Maternal influenza vaccination and associated risk of fetal loss: A claims-based prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous studies support the safety of influenza vaccination during pregnancy, fewer studies have evaluated the risk of miscarriage or considered the effect of prior immunization. METHODS: Using national de-identified administrative claims data from the Optum Labs Data Warehouse, we conducted a claims-based cohort study of 117,626 pregnancies between January 2009 and December 2018. We identified pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza vaccinations using CPT codes. Fetal loss was defined as miscarriage, medical termination, or stillbirth as identified by ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes. Cox proportional hazard models treating influenza vaccination as a time-varying exposure, weighted for loss-to-follow-up and stratified by baseline probability of vaccination, were used to model the risk of fetal loss by exposure to influenza vaccine. RESULTS: About 31.4 % of the cohort had a record of influenza vaccination; 10.0 % were vaccinated before pregnancy only, 17.8 % during pregnancy only, and 3.6 % before and during pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage was 39 % lower among those vaccinated during pregnancy compared to unvaccinated (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR 0.61; 95 % CI 0.50, 0.74) and was similar for medical termination or stillbirth (HR 0.69; 95 % CI 0.45, 1.03 and aHR 0.99; 95 % CI 0.76, 1.30, respectively). Similar results were observed for women who received the vaccine before and during pregnancy. We observed little to no association between vaccination before pregnancy and risk of miscarriage (HR 0.98; 95 % CI 0.76, 1.26), medical termination (HR 1.02; 95 % CI 0.46, 2.24), or stillbirth (HR 1.14, 95 % CI 0.77, 1.69). DISCUSSION: Influenza vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of fetal loss. These results support the safety of influenza vaccine administration even when administered before or early during pregnancy.

MNSFß promotes LPS-induced TNFα expression by increasing the localization of RC3H1 to stress granules, and the interfering peptide HEPN2 reduces TNFα production by disrupting the MNSFß-RC3H1 interaction in macrophages.

Abnormally elevated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) levels at the maternal-fetal interface can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including recurrent miscarriage (RM), but the mechanism underlying upregulated TNFα expression is not fully understood. We previously reported that the interaction between monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor-ß (MNSFß) and RC3H1 upregulates TNFα expression, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we found that MNSFß stimulated the LPS-induced TNFα expression by inactivating the promoting effect of RC3H1 on TNFα mRNA degradation rather than directly inhibiting the expression of RC3H1 in THP1-Mϕs. Mechanistically, the 81-326 aa region of the RC3H1 protein binds to the 101-133 aa region of the MNSFß protein, and MNSFß facilitated stress granules (SGs) formation and the translocation of RC3H1 to SGs by interacting with RC3H1 and fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) in response to LPS-induced stress. The SGs-localization of RC3H1 reduced its inhibitory effect on TNFα expression in LPS-treated THP1-Mϕs. The designed HEPN2 peptide effectively reduced the LPS-induced expression of TNFα in THP1-Mϕs by interfering with the MNSFß-RC3H1 interaction. Treatment with the HEPN2 peptide significantly improved adverse pregnancy outcomes, including early pregnancy loss (EPL) and lower fetal weight (LFW), which are induced by LPS in mice. These data indicated that MNSFß promoted TNFα expression at least partially by increasing the localization of RC3H1 to SGs under inflammatory stimulation and that the HEPN2 peptide improved the adverse pregnancy outcomes induced by LPS in mice, suggesting that MNSFß is a potential pharmacological target for adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by abnormally increased inflammation at early pregnancy.

Comparison of the efficacy of phloroglucinol versus ritodrine hydrochloride in preventing miscarriage and adverse reactions.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of phloroglucinol versus ritodrine hydrochloride in preventing miscarriage and adverse reactions (ARs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 211 patients with threatened abortion or premature birth who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between July 2019 and July 2021. The control group (n=57) received ritodrine hydrochloride, while the observation group (n=154) was treated with phloroglucinol. We compared the overall therapeutic efficacy, time to symptom resolution, cessation of uterine contractions, success rate of miscarriage prevention, and full-term pregnancy rate between the two groups. Estrogen levels, including serum progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), were measured and compared before and after treatment using ELISA. Additionally, neonatal outcomes, such as birth weight, Apgar scores, and umbilical arterial blood gas parameters [pH value, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2)], were evaluated and compared between the groups. Finally, the incidence of ARs during treatment was assessed and compared. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the observation group had higher effective rate of treatment, success rate of miscarriage prevention, and a full-term pregnancy rate (all P<0.05). The times to symptom resolution and cessation of uterine contractions were markedly shorter in the observation group than those in the control group (both P<0.05). After treatment, levels of serum P, E2, and hCG in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (all P<0.05). Additionally, the body weight, Apgar scores, pH value, and PaO2 of the neonates in the observation group were higher, while PaCO2 and the incidence of ARs were lower compared to the control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: For threatened abortion or threatened premature labor, phloroglucinol is more effective than ritodrine hydrochloride for clinical intervention and treatment.

Detecting and Dating Early Non-live Pregnancy Outcomes: Generation of a Novel Pregnancy Algorithm From Norwegian Linked Health Registries.

PURPOSE: Pregnancies ending before gestational week 12 are common but not notified to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Our goal was to develop an algorithm that more completely detects and dates all possible pregnancy outcomes (i.e., miscarriages, elective terminations, ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies, stillbirths, and live births) by using diagnostic codes from primary and secondary care registries to complement information from the birth registry. METHODS: We used nationwide linked registry data between 2008 and 2018 in a hierarchical manner: We developed the UiO pregnancy algorithm to arrive at unique pregnancy outcomes, considering codes within 56 days as the same event. To estimate the gestational age of pregnancy outcomes identified in the primary and secondary care registries, we inferred the median gestational age of pregnancy markers (45 ICD-10 codes and 9 ICPC-2 codes) from pregnancies registered in the medical birth registry. When no pregnancy markers were available, we assigned outcome-specific gestational age estimates. The performance of the algorithm was assessed by blinded clinicians. RESULTS: Using only the medical birth registry, we identified 649 703 pregnancies, including 1369 (0.2%) miscarriages and 3058 (0.5%) elective terminations. With the new algorithm, we detected 859 449 pregnancies, including 642 712 live-births (74.8%), 112 257 miscarriages (13.1%), 94 664 elective terminations (11.0%), 6429 ectopic pregnancies (0.7%), 2564 stillbirths (0.3%), and 823 molar pregnancies (0.1%). The median gestational age was 10+1 weeks (IQR 10+0-12+2) for miscarriages and 8+0 weeks (IQR 8+0-9+6) for elective terminations. Gestational age could be inferred using pregnancy markers for 66.3% of miscarriages and 47.2% of elective terminations. CONCLUSION: The UiO pregnancy algorithm improved the detection and dating of early non-live pregnancy outcomes that would have gone unnoticed if relying solely on the medical birth registry information.

Cerclage suture type to prevent pregnancy loss in women requiring a vaginal cervical cerclage: the C-STICH RCT.

Background: Second trimester miscarriage and preterm birth is a significant global problem. Surgical cervical cerclage is performed to prevent pregnancy loss and preterm birth. It utilises either a monofilament or braided suture. It is hypothesised that a braided material becomes colonised with pathogenic bacteria that causes vaginal dysbiosis, infection and cerclage failure. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of using a monofilament suture material as opposed to a braided suture material on pregnancy loss in women requiring a vaginal cervical cerclage. Design: Superiority open randomised controlled trial. Setting: Seventy-five maternity sites across the UK. Participants: Women experiencing a singleton pregnancy requiring a cervical cerclage. Interventions: Monofilament suture or braided suture. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was pregnancy loss (miscarriage and perinatal mortality, including any stillbirth or neonatal death in the first week of life). Secondary outcomes included the core outcome set for preterm birth. Methods: Women were randomised on a 1 : 1 basis to monofilament or braided cerclage utilising a bespoke randomisation service with minimisation dependent on the site, indication for cerclage, intention to use progesterone and planned surgical technique. The inclusion criteria were three or more previous mid-trimester losses or preterm births, insertion of a cerclage in a previous pregnancy, a history of a mid-trimester loss or preterm birth with a shortened cervical length in the current pregnancy or in women who clinicians deemed at risk of preterm birth. The exclusion criteria were an emergency or rescue cerclage, age of < 18 years, being unable to give informed consent or the cerclage having to be placed abdominally. The original sample size was calculated based on a relative risk reduction of 41% from a pregnancy loss rate of 19% in the braided group to 11% in the monofilament group with 90% power and alpha at p = 0.05. The independent data monitoring committee noted a lower-than-anticipated pooled event rate within the trial and recommended an increase in sample size to 2050. The outcome data were collected using clinical record forms from the maternal and neonatal medical records and reported to Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit. Results: A total of 2049 women were randomised, after withdrawals and loss to follow-up, data on 1005 women in the monofilament group and 993 women in the braided group were included. The baseline demographics between the groups were similar. There was no evidence of a difference in pregnancy loss rates between the monofilament and braided groups (80/1003 vs. 75/993; adjusted risk ratio: 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.79 to 1.40; adjusted risk difference: 0.002, 95% confidence interval: -0.02 to 0.03). Limitations: The trial did not collect long-term paediatric outcomes. There were no safety concerns. Conclusions: There was no evidence of a difference in pregnancy loss between a monofilament suture and a braided suture. Future work: Long-term follow-up of neonates born within the C-STICH (cerclage suture type for an insufficient cervix and its effects on health outcomes) trial. Trial registration: This trial is registered as ISRCTN15373349. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 13/04/107) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 40. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Cervical cerclage is an operation performed in pregnancy to prevent miscarriage and preterm birth. A cervical cerclage is sometimes recommended in women who have had babies born prematurely before or who have had previous cervical surgery. A cerclage operation involves a stitch being inserted around the neck of the womb (cervix) to keep it closed during pregnancy and to prevent it opening prematurely. When performing the operation, the doctor can use different types of threads made of different materials. The threads used to perform the operation are called sutures. One suture type is a single strand or monofilament thread, and the other is a multifilament braided thread with lots of thin strands woven together. Some evidence has suggested that using a monofilament suture thread prevented pregnancy loss by preventing infection. Therefore, we performed a randomised controlled trial of the use of monofilament suture thread versus braided suture thread, aiming to reduce pregnancy loss in women who were having a cerclage as part of their routine care. The women consented to take part in the study and were randomly allocated to their cerclage performed with either a monofilament or braided suture thread; there was no other change to their planned pregnancy care. What happened in their pregnancy was recorded from their medical records and analysed. A total of 2049 women agreed to take part in the study and consented to the analysis of their pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Cerclage suture type for an insufficient cervix and its effects on health outcomes showed that there was no difference in pregnancy loss between the two suture threads. There was decreased maternal sepsis and decreased chorioamnionitis (which is an infection inside the womb during labour) in the women who received a monofilament suture, which needs further investigation. Although more women who had a cerclage using the monofilament thread needed a small operation and an anaesthetic, often between 36 and 37 weeks, to remove the monofilament suture prior to a vaginal birth, there were no differences in the outcomes for their babies.

Utility of pelvic examination in assessing women with bleeding in early pregnancy: a multicenter Canadian emergency department study.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding in early pregnancy is a common emergency department (ED) presentation. Although variability in approaches has been demonstrated, research is relatively uncommon on practices and outcomes. This study investigated the influence of clinical pattern of care, utility, and contribution of pelvic examination aimed at diagnosing and managing bleeding in early pregnancy at three Canadian EDs. METHODS: After obtaining informed consent, data were collected from adult women who were pregnant and from treating ED physicians using a structured questionnaire. We defined the change in management based on the initial clinical plan at the time of the initial physician assessment in the ED and any subsequent changes made after the pelvic examination was performed. Patient telephone follow-up was supplemented by linking with provincial administrative data for births. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a change in patient management following pelvic examination in the ED. RESULTS: Overall, 200 women were enrolled. The mean age was 31 years, patients had been bleeding for a median of 1 day and stayed in the ED for a median of 5 h. Of these, 166 (83.0%) received a pelvic examination, including speculum examination and/or bimanual palpation. Pregnancy outcome data were available for 192 pregnancies; 107 (56%) experienced a miscarriage. Factors significantly associated with a change in management after pelvic examination in the univariate logistic regression analysis were brown/dark-red bleeding per vaginam (physician determined), tachycardia, right lower quadrant tenderness, and bimanual palpation. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, brown/dark-red bleeding per vaginam was independently associated with a reduced likelihood of a change in management after pelvic examination (aOR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.14-0.98). CONCLUSION: Among women presenting to the ED with bleeding in early pregnancy prior to 20 weeks gestation, only brown/dark-red vaginal bleeding, potentially indicative of bleeding resolution, significantly independently influenced the baseline odds of a change in management after pelvic examination. Until the debate on the utility of pelvic examination in the ED for this presentation is resolved, physician preferences and shared decision making with patients should guide practice regarding speculum examination/bimanual palpation for the management of bleeding in early pregnancy.

Disrupting Maternal Behavior and Inducing Cannibalism Due to Valproic Acid: An Unexplored Insight.

Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) is the most widely used chemical to develop the preclinical model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, in addition to inducing autism, it causes different teratogenic effects like teeth malformation, tail kink, and abnormal body growth in offspring. So far, no study has explored VPA-induced maternal misbehavior, miscarriage, and maternal cannibalism. We aimed to determine the cannibalistic effects of VPA in pregnant female Wistar rats and VPA's influence on causing miscarriage frequency. Methods: Our study was conducted on pregnant Wistar rats. On gestation day (GD) 12.5, they were treated with VPA (600 mg/kg intraperitoneal) dissolved in saline at 250 mg/mL concentration. The observations were mean litter size, mean male/female pups, mean mortality, maternal cannibalism, mean number of pups alive, cannibalism of malformed pups, miscarriage, survival analysis of pups, and odds and risk ratio were calculated for deaths observed in both study (control and VPA-treated) groups. The study was conducted till the weaning period. Results: VPA-exposed pregnant females portrayed significantly decreased litter size (P<0.0001), significantly higher cannibalistic behavior (P=0.0023), and significantly higher cannibalism of malformed pups (P=0.0484) than the control group. VPA had caused complete pregnancy loss (miscarriage) in 5 pregnant females. Moreover, the VPA group's mortality percentage (P=0.0019) was significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: Overall, VPA has marked teratogenic effects (anatomical and morphological changes in offspring) with maternal behavior disruption, which causes cannibalism in Wistar female rats. The current manuscript findings can aid in investigating the novel mechanisms involved in maternal behavior disruption during the development of the VPA autism model.

High-risk factors for massive haemorrhage in medical abortion patients with missed miscarriage.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the incidence of missed miscarriage has gradually increased, and medical abortion is a common method to terminate a pregnancy. In the process of medical abortion, massive vaginal bleeding takes place, leading to emergency surgical haemostasis. Emergency surgery may produce infection and organ damage. Our study aimed to investigate the high-risk factors for massive haemorrhage during a medical abortion. METHODS: A total of 1062 missed miscarriage patients who underwent medical abortion participated in this retrospective study. According to the amount of bleeding, the patients were divided into a massive haemorrhage group and a control group. By comparing the general conditions of the two groups, such as fertility history, uterine surgery history, uterine fibroids, etc., the high-risk factors for massive haemorrhage during medical abortion were identified. RESULTS: Relative to the control group, the massive haemorrhage group exhibited a higher proportion of patients with a previous artificial abortion (51.9% vs. 38.1%, P = 0.001). Additionally, the massive haemorrhage group had a lower percentage of first-time pregnant women (32.1% vs. 40.4%) and a higher proportion of women with shorter pregnancy intervals (44.9% vs. 33.1%, P = 0.03). Furthermore, there were notable differences between the two groups regarding maximum fibroid size, the duration of amenorrhea, and gestational week (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, we determined that a history of artificial abortion and an amenorrhea duration of > 11 weeks represented high-risk factors for massive vaginal bleeding during medical abortion in missed miscarriage patients.

Shark Fin Sign in a Patient with Sepsis-induced Cardiomyopathy Associated with Retained Placenta: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Retained placenta can lead to septic shock; however, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) due to retained placenta has not been reported previously. This report presents a rare case of SICM following septic shock due to retained placenta after miscarriage in a 40-year-old woman, accompanied by the "shark fin sign" on an electrocardiogram, a pattern typically linked to myocardial ischemia. She experienced ventricular tachycardia and required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; however, she was successfully treated. We also reviewed previous cases of shark fin sign in patients without myocardial infarction. A review showed that half of the cases experienced lethal arrhythmias, even without myocardial infarction.

Foetal outcome of Leptospira and Rickettsial infections during pregnancy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis and rickettsial infections are bacterial zoonoses prevalent in different geographical locations and presents with overlapping symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To identify foetal outcomes in pregnant women diagnosed with rickettsial infections, including scrub typhus and leptospirosis, along with their associated factors. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL (Cochrane), Web of Science, PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, and Embase using defined search terms. Studies involving pregnant women with diagnosed leptospirosis and rickettsial infections, including scrub typhus, were selected. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts using the Rayyan Web interface. Data extraction was performed in Microsoft Excel, with Zotero for reference management. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. Data synthesis included narrative analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-four studies were included: 22 on scrub typhus, 14 on rickettsial infection, 16 on leptospirosis, and 2 on all three infections. Of 176 scrub typhus cases, 53 resulted in foetal loss and 3 in neonatal death. Among 38 rickettsial infection cases, 4 had foetal loss. Out of 63 leptospirosis cases, 13 experienced foetal loss. Six maternal deaths occurred due to scrub typhus and one due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. CONCLUSION: Leptospirosis and rickettsial infections, including scrub typhus, are important causes of pregnancy loss. Further research is needed to better understand and mitigate these risks in pregnant women.

Association between exposure to atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy and risk of miscarriage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between exposure to atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy and risk of miscarriage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This nested case-control study used a large Japanese administrative database. Pregnancy onset and outcomes were estimated using previously reported algorithms, classifying cases as women becoming pregnant between 2013 and 2022 and ending in a miscarriage. Controls were randomly selected from the entire pregnancy cohort by risk-set sampling with replacement and were individually matched to the cases (3:1). The association between exposure to atypical antipsychotics and risk of miscarriage was assessed using conditional logistic regression adjusted for confounders. The association between benzodiazepine exposure and the risk of miscarriage was assessed as a positive control. RESULTS: In the cohort, 44,118 patients were matched with 132,317 controls. The mean ages (standard deviations) of the case and control groups were 33.3 (5.7) and 33.2 (5.5) years, respectively. The prevalence of atypical antipsychotics was 0.5% in both groups. Aripiprazole is an individual antipsychotic with the highest prescription prevalence. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for miscarriage were 0.966 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.796-1.173) for atypical antipsychotics and 0.998 (0.784-1.269) for aripiprazole. A higher aOR (1.431, 95% CI 1.303-1.573) suggested an association with benzodiazepines. A sensitivity analysis that limited the population to women diagnosed with schizophrenia alone did not suggest an association between atypical antipsychotics and the risk of miscarriage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study do not suggest an association between exposure to atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage.

Witzenberg Women's experience of health care after a miscarriage: A descriptive qualitative study.

BACKGROUND:  Although some evidence is available from low- and middle-income countries, no South African data are available on how women experience healthcare during treatment for an incomplete miscarriage. AIM:  This study sets out to explore and describe the experiences of healthcare among women who suffered an incomplete spontaneous miscarriage in the Witzenberg subdistrict, a rural area in the Western Cape province of South Africa. SETTING:  Witzenberg subdistrict, Western Cape province, South Africa. METHODS:  This study used a descriptive exploratory qualitative study design. In-person interviews were held with women who experienced a miscarriage. Interviews followed a semi-structured format by a single interviewer to explore the various aspects involving experiences of healthcare. RESULTS:  Eight interviews were conducted and analysed. The five themes that arose from transcribed data were: (1) a need for safety, (2) pain management, (3) moderating behaviours and attitudes, (4) disorienting healthcare systems and (5) abandonment. Several factors contributed to the loss of physical and emotional safety in the emergency centre environment. Timeous emotional and pharmacological pain management were found to be a gap while patients awaited care. Clear communication and staff attitude were found to be integral to the patient's experience and could avoid the perception of abandonment. CONCLUSION:  There is a universal need for basic respectful, supportive and safe care in patients who attend an emergency centre for early pregnancy complications in rural South African. Specific focus should be given to clear communication and appropriate emotional support during and after the miscarriage.Contribution: This study can be used as a guide to improve services by ensuring respectful, transparent, informed, and appropriate continuity of care.

Detection of Germline Mosaicism for Robertsonian Translocation 14;14: A Case Report.

Background: Chromosomal structural rearrangements can lead to fertility problems and recurrent miscarriages. The intricate interplay of genetics during human development can lead to subtle anomalies that may affect reproduction. Case Presentation: A 33-year-old woman sought fertility treatment after experiencing six miscarriages. Products of conception from the final pregnancy loss had been karyotyped, revealing a Robertsonian translocation (RT), involving chromosome 14. Fertility investigations showed low anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels but otherwise normal female characteristics with normal sperm parameters of her husband were observed and both partners having a normal karyotype. Two embryos were transferred in an IVF cycle but neither resulted in a successful pregnancy. Subsequently, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) was applied to trophectoderm biopsy specimens from 4 embryos, which revealed abnormalities involving chromosome 14. Sperm aneuploidy testing failed to detect any increase in the incidence of aneuploidy affecting chromosome 14. Further embryos genetic testing indicated that all identified chromosome 14 abnormalities in the embryos had a maternal (oocyte) origin. Conclusion: This case underscores challenges in diagnosing and managing germline mosaicism in fertility. A maternal 14;14 Robertsonian translocation, undetected in the patient's blood but impacting oocytes, likely explains recurrent miscarriage and observed embryo aneuploidies. Genetic mosaicism in reproductive medicine highlights the necessity for advanced testing and personalized treatments. Data integration from various genetic analyses could enhance managing treatment expectations and improving fertility experiences.

Consensus Statements for Assessment and Management of Threatened Miscarriage in the First Trimester in Pakistan: A Three-Step Modified Delphi Approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It aimed to develop an expert consensus regarding the risk assessment, diagnosis, and threatened miscarriage management during the first trimester in Pakistan. METHODS: A three-step modified Delphi method was applied to develop the consensus. Eleven specialized obstetricians and gynecologists participated in its development. If 75% or higher agreement level was attained on each assertion, it was declared as a consensus. RESULTS: Age of 35 or above, previous history of two or more previous miscarriages, and direct strong trauma were considered to be threatened miscarriage risk factors. Infection was discussed and specified to include specific infectious diseases, like malaria, and COVID-19 as a risk factor. The experts agreed from the first time on considering endocrinological disorders, thrombophilia, and lifestyle variables as threatened miscarriage risk factors. They proposed adding a statement concerning acquired thrombophilia which was accepted unanimously. Finally, experts agreed on the importance of educating pregnant women about factors whose risk can be modified by modifying their behavior. As for diagnosis statements, it was agreed to be trifold: physical examination, imaging, and laboratory testing. Physical examination included abdominal and pelvic exams but focused more on vaginal examination with speculum to identify bleeding severity and etiology. The statements regarding the imaging approaches to diagnose threatened miscarriage in the first trimester achieved a consensus in most statements. TVS was recommended to check on uterine structural abnormalities, fetus viability focusing on heartbeat and crown-to-rump length, gestation sac size and emptiness, subchorionic hematoma, and ectopic pregnancy. Each was defined on how to identify and diagnose in separate statements. Statements about laboratory tests indicated the need for human chorionic gonadotropin hormone assessment whether serial or once is dependent on the ultrasound. Recommended hematologic investigations include complete blood count for anemia, Rh factor for potential bleeding risk and in special cases, thrombophilia assessment is undertaken. The first and foremost management aspect was follow-up while most management statements were controversial, and some were altogether removed with only some reaching agreement after discussion. CONCLUSION: These consensus statements aggregated the best available evidence and experts' opinion-supported statements to improve patient education, risk assessment, diagnosis, and evaluation as well as management of threatened miscarriage during the first trimester in Pakistan.

A nomogram and risk stratification to predict subsequent pregnancy loss in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.

STUDY QUESTION: Could the risk of subsequent pregnancy loss be predicted based on the risk factors of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients? SUMMARY ANSWER: A nomogram, constructed from independent risk factors identified through multivariate logistic regression, serves as a reliable tool for predicting the likelihood of subsequent pregnancy loss in RPL patients. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Approximately 1-3% of fertile couples experience RPL, with over half lacking a clear etiological factor. Assessing the subsequent pregnancy loss rate in RPL patients and identifying high-risk groups for early intervention is essential for pregnancy counseling. Previous prediction models have mainly focused on unexplained RPL, incorporating baseline characteristics such as age and the number of previous pregnancy losses, with limited inclusion of laboratory and ultrasound indicators. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The retrospective study involved 3387 RPL patients who initially sought treatment at the Reproductive Immunology Clinic of Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022. Of these, 1153 RPL patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: RPL was defined as two or more pregnancy losses (including biochemical pregnancy loss) with the same partner before 28 weeks of gestation. Data encompassing basic demographics, laboratory indicators (autoantibodies, peripheral immunity coagulation, and endocrine factors), uterine and endometrial ultrasound results, and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were collected from enrolled patients through initial questionnaires, post-pregnancy visits fortnightly, medical data retrieval, and telephone follow-up for lost patients. R software was utilized for data cleaning, dividing the data into a training cohort (n = 808) and a validation cohort (n = 345) in a 7:3 ratio according to pregnancy success and pregnancy loss. Independent predictors were identified through multivariate logistic regression. A nomogram was developed, evaluated by 10-fold cross-validation, and compared with the model incorporating solely age and the number of previous pregnancy losses. The constructed nomogram was evaluated using the AUC, calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve analysis (CICA). Patients were then categorized into low- and high-risk subgroups. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: We included age, number of previous pregnancy losses, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin IgM, anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex IgM, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody, arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, thrombin time and the sum of bilateral uterine artery systolic/diastolic ratios in the nomogram. The AUCs of the nomogram were 0.808 (95% CI: 0.770-0.846) in the training cohort and 0.731 (95% CI: 0.660-0.802) in the validation cohort, respectively. The 10-fold cross-validated AUC ranged from 0.714 to 0.925, with a mean AUC of 0.795 (95% CI: 0.750-0.839). The AUC of the nomogram was superior compared to the model incorporating solely age and the number of previous pregnancy losses. Calibration curves, DCAs, and CICAs showed good concordance and clinical applicability. Significant differences in pregnancy loss rates were observed between the low- and high-risk groups (P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study was retrospective and focused on patients from a single reproductive immunology clinic, lacking external validation data. The potential impact of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities on pregnancy loss could not be excluded, and the administration of medication to all cases impacted the investigation of risk factors for pregnancy loss and the model's predictive efficacy. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study signifies a pioneering effort in developing and validating a risk prediction nomogram for subsequent pregnancy loss in RPL patients to effectively stratify their risk. We have integrated the nomogram into an online web tool for clinical applications. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82071725). All authors have no competing interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Medical management of first trimester missed miscarriages - A cross-sectional study.

Background & Objective: Miscarriage, a common complication of early pregnancy before 12 completed weeks of gestation, is typically managed medically. We aimed to estimate the success and complication rate of medical management in women with first-trimester missed miscarriages. Our objective was to calculate the rate of complete uterine evacuation within three weeks of treatment, rate of infection, significant blood loss, re-admission, or surgical evacuation. Methods: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study that included women diagnosed with miscarriage at less than 13 weeks' gestation in Latifa Hospital's Gynecology Department from January 2019 to December 2019 in Dubai. These patients were given vaginal misoprostol, 400-800 mcg every 6-8 hours until expulsion of pregnancy. Results: There were 294 women included in the study. The success rate was 60.5% (178/294). Twenty women developed significant blood loss (6.8%), four women developed infection (1.4%), 76 required readmission (25.9%), 12 women received blood transfusion (4.1%), and 74 women required a surgical evacuation (25.2%). Nulliparity, unscarred uterus, and the presence of abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding before treatment were significantly associated with the successful medical treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: The success rate of the medical regimen studied lies on the lower end of what is quoted in the literature. The difference in the success rate could be attributed to the different definitions of success in other studies. Nulliparity, unscarred uterus and presence of abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding were associated with higher success.

Men's Experiences With Perinatal Loss: An Integrative Review.

Introduction: Perinatal loss is a tremendous loss for many and can have consequences that affect physical and mental health. This topic has been substantially examined among women; however, men's experiences with perinatal loss have lacked attention. Many men report significant grief, self-blame, stigma, loss of self-identity, lack of recognition of their loss, marginalization, and gendered expectations that negate their grieving process. This places men at risk for complicated or disenfranchised grief. Most studies examining perinatal loss have been conducted in countries outside of the United States and outside of the discipline of nursing. As nurses are concerned about holistic care of men and women, the findings resulting from studies with women and other cultural perspectives may not be generalizable to men in the United States. Purpose: The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the current state of science regarding men's experiences with perinatal loss, what is known about this loss within the nursing discipline, to identify gaps in nursing knowledge, and to expose areas for further research. Method: Online databases including CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus were used to perform the initial search. The search terms included "men," "perinatal loss," "miscarriage," "stillbirth," and "grief." Results: Themes were identified through a review of the literature that included that men experienced a loss of the role of fatherhood and identity. Additionally, men reported expectations about socially and gender-specific behavior that influenced their expressions of grief and their coping process. Finally, the lack of recognition of their loss as fathers in perinatal loss resulted in the marginalization and the use of avoidance and distraction to cope with the loss, as well as risks to the health of the partnered relationship.

Updates to Male Infertility: AUA/ASRM Guideline (2024).

PURPOSE: In 2023 the American Urological Association (AUA) requested an Update Literature Review (ULR) to incorporate new evidence generated since the 2020 publication of this Guideline. The resulting 2024 Guideline Amendment addresses updated recommendations to provide guidance on the appropriate evaluation and management of the male partner in an infertile couple. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2023, the Male Infertility Guideline was updated through the AUA amendment process in which newly published literature is reviewed and integrated into previously published guidelines. An updated literature search identified 4093 new abstracts. Following initial abstract screening, 125 eligible study abstracts met inclusion criteria. On data extraction, 22 studies of interest were included in the final evidence base to inform the Guideline amendment. RESULTS: The Panel developed evidence- and consensus-based statements based on an updated review to provide guidance on evaluation and management of male infertility. These updates are detailed herein. CONCLUSIONS: This update provides several new insights, including revised thresholds for Y-chromosome microdeletion testing, indications for pelvic MRI imaging in infertile males, and guidance regarding the use of testicular sperm in nonazoospermic males. This Guideline will require further review as the diagnostic and treatment options in this space continue to evolve.

Depression after pregnancy loss: the role of the presence of living children, the type of loss, multiple losses, the relationship quality, and coping strategies.

Background: Pregnancy loss (PL) is a common, yet rarely examined public health issue associated with an increased risk of impaired mental health, particularly depression.Objective: Previous research shows childlessness to be a correlate of depression after PL. First studies also indicate associations of the type of loss, multiple losses, relationship quality, and coping strategies with depression after the loss of a pregnancy. However, results are inconsistent and the few existing studies show methodological deficits. Therefore, we expect higher depression scores for women without living children, and we exploratively examine the associations between the type of loss, the number of losses, relationship quality, and coping strategies with depression scores for women who suffered a PL.Method: In an online setting, N = 172 women with miscarriage (n = 137) or stillbirth (n = 35) throughout the last 12 months completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D), Brief-COPE, and Partnerschaftsfragebogen (PFB), a German questionnaire measuring relationship quality.Results: In a multiple hierarchical regression analysis, stillbirth, ß = 0.15, p = .035, presence of living children, ß = -0.17, p = .022, and self-blame/emotional avoidance, ß = 0.34, p < .001, are predictors of depression scores. However, there was no association between depression symptoms and other coping strategies, relationship quality, and multiple losses.Conclusions: Especially with regard to women who have no living children, have suffered a stillbirth, or are affected by self-blame/emotional avoidance, health care providers should monitor the presence of depressive symptoms. Our results indicate the need for specific instruments measuring coping style and relationship quality after PL, since the standard items of the PFB and the Brief-COPE seem inappropriate for this setting.

Stillbirth is associated with higher maternal depression scores than miscarriage.Women with living children show lower depression scores after pregnancy loss than childless women.Self-blame and emotional avoidance are associated with higher maternal depression scores after pregnancy loss.

Assessing the predictive value of first trimester ultrasound and biochemical markers in miscarriage: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy generates anxiety and uncertainty for expecting parents. The ability to determine pregnancy outcome through a first trimester ultrasound scan remains a challenge in obstetrics. Several first trimester ultrasound markers used individually or in combination, as well as ultrasound markers used in combination with biochemical markers, have been studied to determine their predictive value in pregnancy outcome. This scoping review was performed to determine which markers have already been investigated for this purpose. METHODS: An extensive and systematic database search was performed using four different categories of keywords which were combined using Boolean terms. A total of 14 variables were included on the final data charting forms. Data was synthesised collectively for each variable and then separately for the studies analysing only one marker. For the studies which analysed multiple markers, data was synthesised based on the number of markers per study. RESULTS: The search yielded 3608 studies, of which 128 were ultimately used for this review. Data extraction, based on predetermined eligibility criteria, was performed by two authors independently. Seventy-seven (62.6%) studies investigated the predictive value of a single ultrasound marker. The remaining 46 (37.4%) studies explored multiple markers, of which at least one was an ultrasound marker. CONCLUSION: This review identified several discrepancies among different studies. This highlights the need for better consensus among researchers to allow for the design of a predictive model which enables extrapolation of findings to all pregnant women. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Through the study of ultrasound and biochemical markers in the first trimester of pregnancy, clinicians may provide a more accurate prediction of pregnancy outcome following threatened miscarriage.