Impact of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, Climate, and Air Pollution on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review.

Environmental pollutants, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), air pollution, and climate change, are increasingly recognized for their potential impact on pregnancy outcomes. EDCs, found in pesticides, industrial chemicals, and personal care products, are associated with preterm birth and fetal growth restriction, primarily through hormonal interference. Air pollution, notably PM, NO, and O, has been linked to increased rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.

The Geographical Correlation Between Historical Preterm Birth Disparities and COVID-19 Burden.

Similar to obstetric outcomes, rates of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection are not homogeneously distributed among populations; risk factors accumulate in discrete locations. This study aimed to investigate the geographical correlation between pre-COVID-19 regional preterm birth (PTB) disparities and subsequent COVID-19 disease burden. We performed a retrospective, ecological cohort study of an upstate New York birth certificate database from 2004 to 2018, merged with publicly available community resource data.

Validations of the microchannel flow model for characterizing vascularized tissues.

The microchannel flow model postulates that stress-strain behavior in soft tissues is influenced by the time constants of fluid-filled vessels related to Poiseuille's law. A consequence of this framework is that changes in fluid viscosity and changes in vessel diameter (through vasoconstriction) have a measurable effect on tissue stiffness. These influences are examined through the theory of the microchannel flow model.

Associations Between Historically Redlined Districts and Racial Disparities in Current Obstetric Outcomes.

Importance: Despite much higher health care expenditure than comparable countries, striking racial and ethnic disparities exist in obstetric outcomes in the United States. A multifaceted exploration of the factors influencing these disparities, including the legacy of structural racism, is important to improve health outcomes for all.

Objective: To characterize the association of the historic racially discriminatory home loan practice of redlining with disparities in modern obstetric outcomes.

Improved Recognition of Maternal Deaths Using Modern Data Analytics.

Objective: To use a data-fusion approach to improve ascertainment of maternal deaths not detected with standard surveillance strategies.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from the electronic health records of a tertiary medical center from 2011 to 2018. Cases of maternal death were identified in two ways: 1) using a standard medical informatics service query of hospital data and 2) using the TriNetX discovery tool as patients with a vital status of "deceased" and evidence of antecedent pregnancy exposure based on such factors as obstetric diagnostic codes or obstetric-related procedures.

"Provoked" feto-maternal hemorrhage may represent insensible cell exchange in pregnancies from 6 to 22 weeks gestational age.

Objective: To quantify spontaneous and provoked fetal to maternal cell exchange in the first half of pregnancy. Transfer of fetal red blood cells (FRBCs) into the maternal circulation during the first half of pregnancy is poorly characterized but of clinical relevance for miscarriage management and invasive procedures.

Study Design: Prospective, descriptive cohort study of women presenting for surgical termination of pregnancy with sonographically confirmed gestational age (GA).