Uterine Cervical Length Measurement to Reduce Length of Stay in Patients Admitted for Threatened Preterm Labor: A Randomized Trial.

Objective: To study whether knowledge of cervical length (CL) is useful in reducing the length of hospital stay in women admitted because of threatened preterm labor.

Methods: We performed a single-center, parallel, randomized trial at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona. Inclusion criteria were single pregnancy, gestational age (GA) between 24+0 and 35+6 weeks, Bishop score <6, no parturition within 24-48 h after admission, and no clinical signs of chorioamnionitis, vaginal bleeding, or nonreassuring fetal status.

First-trimester Down syndrome screening in renal-transplanted pregnant women: a model for adjusting the false-positives rates.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a model to adjust the increased β-hCG levels observed in renal-transplanted women, leading to increased false-positive rates in Down syndrome screening.

Methods: Detailed data from 11 renal-transplanted and a nested-cohort of 70 pregnant women, matched by age, parity and gestational age were retrieved from our hospital records. Patient's age, multiples of the median (MoM) values for freeβ-hCG, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, nuchal translucency, and creatinine concentration and clearance were noted.

Previable rupture of membranes: effect of amniotic fluid on pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To evaluate pregnancy outcome and the role of the amount of amniotic fluid (AF) in the prognosis of extremely preterm (<24 weeks) premature rupture of membranes (EPPROM).

Study Design: Women with EPPROM and on-going pregnancy after 1 week of expectant management were included.

Exclusion Criteria: fetal anomalies, termination of pregnancy and spontaneous recovery of AF within the first week.

[Neonatal screening of hemoglobinopathies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Catalonia. Pilot study in anonymous not related population].

Background And Objective: This was a preliminary study on the prevalence of the HbS gene, associated with sickle cell disease, other hemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency of immigrant and non-immigrant population of Catalonia.

Patients And Method: A total of 3,189 blood samples from the Catalan Neonatal Screening Program for Metabolic Diseases (CNSPMD) including 1,620 from immigrant population were screened for haemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency. For screening of hemoglobinopathies the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used and for the screening of G6PD deficiency, we used the fluorescent spot test as described by ICSH.

Nifedipine versus ritodrine for suppression of preterm labor. Comparison of their efficacy and secondary effects.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of nifedipine and ritodrine in prolonging pregnancy beyond 48 h, 1 week and 36.0 weeks and to evaluate maternal side effects and adverse perinatal outcome.

Study Design: Non-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Efficacy of two regimens of misoprostol for early second-trimester pregnancy termination.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of a combined regimen of misoprostol with vaginal misoprostol for early 2nd-trimester pregnancy termination.

Methods: This is a prospective study that includes 79 pregnant women who requested legal termination of 2nd-trimester pregnancy between 13 and 22 weeks. Two regimens of misoprostol were used.

First-trimester screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancy: does the addition of biochemistry make an improvement?

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of first-trimester biochemistry to fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurement in the Combined Test when screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancies.

Methods: Maternal serum free beta-hCG and PAPP-A were determined at 8 to 12 weeks and fetal NT was measured at 11 to 14 weeks. The individual risks were estimated for each of the fetuses using both NT screening alone and the Combined Test.

Prenatal diagnosis and management of fetal xerocytosis associated with ascites.

Objectives: To discuss the prenatal diagnosis and management of fetal xerocytosis associated with ascites.

Case Report: A 29-year-old woman with hereditary xerocytosis was found to present a fetus with severe ascites on the 20-week scan. Cordocentesis showed mild anemia and blood transfusion was discarded.

Visual analysis of antepartum fetal heart rate tracings: inter- and intra-observer agreement and impact of knowledge of neonatal outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the inter- and intra-observer agreement of visual analysis of fetal heart rate tracing and to evaluate the bias introduced by knowledge of perinatal outcome in this interpretation.

Methods: One hundred tracings were independently analyzed by four observers. In a second study period, two observers re-analysed the 100 tracings in order to evaluate intra-observer agreement.

Umbilical artery Doppler and umbilical cord pH at birth in small-for-gestational-age fetuses: valid estimate of their relationship.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between umbilical artery pulsatility index and the umbilical cord pH in small-for-gestational-age fetuses.

Methods: Data were collected from all pregnancies seen in our Fetal Surveillance Unit that underwent antenatal monitoring for being small-for-gestational-age beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy. A linear regression was used to analyse the effect of the umbilical artery pulsatility index (UAPI) and umbilical artery pH at birth, assessing interaction and controlling for clinically meaningful antenatal, Doppler, biophysical and perinatal variables.

Awareness of the use of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects in a Mediterranean area.

Objectives: The risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) is decreased in women who take folic acid during the periconceptional period. The main objective of our study was to evaluate the awareness of the need for folic acid supplementation and also the actual intake during the periconceptional period to prevent neural tube defects in a Mediterranean area.

Study Design: A retrospective study was performed from 1 July to 30 November 2000.

Ductus venosus assessment at the time of nuchal translucency measurement in the detection of fetal aneuploidy.

Objective: To assess the potential value of ductus venosus Doppler studies in the detection of fetal aneuploidy on measurement of nuchal translucency.

Methods: The pulsatility index for veins (PIV) and the lowest velocity during atrial contraction (A-wave) were determined in the fetal ductus venosus in 3382 consecutive pregnancies at 10 to 14 weeks and studied from December 1996 to December 2001. Nuchal translucency was also measured.

Cardiac function monitoring of fetuses with growth restriction.

Objective: To describe the time sequence of changes in cardiac function in intrauterine growth restriction.

Study Design: This was a prospective longitudinal study on 22 singleton pregnancies with growth-restricted fetuses. Pulsatility indices of fetal arterial and venous Doppler waveforms, systolic peak velocity in the aorta and pulmonary artery, right and left ventricular shortening fraction and atrioventricular flow E/A ratio were assessed at each monitoring session.

Increased susceptibility to low density lipoprotein oxidation in women with a history of pre-eclampsia.

Objectives: To evaluate the susceptibility to oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in women with a history of pre-eclampsia.

Design: A case-control study.

Setting: The departments of obstetrics and gynaecology at two university teaching hospitals.

Transcervical chorionic villus sampling in multiple pregnancies using a biopsy forceps.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) performed in multiple pregnancies by means of a transcervical biopsy forceps.

Methods: The study included CVS performed from January 1990 to March 2000 in our Unit. The results were analysed in two consecutive periods, period A (1990-1994) and period B (1995-2000), in an attempt to assess the effect of increasing experience.