Growth-restricted human fetuses have preserved respiratory sinus arrhythmia but reduced heart rate variability estimates of vagal activity during quiescence.

The aim was to assess the association between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) in relation to fetal movements. A prospective observational cohort study was performed. Non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (NI-FECG) allowed beat-to-beat assessments with <5% corrections of RR intervals.

Fetal respiratory movements improve reliability of heart rate variability and suggest a coupling between fetal respiratory arrhythmia and vagal activity.

Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) reflects autonomic cardiac regulation. The autonomic nervous system constantly adjusts the heart rate to maintain homeostasis. By providing insight into the fetal autonomic state, FHRV has the potential to become an investigational and clinical instrument.

Towards better reliability in fetal heart rate variability using time domain and spectral domain analyses. A new method for assessing fetal neurological state?

Objectives: Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) has shown potential in fetal surveillance. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the reliability of time domain and spectral domain parameters based on non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (NI-FECG).

Method: NI-FECG, with a sampling frequency of 1 kHz, was obtained in 75 healthy, singleton pregnant women between gestational age (GA) 20+0 to 41+0.

Fetal Heart Rate Variability Is Affected by Fetal Movements: A Systematic Review.

Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) evaluates the fetal neurological state, which is poorly assessed by conventional prenatal surveillance including cardiotocography (CTG). Accurate FHRV on a beat-to-beat basis, assessed by time domain and spectral domain analyses, has shown promising results in the scope of fetal surveillance. However, accepted standards for these techniques are lacking, and the influence of fetal breathing movements and gross movements may be especially challenging.

Decline in stillbirths and perinatal mortality after implementation of a more aggressive induction policy in post-date pregnancies: a nationwide register study.

Introduction: In 2011 Danish national guidelines were changed towards a more aggressive induction and fetal surveillance policy from (1) induction of labor at gestational age (GA) of 42  weeks and (2) no fetal surveillance after 40  weeks to (1) induction of labor between 41 and 41  weeks, (2) earlier induction at 41  weeks in the case of maternal age >40 years or body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m and (3) fetal surveillance at GA 41  weeks.

Material And Methods: This national cohort study included all pregnancies that reached 41  weeks of gestation in 2008-2014 (n = 102 167). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate risks in the years after (2012-2014) vs.

The Number of Endovascular Trophoblasts in Maternal Blood Increases Overnight and after Physical Activity: An Experimental Study.

Introduction: Fetal cells in maternal blood may be used for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, although their low number is a challenge. This study's objectives were to evaluate whether physical activity, transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound scans of the uterus, as well as overnight or day-to-day variation affect the number of isolated fetal cells, more specifically the presumed endovascular trophoblast (pEVT).

Material And Methods: In each of 3 different experiments, 10 normal singleton pregnant women (gestational age 10+4-14+4 weeks) participated.

Fetal gender and several cytokines are associated with the number of fetal cells in maternal blood--an observational study.

Objective: To identify factors influencing the number of fetal cells in maternal blood.

Methods: A total of 57 pregnant women at a gestational age of weeks 11-14 were included. The number of fetal cells in maternal blood was assessed in 30 ml of blood using specific markers for both enrichment and subsequent identification.

Fetal growth in pregnancies conceived after gastric bypass surgery in relation to surgery-to-conception interval: a Danish national cohort study.

Objective: To describe early and late fetal growth in pregnancies conceived after gastric bypass surgery in relation to time from surgery to conception of pregnancy.

Methods: National cohort study on 387 Danish women, who had laparoscopic or open gastric bypass surgery prior to a singleton pregnancy in which first trimester screening was performed between January 2008 and June 2011. Data were derived from national registers (Danish National Registry of Patients and Danish National Birth Registry, Pregnancy Complications and Abortion-clinical quality database (PreCAb) and the Danish Fetal Medicine Database).

The cell-free fetal DNA fraction in maternal blood decreases after physical activity.

Objective: If noninvasive prenatal testing using next generation sequencing is to be effective for pregnant women, a cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) fraction above 4% is essential unless the depth of sequencing is increased. This study's objective is to determine whether physical activity has an effect on the proportion of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) arising from the fetus (fetal fraction).

Methods: Nine pregnant women carrying male fetuses at gestational age 12(+0)  weeks to 14(+6)  weeks were included.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A levels and neonatal complications in post-date pregnancies.

Objectives: To assess the association between serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (free β-hCG) in the first trimester and perinatal complications in post-date pregnancies.

Methods: A total of 4948 women, who delivered after 40 gestational weeks, were included. Labour was not induced routinely until 42 weeks.

Autocorrelation and cross-correlation between hCGβ and PAPP-A in repeated sampling during first trimester of pregnancy.

Background: Theoretically, repeated sampling of free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGβ) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in the first trimester of pregnancy might improve performance of risk assessment of trisomy 21 (T21). To assess the performance of a screening test involving repeated measures of biochemical markers, correlations between markers must be estimated. The aims of this study were to calculate the autocorrelation and cross-correlation between hCGβ and PAPP-A in the first trimester of pregnancy and to investigate the possible impact of gestational age at the first sample and time between sampling on the correlation.

PAPP-A and free β-hCG in relation to admission to neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal disease.

Objective: To evaluate pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) in relation to admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neonatal disease.

Methods: A total of 9450 singleton pregnant women who attended the prenatal screening program at Aarhus University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2007 were included. PAPP-A and free β-hCG were measured between gestational weeks 8 and 13 and converted into multiples of the median (MoM) values.

Low serum interleukin-17 is associated with preterm delivery.

Objective: To study maternal serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) during normal pregnancy and evaluate the association with preterm delivery.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

PAPP-A and free β-hCG measured prior to 10 weeks is associated with preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age infants.

Objective: To evaluate whether measuring pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) before 10 weeks of gestation affect the association between these biomarkers and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Singleton pregnant women (9450) who attended the prenatal screening program, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, were included. Maternal serum levels of PAPP-A and free β-hCG were measured between week 8 and 13 weeks and 6 days.

Biology of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in relation to prenatal diagnostics: an overview.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is highly efficient as a serum marker in first-trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that low levels of PAPP-A in the first trimester are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. PAPP-A is a glycoprotein, produced in the placenta, and it is present in the maternal circulation in increasing concentrations during pregnancy.

PAPP-A, free β-hCG, and early fetal growth identify two pathways leading to preterm delivery.

Objective: To evaluate early fetal growth and the biomarkers, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG), in relation to preterm delivery.

Methods: A cohort study of 9450 singleton pregnant women who attended the prenatal screening program at Aarhus University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2007, was conducted. PAPP-A and free β-hCG were measured in the first trimester.

[Bilateral tubal pregnancy].

Bilateral tubal pregnancies are extremely rare and they are usually found after assisted reproductive techniques have been applied. A rare case of bilateral tubal pregnancy after natural conception, occurring in a woman without any predisposing factors for ectopic pregnancy, is presented. The condition was diagnosed during laparoscopic surgery, and she was optimally treated with conservative tubal surgery.

Performance of first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 13 and 18 with the double test taken at a gestational age of 8 + 0 to 13 + 6.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the combined test for first-trimester screening for trisomy 18 and 13, when the double test is scheduled weeks before the nuchal translucency scanning.

Methods: The study included all 40 cases of trisomy 18 and 13 from April 2004 to October 2008 in a screening programme, where the double test was measured in gestational weeks 8 + 0 to 13 + 6 and the nuchal translucency in weeks 11 + 2 to 13 + 6.

Results: Twenty-eight among the 40 cases had complete information on all variables in the first-trimester screening test.

Improved performance of first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 with the double test taken before a gestational age of 10 weeks.

Objective: To evaluate if there is a performance difference in the combined screening for trisomy 21 between the double tests performed before and after 10 + 0 weeks of gestation.

Methods: The study included all 97 trisomy 21 cases from January 2004 to December 2007, in a screening program where the double test was measured in week 8 + 0 to 13 + 6 and the nuchal translucency in week 11 + 3 to 13 + 6.

Results: As many as 87 of the 97 cases were diagnosed in the screening program (detection rate = 90%).

Gestational age and birth weight in relation to school performance of 10-year-old children: a follow-up study of children born after 32 completed weeks.

Background: Children born extremely premature (<28 weeks) or with a very low birth weight (<1500 g) have a poorer school performance than children born at term with a normal birth weight. Much less is known about children of higher gestational ages and birth weights. We studied gestational age after 32 completed weeks and birth weight in relation to the child's school performance at the age of 10 years.