First trimester prenatal screening in multiple pregnancies. Part II: serum proteins PAPP-A and β-hCG as markers of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Aim: to evaluate the ability of serum biochemical markers in pregnant woman - PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A) and β-hCG (the в-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin) studied in the first trimester (11+0-13+6) during combined prenatal screening to predict adverse perinatal outcomes of multiple pregnancy that occurred spontaneously and as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF).Materials and methods. The main group consisted from 65 women with pregnancy occurred as a result of IVF; comparison group included 56 women with spontaneous pregnancy. All pregnancies were multiple and their outcomes were known. Serum PAPP-A and β-hCG levels were measured in the first trimester. The results were expressed in absolute values and in MoM (multiples of median). Subgroups were compared with mono- and dichorionic pregnancies, complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies, distributed according to MoM index: within the reference values (0.5-2.0), below or above the reference values.Results. PAPP-A MoM values in the spontaneous pregnancy group were 1.12 [0.8; 1.57], in the IVF group - 1.35 [1.11; 1.72] (p = 0.01). In subgroup of low PAPP-A MoM antenatal fetal death occurred in 50 %, in subgroup of normal PAPP-A MoM - in 14.58 %, in subgroup of high PAPP-A MoM - in 5.88 % (p = 0.011). In addition, a positive correlation was found between serum PAPP-A level and time of fetal death (rs = 0.564; p = 0.036). Low PAPP-A MoM values were associated with 50 % fetal mortality, 75 % of them were attributable to pregnancy as a result of IVF.Conclusion. Identification of adverse outcomes in multiple pregnancies is still a difficult task, but evaluation of serum biochemical markers during the first trimester screening can help in early diagnosis of necessity and extent of timely prophylaxis

First trimester prenatal screening in multiple pregnancies. Part I: comparative analysis of serum proteins PAPP-A and p-hCG in pregnancies conceived spontaneously or by in vitro fertilization

Introduction. Serum proteins PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A) and β-hCG (the в-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin) levels are components of the 1st trimester combined screening aimed to detect fetal aneuploidies. In contrast to singleton pregnancies, where the values are well established, this is not the case in twins.Aim: a comparative analysis of serum proteins PAPP-A and β-hCG levels, as well as parameters PAPP-A MoM and β-hCG MoM in the first trimester during pregnancy with dichorionic diamniotic twins that occurred spontaneously or as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF).Materials and methods. The study group included multiple pregnancies as a result of IVF procedure (n = 100) and spontaneous multiple pregnancies (n = 121) considered as controls. The levels of PAPP-A, β-hCG, PAPP-A MoM and β-hCG MoM were compared using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test.Results. The PAPP-A MoM level resulted higher in the group of IVF twins (p = 0,007) compared to spontaneous twins: 1.28 [0.97; 1.89] vs. 1.12 [0.87; 1.40] (median [interquartile range]). There were no statistically significant differences in в-hCG levels between the groups of IVF twins and spontaneous twins.Conclusion. The results justify the need for further study of PAPP-A and β-hCG to establish their association with adverse outcomes in both groups of multiple pregnancies

Social and hygienic characteristics of gynаecologist, working in women`s consultations and hospitals of Saint-Petersburg

In the article data about pattern of gynаecologists, working in the health care facilities of Saint-Petersburg is presented. Sociological interview was the main method of research. Particularly, data about age-sex pattern of doctors, their qualification level, self-estimation of theirs health are described. Doctor's satisfaction of their job and reasons to be unpleased of it are also analyzed. Doctor's self-estimation of their knowledge level in different questions, concerning their profession is discussed in the article

Specialists training in big data using distributed architectural solutions services

Application integration and business process improvement connected with Distributed Computation Services and Predictive Analytics can bring new concurrent capabilities. This article considers organization of Big Data learning and Big Data experience exchange in Belarus. The experience of the organizing and the use of virtual distributed computing infrastructure for Big Data trainings in BSUIR is proposed

Antenatal fetal death in multiple pregnancy: is early prediction possible?

Introduction. Perinatal mortality in multiple pregnancies increases by 8–10 times compared to singletons. Stillbirth is a significant part of all complications of multiple pregnancies. Although the incidence of perinatal mortality in multiple pregnancies has decreased consistently compared to extremely high rates in the past, it remains relatively high, despite significant positive changes in the management of such pregnancies. Aim: to assess the diagnostic potential of the first trimester's biochemical screening in multiple pregnancies for predicting antenatal fetal death. Materials and Methods. As part of a retrospective study, a cohort of twin pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or spontaneous conception underwent screening of the first trimester at 11+0–13+6 weeks of gestation as recommended by the Fetal Medicine Foundation. Determination of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in blood serum with subsequent calculation of the relative PAPP-A MoM (multiples of median) – a multiple of the median (an indicator of how much the individual test result deviates from the reference values) was performed. Results. Prenatal screening and outcomes of 302 multiple pregnancies showed that with PAPP-A MoM < 0.5, antenatal fetal death occurred with a frequency of 42.86 % (6/14), with PAPP-A MoM within the reference values – In 12.67 % (28/221), with PAPP-A MoM > 2.0 – in 6.7 % (2/30). Differences between patients with PAPP-A MoM < 0.5 and PAPP-A MoM within the reference values, as well as PAPP-A MoM < 0.5 and PAPP-A MoM > 2.0 were statistically significant (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). No differences were detected between spontaneous and assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies. Conclusion. In women with multiple pregnancies resulting from ART or spontaneous, PAPP-A MoM values below the reference interval (< 0.5) in the first trimester are associated with an increased risk of antenatal fetal death

Regarding the evidence-based use of micronized progesterone

An issue of habitual miscarriage poses a high social importance especially during COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, healthcareworkers faced a mass media campaign against using micronized progesterone upon habitual miscarriage, which, as viewed by us, displays signs of prejudiced data manipulation and may disorient practitioners. In this Letter we provide objective information on accumulated data regarding gestagenes efficacy and safety. We invoke healthcare professionals to make decisions deserving independent primary source trust presented by original scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals, clinical recommendations proposed by professional medical communities as well as treatment standards and protocols