Implementation of Public Funded Genome Sequencing in Evaluation of Fetal Structural Anomalies.

With the advancements in prenatal diagnostics, genome sequencing is now incorporated into clinical use to maximize the diagnostic yield following uninformative conventional tests (karyotype and chromosomal microarray analysis). Hong Kong started publicly funded prenatal genomic sequencing as a sequential test in the investigation of fetal structural anomalies in April 2021. The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical performance and usefulness of this new service over one year.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of severe early onset red blood cell alloimmunisation.

Our objective was to assess the effect of maternal intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration for severe red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunisation on fetal outcomes. This is a case-control study. Women with a history of severe early onset alloimmunisation resulting in fetal loss in a previous pregnancy and high anti-D or anti-K antibody titres received IVIG in a subsequent pregnancy.

Prenatal presentation in two fetuses with features of Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome-An unexpected diagnosis of androgenetic chimera and its clinical implications.

Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS, OMIM 130650) is an imprinting disorder that may present antenatally with a constellation of sonographic features namely polyhydramnios, macrosomia, macroglossia, omphalocele, placental mesenchymal dysplasia, cardiomegaly, nephromegaly, fetal hydrops, and other rare anomalies. Paternal uniparental disomy in chromosome 11p15 imprinting region accounts for 20% of all BWS, and 8% among those were due to genome-wide paternal uniparental disomy (GWpUPD). GWpUPD is a rare condition and usually results in prenatal lethality.

Long term outcome of second twins born to mothers who attempted vaginal delivery a retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate mortality and long term neurodevelopmental outcomes of the second twins born to mothers who attempted vaginal delivery.

Study Design: Two hundred and twenty-seven eligible cases of second twin born to mothers who attempted vaginal delivery were identified retrospectively in a ten-year period. Information on adverse long term outcomes (a composite of mortality and neurodevelopmental disorders) were retrieved from their electronic medical record, and the risk factors were determined.

Health professionals' involvement and information provision in genetic counseling following prenatal diagnosis of sex chromosome aneuploidy in Hong Kong.

This study supports training in genetic counseling for obstetricians and adoption of a multidisciplinary approach in the counseling process following prenatal diagnosis of sex chromosome aneuploidy.

Body mass index at 11-13 weeks' gestation and pregnancy complications in a Southern Chinese population: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted in three hospitals in Hong Kong including 67,248 women with singleton pregnancy at 11-13 weeks between 2010 and 2016. The relationship between maternal BMI and (1) miscarriage or stillbirth, (2) development of preeclampsia (PE), (3) gestational hypertension (GH), (4) development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), (5) spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD) <34 and <37 weeks, (6) delivery of a small for gestational age (SGA) or large for gestational age (LGA) neonate, (7) caesarean section (CS), and (8) postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) were examined after adjusting for confounding factors.

Pregnancy outcomes of women randomized to receive real versus placebo acupuncture on the day of fresh or frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

Introduction: Acupuncture is commonly used in various aspect of Western medicine in recent years including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Although there are many clinical trials of acupuncture in IVF and the Cochrane meta-analysis did not find benefit of adjuvant acupuncture for IVF, there is no report on the pregnancy outcomes of women who had received acupuncture during their IVF treatment.

Objectives: To compare the pregnancy outcomes of women randomized to receive real versus placebo acupuncture during their IVF treatment.

Decision outcomes in women offered noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) for positive Down screening results.

In this first Asian study, the decision outcomes (decision conflict, decision regret, and anxiety) of 262 pregnant women offered noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) for high-risk Down screening results were assessed. Decision conflict was experienced by 3.5% and level of decisional regret low (mean score 15.

Parental decisions following prenatal diagnosis of sex chromosome aneuploidy in Hong Kong.

Aim: According to the published work, pregnancy termination rates due to prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) vary widely. Some potentially modifiable and non-modifiable factors have been reported to be associated with parental decision. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of pregnancy termination for fetal SCA and the factors influencing parents' decisions in Hong Kong.