The Role of the FGF19 Family in the Pathogenesis of Gestational Diabetes: A Narrative Review.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy complications. Understanding the pathogenesis and appropriate diagnosis of GDM enables the implementation of early interventions during pregnancy that reduce the risk of maternal and fetal complications. At the same time, it provides opportunities to prevent diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases in women with GDM and their offspring in the future.

Preeclampsia and Obesity-The Preventive Role of Exercise.

Obesity is now recognized as a worldwide epidemic. An inadequate diet and reduced physical activity are acknowledged as the leading causes of excess body weight. Despite growing evidence that obesity is a risk factor for unsuccessful pregnancies, almost half of all women who become pregnant today are overweight or obese.

Could Vitamin D Be Effective in Prevention of Preeclampsia?

Prevention of preeclampsia (PE) remains one of the most significant problems in perinatal medicine. Due to the possible unpredictable course of hypertension in pregnancy, primarily PE and the high complication rate for the mother and fetus/newborn, it is urgent to offer pregnant women in high-risk groups effective methods of preventing the PE development or delaying its appearance. In addition, due to the association of PE with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in later life, effective preeclampsia prevention could also be important in reducing their incidence.

Nutrition as Prevention Factor of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as a glucose tolerance disorder with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. GDM is associated with several adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Management to reduce the incidence of GDM could decrease the incidence of these complications.

Thrombocytopenia in pregnant women.

Thrombocytopenia is one of the two most common hematological problems in pregnant women. It is defined as the platelet (PLT) count below 150 × 103/μL. Gestational incidental thrombocytopenia (GIT) represents about 75% of thrombocytopenia cases in pregnancy and it is believed that GIT is secondary to accelerated platelet destruction and increased plasma volume associated with pregnancy.

The Potential Role of Chemerin, Lipocalin 2, and Apelin in the Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

The exact role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) still remains not fully clear, and multiple studies have analyzed their potential contribution to the pathophysiology of this pregnancy complication. This study is aimed at evaluating serum chemerin, lipocalin 2, and apelin concentrations in GDM and healthy pregnant patients, assessing the correlation between these adipokines, and suggesting the potential role of these cytokines in the diagnosis and pathophysiology of GDM. The study comprised 237 pregnant women: 153 with GDM and 84 with physiological pregnancy.

Prevention of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy-Is There a Place for Metformin?

The possibility of prophylaxis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) such as preeclampsia (PE) and pregnancy-induced hypertension is of interest due to the unpredictable course of these diseases and the risks they carry for both mother and fetus. It has been proven that their development is associated with the presence of the placenta, and the processes that initiate it begin at the time of the abnormal invasion of the trophoblast in early pregnancy. The ideal HDP prophylaxis should alleviate the influence of risk factors and, at the same time, promote physiological trophoblast invasion and maintain the physiologic endothelium function without any harm to both mother and fetus.

Ovarian Cancer and Pregnancy-A Current Problem in Perinatal Medicine: A Comprehensive Review.

The frequency of concomitant adnexal tumors in pregnancy is reported to be at 0.15-5.7%, while ovarian cancer complicates 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 32,000 pregnancies, being the second most common gynecologic cancer diagnosed during pregnancy.

Adipokines and Endothelium Dysfunction Markers in Pregnant Women with Gestational Hypertension.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of adipokines such as adiponectin and leptin as well as soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and endogenous NOS inhibitor-asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), as the endothelium dysfunction markers in pregnant women with gestational hypertension (GH).

Patients And Methods: Adiponectin, leptin, sICAM-1, and ADMA concentrations were measured in a group of 34 patients with GH and in 32 healthy pregnant women between the 24 and 34 week of gestation with ELISA tests.

Results: The patients with GH compared with healthy ones were characterized by significantly higher BMI (28.

Aortic dissection during pregnancy - obstetric perspective.

The risk of vascular events during pregnancy is substantially increased. Beyond comparatively frequent vascular diseases, pregnancy may lead also to the development of exceptionally rare vascular events such as the aortic dissection and aortic rupture which are conceivably endangering life conditions. Women with the connective tissue disorders and with a family history of the aorta diseases are especially prone to the aortic complications which may also develop in the absence of these risk factors due to the pregnancy-induced structural changes of the aortic wall.

Nesfatin-1 and Vaspin as Potential Novel Biomarkers for the Prediction and Early Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered to be one of the most frequent medical complication observed among pregnant women. The role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of GDM remains strictly unknown. Different adipokines have been studied throughout gestation, and they have been proposed as biomarkers of GDM and other pregnancy-related complications; however, there is no biomarker reported for GDM screening at present.

Adiponectin and Omentin Levels as Predictive Biomarkers of Preterm Birth in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine any changes in adiponectin and omentin levels in GDM patients who delivered at term and preterm and to evaluate whether adipokines can be useful as a clinical biomarker to predict subsequent preterm delivery.

Patients And Methods: The levels of adiponectin and omentin were measured in four groups: (1) women with GDM who delivered at term (n=63); (2) women with GDM who had the symptoms of threatened preterm labor and delivered at term (n=23); (3) women with GDM and spontaneous preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) (n=19); (4) women with physiological pregnancy (n=55).

Results: In comparison with control group the median adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in all GDM groups (10737 versus 8879; 7057; 6253 ng/ml, respectively; p<0.

Adipokines and C-peptide in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of adipokines such as adiponectin, resistin, leptin as well as C-peptide in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Material And Methods: The adipokines and C-peptide concentrations were measured in the group of 38 overweight/obese pregnant women (BMI > 25 kg/m2) and in 42 pregnant women of normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) with ELISA tests between 24th and 34th weeks of gestation.

Results: The overweight/obese women compared to lean ones were characterized by significantly higher concentrations of leptin (43.

The role of new adipokines in gestational diabetes mellitus pathogenesis.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition dur-ing pregnancy. Explanation of the GDM pathogenesis is important due to preventing gestational complications. During pregnancy there are significant changes in maternal metabolism.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes and inherited thrombophilia.

Aim: (1) To evaluate the prevalence of inherited thrombophilia in pregnant women with adverse pregnancy outcomes: intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), preeclampsia (PE) and placental abruption. (2) To assess the impact of inherited thrombophilia on the nature of obstetric complications. (3) To assess levels of protein S, protein C, antithrombin III and homocysteine in pregnant women with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Intercellular Adhesion Molecule and Endogenous NOS Inhibitor: Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (s-ICAM-1) and endogenous NOS inhibitor, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), as markers of endothelium dysfunction in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Patients And Methods: The levels of s-ICAM-1 and ADMA were analysed in the group of 56 patients with GDM and compared to 25 healthy pregnant women. The concentrations of s-ICAM-1 and ADMA were measured in serum using ELISA tests.

Intra-uterine Growth Retardation as a Risk Factor of Postnatal Metabolic Disorders.

Intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) represents one of the major problems in perinatal medicine. IUGR is one of main causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity. A huge number and variety of established and possible causes of IUGR have been described.

Anticoagulant therapy in pregnant patients with metabolic syndrome: a review.

Pregnancy is a specific state of heightened coagulability related to the increase in procoagulant agents and to the reduced fibrinolysis. Pregnancy is associated with a 4-fold increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and this risk still increases to 14-fold during puerperium. A correlation between the metabolic syndrome and development of cardiovascular events and cerebrovascular incidents has been described.

Nitric oxide in normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key molecule involved in a variety of biological functions throughout the whole body. Many studies have been devoted to establish the role of NO in perinatal medicine and the different findings have promoted the clinical use of NO donors as new pharmacological tools. NO regulates the vascular tone and blood flow by activating soluble guanylate cyclase in the vascular smooth muscles.

Glucocorticoids in pregnancy.

The fetus may be exposed to increased endogenous or synthetic glucocorticoid (GS) exposure in late gestation. Approximately 7% of pregnant women in Europe and North America are treated with synthetic GSs to promote lung maturation in fetuses at risk of preterm delivery. Maternal steroid treatment before preterm delivery is one of the best documented and most cost effective life saving treatments in prenatal medicine but, in certain circumstances, the price of accelerated lung maturity may be loss of brain cells, increased neurodevelopmental disability, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), and an increased risk of preterm delivery, of programming of post-natal hypertension, and of increased post-natal activity in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.