Publications by authors named "Maria M Ferrari"
Background: Maternal dietary habits are contributors of maternal and fetal health; however, available data are heterogeneous and not conclusive.
Methods: Nutrient intake during pregnancy was assessed in 503 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, using the validated Food Frequency Questionnaire developed by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-FFQ).
Results: In all, 68% of women had a normal body mass index at the beginning of pregnancy, and 83% of newborns had an appropriate weight for gestational age.
Prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization for the management of major placenta previa.
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med
September 2022
Purpose: Placenta previa is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, associated to a high risk of peripartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy. We aimed to verify if prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization in patients with placenta previa and at least one additional risk of bleeding (major placenta previa), can reduce hemorrhage, need for blood transfusions, peripartum hysterectomy and maternal morbidity.
Materials And Methods: We enrolled 76 patients with major placenta previa; a specific multidisciplinary protocol was designed for management, including ultrasound evaluation, hospitalization at 34 weeks, antenatal corticosteroids and scheduled cesarean section at 35-36 weeks.
Aim: To evaluate whether the presence of specific polymorphism in the gene promoter of collagen and some matrix metalloproteinases was associated with the risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse.
Methods: A case-control study was carried on 233 women: 137 were cases with ≥ stage II pelvic organ prolapse and 96 were matched controls without pelvic pathologies. Allele and genotype frequencies related to polymorphisms at the Sp1 site of type I collagen and some functional polymorphisms in the promoters of metalloproteinases-1, -3 and -9 have been compared between groups.
Background: Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of proteolytic enzymes that can degrade extracellular matrix components and have been implicated in connective tissue remodeling associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. These proteins are also involved in the invasive events underlying endometriotic lesion formation and aggressive behavior. Given the established genetic background of endometriosis, the aim of this study was to examine the potential impact of two polymorphisms in the gene promoter region of two of these enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3, on predisposition and severity of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate fetal-maternal temperature relationship and fetal cardiovascular and metabolic response during maternal hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in pregnant ewes.
Methods: Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted in 9 pregnant ewes, reaching 2 different levels of maternal hypothermia: 24 degrees C to 20 degrees C (deep hypothermia) in group A (5 cases) and less than 20 degrees C (very deep hypothermia) in group B (4 cases). Hypothermic levels were maintained for 20 minutes, then the rewarming phase was started.
Background: In the last years transvaginal ultrasonographic diagnosis of ovarian dermoid cyst together with laparoscopic approach have greatly improved the treatment of this benign lesion. Vaginal approach with laparoscopic assistance has been proposed as an alternative to total laparoscopic removal.
Methods: A retrospective comparison between total laparoscopic (56 patients) and direct vaginal removal (30 patients) of ovarian dermoids.