Awareness of Infectious Disease Screening During Early Pregnancy and Knowledge About its Vertical Transmission in Japan: A Report from the Pregnant Women Health Initiative.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to clarify the accuracy of pregnant women's knowledge and understanding regarding infectious disease screening in early pregnancy and clarify the roles that should be played by health care providers in promoting the health of pregnant women and their children. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 25 hospitals across Japan from May 2018 to September 2019. We compared the agreement rates regarding screening results for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1), and cervical cytology in the medical records and understanding of their results by pregnant women. We then investigated whether participants had knowledge regarding the risk of mother-to child transmission in these diseases and factors associated with their knowledge. RESULTS: We enrolled 2,838 respondents in this study. The rates of agreement for HBV and cervical cancer screening related to human papillomavirus infection were "substantial," those for syphilis was "moderate," and those for HCV and HTLV-1 were "fair," according to the Kappa coefficient. The rate of knowledge regarding mother-to-child transmission of syphilis was highest (37.0%); this rate for the other items was approximately 30%. Increased knowledge was associated with higher educational level and higher annual income. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Pregnant women in Japan had generally good levels of understanding regarding their results in early-pregnancy infectious disease screening. However, they had insufficient knowledge regarding mother-to-child transmission of these diseases. Health care providers should raise awareness in infectious disease prevention among pregnant women and the general public, providing appropriate measures and implementing effective perinatal checkups and follow-ups for infectious diseases.

Identification, expression analysis, and functional characterization of peptide YY in chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Peptide YY (PYY) functions as a postprandial satiety signal in mammals. However, the genomic information and physiological roles of chicken PYY have not yet been clarified, although PYY peptide was isolated from chicken intestines in 1992. In this study, we identified a full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence encoding the chicken PYY precursor. The deduced amino acid sequence of chicken PYY was completely consistent with the previously identified peptide sequence. PYY mRNA was abundantly expressed in the small intestine compared with the large intestine. PYY mRNA levels in the jejunum were significantly higher during ad libitum feeding compared with fasting, suggesting that intestinal PYY expression is altered in response to nutritional status in chicks. Intravenous administration of PYY significantly suppressed food intake in chicks. Furthermore, neuropeptide Y receptor Y2, a possible target of PYY, was expressed in various brain regions including the appetite-regulating centers in chicks. This is the first evidence that the intestinal hormone PYY may function as an anorexigenic hormone in chicks.

A classification of congenital uterine anomalies predicting pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pregnancy outcomes in women with uterine anomalies by applying a method for diagnosing and classifying congenital uterine malformations. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. POPULATION: Ninety-four women with uterine anomalies who delivered after 22 gestational weeks. METHODS: Excluding the 14 women with a history of surgery and seven with one endometrial cavity, 73 women with two endometrial cavities were subdivided into those with two external uterine orifices (2-OS subgroup) and those with one external uterine orifice (1-OS subgroup). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, abnormal fetal presentation, cesarean delivery and placental abruption. RESULTS: The 2-OS subgroup comprised women with a didelphic or complete septate uterus who had a significantly higher rate of cesarean delivery (91% vs. 18%, p < 0.001) than the control group (normal uterine morphology; n = 5763). The 1-OS subgroup comprised women with a bicornuate or incomplete septate uterus who had significantly higher rates of preterm birth (27% vs. 5%, p < 0.001) and placental abruption (14% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.001) than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Classification of uterine anomalies by the number of uterine endometrial cavities and external uterine orifices is an easy and reliable means of predicting pregnancy outcomes.

Emergency cerclage versus expectant management for prolapsed fetal membranes: a retrospective, comparative study.

AIM: To compare outcomes after emergency cerclage versus expectant management for prolapsed fetal membranes in women with cervical incompetency. METHODS: The January 2000-December 2012 hospital database was analyzed to identify women managed for prolapsed fetal membranes who did not have premature rupture of membranes, clinically discernible chorioamnionitis, or treatment-resistant uterine contractions from 15 to 26 weeks of gestation retrospectively. Durations of pregnancy prolongation and numbers of deliveries after 32 and 28 weeks were compared between women undergoing emergency cervical cerclage and those receiving expectant management. RESULTS: Fifteen of the 35 women underwent emergency cervical cerclage ('cerclage group'), while the other 20 were managed expectantly ('bedrest group'). In the cerclage group, median gestational ages at procedure and delivery times were 22.6 (15.9-26.1) and 32.4 (19.4-41.6) weeks, respectively. Median gestational ages on admission and at delivery in the bedrest group were 23.4 (21.1-26.4) and 26.0 (23.1-36.4) weeks, respectively. The median duration of pregnancy prolongation was 44 days (4-165) in the cerclage group and 12.5 days (2-93) in the bedrest group (P < 0.01). Numbers of deliveries after 28 and 32 weeks were both significantly higher in the cerclage than in the bedrest group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In women with prolapsed fetal membranes but no signs of infection or painful uterine contractions, emergency cervical cerclage prolonged pregnancy duration as compared with expectant management.

Associations of maternal pre-pregnancy underweight with small-for-gestational-age and spontaneous preterm birth, and optimal gestational weight gain in Japanese women.

AIM: To determine associations of maternal pre-pregnancy underweight with poor outcomes and evaluate how gestational weight gain affects risks for such outcomes in pre-pregnancy underweight Japanese women. METHODS: By analyzing the January 2001-December 2012 hospital database, we retrospectively identified 6954 women with pre-pregnancy normal weights (body mass index, 18.5-24.9 kg/m²) and 1057 pre-pregnancy underweight women (body mass index, <18.5 kg/m²) who delivered at the Perinatal Maternity and Neonatal Center of Yokohama City University. These women were stratified by weekly weight gain during the second/third trimesters to investigate associations of gestational weight gain with spontaneous preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA). Spontaneous preterm birth and SGA incidences were compared with those of women meeting Institute of Medicine (IO M) guidelines to determine optimal weight gain in Japanese women. RESULTS: Preterm birth and SGA incidences were significantly higher in pre-pregnancy underweight than in pre-pregnancy normal weight women (4.6% vs 2.4% [P=0.005] and 13.9% vs 9.7% [P = 0.003], respectively). For pre-pregnancy normal weight women, preterm birth incidence was significantly higher in those with weight gain of less than 0.2 kg/week than in those IOM guidelines. For pre-pregnancy underweight women, preterm birth and SGA incidences were significantly higher in those with weight gain of less than 0.3 kg/week than in those meeting IOM guidelines. CONCLUSION: Preterm birth and SGA incidences did not differ significantly between pre-pregnancy normal weight women with weight gain of 0.2 kg/week or more and pre-pregnancy underweight women with weight gain of 0.3 kg/week or more, as compared to women meeting IOM guidelines. These results suggest that IOM guidelines for gestational weight gain may lack external validity in Japanese women.

Significance of cervical ripening in pre-induction treatment for premature rupture of membranes at term.

AIM: This study aimed to determine whether mechanical cervical dilatation with a laminaria tent in women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term may influence the maternal/neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and histopathologic results of the placenta in 782 women with PROM at term. Of the 486 women seen prior to 2010 (group 1), 85 had Bishop scores of 5 or less and underwent insertion of laminaria tents (group A). In the 296 women admitted after 2010 (group 2), 27 had Bishop scores of 5 or less and underwent labor management without insertion of laminaria tents (group B). The patient characteristics, delivery course and neonatal outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the maternal age, percentage of nulliparas, body mass index, gestational age at delivery or Bishop score between the groups. The Bishop score improved from 2.5 to 6.1 after laminaria tent insertion in group A. However, there were no significant intergroup differences in the frequency of use of labor-inducing agents or the time interval from PROM to delivery. The incidence of clinical/pathological chorioamnionitis was not higher in group A than in group B. No significant differences were found in the Apgar scores, umbilical artery pH or frequency of asphyxia neonatorum between the groups. Mechanical cervical dilatation by laminaria tent insertion neither increased the incidence of infection nor contributed to improvement of the perinatal prognosis. CONCLUSION: Mechanical cervical dilatation does not provide any benefit for women with PROM at term.

Retrospective study of pregnant women placed under expectant management for persistent hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinicopathological characteristics of pregnant women who presented with intermittent hemorrhage occurring throughout pregnancy until delivery. METHOD: A total of 24 women with intermittent hemorrhage occurring throughout pregnancy were categorized into two groups, a group with persistent subchorionic hematoma (PSH) and another with chronic abruption (CA), and the pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups. The data were expressed as medians (range). RESULTS: There were 18 women in the PSH group and 6 women in the CA group. The median gestational age at delivery was 27.9 (22.1-33.4) weeks in the PSH group and 32.9 (24.3-33.1) weeks in the CA group, revealing a significantly earlier gestational age at delivery in the former group (p = 0.014). The percentage of the women developing acute abruption tended to be higher in the CA group [66.7 % (4/6)] than in the PSH group [26.3 % (5/18)]. Small for gestational age (SGA) infants and neonatal chronic lung disease were seen at high incidences, but only in the PSH group [21.1 % (4/18) and 42.1 % (8/18), respectively]. CONCLUSION: PSH was associated with earlier gestational age at delivery, a higher incidence of SGA infants, and poorer pregnancy outcomes than CA.

Difficulty in Serologic Screening for Subclinical Rubella during Pregnancy.

In Japan, rubella antibodies are tested in all pregnant women to detect subclinical infections. This study aimed to assess the validity of measuring rubella antibodies for detecting subclinical rubella among pregnant women in Japan. This single-center retrospective study measured rubella hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers and rubella-specific IgM antibody index (IgM) values. IgM values were measured by conducting enzyme immunoassay, and IgM-values >1.2 were considered positive. Of 14,965 included pregnant women, 186 (1.2%) were IgM-positive. Only one patient was clinically diagnosed with rubella (HI titer, 1:2,048; IgM value, 10) and developed fever and skin rash. She decided to terminate her pregnancy without undergoing repeated blood tests. Of the IgM-positive patients, 136 (73.1%) had rubella HI titers of < 1:256. The correlation coefficient between rubella HI and IgM titers was weakly positive (0.2527; P < 0.0001). This study showed that a single combination of rubella HI and rubella-specific IgM measurements alone could not detect subclinical rubella. Creating awareness among pregnant women by informing them that almost all rubella-specific IgM-positive individuals without symptoms are not acutely infected could decrease their anxiety and prevent unnecessary pregnancy termination.

Uterine perforation during uterine repositioning on nonpuerperal uterine inversion by delivery of a large fibroid: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Transvaginal uterine restoration of nonpuerperal uterine inversion is difficult; there are risks of heavy bleeding and uterine perforation. In such cases, total hysterectomy and transfusion are inevitable. Abstract: A 47-year-old woman with profuse genital bleeding, diagnosed with nonpuerperal uterine inversion caused by a uterine fibroma, underwent emergency surgery. Uterine perforation occurred during transvaginal uterine restoration, revealed by laparoscopy. Bleeding persisted and blood transfusion volume increased; therefore, a total hysterectomy was performed for hemostasis.

Expression of angiotensin II receptor-like 1 in the placentas of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Angiotensin II receptor-like 1 (APJ), a G protein-coupled receptor that was identified as a homologue of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, exerts antagonistic effects on AT1-mediated vasoconstriction. Studies on pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) revealed aberrant activation of AT1 downstream signaling. In contrast, little is known about APJ in the pathophysiology of human pregnancy. In this study, we investigated APJ expression in normal human and PIH placentas. mRNAs were extracted from 50 placental villous tissues of 18 cases with severe PIH (8 late-onset, 4 early-onset, and 6 superimposed PIH) and 32 control pregnancies (including 6 preterm cases). Histopathologic studies were conducted using paraffin-embedded placental tissues from 12 control placentas (from 23 to 39 wk) and 23 PIH placentas (from 24 to 41 wk). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed that APJ was cooperatively expressed with its ligand apelin and AT1 in controls and in late-onset PIH placentas but was significantly downregulated in early-onset PIH placentas with poor fetal growth. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed upregulated APJ in late-onset PIH placentas but significantly downregulated APJ in early-onset PIH. In immunohistochemical staining, APJ was detected strongly in villous capillary endothelial cells and trophoblasts of late-onset PIH placentas. In contrast, APJ was poorly stained in endothelial cells of hypoplastic villi of early-onset PIH placentas. Collective data indicate that the apelin-APJ system is involved in fetoplacental circulation during human pregnancy. Impaired APJ expression in early-onset PIH placentas may reflect an aggravated placental condition with poor fetal growth.

Factors Predicting Rubella Vaccination and Antibody in Pregnant Women in Japan: A Report from Pregnant Women Health Initiative.

This study aimed to identify the factors predicting rubella vaccination status based on self-reported data and the presence of sufficient rubella antibody titers in pregnant women in Japan. We used the results of the nationwide questionnaire survey conducted at obstetric facilities in the Pregnant Women Health Initiative Project (PWHI), with 23 participating hospitals recruiting pregnant women from June 2018-November 2019. We extracted age, the number of deliveries, educational level, household income, pre-pregnancy smoking, and knowledge of rubella from questionnaires and medical records. We analyzed the association of rubella vaccination status and antibodies with each of these factors. We found that the number of previous deliveries, educational level, annual household income, smoking before pregnancy, and knowledge of rubella were factors predicting self-reported rubella vaccination status, while age and the number of previous deliveries were identified as factors predicting the presence of sufficient rubella antibody titers (32 folds or higher). Women considering pregnancy should be immunized against rubella to prevent congenital rubella syndrome in the future. Furthermore, social policies are needed to strongly encourage vaccination, especially for all citizens who were not given the opportunity or missed the chance to be vaccinated against rubella.

Factors Predicting Rubella Vaccination among Pregnant Women in Japan: an Interim Report from the Pregnant Women Health Initiative.

Following the 2018 rubella outbreak in Japan, this study aimed to assess rubella prevention measures based on the vaccination and immunization status of pregnant women in Japan. Our cohort study involved 3 local core hospitals in Yokohama City, and a total of 666 pregnant women were recruited between June 2018 and September 2019 and answered an online questionnaire. In total, 67.5% of the pregnant women had received rubella vaccination. The rate of rubella vaccination among pregnant women in the present survey was lower than that among age-matched female participants in a nationwide survey conducted in 2018. Overall, the study results showed that pregnant women in their 20s had a higher vaccination rate than those in their 40s, women who were nonsmokers before pregnancy had a higher vaccination rate than those who were smokers, and pregnant women who were aware that rubella may affect their fetuses had a higher vaccination rate than those who were unaware of this. This survey elucidated multiple predictive factors for rubella vaccination among pregnant women in Japan. Our results confirm the recommendation that women considering pregnancy should be vaccinated against rubella.

Central and peripheral administrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 suppress food intake in chicks.

A number of studies have been made on the physiological actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in mammals and birds. In mammals, the effects of central administration of IGF-1 on food intake have been examined. For example, intracerebroventricular administration of IGF-1 significantly decreased food intake in diabetic rats, but not in sheep and nondiabetic rats. The chicken is known to be a hyperglycemic animal. Like satiety hormones, plasma IGF-1 levels are elevated postprandially in chickens. In this study, we hypothesized that IGF-1 is involved in the regulation of food intake in chickens. Intracerebroventricular administration of IGF-1 significantly suppressed food intake in chicks in a dose dependent manner. Both the mRNAs of IGF-1 and its receptor were expressed throughout the brain. However, the mRNA levels of IGF-1 were not influenced by fasting and refeeding in all regions of the brain. On the other hand, 6h of fasting significantly suppressed mRNA expression of hepatic IGF-1, and this effect was significantly reversed by 6h of refeeding. Furthermore, intravascular administration of IGF-1 significantly suppressed food intake in chicks. These findings suggest that IGF-1 may function as a satiety hormone in chickens.

Warfarin-associated fetal intracranial subdural hematoma: a case report.

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: We present a case in which to of fetal subdural hematoma developing despite that the maternal the prothrombin time by international normalized ratio (PT/INR) during pregnancy was within the normal range.

Circumvallate placenta: associated clinical manifestations and complications-a retrospective study.

Aims. To analyze the pregnancy outcomes of circumvallate placenta retrospectively and to predict circumvallate placenta during pregnancy based on its clinical features. Methods. The pregnancy outcomes of 92 women with circumvallate placenta who delivered live singletons at a tertiary care center between January 2000 and September 2012 were compared with those of 9057 controls. Results. Women with circumvallate placenta were associated with higher incidences of preterm delivery (64.1%), placental abruption (10.9%), emergency cesarean section (45.6%), small-for-gestational age (36.9%), neonatal death (8.9%), neonatal intensive care unit admission (55.4%), and chronic lung disease (33.9%). When vaginal bleeding during the second trimester and premature chemical rupture of membranes (PCROM) were both used as predictive factors for circumvallate placenta, the sensitivity was 28.8% and specificity was 99.9%. Conclusion. With circumvallate placenta, pregnancy outcomes were poor and had characteristic clinical manifestations. In women with both vaginal bleeding and PCROM during pregnancy, circumvallate placenta should be strongly suspected.

Expectant management of severe preeclampsia with severe fetal growth restriction in the second trimester.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether women with severe fetal growth restriction (FGR <5th percentile) associated with severe preeclampsia (PE) occurring in the second trimester are candidates for expectant management. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study involving 33 women who developed severe PE or superimposed PE in the second trimester and were expectantly managed at a tertiary center. They were divided into groups with and without severe FGR on admission (severe FGR (+) group: 17 women; severe FGR (-) group: 16 women) for comparison of the duration of pregnancy prolongation, major maternal complications, and perinatal outcomes. The data are presented as medians (range) or frequencies (percentage). RESULTS: The duration of pregnancy prolongation was 10days in both groups. Major maternal complications occurred in 5 of 17 women (29.4%) in the severe FGR (+) and 5 of 16 (31.3%) in the severe FGR (-) group, showing very similar incidence rates in the 2 groups. The perinatal survival rates were favorable at 82.4% (14/17) in the severe FGR (+) and 100% (16/16) in the severe FGR (-) group. CONCLUSION: Regarding expectant management of severe preeclampsia occurring in the second trimester, there was no difference in the duration of pregnancy prolongation between the groups with and without severe FGR on admission. Because favorable perinatal outcomes can be expected without compromising maternal safety by prolonging pregnancy as expectant management for severe FGR, it was suggested that women with severe FGR are suitable candidates for expectant management.

A retrospective analysis of obstetric patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a single center study.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) commonly affects women of childbearing age. We studied the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with ITP to estimate their risks of bleeding. A retrospective chart review was performed for all obstetric patients with ITP who had delivery at our hospital, from 1 March 2000 to 31 March 2008. Twenty women with ITP delivered 24 children in 23 pregnancies. In all, eight women were treated with corticosteroid during their pregnancy period, and there was only one non-responder. There was no correlation between the maternal platelet count and the amount of blood loss at delivery. Two infants were revealed to have had platelet counts lower than 30 × 109/L, and were treated with high-dose IV IgG. One of them also received corticosteroid therapy. There was no relationship between maternal platelet count at delivery and infant platelet count at birth. Overall, no serious bleeding event was seen in either of the mothers or infants. For most women with ITP, pregnancy is uncomplicated, and even those with severe thrombocytopenia during pregnancy have good outcomes when under the strict care of a hematologist and gynecologist.

Oligohydramnios and pulmonary hypoplasia: a case in which involvement of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist was suspected.

Administration of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB) during the second trimester of pregnancy is known to cause irreversible renal damage in the fetus. We report a case in which ARB was given to the mother from the first trimester until 26 weeks' gestation. The patient had diabetic nephropathy with accompanying nephrotic syndrome. At 8 weeks' gestation, she was started on candesartan cilexetil (an ARB). At 26 weeks' gestation, she was transferred to our center. Severe oligohydramnios was noted. The pregnancy was terminated, and she delivered at 27 weeks' gestation. The neonate weighed 884 g and died 1 h after birth. Autopsy revealed that the lung/bodyweight ratio was 0.0096 (>0.015) and pulmonary hypoplasia was noted. Histological examination of the kidneys showed tubular dysgenesis with poor differentiation of the proximal tubules.

Positive rates for rubella antibody in pregnant women and benefit of post-partum vaccination in a Japanese perinatal center.

AIM: This study of pregnant women was undertaken to clarify their immune status for rubella and to evaluate the efficacy of, and adverse reaction to, post-partum rubella vaccination. METHODS: We determined the levels of both rubella antibody by hemagglutination inhibition test and IgM antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the first gestational trimester and surveyed the positive rates for rubella antibody in pregnant women at our perinatal center; we recommended post-partum vaccination for women with poor immune status. We also evaluated the effectiveness of the vaccine and any adverse reaction. RESULTS: Among 2741 pregnant women, 185 cases (6.7%) were seronegative for rubella virus. This rate was especially high (12.4%) in the population who had opted out of the vaccination because of a change in Japanese government policy. A total of 30 cases (1.1%) were positive or false-positive for IgM antibody, but no congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) developed. The seropositive rate was 93.3% in total, but this figure includes those who required post-partum vaccination (558 cases or 20.3%) because their titers were 16x or lower. Among 145 cases who received post-partum rubella vaccine, no severe adverse reaction was detected, and in all 37 cases with hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers of 8x or lower, the efficacy rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to appropriately evaluate the CRS risk. Also, we need to emphasize the importance and safety of post-partum rubella vaccination in Japan.