The incidence of biliary sludge in first trimester pregnancies with hyperemesis gravidarum and its effect on the course of hyperemesis gravidarum.

Pregnancy is one of the risk factors for biliary sludge (BS) formation. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 959 pregnant women were included. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, sodium, potassium, triglycerides, cholesterol levels and the presence of ketones in urine were determined.

Postnatal outcome of prenatally-detected "simple" renal cysts: Are they really simple?

Background: The majority of simple renal cysts diagnosed postnatally are asymptomatic and rarely require treatment unless they become symptomatic or complex. We hypothesised that prenatally-detected simple renal cysts would have a similar harmless outcome.

Aims: To establish the natural history and postnatal outcome of prenatally-diagnosed simple renal cysts.

Foetal cardiac function in third trimester pregnancies with reduced fetal movements.

The objective of our study was to investigate the possible relationship between poor perinatal outcome and foetal cardiac functions in pregnant women with reduced foetal movements (RFM). This cross-sectional study included 126 pregnant women with normal foetal movements (Group 1, Controls) and 42 pregnant women over 32 weeks gestation with RFM (Group 2). Group 2 was further divided into two subgroups according to their perinatal outcome: normal perinatal outcome (Group 2a) and poor perinatal outcome (Group 2b).

Factors preventing materno-fetal transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Although many pregnant women have been infected by coronavirus, the presence of intrauterine vertical transmission has not been conclusively reported yet. What prevents this highly contagious virus from reaching the fetus? Is it only the presence of a strong placental barrier, or is it the natural absence of the some receptor that the viruses use for transmission? We, therefore, need to comprehensively understand the mechanism of action of the mammalian epithelial barriers located in two different organs with functional similarity. The barriers selected as potential targets by SARS-CoV-2 are the alveolo-capillary barrier (ACB), and the syncytio-capillary barrier (SCB).

Fetal abdominal cysts: antenatal course and postnatal outcomes.

Background There is little information on which to base the prognostic counselling as to whether an antenatally diagnosed fetal abdominal cyst will grow or shrink, or need surgery. This study aims to provide contemporary data on prenatally diagnosed fetal abdominal cysts in relation to their course and postnatal outcomes. Methods Fetal abdominal cysts diagnosed over 11 years in a single centre were identified.

The role of apoptosis in preterm premature rupture of the human fetal membranes.

Purpose: The present study was designed to examine apoptotic cell death via the caspase-dependent pathway in human fetal membranes.

Methods: Amniotic membrane samples were collected from three groups of women: group 1, women with preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes (PPROM) after cesarean delivery (n = 10), group 2, women with preterm labor (PTL) with intact membranes after cesarean delivery (n = 9) and group 3, women with term labor and vaginal delivery after an uncomplicated pregnancy (controls) (n = 11).

Results: Active caspase-3 immunopositivity (ACPI) of the PPROM group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.

Association of placental volume measured by MRI and birth weight percentile.

Purpose: To investigate if placental volume in the second trimester of pregnancy is related to uterine artery blood flow and neonatal birth weight.

Materials And Methods: In 83 singleton pregnancies at 24-29 weeks' gestation, uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) was measured by Doppler ultrasound and placental volume was calculated from images obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5T.

The enigmatic uterine junctional zone: the missing link between reproductive disorders and major obstetrical disorders?

While there is a growing realization that the origins of major obstetrical complications associated with defective deep placentation, such as pre-term labour, fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia, may lie in the very early pregnancy events, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Impaired deep placentation is foremost a vascular pathology, characterized by a lack of endovascular trophoblast invasion and remodelling of a segment of the spiral arteries embedded within the inner myometrium of the uterus. Outside pregnancy, the inner myometrium represents a highly specialized, hormone-dependent structure, termed the junctional zone (JZ), which plays an integral part in the implantation process.

Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy in a case of postpartum eclampsia.

This case report describes an atypical presentation of eclampsia. A 26-year-old lady presented 5 days' postpartum with a series of grand mal seizures after an uneventful pregnancy and delivery. An MRI scan of the brain showed areas of low signal involving cerebral white matter and right cerebellum.