Publications by authors named "Ranzini A"

Purpose: This study aimed (1) to determine the degree of correlation between 2D and 3D estimated fetal weight (EFW) and neonatal birth weight (BW) among borderline small fetuses and (2) to compare the accuracy and precision of 2D and 3D EFW in BW prediction.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study evaluated fetuses who had an ultrasound performed between January 2017 and September 2021 at a tertiary maternal center. All singleton pregnancies with 3D EFW within 4 weeks of delivery were included.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study explored the link between fetal fraction (amount of fetal DNA in the mother's blood) and low birth weight in twin pregnancies, aiming to understand how these factors relate, especially in the first trimester.
  • The analysis included 1,041 twin pregnancies and found that no significant differences in fetal fraction existed between twins with low birth weight (<10th percentile) and those with normal birth weight (≥10th percentile).
  • Ultimately, the results indicated no correlation between high or low fetal fractions and low birth weight, suggesting that fetal fraction is not a reliable predictor of adverse birth weight outcomes in twin pregnancies.
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Purpose: Prenatal genetic screens and diagnostic tests are vital components of prenatal care. The first prenatal visit is a critical time in the decision-making process when patients decide whether to use these tests in addition to address a series of other essential prenatal care aspects. We conducted this study to examine the role of a shared decision-making (SDM) instrument to support these discussions.

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Objective:  This study aimed to examine associations of fetal biometric and amniotic fluid measures with intrapartum primary cesarean delivery (PCD) and develop prediction models for PCD based on ultrasound parameters and maternal factors.

Study Design:  Secondary analysis of the National Institute of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Fetal Growth Studies-singleton cohort (2009-2013) including patients with uncomplicated pregnancies and intent to deliver vaginally at ≥37 weeks. The estimated fetal weight, individual biometric parameters, fetal asymmetry measurements, and amniotic fluid single deepest vertical pocket assessed at the final scan (mean 37.

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Purpose: To describe the injury mechanism and situational patterns of severe (absence >28 days) hamstring muscle injuries in professional male and female football (soccer) players.

Methods: The data for males were sourced from Serie A clubs participating in both national and international competitions from 2018 to 2021. For the female cohort, hamstring injuries were identified during matches of the top national/international competitions from 2017 to 2023.

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Background: A major goal of contemporary obstetrical practice is to optimize fetal growth and development throughout pregnancy. To date, fetal growth during prenatal care is assessed by performing ultrasonographic measurement of 2-dimensional fetal biometry to calculate an estimated fetal weight. Our group previously established 2-dimensional fetal growth standards using sonographic data from a large cohort with multiple sonograms.

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Background: Postpartum hypertension is a major contributor to the rising maternal mortality rates in the United States, with nearly half of maternal deaths occurring after delivery. Previous studies have found evidence that the maximum blood pressure reading during labor and delivery admission can predict readmission; however, the optimal blood pressure to reduce the need for readmissions and additional medical treatment in the postpartum period is not known.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between postpartum blood pressure control at discharge and readmission within the first 6 weeks after delivery.

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Objective:  This study aimed to develop a prediction model that estimates the probability that a pregnant person who has had asymptomatic or mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prior to delivery admission will progress in severity to moderate, severe, or critical COVID-19.

Study Design:  This was a secondary analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients who delivered from March through December 2020 at hospitals across the United States. Those eligible for this analysis presented for delivery with a current or previous asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Objectives: Decisional conflict and regret about prenatal genetic screening and diagnostic tests may have important consequences in the current pregnancy and for future reproductive decisions. Identifying mechanisms that reduce conflict associated with the decision to use or decline these options is necessary for optimal patient counseling.

Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a shared decision-making tool (NEST) at the beginning of prenatal care.

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Background: Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries are common in soccer and volleyball, occurring during changes of direction and landings. This study aimed to investigate kinematic differences between soccer and volleyball players in single-planar and multiplanar landing tasks, simulating sport-specific injury mechanisms. Since the anterior cruciate ligament injury rate in soccer is higher than in volleyball, we hypothesized that volleyball players would adopt safer landing strategies, especially in single-planar landing tasks.

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Background: There are limited data to guide the diagnosis and management of vasa previa. Currently, what is known is largely based on case reports or series and cohort studies.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically collect and classify expert opinions and achieve consensus on the diagnosis and clinical management of vasa previa using focus group discussions and a Delphi technique.

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A series of five fetuses with a Phrygian cap gallbladder, a condition infrequently reported in the antenatal period, is reported. In all cases, examination of the fetal gallbladder displayed the characteristic folding of the fundus over the body. No associated findings were detected.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates crown-rump length (CRL) discordance in twin pregnancies, which is defined as a ≥10% difference in measurements, to see if it's linked to higher risks of fetal abnormalities and adverse outcomes.
  • The objective is to determine the correlation between CRL discordance and conditions like aneuploidy, structural anomalies, and perinatal complications, while also assessing the effectiveness of cell-free DNA screening in these cases.
  • The research involves analyzing data from a previous multicenter study on twin pregnancies, comparing those with CRL discordance to those without, and examining the rates of adverse outcomes and screening performance.
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Background: Analysis of cell-free DNA from maternal blood provides effective screening for trisomy 21 in singleton pregnancies. Data on cell-free DNA screening in twin gestations are promising although limited. In previous twin studies, cell-free DNA screening was primarily performed in the second trimester and many studies did not report chorionicity.

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Introduction: The detection of absent septi pellucidi (ASP) during obstetric ultrasound is a rare event. However, the clinical implications of this finding are significant. ASP can be associated with severe central nervous system anomalies such as holoprosencephaly, agenesis/dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, schizencephaly, severe ventriculomegaly, and open neural tube defects.

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Visualization of the axial plane of the fetal abdomen is mandatory to obtain abdominal biometry in the assessment of fetal growth in the second and third trimesters. The main anatomic landmarks that must be identified in this view include the fetal stomach and the intrahepatic portion of the umbilical vein, which are easily identifiable as they appear anechoic on ultrasound. The gallbladder is the other prominent anechoic structure in this plane.

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Background: Gestational weight gain (GWG) and anthropometric trajectories may affect foetal programming and are potentially modifiable.

Objectives: To assess concomitant patterns of change in weight, circumferences and adiposity across gestation as an integrated prenatal exposure, and determine how they relate to neonatal body composition.

Methods: Data are from a prospective cohort of singleton pregnancies (n = 2182) enrolled in United States perinatal centres, 2009-2013.

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Background: High-quality evidence to inform the management of postpartum hypertension, including the optimal blood pressure threshold to initiate therapy, is lacking. Randomized trials have been conducted in pregnancy, but there are no published trials to guide management in the postpartum period.

Objective: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that initiating antihypertensive therapy in the postpartum period at a threshold of 140/90 mm Hg would result in less maternal morbidity than initiating therapy at a threshold of 150/95 mm Hg.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes in health care, specifically the accelerated use of telehealth. Given the unique aspects of prenatal care, it is important to understand the impact of telehealth on health care communication and quality, and patient satisfaction. This mixed methods study examined the challenges associated with the rapid and broad implementation of telehealth for prenatal care delivery during the pandemic.

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Introduction: During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, several health care facilities enacted visitor restrictions to help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among patients, front-line workers in health care systems, and communities. The impact and burden of policy updates on visitor restrictions put forth by the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen on patients and families, most often in the acute care setting and skilled nursing facilities. Yet, the effects of visitor restrictions in the prenatal care setting were unknown.

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Background: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disease unique to pregnancy and has a significant impact on maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Daily aspirin has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of preeclampsia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends daily low-dose aspirin, ideally before 16 weeks' gestation, in at-risk patients for preeclampsia risk reduction.

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Introduction: Exercise in pregnancy is associated with many perinatal benefits, but patterns of home, work, and commuting activity are not well described. We investigated longitudinal activity in singleton and twin pregnancy by activity domain and maternal characteristics.

Methods: In the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies cohorts, 2778 women with singleton and 169 women with twin gestations reported activity using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire at up to six or seven study visits, respectively.

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Background: Although telehealth appears to have been accepted among some obstetric populations before the COVID-19 pandemic, patients' receptivity and experience with the rapid conversion of this mode of health care delivery are unknown.

Objective: In this study, we examine patients' prenatal care needs, preferences, and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of supporting the development of successful models to serve the needs of pregnant patients, obstetric providers, and health care systems during this time.

Methods: This study involved qualitative methods to explore pregnant patients' experiences with prenatal health care delivery at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate fetal biometrics as predictors of shoulder dystocia (SD) in a low-risk obstetrical population.

Study Design: Participants were enrolled as part of a U.S.

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