Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): State of the Art and Future Directions.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a type of death that occurs suddenly and without any apparent explanation, affecting infants between 28 days of life and up to a year. Recognition of this entity includes performing an autopsy to determine if there is another explanation for the event and performing both an external and internal examination of the different tissues to search for possible histopathological findings. Despite the relative success of awareness campaigns and the implementation of prevention measures, SIDS still represents one of the leading causes of death among infants worldwide. In addition, although the development of different techniques has made it possible to make significant progress in the characterization of the etiopathogenic mechanisms underlying SIDS, there are still many unknowns to be resolved in this regard and the integrative consideration of this syndrome represents an enormous challenge to face both from a point of view scientific and medical view as humanitarian. For all these reasons, this paper aims to summarize the most relevant current knowledge of SIDS, exploring from the base the characterization and recognition of this condition, its forensic findings, its risk factors, and the main prevention measures to be implemented. Likewise, an attempt will be made to analyze the causes and pathological mechanisms associated with SIDS, as well as potential approaches and future paths that must be followed to reduce the impact of this condition.

Exacerbated Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Placentas from Women Who Developed Chronic Venous Disease during Pregnancy.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) comprises a spectrum of morphofunctional disorders affecting the venous system, affecting approximately 1 in 3 women during gestation. Emerging evidence highlights diverse maternofetal implications stemming from CVD, particularly impacting the placenta. While systemic inflammation has been associated with pregnancy-related CVD, preliminary findings suggest a potential link between this condition and exacerbated inflammation in the placental tissue. Inflammasomes are major orchestrators of immune responses and inflammation in different organs and systems. Notwithstanding the relevance of inflammasomes, specifically the NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3)- which has been demonstrated in the placentas of women with different obstetric complications, the precise involvement of this component in the placentas of women with CVD remains to be explored. This study employs immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) to examine the gene and protein expression of key components in both canonical and non-canonical pathways of the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC-apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a C-terminal caspase recruitment domain-caspase 1, caspase 5, caspase 8, and interleukin 1ß) within the placental tissue of women affected by CVD. Our findings reveal a substantial upregulation of these components in CVD-affected placentas, indicating a potential pathophysiological role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of this condition. Subsequent investigations should focus on assessing translational interventions addressing this dysregulation in affected patient populations.

Exploring the Importance of Differential Expression of Autophagy Markers in Term Placentas from Late-Onset Preeclamptic Pregnancies.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious hypertensive disorder affecting 4-5% of pregnancies globally, leading to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality and reducing life expectancy in surviving women post-gestation. Late-onset PE (LO-PE) is a clinical type of PE diagnosed after 34 weeks of gestation, being less severe than the early-onset PE (EO-PE) variant, although both entities have a notable impact on the placenta. Despite the fact that most studies have focused on EO-PE, LO-PE does not deserve less attention since its prevalence is much higher and little is known about the role of the placenta in this pathology. Via RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry methods, we measured the gene and protein expressions of several macroautophagy markers in the chorionic villi of placentas from women who underwent LO-PE (n = 68) and compared them to normal pregnancies (n = 43). We observed a markedly distinct expression pattern, noticing a significant drop in NUP62 expression and a considerable rise in the gene and protein expressions of ULK1, ATG9A, LC3, ATG5, STX-17, and LAMP-1 in the placentas of women with LO-PE. A major induction of autophagic processes was found in the placental tissue of patients with LO-PE. Abnormal signaling expression of these molecular patterns in this condition aids in the understanding of the complexity of pathophysiology and proposes biomarkers for the clinical management of these patients.

Increased Expression of Tetraspanins, ALIX and HSP-70 in the Placenta Tissue of Women with Chronic Venous Disease during Pregnancy.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a complex and common vascular disorder characterized by increased blood pressure and morpho-functional changes in the venous system like varicose veins. Pregnancy is one of the main risk factors for suffering from this condition. Despite the consequences of CVD during pregnancy remains to be fully understood, compelling evidence support that this condition represents an important stress for the mother and the fetus, leading to significant histopathological changes in the placenta. Tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, and CD81), ALG-2-interacting protein X (Alix), and heat-shock protein (HSP-70) are cellular components involved in multiple biological processes under homeostatic and disease conditions. Despite some studies that have evidence of their relevance in the placenta tissue and pathological pregnancies, there is limited knowledge regarding their role in pregnancy-associated CVD. In this sense, the present work aims to analyze gene and protein expression of these components in the placenta of women with CVD (n=62) in comparison to healthy women (n=52) through RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Our results show an increased gene and protein expression of the different studied markers, suggesting their potential involvement in the pathological environment of the placenta of women who undergo CVD during pregnancy. In this sense, further studies should be directed to deep into the potential implications of these changes to understand the effects and consequences of this condition in maternofetal wellbeing.

Assessment of Tissue Expression of the Oxytocin-Vasopressin Pathway in the Placenta of Women with a First-Episode Psychosis during Pregnancy.

Psychosis refers to a mental health condition characterized by a loss of touch with reality, comprising delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought, disorganized behavior, catatonia, and negative symptoms. A first-episode psychosis (FEP) is a rare condition that can trigger adverse outcomes both for the mother and newborn. Previously, we demonstrated the existence of histopathological changes in the placenta of pregnant women who suffer an FEP in pregnancy. Altered levels of oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) have been detected in patients who manifested an FEP, whereas abnormal placental expression of these hormones and their receptors (OXTR and AVPR1A) has been proven in different obstetric complications. However, the precise role and expression of these components in the placenta of women after an FEP have not been studied yet. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to analyze the gene and protein expression, using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC), of OXT, OXTR, AVP, and AVPR1a in the placental tissue of pregnant women after an FEP in comparison to pregnant women without any health complication (HC-PW). Our results showed increased gene and protein expression of OXT, AVP, OXTR, and AVPR1A in the placental tissue of pregnant women who suffer an FEP. Therefore, our study suggests that an FEP during pregnancy may be associated with an abnormal paracrine/endocrine activity of the placenta, which can negatively affect the maternofetal wellbeing. Nevertheless, additional research is required to validate our findings and ascertain any potential implications of the observed alterations.

Short-chain fatty acids during pregnancy in multiple sclerosis: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can have pro- or anti-inflammatory properties, but their relationship with multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses during pregnancy remains unknown. This study aimed to explore SCFA profiles in MS patients during pregnancy and to assess their association with the appearance of relapses during pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS: We prospectively included 53 pregnant MS patients and 21 healthy control women. Patients were evaluated during pregnancy and puerperium. SCFAs were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (32%) had relapses during pregnancy or puerperium, and 37 (68%) did not. All MS patients showed significant increases in acetate levels during pregnancy and the postpartum period compared to non-MS women. However, propionate and butyrate values were associated with disease activity. Their values were higher in nonrelapsing patients and remained similar to the control group in relapsing patients. The variable that best identified active patients was the propionate/acetate ratio. Ratios of <0.36 during the first trimester were associated with higher inflammatory activity (odds ratio = 165, 95% confidence interval = 10.2-239.4, p < 0.01). Most nonrelapsing patients showed values of >0.36, which were similar to those in healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Low propionate/acetate ratio values during the first trimester of gestation identified MS patients at risk of relapses during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Overexpression of glycolysis markers in placental tissue of pregnant women with chronic venous disease: a histological study.

Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) refers to a wide variety of venous disorders being the varicose veins its most common manifestation. It is well-established the link between pregnancy and the risk of suffering CVD, due to hormonal or haematological factors, especially during the third trimester. In the same manner, previous studies have demonstrated the detrimental effect of this condition in the placental tissue of pregnant women, including in the normal physiology and the metabolomic profile of this organ. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the glucose homeostasis in the placental tissue of women presenting CVD. Through immunohistochemistry, we studied the protein expression of the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), aldolase (ALD), Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GA3PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Our results have reported a significative increase in the expression of GLUT-1, PGK1, ALD, GA3PDH and the isoenzyme LDHA in placentas of women with CVD. This work has proven for the first-time an altered glucose metabolism in the placental tissue of women affected by CVD, what may aid to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of this condition in more distant organs such as placenta. Furthermore, our research also supports the basis for further studies in the metabolic phenotyping of the human placenta due to CVD, which may be considered during the late pregnancy in these women.

Maternal mortality trends in Spain during the 2000-2018 period: the role of maternal origin.

BACKGROUND: The available literature indicates that there are significant differences in maternal mortality according to maternal origin in high income countries. The aim of this study was to examine the trend in the maternal mortality rate and its most common causes in Spain in recent years and to analyse its relationship with maternal origin. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of all live births as well as those resulting in maternal death in Spain during the period between 2000 and 2018. A descriptive analysis of the maternal mortality rate by cause, region of birth, maternal age, marital status, human development index and continent of maternal origin was performed. The risk of maternal death was calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, with adjustment for certain variables included in the descriptive analysis. RESULTS: There was a total of 293 maternal deaths and 8,439,324 live births during the study period. The most common cause of maternal death was hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The average maternal death rate was 3.47 per 100,000 live births. The risk of suffering from this complication was higher for immigrant women from less developed countries. The adjusted effect of maternal HDI score over maternal mortality was OR = 0.976; 95% CI 0.95 - 0.99; p = 0.048; therefore, a decrease of 0.01 in the maternal human development index score significantly increased the risk of this complication by 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that there are inequalities in maternal mortality according to maternal origin in Spain. The human development index of the country of maternal origin could be a useful tool when estimating the risk of this complication, taking into account the origin of the pregnant woman.

Chronic Venous Disease during Pregnancy Causes a Systematic Increase in Maternal and Fetal Proinflammatory Markers.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common vascular disorder characterized by increased venous hypertension and insufficient venous return from the lower limbs. Pregnancy is a high-risk situation for developing CVD. Approximately a third of the women will develop this condition during pregnancy, and similarly to arterial hypertensive disorders, previous evidence has described a plethora of alterations in placental structure and function in women with pregnancy-induced CVD. It is widely known that arterial-induced placenta dysfunction is accompanied by an important immune system alteration along with increased inflammatory markers, which may provide detrimental consequences for the women and their offspring. However, to our knowledge, there are still no data collected regarding cytokine profiling in women with pregnancy-induced CVD. Thus, the aim of the present work was to examine cytokine signatures in the serum of pregnant women (PW) with CVD and their newborns (NB). This study was conducted through a multiplex technique in 62 PW with pregnancy-induced CVD in comparison to 52 PW without CVD (HC) as well as their NB. Our results show significant alterations in a broad spectrum of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, IL-2, IL-7, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-21, IL-23, GM-CSF, chemokines (fractalkine), MIP-3α, and MIP-1ß). Overall, we demonstrate that pregnancy-induced CVD is associated with a proinflammatory environment, therefore highlighting the potentially alarming consequences of this condition for maternal and fetal wellbeing.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Cord Blood from Growth Restricted Fetuses with Doppler Alteration Compared to Adequate for Gestational Age Fetuses.

Background and Objectives: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a severe obstetric disease characterized by a low fetal size entailing a set of undesired consequences. For instance, previous studies have noticed a worrisome association between FGR with an abnormal neurodevelopment. However, the precise link between FGR and neurodevelopmental alterations are not yet fully understood yet. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a critical neurotrophin strongly implicated in neurodevelopmental and other neurological processes. In addition, serum levels of BDNF appears to be an interesting indicator of pathological pregnancies, being correlated with the neonatal brain levels. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the blood levels of BDNF in the cord blood from fetuses with FGR in comparison to those with weight appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Materials and Methods: In this study, 130 subjects were recruited: 91 in group A (AGA fetuses); 39 in group B (16 FGR fetuses with exclusively middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) < 5th percentile and 23 with umbilical artery (UA) PI > 95th percentile). Serum levels of BDNF were determined through ELISA reactions in these groups. Results: Our results show a significant decrease in cord blood levels of BDNF in FGR and more prominently in those with UA PI >95th percentile in comparison to AGA. FGR fetuses with exclusively decreased MCA PI below the 5th percentile also show reduced levels of BDNF than AGA, although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Overall, our study reports a potential pathophysiological link between reduced levels of BDNF and neurodevelopmental alterations in fetuses with FGR. However, further studies should be conducted in those FGR subjects with MCA PI < 5th percentile in order to understand the possible implications of BDNF in this group.

Patients with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Show a Significant Increase in IRS-4 Expression Compared to Infiltrative Ductal Carcinoma-A Histopathological Study.

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the first diagnosed type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. In addition, despite the improvement in treatment and survival in these patients, the global prevalence and incidence of this cancer are rising, and its mortality may be different according to the histological subtype. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is less common but entails a poorer prognosis than infiltrative ductal carcinoma (IDC), exhibiting a different clinical and histopathological profile. Deepening study on the molecular profile of both types of cancer may be of great aid to understand the carcinogenesis and progression of BC. In this sense, the aim of the present study was to explore the histological expression of Insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS-4), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), Cyclin D1 and retinoblastoma protein 1 (Rb1) in patients with ILC and IDC. Patients and Methods: Thus, breast tissue samples from 45 patients with ILC and from 45 subjects with IDC were analyzed in our study. Results: Interestingly, we observed that IRS-4, COX-2, Rb1 and Cyclin D1 were overexpressed in patients with ILC in comparison to IDC. Conclusions: These results may indicate a differential molecular profile between both types of tumors, which may explain the clinical differences among ILC and IDC. Further studies are warranted in order to shed light onto the molecular and translational implications of these components, also aiding to develop a possible targeted therapy to improve the clinical management of these patients.

Considering the Effects and Maternofoetal Implications of Vascular Disorders and the Umbilical Cord.

The umbilical cord is a critical anatomical structure connecting the placenta with the foetus, fulfilling multiple functions during pregnancy and hence influencing foetal development, programming and survival. Histologically, the umbilical cord is composed of three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein, integrated in a mucous connective tissue (Wharton's jelly) upholstered by a layer of amniotic coating. Vascular alterations in the umbilical cord or damage in this tissue because of other vascular disorders during pregnancy are worryingly related with detrimental maternofoetal consequences. In the present work, we will describe the main vascular alterations presented in the umbilical cord, both in the arteries (Single umbilical artery, hypoplastic umbilical artery or aneurysms in umbilical arteries) and the vein (Vascular thrombosis, aneurysms or varicose veins in the umbilical vein), together with other possible complications (Velamentous insertion, vasa praevia, hypercoiled or hypocoiled cord, angiomyxoma and haematomas). Likewise, the effect of the main obstetric vascular disorders like hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (specially pre-eclampsia) and chronic venous disease on the umbilical cord will also be summarized herein.

SARS-COV-2 infection in pregnant women and newborns in a Spanish cohort (GESNEO-COVID) during the first wave.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and newborns is scarce. The objective of this study is to analyse clinical and epidemiological characteristics of a cohort of women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during gestation. METHODS: Multicentric observational study of Spanish hospitals from the GESNEO-COVD cohort, participants in RECLIP (Spanish Network of Paediatric Clinical Assays). Women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by PCR and/or serology during pregnancy, diagnosed and delivering during the period 15/03/2020-31/07/2020 were included. Epidemiological, clinical, and analytical data was collected. RESULTS: A total of 105 pregnant women with a median of 34.1 years old (IQR: 28.8-37.1) and 107 newborns were included. Globally, almost 65% of pregnant women had some COVID-19 symptoms and more than 43% were treated for SARS-COV-2. Overall, 30.8% of pregnant women had pneumonia and 5 (4.8%) women were admitted to the intensive care unit needing invasive mechanical ventilation. There was a rate of 36.2% of caesarean sections, which was associated with pneumonia during pregnancy (OR: 4.203, CI 95%: 1.473-11.995) and lower gestational age at delivery (OR: 0.724, CI 95%: 0.578-0.906). The prevalence of preterm birth was 20.6% and prematurity was associated with pneumonia during gestation (OR: 6.970, CI95%: 2.340-22.750) and having a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR at delivery (OR: 6.520, CI95%: 1.840-31.790). All nasopharyngeal PCR in newborns were negative at birth and one positivized at 15 days of life. Two newborns died, one due to causes related to prematurity and another of unexpected sudden death during early skin-to-skin contact after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Although vertical transmission has not been reported in this cohort, the prognosis of newborns could be worsened by SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy as COVID-19 pneumonia increased the risk of caesarean section deliveries and preterm births.

Pregnancy-associated venous insufficiency course with placental and systemic oxidative stress.

The development of lower extremity venous insufficiency (VI) during pregnancy has been associated with placental damage. VI is associated with increased oxidative stress in venous wall. We have investigated potential disturbance/dysregulation of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in placenta and its eventual systemic effects through the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma levels in women with VI. A total of 62 women with VI and 52 healthy controls (HCs) were studied. Levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase 1 (NOX1), 2 (NOX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelial (eNOS), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase PARP (PARP) and ERK were measured in placental tissue with immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. Plasma and placental levels of MDA were determined by colorimetry at the two study times of 32 weeks of gestation and post-partum. Protein and gene expression levels of NOX1, NOX2, iNOS, PARP and ERK were significantly increased in placentas of VI. eNOS activity was low in both study groups, and there were no significant differences in gene or protein expression levels. Women with VI showed a significant elevation of plasma MDA levels at 32 weeks of gestation, and these levels remained elevated at 32 weeks post-partum. The MDA levels were significantly higher in placentas of women with VI. Placental damage that was found in the women with VI was characterized by overexpression of oxidative stress markers NOX1, NOX2, and iNOS, as well as PARP and ERK. Pregnant women with VI showed systemic increases in oxidative stress markers such as plasma MDA levels. The foetuses of women with VI had a significant decrease in their venous pH as compared to those from HC women. The situation of oxidative stress and cellular damage created in the placenta is in coexpression with the production of a pH acidification.

Human Development Index of the maternal country of origin and its relationship with maternal near miss: A systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The reduction in maternal mortality worldwide has increased the interest in studying more frequent severe events such as maternal near miss. The Human Development Index is a sociodemographic country-specific variable that includes key human development indicators such as living a long and healthy life, acquiring knowledge, and enjoying a decent standard of living, allowing differentiation between countries. In a globalised environment, it is necessary to study whether the Human Development Index of each patient's country of origin can be associated with the maternal near-miss rate and thus classify the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature published between 2008 and 2019 was conducted, including all articles that reported data about maternal near miss in their sample of pregnant women, in addition to describing the study countries of their sample population. The Human Development Index of the study country, the maternal near-miss rate, the maternal mortality rate, and other maternal-perinatal variables related to morbidity and mortality were used. RESULTS: After the systematic review, eighty two articles from over thirty countries were included, for a total of 3,699,697 live births, 37,191 near miss cases, and 4029 mortality cases. A statistically significant (p <0.05) inversely proportional relationship was observed between the Human Development Index of the study country and the maternal near-miss and mortality rates. The most common cause of maternal near miss was haemorrhage, with an overall rate of 38.5%, followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (34.2%), sepsis (7.5%), and other undefined causes (20.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The Human Development Index of the maternal country of origin is a sociodemographic variable allowing differentiation and classification of the risk of maternal mortality and near miss in pregnant women. The most common cause of maternal near miss published in the literature was haemorrhage. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO ID: CRD 42019133464.

Risk factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnancies affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a secondary analysis of the WAPM study on COVID-19.

Objectives To evaluate the strength of association between maternal and pregnancy characteristics and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Methods Secondary analysis of a multinational, cohort study on all consecutive pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 from 73 centers from 22 different countries. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens. The primary outcome was a composite adverse fetal outcome, defined as the presence of either abortion (pregnancy loss before 22 weeks of gestations), stillbirth (intrauterine fetal death after 22 weeks of gestation), neonatal death (death of a live-born infant within the first 28 days of life), and perinatal death (either stillbirth or neonatal death). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate parameters independently associated with the primary outcome. Logistic regression was reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 30.6±9.5 weeks, with 8.0% of women being diagnosed in the first, 22.2% in the second and 69.8% in the third trimester of pregnancy. There were six miscarriage (2.3%), six intrauterine device (IUD) (2.3) and 5 (2.0%) neonatal deaths, with an overall rate of perinatal death of 4.2% (11/265), thus resulting into 17 cases experiencing and 226 not experiencing composite adverse fetal outcome. Neither stillbirths nor neonatal deaths had congenital anomalies found at antenatal or postnatal evaluation. Furthermore, none of the cases experiencing IUD had signs of impending demise at arterial or venous Doppler. Neonatal deaths were all considered as prematurity-related adverse events. Of the 250 live-born neonates, one (0.4%) was found positive at RT-PCR pharyngeal swabs performed after delivery. The mother was tested positive during the third trimester of pregnancy. The newborn was asymptomatic and had negative RT-PCR test after 14 days of life. At logistic regression analysis, gestational age at diagnosis (OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.8-0.9 per week increase; p<0.001), birthweight (OR: 1.17, 95% CI 1.09-1.12.7 per 100 g decrease; p=0.012) and maternal ventilatory support, including either need for oxygen or CPAP (OR: 4.12, 95% CI 2.3-7.9; p=0.001) were independently associated with composite adverse fetal outcome. Conclusions Early gestational age at infection, maternal ventilatory supports and low birthweight are the main determinants of adverse perinatal outcomes in fetuses with maternal COVID-19 infection. Conversely, the risk of vertical transmission seems negligible.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes in external cephalic version: prognostic factors for the success of the technique.

Background We aimed to analyze the success rate of external cephalic version (ECV) for breech presentations performed in our center between March 2011 and March 2016. We evaluated factors related to a successful ECV, delivery mode, complications and newborn status after ECV. Methods Analysis of assembled data of 327 consecutive ECVs in the third trimester was done. Results The total success rate was 56.6%. After a successful ECV, 85.9% of the fetuses were delivered vaginally. Logistic regression analysis of background factors leading to a successful ECV showed that tocolysis with ritodrine and anterior placenta were each significantly correlated with the rate of successful version. No severe complications were registered during the ECVs, and all babies had normal Apgar scores at delivery. Conclusion These findings suggest that attempting an ECV in breech presentations, once or even twice, seems to be an appropriate management given that a successful ECV decreases the rate of cesarean section in this group of patients and by doing so, it might also decrease the risk of cesarean sections in future pregnancies.

Breast cancer during pregnancy: results of maternal and perinatal outcomes in a single institution and systematic review of the literature.

To compare the maternal and the perinatal variables of the patients with pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) and the pregnant patients without breast cancer (PNABC), we retrospectively included 13 PABC cases and 66.265 PNABC patients. The PABC patients presented a lower mean gestational age at their delivery and had higher induction of labour and prematurity rates. A diagnosis was performed before stage III in 77% of the cases. The overall survival was 90%; moreover, we collected 16 manuscripts when gathering data from 1581 patients with PABC. The mean follow-up time was 70 ± 8 months. The mean maternal age at diagnosis was 34 years old. Most of the patients were at their second trimester of pregnancy. The gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks. A mastectomy was the most frequently used surgical approach. PABC should be managed by a multidisciplinary team, ensuring there is a rigorous oncological treatment, with foetal well-being. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? The malignant breast tumours diagnosed during pregnancy, or 1 year after a delivery are increasing, there is evidence supporting the treatment during a pregnancy with maternal and foetal safety. A PABC should be managed by a multidisciplinary team in a referral centre, ensuring that there is a rigorous oncological treatment with foetal well-being. What do the results of this study add? Our results show that the PABC patients in our centre had a mean maternal age older than the PNABC women, as well as a higher percentage of the induction of labour and prematurity. 48 Cancer was usually diagnosed in early stages, and the most common type was ductal infiltrating, with positive hormonal receptors. For those patients continuing their pregnancies, a mastectomy plus a lymphadenectomy was the most frequent chemotherapy, and was usually administered in the third trimester of pregnancy. What are the implications of these findings for future clinical practice and/or further research? Moreover, the number of publications concerning PABC has grown, series are still scarce. We understand the limitations of the low number of the cases on our population, but this study is the first which compare the PABC with the PNABC patients, allowing to describe and compare the obstetrical and perinatal variables. Finally, we consider it is of a paramount importance to create an international database to register in a prospective way all of the cases of PABC to increase our knowledge in this field.

Fetal Aortic Arch Anomalies: Key Sonographic Views for Their Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Implications Using the Cardiovascular System Sonographic Evaluation Protocol.

Aortic arch anomalies are present in 1% to 2% of the general population and are commonly associated with congenital heart disease, chromosomal defects, and tracheaesophageal compression in postnatal life. The sonographically based detection of aortic arch anomalies lies in the 3-vessel and trachea view. Although highly sensitive, this view alone does not allow identification of the aortic arch branching pattern, which prevents an accurate diagnosis. The systematic addition of a subclavian artery view as part of a standardized procedure may be useful in the differential diagnosis of these conditions. We describe the sonographic assessment of fetal aortic arch anomalies by combining 2 fetal transverse views: the 3-vessel and trachea view and the subclavian artery view, which are included in the cardiovascular system sonographic evaluation protocol. We also review the sonographic findings and the clinical implications of fetal aortic arch anomalies.

Prenatal Diagnosis of an Aortopulmonary Window With an Interrupted Aortic Arch.

A prenatal aortopulmonary window with an interrupted aortic arch was detected in a 22-week-old fetus. The 3-vessel and trachea view showed a communication between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery. Early postnatal surgery was successful. A PubMed-based search identified all cases of prenatal aortopulmonary windows between 2002 and 2015. Nine articles were identified. The average gestational age at diagnosis was 28 weeks (range, 22-33 weeks). The most frequent aortopulmonary window was type I (40%). All cases were associated with congenital heart defects, mainly an interrupted aortic arch (50%). No chromosomal or extracardiac abnormalities were seen. Prenatal echocardiography is useful for early diagnosis of an aortopulmonary window. The prognosis depends on the time of surgery and the nature of the associated anomalies.