Samba II PCR testing for COVID-19 in pregnant women: a retrospective cohort study and literature review.

Background: Asymptomatic carriage of COVID-19 in pregnant women has been reported and could lead to outbreaks in maternity units. We sought to ascertain the impact of rapid isothernal nucleic acid based testing for COVID-19 in an unselected cohort of pregnant women attending our maternity unit. We also assessed the correlation between community prevalence and asymptomatic carriage.

The anesthetist as cardiologist: a case of heart block identified in the peripartum period.

We describe a case of undiagnosed heart block which was detected during the postpartum surgical repair of a vaginal tear, and the subsequent investigations that confirmed diagnosis of atrio-ventricular heart block.

Defining the relationship between fetal Doppler indices, abdominal circumference and growth rate in severe fetal growth restriction using functional linear discriminant analysis.

The relationship between Doppler measurements, size and growth rate in fetal growth restriction has not been defined. We used functional linear discriminant analysis (FLDA) to investigate these parameters taking account of the difficulties inherent in exploring relationships between repeated observations from a small number of cases. In 40 fetuses with severe growth restriction, serial abdominal circumference (AC), umbilical, middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus Doppler pulsatility index measurements were recorded.

Umbilical artery pulsatility index and fetal abdominal circumference in isolated gastroschisis.

Objectives: To investigate changes in abdominal circumference (AC) and umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA-PI) with gestation in fetuses with isolated gastroschisis, and to determine whether a relationship exists between UA-PI and fetal AC.

Methods: Data from 58 pregnancies with isolated gastroschisis diagnosed at between 24 and 36 weeks' gestation were included in the study. Z-scores were calculated with respect to expected UA-PI values in normal pregnancies after log-transformation.

The NTplus method of screening for Down syndrome: achieving the 2010 targets?

Introduction: The performance of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) as a first trimester trisomy 21 marker is hypothesized to improve below 11 weeks, whereas beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is better after 14 weeks. We audited a model combining early PAPP-A (9-10 weeks) with NT (11-13 weeks and 6 days) and early triple test (>14 weeks).

Methods: A total of 1507 women with viable ongoing pregnancies were screened during 2007-2008.