Associations between provider-assigned Apgar score and neonatal race.

Background: For decades, the Apgar scoring system has been used to evaluate neonatal status and determine need for resuscitation or escalation in care, such as admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. However, the variation and accuracy of provider-assigned Apgar scores across neonatal racial groups have yet to be evaluated.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate how provider-assigned Apgar scores vary by neonatal race independently of clinical factors and umbilical cord gas values.

Pharmacokinetics of 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate in singleton pregnancy and its influence of maternal body size measures.

Background: Reducing spontaneous preterm deliveries is a worldwide public health priority. Although many interventions have been studied, 1 of the most effective treatments to decrease recurrent preterm birth is the use of weekly 17 alpha hydroxy progesterone caproate. Previous studies on the influence of excessive adipose tissue and obesity on the use of 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm deliveries have shown conflicting findings.

Multifocal Rounded Intraplacental Hematomas, Placental Abruption and Intrauterine Fetal Demise.

Background: Rounded intraplacental hematomas (RIH) have a distinct rounded hemorrhagic appearance located within the placental parenchyma. Hemorrhagic villous infarctions (infarcts that when sectioned have hemorrhagic centers) are probably older RIH. RIH have been associated with acute abruptions.

Pearls in clinical obstetrics: challenges in anticoagulation in pregnancy.

Women are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) during both pregnancy and in the post-partum period. We have conducted a comprehensive literature review of the use of anticoagulation in pregnancy for pregnant women at increased risk for VTE. Multiple factors, including physiologic and pharmacokinetic changes make the treatment and prevention of VTE complicated in pregnancy.

Characteristics of Isolated Ventricular Septal Defects Less Likely to Close In Utero.

Objectives: To determine the characteristics of fetal ventricular septal defects (VSDs) that will be less likely to close prenatally.

Methods: In this 4-year retrospective cohort study, 148 fetuses had a diagnosis of a VSD during a comprehensive fetal anatomy survey. The VSD diagnosis was confirmed by color and pulsed wave Doppler studies.

Adipokinins in pregnancies at risk of preterm delivery.

Objective: To compare adipokinins between women experiencing preterm labor (PTL) and prior preterm deliveries (PTD).

Study Design: In this prospective observational cohort, 110 women with a singleton <35 weeks at increased risk of PTD were studied. Serum leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were obtained at three times (23-34 weeks, 35-36 weeks, at delivery) and analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Complex actions of estradiol-3-sulfate in late gestation fetal brain.

The most abundant form of estrogen circulating in fetal plasma is sulfo-conjugated estrogen; for example, estradiol-3-sulfate (E(2)SO(4)) is more highly abundant than estradiol (E(2)). The present study investigated the ontogeny of the deconjugating (steroid sulfatase [STS]) and conjugating (estrogen sulfotransferase [STF]) enzymes in ovine fetal brain and tested the hypothesis that treatment with E(2)SO(4) would alter the expression of one or both enzymes. Steroid sulfatase was more highly expressed than STF, and both changed as a function of gestational age.