Obstetric

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate parameters that predict relevant levels of distress in women in a perioperative setting undergoing treatment for cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 495 patients with cervical cancer that were treated at the university hospital Aachen between 2010 and 2022 were analysed based on their respective National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer score (DT) and Problem List (PL) and their clinical history...

OBJECTIVES: Use of ultrasonography has been suggested as an accurate adjunct to clinical evaluation of fetal position and station during labor. There are no available reports concerning its actual use in delivery wards. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the current practice regarding the use of ultrasonography during labor. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to members of the Italian Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology employed in delivery wards...

Treatment with long-acting injection (LAI) antipsychotics, such as paliperidone palmitate, has improved the quality of life in terms of symptoms and prevention of relapses in patients with schizophrenia. Although there are plenty of evidences about the efficacy and safety of paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly injection (PP3M) in adults with schizophrenia, literature appears lacking about the use of LAIs during pregnancy. We hereby describe the clinical case of a pregnant woman affected by schizophrenia (DSM-5-TR), taking pharmacological treatment of PP3M...

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that successful health systems strengthening (HSS) projects have addressed disparities and inequities in maternal and perinatal care in low-income countries. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review covered the period between 1980 and 2022, focusing on successful HSS interventions within health systems' seven core components that improved maternal and perinatal care. RESULTS: The findings highlight the importance of integrating quality interventions into robust health systems, as this has been shown to reduce maternal and newborn mortality...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month early postnatal lifestyle intervention program in women with gestational diabetes in a recent pregnancy. METHODS: This study was a prospective randomized intervention study conducted at a diabetes center in Hong Kong. Chinese women aged 18-45 years, who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in their most recent pregnancy, were invited. Eligible women were randomized in 1:1 ratio at baseline (6-12 weeks postpartum), to standard care or lifestyle intervention (diet and physical activity) groups for 12 months...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and expanded non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT-plus) for detecting aneuploidies at different sequencing depths and assess Z-score accuracy in predicting trisomies 21, 18, 13, 45X, and 47XXX. METHODS: Pregnancies with positive NIPT or NIPT-plus results detected at the prenatal diagnosis center of Nanfang Hospital were included in this retrospective study, between January 2017 and December 2022. Invasive prenatal diagnostic results were collected...

INTRODUCTION: In the current times, fetal growth monitoring has become readily available with the help of Doppler ultrasound. Identification of pregnancies that are at risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality has been a primary goal of obstetric care. Doppler study is a fast, non-invasive test that provides significant information about the hemodynamic status of the fetus. It is an efficient diagnostic modality to assess fetal compromise, which helps in timely intervention in high-risk pregnancies for better perinatal outcomes...

Cushing's syndrome is a rare disease that has a different primary etiology, most often due to chronic hypercortisolism. In addition to the defined causes, in contrast to the general population, the observed etiology in pregnant women is a benign adrenocortical adenoma, less often bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal glands of hypothalamic-pituitary origin or Cushing's disease, and malignant adrenal root adenoma. In this study, we present the case of a 41-year-old pregnant woman experiencing her first pregnancy...

BACKGROUND: Cesarean hysterectomy is a dominant and effective approach during delivery in patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). However, as hysterectomy results in a loss of fertility, conservative management is an alternative approach. However, management selection may be affected by a country's overall economic level. Thus the preferred treatment for PAS generates controversy in middle-income countries. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare conservative management and cesarean hysterectomy for managing PAS in middle-income countries...

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate the long-term impact of internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) on ovarian hormonal and functional changes in women. The procedure is often used for postpartum hemorrhage and is considered uterus-sparing. However, its effects on ovarian reserve and fertility preservation remain controversial. METHODS: This is a retrospective, case-control study involving consecutive female patients aged 17-47 years. These patients underwent successful bilateral IIAL due to severe postpartum hemorrhage between January 2022 and December 2022...

OBJECTIVE: Tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Studies have suggested that infection-induced inflammatory responses are major risk factors for EP. The aim of the present study was to find an association between MMP2 and CD63 gene variants and risk of EP during Chlamydia trachomatis infection in an Indian population. METHODS: Fallopian tube samples of 120 EP and 120 tubal ligation women were collected. C. trachomatis was detected by PCR...

PURPOSE: This review explored the status of publications on intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women in contemporary China. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases were searched using the terms "IPV," "pregnant woman," "Chinese," and synonyms in English, along with related keywords for Chinese publications. All literature pertaining to IPV during pregnancy, conducted in China, and published between 1987 and September 2023 was included...

INTRODUCTION: A considerable amount of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide is caused by preterm birth. To date, the underlying etiology of preterm birth has not been fully clarified. Previous studies demonstrate that inflammation is one of the pathological factors that might cause preterm birth, and that there is a difference between primiparous and multiparous women in immune response to pregnancy. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the role of two inflammatory markers, ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) and preterm birth, in first trimester women, stratified for parity...

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition refers to an overall deficiency of nutrients due to an inadequate intake of a well-balanced diet. Undernourishment during pregnancy is an important contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. It remains a persistent problem in developing countries, where women usually fall behind men in having access to food, health care, and education. Despite the high prevalence of maternal undernourishment, its direct impact on obstetric outcomes has not been studied in developing countries, including Ethiopia...

BACKGROUND: Utilization of maternal healthcare services has a direct bearing on maternal mortality but is contingent on a wide range of socioeconomic factors, including the sex of the household head. This paper studies the role of the sex of the household head in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in India using data from the National Family Health Survey-V (2019-2021). METHODS: The outcome variable of this study is maternal healthcare service utilization...

BACKGROUND: There are large racial inequities in pregnancy and early childhood health within state Medicaid programs in the United States. To date, few Medicaid policy interventions have explicitly focused on improving health in Black populations. Pennsylvania Medicaid has adopted two policy interventions to incentivize racial health equity in managed care (equity payment program) and obstetric service delivery (equity focused obstetric bundle). Our research team will conduct a mixed-methods study to investigate the implementation and early effects of these two policy interventions on pregnancy and infant health equity...

BACKGROUND: Since 2005, the healthcare system in Ethiopia has implemented policies to promote the provision of free maternal healthcare services. The primary goal of these policies is to enhance the accessibility of maternity care for women from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, the aim is to increase the utilization of maternity services, such as institutional deliveries, by removing financial obstacles that pregnant women may face. Even though maternity services are free of charge...

BACKGROUND: Maternal overweight/obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are frequently reported to be risk factors for obesity and other metabolic disorders in offspring. Cord blood metabolites provide information on fetal nutritional and metabolic health and could provide an early window of detection of potential health issues among newborns. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity and excessive GWG on cord blood metabolic profiles...

BACKGROUND: Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) stands as the predominant technique for removing the zona pellucida (ZP) in embryos, primarily consisting of two methods: drilling laser-assisted hatching (D-LAH) and thinning laser-assisted hatching (T-LAH). Presently, both methods have limitations, and their comparative efficacy for embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy remains uncertain. AIM: Evaluate the impact of D-LAH and T-LAH on clinical pregnancy rates within assisted reproductive technology (ART)...

BACKGROUND: Body image perception and social support during pregnancy can impact the psychological distress levels experienced by pregnant women. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various components of social support and body image perception on psychological distress levels among pregnant women in their third trimester in Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 pregnant women who were in the third trimester and attending selected health care facilities in Ogbomoso, a semiurban city in Oyo State, Nigeria...