The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies with COVID 19: a systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"F. Pérez-López, R. Savirón-Cornudella, P. Chedraui, M. T. López-Baena, G. Pérez-Roncero, Ana Sanz-Arenal, Marta Narváez-Salazar, P. Dieste-Pérez, M. Tajada","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2051008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2051008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective This meta-analysis aimed at comparing obstetric and perinatal outcomes in laboratory-tested pregnant women for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection before delivering. Method We performed a comprehensive systematic review of electronic databases for studies reporting pregnant women with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection, as determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before delivery, during the pandemic period published up to June 25, 2021. Results are reported as mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Seventeen observational studies with low to moderate risk of bias, reported on 2,769 pregnant women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and 13,807 with a negative test. Pregnant women with a positive PCR test delivered at an earlier gestational age (MD −0.19; 95% CI −0.36 to −0.02 weeks), smoked less (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.61–0.94) and were associated with higher odds for preeclampsia (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.09–1.54), NICU admissions (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.18–4.76), stillbirths (OR 2.70; 95% CI, 1.38–5.29), and perinatal mortality (OR 3.23; 95% CI 1.23–8.52). There were no significant differences between positive and negative tested women in terms of nulliparity, multiple pregnancies, gestational diabetes, route of delivery, labor induction, preterm birth, infant birth weight, 5 min Apgar scores < 7, small-for-gestational-age infants and fetal malformations. Eleven studies included neonatal PCR SARS-CoV-2 testing which was performed on 129 infants, of which 20 were positive. Conclusion Positive SARS-CoV-2 tested pregnant women had higher odds for preeclampsia/hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, NICU admissions, stillbirths and perinatal mortality.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73729254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contribution of maternal mosaicism to false-positive chromosome X loss associated with noninvasive prenatal testing","authors":"Junhui Wan, Ru Li, Fa-tao Li, Qiuxia Yu, Dan Wang, Xiuhong Sun, Yong-ling Zhang, X. Jing, Xuewei Tang, Gui-lan Chen, F. Jiang, Fucheng Li, F. Fu, Yan Li, Lina Zhang, C. Yi, Jian Li, Dongzhi Li, C. Liao","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2050362","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050362","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective To report the frequency of maternal mosaicism contributing to false-positive chromosome X loss associated with noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) at a single center. Methods Pregnancies undergone NIPT using massively parallel sequencing at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center between February 2015 and May 2020 were included in this study. Fetal karyotyping, quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF-PCR) or microarray analysis was provided to patients with abnormal sex chromosomal aneuploidy (SCA) results for confirmatory testing, and QF-PCR was also employed to detect maternal sex chromosome status. Results cffDNA testing of 40682 pregnancies revealed 86 cases with NIPT results positive for chromosome X loss (0.21%). Among the 86 high-risk cases, 73 women had undergone confirmatory testing in our center, whereas 13 declined. Of the 73 women verified by invasive prenatal diagnosis, 27.4% (20/73) were true positive cases including six cases of monosomy X, two cases of microdeletion of Xp22.33, one case of deletion Xq27.2q28, one case of 47, XXX and ten cases with fetal sex chromosome mosaicism. Of the remaining 53 patients with fetal normal results, 30 cases had undergone QF-PCR analysis of maternal white blood cells. QF-PCR indicated that 36.7% (11/30) patients had an altered or mosaic maternal sex chromosome status. Statistical analysis indicated that cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) concentration estimated by chromosome X in maternal mosaic cases was significantly higher than that in the non-maternal mosaicism group (p < .05) and was related to maternal mosaicism rate (r = 0.88, p < .05). Conclusions Our findings indicated that maternal mosaicism of sex chromosome was not uncommon in false-positive NIPT chromosome X loss cases. We recommend that this information should be disclosed to pregnancies during clinical counseling and maternal sex chromosome status should be confirmed for the cases with NIPT chromosome X loss.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73504692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expedited postpartum discharge during the COVID-19 pandemic and acute postpartum care utilization","authors":"A. Panzer, Anne E. Reed-Weston, A. Friedman, D. Goffman, T. Wen","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2048815","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2048815","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background Early postpartum discharges increased organically during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not known if this ‘natural experiment’ of shorter postpartum hospital stays resulted in increased risk for postpartum readmissions and other acute postpartum care utilization such as emergency room encounters. Objective The objectives of this study were to determine which clinical factors were associated with expedited postpartum discharge and whether the expedited postpartum discharge was associated with increased risk for acute postpartum care utilization. Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated birth hospitalizations at affiliated hospitals during two periods: (i) the apex of the ‘first wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City (3/22/20 to 4/30/20) and (ii) a historical control period of one year earlier (3/22/19 to 4/30/19). Routine postpartum discharge was defined as ≥2 d after vaginal birth and ≥3 d after cesarean birth. Expedited discharge was defined as <2 d after vaginal birth and <3 d after cesarean birth. Acute postpartum care utilization was defined as any emergency room visit, obstetric triage visit, or postpartum readmission ≤6 weeks after birth hospitalization discharge. Demographic and clinical variables were compared based on routine versus expedited postpartum discharge. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were performed to analyze factors associated with (i) expedited discharge and (ii) acute postpartum care utilization. Unadjusted (ORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs were used as measures of association. Stratified analysis was performed restricted to patients with chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension. Results A total of 1,358 birth hospitalizations were included in the analysis, 715 (52.7%) from 2019 and 643 (47.3%) from 2020. Expedited discharge was more common in 2020 than in 2019 (60.3% versus 5.0% of deliveries, p < .01). For 2020, clinical factors significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of expedited discharge included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.27–0.60), chronic hypertension (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.06–0.29), and COVID-19 infection (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34–0.77). Cesarean (OR 3.00, 95% CI 2.14–4.19) and term birth (OR 3.34, 95% CI 2.03, 5.49) were associated with an increased likelihood of expedited discharge. Most of the associations retained significance in adjusted models. Expedited compared to routine discharge was not associated with significantly different odds of acute postpartum care utilization for 2020 deliveries (5.4% versus 5.9%; OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.47–1.82). Medicaid insurance (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.06–4.98) and HDP (OR 5.16, 95% CI: 2.60–10.26) were associated with a higher risk of acute postpartum care utilization and retained significance in adjusted analyses. In the stratified analysis restricted to women with hypertensive diagnoses, expedited discharge was associated with significantly increased risk f","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79825747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health disparities, COVID-19, and maternal and childbirth outcomes: a meta-epidemiological study of equity reporting in systematic reviews","authors":"M. Hartwell, Vanessa Lin, Ashton Gatewood, Nicholas B. Sajjadi, Morgan Garrett, Arjun K. Reddy, B. Greiner, J. Price","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2049750","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2049750","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background Pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk for adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes, and birth complications. Given the health outcome disparities among pregnant women of racial and ethnic minorities and the reliance of medical practice on systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs)—as they are the apical component in the hierarchy of evidence in medical research—the primary objective of the study is to examine the inclusion of the equity reporting in SRMAs focused on pregnancy outcomes and COVID-19 using PROGRESS-Plus equity framework. PROGRESS represents equity measures of Place, Race, Occupation, Gender, Religion, Education, Social capital, and Socio-economic status. Methods We conducted a systematic search of three databases to identify SRMAs related to maternal and pregnancy outcomes related to COVID-19. We extracted whether SRMAs reported or analyzed PROGRESS-Plus components among other study characteristics. Results Nearly 85% of SRMAs did not include any equity items to account for racial or geographic disparities. Reporting of race was absent from 95% of the studies. Place was the most common PROGRESS item and maternal age was the most common PROGRESS-Plus item reported overall. Conclusion When research is performed and reported in a way that fails to address disparities, the downstream repercussions may include medical care in the form of new protocol-driven hospital management, pharmacologic interventions, and other treatment options that mirror this absence in reporting. The absence of adequate reporting widens gaps in health outcomes among at-risk groups, such as pregnant women of racial and ethnic minorities.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88201691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of educational intervention on nutritional behavior in pregnant women based on social cognitive theory","authors":"Z. Arefi, R. Sadeghi, D. Shojaeizadeh, M. Yaseri, S. Shahbazi Sighaldeh","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2050901","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050901","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background One of the key issues for women’s health is pregnancy. Healthy nutrition during pregnancy is a reliable guarantee for proper pregnancy and childbirth. This study sought to determine the impact of an educational intervention based on social cognitive theory on the nutritional behavior of pregnant women in Iran Methods This randomized controlled trial study was carried out in women of reproductive age in Iran, from February to April 2020. The samples were divided into experimental (n = 150) and control (n = 150) groups. The questionnaire included demographic questions, questions related to the structures of social cognitive theory and nutritional behavior questionnaire. The data were analyzed through the SPSS20 and AMOS23 software. Results The mean age of the women was 28.11 ± 6.54 and 28.83 ± 6.62 years in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The results of the Structural Equation Model showed that direct effect of self-efficacy, self-regulation, and mutual determinants on behavior were significant. After the educational intervention, nutritional behavior in the experimental group was increased significantly. Also, there was a significant difference between two groups in structures such as outcome expectations, outcome value, self-efficacy and knowledge. But there was no significant increase in the self-regulation and social support after educational intervention. Conclusion Social cognitive theory as a theoretical framework is able to predict healthy eating behavior during pregnancy. Also educational intervention based on the structures of social cognitive theory, improved the behavior of pregnant mothers. Educational intervention based on social cognitive theory and providing simple and understandable training packages for pregnant women is recommended.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76373576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiological CTG categorization in types of hypoxia compared with MRI and neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with HIE","authors":"S. Pereira, R. Patel, Ahmed Zaima, Katarina Tvarozkova, P. Chisholm, Olga Kappelou, J. Evanson, E. Chandraharan, D. Wertheim, D. Shah","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2050366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050366","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background Commonly used methods of CTG classification do not reliably predict neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Objective To examine whether a relationship exists between the types of hypoxia as identified on the cardiotocograph using novel physiology-based CTG classification and patterns of injury on neonatal cerebral MRI and later neurodevelopmental outcomes. Study design A retrospective study of term-born infants admitted to four neonatal units with HIE as part of a brain injury biomarkers study between January 2014 and December 2015. Intrapartum CTG traces were analyzed by two obstetricians trained in physiological CTG classification, blind to neonatal outcomes. Neonatal cerebral MR images were assessed independently by a neuroradiologist and an expert neonatologist. CTG traces were classified into types of hypoxia and allocated to groups; (1) chronic hypoxia or antepartum injury; (2) gradually evolving or subacute hypoxia; and (3) acute hypoxia. Results Of 106 infants recruited to the study, records were available for 58 cases. Of these, CTGs were available for 37. All 37 had abnormal CTGs. Twenty-four infants, all of whom had received therapeutic hypothermia had cerebral MRI. Fourteen of the 24 (58%) infants had abnormal MRI. In group 1 (chronic hypoxia/antenatal injury), total brain injury was most predominant (4/6 infants). Group 2 (gradually evolving/subacute hypoxia) was associated with peripheral brain injury (5/5 infants). Group 3 (acute hypoxia) was associated with basal-ganglia thalamic injury pattern (3/3 infants). Later neurodevelopmental outcomes were available for 35 cases. Infants suspected to have a pre-labor injury on CTG (group 1) had a higher proportion of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes (4/10, 40%) compared to groups 2 and 3 (4/25, 16%). Conclusion Using this novel physiology-based CTG classification, we demonstrate an association between types of hypoxia observed on the CTG and MRI patterns of hypoxic brain injury. Infants with CTG trace suggestive of chronic hypoxia or other antenatal injuries were overrepresented in this cohort and were also more likely to have a poor neurodevelopmental outcome.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73685251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The correlation between levator ani co-activation and fetal head regression on maternal pushing at term","authors":"A. Youssef, E. Brunelli, M. Fiorentini, G. Pilu, A. El-Balat","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2050363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050363","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective To assess the correlation between fetal head regression and levator ani muscle (LAM) co-activation under Valsalva maneuver. Study design This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study on the association between the angle of progression (AoP) and labor outcome. We scanned a group of nulliparous women at term before the onset of labor at rest and under maximum Valsalva maneuver. In addition to the previously calculated AoP, in the present study, we measured the anteroposterior diameter of LAM hiatus (APD) on each ultrasound image. LAM co-activation was defined as APD at Valsalva less than that at rest, whereas fetal head regression was defined as AoP at Valsalva less than that at rest. We calculated the correlation between the two phenomena. Finally, we examined various labor outcomes according to the presence, absence, or co-existence of these two phenomena. Results We included 469 women. A total of 129 (27.5%) women presented LAM co-activation while 50 (10.7%) showed head regression. Only 15 (3.2%) women showed simultaneous head regression and LAM co-activation. Women with coexisting LAM co-activation and head regression had the narrowest AoP at Valsalva in comparison with other study groups (p < .001). In addition, they had the highest risk of Cesarean delivery (40%) and longest first, second, and active second stage durations, although none of these reached statistical significance. Conclusion In nulliparous women at term before the onset of labor fetal head regression and LAM co-activation at Valsalva are two distinct phenomena that uncommonly coexist.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83369829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pregnancy and delivery after traumatic brain injury: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Finland","authors":"M. Vaajala, I. Kuitunen, Lauri Nyrhi, V. Ponkilainen, M. Kekki, T. Luoto, V. Mattila","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2050899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050899","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objectives Few studies have assessed pregnancies and deliveries after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We report the incidence of TBIs and TBI-related surgeries in fertile-aged females and investigate subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Methods All fertile-aged (15–49) women with TBI diagnosis during our study period (1998–2018) were retrieved from the Care Register for Health Care and combined with data from the National Medical Birth Register. TBIs were categorized into three subgroups based on the length of the hospitalization period and the need for neurosurgery. Logistic regression was used to analyze preterm deliveries, cesarean sections (CS) and neonatal health. Results are reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The incidence of TBIs increased from 103 per 100 000 person-years in 1998 to 257 per 100 000 (149.5%) in 2018. The incidence of TBI-related surgeries remained stable during our study period. The rate of preterm deliveries was 5.6% in the TBI group and 3.0% in the control group (AOR 1.23, CI 1.17–1.28). The CS rate in the TBI group was 19.2% and 15.9% in the control group (AOR 1.23, CI 1.18–1.29). The use of labor analgesia was higher among women with previous TBI. The rate of neonates requiring intensive care in the TBI group was 13.1% and 9.9% in the control group (AOR 1.30, CI 1.24–1.37). Conclusion The incidence of TBI hospitalizations increased during our study period, whereas the number of surgically treated TBI remained stable. Preterm deliveries, CS, instrumental vaginal deliveries and labor analgesia were more prevalent in women with previous TBI. Furthermore, more neonates required intensive care in this group. Therefore, a history of TBI should be acknowledged as a possible factor affecting the delivery and health of the neonate.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90271084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Possible vertical transmission of corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) from infected pregnant mothers to neonates: a multicenter study","authors":"R. Almaghrabi, Lana A Shaiba, I. Babic, Mona Abdelbaky, Sana Ibrahim Aljuhani, Magdy Omer, Hisham Abdelaziz Abdelmaksoud, S. Abdulghani, A. Hadid, M. Arafah, Nagoud Mohamed Omar Ali, Abdulrahman Alamir, S. Alateah, Howaida A Bin Salem, Ahmed Muhammed Alrumaihi, Mahdya A Bukhari, Reem Aljubab, N. Alsaud, A. Alhetheel, A. Somily, A. Albarrag, Hadil Mohammad Alahdal, H. Sonbol, Abdulrahman Alnemri, F. Alzamil","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2047926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2047926","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly contagious with various possible routes of transmission, resulting in high mortality globally. Controversy exists regarding the vertical transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 infection to fetuses of COVID-19-infected women. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19-infected mothers to their neonates. Materials and methods We prospectively collected demographical and clinical characteristics of 31 COVID-19 positive pregnant women and their neonates. All mothers and neonates were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection using the real-time polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swabs and breast milk samples. Antenatal and placental abnormalities were ultrasonically and histopathologically examined. In cord blood samples, the immunoglobins (Ig) M and IgG were estimated qualitatively. Results The women’s mean age and gestational age were 31 years and 38 weeks, respectively, with 58% undergoing an elective cesarean section. Gestational diabetes was reported in 29% of cases, 64.5% of women were medically free and only 16.12% were symptomatic. A normal antenatal ultrasound was observed in 77.42% of cases. Nine cord blood samples were positive for IgG. Villous infarction (24%), villous agglutination, and chorangiosis (51%), accelerated villous maturation (21%) and reduced and hypercoiling were reported for 6.97% of the umbilical cords. Three newborns had possible vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, of which, two were preterm and IUFD. The third neonate was born full-term, admitted to NICU and later discharged in good health. Conclusion Our findings support the possibility of the direct vertical transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 infection to neonates from infected mothers. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to validate the current findings.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86227642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ductus venosus Doppler assessment: do the results differ between the sagittal and the transverse approach?","authors":"V. Seravalli, G. Masini, Ilaria Ponziani, M. Di Tommaso, L. Pasquini","doi":"10.1080/14767058.2022.2050364","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050364","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective To compare the ductus venosus (DV) pulsatility index for veins (PIV) obtained in a mid-sagittal plane with that obtained in an oblique transverse plane of the fetal abdomen. Methods Prospective observational study in singleton uncomplicated pregnancies undergoing an ultrasound examination between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. Pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies, fetal growth restriction, or oligohydramnios were excluded. Two consecutive recordings of DV Doppler waveform were obtained in each woman: one in a mid-sagittal plane, and the other in an oblique transverse plane of the fetal abdomen. The peak velocity during ventricular systole (S-wave) and diastole (D-wave), the velocity during atrial contraction (a-wave), and the time-averaged maximum velocity (TAmax) were measured, and the PIV was calculated. The paired t-test was used to compare results obtained with the two approaches. A change of the DV-PIV of 0.10 or more was considered clinically relevant. Results The DV waveform was successfully obtained in 53 women (mean gestational age 28.5 weeks). The mean DV-PIV was 0.57 (±0.16 SD) in the sagittal plane and 0.54 (±0.16 SD) in the transverse plane. The mean difference (0.03) was statistically significant (p = .04), but not clinically relevant. The sagittal S-, D-, and a-wave velocities and TAmax were significantly higher in the sagittal plane compared to the transverse plane, with an increase of 12, 8, 8, and 10%, respectively (p < .05). Conclusions The difference in the DV-PIV obtained in a mid-sagittal plane compared to a transverse plane of the fetal abdomen is small and not clinically significant. The higher DV flow velocities observed in the sagittal plane are likely the result of a better alignment with the vessel obtained using this plane. These findings have implications for clinical practice and for research.","PeriodicalId":22921,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79224018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}