Activity restriction and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Background: Activity restriction is a common recommendation given to patients during pregnancy for various indications, despite lack of definitive data showing improvements in pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To determine if activity restriction (AR) in pregnancy is associated with decreased odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs).

Study Design: Secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) prospective cohort.

Perinatal outcomes according to umbilical artery Doppler assessment among fetuses with congenital heart disease.

Purpose: To evaluate a cohort of fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) who underwent serial umbilical artery (UA) Doppler surveillance and assess perinatal outcome according to UA Doppler assessment.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of singleton fetuses with CHD at a single academic center was performed between 2018 and 2020. Fetuses with a chromosomal abnormality or growth restriction were excluded.

Association between acceptance of routine pregnancy vaccinations and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in pregnant patients.

Objective: COVID-19 vaccination is a key approach to reduce morbidity and mortality in pregnant patients and their newborns. Anti-vaccine sentiment has recently increased with unclear impact on pregnant patients. We examined the association between acceptance of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccines, considered to be routine pregnancy vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Rapid Flow Synthesis of a Biomimetic Carbonate Apatite as an Effective Drug Carrier.

A facile synthesis of apatite nanocrystals analogous to bioapatites with increased biocompatibility and biodegradability can remedy the shortcomings of the widely applied synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) for bone defect treatment. Here, we propose an expeditious synthesis method to develop a biomimetic B-type carbonate apatite (CAp) with a simple capillary microfluidic device at room temperature. The process not only eliminates fluctuations with the addition of carbonate but also produces safe CAp drug carriers through simultaneous alendronate incorporation to the CAp structure.

Cytocompatible asymmetrical coating for Janus carrier synthesis through capillary wetting and ascending.

Despite the successful implementation of elegant strategies for the fabrication of Janus microstructures, two critical factors have limited the applicability of most techniques for the partial modification of living cell surfaces: harsh conditions that could disintegrate cells, and the lack of an effective route to accomplish a mild modification for living cells. In this study, an expeditious synthesis, named lower-half occupation by capillary ascended liquids (LOCAL), is proposed for the fabrication of asymmetrical structures surrounding not only microbeads but also both living adherent and buoyant mammalian cells. The microbeads or living cells are safely supported and trapped on the apical sides of a micropillar array, which prevents them from contacting the bottom substrate.

Rapid Single-Step Growth of MOF Exoskeleton on Mammalian Cells for Enhanced Cytoprotection.

Mammalian cells are promising agents for cell therapy, diagnostics, and drug delivery. For full utilization of the cells, development of an exoskeleton may be beneficial to protecting the cells against the environmental stresses and cytotoxins to which they are susceptible. We report here a rapid single-step method for growing metal-organic framework (MOF) exoskeletons on a mammalian cell surface under cytocompatible conditions.

Accuracy of estimated fetal weight assessment in fetuses with abdominal wall defects.

Background: Gastroschisis and omphalocele are congenital abdominal wall defects in which the bowel and other abdominal contents extrude from the fetal abdominal cavity. Standard formulas for estimated fetal weight using ultrasound include fetal abdominal circumference measurement and have a range of error of approximately 10%. It is unknown whether the accuracy of estimated fetal weight assessment is compromised in fetuses with abdominal wall defects because of the extrusion of abdominal contents.

Interwoven MOF-Coated Janus Cells as a Novel Carrier of Toxic Proteins.

Two major issues in cell-mediated drug delivery systems (c-DDS) are the availability of free cell surfaces for the binding of the cells to the target or to their microenvironment and internalization of the cytotoxic drug. In this study, the Janus structure, MOF nanoparticles, and tannic acid (TA) are utilized to address these issues. Janus carrier cells coated with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are produced by asymmetrically immobilizing the nanoparticles of a MOF based on zinc with cytotoxic enzymes that are internally encapsulated on the surface of carrier cells.

Enhanced discharge counseling to reduce outpatient opioid use after cesarean delivery: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Strategies to curb overprescribing have focused primarily on the prescriber as the point of intervention. Less is known about how to empower patients to use fewer opioids and decrease the quantity of leftover opioids. Previous studies in nonobstetrical populations suggest that patient counseling about appropriate opioid use improves disposal of unused opioids and overall knowledge about opioid use.

Accuracy of estimated fetal weight assessment in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital anomaly in which fetal abdominal organs herniate into the thoracic cavity through a diaphragmatic defect, which can impede fetal lung development. Standard formulas for estimated fetal weight include measurement of fetal abdominal circumference, which may be inaccurate in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia because of displacement of abdominal contents into the thorax.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of standard estimated fetal weight assessment in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia by comparing prenatal assessment of fetal weight with actual birthweight.

Magnetically Actuated SiCN-Based Ceramic Microrobot for Guided Cell Delivery.

A silicon carbonitride (SICN) ceramic microrobot, biocompatible and magnetically activable, is developed for the delivery of viable cells to defective tissue by sequential steps of microstructuring, magnetization, and cell loading. The ceramic carrier of porous cylindrical framework is fabricated by 3D laser lithography using a photocurable preceramic polymer, chemically modified polyvinylsilazane, and subsequent pyrolysis at 600 °C under an inert atmosphere. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are integrated into the surface-modified ceramic carrier by thiol-ene click reaction.

Self-Assembly of Extracellular Vesicle-like Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles for Protection and Intracellular Delivery of Biofunctional Proteins.

The intracellular delivery of biofunctional enzymes or therapeutic proteins through systemic administration is of great importance in therapeutic intervention of various diseases. However, current strategies face substantial challenges owing to various biological barriers, including susceptibility to protein degradation and denaturation, poor cellular uptake, and low transduction efficiency into the cytosol. Here, we developed a biomimetic nanoparticle platform for systemic and intracellular delivery of proteins.

A Spontaneous 3D Bone-On-a-Chip for Bone Metastasis Study of Breast Cancer Cells.

Bone metastasis occurs at ≈70% frequency in metastatic breast cancer. The mechanisms used by tumors to hijack the skeleton, promote bone metastases, and confer therapeutic resistance are poorly understood. This has led to the development of various bone models to investigate the interactions between cancer cells and host bone marrow cells and related physiological changes.

Replication of flexible polymer membranes with geometry-controllable nano-apertures via a hierarchical mould-based dewetting.

Membranes with nano-apertures are versatile templates that possess a wide range of electronic, optical and biomedical applications. However, such membranes have been limited to silicon-based inorganic materials to utilize standard semiconductor processes. Here we report a new type of flexible and free-standing polymeric membrane with nano-apertures by exploiting high-wettability difference and geometrical reinforcement via multiscale, multilevel architecture.

Enhanced skin adhesive patch with modulus-tunable composite micropillars.

Modulus-tunable composite micropillars are presented by combining replica molding and selective inking for skin adhesive patch in "ubiquitous"-health diagnostic devices. Inspired from hierarchical hairs in the gecko's toe pad, a simple method is presented to form composite polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillars that are highly adhesive (∼1.8 N cm(-2) ) and mechanically robust (∼30 cycles).