Maternal obesity-associated disruption of polarized lactate transporter MCT4 expression in human placenta.

Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including stillbirth, and their etiology is thought to be related to placental and fetal hypoxia. In this study, we sought to investigate the levels of lactate in maternal and umbilical cord blood, a well characterized biomarker for hypoxia, and expression of plasma membrane lactate transporter MCT1 and MCT4 in the placental syncytiotrophoblast (STB), which are responsible for lactate uptake and extrusion, respectively, from pregnant women with a diagnosis of obesity following a Cesarean delivery at term. With use of approaches including immunofluorescence staining, Western blot, RT-qPCR and ELISA, our results revealed that in controls the expression of MCT1 was equally observed between basal (fetal-facing, BM) and microvillous (maternal-facing, MVM) membrane of the STB, whereas MCT4 was predominantly expressed in the MVM but barely detected in the BM.

Acupressure and Acupuncture Use in the Peripartum Period.

Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting fine needles into specific points on the body for therapeutic purposes. Acupuncture and its derivatives (acupressure, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on acupoints) are a popular treatment choice in the peripartum period (32 wk' gestation to 14 d postdelivery). There is substantial research evidence supporting acupuncture and its derivatives in the peripartum period.

Liver lacerations as a complication of CPR during pregnancy.

Aim: Cardiac arrest in peripartum patients is a rare but devastating event; reported rates in the literature range from 0.019% to 0.0085%.

Treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in pregnancy.

BCR-ABL inhibitors administered in conjunction with chemotherapy have significantly improved outcomes in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia but, for patients diagnosed during pregnancy, data on risks to the fetus are limited. We report a woman treated with chemotherapy and imatinib mesylate who delivered a healthy baby at 30 weeks, and we discuss available data.

Do vaginal birth after cesarean outcomes differ based on hospital setting?

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the null hypothesis that outcomes of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) do not differ on the basis of the hospital setting.

Study Design: The study was a retrospective cohort study of women who were offered VBAC in 17 hospitals from 1996 to 2000. VBAC attempts occurring in hospitals with and without obstetrics-gynecology residency programs were compared, as were outcomes from university and community hospitals.

Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for group B streptococcus detection using an improved culture method.

Objective: The administration of antibiotic prophylaxis to laboring women who harbor Group B streptococci (GBS) depends on identification of carriers. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of GBS using a more stringent culture method.

Methods: Two swabs were used simultaneously to obtain rectovaginal GBS samples from consenting women.