Cryopreserved placental biopsies maintain mitochondrial activity for high-resolution respirometry.

Background: High-resolution respirometry (HRR) of human biopsies can provide useful metabolic, diagnostic, and mechanistic insights for clinical research and comparative medical studies. Fresh tissues analysis offers the potential best condition, the drawback being the need to use them shortly after dissection for mitochondrial respiratory experiments. The development of effective long-term storage protocols for biopsies that allow the assessment of key Electron Transport System (ETS) parameters at later stages is thus a major need.

Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy: Italian prospective population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy is defined as a sudden non-traumatic intraperitoneal bleeding in pregnancy and up to 42 days postpartum. In the present study we aim to estimate the incidence and investigate the risk factors, the management and the outcomes of spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy in order to improve its clinical identification and reduce avoidable maternal deaths.

Material And Methods: This is a prospective population-based cohort study, set in maternity units from nine Italian regions covering 75% of the national births.