Selective fetal reduction of uncomplicated dichorionic twins on parental request vs ongoing twins and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of elective fetal reduction on maternal-fetal outcomes in uncomplicated twin pregnancies compared with ongoing twin pregnancies.

Data Sources: The data sources included PubMed, Scopus (until December 2023), and references of retrieved articles.

Study Eligibility Criteria: We included clinical studies examining the association between selective fetal reduction of uncomplicated dichorionic twins on pregnancy outcomes.

Early Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing at 6-9 Weeks of Gestation.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is usually performed beyond 10 weeks of gestation, because earlier in pregnancy, the fetal fraction is low, resulting in failure to obtain reliable results. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of NIPT earlier in pregnancy using a method for cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis that eliminates the need for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, or microarrays (Vanadis system, PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA, USA). Cell-free DNA was extracted from the maternal plasma of 30 singleton pregnancies at 6-9 weeks of gestation (group 1) and at 11-14 weeks of gestation of the same patients (group 2).

Prenatal Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis by Celocentesis.

Celocentesis is a new sampling tool for prenatal diagnosis available from 7 weeks in case of couples at risk for genetic diseases. In this study, we reported the feasibility of earlier prenatal diagnosis by celocentesis in four cases of cystic fibrosis and one case of cystic fibrosis and β-thalassemia co-inherited in the same fetus. Celomic fluids were aspired from the celomic cavity between 8 and 9 weeks of gestation and fetal cells were picked up by micromanipulator.

Risk factors for preterm birth: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies.

Background: Preterm birth defined as delivery before 37 gestational weeks is a leading cause of neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to summarize the evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies on risk factors associated with PTB, evaluate whether there are indications of biases in this literature, and identify which of the previously reported associations are supported by robust evidence.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Scopus until February 2021, in order to identify meta-analyses examining associations between risk factors and PTB.

Pregnancy physical activity questionnaire: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of a Greek version.

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) into Greek culture.

Study Design: The procedure followed to translate the PPAQ included the stages: forward translation, synthesis, backward translation and an expert committee review. Members of the research team discussed ambiguities, discordances and equivalence at each stage.