Influence of pre-existing maternal diabetes mellitus on fetal myocardial performance index and systolic-to-diastolic duration ratio: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of pre-existing maternal diabetes mellitus on fetal myocardial performance index and systolic-to-diastolic duration ratio.

Methods: Prospective cohort study included 179 pregnant women between 20 and 36w6d, divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (120, normal), Group 2 (31, type 1 diabetes mellitus), and Group 3 (28, type 2 diabetes mellitus). Systolic-to-diastolic duration ratio was calculated as the sum of isovolumic contraction time and ejection time divided by the sum of isovolumic relaxation time and ventricular filling time.

Prenatal Ultrasound Markers of Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Newborns With Simple and Complex Gastroschisis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare prenatal ultrasound markers and perinatal outcomes in newborns with simple and complex gastroschisis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on pregnant women with gastroschisis fetuses and their respective newborns between 2009 and 2019. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the best prenatal ultrasound markers of complex gastroschisis and adverse perinatal outcomes.

Fetal Cardiac Intervention: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence.

Fetal cardiac intervention consists of a novel and evolving technique for the intrauterine treatment of a subset of patients with congenital heart diseases, which aims to improve hemodynamics, reduce secondary damage, and achieve better postnatal outcomes. Nevertheless, the risks and benefits of this therapy remains subject to controversy. This review describes the rationale, selection criteria, and technical features for the most frequently performed fetal cardiac interventions.

COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome: Lessons from TNFRI and CRP about the Risk of Death in Severe Disease.

: Cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 is responsible for irreversible tissue damage and death. Soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily, their correlation with clinical outcome, and the use of TNF receptors as a potent predictor for clinical outcome were evaluated. : Severe COVID-19 patients had the levels of soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily quantified and categorized according to the clinical outcome (death versus survival).

Comparison of two labor induction regimens with intravaginal misoprostol 25 μg and adverse perinatal outcomes.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare two labor induction regimens (4 and 6 h), to determine predictors of successful labor induction with intravaginal misoprostol 25 μg tablets, and to evaluate the association with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included singleton pregnancies undergoing induction of labor with an intravaginal misoprostol 25 μg tablet between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation. The pregnant women were divided into two groups: Group 1-intravaginal misoprostol 25 μg every 4 h and Group 2-intravaginal misoprostol 25 μg every 6 h.

Comparison of obstetric and perinatal complications in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with autologous oocytes and donated oocytes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the obstetric and perinatal complications in women who became pregnant with autologous oocytes and those who received donated oocytes (DO) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (ICSI).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out by collecting data from medical records between 2019 and 2022. Only patients who underwent ICSI in an induced cycle using their own or freshly DO, with male infertility factor and tubal factor, were included.

Influence of Cesarean Section Scar on the Mean Pulsatility Index of the Uterine Artery Doppler between 20 and 34 Weeks of Gestation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the cesarean section scars on the mean pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine artery Doppler between 20 and 34 weeks of gestation. A secondary objective was to assess the association between previous cesarean section and adverse maternal/perinatal outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with pregnant women who had their deliveries between March 2014 and February 2023.

Evaluation of the efficacy of labor induction with vaginal misoprostol in a low-risk pregnant women population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate and predictors of labor induction using vaginal misoprostol in a low-risk pregnant women population.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out with 196 pregnant women. Groups 2 and 4 of the Robson Classification admitted for induction of labor with vaginal misoprostol (25 μg tablets every 6 h, up to 4 tablets, for a maximum of 24 h).

Influence of maternal and perinatal complications on therapeutic hypothermia in newborns with low Apgar scores.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of therapeutic hypothermia on maternal and perinatal outcomes in newborns with Apgar score<7 at the 5th min.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out with 55 newborns who had an Apgar score<7 at the 5th min (35 without and 20 with therapeutic hypothermia) from low-risk pregnancies between 33 and 41 weeks gestation. The Apgar score was calculated through an objective assessment by a neonatologist in the delivery room.

Evaluation of cardiac contractility of fetuses from pregestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies by three-dimensional ultrasound.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate cardiac contractility in fetuses from pregestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies by three-dimensional ultrasound using spatiotemporal image correlation in rendering mode.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 40 fetuses from nondiabetic pregnancies and 28 pregestational diabetic pregnancies between 20 and 33 weeks and 6 days. Cardiac contractility was assessed by measuring the ventricular myocardial area in diastole subtracted from the ventricular myocardial area in systole.

Parvovirus B19 Infection and Pregnancy: Review of the Current Knowledge.

Parvovirus B19, a member of the family, is a human pathogenic virus. It can be transmitted by respiratory secretions, hand-to-mouth contact, blood transfusion, or transplacental transmission. Most patients are asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms such as erythema infectiosum, especially in children.

Cytomegalovirus and Pregnancy: A Narrative Review.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital infection worldwide, affecting between 0.7% and 1% of all live births. Approximately 11% of infected newborns are symptomatic at birth, and between 30% and 40% of these are at risk of developing long-term neurological sequelae.

Area of the Fetal Ascending and Descending Aorta by Spatiotemporal Image Correlation in the Rendering Mode: Reproducibility and Comparison with Pregestational Diabetic Mothers.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the ascending and descending aorta area measurements by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) in the rendering mode comparing these measurements with pregestational diabetic mothers and assessing the reproducibility of the method.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective cross-sectional study with 58 normal and nine fetuses from pregestational diabetic mothers between 20 and 33 + 6 weeks of gestation. Fetal heart volumes were acquired at the level of four-chamber view to obtain the reconstructed planes for the ascending and descending aorta areas in the rendering mode.

Prevalence of early neonatal sepsis and positive maternal culture for group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early neonatal sepsis in pregnant women with a positive culture for group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus in a middle-income city in Southeastern Brazil.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving singleton low- and high-risk pregnancies in whom group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus cultures were evaluated between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation using vaginal and anal swabs. A specific medium (Todd-Hewitt) was used for culturing.

Accuracy of intrapartum cardiotocography in identifying acidemia at birth by umbilical cord blood gasometry in high-risk pregnancies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intrapartum cardiotocography in identifying acidemia at birth by umbilical cord blood gasometry in high-risk pregnancies.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton high-risk parturients using intrapartum cardiotocography categories I, II, and III. The presence of fetal acidemia at birth was identified by the analysis of umbilical cord arterial blood pH (<7.

Labor analgesia and its impact on the maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to assess adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in parturients undergoing labor analgesia.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in parturients who underwent labor analgesia. Parturients were categorized into three groups: Group 1 (n=83)-analgesia performed with cervical dilatation ≤4.

Impact of overweight and obesity in the fetal cardiac function parameters in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Objective: To assess the impact of overweight and obesity in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on fetal cardiac function parameters.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of 374 singleton pregnant women between 20w0d and 36w6d divided into three groups: 154 controls (body mass index - BMI < 25 kg/m), 140 overweight (BMI 25-30 kg/m) and 80 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m). Fetal left ventricular (LV) modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) was calculated according to the following formula: (isovolumetric contraction time + isovolumetric relaxation time)/ejection time.

Accuracy of intrapartum cardiotocography in identifying fetal acidemia by umbilical cord blood analysis in low-risk pregnancies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intrapartum cardiotocography in identifying fetal acidemia by umbilical cord blood analysis in low-risk pregnancies.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of low-risk singleton pregnancies in labor after performing intrapartum cardiotocography categories I, II, and III. The presence of fetal acidemia at birth was identified by analyzing the pH of umbilical cord arterial blood (pH<7.

Inflammatory Response and Activation of Coagulation after COVID-19 Infection.

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is responsible for causing a disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Predisposition to thromboembolic disease due to excessive inflammation is also attributed to the disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical and laboratory aspects of hospitalized patients, in addition to studying the pattern of serum cytokines, and associate them with the occurrence of thromboembolic events.

Maternal Blood Fatty Acid Levels in Fetal Growth Restriction.

Objective: To assess the maternal blood levels of fatty acids (FAs) in pregnancies with fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included pregnant women with gestational age between 26 and 37 + 6 weeks with FGR and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses. The levels of saturated, trans, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated FAs were measured using centrifugation and liquid chromatography.

Association between antibiotic prophylaxis and adverse perinatal outcomes in premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between antibiotic prophylaxis and adverse perinatal outcomes in premature rupture of membranes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort included pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (between 24 and 33+6 weeks) who used or did not use prophylactic antibiotics. Pearson's chi-square (χ²) test, Student's t-test, and binary logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.

Assessment of fetal heart aortic and pulmonary valve annulus area by three-dimensional ultrasonography: reference curves and applicability in congenital heart diseases.

Objectives: To determine reference curves for fetal aortic and pulmonary valve annulus area by three-dimensional ultrasonography using the spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) in the rendering mode, and to ascertain its applicability in congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 328 normal fetuses and 42 fetuses with CHD between 20 and 33 weeks 6 days of gestation. The outflow plane view of the great vessels was used to measure the areas of the valvar annuli, and the measurements were performed in systole.