Fetal growth restriction exhibits various mTOR signaling in different regions of mouse placentas with altered lipid metabolism.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common complication of pregnancy and can have significant impact on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Increasing evidence has shown that the inhibited mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in placenta is associated with FGR. However, interpretation of existing research is limited due to inconsistent methodologies and varying understanding of the mechanism by which mTOR activity contributes to FGR. Hereby, we have demonstrated that different anatomic regions of human and mouse placentas exhibited different levels of mTOR activity in normal compared to FGR pregnancies. When using the rapamycin-induced FGR mouse model, we found that placentas of FGR pregnancies exhibited abnormal morphological changes and reduced mTOR activity in the decidual-junctional layer. Using transcriptomics and lipidomics, we revealed that lipid and energy metabolism was significantly disrupted in the placentas of FGR mice. Finally, we demonstrated that maternal physical exercise during gestation in our FGR mouse model was associated with increased fetal and placental weight as well as increased placental mTOR activity and lipid metabolism. Collectively, our data indicate that the inhibited placental mTOR signaling contributes to FGR with altered lipid metabolism in mouse placentas, and maternal exercise could be an effective method to reduce the occurrence of FGR or alleviate the adverse outcomes associated with FGR.

Outcomes after extended azithromycin administration in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

BACKGROUND: Preterm premature rupture of membranes accounts for approximately one-quarter of all preterm deliveries and occurs in 2% to 3% of all pregnancies. With subclinical infection being a suspected cause of preterm premature rupture of membranes, the administration of prophylactic antibiotics is an accepted standard of care to extend the latency period. Historically, erythromycin was used in the antibiotic regimen recommended for women with preterm premature rupture of membranes during expectant management; however, azithromycin has recently been shown to be a suitable alternative. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether extended azithromycin administration affects the latency time in preterm premature rupture of membranes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective multi-institutional cohort study in Washington, District of Columbia, of patients admitted from January 2012 to December 2019 with preterm premature rupture of membranes of singleton pregnancies between 23 0/7 and 33 6/7 weeks of gestation. Patients were excluded if they had multiple pregnancies, had an allergy to penicillin or macrolides, were in labor, had suspected placental abruptions, had overt chorioamnionitis, or had nonreassuring fetal status on presentation indicating the need for prompt delivery. Patients that received limited azithromycin administration (<2 days) and patients that received extended azithromycin administration (7 days) were compared. All patients otherwise received the institutional standard of 2 days of intravenous ampicillin followed by 5 days of oral amoxicillin. The primary outcome was length of gestational latency, defined as the time from membrane rupture to delivery. The selective secondary outcomes that were evaluated were rates of chorioamnionitis and adverse neonatal outcomes, including sepsis, respiratory distress, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and neonatal death. RESULTS: During the study period, 416 cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes were identified. Of the 287 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 165 (57.5%) received limited azithromycin administration, and 122 (42.5%) received extended azithromycin administration. Adjusted median gestational latency was significantly longer for patients who received extended azithromycin administration, extended by >3 days (2.6 days [interquartile range, 2.2-3.1] for limited azithromycin administration vs 5.8 days [interquartile range, 4.8-6.9] for extended azithromycin administration; P<.001). Neonatal secondary outcome evaluation was performed on 216 cases (76%). There was no difference in chorioamnionitis or adverse neonatal outcomes between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Among patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes, extended azithromycin administration was associated with increased latency, without any effect on other maternal or neonatal outcomes.

Effect of mild preoperative thrombocytopenia on postpartum hemorrhage after cesarean deliveries.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia at the time of delivery is considered as a risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage. However, platelet count thresholds for postpartum hemorrhage are variable and not extensively studied. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether mild thrombocytopenia is associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage among women undergoing cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent cesarean delivery at a tertiary care hospital labor and delivery unit from September 2015 to June 2018. Women with normal platelet counts (≥150,000/µL) were compared with women with mild thrombocytopenia (100,000-149,000/µL). Women were excluded if they had moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count of <100,000/µL) or had received a platelet transfusion. The primary outcome was postpartum hemorrhage (quantitative blood loss of ≥1000 mL). Secondary outcomes included frequencies of red blood cell transfusion, wound complications (surgical site infections, dehiscence, or hematoma), and postpartum emergency department visits. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated, controlling for maternal age, gestational age, body mass index, scheduled cesarean delivery, hypertension, and preoperative hemoglobin level. RESULTS: Of 3133 women, 2799 (89.3%) had normal platelet levels, 298 (9.5%) had mild thrombocytopenia, and 36 (1.2%) had moderate to severe thrombocytopenia. There were no differences in the risks of postpartum hemorrhage, need for a red blood cell transfusion, wound complications, or postpartum emergency department visit comparing women with normal platelet counts with those with mild thrombocytopenia (24.6% vs 25.8% [adjusted odds ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.54]; 6.5% vs 6.7% [adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-2.24]; 4.5% vs 5.4% [adjusted odds ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-2.64]; 9.0% vs 10.7% [adjusted odds ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-2.03], respectively). CONCLUSION: Preoperative mild thrombocytopenia was not associated with postpartum hemorrhage, red blood cell transfusion, wound complications, or postpartum emergency department visits in women undergoing cesarean delivery.

Intraamniotic Infection Rates after Intrauterine Pressure Catheter with and without Amnioinfusion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the rates of intraamniotic infection between intrauterine pressure catheter with amnioinfusion and intrauterine pressure catheter alone. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of all women who had an intrauterine pressure catheter placement during labor at a tertiary referral hospital from January 2016 to June 2018. Outcomes were compared between women who had an intrauterine pressure catheter with amnioinfusion and intrauterine pressure catheter placement alone. The primary outcome was the rate of intraamniotic infection. Secondary outcomes included postpartum endometritis, postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss of ≥1,000 mL), quantitative blood loss (mL), and cesarean delivery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI), controlling for age, race, body mass index, gestational age, and length of time of rupture of membranes. RESULTS: Of 1,268 women with an intrauterine pressure catheter, 298 (23.5%) also had an amnioinfusion. Women who had amnioinfusion through an intrauterine pressure catheter compared with those who had intrauterine pressure catheter alone had similar rates of intraamniotic infection (5.4 vs. 8.0%, crude p = 0.12, aOR 0.69; 95% CI 0.39-1.21), as well as secondary outcomes such as postpartum endometritis (3.0 vs. 2.5%, crude p = 0.61, aOR 1.12; 95% CI 0.49-2.53), postpartum hemorrhage (16.1 vs. 15.8%, crude p = 0.89, aOR 1.07; 95% CI 0.75-1.54), blood loss (479.5 vs. 500 mL, adjusted p = 0.89), and cesarean delivery (40.6 vs. 43.1%, crude p = 0.45, aOR 0.90; 95% CI 0.68-1.19). CONCLUSION: Amnioinfusion was not associated with increased odds of intraamniotic infection compared with intrauterine pressure catheter placement alone. KEY POINTS: · Amnioinfusion involves instilling fluid into the amniotic cavity to relieve variable decelerations.. · Amnioinfusion is not associated with increased odds of chorioamnionitis compared to IUPC alone.. · Amnioinfusion is not associated with increased odds of PPH compared to IUPC placement alone..

Review of maternal COVID-19 infection: considerations for the pediatric ophthalmologist.

With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, more data is being reported on transmission, symptomatology, clinical course, and treatment of the virus. Research has focused on the trends and unique characteristics in at-risk populations, including pregnant women. This report summarizes the current data on considerations in pregnancy and postpartum period for mother and neonate to elucidate potential transmission risks for pediatric ophthalmologists.