Establishing Correlates of Maternal-Fetal Cytomegalovirus Transmission-One Step Closer Through Predictive Modeling.

Background: Determinants of maternal-fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission and factors influencing the severity of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection are not well understood.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive, multicenter study in pregnant women ≥18 years old with primary CMV infection and their newborns to explore maternal immune responses to CMV and determine potential immunologic/virologic correlates of cCMV following primary infection during pregnancy. We developed alternative approaches looking into univariate/multivariate factors associated with cCMV, including a participant clustering/stratification approach and an interpretable predictive model-based approach using trained decision trees for risk prediction (post hoc analyses).

The use of methotrexate in conservative treatment of placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

This article reports on a series of patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder who were treated conservatively with Methotrexate (MTX) administration with or without embolization. We investigate whether there is a place for MTX in conservative treatment of PAS. We present a single-center retrospective case series of five patients.

Difference in Procedure-Related Risk of Miscarriage between Early and Mid-Trimester Amniocentesis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Early amniocentesis (EA)-before 15 gestational weeks-is not recommended because of a high rate of miscarriages. Most studies performed amniocentesis at very early stages of pregnancy (11-13 weeks of gestational age). However, amniocentesis performed at 14 gestational weeks could be an important alternative to mid-trimester amniocentesis (MA) because it shortens the time period between the screening (non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT)) and the diagnostic test (amniocentesis).

[The use of intrauterine device in nulliparous over 18 years: a Belgian consensus].

Under the presidency of prof. H. Depypere (UZ Ghent) and Prof.

Spontaneous hepatic rupture in a normotensive monoamniotic twin pregnancy: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Spontaneous liver rupture during pregnancy is extremely rare, and often associated with hypertensive disorders. Maternal outcomes are poor and morbidity is high.

Case: A 27-year-old women (G1P0), pregnant with monochorionic-monoamniotic twins, developed extensive abdominal pain while she was electively admitted at 32 weeks for fetal pulmonary maturation.

[Increased nuchal translucency at 11-14 weeks of gestation in congenital heart disease, genetic syndromes and adverse pregnancy outcome].

Nuchal translucency (NT) measurement between 11-14 weeks of gestation is an'effective method of ultrasound screening for chromosomal fetal anomalies, congenital heart disease, some other structural abnormalities, rare genetic syndromes, skeletal dysplasia and adverse pregnancy outcome (spontaneous abortion and intrauterine fetal demise). The aim of the present study is to assess the prognostic value of increased first trimester NT in fetuses with normal karyotype in relation to pregnancy outcome.

Monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies discordant for fetal anencephaly: a systematic review of prenatal management options.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of selective feticide (SF) compared to expectant management (EM) on perinatal outcome in dichorionic and monochorionic twins discordant for anencephaly. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review of literature and added ten unpublished cases. As a result, we found that in dichorionic twins, mean gestational age (GA) at birth in the SF group was 38.

[First trimester ultrasound screening for structural and chromosomal anomalies in multiple pregnancy].

Aim Of The Study: To assess the feasibility of first trimester ultrasound screening for structural and chromosomal fetal anomalies in multiple gestations.

Methods: An observational prospective follow up study was carried out in 32 cases of multiple pregnancies. Two scans were scheduled in each case--the first, between 6-9 weeks of gestation (w.

[Ultrasound screening and diagnosis of fetal structural abnormalities between 11-14 gestational weeks].

Aim Of The Study: To assess the feasibility of ultrasound screening and diagnosis of structural fetal anomalies at the 11-14 week scan.

Methods: An observational prospective follow up study from March 2000 till May 2003 was performed at three referral centers by seven experienced sonographers with high-resolution ultrasound equipment. 1135 singleton pregnancies between 11+0 and 14+6 weeks gestation (w.

Prenatal diagnosis of Pfeiffer syndrome type II.

Pfeiffer syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by coronal craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, broad thumbs and great toes. On the basis of clinical findings, three subtypes have been delineated. The clinical variability of Pfeiffer syndrome as well as other causes of craniosynostosis can make a prenatal diagnosis based on sonography alone difficult.

Limb-body wall complex: 4 new cases illustrating the importance of examining placenta and umbilical cord.

Limb-body wall complex (LBWC) is a rare, sporadic, congenital defect defined as a combination of at least two of three characteristics: 1. limb defects, 2. anterior body wall defects, and 3.

CD34++ CD38- and CD34+ CD38+ human hematopoietic progenitors from fetal liver, cord blood, and adult bone marrow respond differently to hematopoietic cytokines depending on the ontogenic source.

CD34++ CD38- and CD34+ CD38+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from human fetal liver (FL), cord blood (CB), and adult bone marrow (ABM) were isolated and investigated for their growth characteristics, cytokine requirements and response to two modulators of early hematopoiesis, interferon (IFN)-gamma and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha. We observed first that a significantly lower percentage of CD34++ cells were CD38- in ABM than in FL and CB. Second, the functional differences between CD34++ CD38- and CD34+ CD38+ cells were less pronounced in FL and CB than in their ABM counterparts.

Longitudinal evaluation of uteroplacental and umbilical blood flow changes in normal early pregnancy.

The hemodynamic changes in the uteroplacental circulation and the umbilical artery were evaluated in normal pregnancy from 8 to 14 weeks' gestation. A 6-9-MHz broad-band transvaginal sonographic transducer combined with pulsed color Doppler was used to scan 37 healthy volunteer pregnant women at weekly intervals. Vascular impedance to blood flow in all examined vessels decreased significantly throughout the first gestational trimester.

Successful triplet pregnancy in a patient with a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicating rudimentary horn.

In a patient with primary infertility, ovulation was induced by monitored stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophins (HMG) because of polycystic ovarian disease. Infertility work-up had shown a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicating rudimentary horn. The husband showed a varicocele-related moderate oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia.

The influence of angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction on common carotid artery blood flow and velocity-time profiles in normal women.

Non-invasive methods of measuring blood velocity, especially Doppler velocimetry, are being increasingly used in obstetrics to provide observational information. We report a preliminary study of their usefulness in experimental studies. Doppler velocimetry was used to assess blood flow and velocity-time profiles in the common carotid artery of seven women of reproductive age before and during the incremental administration of angiotensin II.

Influence of raising maternal blood pressure with angiotensin II on utero-placental and feto-placental blood velocity indices in the human.

1. The effect of doubling doses of angiotensin II on maternal systemic blood pressure and arcuate and fetal umbilical artery Doppler velocity profiles has been investigated in 10 women in first- and 10 in second-trimester pregnancy. Ten non-pregnant women were also studied.

[The calibrating drainage of the common bile duct (C.B.D.). Value of "axial exit" drainage (author's transl)].

The authors believe that utilisation of calibrating drainage is justified in case of difficult restauration of the C.B.D.