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.

Advantages and Limitations of Ultrasound as a Screening Test for Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the seventh most common malignancy diagnosed among women, the eighth leading cause of cancer mortality globally, and the most common cause of death among all gynecological cancers. Even though recent advances in technology have allowed for more accurate radiological and laboratory diagnostic tests, approximately 60% of OC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Given the high mortality rate of advanced stages of OC, early diagnosis remains the main prognostic factor.

The HPV-DNA Test in Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virtually necessary cause of cervical cancer, and HPV genotypes are categorized either as high-risk or low-risk based on their potential to cause malignancy of the cervix. HPV-DNA detection is used widely for screening women at risk. However, its clinical significance is not proven sufficiently in pregnancy.

A Large Exophytic Tumor of the Cervix Causing Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Vaginal bleeding in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy is usually due to placental causes, namely placental abruption and placenta previa. Other causes include uterine rupture, vasa previa, and hematologic disorders. However, benign or malignant lesions of the vagina and the cervix may also cause vaginal bleeding or spotting.

Risk factors for preterm labor: An Umbrella Review of meta-analyses of observational studies.

Preterm birth defined as delivery before 37 gestational weeks, is a leading cause of neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. Understanding its multifactorial nature may improve prediction, prevention and the clinical management. We performed an umbrella review to summarize the evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies on risks 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.

Novel and Founder Pathogenic Variants in X-Linked Alport Syndrome Families in Greece.

Alport syndrome (AS) is the most frequent monogenic inherited glomerulopathy and is also genetically and clinically heterogeneous. It is caused by semi-dominant pathogenic variants in the X-linked (NM_000495.5) gene or recessive variants in the / (NM_000091.

Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes.

Background: Infants born at term by elective caesarean section are more likely to develop respiratory morbidity than infants born vaginally. Prophylactic corticosteroids in singleton preterm pregnancies accelerate lung maturation and reduce the incidence of respiratory complications. It is unclear whether administration at term gestations, prior to caesarean section, improves the respiratory outcomes for these babies without causing any unnecessary morbidity to the mother or the infant.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Jejunal Atresia: A Case Report.

Intestinal atresia is the result of fetal bowel maldevelopment which leads to congenital bowel obstruction. It is a common cause of ileus of the newborn and can occur at any site of the gastrointestinal tract. Prenatal diagnosis relies on the demonstration of dilated loops of the fetal bowel and the presence of polyhydramnios at the end of the second or more frequently the third trimester of pregnancy.

Emergency cerclage in singleton pregnancies with painless cervical dilatation: A meta-analysis.

Introduction: Emergency cerclage is the most common active intervention in pregnant women with cervical insufficiency. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of emergency cerclage vs expectant management on maternal and perinatal outcomes, and to assess the current status of evidence.

Material And Methods: A search was conducted from 1 June 2019 until 1 September 2019 and eligible studies were identified in the MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane and US clinical trials registry without limitations concerning the publication dates and languages.

Voiding urosonography and voiding cystourethrography in primary vesicoureteral reflux associated with mild prenatal hydronephrosis: a comparative study.

Background: Contrast-enhanced harmonic voiding urosonography has been introduced as a sensitive, radiation-free imaging method for the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence/severity of vesicoureteric reflux in infants with mild prenatal hydronephrosis comparing voiding cystourethrography and voiding urosonography.

Materials And Methods: Sixty infants with prenatal hydronephrosis were studied (anteriοposterior pelvic diameter 5-9 mm on ultrasound [US] at gestational weeks 21-30).

Timing of primary maternal cytomegalovirus infection and rates of vertical transmission and fetal consequences.

Objective: Cytomegalovirus infection is the most frequent congenital infection and a major cause of long-term neurologic morbidity. The aim of this meta-analysis was to calculate the pooled rates of vertical transmission and fetal impairments according to the timing of primary maternal infection.

Data Sources: From inception to January 2020, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and gray literature sources were used to search for related studies.

Perinatal outcome of appropriate-weight fetuses with decelerating growth.

Introduction: To assess the perinatal outcome of fetuses dropping by ≥50 estimated fetal weight (EFW) centiles between the second and third trimester.

Methods: Singleton pregnancies progressing after 32 + 0 weeks, who had their second- and third-trimester scans at our institutions were enrolled in the study. The perinatal outcome of AGA fetuses crossing more than 50 centiles was compared to that of fetuses with FGR, small for gestational age (SGA) and nondecelerating appropriate for gestational age (AGA).

Corticosteroids for preventing neonatal respiratory morbidity after elective caesarean section at term.

Background: Infants born at term by elective caesarean section are more likely to develop respiratory morbidity than infants born vaginally. Prophylactic corticosteroids in singleton preterm pregnancies accelerate lung maturation and reduce the incidence of respiratory complications.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effect of prophylactic corticosteroid administration before elective caesarean section at term, as compared to usual management without corticosteroids, in reducing neonatal respiratory morbidity and admission to special care with respiratory complications.

Fetal aneuploidy diagnosed at celocentesis for early prenatal diagnosis of congenital hemoglobinopathies.

Introduction: Currently, prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders requires chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis carried out after 11 and 16 weeks of gestation, respectively. Celocentesis is a procedure for prenatal diagnosis that could be used from as early as 7 weeks. The present investigation evaluated the feasibility of performing diagnosis for monogenic diseases using celomic fluid containing cells of fetal origin.

Identification of embryo-fetal cells in celomic fluid using morphological and short-tandem repeats analysis.

Objective: The main problem to wide acceptability of celocentesis as earlier prenatal diagnosis is contamination of the sample by maternal cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular composition of celomic fluid for morphological discrimination between maternal and embryo-fetal cells.

Method: Celomic fluids were aspired by ultrasound-guided transcervical celocentesis at 7-9 weeks' gestation from singleton pregnancies before surgical termination for psychological reasons.

Embryo-fetal erythroid cell selection from celomic fluid allows earlier prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies.

Objective: Celocentesis, which involves aspiration of celomic fluid at 7-9 weeks' gestation, can potentially provide early prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders. The main barrier to wide acceptability of this technique is contamination of the sample by maternal cells. This problem can be overcome through selection of embryo-fetal erythroid precursors, which are found in celomatic fluid.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome After a Single Course of Antenatal Steroids in Children Born Preterm: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review and integrate data on the neurodevelopmental outcome of children after administration of a single course of antenatal corticosteroids for threatened preterm labor.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Scopus, CENTRAL, and www.clinicaltrials.

Prediction of preterm birth in twins.

About 13% of twins are born before 34 weeks and 7% before 32 weeks. The prediction of preterm birth in twins is based on the same tests as in singleton pregnancies. In twin pregnancies, the cut-off for short cervix at the second trimester scan is less than 25 mm (compared with 15 mm in singletons); length less than 20 mm is associated with 42% risk for birth before 32 weeks and cervical length less than 25 mm is associated with 28% risk for birth before 28 weeks.

Thalamic volume measurement in normal fetuses using three-dimensional sonography.

Purpose: Brain thalami are important for a wide range of sensorimotor and neuropsychiatric functions. This study was carried out to calculate normative values for thalami volume during fetal life.

Methods: Fetal thalami volumes were measured using 3D ultrasound in 122 normal, singleton fetuses at 20(+0) -34(+6) weeks' gestation.

Neurodevelopment after prenatal diagnosis of isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum: an integrative review.

Objective: To systematically review published data on the neurodevelopment of children that were diagnosed prenatally with isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Study Design: Medline and Scopus searches (1960-July 2011); cross-referencing of retrieved articles.

Results: Sixteen reports (132 cases of apparently isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum) were included in the analysis.