Biodistribution of Polymeric Nanoparticles following in utero Delivery to a Nonhuman Primate.

Introduction: Monogenic diseases can be diagnosed before birth. Systemic fetal administration of nanoparticles (NPs) grants therapeutic access to developing stem cell populations impacted by these classes of disease. Delivery of editing reagents in these NPs administered before birth has yielded encouraging results in preclinical mouse models of monogenic diseases.

Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Person-Centered Care in Fetal Care Centers.

Introduction: Fetal care centers (FCCs) in the USA lack a standardized instrument to measure person-centered care. This study aimed to develop and validate the Person-Centered Care in Fetal Care Centers (PCC-FCC) Scale.

Methods: Initial items were developed based on literature and input from clinicians and former patients.

"I don't have a telephone to the fetus": Clinicians' conceptions of fetal patienthood in maternal-fetal surgery counseling.

Rationale: Maternal fetal surgery (MFS) has developed rapidly since the 1960s and centers for fetal diagnosis and therapy (CFDT) have proliferated. As a result, CFDT clinicians have intervened with fetuses through pregnant bodies for decades, yet the patienthood status of the fetus and its implications for the pregnant person's autonomy have been relatively unexamined.

Objective: Our overall research aims were threefold: (1) to explore how clinicians train for and provide counseling for MFS; (2) to examine how clinicians assess fetal patienthood and its implications; and (3) to understand clinicians' professed needs and their recommendations for education and training for the provision of MFS counseling.

Early brain microstructural development among preterm infants requiring caesarean section versus those delivered vaginally.

It is known that the rate of caesarean section (C-section) has been increasing among preterm births. However, the relationship between C-section and long-term neurological outcomes is unclear. In this study, we utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize the association of delivery method with brain white matter (WM) microstructural integrity in preterm infants.

Early brain microstructural development among preterm infants requiring caesarean section versus those delivered vaginally.

It is known that the rate of caesarean section (C-section) has been increasing among preterm births. However, the relationship between C-section and long-term neurological outcomes is unclear. In this study, we utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize the association of delivery method with brain white matter (WM) microstructural integrity in preterm infants.

"We All Want to Be Able to Tell You Something Hopeful": Clinicians' Experiences Providing Maternal-Fetal Surgery Counseling.

Introduction: Prenatal counseling about maternal-fetal surgery can be traumatic and confusing for pregnant people. It can also be technically and emotionally complex for clinicians. As maternal-fetal surgery rapidly advances and becomes more common, more evidence is needed to inform counseling practices.

The Mediating Effect of Experiential Avoidance on the relationship between psychological resilience and psychological needs in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic that has impinged upon the world affects individuals not only physically but also psychologically. Considering the effects of the pandemic that can be called a challenging life event, the concept of psychological resilience comes to mind. In this study, the effect of multidimensional avoidance on the relationship between psychological resilience and psychological need satisfaction-frustration of adults is discussed through structural equation modeling.

Impact of prenatally diagnosed congenital heart defects on outcomes and management.

Fetal echocardiogram aids in prenatal identification of neonates at high risk for congenital heart defects (CHD). Prenatal detection rates for CHD have increased with improved ultrasound technology, the use of the early fetal echocardiography, and standardization of the performance of the fetal echocardiogram. Accurate prenatal detection of CHD, particularly complex CHD, is an important contributor to improved survival rates for patients with CHD.

Understanding Sociodemographic Disparities in Maternal-Fetal Surgery Study Participation.

Background/purpose: Although maternal-fetal surgery to treat fetal anomalies such as spina bifida continues to grow more common, potential health disparities in the field remain relatively unexamined. To address this gap, we identified maternal-fetal surgery studies with the highest level of evidence and analyzed the reporting of participant sociodemographic characteristics and representation of racial and ethnic groups.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature using biomedical databases.

Conformation-dependent anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody signatures of disease status and severity in urine of women with preeclampsia.

Prior research has shown that urine of women with preeclampsia (PE) contains amyloid-like aggregates that are congophilic (exhibit affinity for the amyloidophilic dye Congo red) and immunoreactive with A11, a polyclonal serum against prefibrillar β-amyloid oligomers, thereby supporting pathogenic similarity between PE and protein conformational disorders such as Alzheimer's and prion disease. The objective of this study was to interrogate PE urine using monoclonal antibodies with previously characterized A11-like epitopes. Over 100 conformation-dependent monoclonals were screened and three (mA11-09, mA11-89, and mA11-205) selected for further confirmation in 196 urine samples grouped as follows: severe features PE (sPE, n = 114), PE without severe features (mPE, n = 30), chronic hypertension (crHTN, n = 14) and normotensive pregnant control (P-CRL, n = 38).

Clinical and Pregnancy Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Among Hospitalized Pregnant Women in the United States.

Background: Pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be at greater risk of poor maternal and pregnancy outcomes. This retrospective analysis reports clinical and pregnancy outcomes among hospitalized pregnant women with COVID-19 in the United States.

Methods: The Premier Healthcare Database-Special Release was used to examine the impact of COVID-19 among pregnant women aged 15-44 years who were hospitalized and who delivered compared with pregnant women without COVID-19.

Placental Location in Maternal-Fetal Surgery for Myelomeningocele.

Introduction: Uterine incision based on the placental location in open maternal-fetal surgery (OMFS) has never been evaluated in regard to maternal or fetal outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an anterior placenta was associated with increased rates of intraoperative, perioperative, antepartum, obstetric, or neonatal complications in mothers and babies who underwent OMFS for fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) closure.

Methods: Data from the international multicenter prospective registry of patients who underwent OMFS for fMMC closure (fMMC Consortium Registry, December 15, 2010-June 31, 2019) was used to compare fetal and maternal outcomes between anterior and posterior placental locations.

Narrative Inquiry Into Nursing Care of Pregnant Women and Families in Specialized Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Settings.

Objective: To examine how nurses describe caring for women and families in specialized fetal diagnosis and treatment settings.

Design: We used narrative inquiry.

Setting: A secure online survey platform.

Utility of routine screening fetal echocardiogram in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To study the incidence and clinical significance of congenital heart defects (CHDs) detected by fetal echocardiography in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: Cohort study comparing a prospectively maintained database of all fetal echocardiograms from 2012 to 2018 and pooled data from the Connecticut Birth Defects Registry and statewide hospital discharge data.

Setting: Large tertiary care center.

The parental journey of fetal care: a systematic review and metasynthesis.

Objective: This study aimed to synthesize the qualitative literature on parental experiences of fetal care to reflect events that happened across the continuum of care and to better understand parents' positive and negative experiences with care delivery.

Data Sources: Eligible studies published until June 2020 were retrieved from MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO CINAHL, Web of Science, and ProQuest.

Study Eligibility Criteria: Studies must have been: (1) published in English in a peer-reviewed journal or in ProQuest, (2) available in full text, (3) contained a qualitative component, and (4) focused on expectant parents' experiences of tertiary, coordinated, multidisciplinary prenatal diagnosis and care related to a fetal anomaly.

Modified Delphi Study on Nursing Practice and Science in Fetal Care.

Objective: To identify essential structures, processes, outcomes, and challenges of nursing practice in fetal care and to identify research priorities for nurses in fetal care.

Design: We used a modified Delphi method to achieve consensus.

Setting: A secure online survey platform.

Antenatal N-acetylcysteine to improve outcomes of premature infants with intra-amniotic infection and inflammation (Triple I): randomized clinical trial.

Background: Intrauterine infection and/or inflammation (Triple I) is an important cause of preterm birth (PTB) and adverse newborn outcomes. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug safely administered to pregnant women with acetaminophen toxicity.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnant women with impending PTB due to confirmed Triple I.

Spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence: diagnosis, management, and outcome in an international cohort of 249 cases.

Background: Twin anemia polycythemia sequence is a chronic form of unbalanced fetofetal transfusion through minuscule placental anastomoses in monochorionic twins, leading to anemia in the donor and polycythemia in the recipient. Owing to the low incidence of twin anemia polycythemia sequence, data on diagnosis, management, and outcome are limited.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis, management, and outcome in a large international cohort of spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence.

Post-Laser Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence: Diagnosis, Management, and Outcome in an International Cohort of 164 Cases.

The aim of this study was to investigate the management and outcome in the post-laser twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS). Data of the international TAPS Registry, collected between 2014 and 2019, were used for this study. The primary outcomes were perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity.

Treatment and outcome of 370 cases with spontaneous or post-laser twin anemia-polycythemia sequence managed in 17 fetal therapy centers.

Objective: To investigate the antenatal management and outcome in a large international cohort of monochorionic twin pregnancies with spontaneous or post-laser twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS).

Methods: This study analyzed data of monochorionic twin pregnancies diagnosed antenatally with spontaneous or post-laser TAPS in 17 fetal therapy centers, recorded in the TAPS Registry between 2014 and 2019. Antenatal diagnosis of TAPS was based on fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity > 1.

Antipsychotic Exposure in Pregnancy and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: We have limited knowledge about the effects of antipsychotic exposure on the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess GDM risk associated with antipsychotic exposure in pregnancy.

Methods: Systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to August 22, 2018.

Fetal Myocardial Function as Assessed by N-Terminal Fragment Brain Natriuretic Protein in Premature Fetuses Exposed to Intra-amniotic Inflammation.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between fetal exposure to intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) and fetal heart ventricular function as assessed by circulatory levels of N-terminal fragment brain natriuretic protein (NT-proBNP) and the Tei index.

Study Design: We analyzed 70 samples of paired amniotic fluid (AF) and cord blood retrieved from mothers who delivered preterm at <34 weeks as follows: Yes-IAI ( = 36) and No-IAI ( = 34). IAI was diagnosed by amniocentesis and AF mass spectrometry.