Peripartum and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Elevated Preconceptional Body Mass Index in a Maternity Hospital (Care Level IV).

Introduction: Preconception obesity is a risk factor for pregnancy and delivery, which is why giving birth in a perinatal center (care levels I and II) is recommended. There are currently no studies which have investigated the birth outcomes of obese patients based on the care level of the maternity hospital. This study aims to assess the effect of a higher body mass index prior to conception on maternal and fetal outcomes in a maternity hospital (care level IV).

Perinatal Outcome in Pregnant Women With Isolated Oligohydramnios Diagnosed With the Single Deepest Pocket Method.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate perinatal outcome in singleton pregnancies at term with isolated oligohydramnios, diagnosed by using the single deepest pocket method.

Patients And Methods: In this historic cohort study, the perinatal outcomes of 196 women with isolated oligohydramnios at term, diagnosed by using the single deepest pocket method, were compared to 8,676 women with normal amniotic fluid volume. The primary outcome measure was the Cesarean section rate.

Routine Screening for Peripartum Depression in the Gynecologic and Pediatric Setting - Evaluation of an Adapted EPDS Version.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a routine screening for peripartum depression (PD) by gynecologists and pediatricians. In addition, it was investigated whether two separate Plus Questions (PQ) of the "EPDS-Plus" are valid for screening experiences of violence or a traumatic birth and whether they can be associated with symptoms of PD.

Methods: Using the EPDS-Plus the prevalence of PD was investigated in 5235 women.

Influence of Timing of Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration on Morbidity of Preterm Neonates.

Background/aim: We investigated the impact of the timing of antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) administration on the clinical outcome of preterm infants.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and fifty-five preterm infants between 28+0 and 34+0 weeks of gestation were retrospectively assigned to one of two groups: In the first group, ACS was given within 7 days before birth; the second group, did not receive ACS during that period. The primary outcome parameter was respiratory failure (defined by need for continuous positive airway pressure or mechanical ventilation) due to grade 1-4 respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Influence of Preeclampsia on Induction of Labor at Term: A Cohort Study.

Background/aim: Even though vaginal delivery is a feasible option in patients with preeclampsia, the cesarean section rate in those patients is high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of preeclampsia on induction of labor at term.

Patients And Methods: This historical cohort study analyzed inductions of labor in women at term having preeclampsia versus women who were induced due to other reasons.

Induction of labour with sequential double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol versus oral misoprostol alone in obese women.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of induction of labour in obese women using sequential double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol in comparison with oral misoprostol alone.

Study Design: In this cohort study, 400 pregnant women with BMI higher than 35 kg/m2 undergoing labour induction at term were included. Induction of labour with a double-balloon catheter and, if necessary, sequential oral misoprostol (n = 216) was compared to oral misoprostol alone (n = 184).

Induction of Labour in Growth Restricted and Small for Gestational Age Foetuses - A Historical Cohort Study.

Induction of labour for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) foetus or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is common, but data are limited. The aim of this study was therefore to compare labour induction for SGA/IUGR with cases of normal foetal growth above the 10th percentile. This historical multicentre cohort study included singleton pregnancies at term.

[Induction of Labour In Growth Restricted and Small for Gestational Age Fetuses - A Historical Cohort Study].

Purpose: Induction of labour for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) foetus or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is common, but data are limited. The aim of this trial was therefore to compare labour induction for SGA/IUGR with cases with normal fetal growth beyond the 10 percentile.

Material And Methods: This historical multicentre cohort study included singleton pregnancies at term.

Predicting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using pregnancy and birth characteristics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal, prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum parameters as risk factors for the later development of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the child.

Methods: Women who had given birth at Erlangen University Hospital between 1996 and 1999 were sent a questionnaire in 2009. The results of the questionnaire were correlated with the prospectively collected data for the births in 1996-1999.

[Induction of Labour in Nulliparous Women Beyond Term in a Low-Risk Population].

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of gestational age on induction of labour in nulliparous women.

Material And Methods: This historical cohort study analyzed inductions of labour in low-risk nulliparous women. Therefore the collective was divided into 3 groups (group 1: 40+0 to 40+6 weeks of gestation, group 2: 41+0 to 41+3 weeks of gestation, group 3:>41+3 weeks of gestation).

Influence of body mass index on induction of labor: A historical cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to determine the influence of body mass index (BMI) on induction of labor.

Methods: In this historical multicenter cohort study, 2122 labor inductions were analyzed. Women were divided into four groups according to their body mass index (BMI): BMI < 30 (normal group [NG]), 30 ≤ BMI < 35 (group 1 [G1]), 35 ≤ BMI < 40 (group 2 [G2]), and BMI ≥ 40 (group 3 [G3]).

Effect of Premature Rupture of Membranes on Induction of Labor: A Historical Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) on the induction of labor.

Material And Method: This historical cohort study analyzed 1861 inductions of labor at term using misoprostol which occurred between 2010 and 2015. Exclusion criteria included intrauterine fetal death, previous cesarean section, and fetal structural or chromosomal anomalies.

Timing of sequential use of double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol for induction of labor.

Aim: The best time to commence cervical ripening with a balloon catheter is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether application of a balloon catheter in the morning or in the evening is better when sequential prostaglandin application is planned.

Methods: This multicenter historical cohort study included 415 women with an unfavorable cervix undergoing labor induction at term.

Double-balloon catheter and sequential oral misoprostol versus oral misoprostol alone for induction of labour at term: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of induction of labour using a double-balloon catheter and, if necessary, sequential oral misoprostol without delay after removal of the catheter, in comparison with oral misoprostol alone.

Study Design: This retrospective cohort study included women undergoing induction of labour with oral misoprostol or double-balloon catheter with sequential oral misoprostol in singleton pregnancies at term. The catheter was placed in the evening and removed when there was no onset of labour within 12h.

A New Sonographic Weight Estimation Formula for Small-for-Gestational-Age Fetuses.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a new specific weight estimation formula for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses that differentiated between symmetric and asymmetric growth patterns.

Methods: A statistical estimation technique known as component-wise gradient boosting was applied to a group of 898 SGA fetuses (symmetric, n = 750; asymmetric, n = 148). A new formula was derived from the data obtained and was then compared to other commonly used equations.

Double-balloon catheter and sequential vaginal prostaglandin E2 versus vaginal prostaglandin E2 alone for induction of labor after previous cesarean section.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of inducing labor using a double-balloon catheter and vaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) sequentially, in comparison with vaginal PGE2 alone after previous cesarean section.

Methods: A total of 264 pregnant women with previous cesarean section undergoing labor induction at term were included in this prospective multicentre cohort study. Induction of labor was performed either by vaginal PGE2 gel or double-balloon catheter followed by vaginal PGE2.

Genetic variants in the genes of the stress hormone signalling pathway and depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of the stress hormone signaling pathway, specifically FKBP5, NR3C1, and CRHR1, are associated with depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy.

Methods: The Franconian Maternal Health Evaluation Study (FRAMES) recruited healthy pregnant women prospectively for the assessment of maternal and fetal health including the assessment of depressiveness. The German version of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed at three time points in this prospective cohort study.

Socioeconomic status and depression during and after pregnancy in the Franconian Maternal Health Evaluation Studies (FRAMES).

Purpose: Depression during and after pregnancy can have a negative impact on women's quality of life and on the development of the newborn child. Interventions have been shown to have a positive influence on both mothers and children. Predictive factors for depressive symptoms might possibly be able to identify groups that are at high risk.

Assessment of breast volume changes during human pregnancy using a three-dimensional surface assessment technique in the prospective CGATE study.

Pregnancies and breastfeeding are two important protective factors concerning breast cancer risk. Breast volume and breast volume changes might be a breast phenotype that could be monitored during pregnancy and breastfeeding without ionizing radiation or expensive equipment. The aim of the present study was to document changes in breast volume during pregnancy prospectively.

Reduced syncytin-1 expression levels in placental syndromes correlates with epigenetic hypermethylation of the ERVW-1 promoter region.

Terminal differentiation of villous cytotrophoblasts (CT) ends in formation of the multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast representing the fetal-maternal interface. Aberrations during this cell-fusion process are associated with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), Preeclampsia (PE) and High Elevated Liver and Low Platelets (HELLP) Syndrome. Syncytin-1, the envelope gene of the human Endogenous Retrovirus ERVW-1, is one of the most important genes involved in cell-fusion and showed decreased gene expression during these pathological pregnancies.