pregnant after 1 year were included in the late conception (LC) group (n = 100). Mean surgery-to-conception time in the EC group was 6.9 ± 3.5 months; in the LC group was 41.4 ± 21.6 months. Anaemia was diagnosed significantly more frequently in women who conceived after 12 months compared with the EC group (56.0% versus 33.3%, p = .04). No significant differences were found between the EC and the LC group regarding gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, caesarean section rate, and adverse neonatal outcomes.Impact statementWhat is already known on the subject? Bariatric surgery is recognized as a safe and highly effective approach to obesity treatment. Optimal interval between bariatric surgery and conception remains undefined, however most bariatric surgeons advise patients to delay pregnancy for 12-18 months.What do the results of this study add? The results of our study did not show significant differences in pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes in women who conceived within the first 12 postoperative months and in women who conceived later. Women who become pregnant within the first year after surgery, should be reassured that obstetric complication rates generally are low.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Patients with prior BS should be provided with multidisciplinary prenatal care and screening for nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal interval after BS and to assess the influence this interval has on perinatal outcomes.

Pregnancy and Multiple Sclerosis: An Update on the Disease Modifying Treatment Strategy and a Review of Pregnancy's Impact on Disease Activity.

Pregnancy rates are rapidly increasing among women of reproductive age diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Through pre-conception, pregnancy and post-partum periods, there is a need for disease control management, to decrease chances of MS relapses while avoiding potential risks to the mother and the fetus. However, pregnancy is not always compatible with the available highly effective MS treatments. This narrative review provides the aspects of pregnancy's outcomes and the impact on disease activity, choices of anesthesia and the management of relapses during the pregnancy and breastfeeding period. Available disease modifying treatment is discussed in the article with new data supporting the strategy of continuing natalizumab after conception, as it is related to a decreased risk of MS relapses during the pregnancy and postpartum period.