New definitions, old complications: The association between duration of transition from latent to active labor and adverse obstetrical outcomes.

Objective: To explore the relationship between the duration of transition from latent to active labor and various obstetric, maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on term, singleton deliveries at Soroka University Medical Center from 2013 to 2018. Data were extracted from electronic medical records.

The Correlation Between the Total Decelerations and Accelerations Areas and Cord Blood pH in Women with Low-Risk Pregnancies.

Fetal acidosis among low-risk pregnancies is not common; however, identifying those at risk for this complication antenatally is of great interest. We aimed to assess the correlation between the total decelerations area during the last 120 min of fetal monitoring prior to delivery and neonatal acidemia in low-risk pregnancies and whether the total acceleration area has a protective effect in the presence of decelerations. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among women with term low-risk pregnancies.

Correlation between total deceleration area in CTG records and cord blood pH in pregnancies with IUGR.

Purpose: Fetal cardiotocography is the most common method to assess fetal well-being during labor. Nevertheless, its predictive ability for acidemia is limited, both in low-risk and high-risk pregnancies (Nelson et al. in N Engl J Med 334: 613-9, 1996; Rinciples P et al.

Post-COVID-19 Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Experience from a Large Tertiary Referral Center.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but potentially devastating complication of pregnancy. Although the pathophysiology of PPCM is not fully understood, there are known risk factors for developing PPCM, which are maternal and gestation related. In the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we witnessed an elevated incidence of PPCM among COVID-19 survivors.

The impact of cerclage placement on gestational length in women with premature cervical shortening.

Objectives: Cervical insufficiency (CI) is a condition consistent with painless cervical dilatation that can lead to preterm delivery. Cervical cerclage is a procedure in which cervical suture is performed for preventing preterm labor in several indications. Late emergency cerclage is technically more challenging compared to elective cerclage, performed earlier during pregnancy, prior to cervical changes.

The association of intrapartum deceleration and acceleration areas with MRI findings in neonatal encephalopathy.

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important contributor to disability worldwide. The current cardiotocography (CTG) predictive value for neonatal outcome is limited.

Objective: To assess the association of intrapartum CTG deceleration and acceleration areas with early MRI cerebral pathology in infants with HIE.

Intrapartum deceleration and acceleration areas are associated with neonatal encephalopathy.

Objective: To investigate whether an association exists between deceleration and acceleration areas on continuous fetal cardiotocography (CTG) and neonatal encephalopathy (NE).

Methods: A single center, retrospective case-control study was conducted to compare CTG characteristics of low-risk pregnancies (35 weeks of gestation or more), complicated by moderate to severe NE with two matched controls for every case. Controls were matched by gestational age and cord blood pH.

The correlation between total deceleration and acceleration surface areas on electronic fetal monitoring and neonatal cord blood pH in postdate pregnancies.

Objective: To assess the correlation between the total decelerations area in the final 120 min before delivery and neonatal cord blood pH in postdate pregnancies.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included women with gestational age greater than 41 weeks, singleton pregnancy, and a category II electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) of at least 30 min during the final 120 min before delivery. We included postdate deliveries of an otherwise low-risk parturient population.

Obstetric Outcomes after Perforation of Uterine Cavity.

We aimed to evaluate the pregnancy characteristics and obstetric outcomes in patients after perforation of the uterus. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and included all patients who were diagnosed with uterine perforation and treated in a tertiary referral medical center between the years 1996 and 2018. Up to two deliveries after perforations were investigated.

Correlation between total deceleration area and fetal cord blood pH in neonates complicated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid at term.

Objective: To assess the correlation between total area under the Curve (AUC) of decelerations and accelerations and neonatal acidemia in pregnancies complicated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among women who delivered with a diagnosis of MSAF. Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) patterns 120 min before delivery were interpreted by a researcher blinded to fetal outcomes.

Factors associated with compliance to the recommendations for postpartum diabetes mellitus screening among women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Since women with GDM have an increased risk to develop type 2 DM, a 75 g OGTT is recommended 6-12 weeks postpartum for all women with GDM. However, screening rates remain low. The aim of this study was to find factors affect the rate of postpartum DM screening.

Maternal Blood Angiogenic Factors and the Prediction of Critical Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Among Small-for-Gestational-Age Pregnancies.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether maternal blood angiogenic factors in suspected-small-for-gestational-age (sSGA) fetuses can predict critical adverse perinatal outcomes (CAPO) and improve risk assessment.

Methods: Women with singleton pregnancies diagnosed with sSGA, between 24 and 35 weeks' gestation, were included. Clinical and sonographic comprehensive evaluations were performed at enrolment.

S100B in maternal circulation of pregnancies complicated by FGR and brain sparing.

Objective: To determine whether the presence of brain sparing in fetal growth restricted (FGR) fetuses involves elevation of the cerebral injury biomarker S100B in maternal circulation.

Methods: We included 63 women with suspected small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses between 24 and 35 +6/7 weeks of gestation. Maternal plasma angiogenic factors measurements and sonographic evaluation were performed at recruitment.

Risk for probable post-partum depression among women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of the current study was to assess the risk for post-partum depression among women delivering during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the risk among women delivering before the COVID-19 pandemic. A cohort study was performed among women delivering singletons at term which were recruited in the maternity wards of the Soroka University Medical Center. Recruitment was done during the COVID-19 strict isolation period (March 18 and April 29, 2020).

Risk for Depressive Symptoms among Hospitalized Women in High-Risk Pregnancy Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: Higher rates of mental disorders, specifically depression, were found among affected people in previous epidemiological studies taken after disasters. The aim of the current study was to assess risk for depression among pregnant women hospitalized during the "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19) pandemic, as compared to women hospitalized before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was performed among women hospitalized in the high-risk pregnancy units of the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC).

Challenges in Diagnosing Rare Genetic Causes of Common In Utero Presentations: Report of Two Patients with Mucolipidosis Type II (I-Cell Disease).

Traditional approaches to prenatal genetic diagnosis for common presentations such as short femurs or intrauterine growth restriction are imperfect, and whole-exome sequencing is an emerging option. Mucolipidosis type II (I-cell disease) is an ultra-rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder with the potential for prenatal-onset skeletal and placental manifestations. We describe the prenatal signs in two recent unrelated patients with confirmed diagnoses soon after birth.

Neonatal Outcomes of Low-Risk, Late-Preterm Twins Compared With Late-Preterm Singletons.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the risk of neonatal morbidity among late-preterm twins is similar to that of late-preterm singletons.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women with twin or singleton pregnancy who gave birth during the late-preterm period in a single tertiary center between 2008 and 2015. Neonatal outcomes of low-risk, late-preterm twins were compared with those of low-risk, late-preterm singletons.

Fetal heart rate monitoring category 3 during the 2nd stage of labor is an independent predictor of fetal acidosis.

Objective: To determine whether fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring categories during the 1st and 2nd stage of labor can predict arterial cord pH <7.2.

Materials And Methods: A case control study was conducted including 653 consecutive term deliveries (37 weeks gestation and above) that were divided according to fetal pH ≤ 7.

Does gender of the fetus have any relation with fetal heart monitoring during the first and second stage of labor?

Objective: To investigate fetal gender and its influences on neonatal outcomes, taking into consideration the available tools for the assessment of fetal well-being.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study comparing maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes according to fetal gender, in women carrying a singleton gestation. A multivariate analysis was performed for the prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes according to fetal gender, after adjustment for gestational age, maternal age and fetal weight.

Obesity in pregnancy: what's next? Long-term cardiovascular morbidity in a follow-up period of more than a decade.

Objective: To investigate whether obesity during pregnancy poses a risk for subsequent maternal long-term cardiovascular morbidity, after controlling for diabetes and hypertensive disorders.

Study Design: Data were analyzed from consecutive pregnant women who delivered between 1988 and 1999, and were followed-up until 2010. Long-term cardiovascular morbidity was compared among women with and without obesity in pregnancy (maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m(2) or more).

Diminished activity of circulating α1-antitrypsin is associated with pre-gestational isolated obesity.

Objective: To examine possible correlation between α1-antitrypsin (AAT) levels and activity in patients with and without obesity, after excluding complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), during pregnancy.

Study Design: A prospective case-control study was conducted. AAT levels were determined by standard human AAT ELISA according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Low levels of circulating alpha-1 antitrypsin are associated with spontaneous abortions.

Objective: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a circulating anti-inflammatory molecule, rises four- to sixfold during acute phase responses and during pregnancy. AAT deficiency is linked with various pregnancy complications. The aim of this study is to determine plasma concentrations and activity of AAT and serum cytokine levels in blood samples from women undergoing spontaneous abortions as compared with elective abortions.

Maternal "isolated" obesity and obstetric complications.

Objective: To investigate pregnancy outcomes, particularly cesarean delivery (CD), among women with "isolated" obesity (i.e. without additional comorbidities).

Lower circulation levels and activity of α-1 antitrypsin in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.

Objective: α-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is an anti-protease, anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective molecule. Normal circulating levels are <3.5 mg/dl and rise during pregnancy.