Antibody kinetics between birth and three months of life in healthy infants with natural exposure to Group B streptococcus: A UK cohort study.

Introduction: Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) serotype-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in cord blood has been proposed as a correlate of protection against invasive Group B Streptococcus (iGBS) disease. Although protective levels are required in infants throughout the window of vulnerability up to 3 months of age, little is known regarding the kinetics of GBS-specific IgG over this period.

Methods: We enrolled 33 healthy infants born to mothers colonized with GBS.

Optimising the timing of whooping cough immunisation in mums (OpTIMUM) through investigating pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: an open-label, equivalence, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy is recommended in many countries to provide protection to young infants. The best timing for this vaccination is uncertain. In the UK, vaccination is recommended between 16 weeks and 32 weeks of gestation.

Developing a serocorrelate of protection against invasive group B streptococcus disease in pregnant women: a feasibility study.

Background: Group B streptococcus is the leading cause of infection in infants. Currently, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is the major strategy to prevent invasive group B streptococcus disease. However, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis does not prevent maternal sepsis, premature births, stillbirths or late-onset disease.

Prenatal reflex DNA screening for trisomies 21, 18, and 13.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the screening performance of prenatal reflex DNA screening for trisomies 21 (T21), 18 (T18), and 13 (T13) as part of a routine service at five hospitals.

Methods: Women who accepted screening had a first-trimester combined test (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, free β-human chorionic gonadotropin, nuchal translucency interpreted with maternal age). Those with a risk of having an affected pregnancy ≥1 in 800 were reflexed to a DNA sequencing test using stored plasma from the original blood sample, thereby avoiding the need to recall them.

Bilateral neck cysts as an isolated sonographic finding in the antenatal detection of fetal aneuploidy: a case report.

Isolated fetal lateral neck cysts can represent a cystic hygroma or a developmental remnant cyst. In the absence of an increased nuchal translucency or associated malformations the risk of aneuploidy has been considered negligible. Still, dysmorphology in aneuploid fetuses might not be evident except at a later stage.

Impact on delivery outcome of ultrasonographic fetal head position prior to induction of labor.

Objective: To assess clinical and sonographic fetal head position before induction of labor, position at delivery, and whether occiput posterior (OP) position is associated with adverse delivery outcome.

Methods: Abdominal palpation and ultrasonographic fetal head and spine position were determined at 36 weeks or more of gestation in 289 women immediately before induction of labor and the head position at delivery noted. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression were used to assess whether OP position was associated with cesarean delivery.

Clinical and ultrasound parameters to predict the risk of cesarean delivery after induction of labor.

Objective: To evaluate whether factors in the maternal history and/or ultrasound parameters are useful in predicting the risk of cesarean delivery after induction of labor.

Methods: Maternal age, height, body mass index, parity, gestational age, Bishop score, ultrasonic amniotic fluid volume, fetal head position, estimated fetal weight, and transvaginal cervical length were studied prospectively in 267 women at 36 or more weeks of gestation immediately before induction of labor. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine which factors best predicted the risk of cesarean delivery.