Obstetric vascular Doppler velocimetry: clinical applications and overuses.

A safe and non-intrusive assessment of fetal health is not only crucial in low-risk gestations, but it is also the standard of care in high-risk pregnancies. Therefore, measuring blood flow across different vessels with non-invasive ultrasound methods has been accurately and painstakingly studied and published. Amongst these state-of-the-art techniques, umbilical artery (blood flow) Doppler velocimetry (UADV) has allowed for fetal well-being follow-ups and assess uteroplacental function, which obtains a more complete and clearer picture; particularly in regard to complicated pregnancies.

Determinant of Prenatal Diagnostic Testing among Women with Increased Risk of Fetal Aneuploidy and Genetic Disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to assess factors that influence patients' decisions in accepting prenatal diagnostic testing following genetic counseling for increased risk of fetal aneuploidy.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of women at increased risk of fetal aneuploidy and genetic disorders who had genetic counseling from January 2012 to December 2016 at a single academic center. Demographics, indications for genetic counseling, and rates of diagnostic testing were collected and compared between those who accepted diagnostic testing and those who chose cell free DNA.

Pharmacokinetics of 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate in singleton pregnancy and its influence of maternal body size measures.

Background: Reducing spontaneous preterm deliveries is a worldwide public health priority. Although many interventions have been studied, 1 of the most effective treatments to decrease recurrent preterm birth is the use of weekly 17 alpha hydroxy progesterone caproate. Previous studies on the influence of excessive adipose tissue and obesity on the use of 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm deliveries have shown conflicting findings.

A Case of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type II With Additional Balanced Translocation t(1;20)(p13;p11.2).

Background: Osteogenesis imperfect (OI) type II is a genetic disorder of bone characterized by bone fragility, multiple fractures, severe bowing and shortening of long bones, and perinatal death due to respiratory insufficiency. It is mainly caused by mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes, inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Case Report: A fetal form of this disorder that included brachydactyly, macrocephaly, frontal bossing, soft calvarium, saddle nose, micrognathia, low set ears, and narrow thoracic cavity is described.

Comparison of Continuation of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin versus Switching to Unfractionated Heparin in the Peripartum.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether switching from low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) to unfractionated heparin (UFH) or its continuation in the peripartum affected anesthesia choice or bleeding complications.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study of 189 anticoagulated pregnant women who delivered at the University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital and Health Science System from 2005 to 2016. Demography, anesthesia choice, and bleeding complications were compared between the two groups.