Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pregnancy with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major cause of late stillbirth, though not all compromised babies remain small or are considered growth restricted as pregnancy progresses. Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (f-MRI) represents a second-line tool to study pregnancies with IUGR fetuses. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of f-MRI on predicting fetal growth and the offspring's perinatal respiratory outcome.

Placental histological examination and the relationship with oxidative stress in preterm infants.

Background: Prenatal conditions of enhanced oxidative stress (OS) linked to inflammation or hypoxia have been associated with impaired fetal growth and preterm delivery. Little is known regarding biomarkers of OS in the cord blood of preterm infants and placental histological patterns.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that placental lesions indicating chorioamnionitis (CA) or vascular underperfusion (VU) are associated with increased OS in the offspring.