The PLART study: incidence of preterm labor and adverse pregnancy outcomes after assisted reproductive techniques-a retrospective cohort study.

Key Message: Even though assisted reproductive techniques represent one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine, the risk of preterm birth related to these pregnancies is about twice as high. This must be highlighted and further investigated to optimize the management of both mothers and newborns.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes after assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and spontaneous conceptions, focusing on the incidence of preterm births (PTB) and distinguishing between iatrogenic and spontaneous events.

Isthmocele: From Risk Factors to Management.

Objective:  The aim of the present study was to perform a comprehensive review of the literature to provide a complete and clear picture of isthmocele-a hypoechoic area within the myometrium at the site of the uterine scar of a previous cesarean section-by exploring in depth every aspect of this condition.

Methods:  A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to identify the most relevant studies about this topic.

Results:  Every aspect of isthmocele has been studied and described: pathophysiology, clinical symptoms, classification, and diagnosis.

Correlation between umbilical arterial pH values and fetal vertebral artery Doppler waveforms at the beginning of the second stage of labor: a pilot prospective study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between umbilical arterial pH and fetal vertebral artery Doppler velocimetry waveforms measured at the beginning of the second stage of labor in physiological term pregnancies. This was a prospective cohort study of 250 pregnancies. The resistance index, pulsatility index, and peak systolic velocity were measured.