Clinical maternal risk parameters for the occurrence of maternal and fetal complications during preeclampsia in Congolese women.

Unlabelled: Several studies have demonstrated that predicting complications of preeclampsia up to 48 h before their occurrence enhances clinical management. This predictive ability allows for rational approaches in dealing with groups at high risk of maternal-fetal complications.

Objective: This study aims to identify the clinical parameters strongly associated with maternal-fetal complications during preeclampsia in Congolese pregnant women.

Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination in Non-Infected Cardiometabolic Patients from the Americas during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Sub-Analysis of the CorCOVID-LATAM Study.

Background: Influenza vaccination (IV) and Pneumococcus vaccination (PV) are recommended for patients with cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the immunization rate of ambulatory cardiometabolic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Americas.

Methods: Electronic surveys were collected from 13 Spanish speaking countries between 15 June and 15 July 2020.

Psychological Impact of the Pandemic on Ambulatory Cardiometabolic Patients Without Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. The CorCOVID Latam Psy Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic's mental health consequences remain unknown.

Aim: To assess the mental health status of ambulatory cardiometabolic patients during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Spanish speaking Latin American countries.

Methods: Cardiometabolic patients without COVID-19 evidence in 13 Latin American countries answered a survey between June 15th and July 15th, 2020.

Preeclampsia and toxic metals: a case-control study in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

Background: Preeclampsia is frequent in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), especially during the dry season. We tested whether preeclampsia was associated with exposure to environmental metals.

Methods: Using a case-control design, 88 women hospitalized with preeclampsia (cases) and 88 healthy pregnant women from the antenatal clinic (controls) were included in the study; 67 and 109 women were enrolled during the rainy and dry season, respectively.

Mesenteric root dissection with individualized ileo-colic vessel ligation versus mesenteric pedicle stapling.

Background: Numerous factors have been associated with the number of lymph nodes retrieved during laparoscopic colectomy. This study compared the impact of vascular pedicle ligation method on the number of retrieved lymph nodes in patients undergoing laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for cancer. Mesenteric root dissection with individualized vessel ligation was compared to en bloc vascular root stapling.

Investigating the influence of maternal cortisol and emotional state during pregnancy on the DNA methylation status of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) promoter region in cord blood.

Background: The methylation status of the human glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 in newborns has been reported to be sensitive to prenatal maternal mood. This study investigates both the association between maternal cortisol and emotional state during pregnancy and the methylation state of the promoter region of NR3C1 gene.

Methods: We examined 83 pregnant women.

[Seasonal variations in hematocrit in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo].

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the concentration of blood cells in plasma varies seasonally in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Changes in hematocrit of 104 volunteer blood donors in good health were followed during the two seasons of the year - rainy and dry. Hematocrit was higher during the rainy season than during the dry season.

The influence of maternal cortisol and emotional state during pregnancy on fetal intrauterine growth.

Background: This exploratory study investigates the influence of maternal cortisol and emotional state during pregnancy on fetal intrauterine growth (IUG). We expected higher basal cortisol levels, or more depressive and anxious complaints during pregnancy, to be associated with slower IUG and lower birth weight.

Methods: A total of 91 pregnant women were recruited from the antenatal clinic and were seen once each trimester.

Student midwives' views on maternity care just before their graduation.

Aim: To report a hermeneutic study of student midwives' views on maternity care just before their graduation. background: Woman-centred care, which is the hallmark of midwifery, is taught to midwifery students around the globe. Woman-centred care is advantageous for women at low obstetric risk.

Variation in 17 obstetric care pathways: potential danger for health professionals and patient safety?

Aim: To report a study to determine whether or not variations exist in evidence-based key interventions in pathway documents for normal delivery across hospitals.

Background: Care pathways are used worldwide to standardize and follow up patient-focused care. Minimal variations in pathway documents increase standardization and patient safety.

A hermeneutic phenomenological study of Belgian midwives' views on ideal and actual maternity care.

Objective: to explore midwives' views on ideal and actual maternity care.

Design: a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study based on the method of van Manen (1997) using individual in-depth interviews to gather data.

Setting: Flanders, Belgium.

Outcome of pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease treated with antitumor necrosis factor therapy.

Background: Infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) are attractive treatment options in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also during pregnancy but there is still limited data on the benefit/risk profile of IFX and ADA during pregnancy.

Methods: This observational study assessed pregnancy outcomes in 212 women with IBD under antitumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) treatment at our IBD unit. Pregnancy outcomes in 42 pregnancies with direct exposure to anti-TNF treatment (35 IFX, 7 ADA) were compared with that in 23 pregnancies prior to IBD diagnosis, 78 pregnancies before start of IFX, 53 pregnancies with indirect exposure to IFX, and 56 matched pregnancies in healthy women.

[Influence of the seasonal variation on the prevalence of pre-eclampsia in Kinshasa].

Objectives: The present study aims at determining the influence of the seasons on the occurrence of pre-eclampsia in the county city of Kinshasa (DR Congo).

Patients And Method: A multicentric descriptive study was carried out in three great maternity hospitals of this city between 2003 and 2007. The registers and files of the maternity wards and the units of intensive care were used for the gathering of medical data.

Three self-report questionnaires of the early mother-to-infant bond: reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the MPAS, PBQ and MIBS.

In this study, we investigated the reliability and validity of three self-report questionnaires measuring the early emotional bond between a mother and her newborn infant: the Maternal Postpartum Attachment Scale (MPAS), the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) and the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). In a monocentric prospective observational cohort study, 263 mothers completed the MPAS, the PBQ and the MIBS at 8-12 and at 20-25 weeks postpartum. The participants also completed measures of mental health and, during their pregnancy, measures of recalled parental bonding, adult romantic attachment, antenatal attachment and social desirability.

Reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the maternal antenatal attachment scale.

In this study, we investigated the psychometric qualities of the Dutch version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS). In a monocentric prospective observational cohort study, 403 expectant mothers completed a booklet with questionnaires in the first (T1), second (T2), and third (T3) pregnancy trimesters. In addition to the MAAS (T1-T3), the following measures were used: the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (T1), the Parental Bonding Inventory (T1), the Relationship Questionnaire (T1) the Facilitator scale and the Regulator scale (T3), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (T1-T3) and the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (T1-T3).

Depressive symptomatology in pregnant and postpartum women. An exploratory study of the role of maternal antenatal orientations.

Little is known about how an expecting woman's view of pregnancy, the child, and motherhood relates to antenatal and postpartum depressive symptomatology. In this study, we investigated the influence of the maternal orientations, as described by Raphael-Leff (Psychological processes of childbearing. The Anna Freud Centre, London, 2005), on the prevalence of depressive symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women.

Anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women. An exploratory study of the role of maternal orientations.

Background: Little is known about why some women are anxious during pregnancy but not in the postpartum period, or vice versa. We aimed to determine the influence of maternal antenatal orientations (Raphael-Leff, J. (2005) Psychological Processes of Childbearing, London, The Anna Freud Centre.

Evolution of evidence-based guidelines for home care: Wisconsin's experience.

In a pay-for-performance home health system, achieving superior patient outcomes becomes the key to agency success. Evidence-based guidelines help in the achievement of exceptional patient outcomes. In this article, the Wisconsin Homecare Organization (WHO) describes its journey toward basing its home health practice on evidence-based guidelines.

Predictive models for long term survival after premature rupture of membranes.

Premature rupture of the membranes complicates 30 to 40% of the preterm deliveries. The purpose of this study is to assess the outcome of preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (PPROM) before 26 weeks of gestation and to develop a predictive model for survival. We apply four statistical methods in order to construct a predictive model: Cox's proportional hazards model, logistic regression, least squares - support vector machines and generalized estimating equations.

Women's mental health before, during, and after pregnancy: a population-based controlled cohort study.

Background: Common mental health disorders like depressive and anxiety disorders are frequent in antenatal and postpartum women. However, no agreement about the prevalence of these disorders and the course of women's mental health during the transition to motherhood exists. This study compared women's mental health before, during, and after pregnancy with a control group of nonpregnant women.

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging of an intracranial venous thrombosis. Case report.

Objective: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging findings of an antenatal intracranial venous thrombosis.

Methods: Prenatal ultrasound (US) at 22 weeks' gestational age (GA) in a 27-year-old patient (G2 P1) revealed a nonspecific avascular echogenic mass above the cerebellum evaluated with MRI at 23 weeks' GA.

Results: With MRI an enlarged occipital pericerebral space with a layered ovoid mass at the torcular herophili was demonstrated and MRI characteristics suggested a subacute cloth.

Differential effects of inducers of syncytialization and apoptosis on BeWo and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells.

Background: The interactions of trophoblasts with the cytokine network at the fetomaternal interface determine the pathway the cell undertakes, e.g. proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.

When health policy is the problem: a report from the field.

We often think of health policy and health services research as offering solutions to cost, quality, and access problems. Many of us see health policy as simply ineffective. But any activity that has the power to cure can also do harm.