Down syndrome and associated atrioventricular septal defects in a nationwide Norwegian cohort: Prevalence, time trends, and outcomes.

Introduction: The prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) is approximately 1 per 1000 births and is influenced by increasing maternal age over the last few decades. DS is strongly associated with congenital heart defects (CHDs), especially atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). Our objectives were to investigate the prevalence of live-born infants with DS having a severe CHD in the Norwegian population over the last 20 years and compare outcomes in infants with AVSD with and without DS.

Detection of severe congenital heart defects in live-born infants in Norway 2017-2020.

Aim: The aims of this nationwide retrospective cohort study were to determine the time and causes of detection of severe congenital heart defects (CHDs) in live-born infants in Norway between 2017 and 2020.

Methods: Information regarding live-born infants with severe CHDs was retrieved from national registries and medical records.

Results: A total of 219 776 infants were born in Norway from 01.

Controversies in implementing non-invasive prenatal testing in a public antenatal care program.

Women's autonomy and an inclusive society for all individuals are highly valued in Norway. The Norwegian Biotechnology Act changed in 2020 allowing first-trimester screening and cell-free DNA for common trisomies to all pregnant women. However, implementing non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in a public antenatal care program is difficult, because many patients, politicians, and medical professionals do not consider trisomy 21 a severe medical disease.

Platelet alloimmunization is associated with low grade chronic histiocytic intervillositis - A new link to a rare placental lesion?

Introduction: Maternal alloimmunization against human platelet antigen (HPA)-1a has been implied to mediate both reduced birth weight and chronic placental inflammation. Fetal growth restriction is associated with different types of chronic inflammation in the placenta, mainly chronic histiocytic intervillositis and chronic villitis. The aim of this prospective study was to do a systematic examination of placentas from HPA-1a alloimmunized pregnancies, with focus on the histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of variants of chronic inflammation.

[Pregnant women's attitudes to prenatal screening in Norway].

Background: Prenatal screening in Norway is governed by the Biotechnology Act. According to the Act, which was adopted in 2003, prenatal screening in early pregnancy may only be offered to women with an elevated risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities or malformations. This type of prenatal screening is undertaken at fetal medicine centres.

A young woman with a transfusion-related pregnancy complication.

Background: Individuals with the K0 phenotype are extremely rare. They may develop anti-Ku antibodies, which react with all antigens of the Kell blood group system, thereby leading to haemolytic transfusion reactions and haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

Case Presentation: A primigravida who was transfused with one unit of red blood cells due to iron deficiency anaemia developed anti-Ku antibodies.

Diagnosis of severe congenital heart defects in Norway 2016.

Background: Most structural congenital heart defects can be identified prenatally through ultrasound examination in pregnancy or via routine examinations during hospital maternity stays, but in some cases, heart defects are not discovered prior to discharge. There has been little previous research into detection rates with the various methods available. In this study, we have examined the timing and method of diagnosis of severe congenital heart defects.

Laeverin protein expression in normal and preeclamptic placentas using tissue microarray analysis.

Introduction: Laeverin is a placenta-specific protein that is normally expressed in the plasma membrane of human trophoblasts. In previous studies, we showed higher expression levels of laeverin gene in preeclamptic compared with normal placentas and found that laeverin protein was ectopically expressed in the cytoplasm of the preeclamptic placentas. Our objective was to investigate laeverin protein expression in normal and preeclamptic placentas combining immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.

Obstetric and psychological characteristics of women choosing epidural analgesia during labour: A cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the obstetric and psychological characteristics of women who opt to use epidural analgesia (EDA) during labour and the impact of participating in labour preparation courses on women's decisions to use EDA.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Akershus University Hospital, Norway.

Longitudinal reference ranges for maternal plasma laeverin, and its role as a potential biomarker of preeclampsia.

Background: Laeverin is a placenta-specific membrane-bound aminopeptidase. In this study we wanted to: 1) serially measure plasma levels of laeverin in healthy women during the second half of pregnancy and postpartum, 2) determine whether laeverin is differently expressed at 22-24 weeks in women who later develop preeclampsia compared to controls, 3) compare laeverin protein expression in placenta and umbilical vein serum in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies at birth.

Methods: Plasma was obtained serially, approximately every 4-weeks, from 53 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies during 22 to 39 weeks of gestation, and at 22-24 weeks from 15 women who later developed preeclampsia.

Towards a new era in fetal medicine in the Nordic countries.

Fetal medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics investigating the development, growth and disease of the human fetus. The advances in fetal imaging (ultrasonography, MRI) and molecular diagnostic techniques, together with the possibility of intervention in utero, make fetal medicine an important, rapidly developing field within women's healthcare. Therefore, a variety of specialists, such as neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, medical geneticists, radiologists and pediatric surgeons, are necessary to adjunct in the diagnosis and treatment of the fetus as a patient.

Coronary flow reserve in pregnant rats with increased left ventricular afterload.

Background: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is used as a measure of coronary endothelial function. We investigated the effect of increased afterload on CFR of pregnant and non-pregnant rats.

Methods: Afterload increase in Wister rats (both pregnant and non-pregnant) was achieved by the infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) for ∼10 days or by subjecting them to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for ∼14 days.

Placental expression of aminopeptidase-Q (laeverin) and its role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and subcellular localization of laeverin, a placenta-specific membrane-bound aminopeptidase, in preeclamptic placentas and its role in trophoblast cell migration and invasion.

Study Design: Expression of laeverin was investigated in 6 normal and 6 preeclamptic placentas with the use of immunofluorescence, sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with Western blot analysis and immunoelectron microscopy. The role of laeverin in trophoblast migration and invasion was studied with the use of the xCelligence system and Boyden chambers with Matrigel in HTR-8/SVneo cells.

PP030. Transmission electron microscopy reveals leakage of laeverin into the villous capillaries and ectopic expression in the cytoplasm instead of cell membrane of the trophoblasts in preeclamptic placentas.

Introduction: Laeverin, a membrane-bound aminopeptidase is specifically expressed in human placenta. We previously reported that mRNA levels of laeverin-gene are up-regulated in the placentas of severely preeclamptic women compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies indicated that laeverin is expressed in the cytoplasm rather than the cell membrane of preeclamptic placentas.

Differences in gene expression between first and third trimester human placenta: a microarray study.

Background: The human placenta is a rapidly developing organ that undergoes structural and functional changes throughout the pregnancy. Our objectives were to investigate the differences in global gene expression profile, the expression of imprinted genes and the effect of smoking in first and third trimester normal human placentas.

Materials And Methods: Placental samples were collected from 21 women with uncomplicated pregnancies delivered at term and 16 healthy women undergoing termination of pregnancy at 9-12 weeks gestation.

Cardiopulmonary Collapse during Labour.

Cardiopulmonary collapse during labour is a catastrophic event caused by various medical, surgical and obstetrical conditions. It is an emergency that threatens the life of the mother and her unborn child. We present a case of a pregnant woman who suffered from preeclampsia and underwent induction of labour.

Placental gene expression profile in intrauterine growth restriction due to placental insufficiency.

We evaluated global placental gene expression in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR; n = 8) compared to normal pregnancies (n = 8) and studied possible additional effect of preeclampsia. Placental samples were collected from IUGR pregnancies due to placental insufficiency ascertained by hemodynamic studies. Four IUGR pregnancies were associated with preeclampsia.

Oxygen uptake of the human fetus at term.

Objective: To measure oxygen uptake of term human fetuses and compare the values between those delivered vaginally following normal labor and those delivered by cesarean section before the onset of labor.

Design: This was a prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: University teaching hospital.