Supplementation with a dietary multicomponent (Lafergin(®)) based on Ferric Sodium EDTA (Ferrazone(®)): results of an observational study.

During pregnancy, iron deficiency anemia is recognized as a specific risk factor for both adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. We decided to test the hypothesis that the daily administration of Lafergin(®), a dietary multicomponent based on Ferrazone(®) (Ferric Sodium EDTA), Lactoferrin, Vitamin C and Vitamin B12, from first trimester of pregnancy until the end of gestation, may significantly reduce, in anemic women, the severity of anemia compared to controls who received ferrous sulfate or liposomal iron.

Reference Charts for Fetal Cerebellar Vermis Height: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study of 10605 Fetuses.

Objective: To establish reference charts for fetal cerebellar vermis height in an unselected population.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study between September 2009 and December 2014 was carried out at ALTAMEDICA Fetal-Maternal Medical Centre, Rome, Italy. Of 25203 fetal biometric measurements, 12167 (48%) measurements of the cerebellar vermis were available.

Predictive value of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free beta-hCG on fetal growth restriction: results of a prospective study.

Purpose: Low levels of plasmatic pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and high levels of free-beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) could influence the outcome of pregnancy. The objective of this study is to assess the correlation between PAPP-A and free beta-hCG and birth weight.

Materials And Methods: Prospective follow-up study performed on 3332 patients in the first trimester of pregnancy who were subjected to a screening test focused on evaluation of fetal aneuploidy (SCA-TEST).

Comparative study of aCGH and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for chromosomal microdeletion and microduplication screening.

Background: prenatal genetic diagnosis of rare disorders is undergoing in recent years a significant enhancement through the application of methods of massive parallel sequencing. Despite the quantity and quality of the data produced, just few analytical tools and software have been developed in order to identify structural and numerical chromosomal anomalies through NGS, mostly not compatible with benchtop NGS platform and routine clinical diagnosis.

Methods: we developed technical, bioinformatic, interpretive and validation pipelines for Next Generation Sequencing to identify SNPs, indels, aneuploidies, and CNVs (Copy Number Variations).

Retrospective study evaluating the performance of a first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 in an Italian unselected population.

Objectives: to assess the performance of a combined first-trimester screening for trisomy 21 in an unselected Italian population referred to a specialized private center for prenatal medicine.

Methods: a retrospective validation of first-trimester screening algorithms [risk calculation based on maternal age and nuchal translucency (NT) alone, maternal age and serum parameters (free β-hCG and PAPP-A) alone and a combination of both] for fetal aneuploidies evaluated in an unselected Italian population at Artemisia Fetal-Maternal Medical Centre in Rome. All measurements were performed between 11(+0) and 13(+6) weeks of gestation, between April 2007 and December 2008.

Tubal primary metastatic choriocarcinoma coexistent with a viable early pregnancy: a case report.

Introduction: fallopian tube choriocarcinoma coexistent with viable intrauterine pregnancy is an extremely rare condition.

Case Report: we present the first case reported in literature of tubal choriocarcinoma coexistent with viable intrauterine pregnancy detected at early gestational age (20 weeks) and successfully managed by seriate monitoring of maternal and fetal health status until 31 weeks, then treated by cesarean section followed by etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMA-CO) chemotherapy protocol.

Conclusions: the outcome was favorable for both the mother and her fetus.

Comparison between modified Misgav-Ladach and Pfannenstiel-Kerr techniques for Cesarean section: review of literature.

In the last decades cesarean section rates increased in many countries becoming the most performed intraperitoneal surgical procedure. Despite its worldwide spread, a general consensus on the most appropriate technique to use has not yet been reached. The operative technique performed is made chiefly on the basis of the individual experience and preference of operators, the characteristics of patients, timing and urgency of intervention.

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia, a case of intrauterine sudden death in a normal-sized fetus.

Introduction: placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare placental anomaly characterized by placentomegaly and grape-like vesicles which resemble molar pregnancy.

Case: we report the case of 33-year-old woman (1-gravid) who visited our clinic at 11 weeks of gestation due to a suspected molar pregnancy. Ultrasound examination showed an enlarged placenta with multiple vesicular lesions.

Uterine fibroids and risk for complications following second-trimester amniocentesis.

Objective: To compare the abortion rate and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) after amniocentesis in women who have undergone antibiotic prophylaxis with uterine fibroids and control.

Study Design: Retrospective study using the Antibiotic Prophylaxis before Second-Trimester Genetic Amniocentesis trial database carried out between January 1999 and December 2005 at the Artemisia Fetal-Maternal Medical Center (Rome, Italy). All women underwent antibiotic prophylaxis before amniocentesis.

Pharmacotherapy of haemophilia A.

Introduction: Haemophilia A is due to factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency. The main treatment is replacement therapy with FVIII concentrates. However, these concentrates carried a high risk of blood-borne viral infections and still have a high risk of inducing anti-FVIII inhibitors.

Antibiotic prophylaxis before second-trimester genetic amniocentesis (APGA): a single-centre open randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare procedure-related pregnancy loss after second-trimester genetic amniocentesis in women given an antibiotic prophylaxis and controls.

Methods: Prospective, open randomised controlled single-centre study between January 1999 and December 2005 at Artemisia Fetal Maternal Medical Centre. A follow-up within 4 weeks after the procedure was done.

Two-dimensional fetal echocardiography: where we are.

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common severe congenital abnormality in the newborn and the cause of over half the deaths from congenital anomalies in childhood. Prenatal diagnosis, possible as early as 15 weeks of gestation, allows physicians and families the greatest number of therapeutic options, and can improve the postnatal outcome. There are several potential indications for performing such examination.

Prenatal screening of Cystic Fibrosis: a single centre experience.

Objective: The gene responsible for the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis has been known for over 15 years and represent the most common autosomal recessive disease in the european population. We aimed to investigate the incidence of this condition during fetal life.

Methods: In the past 10 years we examined in our centre 25393 fetuses of women underwent to amniocentesis.

Prenatal Aneuploidies Computerized Screening (SCA TEST): a pilot study on 1000 women.

The SCA-TEST, Prenatal Aneuploidies Screening, is an innovating program with very articulated and differentiated calculation potentials. It is a software which allows executing a sequence-like rational screening involving the ultrasound study of the first and second trimester. The program enables to execute a complete and different- levels combined screening, through very sophisticated mathematic analysis methods.