Importance: Management of maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) requires understanding the unique physiology of pregnancy and modifications to life support. Health care professionals have historically demonstrated inadequate knowledge and skills necessary to treat MCA.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) education on health care professionals' cognitive performance, skills, and self-efficacy in managing MCA.
Objectives: To improve timely treatment and follow-up of birthing individuals with severe hypertension.
Study Design: A quality improvement (QI) initiative was implemented at an academic tertiary care center in the United States of America for individuals with obstetric hypertensive emergencies. Statistical process control charts were utilized to track process measures and interventions tested through plan-do-study-act cycles.
Enigma protein, encoded by the PDLIM7 gene, is overexpressed in thyroid cancer in a stage-dependent manner, suggesting a potential involvement in the initiation and progression of thyroid cancer. The Enigma interacts with several cellular pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MDM2, and BMP-1. The Enigma is regulated by microRNAs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of health care participants completing a simulation-based blended learning training curriculum on managing maternal medical emergencies and maternal cardiac arrest (Obstetric Life Support).
Methods: A formative assessment of the Obstetric Life Support curriculum was performed with a prehospital cohort comprising emergency medical services professionals and a hospital-based cohort comprising health care professionals who work primarily in hospital or urgent care settings and respond to maternal medical emergencies. The training consisted of self-guided precourse work and an instructor-led simulation course using a customized low-fidelity simulator.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) characterized by a hallmark translocation of t (11; 14). CD10 negativity has been used to differentiate MCL from other NHL types; however, recently, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of CD10-positive MCL. This warrants further investigation into this rarer immunophenotype and its clinical significance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Obstet Gynecol
September 2023
Maternal sepsis is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and is a potentially preventable cause of maternal death. This Consult aims to summarize what is known about sepsis and provide guidance for the management of sepsis during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Most studies cited are from the nonpregnant population, but where available, pregnancy data are included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Evaluate an intervention to increase family communication (FC) of positive hereditary cancer test results using the Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions (FDECI).
Methods: We developed 'programme theory' during the FDECI development phase by aligning intervention components with behavior change techniques (BCTs) and theoretical factors expected to improve FC. During the feasibility phase, we obtained feedback from 12 stakeholder interviews.
There is an increasing understanding of the molecular and cytogenetic background of various tumors that helps us better conceptualize the pathogenesis of specific diseases. Additionally, in many cases, these molecular and cytogenetic alterations have diagnostic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic applications that are heavily used in clinical practice. Given that there is always room for improvement in cancer treatments and in cancer patient management, it is important to discover new therapeutic targets for affected individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTraumatic maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) is a challenging scenario for the healthcare team. Expanding the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and modifying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary. Critical components in the resuscitation of reproductive-age women with traumatic cardiac arrest are highlighted using recommendations from Obstetric Life Support™.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis is a descriptive study of pregnant patients who received nirmatrelvir-ritonavir therapy from April 16, 2022, through May 18, 2022. Patients were eligible to receive nirmatrelvir-ritonavir if they were diagnosed with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with symptom onset within 5 days, did not require oxygen therapy or hospital admission, and had no contraindications to nirmatrelvir-ritonavir. During the study time frame, 11 patients were identified as candidates for nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Maternal cardiac arrest is a rare and complex process requiring pregnancy-specific responses and techniques. The goals of this study were to (1) identify, evaluate, and determine the most current best practices to treat this patient population and (2) establish a standardized set of guidelines to serve as a foundation for a future educational simulation-based curriculum.
Study Design: We used a three-step modified Delphi process to achieve consensus.
Background: Our objective was to review the latest evidence on resuscitation care for maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) and gain expert consensus on best practices to inform an evidence-based curriculum.
Methods: We convened a multidisciplinary panel of stakeholders in MCA to develop an evidence-based simulation training, Obstetric Life Support™ (OBLS). To inform the learning objectives, we used a novel three-step process to achieve consensus on best practices for maternal resuscitation.
Introduction: COVID-19 has been associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes, including perinatal loss. Differential effects of COVID-19 in a twin pregnancy may provide unique insights into virus-placental interactions. We present a case of perinatal loss of a female fetus with survival of the male co-twin in a pregnancy complicated by COVID-19 and premature delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCase Rep Obstet Gynecol
July 2021
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been linked to significant cardiovascular complications such as cardiac arrest, which are associated with a poor prognosis in adults. Little is known about the cardiac complications, specifically cardiac arrest, of COVID-19 during pregnancy and postpartum periods.
Case: We present a case of survival and full neurological recovery after maternal cardiac arrest associated with COVID-19 in a postpartum female.
Maternal sepsis is an obstetric emergency and a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Early recognition in a pregnant or postpartum patient can be a challenge as the normal physiologic changes of pregnancy may mask the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Bedside assessment tools may aid in the detection of maternal sepsis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine in reward, cue processing, and interval timing is well characterized. Using a combinatorial viral approach to target activating DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs, hM3D) to GABAergic neurons in the VTA of male rats, we previously showed that activation disrupts responding to reward-predictive cues. Here we explored how VTA GABA neurons influence the perception of time in two fixed interval (FI) tasks, one where the reward or interval is not paired with predictive cues (Non-Cued FI), and another where the start of the FI is signaled by a constant tone that continues until the rewarded response is emitted (Cued FI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This study aims to compare a conventional medical treatment model with a telehealth platform for Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) outpatient care during the global novel coronavirus pandemic.
Methods: In this study, we described the process of converting our MFM clinic from a conventional medical treatment model to a telemedicine platform. We compared clinical productivity between the two models.
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med
January 2021
External cephalic version (ECV) is utilized in breech presenting singleton gestations but ECV of the noncephalic presenting twin has been considered technically unfeasible. We have successfully performed ECVs of the noncephalic presenting twin. Our objective is to describe our experience with this technique.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey to any perinatal safety initiative is buy-in and strong leadership from obstetric and pediatric providers, advanced practice nurses, and labor and delivery nurses in collaboration with ancillary staff. In the fall of 2007, executives of a large Midwestern hospital system created the Zero Birth Injury Initiative. This multidisciplinary group sought to eliminate birth injury using the Institute of Healthcare Improvement Perinatal Bundles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast cancer is the second most common malignancy affecting pregnancy. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is defined as breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or in the first postpartum year. Because PABC is a relatively rare event surrounded by multiple variables, few studies address the best management and treatment options.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The purpose of this study was to characterize effect of progesterone (P4) on interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by fetoplacental artery explants, fetal granulocytes, and fetal and maternal mononuclear cells.
Study Design: Arteries and cord blood were obtained from 5 term pregnancies undergoing repeat cesarean section. Maternal blood was obtained from another 6 women at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation.
Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) has a vasoactive effect on fetoplacental vasculature.
Study Design: Two cotyledons were obtained from each of 5 placentas. Baseline perfusion was established with Hanks-based solution.