The central role of creatine and polyamines in fetal growth restriction.

Placental insufficiency often correlates with fetal growth restriction (FGR), a condition that has both short- and long-term effects on the health of the newborn. In our study, we analyzed placental tissue from infants with FGR and from infants classified as small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA), performing comprehensive analyses that included transcriptomics and metabolomics. By examining villus tissue biopsies and 3D trophoblast organoids, we identified significant metabolic changes in placentas associated with FGR.

Female Sexual Violence: A 12-Year Experience at a Single University Hospital in North-East Italy.

This retrospective study analyzed a case series of female sexual violence (SV) victims who were admitted to the emergency department of the University Hospital in Udine between January 2012 and April 2023. A total of 155 cases were divided into two groups according to their age: 115 adult victims and 40 minors. Compared with minors, adults had risk factors such as psychiatric disorders and past experience of SV, and reported bodily injuries and extragenital lesions more frequently.

Does transperineal ultrasound predict the risk of perineal trauma in women with term pregnancy? A prospective observational study.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of perineal trauma during childbirth and to assess the correlations of the pelvic floor dimensions and fetal head station with obstetric trauma in a prospectively recruited cohort of women.

Methods: The study included women with a gestational age of at least 37 weeks, who were carrying a single fetus in a cephalic presentation. Transperineal ultrasound (TPU) was performed prior to the onset of labor or labor induction.

Examining the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Network in the Placental Tissues of Pregnancies Complicated by Pre-Eclampsia: An Explorative Case-Control Analysis.

Severe maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality associated with pre-eclampsia, which are caused partly by premature delivery, affect a factual proportion of pregnancies. Despite its prevalence, the underlying causes of pre-eclampsia remain elusive, with emerging evidence implicating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in its pathogenesis. This study sought to elucidate the involvement of the AhR and its associated pathway in pre-eclampsia by comparing placental components of the AhR pathway in pregnant individuals with and without pre-eclampsia.

Is It Time to Redefine Fetal Decelerations in Cardiotocography?

Historically, fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations were classified into "early", "late", and "variable" based on their relationship with uterine contractions. So far, three different putative etiologies were taken for granted. Recently, this belief, passed down through generations of birth attendants, has been questioned by physiologists.

What is the success rate of trial of labor in monochorionic diamniotic twins? A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the success rate of trial of labor in monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies and the impact of delivery mode on neonatal outcomes.

Data Sources: Searches were performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from the inception of each database until April 2022.

Partial vs. complete course of antenatal corticosteroid prophylaxis: An Italian single center retrospective study.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of preterm infants given 12 vs. 24mg of betamethasone prophylaxis to understand whether a partial course of antenatal corticosteroids (CCS) could prevent or mitigate the major preterm birth complications.

Methods: This is a retrospective single-center cohort study including neonates born between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation from 2001 to 2019 at the University Hospital of Udine.

Rare spontaneous monochorionic dizygotic twins: a case report and a systematic review.

Background: Monochorionic dizygotic twins are a rare condition, mostly related to assisted reproductive technology. This type of twinning is burdened by the same risk of pregnancy complications found in monochorionic monozygotic pregnancies.

Case Presentation: We report a case of spontaneous monochorionic dizygotic twins sharing situs inversus abdominalis and isolated levocardia, with only one twin affected by biliary atresia with splenic malformation syndrome.

Acute tocolysis for intrapartum nonreassuring fetal status: how often does it prevent cesarean delivery? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intrapartum acute tocolysis for nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing in decreasing the incidence of cesarean delivery. Secondary outcomes included modes of delivery other than cesarean delivery, successful acute tocolysis, time-to-delivery interval, and short-term perinatal outcomes.

Data Sources: Searches were performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Reviews, ClinicalTrials.

Does Delayed Cord Clamping Improve Long-Term (≥4 Months) Neurodevelopment in Term Babies? A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Recently, the literature suggested that placental transfusion facilitated by delayed cord clamping (DCC), besides having benefits on hematological parameters, might improve the infants' brain development. The present review primarily evaluates the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) total score mean difference (MD) at long-term follow-up (≥4 months) comparing DCC (>90 or >180 s) to early cord clamping (ECC). Secondary aims consisted of evaluating the ASQ domains' MD and the results obtained from other methods adopted to evaluate the infants' neurodevelopment.

Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Combined Oral Contraceptives Users and Is Positively Associated with High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein.

Information concerning the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in young healthy women predisposing eventually to future diseases is scarce. We investigated the relationship of oxidative stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in fertile-age women by oral combined contraceptive (OC) use. Caucasian Italian healthy non-obese women ( = 290; 100 OC-users; 190 non-OC-users; mean age 23.

Preeclampsia and low sodium: A retrospective cohort analysis and literature review.

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the prevalence of severe preeclampsia and low sodium (PALS) among the pregnant population admitted at the University Hospital of Udine in the past 4 years and to compare these data with the current literature.

Methods: Only women with a diagnosis of preeclampsia were included. According to the lowest sodium level measured either 5 days before or 5 days after delivery, patients were divided in two groups: women with hyponatremia (<135 mmol/L; severe <120 mmol/L) and women with normonatremia (>135 mmol/L).

Risk factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnancies affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a secondary analysis of the WAPM study on COVID-19.

Objectives To evaluate the strength of association between maternal and pregnancy characteristics and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Methods Secondary analysis of a multinational, cohort study on all consecutive pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 from 73 centers from 22 different countries. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens.

First Trimester Uterine Rupture: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Unlabelled: The aim is to report a case of spontaneous uterine rupture in the first trimester of pregnancy and to review the literature on the topic.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed and Scopus. Relevant English articles were identified without any time or study limitations.

Parkinson's Disease in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Pregnancy in Parkinson's disease is a rare occurrence, and to date, clinical experience with its management is rather limited. In clinical practice, doubts concern mainly the impact of PD on gestation, labor, and delivery as well as the safety of dopaminergic drugs. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with an 8-year history of PD.

Significant reduction in umbilical artery metabolic acidosis after implementation of intrapartum ST waveform analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram.

Background: Although the evidence regarding the benefit of using ST waveform analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram is conflicting, ST waveform analysis is considered as adjunct to identify fetuses at risk for asphyxia in our center. Most randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have not shown a significant decrease in umbilical metabolic acidosis, while some observational studies have shown a gradual decrease of this outcome over a longer period of time. Observational studies can give more insight into the effect of implementation of the ST technology in daily clinical practice.

Membrane sweeping in patients planning a trial of labor after cesarean: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Membrane sweeping has been shown to reduce time to the onset of labor in women at term but the effects of membrane sweeping in women with a prior cesarean delivery are largely unknown. To determine the effects of membrane sweeping on promoting labor in patients undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean. Searches were performed in Medline, Ovid, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.

Intrapartum cardiotocography with and without computer analysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To evaluate whether intrapartum cardiotocography with computer analysis decreases the incidence of newborn metabolic acidosis or obstetric intervention when compared with visual analysis through a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The research was conducted using Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, Ovid and Cochrane Library as electronic databases from the inception of each database to May 2018.

Dextrose intravenous fluid therapy in labor reduces the length of the first stage of labor.

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect on length of labor when patients receive IVF with or without dextrose. Searches were performed in electronic databases from inception of each database to May 2018. Trials comparing intrapartum IVF containing dextrose (i.

Delayed cord clamping and cord gas analysis at birth.

Delayed cord clamping for at least 60 s in both term and preterm babies is a major recent change in clinical care. Delayed cord clamping has several effects on other possible interventions. One of these is the effect of delayed cord clamping on umbilical artery gas analysis.

Endometriosis and obstetrics complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of endometriosis on pregnancy outcomes.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Not applicable.

Cervical Pessary for Preventing Preterm Birth in Singleton Pregnancies With Short Cervical Length: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of cervical pessary for preventing spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) in singleton gestations with a second trimester short cervix.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched from their inception until February 2016. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the use of the cervical pessary with expectant management in singletons pregnancies with transvaginal ultrasound cervical length (TVU CL) ≤25 mm.