Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine最新文献

Objectives: To explore the prenatal clinical utility of chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) for polyhydramnios and evaluate the short and long-term prognosis of fetuses with polyhydramnios.

Methods: A total of 600 singleton pregnancies with persistent polyhydramnios from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All cases received amniocentesis and were subjected to CMA results. All cases were categorized into two groups: isolated polyhydramnios and non-isolated polyhydramnios [with soft marker(s) or with sonographic structural anomalies]. All fetuses were followed up from 6 months to five years after amniocentesis to acquire short and long-term prognosis.

Results: The detection rates of either aneuploidy or pathogenic copy number variants in fetuses with non-isolated polyhydramnios were significantly higher than those with isolated polyhydramnios (5.0 vs. 1.5%, p = 0.0243; 3.6 vs. 0.8%, p = 0.0288). The detection rate of total chromosomal abnormalities in the structural abnormality group was significantly higher than that in the isolated group (10.0 vs. 2.3%, p = 0.0003). In the CMA-negative cases, the incidence of termination of pregnancy, neonatal and childhood death, and non-neurodevelopmental disorders in fetuses combined with structural anomalies was significantly higher than that in fetuses with isolated polyhydramnios (p < 0.05). We did not observe any difference in the prognosis between the isolated group and the combined group of ultrasound soft markers. In addition, the risk of postnatal neurodevelopmental disorders was also consistent among the three groups (1.6 vs. 1.3 vs. 1.8%).

Conclusion: For low-risk pregnancies, invasive prenatal diagnosis of isolated polyhydramnios might be unnecessary. CMA should be considered for fetuses with structural anomalies. In CMA-negative cases, the prognosis of fetuses with isolated polyhydramnios was good, and polyhydramnios itself did not increase the risk of postnatal neurological development disorders. The worse prognosis mainly depends on the combination of polyhydramnios with structural abnormalities.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of oral dydrogesterone in preventing miscarriage in threatened miscarriage.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial study was conducted among pregnant Thai women at the gestational age of six to less than 20 weeks who visited King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand with threatened miscarriage from August 2021 to August 2022. These pregnant women were randomized to receive oral dydrogesterone 20 mg per day or placebo twice a day until one week after vaginal bleeding stopped or otherwise for a maximum of six weeks.

Results: A total of 100 pregnancies were recruited. Fifty of them were assigned to receive oral dydrogesterone and 50 were assigned to receive placebo. The rate of continuing pregnancy beyond 20 weeks of gestational age was 90.0% (45 out of 50 women) in the dydrogesterone group and 86.0% (43 out of 50 women) in the placebo group (p = 0.538). The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusion: Oral dydrogesterone 20 mg/day could not prevent miscarriages in women with threatened miscarriage.

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) represent a spectrum of heterogeneous birth anomalies characterized by the incomplete closure of the neural tube. In Jordan, NTDs are estimated to occur in approximately one out of every 1000 live births. Timely identification of NTDs during the 18-22 weeks of gestation period offers parents various management options, including intrauterine NTD repair and termination of pregnancy (TOP). This study aims to assess and compare parental knowledge and perceptions of these management modalities between parents of affected children and those with healthy offspring.

Materials and methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) using telephone-administered questionnaires. Categorical variables were summarized using counts and percentages, while continuous variables were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The association between exposure variables and outcomes was explored using binary logistic regression. Data analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows version 26 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).

Results: The study sample comprised 143 participants, with 49.7% being parents of children with NTDs. The majority of NTD cases were associated with unplanned pregnancies, lack of folic acid supplementation, and postnatal diagnosis. Concerning parental knowledge of TOP in Jordan, 86% believed it to be legally permissible in certain situations. However, there was no statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding attitudes toward TOP. While the majority of parents with NTD-affected children (88.7%) expressed a willingness to consider intrauterine surgery, this percentage decreased significantly (to 77.6%) after receiving detailed information about the procedure's risks and benefits (p = .013).

Conclusions: This study represents the first case-control investigational study in Jordan focusing on parental perspectives regarding TOP versus intrauterine repair of myelomeningocele following a diagnosis of an NTD-affected fetus. Based on our findings, we urge the implementation of a national and international surveillance program for NTDs, assessing the disease burden, facilitating resource allocation toward prevention strategies, and promoting early diagnosis initiatives either by using newly suggested diagnostic biomarkers or early Antenatal ultrasonography.

Objective: A cesarean delivery (CD) can affect health of both mother and child and future pregnancies. Since the abandonment of the one-child policy in China, obstetricians tend to perform a repeat CD rather than a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). This study aims to reduce CD rates by increasing vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC) rates and introducing electrohysterography (EHG) for accurate monitoring.

Methods: In total, 82 women received counseling regarding TOLAC at the Shijiazhuang Sixth Hospital in China. Women opting for TOLAC were randomized for either external tocodynamometry (TOCO, i.e. standard care) or EHG. The primary outcome was the VBAC rate. Secondary outcomes were indications for CD, percentage of assisted vaginal deliveries, labor duration, maternal blood loss, complications and neonatal outcomes.

Results: After accounting for preterm delivery and dropouts, all counseled women opted for a TOLAC (100%). After randomization, 42 women were included in the TOCO-group and 37 in the EHG-group. Women did not receive pain medication and labor was not augmented with oxytocin. The VBAC rate was 71.4% in the TOCO-group, versus 78.4% in the EHG-group (p = .48). Birth was assisted with forceps in 11.9% of TOCO-group versus 2.7% of EHG-group (p = .21). One secondary CD (i.e. a shift from intended vaginal delivery to surgical delivery within the same labor) was performed because of a suspicion of uterine rupture (TOCO-group). Other indications for CD were: fetal distress, labor dystocia, fetal position, cephalopelvic disproportion. There were no significant differences in secondary study outcomes. No complications were reported.

Conclusion: This study showed an average VBAC rate of 75%, without any complications, in a hospital with no previous experience with TOLAC. The VBAC rate with EHG-monitoring was higher than TOCO, although this difference was not significant. To demonstrate a significant difference, larger clinical studies are necessary.

Trial registration: The Daily Board of the Medical Ethics Committee of The Maternal and Child Hospital of Shijiazhuang approved the study protocol (number 20171018, Dutch Trial Register NL8199).

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of folic acid (FA) and vitamin D supplementation on increasing maternal serum folate and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations during pregnancy and further reveal its role in reducing the risk of fetal growth restriction (FGR) in patients with preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: A total of 300 preeclamptic patients (treatment group 204 and control group 96) who had undergone routine obstetric examinations were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Data that include maternal serum levels of folate and 25(OH)D detected during early, middle, and late gestational periods from the medical records were analyzed. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the correlation of serum folate and 25(OH)D concentrations with the incidence of FGR.

Results: Serum folate and 25(OH)D concentrations were similar between the treatment group and control group in the early gestation. During the middle and late gestation, the serum folate and 25(OH)D levels were both continuously increased in the treatment group, but persistently decreased in the control group, leading to significant differences between the two groups (p < .001). In addition, the incidence of FGR was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (p < .001). Logistic regression analysis showed significant correlations of increased serum folate and 25(OH)D levels with lower risk of FGR.

Conclusions: FA and vitamin D supplementations facilitated to lower the risk of FGR in preeclamptic patients. These results would be the solid foundation for the further investigation of approaches to improve adverse outcomes of pregnancy, and have potential guiding implications for clinical practice.

Objective: With the increasing number of cesarean sections worldwide, the need to determine the gestational age for scheduled cesarean sections has increased. The literature needs clear information, especially about cesarean sections four or more times. Our study aims to determine the ideal gestational week for mothers and babies in patients who are not in labor and who will have four or more cesarean sections.

Methods: In our retrospective study, the records of 2318 pregnant women were accessed, and those with singleton pregnancies, without medication use during pregnancy, and without any complicated pregnancies, such as newly defined preeclampsia, diabetes, and thyroid disease, and those over 18 years of age were included. All of the cesarean sections were under scheduled conditions (no beginning of labor and no pain/contraction). The exclusion criteria were patients with vaginal dilatation and effacement, a history of uterine rupture, and a diagnosis of placental adhesion spectrum disorder. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated.

Results: Although there was no significant difference in neonatal outcomes according to gestational week, regardless of the number of cesarean sections, transient tachypnea of the newborn increased significantly in scheduled cesareans performed at the 37th week compared with other weeks (p < 0.01). The results can be expected at 39 weeks and above.

Conclusion: As a result, patients should not undergo cesarean section before 39 weeks unless they are in labor, and it seems safe to wait until 39 weeks.

Objective: Copy number variations (CNVs) detected by high-resolution single nucleotide polymorphism microarrays (SNP arrays) have been associated with congenital heart defects (CHDs). The genetic mechanism underlying the development of CHDs remains unclear.

Methods: High-resolution SNP arrays were used to detect CNVs and traditional chromosomal analyses, respectively, were carried out on 60 and 249 fetuses from gestational 12-37 weeks old, having isolated or complex CHDs that were diagnosed using prenatal ultrasound.

Results: Twenty of the 60 fetuses (33.5%) had abnormalities, of which 23 CNVs (12 pathogenic, five probable pathogenic and six of undetermined significance) were detected by SNP arrays, and two distinct CNVs were present in three of these fetuses. In addition, in 39 patients with isolated congenital heart disease who had normal karyotypes, abnormal CNVs were present in 28.2% (11/39), and in patients with complex coronary artery disease, 19.0% (4/21) had abnormal karyotypes and 42.9% (9/21) had abnormal CNVs. In patients with complex coronary artery disease, 19.0% (4/21) had abnormal karyotypes and 42.9% (9/21) had abnormal CNVs.

Conclusions: In conclusion, genome-wide high-resolution SNP array can improve the diagnostic rate and uncover additional pathogenic CNVs. The submicroscopic deletions and duplications of Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) genes found in this study have haploinsufficient (deletion) or triplosensitive (duplication) traits, which further clarify the etiology and inheritance of CHDs.

Objective: The study aims to investigate the levels of serum NLRP3 along with its effector molecules (Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) in the mid-pregnancy in pregnant women with hyperglycemia, and explore the relationship between NLRP3, along with its effector molecules (Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) and insulin resistance, as well as pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: The levels of serum NLRP3 along with its effector molecules (Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) in three groups of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were measured in mid-pregnancy, and their relationship with insulin resistance and pregnancy outcomes was analyzed. The ROC curve was also used to evaluate the predictive value of serum NLRP3 inflammasome and its effector molecules for pregnancy outcomes.

Results: There were no statistical differences in the general clinical data of the three groups, and the concentrations of serum NLRP3 along with its effector molecules were higher in the GDM and PGDM groups than in the NGT group, and NLRP3 along with its effector molecules were positively correlated with fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance index in both groups (r > 0, p < .05). The incidence of preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, neonatal hypoglycemia and macrosomia was significantly higher in both groups than in the NGT group (p < .05). The value of the combined serum NLRP3 and its effector molecules in mid-pregnancy to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes was highest, and the AUCs for the combined prediction of late hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, neonatal hypoglycemia and macrosomia were 0.84 (95% CI 0.79-0.88, p < .001), 0.81 (95% CI 0.75-0.85, p < .001), 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.81, p < .001), 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.81, p < .001) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.63-0.81, p < .001), respectively.

Conclusions: Increased serum NLRP3 along with its effector molecules in pregnant women with hyperglycemia are associated with the levels of insulin resistance and the subsequent development of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Background: Presently, the efficacy of neonatal resuscitation techniques via interventions such as oral, nasal, and endotracheal suction for preventing meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) after delivery has not been satisfactory.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of intratracheal instillation of budesonide on oxidative stress in MAS.

Methods: Sixty-two neonates with MAS admitted to Huai'an Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital from January 2018 to June 2020 were divided into a study group (intratracheal instillation of 2 ml budesonide suspension; n = 31) and a control group (intratracheal instillation of 2 ml normal saline; n = 31). Collect data from two groups of patients and evaluate clinical outcomes, including oxygenation index (OI), as well as serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI) and 8-Isoprostane before treatment and 72h after admission.

Results: We found no statistical differences in mortality, complication rate, total oxygen inhalation time, OI before treatment and 72h after admission between the two groups of neonates with MAS, while the duration of invasive respiratory support in the study group was significantly shorter than in the control group. Also, serum TAC, TOS, OSI and 8-isoprostane levels were not statistically different before treatment between the two groups. After 72h of admission, OSI and 8-Isoprostane in neonates with MAS in the study group were much lower than those in the control group. TOS, OSI, 8-Isoprostane in the control group and 8-Isoprostane in the study group were significantly higher than those before treatment. As for TAC and TOS, no significant differences were observed between the two groups.

Conclusion: Intratracheal instillation of budesonide was shown to alleviate oxidative stress and shorten invasive ventilation time in neonates with MAS.

Objective: To assess pre-term birth, low birth-weight and growth restriction according to maternal thyroid screening results and subsequent treatment.

Methods: This is a nonintervention nested case-control study derived from 10,052 asymptomatic women previously screened during the first trimester marker with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, serum thyroid stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine. Screening results had been classified as positive with one or more markers outside the normal range and referred to an endocrinologist. Cases were 512 women with positive results and information on recommended treatment: 204 thyroxine, propylthiouracil or surgery, and 308 no treatment or only iodine. Controls were a sequential sample of 1292 women with negative results. All cases and controls had information on gestation at delivery or birth-weight. Outcome measures were pre-term birth (<37 weeks), low birth-weight (<2.5 kg) and, for singletons, small for gestational age (SGA; <10th percentile).

Results: Among singleton pregnancies, there was a higher prevalence of both pre-term birth (risk ratio (RR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.36, p < .002) and low birth-weight (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.13-2.62, p < .02) in cases compared with controls. An increase in low birth-weight was also present in term pregnancies, but not significant (RR 1.80, 95% CI 0.78-4.14, p = .16), and there was no difference in SGA prevalence (1.24, 95% CI 0.93-1.65, p = .14). Among cases there was no significant difference in these rates according to treatment even after logistic regression, allowing for the individual screening marker levels and maternal weight.

Conclusions: Women with positive thyroid screening results are at increased risk of pre-term birth regardless of thyroid dysfunction or subsequent treatment. An association with low birth-weight is probably secondary to early delivery.