Deregulation of miR-324/KISS1/kisspeptin in early ectopic pregnancy: mechanistic findings with clinical and diagnostic implications.

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition for which novel screening tools that would enable early accurate diagnosis would improve clinical outcomes. Kisspeptins, encoded by KISS1, play an essential role in human reproduction, at least partially by regulating placental function and possibly embryo implantation. Kisspeptin levels are elevated massively in normal pregnancy and reportedly altered in various gestational pathologic diseases.

Deciphering the effect of reproductive tract microbiota on human reproduction.

Background: The female reproductive tract contains an active microbiome comprising mainly bacteria from the genus, which is associated with a healthy microbiome state. However, spatio-temporal fluctuations of this microbiome that occur in response to internal and external factors may impact the physiology of the reproductive tract organs and even lead to pathological states.

Methods: Current literature covering the reproductive tract microbiome is summarized and contextualized in this review.

Fetal sex determination in twin pregnancies using cell free fetal DNA analysis.

Objective(s): We sought to develop an accurate sex classification method in twin pregnancies using data obtained from a standard commercial non-invasive prenatal test.

Study Design: A total of 706 twin pregnancies were included in this retrospective analytical data study. Normalized chromosome values for chromosomes X and Y were used and adapted into a sex-score to predict fetal sex in each fetus, and results were compared with the clinical outcome at birth.

Defective decidualization during and after severe preeclampsia reveals a possible maternal contribution to the etiology.

In preeclampsia (PE), cytotrophoblast (CTB) invasion of the uterus and spiral arteries is often shallow. Thus, the placenta's role has been a focus. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that decidual defects are an important determinant of the placental phenotype.