Search

Objectives Evidence suggests that, despite routine engagement with the health system, pregnant women commonly seek emergency care. The objectives of this study were to examine the association between maternal comorbidities and emergency department ( ED) use among a national sample of commercially insured pregnant women. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using multipayer medical claims data maintained by the Health Care Cost Institute for women ages 18 to 44 years with a live singleton birth in 2011 ( N = 157,786). The association between common maternal comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, gestational diabetes) and ED use during pregnancy was examined using multilevel models, while controlling for age, region, and residential zip code. Results Twenty percent ( n = 31,413) of pregnant women had one or more ED visit (mean ± SD = 1.52 ± 1.15). Among those who used the ED, 29% had two or more visits, and 11% had three or more visits. Emergency care seekers were significantly more likely to have one or more comorbid condition compared to those with no emergency care: 30% versus 21%, respectively (p < 0.001). Pregnant women with asthma had 2.5 times the likelihood of having had any ED visit (adjusted odds ratio [ AOR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 2.32-2.62). There was a significant increase in the probability (approximately 50%) of ED use among pregnant women with diabetes ( AOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.33-1.63) or hypertension ( AOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.43-1.55) or who were obese ( AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.47-1.64). Increased odds associated with gestational diabetes were more modest, resulting in a 13% increased odds of using the ED ( AOR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.07-1.18). Less than 0.6% of pregnant women ( n = 177) received emergency care that resulted in a hospital admission. The admission rate was 0.4% (189 admissions/47,608 ED visits). Conclusions Among pregnant women, comorbidity burden was associated with more ED utilization. Efforts to reduce acute unscheduled care and improve care coordination during pregnancy should target interventions to patient comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background While the etiopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is complex and poorly understood, neonatal exposures are important for disease occurrence. However, the effect of dog exposure on the risk of atopic dermatitis is unresolved. Objective We investigated whether domestic dog exposure affected the risk of atopic dermatitis in children during the first 3 years of life. Methods Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood ( COPSAC) are ongoing prospective clinical birth cohort studies. Data from 411 children born to mothers with asthma ( COPSAC2000) and 700 unselected children ( COPSAC2010) were analyzed following the same protocols at the same research site. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed prospectively according to the Hanifin-Rajka criteria. Parental history of asthma, eczema, or rhinitis was defined by self-reported physician diagnosis. In the COPSAC2000, maternal specific serum IgE against eight inhalant allergens was sampled after the children's birth and at pregnancy week 24 in the COPSAC2010 cohort. Associations between dog exposure and atopic dermatitis were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression models and adjusted for lifestyle confounders. Results In the COPSAC2000 and COPSAC2010 cohorts, the risk of atopic dermatitis was significantly lower in children with domestic dog exposure (adjusted HR = 0.46 [0.25-0.87], P = 0.02; and adjusted HR = 0.58 [0.36-0.93], P = 0.03, respectively). The risk of atopic dermatitis decreased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing number of dogs (adjusted HR = 0.58 [0.38-0.89], P = 0.01) in the COPSAC2010. The protective effect was restricted to children born to mothers with atopic disease in the unselected COPSAC2010 cohort (adjusted HR = 0.39 [0.19-0.82], P = 0.01), as no effect was observed in children born to mothers without atopic disease (adjusted HR = 0.92 [0.49-1.73], P = 0.79). Paternal atopic status did not affect the risk of atopic dermatitis. We found no significant interaction between the CD14 T/T genotype and domestic dog exposure in either cohort ( COPSAC2000, P = 0.36; and COPSAC2010 cohort, P = 0.42). Conclusion Neonatal domestic dog exposure was associated with a strongly reduced risk of atopic dermatitis in two independent birth cohorts and in a dose-dependent manner. While the mechanisms involved are unclear, our findings raise the question of whether in utero exposures may affect the risk of atopic dermatitis and emphasize the importance of the early environment for disease trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective Poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy is hazardous for both mother and foetus. Better asthma control may be achieved if patients are involved in regular self-monitoring of symptoms and self-management according to a written asthma action plan. Telehealth applications to optimize asthma management and outcomes in pregnant women have not yet been evaluated. This study evaluated the efficacy of a telehealth programme supported by a handheld respiratory device in improving asthma control during pregnancy. Methods Pregnant women with asthma ( n = 72) from two antenatal clinics in Melbourne, Australia, were randomized to one of two groups: (i) intervention-involving a telehealth programme (management of asthma with supportive telehealth of respiratory function in pregnancy (MASTERY©)) supported by a handheld respiratory device and an Android smart phone application ( Breathe-easy©) and written asthma action plan or (ii) control-usual care. The primary outcome was change in asthma control at 3 and 6 months (prenatal). Secondary outcomes included changes in quality of life and lung function, and perinatal/neonatal outcomes. Results At baseline, participants' mean (± standard deviation) age was 31.4 ± 4.5 years and gestational age 16.7 ± 3.1 weeks. At 6 months, the MASTERY group had better asthma control ( P = 0.02) and asthma-related quality of life ( P = 0.002) compared with usual care. There were no significant differences between groups in lung function, unscheduled health-care visits, days off work/study, oral corticosteroid use, or perinatal outcomes. Differences between groups were not significant at 3 months. Conclusion Telehealth interventions supporting self-management are feasible and could potentially improve asthma control and asthma-related quality of life during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points We studied the effects of preconceptional allergen sensitisation and repeated airway allergen challenges during pregnancy on maternal immune and airway functions during pregnancy, and maternal, fetal and placental phenotype in late pregnancy in sheep., This protocol induced maternal responses consistent with an allergic asthmatic phenotype. During pregnancy, lung resistance and the eosinophil influx induced by allergen challenges increased progressively in allergic sheep, and in late pregnancy airway smooth muscle content was greater in allergic than control ewes., Effects on fetal growth and development were consistent with those of maternal asthma in humans. Maternal allergic asthma decreased relative fetal weight by 12%, reduced fetal lung expression of surfactant protein B, and altered placental morphology., This provides an animal model in which to identify mechanisms underlying fetal effects of maternal asthma in pregnancy, including fetal physiological responses to exacerbations, and to evaluate responses to clinically used treatments and novel interventions., Abstract Maternal asthma during pregnancy adversely affects pregnancy outcomes but identification of the cause/s, and the ability to evaluate interventions, is limited by the lack of an appropriate animal model. We therefore aimed to characterise maternal lung and cardiovascular responses and fetal-placental growth and lung surfactant levels in a sheep model of allergic asthma. Immune and airway functions were studied in singleton-bearing ewes, either sensitised before pregnancy to house dust mite (HDM, allergic, n = 7) or non-allergic (control, n = 5), and subjected to repeated airway challenges with HDM (allergic group) or saline (control group) throughout gestation. Maternal lung, fetal and placental phenotypes were characterised at 140 ± 1 days gestational age (term, ∼147 days). The eosinophil influx into lungs was greater after HDM challenge in allergic ewes than after saline challenge in control ewes before mating and in late gestation. Airway resistance increased throughout pregnancy in allergic but not control ewes, consistent with increased airway smooth muscle in allergic ewes. Maternal allergic asthma decreased relative fetal weight (−12%) and altered placental phenotype to a more mature form. Expression of surfactant protein B mRNA was 48% lower in fetuses from allergic ewes than controls, with a similar trend for surfactant protein D. Thus, allergic asthma in pregnant sheep modifies placental phenotype, and inhibits fetal growth and lung development consistent with observations from human pregnancies. Preconceptional allergen sensitisation and repeated airway challenges in pregnant sheep therefore provides an animal model to identify mechanisms of altered fetal development and adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by maternal asthma in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Maternal asthma has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Little is known about the influence of other atopic diseases on pregnancy outcomes. We assessed how various maternal atopic diseases might affect preterm birth, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Methods By linking Norwegian national registries, we acquired information on maternal health, socio-demographic factors, pregnancy, birth, and neonatal outcome on all births in Norway from 1967 to 2003. Results A total of 1 974 226 births were included. Of these, 1.8% had a record of maternal asthma, 3.4% of maternal atopic dermatitis, and 0.4% of maternal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Overall rates of preterm birth, stillbirth, and neonatal death were 6.0%, 0.6%, and 0.5%, respectively. After adjustments for possible confounders, maternal asthma was associated with increased risk of preterm birth (relative risk ( RR), 1.15, [95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.10, 1.21]). In contrast, maternal atopic dermatitis was associated with decreased risk of preterm birth ( RR 0.90, [95% CI 0.86, 0.93]), stillbirth ( RR 0.70, [95% CI 0.62, 0.79]), and neonatal death ( RR 0.76, [95% CI 0.65, 0.90]). Similarly, maternal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was associated with decreased risk of preterm birth ( RR 0.84, [95% CI 0.76, 0.94]) and stillbirth ( RR 0.40, [95% CI 0.25, 0.66]). Conclusions We confirmed the previously reported association of maternal asthma with increased risk for preterm birth. Unexpectedly, maternal atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were associated with decreased risk of preterm birth and stillbirth. Mechanisms for these protective associations are unclear, and our findings require confirmation in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Asthma is a common chronic disease complicating pregnancy with a risk for perinatal complications. Control of airway inflammation in the asthmatic pregnancy improves pregnancy outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate pH of exhaled breath condensate (EBC), a non-invasive method for the assessment of asthmatic airway inflammation, in healthy and asthmatic pregnancies. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Hungarian university clinics. Population Seventeen healthy pregnant women, 21 asthmatic pregnant women, 23 healthy non-pregnant women and 22 asthmatic non-pregnant women. Methods EBC samples were collected using a portable condenser, EBC pH was measured after argon deaeration. Main outcome measure EBC pH. Results EBC pH (mean ± SD) of healthy non-pregnant and asthmatic non-pregnant women was similar (7.75 ± 0.27 vs. 7.54 ± 0.57; p = 0.118), probably indicating an optimal control of airway inflammation in asthmatic women. On the other hand, EBC pH was higher in healthy pregnant women compared with healthy non-pregnant women (8.02 ± 0.43 vs. 7.75 ± 0.27; p = 0.017). Higher EBC pH accompanying healthy pregnancy was absent in asthmatic pregnant patients whose EBC pH was lower (7.65 ± 0.38) than that of healthy pregnant women ( p = 0.006), and it was similar to that in asthmatic and healthy non-pregnant women ( p = 0.470 and p = 0.300, respectively). The EBC pH in asthmatic pregnant women correlated positively with birthweight ( r = 0.49, p = 0.047) and negatively with forced vital capacity ( r = 0.45, p = 0.039). EBC pH was not related to blood pH. Conclusions EBC pH is higher in healthy pregnant women but not in asthmatic pregnant women compared with data from healthy non-pregnant women, indicating that oxidative inflammatory processes induced by asthma may compromise the regulatory mechanisms causing alkaline pH in the airways during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of studies on respiratory diseases presented at The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand (TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting 2012 including "Airway Smooth Muscle Remodelling and Inflammatory Phenotypes of Asthma," by J. Elliot and colleagues, "Increased Monocyte Activation in Pregnancies Complicated by Asthma," by A. Osei-Kumah and colleagues, and "Lung Cancer Waiting Times at the Royal Adelaide Hospital," by B. D. Dougherty, P. C. Robinson, and M. Oborn.

Study Objective To describe changes in inhaled corticosteroid use during pregnancy and markers of uncontrolled asthma, and to evaluate the association between them. Design Population-based, cross-sectional study. Data Source Three administrative claims databases in Québec, Canada. Patients A cohort of 4434 asthmatic women (4920 pregnancies) who delivered their infants between 1990 and 2002 and who used inhaled corticosteroids before their pregnancy. Measurements and Main Results The average daily doses of inhaled corticosteroids during pregnancy and during the 9 months before conception were compared; the change in use was categorized as discontinuation (reduction of ≥75%), reduction (26-75% reduction), no change (±25% change), or increase (increase of ≥25%). The markers of uncontrolled asthma included at least one asthma exacerbation and the use of three or more doses/week of a short-acting β2-agonist during pregnancy. Generalized estimating equation models were used for statistical analyses. In nearly 50% of the pregnancies (2388 [48.5%] of 4920), the women either stopped or reduced their doses of corticosteroid during pregnancy, and these doses were already quite low before pregnancy. The proportion of women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy was 8.2% among women who discontinued corticosteroids and greater than 20% in all of the other groups. All of the groups used frequent doses of short-acting β2-agonists. Discontinuing inhaled corticosteroid use during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of exacerbations (odds ratio [ OR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.33-0.54), whereas increasing inhaled corticosteroid use was associated with a higher risk ( OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.17-1.72), compared with no change in use. Conclusion Because of residual confounding by asthma severity, our study was not able to show that women who stopped inhaled corticosteroids during pregnancy were at increased risk of having an asthma exacerbation. However, women who stopped corticosteroids tended to have a milder form of asthma, which is reassuring and suggests that women can recognize, to a certain extent, the need to continue taking their controller agents if necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Murphy V, Namazy J, Powell H, Schatz M, Chambers C, Attia J, Gibson P. A meta-analysis of adverse perinatal outcomes in women with asthma. BJOG 2011;118:1314-1323. Background Asthma is a common condition during pregnancy and may be associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Objective This meta-analysis sought to establish if maternal asthma is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, and to determine the size of these effects. Search strategy Electronic databases were searched for the following terms: (asthma or wheeze) and (pregnan* or perinat* or obstet*). Selection criteria Cohort studies published between 1975 and March 2009 were considered for inclusion. Studies were included if they reported at least one perinatal outcome in pregnant women with and without asthma. Data collection and analysis A total of 103 articles were identified, and of these 40 publications involving 1 637 180 subjects were included. Meta-analysis was conducted with subgroup analyses by study design and active asthma management. Main results Maternal asthma was associated with an increased risk of low birthweight (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.22-1.75), small for gestational age (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.14-1.31), preterm delivery (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.22-1.61) and pre-eclampsia (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.32-1.81). The relative risk of preterm delivery and preterm labour were reduced to non-significant levels by active asthma management (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.91-1.26 for preterm delivery; RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.73-1.26 for preterm labour). Author's conclusions Pregnant women with asthma are at increased risk of perinatal complications, including pre-eclampsia and outcomes that affect the baby's size and timing of birth. Active asthma management with a view to reducing the exacerbation rate may be clinically useful in reducing the risk of perinatal complications, particularly preterm delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on medical topics, which include a study of microRNAs (miR) expression abnormalities in asthmatic epithelial cells, a study on a novel Ex vivo perfusion system for investigating mucous metaplasia in mouse airways, and a study on a sheep model to determine the effects of maternal asthma on fetal outcomes.

Objective: To determine if there are sex differences in risk and incidence of stillbirth, preterm delivery and small-for-gestational age (SGA) in pregnancies complicated by maternal asthma relative to a non-asthmatic population. Study design: Univariant and multiple regression analysis of the incidence of preterm delivery, SGA and stillbirth in singleton pregnancies complicated by asthma in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, from 1995 to 1999. Results: Asthma complicated 12% of all singleton pregnancies. The incidence of preterm delivery was not significantly different between asthmatic (13%) and non-asthmatic (11%) pregnancies. Male fetuses (53%) were more likely to deliver preterm than female fetuses (47%) in both asthmatic and non-asthmatic populations. There were significantly more male neonates of pregnancies complicated by asthma that were SGA at term relative to those of the non-asthmatic population. There were significantly more preterm female neonates that were SGA in pregnancies complicated by asthma relative to those of the non-asthmatic population. Male fetuses were more likely to be associated with a stillbirth in pregnancies complicated by asthma than female fetuses. Conclusion: The presence of maternal asthma during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth for the male fetus and is associated with changes in fetal growth, but does not increase the incidence of a preterm delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on medical topics which include the evaluation on the patient and clinician satisfaction with Fluticasone/Salmeterol Metered Dose Inhaler with counter (MDIc), relationship between forced exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and atopis status in asthmatic pregnant women, and the comparison of two exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) analysers including the EcoMedics CLD88 series and the NiOx.

Background There is growing evidence that n-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and may modulate immune response. Dietary intake of these nutrients during pregnancy could play a role in the risk of asthma and atopy in the offspring. Methods Using data from a cohort of women (n=462) enrolled during pregnancy and whose offspring were followed up to 6 years, we evaluated the impact of fish consumption during pregnancy on the incidence of atopy and asthma. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire (42 items) applied by an interviewer. Results Thirty-four percent of infants had a medical diagnosis of eczema at age 1 year, 14.3% of the children were atopic [based on skin prick test (SPT) at 6 years], and 5.7% had atopic wheeze at age 6 years. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, fish intake during pregnancy was protective against the risk of eczema at age 1 year, a positive SPT for house dust mite at age 6 years and atopic wheeze at age 6 years [odds ratio (OR)=0.73 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55–0.98, OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.46–1.01 and OR=0.55, 95% CI 0.31–0.96, respectively]. For an increase in fish intake from once per week to 2.5 times per week, the risk of eczema at age 1 year decreased by 37%, and the risk of positive SPT at age 6 years by 35%. Stratification by breastfeeding showed that fish intake was significantly related to a decrease risk in persistent wheeze among non-breastfed children ( P for interaction <0.05). No protective effect was observed among breastfed children. Conclusion Our data suggest a protective effect of fish intake during pregnancy on the risk of atopy-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and background: The course of asthma may be altered during pregnancy with at least one-third of women experiencing a worsening of asthma and 20% having an exacerbation during pregnancy. This study used the novel proteomic technique, surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry to determine if the presence of asthma during pregnancy was associated with alterations in plasma proteins. Methods: Plasma collected from healthy ( n = 23) and asthmatic ( n = 27) pregnant women at 18 and 30 weeks gestation was applied to strong anion exchange (SAX2), weak cation exchange (WCX2) and immobilized metal affinity capture (IMAC-Cu2+) chips. Mass analysis was conducted using Ciphergen Protein Biology System IIc and significant differences in individual peak intensities between groups determined. Results: At 18 weeks gestation, 91 peaks were significantly different between pregnant women with and without asthma, representing 28% of the total peaks identified. At 30 weeks gestation, 51 peaks were significantly different. There were two peaks that were significantly different between groups at both 18 and 30 weeks gestation and expressed at a similar level at both time points. One was increased in asthmatics (MW = 6444 Da) whereas the other decreased in asthmatics compared with non-asthmatic women (MW = 1846 Da). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that there are differences in protein patterns between pregnant women with and without asthma. Other techniques are needed to define the molecular species and classify pathophysiological significance. Surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry has potential as a tool to monitor disease progression in situations such as pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pregnancy frequently interferes with the course of bronchial asthma, and asthmatic pregnant women experience less successful pregnancies. T lymphocytes synthesizing IL-4 or IFN-γ are important in allergic mechanisms of the airways as well as in materno-fetal immunity. Objective We hypothesized that pregnancy (a T helper-2 polarized state) of asthmatics will enhance the number of circulating T2 lymphocytes, but decrease the subset-producing IFN-γ (T1 lymphocytes) and thereby cause a culminating T2 dominance with possible clinical consequences. Methods IL-4- or IFN-γ-producing T lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry in healthy ( n=8) and asthmatic ( n=13) non-pregnant women and healthy ( n=18) and asthmatic ( n=48) pregnant women of similar chronological and gestational (2nd–3rd trimester) age and asthma severity (Global Initiative for Asthma II–III). Results In the blood of non-pregnant women – healthy or asthmatic – the numbers of IL-4- and IFN-γ+ T cells were very low (<10/μL blood). In contrast, in asthmatic pregnant women, the cell counts were 182±27 and 39±6 for IFN-γ+ and IL-4+ T cells/μL blood, respectively (both P<0.05 vs. respective control values of non-pregnant asthmatics). Within the asthmatic pregnant group, significant negative correlations were revealed between the numbers of IFN-γ+ or IL-4+ T cells and maternal peak expiratory flow as well as birth weight of newborns (both P<0.05). Conclusion These data show a previously unknown immunological interference between asthma and pregnancy. The culminating proliferation of IFN-γ+ and IL-4+ T lymphocytes may potentially impair maternal airway symptoms as well as fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare pregnancy outcome in asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients from high altitudes. Method: A prospective case-control study over a 4-year period. The setting was: Abha Maternity Hospital, south-west region of Saudi Arabia. Eighty-eight asthmatic pregnant patients were followed up on during their pregnancies and deliveries (cases). The control subjects were 106 non-asthmatic patients who delivered during the same period. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the mean age, parity and gestation at delivery between the cases and control subjects (P>0.05), while there were statistically significant differences in the mean birth weight, placental weight and number of abortions between the two groups (P<0.05). Antenatal complications occurred in 12.5% of the asthmatic patients and 1.9% of the control subjects. Pre-eclampsia was diagnosed in 7.9% of the asthmatic group but in none of the control subjects. Induction of labor, cesarean section rate, perinatal mortality, congenital malformations and Apgar score <7 at 5 min were significantly higher in the asthmatic patients. Conclusion: Asthma occurring in pregnancy was associated with increased antenatal complications, increased perinatal loss and congenital malformations in our study population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A male child, born at 37+5 gestational weeks (GWs) (birthweight 2000g) after intrauterine growth retardation (IUG; –3 SD), to a mother treated during pregnancy for asthma, developed periventricular leukomalacia and retinopathy with total retinal detachment in the left eye and partial detachment in the right eye. Apart from basic asthma treatment with terbutalin, budesonid, and fenoterolhydrobromid throughout the pregnancy, she was treated with intravenous or oral cortisone for 6.5 weeks from 28+5 GWs. In addition she developed deep venous thrombosis at 29 GWs and was treated with heparin until delivery. Psychotic symptoms during the 31st GW were treated with diazepam, haloperidol, and levomepromazin. Functional sequelae for the child were visual impairment (visual acuity 5/60), uneven intellectual profile (Wechsler Pre-school and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Verbal IQ 94 and Performance IQ 32 at 8y of age), and autistic-like behaviour. The possibility that pre- and perinatal risk factors (e.g. severe maternal illness, IUGR, and cortisone treatment) in a term infant may create conditions for developing eye and brain pathologies commonly closely related to preterm birth should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "A Meta-Analysis of Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Women with Asthma," by V. E. Murphy and colleagues in the 2011 issue, which discusses maternal asthma.

Corrections to articles such as "The risk of congenital malformations, perinatal mortality and neonatal hospitalisation among pregnant women with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis," by V. E. Murphy and colleagues that was published in the 2013 issue and "Effect of maternal asthma on the risk of specific congenital malformations: a population-based cohort study," by L. Blais and colleagues that was published in the 2010 issue are presented.

The article presents abstracts on topics related to pediatrics and child health which include monoamniotic twins, the management of asthma in pregnancy, and maternal risk factors tied to preterm birth.