A new technique to preserve the uterus in patients with placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Placenta accreta spectrum disorders are associated with substantial maternal morbidity and mortality. Despite a preoperative diagnosis, the rate of complications remains high, and the condition is generally associated with the need for a hysterectomy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of a new uterine-preserving technique (called the combined approach, including surgical hemostasis, bilateral ligation of the descending branches of the uterine arteries, and hemostatic external supraplacental stitch with the use of the Zhukovsky double-balloon tamponade in patients with placenta accreta spectrum disorders) during cesarean delivery in women with placenta accreta spectrum disorders vs the surgical technique used until 2014. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study included 147 patients with placenta accreta spectrum disorders who were divided into 2 groups: the study group (n=95) is to undergo cesarean delivery using the combined approach, and the control group (n=52) is to undergo the surgical technique used until 2014, which included bilateral uterine artery ligation, which is the transfusion of plasma, red blood cells, platelets, and protease inhibitors. RESULTS: The volume of blood loss was 1.5-fold lower (P=.0010), the number of blood transfusions was 5.1-fold lower (P=.026), and the rate of bladder injuries was 19-fold lower (P=.012) in the study group than that in the control group. The duration of hospital stay after delivery was 4 days lesser (P=.001) and the number of hysterectomies was 4.5-fold lower in the study group than in the control group (P=.023). The study groups did not differ in terms of placenta accreta spectrum type. CONCLUSION: The combined approach during cesarean delivery proved to be more effective than the surgical technique used until 2014 in reducing the number of hysterectomies, blood loss volume, number of blood transfusions, and duration of hospital stay in patients with placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

The microbiome in pregnancy and early life-Highlights from the 11th Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos Perinatal Symposium.

This review was based on a symposium that examined novel aspects of the microbiome during pregnancy and early life and explored papers published by the lecturers. For example, it showed that bacterial extracellular vesicles derived from the microbiome harboured in various maternal niches, carried bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid, were isolated from the placenta and may have confounded placental microbiome studies. Maternal diet was responsible for the composition and diversity of breast milk microbiota, and may have shaped the offspring's microbiome and influenced their immune components. Probiotics and antibiotics administered perinatally may have had beneficial but also long-lasting adverse effects on offspring.

Paid leave to support parenting-A neglected tool to improve societal well-being and prosperity.

Cohesive families and stimulating and caring environments promoting attachment to caregivers is fundamental for a child's physical and psychosocial growth and development. Parental care, supporting early years development, presupposes the presence and involvement of parents in children's daily life with activities that include breastfeeding, playing, reading and storytelling. However, parents have to balance their child's well-being against employment, career progression and gender equality. Universally accessible and equitably available parental leave addresses this challenge. CONCLUSION: Distinct from compulsory maternity leave, leave at full or nearly full pay for both parents benefits not only families but also societal well-being and prosperity.

Valuing maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health for societal progress - Going beyond the economic orthodoxy of gross domestic product.

AIM: In view of the long-standing recognition that gross domestic product (GDP) does not capture the unremunerated work largely conducted by women upon which societal well-being depends, to discuss the implications for GDP of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (MNCAH), and its influences on health, well-being and prosperity across the life course and across generations. METHODS: A wide-ranging discussion of the informal think-tank The Venice Forum was held over two days, with inputs from invited experts in person and online. RESULTS: There was consensus that a strong case could be made for inclusion of unremunerated work largely conducted by women as a positive contribution to GDP in view of its impact on future health and prosperity, and conversely exclusion from GDP of outputs from industries which harm health. CONCLUSION: Taken with the current challenges from COVID, climate change and conflict, there is a compelling need to redefine economic progress through equitable models and metrics that incorporate short-/medium-/long-term societal value of activities that improve MNCAH.

Parental Psychological Distress of Missed Diagnosis of Down Syndrome at Antenatal Screening: A Rare, but Still Real Occurrence - A Case Report and Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal screening programs are important components for pregnant women care and are often linked with grief and shock based on gestational age or the diagnosis. Lower/no sensitivity is also associated with these screening programs leading to providing false-negative outputs. CASE PRESENTATION: Present work shows a case of missed antenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and its persistant medical and psychological impact on the family members. We have also discussed the relevant economic and medical-legal issues related to the context and aimed to maintain an adequate awareness among healthcare to discuss properly these investigations (difference between screening and diagnostic testing), their possible outcome (chances of false results) and enabled the pregnant women/couple to take informed decision on early pregnancy. CONCLUSION: These programs are considered as routine clinical practice in many countries from last few years and are necessary to assess the pros and cons of these programs. One of the prime cons involves the likeliness of obtaining a false-negative result due to lack of 100% sensitivity and specificity.

Events Leading to the Establishment of Pregnancy and Placental Formation: The Need to Fine-Tune the Nomenclature on Pregnancy and Gestation.

Today, there is strong and diversified evidence that in humans at least 50% of early embryos do not proceed beyond the pre-implantation period. This evidence comes from clinical investigations, demography, epidemiology, embryology, immunology, and molecular biology. The purpose of this article is to highlight the steps leading to the establishment of pregnancy and placenta formation. These early events document the existence of a clear distinction between embryonic losses during the first two weeks after conception and those occurring during the subsequent months. This review attempts to highlight the nature of the maternal-embryonic dialogue and the major mechanisms active during the pre-implantation period aimed at "selecting" embryos with the ability to proceed to the formation of the placenta and therefore to the completion of pregnancy. This intense molecular cross-talk between the early embryo and the endometrium starts even before the blastocyst reaches the uterine cavity, substantially initiating and conditioning the process of implantation and the formation of the placenta. Today, several factors involved in this dialogue have been identified, although the best-known and overall, the most important, still remains Chorionic Gonadotrophin, indispensable during the first 8 to 10 weeks after fertilization. In addition, there are other substances acting during the first days following fertilization, the Early Pregnancy Factor, believed to be involved in the suppression of the maternal response, thereby allowing the continued viability of the early embryo. The Pre-Implantation Factor, secreted between 2 and 4 days after fertilization. This linear peptide molecule exhibits a self-protective and antitoxic action, is present in maternal blood as early as 7 days after conception, and is absent in the presence of non-viable embryos. The Embryo-Derived Platelet-activating Factor, produced and released by embryos of all mammalian species studied seems to have a role in the ligand-mediated trophic support of the early embryo. The implantation process is also guided by signals from cells in the decidualized endometrium. Various types of cells are involved, among them epithelial, stromal, and trophoblastic, producing a number of cellular molecules, such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules. Immune cells are also involved, mainly uterine natural killer cells, macrophages, and T cells. In conclusion, events taking place during the first two weeks after fertilization determine whether pregnancy can proceed and therefore whether placenta's formation can proceed. These events represent the scientific basis for a clear distinction between the first two weeks following fertilization and the rest of gestation. For this reason, we propose that a new nomenclature be adopted specifically separating the two periods. In other words, the period from fertilization and birth should be named "gestation", whereas that from the completion of the process of implantation leading to the formation of the placenta, and birth should be named "pregnancy".

Microbiota-Associated HAF-EVs Regulate Monocytes by Triggering or Inhibiting Inflammasome Activation.

In pregnancy, human amniotic fluid extracellular vesicles (HAF-EVs) exert anti-inflammatory effects on T cells and on monocytes, supporting their immunoregulatory roles. The specific mechanisms are still not completely defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of HAF-EVs, isolated from pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis and purified by gradient ultracentrifugation, to affect inflammasome activation in the human monocytes. Proteomic studies revealed that HAF-EV samples expressed several immunoregulatory molecules as well as small amounts of endotoxin. Surprisingly, metagenomic analysis shows the presence of specific bacterial strain variants associated with HAF-EVs as potential sources of the endotoxin. Remarkably, we showed that a single treatment of THP-1 cells with HAF-EVs triggered inflammasome activation, whereas the same treatment followed by LPS and ATP sensitization prevented inflammasome activation, a pathway resembling monocyte refractories. A bioinformatics analysis of microbiota-HAF-EVs functional pathways confirmed the presence of enzymes for endotoxin biosynthesis as well as others associated with immunoregulatory functions. Overall, these data suggest that HAF-EVs could serve as a source of the isolation of a specific microbiota during early pregnancy. Moreover, HAF-EVs could act as a novel system to balance immune training and tolerance by modulating the inflammasome in monocytes or other cells.

Equity in coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine development and deployment.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic exposed weaknesses in multiple domains and widened gender-based inequalities across the world. It also stimulated extraordinary scientific achievement by bringing vaccines to the public in less than a year. In this article, we discuss the implications of current vaccination guidance for pregnant and lactating women, if their exclusion from the first wave of vaccine trials was justified, and if a change in the current vaccine development pathway is necessary. Pregnant and lactating women were not included in the initial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine trials. Therefore, perhaps unsurprisingly, the first vaccine regulatory approvals have been accompanied by inconsistent advice from public health, governmental, and professional authorities around the world. Denying vaccination to women who, although pregnant or breastfeeding, are fully capable of autonomous decision making is a throwback to a paternalistic era. Conversely, lack of evidence generated in a timely manner, upon which to make an informed decision, shifts responsibility from research sponsors and regulators and places the burden of decision making upon the woman and her healthcare advisor. The World Health Organization, the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women, and others have highlighted the long-standing disadvantage experienced by women in relation to the development of vaccines and medicines. It is uncertain whether there was sufficient justification for excluding pregnant and lactating women from the initial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine trials. In future, we recommend that regulators mandate plans that describe the development pathway for new vaccines and medicines that address the needs of women who are pregnant or lactating. These should incorporate, at the outset, a careful consideration of the balance of the risks of exclusion from or inclusion in initial studies, patient and public perspectives, details of "developmental and reproductive toxicity" studies, and approaches to collect data systematically from participants who are unknowingly pregnant at the time of exposure. This requires careful consideration of any previous knowledge about the mode of action of the vaccine and the likelihood of toxicity or teratogenicity. We also support the view that the default position should be a "presumption of inclusion," with exclusion of women who are pregnant or lactating only if justified on specific, not generic, grounds. Finally, we recommend closer coordination across countries with the aim of issuing consistent public health advice.

Urinary Cystatin-C, a marker to assess and monitor neonatal kidney maturation and function: validation in twins.

BACKGROUND: Nephrogenesis is a complex process of nephron formation and maturation that can be compromised by preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. This study aimed to evaluate and compare urinary Cys-C levels with renal volume in a cohort of preterm and term twins, adequate for gestational age or intrauterine growth restricted, to investigate their values in different conditions of nephrogenesis. METHODS: The study was performed on twins at 30-40 days of postnatal corrected age: renal volumes were measured by 3D ultrasound technology and urine samples were analyzed for Cystatin-C. A follow-up was performed by Cystatin-C. RESULTS: Renal volumes in preterm and intrauterine growth-restricted twins showed values significantly lower than those observed in term twins and were inversely correlated to urinary Cystatin-C levels. During the follow-up, intrauterine growth-restricted twins showed amplified levels of urinary Cystatin-C; in contrast, invariable or decreased levels were observed in adequate for gestational age twins. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary Cystatin-C, evaluated when intrauterine/extrauterine nephrogenesis could be considered completed, concurrently with renal volume assessment can improve the identification of neonates with initial kidney impairment. Its potential value as a useful marker in monitoring physiological/pathological renal conditions could be considered, mainly for neonates at elevated risk of developing long-term renal diseases. IMPACT: Urinary Cys-C levels are inversely correlated to renal volumes and reflect nephrogenesis conditions. No data in literature are reported regarding: (a) the concurrent assessment of renal volumes and urinary levels of Cystatin-C in preterm and term twins with different conditions of gestational life, i.e., AGA and IUGR and (b) the follow-up of IUGR and preterm neonates using the urinary Cys-C determination. The variations of urinary Cys-C levels, observed in the follow-up of preterm and/or IUGR neonates, support the usefulness of monitoring those neonates with altered nephrogenesis, who are later at risk for renal impairment and for long-term renal diseases.

Micronized vaginal progesterone to prevent miscarriage: a critical evaluation of randomized evidence.

Progesterone is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy. Several small trials have suggested that progesterone supplementation may reduce the risk of miscarriage in women with recurrent or threatened miscarriage. Cochrane Reviews summarized the evidence and found that the trials were small with substantial methodologic weaknesses. Since then, the effects of first-trimester use of vaginal micronized progesterone have been evaluated in 2 large, high-quality, multicenter placebo-controlled trials, one targeting women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages (the PROMISE [PROgesterone in recurrent MIScarriagE] trial) and the other targeting women with early pregnancy bleeding (the PRISM [PRogesterone In Spontaneous Miscarriage] trial). The PROMISE trial studied 836 women from 45 hospitals in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and found a 3% greater live birth rate with progesterone but with substantial statistical uncertainty. The PRISM trial studied 4153 women from 48 hospitals in the United Kingdom and found a 3% greater live birth rate with progesterone, but with a P value of .08. A key finding, first observed in the PROMISE trial, and then replicated in the PRISM trial, was that treatment with vaginal micronized progesterone 400 mg twice daily was associated with increasing live birth rates according to the number of previous miscarriages. Prespecified PRISM trial subgroup analysis in women with the dual risk factors of previous miscarriage(s) and current pregnancy bleeding fulfilled all 11 conditions for credible subgroup analysis. For the subgroup of women with a history of 1 or more miscarriage(s) and current pregnancy bleeding, the live birth rate was 75% (689/914) with progesterone vs 70% (619/886) with placebo (rate difference 5%; risk ratio, 1.09, 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.15; P=.003). The benefit was greater for the subgroup of women with 3 or more previous miscarriages and current pregnancy bleeding; live birth rate was 72% (98/137) with progesterone vs 57% (85/148) with placebo (rate difference 15%; risk ratio, 1.28, 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.51; P=.004). No short-term safety concerns were identified from the PROMISE and PRISM trials. Therefore, women with a history of miscarriage who present with bleeding in early pregnancy may benefit from the use of vaginal micronized progesterone 400 mg twice daily. Women and their care providers should use the findings for shared decision-making.

The continuing burden of Rh disease 50 years after the introduction of anti-Rh(D) immunoglobin prophylaxis: call to action.

Severe morbidity and death because of Rh disease have only been reduced by approximately 50% globally during the last 50 years, despite the advent of anti-Rh(D) immunoglobin prophylaxis, which has resulted in >160,000 perinatal deaths and 100,000 disabilities annually. This apparent failure to take appropriate preventive measures is of great concern. Thus, there is a great need to do much better. We wish to draw attention to the unnecessary continuing burden of Rh disease, to discuss some of the reasons for this failure, and to provide suggestions for a better way forward.

Expanding the indications for cell-free DNA in the maternal circulation: clinical considerations and implications.

Noninvasive prenatal testing for fetal aneuploidy using cell-free DNA has been widely integrated into routine obstetrical care. The scope of cell-free DNA testing has expanded from trisomies 21, 18, and 13 to include sex chromosome conditions, panels of specific microdeletions, and more recently genome-wide copy number variants and rare autosomal trisomies. Because the technical ability to test for a condition does not necessarily correspond with a clinical benefit to a population or to individual pregnant women, the benefits and harms of screening programs must be carefully weighed before implementation. Application of the World Health Organization criteria to cell-free DNA screening is informative when considering implementation of expanded cell-free DNA test menus. Most microdeletions and duplications are rare to the point that the prevalence has not even been defined and their natural history cannot be reliably predicted in the prenatal period. At the current time, scientific evidence regarding clinical performance of expanded cell-free DNA panels is lacking. Expanded cell-free DNA menus therefore create a dilemma for diagnosis, treatment, and counseling of patients. The clinical utility of expanding cell-free DNA testing to include panels of microdeletions and genome-wide assessment of large chromosomal imbalances has yet to be demonstrated; as such, the clinical implementation of this testing is premature.

Clinical and Economic Impact of Adopting Noninvasive Prenatal Testing as a Primary Screening Method for Fetal Aneuploidies in the General Pregnancy Population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and economic impact of adopting noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using circulating cell-free DNA as a first-line screening method for trisomy 21, 18, and 13 in the general pregnancy population. METHODS: A decision-analytical model was developed to assess the impact of adopting NIPT as a primary screening test compared to conventional screening methods. The model takes the Belgium perspective and includes only the direct medical cost of screening, diagnosis, and procedure-related complications. NIPT costs are EUR 260. Clinical outcomes and the cost per trisomy detected were assessed. Sensitivity analysis measured the impact of NIPT false-positive rate (FPR) on modelled results. RESULTS: The cost per trisomy detected was EUR 63,016 for conventional screening versus EUR 66,633 for NIPT, with a difference of EUR 3,617. NIPT reduced unnecessary invasive tests by 94.8%, decreased procedure-related miscarriages by 90.8%, and increased trisomies detected by 29.1%. Increasing the FPR of NIPT (from < 0.01 to 1.0%) increased the average number of invasive procedures required to diagnose a trisomy from 2.2 to 4.5, respectively. CONCLUSION: NIPT first-line screening at a reasonable cost is cost-effective and provides better clinical outcomes. However, modelled results are dependent on the adoption of an NIPT with a low FPR.

Prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery in women presenting with premature labor: a comparison of placenta alpha microglobulin-1, phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, and cervical length.

BACKGROUND: Placental alpha microglobulin-1 and phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 have been studied in patients at risk for preterm birth with signs and symptoms of preterm labor. However, a direct comparison between these 2 biomarkers, alone or in combination with cervical length measurement with an adequate sample size, has been lacking to date. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the placental alpha microglobulin-1 test and the phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 test alone and in combination with cervical length measurement for the prediction of imminent spontaneous preterm birth of testing in pregnant women with symptoms of preterm labor in a tertiary care setting. STUDY DESIGN: Four hundred three patients with intact amniotic membranes and cervical dilation ≤3 cm, without recent intercourse or cerclage, between gestational weeks of 20+0 and 36+6 were recruited prospectively from 3 international centers. Placental alpha microglobulin-1 and phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 tests were conducted before cervical length measurement via transvaginal ultrasound scanning. Caregivers were blinded to the biomarker test results. Medically indicated deliveries within 14 days of testing were excluded. Standard performance statistics with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared based on pairwise estimates from a generalized model. RESULTS: Of 403 subjects who were enrolled in the study cohort, 94% (383/403 women) met the inclusion criteria. Median gestational age and cervical length at presentation were 30+5 weeks and 27 mm, respectively; 6.8% women (26/383 women) had spontaneous birth ≤7 days from testing. The placental alpha microglobulin-1 test was positive in 7.8% of the women (30/383 women); the phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 test was positive in 29.5% women (113/383 women). Positive predictive value for placental alpha microglobulin-1, phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1, and cervical length <25 mm for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in the overall cohort was 60.0% (18/30 women), 18.6% (21/113 women), 11.8% (18/152 women), respectively. The negative predictive value was 97.7% (345/353 women), 98.2% (265/270 women), 96.5% (223/231 women), respectively. The prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth in this group was 6.8% (26/383 women). The positive likelihood ratios were 20.6, 3.1, and 1.8, respectively. The negative likelihood ratio were 0.3, 0.3, and 0.5, respectively. Positive predictive values for placental alpha microglobulin-1 and phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 tests in patients with cervical length shortening of 15-30 mm for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth were 60.9% (14/23 women) and 28.1% (16/57 women), respectively. The negative predictive values were 97.1% (168/173 women) and 97.8% (136/139 women), respectively. The prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth in the 15-30 mm cohort was 9.7% (19/196 women). The positive likelihood ratios were 14.5 and 3.6, respectively. The negative likelihood ratios were 0.3 and 0.2, respectively. CONCLUSION: Placental alpha microglobulin-1 is significantly more specific than phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth ≤7 days (P<.0001), whereas both tests have comparable sensitivity. In patients with cervical length 15-30 mm, although placental alpha microglobulin-1 has a significantly higher positive predictive value and specificity compared with phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at ≤7 days (P<.01), both tests have a comparable sensitivity and negative predictive value. In conclusion, placental alpha microglobulin-1 is a better predictor of imminent spontaneous preterm birth when compared with phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 alone or in combination with cervical length measurement. In patients with shortening of cervical length of 15-30 mm, the placental alpha microglobulin-1 test is a significantly better predictor of imminent spontaneous preterm birth within 7 days of testing than is phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1.

Intraoperative Effect of Preoperative Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue Administration in Women Undergoing Cold Loop Hysteroscopic Myomectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intraoperative effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue pretreatment in patients undergoing cold loop hysteroscopic myomectomy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Arbor Vitae Center for Endoscopic Gynecology, Rome, Italy. PATIENTS: A total of 99 patients were randomized and subsequently allocated to the GnRH analogue group or to the nonpharmacologic treatment control group. Fifteen patients were lost after allocation, and 42 patients per group underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Cold loop hysteroscopic myomectomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The control group accomplished the treatment in a 1-step procedure more frequently than the GnRH analogue group (92.85% and 73.8% of cases, respectively; p = .040). The completion of the treatment was more unlikely in case of G2 myomas (p = .006), whereas no differences were recorded for G1 and G0 myomas. The multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the multiple-step treatment and the use of GnRH analogue (odds ratio, 5.365; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.018-28.284; p = .048), grading (odds ratio, 4.503; 95% CI, 1.049-19.329; p = .043), and size of myomas (odds ratio, 1.128; 95% CI, 1.026-1.239; p = .013). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative GnRH analogue administration did not facilitate the completion of cold loop hysteroscopic myomectomy in a single surgical procedure in G2 myomas and was correlated with a longer duration of the surgery. No significant benefits were found for G0 and G1 myomas. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01873378.).

Effect of prenatal exposure to maternal cortisol and psychological distress on infant development in Bengaluru, southern India: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The mental health status of a pregnant woman and its consequent impact on foetal well being is not given much importance compared to the risk imposed by obstetric complications and medical conditions. Maternal psychological distress is a major public health problem and needs timely detection and intervention to prevent any adverse pregnancy outcome. There is ample evidence from literature that justifies the association of prenatal maternal mental stress and elevated cortisol with delayed infant motor and cognitive development; evidence from India being rather limited. The study aim is to prospectively assess the association of maternal psychological distress and cortisol level with motor and cognitive development of the infant. METHODS: A sample of 2612 eligible pregnant women who have been registered for antenatal care at selected public sector hospitals in Bengaluru will be recruited after obtaining written informed consent. They will be assessed for the presence of maternal psychological distress in the form of depression and anxiety using appropriate scales and saliva samples will be collected for cortisol estimation during early, mid and late pregnancy. Follow up visits after delivery will be done on day 10, 3 months, 8 months and 12 months. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development [BSID] (Third edition) will be used to measure both motor and mental milestones in terms of Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) and Mental Development Index (MDI). Logistic regression model will be used to determine the association between the exposure variables and outcomes which will be reported as Odd's Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). DISCUSSION: Our study findings could add to the growing evidence that maternal psychological distress during pregnancy adversely influences growth and development in the offspring and subsequent development of the child. While maternal anxiety and depression can be measured by using self reporting instruments, estimation of maternal endogenous cortisol levels could serve as a biomarker of prenatal psychological stress. Findings from this study could be used to focus upon the burden of mental health problems during pregnancy and to consider steps to scale up prenatal mental health services in health care settings.

Evaluation of quantitative fFn test in predicting the risk of preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of quantitative fetal fibronectin (qfFN) test in predicting preterm birth (PTB) risk <34 weeks' gestation or within 14 days from testing. We explored the predictive potential of the test in five-predefined PTB risk categories based on predefined qfFN thresholds (<10, 10-49, 50-199, 200-499 and ≥500 ng/mL). METHODS: Measurement of cervicovaginal qfFN with Rapid fFN 10Q System (Hologic) in 126 women with singleton pregnancy (23-33 weeks' gestation) reporting signs and symptoms indicative of preterm labour (PTL). RESULTS: For PTB prediction risk <34 weeks' gestation, sensitivity decreased from 100% to 41.7% and specificity increased from 0% to 99.1% with increasing fFN thresholds. Positive predictive value (PPV) increased from 9.5% to 83.3% with increasing qfFN thresholds, while negative predictive value (NPV) was higher than 90% among the fFN-predefined categories. Diagnostic accuracy results showed an area under a receiving operator characteristic (ROC) curve of 84.5% (95% CI, 0.770-0.903). For delivery prediction within 14 days from the testing, sensitivity decreased from 100% to 42.8% and specificity increased from 0% to 100% with increasing fFN thresholds. Diagnostic accuracy determined by the ROC curve was 66.1% (95% CI, 0.330-0.902). CONCLUSIONS: The QfFN thresholds of tests are a useful tool to distinguish pregnant women for PTB prediction risk <34 weeks' gestation.

Endovascular management of massive post-partum haemorrhage in abnormal placental implantation deliveries.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate safety and efficacy of pelvic artery embolisation (PAE) in post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) in abnormal placental implantation (API) deliveries. METHODS: From January 2009 to November 2013, 12 patients with API and intractable intraoperative PPH underwent PAE after caesarean delivery to control a haemorrhage (in four of these cases after hysterectomy). Arterial access was obtained prior to the delivery; PAE was performed in the obstetrics operating room by an interventional radiologist that was present with an interventional radiology (IR) team during the delivery. RESULTS: PAE was successful in preventing bleeding and avoid hysterectomy in four cases (group A). Uterine atony and disseminated intravascular coagulation caused failure of PAE requiring hysterectomy in four patients (group B). PAE prevented bleeding post-hysterectomy in the remaining four cases (group C). Technical success (cessation of contrast extravasation on angiography or occlusion of the selected artery) was 100 %. Maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity were 0 %. CONCLUSIONS: PAE is a minimal invasive technique that may help to prevent hysterectomy and control PPH in API pregnancies without complications. Embolisation should be performed on an emergency basis. For such cases, an IR team on standby in the obstetrics theatre may be useful to prevent hysterectomy, blood loss and limit morbidity. KEY POINTS: • Endovascular treatment is a validated technique in post-partum haemorrhage. • Abnormal placental implantation is a risk factor for post-partum haemorrhage. • We propose an interventional radiologist standby in the delivery room.