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Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between maternal vascular malperfusions (MVM) and second trimester uterine arteries pulsatility index (UtA-PI) in cases of stillbirth (SB), compared to live-birth (LB) matched controls.Methods: This was a multicentre, observational, matched case-control study performed at five referral maternity centres over a 4-year period including SB and LB control pregnancies at high-risk for preeclampsia (PE) and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR), matched and stratified for UtA-PI MoM quartiles values of the SB cases. Logistic regression was used to assess the rates of each MVM finding, within each increasing MoM quartile subcategory in SB and matched LB controls.Results: 82 SB and 82 LB matched high-risk pregnancies were included. Placental hypoplasia, placental infarction, retroplacental hematoma, distal villous hypoplasia and accelerated villous maturation showed a significant correlation with UtA-PI. At univariable analysis, placental infarction and distal villous hypoplasia were more highly associated with the increasing quartile uterine Doppler measurements (odds ratio 2.24 and 2.23, respectively). Logistic regressions showed a significant positive and independent association between rates of retroplacental hematoma or distal villous hypoplasia and stillbirth within corresponding UtA-PI MoM quartiles (odds ratio 5.21 and 2.28, respectively).Discussion: We are providing evidence for characterization of two major etiological stillbirth categories, characterized by a positive or absent association with UtA-PI impairment and specific histopathological placental MVM lesions. Our results support a strict third trimester follow-up of cases with increased second trimester UtA-PI, in order to improve the reproductive chances of these pregnant patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that represent a major concern for women of reproductive age because of the neurodevelopmental effects associated to perinatal exposure.Objectives: This study was aimed at characterizing exposure of women of reproductive age to PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs as a function of residence in different Italian Regions, in areas at presumable different environmental contamination and human exposure to these pollutants.Methods: Study participants were enrolled in 2011-2012 in 6 Italian Regions representative of Northern, Central and Southern Italy; in each region, areas at presumed different exposure (rural, urban and industrial) were selected for enrolment. Each participant provided a serum sample for the analysis of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs.Results: Median concentrations of PCDDs+PCDFs, DL-PCBs, NDL6-PCBs and NDL9-PCBs in serum samples were respectively 6.0 and 3.5 pgWHO-TE05/g fat, and 75 and 93ng/g fat. Age was the variable that most affected median serum concentrations. Age adjusted concentrations were found significantly different between geographical zones: women from Northern Italy showed the highest values, followed by Central and Southern Italy. PCDDs+PCDFs concentrations were significantly higher in the group of women residing in industrial areas compared to the group residing in rural areas. A clear diminishing temporal trend was observed compared to levels reported in previous studies.Conclusions: This study produced the largest dataset on serum concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in women of childbearing age in Italy.Results: confirmed that environmental and lifestyle factors may influence exposure to these contaminants and thereby the body burden. The observed marked temporal decline in body burden during three decades is in agreement with the general trend observed worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations were determined in serum samples collected in 2011–2012 from 549 nulliparous Italian women of reproductive age who resided in six different Italian Regions. Assessment of exposure to perfluorinated compounds was part of a large human biomonitoring study (Project Life Plus “Womenbiopop”) that aimed at examining the exposure of women of reproductive age to priority organic pollutants. The median concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 2.43, and 1.55 ng g −1 , respectively. Significant differences in the concentrations of both compounds were observed among the six Regions. Women from central Italy had the highest levels of both compounds, followed by women from northern Italy, and southern Italy. No differences in the PFOS concentrations were found between women from urban/industrial areas and women from rural areas, whereas the levels of PFOA were significantly higher in women residing in urban/industrial areas than in women residing in rural areas. Taken together, the observed concentrations confirm that the overall exposure of the Italian population is among the lowest observed in industrialized countries. A downward temporal trend in exposure was observed for both compounds when comparing the results from the present study with those assessed in a study conducted in 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]