Seroprevalence rates of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus among first trimester pregnant women in Istanbul

Background: Toxoplasma Gondii, Rubella, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are the most common causes of congenital infections worldwide. There is not a consensus on these infectious agents should be screened during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of toxoplasma, rubella, and CMV infections in order to know the need for antenatal screening.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 1309 ambulatory pregnant patients who applied to the obstetric clinic of a university hospital between October 2016 and April 2018. Documents of patients in the first trimester were reviewed and serologic data of Toxoplasma gondii, CMV, Rubella infections were retrieved from the computer database.Results: Of 1309 pregnant women, positivity for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 352(26.9%), while 17(1.3%) of the subjects tested were positive for the anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody. These positivities of the pregnant women for anti-Rubella IgG and IgM were 1147(87.6%) and (0.1%), respectively. These positivities of the pregnant women for anti-CMV IgG and IgM were 1163(88.8%) and 17(1.3%), respectively.Conclusions: We detected high rates of immunity against Rubella and CMV but low rates of immunity against Toxoplasma in this retrospective cohort of pregnant women. Due to high rates of seropositivity against Rubella and CMV, routine nationwide screening may not be necessary

The correlation of the histomorphology of the placenta and the placental bed with the doppler velocimetries of the uterine and umbilical arteries

We correlated the histomorphology of the placenta and the placental bed with the Doppler velocimetries of the uterine and umbilical arteries of intrauterine growth restricted pregnancies. The study group consisted of 47 women with intrauterine growth restricted fetuses. Twenty-five uneventful pregnancies with appropriate for gestational age fetuses were selected as controls. Doppler studies of umbilical and uterine arteries were performed within the last week before delivery. Placental bed biopsies were obtained at Caesarean section with direct visualization of the placental site. The incidence of pathologic bed biopsies in control, IUGR with normal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and IUGR with abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry was 0, 16.6% and 79.3% respectively (p < 0.001). Abnormal placental bed biopsy pathology was significantly associated with abnormal uterine artery velocimetry (OR 33.7, 6.5-173.6; p < 0.001). Abnormal placental pathology was significantly associated with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry (OR 21.04, 3.8-115.9; p < 0.001). Women with both abnormal uterine and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetries were delivered earlier and their babies had lower mean birth and placental weight (p < 0.001). As a conclusion, placental bed biopsy and placental pathologies are best reflected by abnormal uterine and umbilical artery velocity waveforms, respectively. The most severe clinical outcomes and perinatal mortality are present when both uterine and umbilical districts are altered

Assessment of normal fetal cortical sulcus development

Objective The aim of our study was to investigate the normal cortical sulcus development in fetuses without central nervous system abnormality with transabdominal ultrasonography. Methods Our study was planned as a cross-sectional study in our clinic between November 2011 and October 2012. The study group was selected among pregnant women who applied to our hospital for routine antenatal follow-up. Singleton pregnancies, between 15th and 32nd gestational weeks, were included in the study. During the routine fetal ultrasonographic examination of these pregnant women, sylvian sulcus, parietooccipital sulcus, calcarine sulcus, and cingulate sulcus length measurements were taken and the correlation of these values with gestational week was evaluated. Results Three hundred and thirty-two patients were included in the study. Sylvian sulcus length, parietooccipital sulcus length, calcarine sulcus length, and cingulate sulcus length could be first measured respectively, at 15th, 17th, 17th and 25th gestational week. We found a positive correlation between gestational age and sylvian sulcus, parietooccipital sulcus, calcarine sulcus, and cingulate sulcus length measurements (p < 0.001). Conclusion Sulcal development and cortical maturation can be evaluated prenatally with transabdominal ultrasonography of the central nervous system

PREGNANCY IN CANCER SURVIVORS; EXPERIENCE OF A SINGLE TERTIARY CENTER

Objective: To investigate obstetric and perinatal outcomes among pregnant female survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers

Modified myocardial performance index and its prognostic significance for adverse perinatal outcome in early and late onset fetal growth restriction

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Objective: To compare the fetal modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) in appropriately grown, early (EO) and late onset (LO) fetal growth restricted (FGR) fetuses and to assess its prognostic significance for adverse perinatal outcome. Study design: In a prospective case-control study, Mod-MPI was performed in 22 and 51 fetuses with EO and LO-FGR fetuses, respectively. Mod-MPI values of FGR fetuses were compared against gestation-matched controls (34 for EO-, and 32 for LO-FGR, respectively). Correlation testing related with poor perinatal outcomes were performed. Results: Incidences of pathologic uterine artery Doppler rate, cesarean section rate, 5-min Apgar score < 7, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and perinatal mortality were significantly higher in the EO-FGR group (p <.001). There was a decrease in Mod-MPI with gestational age in the normal (Pearson’s r = 0.401, p <.001), and growth-restricted fetuses (Pearson’s r = 0.248, p =.034). Mean Mod-MPI values were significantly higher in both EO- and LO-FGR group than gestation-matched controls (p <.001). There was no significant correlation between Mod-MPI values and perinatal deaths (Pearson’s r = 0.004, p =.987) and 5-min Apgar score < 7 (Pearson’s r = 0.391, p =.088) in the EO-FGR fetuses. There was a significant negative correlation between Mod-MPI values and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) values (Pearson’s r = −0.288, p =.041); however no significant correlation between Mod-MPI values and 5-min Apgar score< 7, and fetal distress during labor (Pearson’s r = 0.149, p = 0.297) in the LO-FGR fetuses was noted. Conclusion: EO and LO-FGR fetuses have significantly higher Mod-MPI values, demonstrating prenatal cardiac dysfunction. Evaluating Mod-MPI is not so effective in predicting poor perinatal outcome in both EO and LO-FGR fetuses

Fetal cerebral and cardiac hemodynamics in postdate pregnancy

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Objective: We aimed to determine the fetal cerebro-placental Doppler indices and modified myocardial performance index (Mod-myocardial performance index (MPI)) in this homogenous group of postdated pregnancies. Methods: A total of 92 singleton pregnant women were included in this prospective study. The study involved three groups; full term control (Group 1, n = 42, 39 0/7 to 40 6/7 week’ gestation), late term (Group 2, n = 34, 41 0/7 to 41 6/7 week’ gestation) and post term (Group 3, n = 16, ≥ 42 0/7 weeks’ gestation). Each participant underwent a Doppler assessment of the fetal umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), Mod-MPI. We determined the correlation of the Doppler indices and mod-MPI in patients with unfavorable outcome. Results: MCA pulcatility indices (PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) values were significantly higher in the control group than those in the late-term and post-term groups (Group 1: 1.63 ± 0.3, Group 2: 1.27 ± 0.51, Group 3: 1.13 ± 0.22, respectively, p <.001). The Mod-MPI was significantly higher in the late-term and post-term groups than in the control group (Group 1:0.38 ± 0.1, Group 2: 0.59 ± 0.09, Group 3: 0.60 ± 0.08, respectively, p <.001. MCA PI and CPR were only significantly lower in patients with unfavorable outcome). The threshold value for CPR levels for predicting unfavorable outcome in postdate pregnancies was calculated as 1.11 (area under curve [AUC] 0.762, confidence interval [CI] 0.575–0.95) with 72.7% sensitivity and 71.8% specificity. Conclusions: Fetal Mod-MPI does not differ in postdate pregnancies with favorable and unfavorable outcome. The monitorization of fetal well-being with CPR may help to clinicians to select patient for expectant management in postdate pregnancies

How do platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes, and threaten preterm labour?

© 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.The aim of the study was to investigate peripheral blood platelets, neutrophils and lymphocytes counts in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and threatened preterm labour (TPL) compared with gestation-matched controls in order to learn how they change. This study was conducted on 60 women with PPROM, 50 women with TPL and 47 healthy pregnant women. Laboratory parameters (including complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP)) of all the participants were recorded. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were significantly higher in PPROM group than TPL group and healthy control group (6.1 ± 3.9, 4.4 ± 1.7, 4.4 ± 2.2, p =.007, p =.018, respectively). At a cut-off level of 5.14, NLR accurately predicted occurrence of neonatal sepsis (AUC = 0.717 (95% confidence interval 0.610–0.824), p =.001) with sensitivity and specificity rates of 69.7% and 72.0%, respectively. In the management of the patients with PPROM, NLR can be used as a more cost-effective method than other blood parameters that require the use of a kit.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? There is only one study in the literature evaluating blood count parameters (such as platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), NLR) in PPROM pregnancies. That study demonstrated PLR and NLR were both higher in the PPROM group. What do the results of this study add? The present study demonstrates that only NLR is higher in the PPROM group. Furthermore, we have also demonstrated distinctively that NLR can predict occurrence of neonatal sepsis. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? High values of NLR may be useful for predicting adverse outcomes in PPROM and TPL patients as a cost-effective method. Further studies are needed to determine whether these parameters can be used to predict if a pregnant woman who is at risk of preterm labour will result in adverse perinatal outcome

Prediction of preterm delivery in threatened preterm labour with short cervical length

In this study, we evaluated the value of the uterocervical angle (UCA), myometrial thickness (MT), sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels in women with threatened preterm labour (TPL) in predicting spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) within 14 days in symptomatic women with cervical length (CL) measurements between 10 and 25 mm. Forty-six patients diagnosed with TPL, 47 healthy pregnant women were evaluated in a case-control study. sE-selectin (AUC = 0.744, p = .007) and PTX3 (AUC = 0.711, p = .019) were found to be effective in predicting preterm delivery within 14 days. In conclusion, maternal sE-selectin and PTX3 levels may be helpful in identifying pregnancies that will deliver within 14 days in symptomatic women with CL measurements between 10 and 25 mm. However, maternal sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels, MT and UCA are not effective in the prediction of sPTB in TPL pregnancies. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Aetiology of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is unclear and believed to be multifactorial, infection, inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction and uteroplacental ischaemia are all considered to be related to preterm delivery syndrome. Transvaginal cervical length (CL) measurement is a good indicator of increased risk of sPTB. Inflammation is accepted to have a central role in the process of labour. What do the results of this study add? soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels may be helpful in identifying pregnancies that will deliver within 14 days in symptomatic women with CL measurements between 10 and 25 mm. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study will help understand the important role of the inflammatory process in predicting spontaneous preterm birth