Association between Fish Consumption during Pregnancy and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Statistical Study in Southern Italy.

Background: This research aimed to evaluate the association between the monthly consumption of fish (differentiated by type) and both gestational and neonatal outcomes. Methods: Women who were admitted for delivery in the last 6 months of 2023 were prospectively included and divided according to type of fish consumed (based on DHA and mercury content) and frequency of consumption. Neonatal outcomes included weight, length, head circumference, and 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores. Maternal outcomes were threats of abortion, preterm birth, gestational diabetes and hypertension, cesarean section, and differential body mass index (BMI). Results: Small-size oily fish with high DHA and low mercury content (type B fish) consumption was positively associated with neonatal weight and head circumference, and less weight gain in pregnancy. It was also significantly associated with lower incidences of gestational diabetes and hypertension, and cesarean section. Correlation between differential BMI and monthly consumption of fish resulted in statistical significance, especially in type B fish consumers. Conclusions: The consumption of type B fish was significantly associated with increased neonatal weight and head circumference and better maternal outcomes.

Cytomegalovirus and Pregnancy: A Narrative Review.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital infection worldwide, affecting between 0.7% and 1% of all live births. Approximately 11% of infected newborns are symptomatic at birth, and between 30% and 40% of these are at risk of developing long-term neurological sequelae. Until recently, the lack of an effective treatment did not justify universal testing of pregnant women. In recent years, however, valacyclovir at a dose of 8 g/day has been shown to be effective in preventing vertical transmission, and ganciclovir has been shown to be effective in preventing long-term sequelae in the treatment of symptomatic neonates. The aim of this article is to review congenital CMV infection, from its epidemiology to its treatment, using the most recent studies in the literature, and to help in the decision to modify protocols for universal testing of pregnant women according to the possibilities of each locality.

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Menstrual Cycle: An Italian Survey-Based Study.

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has played a critical role in controlling the spread of the pandemic. The main side effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination include fever and fatigue; however, the potential impacts on menstrual cycles are to be determined. Given the limited number of studies suggesting menstrual changes post vaccination, this study investigates the correlation between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual cycle changes in fertile-aged Italian women. A questionnaire was distributed from 1 October to 31 November 2022, focusing on menstrual rhythm and flow changes post vaccination. The analysis involved 471 participants. The study observed a shift from a regular to an irregular menstrual rhythm (p < 0.001), and changes in menstrual duration (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001 for first and second doses, respectively) and flow volume (p < 0.001). Most patients with irregular rhythms were vaccinated in the proliferative phase of their cycle. Within six months post vaccination, 74.2% of women with irregular post-vaccination rhythms reported a return to normality. These findings indicate primarily transient menstrual changes following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, suggesting the vaccines' safety for women of reproductive age.

Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

The aims of our study were to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). In this observational, retrospective case-control study, we included all pregnant women who gave birth with a diagnosis of ICP between January 2010 and December 2020 at the Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Messina. The data were compared with those from a control group of pregnant women who did not have ICP. One hundred twenty-nine and eighty-five patients were included, respectively, in the study and in the control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of hypothyroidism, thrombophilia, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, postpartum hemorrhage, and preterm delivery, which were more frequent in the ICP patients. No neonatal adverse events were recorded, although a significant difference in the meconium-stained amniotic fluid condition was noted. After a 24-month follow-up, 48/129 patients with ICP accepted to be reassessed by liver ultrasound, elastographic examination, and liver function blood tests. No patient showed signs of chronic liver disease. This study confirmed a higher probability of adverse short-term maternal outcomes in ICP pregnant patients, but a lower probability of adverse short-term fetal outcomes and the absence of a long-term maternal risk of chronic liver disease.

Ultrasonographic Prenatal Diagnosis: Unveiling the Path to Improved Antenatal Care.

The realm of prenatal diagnosis has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years, primarily due to the widespread use of ultrasonography [...].

Scar Pregnancy: A Rare, but Challenging, Obstetric Condition.

Scar pregnancy is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when an embryo implants and grows within a previous cesarean section scar or other uterine scars [...].

Correction: Antonuccio et al. The Nutraceutical N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) Reveals Widespread Molecular Effects Unmasking New Therapeutic Targets in Murine Varicocele. Nutrients 2021, 13, 734.

In the original publication [...].

Preconception Thyrotropin Levels and Thyroid Function at Early Gestation in Women With Hashimoto Thyroiditis.

CONTEXT: Preconception optimization of thyroid function in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is highly recommended to prevent/reduce the risk of thyroid insufficiency at early gestation. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to evaluate the prevalence of first-trimester thyroid insufficiency in HT women with preconception thyrotropin (T0-TSH) values consistently less than or equal to 2.5 mIU/L with or without levothyroxine (LT4) treatment, and to calculate T0-TSH cutoffs that best preconceptionally identified HT women requiring first-trimester LT4 adjustment/prescription. METHODS: Serum TSH was obtained at 4- to 6-week intervals from 260 HT pregnant women (122 on LT4 [Hypo-HT]; 138 euthyroid without LT4 [Eu-HT]), prospectively followed from preconception up to pregnancy term. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to identify T0-TSH cutoffs best predicting first-trimester TSH levels greater than 2.5 mIU/L (diagnostic criterion [DC] 1) and greater than 4.0 mIU/L (DC 2). RESULTS: At first trimester, TSH was greater than 2.5 mIU/L in approximately 30% of both Hypo-HT and Eu-HT women, and greater than 4.0 mIU/L in 19.7% Hypo-HT and 10.1% Eu-HT women (P = .038). The optimal ROC-based T0-TSH cutoffs found were 1.24 mIU/L/1.74 mIU/L in Hypo-HT, and 1.73 mIU/L/2.07 mIU/L in Eu-HT women, for DC 1 and DC 2, respectively. T0-TSH values exceeding these cutoffs resulted in a statistically significantly increased risk of first-trimester thyroid insufficiency (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI)] 15.92 [5.06-50.15] and 16.68 [5.13-54.24] in Hypo-HT; 16.14 [6.47-40.30] and 17.36 [4.30-70.08] in Eu-HT women, for DC 1 and DC 2, respectively). CONCLUSION: The preconception TSH cutoffs that guaranteed a first-trimester TSH less than 2.5 mU/L in hypothyroid- and euthyroid-HT women were, respectively, almost 50% (1.24 mU/L) and 30% (1.73 mU/L) lower than this gestational target, and 1.74 mU/L and 2.07 mU/L in hypothyroid- and euthyroid-HT women, respectively, for a gestational target of 4.0 mU/L.

Attitudes of mothers of pre-adolescent girls on HPV vaccine in Italy. Do we need a turning point?

BACKGROUND: To investigate the knowledge, awareness and attitude of mothers of preadolescent girls regarding the HPV vaccination and cervical cancer, and to understand how to improve the efficacy of the Italian vaccination campaign through the gathered data. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in mothers of unvaccinated 9 to 12-year-old (yo) girls in Italy from November 2018 to July 2019, to evaluate their awareness and the attitude toward HPV, its vaccination and the information sources of the vaccination campaign. The selection of the distribution sites of the questionnaire was performed with randomization of 50 major places of aggregation located throughout the Italian territory. RESULTS: Three hundred mothers of unvaccinated girls were included in the study and divided into two groups (191 subjects <45yo, 109 subjects >45yo). Results showed that 79.6% of <45yo knew what HPV is, compared to 60.6% of >45yo (p-value <0.001); only 60.2% (<45yo) and 54.1% (>45yo) showed awareness about the HPV vaccine (p-value 0.03). The percentage of parents against vaccination in pre-adolescent was higher in the >45yo (29.4%); however, most of them appeared favorable to the information campaigns regarding the vaccine (p-value <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that mothers of unvaccinated pre-adolescent girls have suboptimal knowledge on the topic. Moreover, the implementation of communication strategies dedicated to the population segment appears as a central aspect. As HPV vaccination keeps being a public health concern, it is fundamental to understand which trigger should be managed by healthcare decision makers in order to boost the vaccination campaigns.

Laparoscopic High Uterosacral Ligament Suspension vs. Laparoscopic Sacral Colpopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Laparoscopic sacral colpopexy is the gold standard technique for apical prolapse correction but it is a technically challenging procedure with rare but severe morbidity. Laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension could be a valid technically easier alternative using native tissue. Material and Methods: In the period from 2015 to 2018, 600 women were submitted to laparoscopic sacral colpopexy while 150 to laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension in three Italian urogynecology referral centers. We enrolled women with apical prolapse stage ≥2 alone or multicompartment descensus. To reduce allocation bias, we performed a propensity matched analysis. Women undergoing laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension surgery were matched 1:2 to women undergoing laparoscopic sacral colpopexy. The cumulative proportion of relapse-free women in time was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The primary objective of this multicenter case-control retrospective study was to compare the recurrence rate while the secondary objectives were to compare feasibility, safety, and efficacy of laparoscopic sacral colpopexy and laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension in surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Results: Three hundred and nine women were enrolled (103 laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension; 206 laparoscopic sacral colpopexy). Median operatory time was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension group (P = 0.0001). No statistically significative difference was found in terms of estimated blood loss, admission time, intraoperative, and major early postoperative complications, postoperative pelvic pain, dyspareunia and de novo stress urinary incontinence. Surgical approach was the only independent risk factor for prolapse recurrence (RR = 6.013 [2.965-12.193], P = 0.0001). The objective cure rate was higher in the laparoscopic sacral colpopexy group (93.7 vs. 68%, 193/206 vs. 70/103, P = 0.0001) with a highly reduced risk of recurrence (RR = 5.430 [1.660-17.765]). Median follow up was 22 months. Conclusion: Both techniques are safe, feasible, and effective. Laparoscopic sacral colpopexy remains the best choice in treatment of multicompartment and advanced pelvic organ prolapse while laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension could be appropriate for moderate and isolated apical prolapse when laparoscopic sacral colpopexy is not suitable for the patient or to prevent prolapse in women at high risk at the time of the hysterectomy.

Subthreshold psychiatric symptoms as potential predictors of postpartum depression.

The authors' purpose in the present study is to examine the role of subthreshold mental disorders as predictors of Postpartum Depression (PPD). 110 pregnancy women were evaluated as follow: the General 5-Spectrum Measure at 26 weeks of gestation; the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 3/6 months after delivery. Only 4.5% of the sample developed PPD at 3/6 months after delivery. Agoraphobia/panic, depressed mood, social anxiety and eating problems relate positively to PPD at 3/6 months. Early identification of symptoms that could indicate the development of future mood problems in the mother is of crucial importance for mental health and prevention.

Robotic Pelvic Exenteration for Gynecologic Malignancies, Anatomic Landmarks, and Surgical Steps: A Systematic Review.

Pelvic exenteration represents the last resort procedure for patients with advanced primary or recurrent gynecological malignancy. Pelvic exenteration can be divided into different subgroup based on anatomical extension of the procedures. The growing application of the minimally invasive surgical approach unlocked new perspectives for gynecologic oncology surgery. Minimally invasive surgery may offer significant advantages in terms of perioperative outcomes. Since 2009, several Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Pelvic Exenteration experiences have been described in literature. The advent of robotic surgery resulted in a new spur to the worldwide spread of minimally invasive pelvic exenteration. We present a review of the literature on robotic-assisted pelvic exenteration. The search was conducted using electronic databases from inception of each database through June 2021. 13 articles including 53 patients were included in this review. Anterior exenteration was pursued in 42 patients (79.2%), 2 patients underwent posterior exenteration (3.8%), while 9 patients (17%) were subjected to total exenteration. The most common urinary reconstruction was non-continent urinary diversion (90.2%). Among the 11 women who underwent to total or posterior exenteration, 8 (72.7%) received a terminal colostomy. Conversion to laparotomy was required in two cases due to intraoperative vascular injury. Complications' report was available for 51 patients. Fifteen Dindo Grade 2 complications occurred in 11 patients (21.6%), and 14 grade 3 complications were registered in 13 patients (25.5%). Only grade 4 complications were reported (2%). In 88% of women, the resection margins were negative. Pelvic exenteration represents a salvage procedure in patients with recurrent or persistent gynecological cancers often after radiotherapy. A careful patient selection remains the milestone of such a mutilating surgery. The introduction of the minimally invasive approach has led to advantages in terms of perioperative outcomes compared to classic open surgery. This review shows the feasibility of robotic pelvic exenteration. An important step forward should be to investigate the potential equivalence between robotic approaches and the laparotomic one, in terms of long-term oncological outcomes.

Surgical complications occurring during minimally invasive sentinel lymph node detection in endometrial cancer patients. A systematic review of the literature and metanalysis.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological cancer. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique has been adopted worldwide and showed lower morbidity and superimposable survival outcomes than the systematic lymphadenectomy (LND). Although these encouraging results, no meta-analyzes were performed on surgical complications during SLN research among patients undergoing laparoscopic (L) versus robotic surgery (R). The present review aims to report surgical complications during laparoscopic versus robotic SLN technique. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) and the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines have been followed for the present meta-analysis. RESULTS: Six studies, including 769 participants, were included. L-LND resulted in a significantly higher risk of operative complications relative to L-SLN (RR 2.10 [95% CI 1.37 to 3.21]). The risk of complications was comparable between R-SLN and L-SLN (RR 2.32 [95% CI 0.04-121.02]) and between R-LND and L-LND (RR 2.17 [95% CI 0.04-126.69]). According to the SUCRA analysis, L-SLN and R-SLN had the highest chances of being ranked first among proposed surgical procedures (SUCRA 48.9% and 28.4% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study reported a lower surgical complications rate in patients undergoing L-SLN technique compared to L-LND. A lower rate of surgical complications was also reported for the R-SLN technique compared to the R-LND. Both laparoscopic and robotic SLN surgical techniques were found to be safe surgical procedures.

The Nutraceutical N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) Reveals Widespread Molecular Effects Unmasking New Therapeutic Targets in Murine Varicocele.

Varicocele is an age-related disease with no current medical treatments positively impacting infertility. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression is present in normal testis with an involvement in the immunological reactions. The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), a nuclear receptor, in fertility is still unclear. N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an emerging nutraceutical compound present in plants and animal foods, is an endogenous PPAR-α agonist with well-demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesics characteristics. In this model of mice varicocele, PPAR-α and TLR4 receptors' roles were investigated through the administration of ultra-micronized PEA (PEA-um). Male wild-type (WT), PPAR-α knockout (KO), and TLR4 KO mice were used. A group underwent sham operation and administration of vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. Another group (WT, PPAR-α KO, and TLR4 KO) underwent surgical varicocele and was treated with vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. At the end of treatments, all animals were euthanized. Both operated and contralateral testes were processed for histological and morphometric assessment, for PPAR-α, TLR4, occludin, and claudin-11 immunohistochemistry and for PPAR-α, TLR4, transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-ß3), phospho-extracellular signal-Regulated-Kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) Western blot analysis. Collectively, our data showed that administration of PEA-um revealed a key role of PPAR-α and TLR4 in varicocele pathophysiology, unmasking new nutraceutical therapeutic targets for future varicocele research and supporting surgical management of male infertility.

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of Pregnancy in Nephrotic Syndrome Due to Primary Glomerulonephritis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 3% of pregnancies, impacting on maternal and fetal outcomes, and at the same time, a recurrent question in nephrology regards gestation impact on kidney function. Observational studies stated that CKD stage, pre-existent hypertension, and proteinuria are the main predictors of possible complications, such as maternal CKD progression, maternal or fetal death, prematurity, small for gestational age (SGA) newborn, or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. In this regard, given the prominence of proteinuria among other risk factors, we focused on primary nephrotic syndrome in pregnancy, which accounts for 0.028% of cases, and its impact on materno-fetal outcomes and kidney survival. Data extracted from literature are scattered because of the small cohorts investigated in each trial. However, they showed different outcomes for each glomerular disease, with membranous nephropathy (MN) having a better maternal and fetal prognosis than focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), or minimal change disease (MCD). Nephrotic syndrome does not have to discourage women to undertake a pregnancy, but the correct management may include a specific evaluation of risk factors and follow-up for adverse materno-fetal events and/or maternal kidney disease progression.

Role of Vitamin-D Receptor (VDR) single nucleotide polymorphisms in gestational hypertension development: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Recent literature data have highlighted the important role of hypovitaminosis D in pregnancy complications and prenatal/perinatal health. Vitamin D action takes place through vitamin D receptor (VDR) activation. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms of VDR gene, FokI and BsmI, have been reported to affect VDR molecular signaling and be associated with several disorders, including hypertension. METHODS: We carried out a case-control study aimed to assess vitamin D serum levels together with the distribution of VDR FokI and BsmI in a population of 116 pregnant women with gestational hypertension (GH) and 69 normotensive pregnant women (CTR). RESULTS: Hypovitaminosis D was largely prevalent both in GH (81%) and CTR (69%) pregnant women. Vitamin D insufficiency (10-30 ng/ml) had a similar frequency in both cohorts (GH 60% vs CTR 58%), while vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) was more frequent in GH cohort than in CTR one (21% vs 11%). Regression analysis showed that GH was significantly (p = 0.031) linked to vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with a threefold-increased risk of developing GH, while a normal vitamin D status was protective against this pregnancy disorder. The VDR FF/bB haplotype was the most frequent in GH cohort, and resulted to increase by two folds the risk for GH. Notably, hypovitaminosis D was found in 92% of FF/bB GH pregnant women, 27% of which had deficient vitamin D levels compared with 11% of their normotensive counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being preliminary, these findings suggest that genotyping of pregnant women for VDR polymorphisms may be useful for a tailored vitamin D supplementation strategy.

Determination of free apocarotenoids and apocarotenoid esters in human colostrum.

The presence of carotenoids in human colostrum has been reported in the literature, and xanthophyll esters in human colostrum were recently detected for the first time. However, no published studies have reported whether apocarotenoids, which are metabolites derived from carotenoid enzymatic or nonenzymatic oxidative cleavage, are present in human colostrum. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to search for the possible occurrence of apocarotenoids, including apocarotenoid esters, in human colostrum for the first time by applying an online supercritical fluid extraction-supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methodology. Recent evidence related to apocarotenoid transcriptional activity has suggested that they may have beneficial health properties superior to those of their parent carotenoids. Three different apocarotenoids, namely apo-8'-ß-carotenal, apo-8'-lycopenal, and ß-citraurin, were identified in intact human colostrum samples, with average concentrations of 85 nmol L-1, 54.6 nmol L-1, and 75.4 nmol L-1, respectively. The overall detection of 16 different free apocarotenoids and 10 different apocarotenoid fatty acid esters in human colostrum was achieved here for the first time. Their occurrence in human colostrum certainly has implications for newborn health status, since colostrum is the only form of food for the newborn during the very first days of life. Graphical abstract.

Evaluation of M1 and M2 macrophages in ovarian endometriomas from women affected by endometriosis at different stages of the disease.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease defined by the presence and growth of functional endometrial-like tissue, glands and stroma, outside the uterine cavity. Macrophages are broadly classified into pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, and M2 macrophages, which have selective anti-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic activities and are able to induce immunotolerance and angiogenesis. Based on these elements, the aim of our study was to evaluate CD14+CD68+CD197+CD80+ M1 and CD14+CD68+CD163+CD206+ M2 macrophages in tissue samples from ovarian endometriomas of women affected by endometriosis at different stages of the disease. For each patient, we collected a biological sample of the cyst (ovarian endometriomas for cases and ovarian functional cyst for controls) during laparoscopy. We found that the number of both M1 and M2 macrophages was significantly higher in endometriosis group than controls, regardless of stage (p < .0001 for each stage versus controls). Moreover, our data analysis shows a trend in progressive decrease of M1 macrophages from stage I to stage IV; on the contrary, M2 macrophages show a specular trend compared to M1 macrophages, with a progressive increase from stage I to stage IV. This may contribute to the pro-inflammatory microenvironment in the early stages of the disease, and to the pro-fibrotic activity of the advanced stages.

Hysteroscopic Evaluation of Endometrial Changes in Breast Cancer Women with or without Hormone Therapies: Results from a Large Multicenter Cohort Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of our study was to investigate the incidence of endometrial pathologies, especially endometrial cancer, in women with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen (TAM), aromatase inhibitors (AIs), or receiving no treatment (NT). The secondary aim was to identify, in this cohort, ultrasonographic findings that represent robust indications for hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy, to avoid unnecessary second-level diagnostic procedures. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study (Clinical Trial ID: NCT03898947). SETTING: Data were collected from different Italian centers: Regina Elena National Cancer Institute of Rome, Arbor Vitae Centre of Rome, Gaetano Martino University Hospital of Messina, and Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital of Palermo. PATIENTS: We selected and consecutively included patients with a history of breast cancer who had undergone hysteroscopy for ultrasonographic or clinical indications between January 2007 and December 2016. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy or operative hysteroscopy, when clinically indicated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A higher percentage of patients in the TAM and AI groups had a normal endometrium compared with those in the NT group, whereas the incidence of endometrial polyps was higher in the NT group than in the others; no significant differences were observed among the 3 groups for other benign conditions or for premalignant and malignant uterine diseases, such as endometrial atypical hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: TAM treatment does not seem to be associated with a higher rate of endometrial cancer in women with breast cancer compared with women treated with AIs or NT.