Immune Responses of Healthy Pregnant Women following an Elective Cesarean Section: Effects of Anesthetic Procedures.

A weakened immune system and more inflammatory cytokines being released are possible effects of the surgical stress that a cesarean section induces. This kind of reaction, in addition to the altered reaction to catecholamines, has the potential to significantly affect the immune system of the mother and the patients' general postoperative course. This prospective study compared the plasma levels of catecholamines and cytokines in healthy pregnant patients having cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia.

Longitudinal 8-Epi-Prostaglandin F2-Alpha and Angiogenic Profile Mediator Evaluation during Pregnancy in Women with Suspected or Confirmed Pre-eclampsia.

: In this exploratory study, we aimed to evaluate the dynamics of angiogenic [soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble Endoglin (sEng), and sFlt-1/PlGF, PlGF/sFlt-1, and sEng/PlGF ratios] and oxidative stress [8-epi-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2α) and 8-epi-PGF2α/PlGF ratio] mediator levels in women with suspected or confirmed pre-eclampsia (PE) at least two times during pregnancy. We also wanted to identify the possible correlations between 8-epi-PGF2α and angiogenic mediator levels at the time of inclusion of pregnant women. : We included 40 pregnant women with suspected or confirmed PE, with a mean age of 29 years (range between 18 and 41 years) and gestational age between 18 and 28 weeks at inclusion in this study.

Association between Serum 8-Iso-Prostaglandin F2α as an Oxidative Stress Marker and Immunological Markers in a Cohort of Preeclampsia Patients.

Background: We aimed to analyze the presence and clinical use of serum 8-iso-prostaglandin F2-alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) as an oxidative stress marker and some inflammatory status biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-10, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and pentraxin-3 (PTX3)) for patients with preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: Sixty pregnant women, including thirty diagnosed with PE and thirty who were healthy (NP), were included in this study. For the assessment of serum levels of biomarkers, we used the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique.

Intraplacental Villous Artery Doppler can Improve the Ability to Predict Placenta-Mediated Disease.

Objective: Evaluation of Intraplacental Villous Artery Doppler (IPVA) as a predictive factor compared to umbilical artery (UA) Doppler in placenta-mediated disease (PMD).

Methods: This prospective study included a group of 106 pregnant women, of which 76 patients constituted the PMD group: preeclampsia (PE) and small for gestational age (SGA), and 30 pregnant women constituted the control group. IPVA and UA Doppler evaluation was performed in 2 pregnancy periods: 20.

The Role of Uterine Artery Doppler in the Second and Third Trimesters for Prediction of Preeclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction Developed as a Consequence of Placental-Mediated Diseases.

Unlabelled: Placenta-mediated pregnancy disorders represent a disease that includes preeclampsia (PE) and the birth of small for gestational age (SGA) children, these conditions increase the risk of mortality and morbidity both maternal and fetal/neonatal, in the short and long-term.

Methods: The prospective study included 106 patients in whom ultrasound Doppler scans of uterine artery (UtA) were performed in the 2nd trimester between 20.0-23.

The Ability of Doppler Uterine Artery Ultrasound to Predict Premature Birth.

Objective: Demonstration of the predictive capacity of Doppler Uterine Artery (UtA) on preterm birth (PB) by serial measurement at various ages of pregnancy.

Methods: The prospective study included a group of 116 pregnant women, of whom 85 gave birth prematurely and 31 pregnant women gave birth at term, constituting the control group. UtA Doppler measurement was performed by the abdominal approach.

Effect of Filler Types on Cellulose-Acetate-Based Composite Used as Coatings for Biodegradable Magnesium Implants for Trauma.

Magnesium alloys are considered one of the most promising materials for biodegradable trauma implants because they promote bone healing and exhibit adequate mechanical strength during their biodegradation in relation to the bone healing process. Surface modification of biodegradable magnesium alloys is an important research field that is analyzed in many publications as the biodegradation due to the corrosion process and the interface with human tissue is improved. The aim of the current preliminary study is to develop a polymeric-based composite coating on biodegradable magnesium alloys by the solvent evaporation method to reduce the biodegradation rate much more than in the case of simple polymeric coatings by involving some bioactive filler in the form of particles consisting of hydroxyapatite and magnesium.

Clinical and morphopathological assay in vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Candida vulvovaginitis is characterized by the appearance of inflammatory changes in the vaginal and vulvar epithelium secondary to infection with Candida species. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the clinical, microbiological, and histopathological aspects of pregnant and non-pregnant patients, symptomatic or asymptomatic in the case of candida vaginitis and to correlate the microscopic aspects with the symptoms before applying the local treatment with Nystatin. The study presents a retrospective analysis of the management of vaginitis in 166 pregnant or non-pregnant patients during 2021-2022.

Impact of COVID-19 on fertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART): a systematic review.

The appearance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major obstacle for the performing of current medical activities throughout the world. COVID-19 has affected humanity in many ways, thus causing a great medical, social, economic, and political instability. The aim of this study was to make an analysis of the scientific data obtained by so far to highlight the impact that COVID-19 has had on fertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Analysis of the relationship between placental histopathological aspects of preterm and term birth.

Objectives: This study aims to establish a correlation between placental histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) changes and preterm birth with fetal growth restriction (FGR, formerly called intrauterine growth restriction - IUGR).

Patients, Materials, And Methods: This prospective study was performed on a group of 30 parturients, with singleton gestation, of which 15 patients gave birth at term, and the other 15 patients gave birth prematurely. After the statistical correlation of the clinical and demographic data with premature birth (PB) and term birth (TB), we performed histological and IHC research on the respective placentae.

Prediction of Preterm Birth with Serial Measurements of Ultrasound Markers.

Unlabelled: To compare the ability of cervical length (CL), anterior cervical angle (ACA), and cervical consistency index (CCI) to predict premature birth.

Methods: This prospective study involved 85 pregnant women who gave birth prematurely and a control group of 31 pregnant women who gave birth at term. The study was performed in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Municipal Clinical Hospital Filanthropia Craiova between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2022.

Fetal-maternal incompatibility in the Rh system. Rh isoimmunization associated with hereditary spherocytosis: case presentation and review of the literature.

Next to A and B antigens, agglutinogen D exhibits the highest immunogenicity. Following the transfusion of D-positive red blood cells (RBCs), almost 80% of D-negative recipients develop anti-D antibodies (Abs). Subsequently, anti-D immunization further promotes the synthesis of Abs towards other blood group antigens in or outside the Rh system.

Maternal obesity and placental pathology in correlation with adverse pregnancy outcome.

Maternal obesity is associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE). This prospective study histopathologically analyzes the placentas obtained from 34 pregnant obese women studied between October 2016 and May 2020. The 10 cases of term placentas from obese pregnancies with GDM and the 12 cases with PE were examined by the Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome (MT) and Periodic Acid-Schiff-Hematoxylin (PAS-H) classical stainings, and by the immunohistochemical evaluation and compared to placentae from uncomplicated term obese pregnancies (12 cases).

The potential value of diagnostic and predictive serum biomarkers for preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE), one of the classes of hypertensive pregnancy disorders, is one of the three causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors are useful markers in predicting and diagnosing PE.

Aim: This study aims to detect and measure the serum level of some biomarkers [hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha (HIF-1A), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interferon-gamma-inducible protein of 10 kDa (IP-10), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13)] in patients with PE and their correlation with the severity of the disease, to find a good predictor for PE.

The perioperative effect of anesthetic drugs on the immune response in total intravenous anesthesia in patients undergoing minimally invasive gynecological surgery.

Background: The specific mechanism of action of each anesthetic drug on the immune system is still incompletely known. It is important to know how the various anesthetics used in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) act on the inflammatory response because the choice of the anesthetic agent can influence the patient's immune system.

Aim: Evaluation of the effect of anesthetic drugs used for total intravenous anesthesia (Propofol and Midazolam) on the inflammatory response after minimally invasive gynecological surgery.

Ductus Venosus Agenesis and Portal System Anomalies-Association and Outcome.

To evaluate the prenatal diagnosis of agenesis of ductus venosus (ADV) and portal venous system (PVS) anomalies and describe the outcome of these cases, either isolated or associated. We evaluated the intrahepatic vascular system regarding the presence of normal umbilical drainage and PVS characteristics in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The associated anomalies and umbilical venous drainage were noted.

Can Ultrasound Analysis of the Yolk Sac be a Predictor of Pregnancy Outcome?

The Yolk sac is the first source of transfer between the mother and the embryo, with a nutritional and gas exchange function, vital for the development of the embryo, to which we can add primitive hematopoiesis, the production of stem cells and germ cells. Although normal-term pregnancies with abnormal aspects of the yolk sac have been described, the smaller or larger size of the yolk sac is associated with pregnancy loss. Our study aimed to determine whether the yolk sac size change, determined by measuring diameter (2D ultrasonography) or volume (3D ultrasonography), is independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Relationship between Serum Leptin Values and Abdominal Circumference Assessed in the First Trimester of Pregnancy in Obese Women.

Higher serum leptin values have been correlated with several complications of pregnancy, while the abdominal circumference (AC) is an anthropometric measurement usually used to diagnose abdominal obesity. For this study we compared serum leptin levels between two groups of pregnant women: those with abdominal obesity (AC>88cm) and those without abdominal obesity (AC<88cm), diagnosed at the beginning of pregnancy. Serum leptin levels were obtained through measurements performed between 11-14 and 28-32 weeks of gestation.

Maternal Lipid Profile as Predictor for Mother and Fetus Outcome-an Artificial Neural Network Approach.

Purpose: The study aims to predict mother and fetus outcome based on the mother's lipid profile in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Material And Method: Blood and urinary samples were taken from 135 mothers that were prospectively monitored during the hole pregnancy. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), together with other parameters, were used as predictors in a multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network (ANN).

Maternal Lipid Profile as a Risk Factor for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Obese Women.

As dyslipidemia is frequently associated with gestational diabetes mellitus, the aim of this study was to establish a correlation between the evolution of the maternal lipid profile evaluated in the first and third pregnancy trimester for a series of parameters: triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), blood sugar fasting (BSF), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index), TG/HDL-C ratio, leptin and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus occurrence. The results were statistically interpreted, establishing the mean value of the obtained results and the standard deviation. From the studied parameters, only HDL-C and Tyg were statistically significant different in the  first trimester for the two study groups, while in the third trimester statistically significant differences were observed also for triglycerides, blood sugar fasting and the TG/HDL-C ratio.

Doppler Uterine Artery Ultrasound in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy to Predict Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.

Purpose: To determine in uterine artery (UtA) the mean pulsatility index (PI), systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio and the presence/absence of notch in the second trimester of pregnancy, with normal or abnormal pregnancy outcome.

Material And Methods: We performed an analysis of 135 cases with high risk pregnancy in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of The Municipal Hospital Filantropia, Craiova, between October 2016 and May 2020. The ultrasound evaluation in the second trimester was performed during the second trimester morphology scan, or after this, but up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Importance of Follow-Up and Early Detailed Evaluation in Early Onset Growth Restricted Fetuses.

Early onset fetal growth restriction (EO-FGR) is associated with significant feto-maternal complications, therefore efforts should be made to identify the causes and the potential outcome of the pregnancy. Some of the pitfalls in first-trimester imaging of the fetal anomalies are related to the inadequacy of the examination, because of the fetal position and limited clarity in relation to the size of the structures being examined. In this paper we present a case where careful ultrasound scan follow-up and the use of both approaches transabdominal and transvaginal were useful to complete a detailed structural evaluation as part of the diagnosis, management and prognosis of a fetuses diagnosed with EO-FGR in the first trimester and a triploidy with atypical ultrasound features.

Triple immunohistochemistry for assessing the inflammatory, vascular and progression of adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis is a benign pathology, common to both women at reproductive age as well as later during menopause. This condition is accompanied by a strong symptomatology, which has induced intense research on this topic. From a morphological point of view, it is represented by the existence of endometrial glands and, sometimes, of the periglandular stroma (endometriosis) in the structure of the myometrium, at a significant distance from the normal endometrium.

Ultrasound Evaluation of Fetal Biometry and Doppler Parameters in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy Suspected of Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate fetal biometry and Doppler parameters in the third trimester of pregnancy with suspected restriction of fetal growth as potential predictors of unfavorable neonatal status.

Material/methods: The uterine artery, umbilical and middle cerebral artery, cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) were evaluated in a cohort of 126 pregnancies that resulted in the birth of a fetus <10 percentiles (SGA).

Results: The demographic data of the studied cases did not show a significant difference between the parameters studied in the two study groups: Late SGA fetuses and Early SGA fetuses.

Serological and immunohistochemical biomarkers for discrimination between benign and malignant ovarian tumors.

Background: Ovarian tumors are difficult to diagnose because symptoms are nonspecific, occurring in late stages when the tumor mass reaches large proportions, when complications arise or when dissemination occurs in neighboring organs. Research over the past decades has been aimed at clarifying the mechanisms of ovarian oncogenesis, to identify ways of transforming normal cells into a neoplastic cell, as well as discovering of tumor markers used in the detection of neoplastic processes, along with the synthesis of therapeutic substances, which would influence its development.

Aims: In our study, we aimed to determine the serum concentrations of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) in patients with ovarian tumors, as well as assessing their diagnostic performance.