Fetal Thoracic Circumference and Lung Volume and Their Relation to Fetal Size and Pulmonary Artery Blood Flow.

OBJECTIVE: Research on early origins of lung disease suggests the need for studying the relationships of thoracic and lung size with fetal size and pulmonary circulation. The primary aim of this study is therefore to explore the associations between fetal thoracic circumference, lung volume, and fetal size. We also aim to assess if lung volume and thoracic circumference are associated with fetal pulmonary artery blood flow velocity measures. METHODS: Cross-sectional assessment of singleton pregnancies from the general population (n = 447) at 30 gestational weeks (GW) was performed using ultrasound measurement of fetal thoracic circumference, lung volume, head and abdominal circumference, and femur length. We obtained Doppler blood flow velocity measures from the proximal branches of the fetal pulmonary artery. Associations between variables were studied using Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Both thoracic circumference and lung volume correlated with fetal size measures, ranging from r = 0.64 between thoracic circumference and abdominal circumference, to r = 0.28 between lung volume and femur length. Adjustment for gestational age, maternal nicotine use, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and fetal sex marginally influenced the associations with abdominal circumference. The correlations of thoracic circumference and lung volume with pulmonary artery blood flow velocity measures were weak (r ≤ 0.17). CONCLUSION: We found moderate to low correlation between thoracic circumference, lung volume, and fetal size at 30 GW. The closest relationship was with the abdominal circumference. We found low correlations of thoracic circumference and lung volume with pulmonary artery blood flow velocity measures.

The effect of nicotine-containing products and fetal sex on placenta-associated circulating midpregnancy biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: In utero exposure to nicotine, largely assessed by smoking, is a risk factor for impaired offspring health, while potential effects of non-combustible nicotine use such as snus (oral moist tobacco), are less well-known. Maternal serum concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) may be viewed as "placenta health markers", known to differ by fetal sex. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been associated with lower levels of circulating sFlt-1, while the effect of snus on placenta-associated angiogenic factors is unknown. Our aim was to explore if snus and/or smoking exposure was associated with midpregnancy maternal levels of sFlt-1, PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio if these associations were modified by fetal sex. METHODS: Midpregnancy (16-22 gestational weeks) serum from 2603 Scandinavian women enrolled in the population-based multi-center PreventADALL (Preventing Atopic Dermatitis and ALLergies in children) study was analysed for sFlt-1 and PlGF concentrations by electrochemiluminescence, deriving the sFlt-1/PGF ratio. Nicotine use was assessed by electronic questionnaires at enrollment in 2278 of the women. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models on log transformed outcomes were used to assess the association between nicotine use and biomarker levels. Interaction terms were included to identify whether the associations were modified by fetal sex. RESULTS: Median sFlt-1, PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratios among women with nicotine exposure information were similar to those of all included women and differed by fetal sex. Current snus use was significantly associated with reduced maternal circulating PlGF levels in adjusted analyses [ß - 0.12, (95% CI - 0.20; 0.00) compared to never use, p = 0.020]. A significant interaction between fetal sex and snus exposure was observed for PIGF (p = 0.031). Prior or periconceptional snus use was significantly associated with PIGF in male fetus pregnancies [ß - 0.05 (95% CI - 0.09 to (- 0.02)) and ß - 0.07 (95% CI - 0.12 to (- 0.02)) compared to never use, p = 0.002]. Smoking was not significantly associated with any circulating biomarkers levels. CONCLUSIONS: Midpregnancy maternal angiogenic profile differed by periconceptional snus use and fetal sex. Snus exposure, perceived as "safe" by users, before or during pregnancy seems to affect midpregnancy placental health in a sex dimorphic manner.

Vaccination against human papillomavirus--an impact on preterm delivery? Estimations based on literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cone excision increases the risk of preterm deliveries. Vaccination against human papillomavirus 16/18 (HPV16/18) will probably prevent development of high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and thereby reduce the need for cervical cone excisions. An HPV16/18 vaccination programme may therefore also prevent some preterm deliveries. METHODS: We identified the parameters influencing the effect of a HPV16/18 vaccination programme on preterm deliveries, and estimated a possible range of preventable deliveries before the 37th week of pregnancy. The number of preterm deliveries prevented by HPV16/18 vaccination programme would depend on the number of preterm deliveries related to cervical cone excision (extent of the health problem), and the proportion of this health problem that could be prevented by a vaccination programme. We obtained values on the parameters used in the estimations from the scientific literature. RESULTS: If 2% of childbearing women are treated with cervical cone excision, between 60 and 220 preterm deliveries/100 000 births may be related to such treatment. Close to 60% (between 35 and 128 preterm deliveries) could be prevented by an HPV16/18 vaccination programme, if the programme coverage was 90%. If 4% of women are treated with cone excision, between 70 and 257 preterm deliveries/100 000 births could be prevented. CONCLUSION: HPV16/18 vaccination programmes may reduce the number of preterm deliveries through reducing the need for cone excision.

Food and nutrient intake and adherence to dietary recommendations during pregnancy: a Nordic mother-child population-based cohort.

BACKGROUND: A woman's food intake during pregnancy has important implications not only for herself but also for the future health and well-being of her child. Suboptimal dietary quality has been consistently reported in many high-income countries, reflecting poor adherence to dietary guidelines. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the intake of food and nutrients in a cohort of pregnant women in Norway and their adherence to Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) and Norwegian food-based guidelines (NFG). DESIGN: We investigated the dietary intake in 1,674 pregnant women from the mother-child birth cohort, PreventADALL, recruited at approximately 18-week gestational age. Dietary intake was assessed by an electronic validated food frequency questionnaire (PrevFFQ) in the first half of pregnancy. RESULTS: Total fat intake was within the recommended intake (RI) range in most women; however, the contribution of saturated fatty acids to the total energy intake was above RI in the majority (85.2%) of women. Carbohydrate intake was below RI in 43.9% of the women, and 69.5% exceeded the RI of salt. Intakes of fiber, vegetables, and fish were high in a large part of the population. Many women had a high probability of inadequate intakes of the following key micronutrients during pregnancy: folate (54.4%), iron (49.6%), calcium (36.2%), vitamin D (28.7%), iodine (24.4%), and selenium (41.3%). A total of 22.8% women reported an alcohol intake of >1 g/day, and 4.4% reported an alcohol intake of >10 g/day. Women with higher educational levels showed a tendency towards healthier eating habits, except for higher intakes of alcohol and coffee, compared to women with lower educational level. DISCUSSION: Excessive saturated fat intake and limited intake of many important micronutrients during pregnancy were common, potentially increasing the risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need for improved nutritional guidance to pregnant women across all educational levels.

Pregnancy outcome after cervical cone excision: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of cervical laser conisation (CLC) or loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) on the outcome of subsequent pregnancies. Methods. Multi-centre, retrospective, case-control study, which included a cohort of 742 women, who, after treatment with LEEP or CLC, gave birth or suffered second trimester miscarriage. Control women (n=742) were extracted from the respective hospital birth registries and matched by age and parity. Outcome measures were perinatal mortality, length of gestation, birth weight and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in perinatal mortality among women treated with LCL or LEEP compared to controls, 6/742 versus 2/742: odds ratio (OR)=3.1 (95% CI: 0.6-15.2). Excluding second trimester miscarriages, ORs for giving birth before week 37, 32 and 28 after conisation compared to the controls were 3.4 (95% CI: 2.3-5.1), 4.6 (95% CI: 1.7-12.5), and 12.4 (95% CI: 1.6-96.1), respectively, after adjusting for smoking habits during pregnancy, marital status and educational level. Adjusted ORs of birth weight <2,500, <1,500 and <1,000 g after conisation compared to controls were 3.9 (95% CI: 2.4-6.3), 4.4 (95% CI: 1.5-13.6), and 10.4 (95% CI: 1.3-82.2), respectively. The adjusted OR for pPROM was 10.5 (95% CI: 3.7-29.5). CONCLUSION: Treatment by CLC and LEEP increases the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight and pPROM in subsequent pregnancies.