Publications by authors named "Christina Scifres"

Article Synopsis
  • A study investigated the impact of maternal vitamin D levels during the first and second trimesters on fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes, revealing key findings regarding its importance during early pregnancy.
  • Results indicated that vitamin D insufficiency was common in the first trimester, with every 10 nmol/L increase in vitamin D correlating to better fetal length growth, but not influence weight or head size.
  • The study found a significant risk increase for preterm birth among mothers with very low vitamin D levels (<40 nmol/L), while second trimester levels showed no significant associations with growth patterns or outcomes.
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Objective: To estimate the association between maternal metformin use for the treatment of early gestational or pre-existing type 2 diabetes and preterm preeclampsia.

Methods: This is a planned secondary analysis of the MOMPOD study (Medical Optimization of Management of Overt Type 2 Diabetes in Pregnancy), a randomized trial comparing the effect of adding metformin with insulin treatment on composite neonatal outcome in singleton pregnancies with early gestational or type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomized at 11-23 weeks of gestation to 1,000 mg metformin twice daily or placebo until delivery.

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Aims: Metabolic characteristics and outcomes were compared among pregnant individuals with varying levels of glucose intolerance.

Methods: 827 participants from a randomized clinical trial comparing the IADPSG and Carpenter Coustan Criteria were grouped as follows: normal glucose tolerance, mild glucose intolerance (100 g OGTT with one abnormal value) and treated GDM (diagnosed by Carpenter Coustan or IADPSG criteria). Differences in metabolic characteristics and perinatal outcomes were assessed using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

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Better diet quality regardless of community food access was associated with a higher likelihood of glycemic control in early pregnancy among nulliparous individuals with pregestational diabetes. These findings highlight the need for interventions that address nutrition insecurity for pregnant individuals living with diabetes.

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Objective: To determine whether adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with a higher predicted 30-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD; ie, coronary artery disease or stroke).

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the prospective Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study-Monitoring Mothers-to-Be Heart Health Study longitudinal cohort. The exposures were adverse pregnancy outcomes during the first pregnancy (ie, gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM], hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, preterm birth, and small- and large-for-gestational-age [SGA, LGA] birth weight) modeled individually and secondarily as the cumulative number of adverse pregnancy outcomes (ie, none, one, two or more).

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Introduction: The prevalence of both obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has increased, and each is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes including fetal overgrowth, neonatal morbidity, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and caesarean delivery. Women with GDM who are also overweight or obese have higher rates of pregnancy complications when compared with normal-weight women with GDM, which may occur in part due to suboptimal glycaemic control. The current recommendations for glycaemic targets in pregnant women with diabetes are based on limited evidence and exceed the mean fasting (70.

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Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review to map intervention, sample, and physiologic measurement characteristics of lifestyle interventions for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevention.

Recent Findings: A total of 19 studies met selection criteria from 405 articles screened (PubMed, Web of Science). No studies were US-based (47% multi-site), and all were delivered in clinical settings.

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Background: No fetal growth standard is currently endorsed for universal use in the United States. Newer standards improve upon the methodologic limitations of older studies; however, before adopting into practice, it is important to know how recent standards perform at identifying fetal undergrowth or overgrowth and at predicting subsequent neonatal morbidity or mortality in US populations.

Objective: To compare classification of estimated fetal weight that is <5th or 10th percentile or >90th percentile by 6 population-based fetal growth standards and the ability of these standards to predict a composite of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

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Importance: Insulin is recommended for pregnant persons with preexisting type 2 diabetes or diabetes diagnosed early in pregnancy. The addition of metformin to insulin may improve neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To estimate the effect of metformin added to insulin for preexisting type 2 or diabetes diagnosed early in pregnancy on a composite adverse neonatal outcome.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers will perform an individual participant data meta-analysis by reviewing multiple medical databases for trials comparing high FiO (0.60-1.00) to regular FiO (0.21-0.40) and will analyze SSI rates and mortality following surgery.
  • * The analysis will use statistical models to handle data clustering and assess bias, with planned subgroup analyses, including factors like mechanical ventilation use, to enhance the understanding of outcomes.
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Article Synopsis
  • Obesity is linked to both negative pregnancy outcomes and an increased risk of heart disease, but it's unclear if these pregnancy outcomes are a cause or a result of the obesity-heart disease connection.
  • This study involved nearly 4,216 first-time pregnant women monitored over time to explore how early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) influenced cardiovascular risk factors after childbirth, considering various pregnancy complications.
  • Results indicated that early pregnancy obesity was associated with higher rates of conditions like postpartum hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes, with pregnancy-related complications also contributing to these risks, particularly hypertensive disorders.
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Background: Increasing maternal body mass index is associated with increased morbidity at cesarean delivery in a dose-dependent manner. In some clinical scenarios, operative vaginal delivery is a strategy to prevent the morbidity associated with second-stage cesarean delivery, but the relationship between maternal body mass index and outcomes of attempted operative vaginal delivery is not well characterized.

Objective: This study aimed to assess whether the success of and adverse outcomes after attempted operative vaginal delivery are associated with maternal body mass index at delivery among nulliparous individuals.

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Article Synopsis
  • Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is linked to complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes (GDM), hypertensive disorders (HDP), and preterm birth (PTB), but it's unclear if these complications are the cause or if pre-existing factors play a role.
  • A study followed a diverse group of 4,402 pregnant individuals from their first trimester to 2-7 years postpartum, analyzing the occurrence of MetS in relation to previous pregnancy complications while controlling for early pregnancy factors.
  • The findings revealed that 27.9% of participants with pregnancy complications developed MetS compared to 13.1% without complications, with GDM-related pregnancies showing the highest risk (39%), particularly
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Background: In pregnancy, epidemiological data have consistently shown strong associations between sleep quality and duration and maternal glycemia. However, other sleep disturbances such as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep are common in pregnancy. They may contribute to impaired maternal glycemia through sympathetic nervous system activity, systemic inflammation, and hormonal pathways.

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Objective: To assess the relationship between allostatic load, a measure of cumulative chronic stress in early pregnancy and cardiovascular disease risk, 2-7 years postpartum, and pathways contributing to racial disparities in cardiovascular disease risk.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Setting Multicenter Population: Pregnant women.

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In this month's issue, the journal continues to bring new insights from Cochrane systematic reviews to the readers of Obstetrics & Gynecology. This month, we highlight the use of intrauterine progestins for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia and an overview review of interventions to prevent gestational diabetes. The summaries are published below.

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Objective: To evaluate differences in short-term perinatal outcomes between the two prominent screening strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus, the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) and Carpenter-Coustan.

Methods: In this single-site, blinded, randomized, comparative effectiveness trial, participants received a nonfasting 50-g oral glucose tolerance test and, if less than 200 mg/dL (less than 11.1 mmol/L), were randomized to further screening with either IADPSG or Carpenter-Coustan criteria.

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Large for gestational age birth weight is associated with adverse short- and long-term outcomes. Infants born with large for gestational age birth weight are at increased risk for neonatal intensive care unit admission, respiratory distress, neonatal metabolic abnormalities including hypoglycemia, birth trauma, and even stillbirth or neonatal death. The risk for many of these complications increases with higher birth weights.

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Background: Nearly half of all women exceed the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines for gestational weight gain. Excess gestational weight gain is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether having a personal gestational weight gain goal consistent with the Institute of Medicine's recommendations for appropriate gestational weight gain and whether having a discussion with one's obstetrical provider regarding that goal were associated with appropriate gestational weight gain.

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Background: Overweight and obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus are at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes, and they are also more likely to have suboptimal glycemic control. However, there is a paucity of data evaluating whether lower glycemic targets could improve outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of intensive glycemic control in overweight and obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

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Background: Expert groups recommend that women set a pregnancy weight gain goal with their care provider to optimise weight gain.

Objective: Our aim was to describe the concordance between first-trimester personal and provider pregnancy weight gain goals with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations and to determine the association between these goals and total weight gain.

Methods: We used data from 9353 women in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: monitoring mothers-to-be.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of severe insulin resistance (insulin requirements ≥2 units/kg) at delivery and the relationship between severe insulin resistance, glycemic control, and adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study of women with type-2 diabetes mellitus who delivered between January 2015 and December 2017 at a tertiary academic medical center. Maternal demographic information, self-monitored blood sugars, and insulin doses were abstracted from the medical record.

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Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with fetal overgrowth, and certain treatments are associated with an increased risk of macrosomia. However, there are limited data about the long-term effect of GDM treatment on childhood growth.

Methods: Cohort study of 816 women with GDM and their offspring delivered between 2009 and 2012.

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Background: Despite expectant management, preeclampsia remote from term usually results in preterm delivery. Antithrombin, which displays antiinflammatory and anticoagulant properties, may have a therapeutic role in treating preterm preeclampsia, a disorder characterized by endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and activation of the coagulation system.

Objective: This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate whether intravenous recombinant human antithrombin could prolong gestation and therefore improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

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