Predominant Lactobacillus species types of vaginal microbiota in pregnant Korean women: quantification of the five Lactobacillus species and two anaerobes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predominant Lactobacillus species types (LSTs) of vaginal microbiota in pregnant Korean women by quantifying five Lactobacillus species and two anaerobes. METHODS: In all, 168 pregnant Korean women under antenatal care at Eulji University Hospital and local clinics were enrolled in the prospective cohort study during pregnancy (10-14 weeks). Vaginal samples were collected with Eswab for Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and stored in a -80 °C freezer. qPCR was performed for five Lactobacillus species and two anaerobes. To identify the predominant LSTs, quantifications were analyzed by the Cluster and Tree View programs of Eisen Lab. Also the quantifications were compared among classified groups. RESULTS: L. crispatus and L. iners were most commonly found in pregnant Korean women, followed by L. gasseri and L. jensenii; L. vaginalis was nearly absent. Five types (four predominant LSTs and one predominant anaerobe type without predominant Lactobacillus species) were classified. CONCLUSIONS: Five predominant LSTs were identified in vaginal microbiota of pregnant Korean women. L. crispatus and L. iners predominant types comprised a large proportion.

A case of discordant monochorionic diamniotic twin with umbilical cord entanglement after spontaneous rupture of the dividing membrane.

Spontaneous antepartum rupture of the dividing membrane in monochorionic diamniotic twins with discordancy is extremely rare. The rupture is difficult to diagnose prenatally and has a poor outcome. The authors report a case of cord entanglement after spontaneous rupture of the dividing membrane within discordant monochorionic diamniotic twins. The subject was a 30-year-old woman pregnant with discordant monochorionic diamniotic twin at 27+4 gestational weeks. The relatively thin dividing membrane was sound until it passed parallel to the two umbilical cords where it then became ill-defined. The patient was managed cautiously due to the possibility of spontaneous rupture of the dividing membrane and potential cord entanglement. Upon delivery at 29+3 weeks due to fetal compromise, the patient presented with a monochorionic diamniotic placenta, a remnant of the disrupted dividing membrane, and entangled umbilical cords. The authors report this subject with literature review.

Crown-rump length measured in the early first trimester as a predictor of low birth weight.

The aim of this study is to assess the association between crown-rump length (CRL) measured before the 10th gestational week and birth weight. Results from 316 transvaginal ultrasonography scans at the 46th, 53rd, 60th, 67th, and 74th days of pregnancy were compared in low birth weight (LBW) versus normal birth weight groups. A positive correlation between CRL and birth weight was observed when CRL was measured at days 60, 67, and 74. CRL measured on the 67th day of pregnancy was significantly smaller in the LBW group than in the normal birth weight group. A cut-off value of CRL=26.5 mm measured at day 67 has the highest power to predict LBW.

Vascular endothelial growth factor, fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) and soluble Flt-1 gene expressions in Korean pre-eclamptic placentas.

AIM: To assess the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1), and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) genes in healthy normotensive and pre-eclamptic placentas of Korean women. METHODS: We investigated 12 healthy normotensive pregnant women and 10 pre-eclamptic pregnant women at Eulji University Hospital. The obtained placental tissues were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The sFlt-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level was elevated 2.6 times more in pre-eclamptic placentas than in normal control placentas. However, the VEGF mRNA level of pre-eclamptic placentas was decreased. There was no difference in the Flt-1 mRNA level between control and pre-eclamptic placentas. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that expressions of genes relating to angiogenesis were altered in Korean pre-eclamptic placentas. These results suggest that the alteration in expressions of sFlt-1 and VEGF genes might be associated with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.