Maternal Visceral Fat in Prediction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

To determine the diagnostic performance of maternal abdominal visceral adipose tissue thickness, measured by ultrasound, in predicting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A prospective diagnostic study was conducted on low-risk pregnant women attending our antenatal care clinic. All underwent abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measurement by two-dimension transabdominal ultrasound twice, at late first trimester (gestational age: GA 11-14 weeks) and second trimester (GA 18-22 weeks).

Reference-range of arterial stiffness by cardio-ankle vascular index in normal pregnancy.

Objective: To establish the arterial stiffness, represented by the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) at various gestational ages among low-risk pregnant women. The second objective is to construct the reference range of mean arterial pressure and maternal heart rate during pregnancy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on low risk pregnant Thai women, meeting the following inclusion criteria: 1) singleton pregnant women aged 18 years old or over; 2) gestational age between 11 and 40 weeks; 3) low-risk pregnancy without any underlying medical diseases; and 4) known final pregnancy outcomes.

Performance of Serum Quad Test in Screening for Fetal Down Syndrome in a Large-Scale Unselected Population in a Developing Country.

To assess the effectiveness of Quad test in the detection of Down syndrome (DS) in routine practice among a large-scale population and to compare the effectiveness of Quad test based on the Western reference model (WM) and that based on Thai reference model (TM). Quad test was performed on 42,769 pregnancies at 14-21 weeks. The fetal risk of DS derived from Quad test was automatically computed based on WM and used in evaluating the effectiveness.

Hydrops Fetalis Associated with Fetal Hemoglobin H-Pakse Disease.

Introduction: Hemoglobin H-Pakse (Hb H-PS) disease is a variant of non-deletional Hb H disease associated with various degrees of anemia. The disorder is rare but commonly seen in Southeast Asia. However, the prenatal course of Hb H-PS disease has never been published.

Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Beta-Thalassemia Disease by Using Digital PCR Analysis of Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma.

Introduction: Prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia disease was usually based on invasive technique. Noninvasive diagnosis using cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) was described with various laboratory techniques. The aim of this study was to identify the performance of dPCR for analyzing cff-DNA in maternal plasma to diagnose fetal beta-thalassemia diseases.

DeepThal: A Deep Learning-Based Framework for the Large-Scale Prediction of the α-Thalassemia Trait Using Red Blood Cell Parameters.

Objectives: To develop a machine learning (ML)-based framework using red blood cell (RBC) parameters for the prediction of the α+-thalassemia trait (α+-thal trait) and to compare the diagnostic performance with a conventional method using a single RBC parameter or a combination of RBC parameters. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on possible couples at risk for fetus with hemoglobin H (Hb H disease). Subjects with molecularly confirmed normal status (not thalassemia), α+-thal trait, and two-allele α-thalassemia mutation were included.

Outcomes of pregnancies complicated by haemoglobin H-constant spring and deletional haemoglobin H disease: A retrospective cohort study.

The objective of the study was to compare the maternal and foetal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by Hb H-constant spring (HbH-CS) disease/deletional HbH (HbH-del) disease and low-risk pregnancies. A retrospective cohort research was undertaken on singleton pregnancies with Hb H-CS and Hb H-del diseases. The controls were randomly selected with a control-to-case ratio of 10:1.

Effectiveness of ultrasound algorithm in prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobin Bart's disease among pregnancies at risk.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound algorithm in diagnosis of fetal Hb Bart's disease among pregnancies at risk.

Methods: Pregnancies at risk underwent ultrasound for the first time at 12-14 weeks of gestation and serial ultrasound every 2-4 weeks until 24 weeks to identify pre-hydropic signs. The invasive procedure was omitted in case of no pre-hydropic signs.

First trimester genetic sonogram for screening fetal Down syndrome: A population-based study.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of first trimester sonomarkers in the detection of fetal Down syndrome among Thai pregnant women.

Materials And Methods: Pregnant women at 11-13 weeks' gestation underwent ultrasound examination for assessment of nuchal translucency (NT), nasal bone (NB), tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and abnormal ductus venosus (aDV) Doppler waveforms. The women were followed up for final outcomes.

Quad test for fetal aneuploidy screening as a predictor of small-for-gestational age fetuses: a population-based study.

Background: To identify the relationship between quadruple test for aneuploidy screening (alpha-fetoprotein: AFP; free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin: b-hCG; unconjugated estriol: uE3 and inhibin-A: IHA) and fetal growth restriction and to construct predictive models for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses.

Methods: Women who underwent quadruple test for aneuploidy were followed-up for final outcomes. The multiples of the median (MoMs) of the four biochemical markers for the SGA group and those of normal fetuses were compared.

Comparisons of pregnancy outcomes between twin pregnancies with and without second-trimester amniocentesis.

Objective: To assess the amniocentesis-related pregnancy loss rate and preterm birth rate among twin pregnancies undergoing amniocentesis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary center. The study group included twin pregnancies undergoing amniocentesis during 16 to 22 weeks of gestation.

A comparison of pregnancy outcomes after second-trimester amniocentesis between cases with penetration of the placenta and nonpenetration.

Objective: To compare the fetal loss rate associated with second-trimester amniocentesis between the procedures with penetration and nonpenetration of the placenta, as a primary outcome and to compare the rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and low birth weight, as secondary outcomes.

Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on women undergoing second-trimester amniocentesis. Our prospective database of amniocentesis, from January 1989 to December 2018, was accessed to retrieve the records meeting the inclusion criteria consisting of singleton pregnancies, gestational age of 16-22 weeks, and known obstetric outcomes.

Optimal cutoff of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) for screening of alpha-thalassemia 1 trait.

Aim: To identify the optimal cutoff of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) for screening of alpha-thalassemia 1 trait.

Methods: The database of pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinic at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiang Mai University during January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2017 was accessed and reviewed. A total of 1264 cases who had MCV ≤80 fL and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled to the study.

Prenatal diagnosis and management of homozygous hemoglobin constant spring disease.

Objective: To describe fetal management of homozygous hemoglobin constant spring (Hb CS).

Methods: Six fetuses with homozygous Hb CS disease undergoing intrauterine transfusion (IUT) were comprehensively reviewed. Additionally, when combined with 8 cases previously reported, a total of 14 cases were analyzed.

Second Trimester Serum Biomarker Screen for Fetal Aneuploidies as a Predictor of Preterm Delivery: A Population-Based Study.

Objective: To determine the association between second-trimester serum Down syndrome screening (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [b-hCG] unconjugated estriol [uE3]) and preterm birth and to create predictive models for preterm birth.

Methods: Secondary analysis on a prospective database of pregnancies undergoing second-trimester screen with complete follow-up. The multiples of medians (MoM) of the biomarkers were compared between the group of term, preterm (< 37 weeks), early preterm (< 34 weeks), and very early preterm (< 32 weeks) delivery.

Chorionic villous sampling-related complications: a cohort study.

To compare the adverse pregnancy outcomes between the pregnant women undergoing chorionic villous sampling (CVS) and those without CVS. A cohort study was conducted on low risk pregnancies attending Chiang Mai University Hospital between years 2003 and 2017 and identify the database of women undergoing CVS (study group) and control group. Each case in study group was matched for 10 cases of the control by maternal age and year of procedure.

How to correct the impact of ethnicity on effectiveness of the second trimester maternal serum screen of fetal Down syndrome?

To compare the performance of second trimester maternal serum screen (MSS) for fetal Down syndrome in Thai population between the conventional method using Caucasian reference ranges with ethnic factor correction (CRR-EC) and the method using specific Thai reference ranges (TRRs). A prospective database of the MSS project was accessed. The concentrations of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), beta-hCG, and uE3 were converted to their multiple of medians (MoMs) by two methods; CRR-EC for Asian women and TRR.

Borderline hemoglobin A levels in northern Thai population: HBB genotypes and effects of coinherited alpha-thalassemia.

Introduction: Identification of beta-thalassemia carrier in prenatal screening relies on the elevated Hb A level. Borderline Hb A levels pose a diagnostic challenge. We determined the HBB genotypes in subjects with borderline Hb A in northern Thailand and studied the effects of coinherited alpha-thalassemia on Hb A levels.

Effect of iron supplementation during early pregnancy on the development of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To investigate the association between iron supplementation during early pregnancy and the presence of de novo hypertension after 20 weeks' gestation (either gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of non-anemic pregnant women who received first antenatal care at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand, during the June 2009-December 2010 study period.

Second-trimester maternal serum screening for fetal Down syndrome: As a screening test for hemoglobin Bart's disease: A prospective population-based study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of second-trimester maternal serum screening for Down syndrome as a screening test for fetal hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's disease among an unselected population.

Methods: A secondary analysis of a large prospective database (20 254 pregnancies) was conducted to compare the levels of maternal serum screening, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol between pregnancies with Hb Bart's disease and unaffected pregnancies.

Results: The median AFP levels were much higher among affected fetuses (1.

Evaluating the Agreement of Risk Categorization for Fetal Down Syndrome Screening between Ultrasound-Based Gestational Age and Menstrual-Based Gestational Age by Maternal Serum Markers.

Objective: To evaluate the agreement of risk categorization for Down syndrome screening between ultrasound scan-based gestational age (GA) and last menstrual period-based gestational age in both first and second trimesters by maternal serum markers.

Methods: Data comprising 4,055 and 4,016 cases of first and second trimester screening were used. The maternal serum markers were analyzed using the ultrasound-based GA and menstrual age.

The efficacy of ampicillin compared with ceftriaxone on preventing cesarean surgical site infections: an observational prospective cohort study.

Background: Cesarean surgical site infections (SSIs) can be prevented by proper preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Differences in antibiotic selection in clinical practice exist according to obstetricians' preferences despite clear guidelines on preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of ampicillin and ceftriaxone in preventing cesarean SSIs.