Serum Levels of Collectins Are Sustained During Pregnancy: Surfactant Protein D Levels Are Dysregulated Prior to Missed Abortion.

About 15% of pregnant women undergo missed abortion (MA), wherein women do not experience cramping and vaginal bleeding. Dysregulation of the immune molecules and steroid hormones contribute to early pregnancy loss. Collectins- surfactant protein A (SP-A), surfactant protein D (SP-D), and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are a group of innate immune molecules regulated by the steroid hormones. Reduced levels of SP-A and SP-D during the early gestation exhibited a significant association with the severe early onset preeclampsia. In order to determine the serum profile of collectins throughout the normal pregnancy and explore their predictive potential during the 8-12 weeks of gestation for MA, we examined a prospective cohort of pregnant women (n = 221). The serum levels of SP-A and SP-D were significantly downregulated in the normal pregnant women in all the three trimesters (n = 30) compared with the non-pregnant women (n = 20) and were not significantly different across the three trimesters. Fourteen of the women from the cohort underwent MA during the 14-20 weeks of gestation and exhibited a significant downregulation in the serum levels of SP-D during 8-12 weeks of gestation. A significant inhibition of the HTR-8/SVneo cell proliferation and migration in the presence of a recombinant fragment of human SP-D suggested the relevance of SP-D in placental development. We report here that the serum levels of SP-A, SP-D, and MBL are consistently maintained during pregnancy in the Indian cohort. Dysregulated serum levels of SP-D and P4/E2 ratio during the early first trimester may predict occurrence of MA.

Differential levels of surfactant protein A, surfactant protein D, and progesterone to estradiol ratio in maternal serum before and after the onset of severe early-onset preeclampsia.

PROBLEM: Preeclampsia (PE), a multifactorial disorder characterized by impaired placental development, elevated inflammatory response and dysregulated placental steroidogenesis. PE may be preventable if predicted early on. METHOD OF STUDY: The study evaluated the potential of immunomodulatory collectins, surfactant protein A (SP-A), surfactant protein D (SP-D), and mannose binding lectin (MBL), to predict PE before the disease onset, in a prospective study cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 922). In addition, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the serum and placental profile of collectins in PE women after the disease onset (early-onset PE [EOPE], n = 33; late-onset PE [LOPE], n = 24); and controls [n = 75]. The serum profiles of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) were evaluated to determine their correlation with collectins. RESULTS: In the prospective cohort, significantly decreased serum levels of SP-A, SP-D, P4/E2 ratio were observed in women who subsequently developed severe EOPE. Interestingly, after the disease onset, there was a significant increase in serum and placental levels of collectins in women with severe EOPE, whereas women with LOPE had significantly decreased levels of collectins. Serum P4/E2 ratio was significantly altered in severe EOPE and positively correlated with serum levels of SP-A and SP-D. CONCLUSION: Collectins are differentially expressed in the serum during progression of PE. Decreased serum levels of SP-A, SP-D, P4/E2 ratio and increased E2 during 10-20 weeks of gestation are novel plausible risk factors for early prediction of EOPE in Indian women.

Second Trimester Medical Termination of Pregnancy with Combined Intracervical and Intravaginal Misoprostol: Comparative Analysis with Intravaginal Misoprostol-A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: Intravaginal placement of misoprostol has been used extensively to terminate second trimester pregnancies. Intracervical misoprostol is an alternative method of termination of pregnancy for women in this period of gestation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined intracervical and intravaginal misoprostol in the management of mid-trimester medical termination of pregnancy and to compare it with intravaginal misoprostol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this IRB approved prospective study, twenty-two women (mean age 25.4 ± 3.2 years, range 23-32 years; mean BMI 22.3 ± 3.4 kg/m(2); mean parity 2.1 ± 1.4, average gestational age 17.9 ± 2.4 weeks) underwent second trimester termination of pregnancy at our institution. Patient cohort was randomized into two treatment protocols depending on the drug used and route of administration. Induction-abortion interval, need for surgical evacuation, completeness of abortion and side effects if any were documented. RESULTS: Mean induction-abortion interval for intravaginal group and combination group was comparable (t = 7.9 ± 1.8 and 6.5 ± 3.5 h, respectively). Three patients required surgical evacuation for incomplete abortion (n = 2 after vaginal misoprostol and one after intracervical-intravaginal misoprostol). Number of patients aborting within 6 h was more in the intracervical-intravaginal group (36.3 %). Patients with intracervical misoprostol complained of abdominal pain more often than those in other groups. Excessive bleeding and uterine rupture was not seen in any patient. CONCLUSION: Intracervical misoprostol is an effective method of medical treatment of second trimester pregnancy failure. Its short induction to abortion interval and acceptable safety profile makes induction via the cervical route acceptable for second trimester abortion.

Randomized trial comparing episiotomies with Braun-Stadler episiotomy scissors and EPISCISSORS-60(®).

INTRODUCTION: Episiotomy angle is a crucial factor in causation of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), which are the major cause of female bowel incontinence. Sutured episiotomies angled too close to the midline (<30 degree) or too far away from the midline (>60 degree) fail to unload the perineum sufficiently and predispose to OASIS. A 25-degree post-delivery episiotomy suture angle has a 10% risk of OASIS while 45-degree episiotomy is associated with 0.5% risk. To account for perineal distension at crowning, a 60-degree episiotomy incision is required to achieve 43-50 degree suture angles. We compared episiotomy suture angles with commonly used Braun-Stadler episiotomy scissors with the new fixed angle EPISCISSORS-60(®). METHODS: Ethical approval was obtained. A prospective cluster randomization design was chosen. Thirty-one patients were required in each group for a 12-degree difference with power at 90% and 5% significance. Sutured episiotomy angles and post-delivery linear distance from caudal end of the sutured episiotomy to the anus were measured with protractors and rulers. Two-tailed t-tests were used to compare the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty-one nulliparae had episiotomies with EPISCISSORS-60(®), 32 with Braun-Stadler. Mean age (25 versus 24.8 years) was similar. EPISCISSORS-60(®) episiotomies were angled 12 degrees more laterally away from the anus compared to Braun-Stadler (40.6 degrees, 95% confidence interval [CI] ±2, interquartile range [IQR] 35-45 versus 28.3 degrees, 95% CI ±2, IQR 25-30, P<0.0001). The post-delivery linear distance from caudal end of the sutured episiotomy to the anus was 15 mm more with the EPISCISSORS-60(®) compared to Braun-Stadler (35 mm, 95% CI ±2.2, IQR =30-39 versus 19.5; 95% CI ±1.3, IQR =14.75-22.25 P<0.0001). EPISCISSORS-60(®) episiotomies measured longer (47 mm versus 40 mm, P<0.0001). There were no OASIS cases in the EPISCISSORS-60(®) group versus one in the Braun-Stadler group. CONCLUSION: The EPISCISSORS-60(®) sutured episiotomies are much further away from the midline in angular and distance measures, hence at lower OASIS risk.