Sonographic Cortical Development and Anomalies in the Fetus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review is to report the normal cortical development of different fetal cerebral fissures on ultrasound, describe associated anomalies in fetuses with cortical malformations, and evaluate the quality of published charts of cortical fissures. The inclusion criteria were studies reporting development, anomalies, and reference charts of fetal cortical structures on ultrasound. The outcomes observed were the timing of the appearance of different cortical fissures according to different gestational age windows, associated central nervous system (CNS) and extra-CNS anomalies detected at ultrasound in fetuses with cortical malformation, and rate of fetuses with isolated anomaly.

Maternal Reassurance, Satisfaction, and Anxiety after First-Trimester Screening for Aneuploidies: Comparison between Contingent Screening and Universal Cell-Free DNA Testing.

Background: This study aims to evaluate maternal reassurance, satisfaction, and anxiety after two different strategies for the first-trimester screening for aneuploidies.

Methods: Patients between 11 + 3 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation attending the first-trimester screening at Department of Mother and Child, University Hospital Federico II, Naples, Italy have been recruited and randomly allocated to contingent screening or universal cell-free fetal DNA testing (cffDNA). Questionnaires to measure reassurance, satisfaction, and anxiety have been filled twice: (Q1) after randomization and (Q2) after receiving results.

Unveiling therapeutic potentials and exploring maternal-fetal health benefits of metformin in pregnancy: A scoping review.

This scoping review synthesizes evidence on metformin's use during pregnancy, encompassing diverse conditions like gestational diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and obesity. Metformin demonstrates comparable efficacy to insulin in gestational diabetes, positive outcomes in type 2 diabetes pregnancies, and potential benefits in reducing complications. The review highlights nuances in its effects across conditions, indicating advantages such as reduced risk of macrosomia and cesarean section in gestational diabetes.

Ultrasound prediction of fetal macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To report the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in identifying fetuses with macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by gestational or pregestational diabetes.

Methods: Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies complicated by diabetes undergoing third-trimester ultrasound evaluation.