Search

Background Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 7–10% of all pregnancies resulting in a higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality, long-term disabilities, and cognitive impairment. Due to its multifactorial etiology, changes in maternal lifestyle, including suboptimal maternal diet and stress, have increasingly been associated with its prevalence. We present a protocol for the Improving Mothers for a better PrenAtal Care Trial Barcelona (IMPACT BCN), which evaluates two different maternal lifestyle strategies (improved nutrition by promoting Mediterranean diet and stress reduction program based on mindfulness techniques) on perinatal outcomes. The primary objective is to reduce the prevalence of FGR. Secondary aims are to reduce adverse perinatal outcomes and to improve neurodevelopment and cardiovascular profile in children at 2 years of age. Methods A randomized parallel, open-blind, single-center trial following a 1:1:1 ratio will select and randomize high-risk singleton pregnancies for FGR (N=1218), according to the criteria of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (19.0–23.6 weeks’ gestation), into three arms: Mediterranean diet, mindfulness-based stress reduction program, and usual care without any intervention. Compliance to the interventions will be randomly tested in 30% of participants with specific biomarkers. Maternal socio-demographic, clinical data, biological samples, and lifestyle questionnaires will be collected at enrollment and at the end of the interventions (34.0–36.6 weeks’ gestation), together with a fetoplacental ultrasound and magnetic resonance. Fetoplacental biological samples and perinatal outcomes will be recorded at delivery. Postnatal follow-up is planned up to 2 years of corrected age including neurodevelopmental tests and cardiovascular assessment. Intention-to-treat and population per-protocol analysis will be performed. Discussion This is the first randomized study evaluating the impact of maternal lifestyle interventions during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes. The maternal lifestyle interventions (Mediterranean diet and mindfulness-based stress reduction program) are supported by scientific evidence, and their compliance will be evaluated with several biomarkers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT03166332. Registered on April 19, 2017

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) generate complications and are one of the principal causes of maternal, foetal, and neonatal mortality worldwide. It has been observed that in pregnancies with HDP, the incidence of foetuses small for their gestational age (SGA) is twice as high as that in noncomplicated pregnancies. In women with HDP, the identification of foetuses (SGA) is substantially important, as management and follow-up are determined by this information. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the INTERGROWTH-21st method or customized birthweight references better identify newborns with an abnormal nutritional status resulting from HDP. Method A comparative analysis study was designed with two diagnostic methods for the prediction of neonatal nutritional status in pregnancies with HDP. The performance of both methods in identifying neonatal malnutrition (defined by a neonatal body mass index th centile or a ponderal index th centile) was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic odds ratio, Youden’s index and probability ratios. Results The study included 226 pregnant women diagnosed with HDP. The customized method identified 45 foetuses as small for gestational age (19.9%), while the INTERGROWTH-21st method identified 27 newborns with SGA (11.9%). The difference between proportions was statistically significant (p th centile) as a measure of nutritional status, newborns identified as SGA by the customized method showed a higher risk of malnutrition than those identified as SGA by INTERGROWTH-21st (RR: 4.87 (95% CI: 1.86–12.77) vs. 3.75 (95% CI: 1.49–9.43)) (DOR: 5.56 (95% CI: 1.82–16.98) vs. 4.84 (95% CI: 1.51–15.54)) Even when using Ponderal index (th centile), newborns identified as SGA by the customized method showed a higher risk of malnutrition than those identified as SGA by INTERGROWTH-21st (RR 2.37 (95% CI: 1.11–5.05) vs. 1.68 (95% CI: 0.70–4.03))(DOR 2.62 (95% CI: 1.00–6.87) vs. 1.90 (95% CI: 0.61–5.92)). Conclusion In pregnant women with HDP, the predictive ability of the customized foetal growth curves to identify neonatal malnutrition appears to surpass that of INTERGROWTH-21st.

Patients with autoimmune diseases (ADs) are a challenge for the intensivist; it is hard to differentiate among infection, disease activity, and combinations of both, leading to high mortality. This study is a retrospective analysis of 124 critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital between 2008 and 2016. Bivariate case-control analysis was performed, using patients who died as cases; later, analysis using a logistic regression model with variables that were associated with mortality was conducted. Four variables were consistently associated with mortality in the logistic regression model and had adequate prediction value (Hosmer and Lemeshow statistic = 0.760; Nagelkerke R-squared = 0.494). The risk of death was found to be statistically associated with the following: shock at admission to ICU [odds ratio (OR): 7.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.78-31.97, p = 0.006], hemoglobin level

Objective: To identify the prevalence of pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity in pregnant women and its relationship with socio-demographic factors and to describe the maternal and perinatal outcomes in a Barcelona hospital (Spain). Method: A descriptive cross-association study, with retrospective data collection, was performed Barcelona Hospital. The data of 5447 pregnant women who delivered at >=23 weeks of gestation were included. Body Mass Index (BMI) data were categorised into World Health Organization classifications. p values

Màster en Lideratge i Gestió d'Infermeria, Universitat de Barcelona. Escola Universitària d'Infermeria, curs: 2019-2020, Director: Helena Viñas Llebot i Esther Crespo Mirasol, Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad de un programa de intervención enfermera sobre el nivel de ansiedad en gestantes con alto riesgo de parto pretérmino en el Hospital Clínico de Barcelona (HCB). Ámbito de estudio: El estudio se realizará en el Instituto Clínico de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Neonatología, en concreto, en la consulta de prematuridad y sala de hospitalización de obstetricia del HCB sede Maternidad. Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo con diseño cuasi experimental de tipo antes-después, con dos grupos, uno experimental que recibirá la intervención enfermera y un grupo control que recibirá el cuidado habitual. La muestra estará formada por un total de 84 gestantes con alto riesgo de parto pretérmino. Implicaciones para la práctica: Este estudio pretende proporcionar a los profesionales herramientas para mejorar su práctica clínica diaria, procurando una mejor atención y cuidados a las gestantes con riesgo de parto pretérmino y a sus familias, así como disminuir su ansiedad.

[spa] ANTECEDENTES. Un embarazo gemelar monocorial es un hecho poco frecuente, que conlleva ciertas complicaciones, con un aumento del riesgo de muerte de uno o los dos fetos. Ante la pérdida de un feto durante un embarazo múltiple, el duelo, junto a la presencia de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva, es una respuesta común y normal (López, 2011). Sin embargo, por la complejidad intrínseca a esta condición, en muchos casos este duelo puede ser más complejo e intenso y puede derivar en un proceso de duelo complicado, así como estos síntomas ansiosos, depresivos y de estrés postraumático, pueden ser más acusados o generar la aparición de un trastorno psicopatológico (Ellis et al., 2016; Hutti, Armstrong, Myers y Hall, 2015 y Lisy, Peters, Riitano, Jordan y Aromataris, 2016). Esto hace necesario estudiar en mayor profundidad las características y los factores que pueden intervenir en la elaboración de este tipo de pérdidas. OBJETIVOS. El objetivo principal de esta tesis es conocer las características del proceso de duelo cuando se produce una pérdida perinatal en una gestación gemelar monocorial. Este objetivo principal se desplegó en diferentes objetivos específicos. En primer lugar, se analizó el impacto psicológico de la pérdida perinatal en las mujeres y se estudiaron las variables sociodemográficas, psicológicas y clínicas que podían influir en la elaboración del duelo, así como la vulnerabilidad psicológica ante este proceso. Y a continuación, se analizó la influencia de los rituales de despedida en el desarrollo del duelo. MÉTODO. Estudio con un diseño correlacional y descriptivo. Las participantes fueron mujeres atendidas en la Unidad de Medicina Materno-Fetal del Departamento de Obstetricia del Hospital Universitario de la Vall d’Hebron de Barcelona entre febrero de 2009 y mayo de 2012. Todas ellas cumplían los siguientes criterios de inclusión: 1) Mujeres que habían sufrido una pérdida de uno o de los dos bebés en la gestación gemelar monocorial tras la cirugía fetal por complicaciones, y 2) Mujeres de nacionalidad española, raza caucásica y con dominio del idioma castellano, con un nivel de estudios mínimos para rellenar el material requerido para la investigación. Se realizó una entrevista individual con cada participante donde se recogían los datos sociodemográficos, antecedentes psiquiátricos, datos clínicos sobre la gestación y las prácticas de rituales de despedida realizadas. Y se administraron los siguientes cuestionarios: Spanish Short Version Perinatal Grief Scale (SpSVPGS), Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo (STAI), Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI) y Escala Revisada de Impacto del Estresor (Impact of Event Scale- Revised, IES-R). RESULTADOS. Los síntomas de duelo tras una pérdida perinatal en la gestación gemelar monocorial con complicaciones estaban relacionados con síntomas depresivos, ansiosos y de estrés postraumático. La intensidad del duelo no dependía de la semana de gestación en que se produjo la pérdida, los antecedentes de pérdidas gestacionales, la supervivencia de un gemelo, la presencia de hijos previos ni las variables sociodemográficas consideradas. Por el contrario, tener antecedentes de haber recibido atención terapéutica psicológica y/o psicofarmacológica resultaron predictores de mayor intensidad del duelo. La ausencia de la realización de rituales de despedida tampoco se relacionó con una mayor intensidad de la sintomatología del duelo. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. La pérdida perinatal en un embarazo gemelar monocorial supone una situación de gran impacto emocional que coloca a la madre en una situación de mayor vulnerabilidad psicopatológica. La presencia de un hijo superviviente o de hijos previos no garantizan una mejor salud mental para la madre en duelo, así como tampoco la realización de rituales de despedida. Estas madres presentan unas necesidades específicas y complejas, que pueden complicar el proceso de duelo, especialmente en aquellas mujeres con mayor vulnerabilidad psicológica., [eng] BACKGROUND. Monochorionic twin pregnancy is a relatively uncommon phenomenon, but its associated complications are severe and may result in the loss of one or both fetuses. Grief, together with feelings of anxiety and depression, is a normal and common response to perinatal loss during a multiple pregnancy (López, 2011). However, the inherent complexity of such a loss means that the grief experienced is often more intense and complicated, and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress may develop into a full-blown psychological disorder (Ellis et al., 2016; Hutti, Armstrong, Myers, & Hall, 2015; Lisy, Peters, Riitano, Jordan, & Aromataris, 2016). It is therefore important to understand the factors which may influence a woman’s ability to work through and come to terms with a loss of this kind. AIMS. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore and describe the characteristics of the grieving process in the case of perinatal loss during a monochorionic twin pregnancy. More specifically, the aims were: 1) To analyze the emotional impact of perinatal loss on the mother, 2) to study the sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical variables that may influence her grieving process, as well as the impact of previous psychological vulnerability, and 3) to examine the influence of farewell rituals in relation to the grief experienced. METHOD. The research used a correlational and descriptive design. Participants were a sample of women recruited from among those attending the maternity unit of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona between February 2009 and May 2012. They all met the following inclusion criteria: 1) Having lost one or both fetuses in a monochorionic twin pregnancy following fetal surgery due to complications, and 2) Spanish nationality and White ethnicity, with a level of education and command of the Spanish language that was sufficient for completion of the questionnaires. Individual interviews were used to collect sociodemographic information, data about the woman’s psychiatric and obstetric history, and information about any farewell rituals performed. The following questionnaires were also administered: Spanish Short Version of the Perinatal Grief Scale (SpSVPGS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R). RESULTS. High levels of grief following the loss of a fetus during a complicated monochorionic twin pregnancy were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. The intensity of grief did not depend on the point in the pregnancy at which the loss occurred, a history of miscarriage, the survival of one of the twins, the presence of living children, or any of the sociodemographic variables considered. A history of psychological and/or psychopharmacological treatment was, however, associated with a more intense grief reaction. There was no significant relationship between farewell rituals and the intensity of the grief experienced. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. Perinatal loss during a monochorionic twin pregnancy has a major emotional impact on the mother and leaves her vulnerable to psychological problems. The survival of one of the twins or the presence of living children is no guarantee that the grieving mother’s mental health will be less affected, and neither do farewell rituals seem to have a significant protective effect. Women who have experienced a loss of this kind have specific and complex needs, and those with a history of psychological vulnerability are particularly at risk of complicated grief.

The enzyme FASN (fatty acid synthase) is potentially related with hypertension and metabolic dysfunction. FASN is highly expressed in the human placenta. We aimed to investigate the relationship circulating FASN has with blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters in healthy pregnant women. Circulating FASN was assessed in 115 asymptomatic pregnant women in the second trimester of gestation along with C-peptide, fasting glucose and insulin, post-load glucose lipids, HMW-adiponectin and blood pressure (the latter was assessed in each trimester of gestation). At birth, newborns and placentas were weighed. FASN expression was also able to be assessed in 80 placentas. Higher circulating FASN was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), with a more favourable metabolic phenotype (lower fasting glucose and insulin, post load glucose, HbAc1, HOMA-IR and C-peptide), and with lower placental and birth weight (all p FASN expression related positively to circulating FASN (p

Myocardial structural and functional abnormalities are known to occur in fetuses of mothers with diabetes mellitus (FMDM). The main aim of this investigation was to explore the cardiovascular circulatory patterns in FMDM using a validated lumped computational model of the cardiovascular system. This was a multi-institutional study involving FMDM compared to fetuses of maternal controls (FC). Fetal echocardiographic Doppler data from left and right ventricular outflow tracts, aortic isthmus, middle cerebral and umbilical arteries were fitted into a validated fetal circulation computational model to estimate patient-specific placental and vascular properties. Non-parametric comparisons were made between resistances, compliances and flows in the brain and placenta in FMDM and FC. The funders had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. This study was partly supported by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (TIN2014-52923-R); Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI11/01709, PI12/00801, PI14/00226, PI15/00263; PI15/00130) integrados en el Plan Nacional de I + D + I y cofinanciados por el ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) “Otra manera de hacer Europa”; the EU-FP7 for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement VP2HF (no611823); The Cerebra Foundation for the Brain Injured Child (Carmarthen, UK); AGAUR 2014 SGR grant nº 928; additionally the research leading to these results has received funding from “la Caixa” Foundation. P.G.C. was supported by the Programa de Ayudas Predoctorales de Formación en investigación en Salud (FI12/00362) from the Instituto Carlos III, Spain. B.V.A. was supported by Programa de Ayudas Postdoctorales from Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca [grant number: 2013FI_B 00667].

Maternal obesity has a major impact on pregnancy outcomes. There is growing evidence that maternal obesity has a negative influence on placental development and function, thereby adversely influencing offspring programming and health outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood. We analysed ten term placenta's whole transcriptomes in obese (n = 5) and normal weight women (n = 5), using the Affymetrix microarray platform. Analyses of expression data were carried out using non-parametric methods. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis showed a clear distinction in placental transcriptome between obese and normal weight women. We identified 72 differentially regulated genes, with most being down-regulated in obesity (n = 61). Functional analyses of the targets using DAVID and IPA confirm the dysregulation of previously identified processes and pathways in the placenta from obese women, including inflammation and immune responses, lipid metabolism, cancer pathways, and angiogenesis. In addition, we detected new molecular aspects of obesity-derived effects on the placenta, involving the glucocorticoid receptor signalling pathway and dysregulation of several genes including CCL2, FSTL3, IGFBP1, MMP12, PRG2, PRL, QSOX1, SERPINE2 and TAC3. Our global gene expression profiling approach demonstrates that maternal obesity creates a unique in utero environment that impairs the placental transcriptome.

BACKGROUND: Prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity may be useful to plan delivery in complicated pregnancies. The limited predictive performance of the current diagnostic tests together with the risks of an invasive procedure restricts the use of fetal lung maturity assessment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of quantitative ultrasound texture analysis of the fetal lung (quantusFLM) to predict neonatal respiratory morbidity in preterm and early-term (

Background/Aims: Moderate maternal calorie-restriction during gestation programmes offspring for a major propensity to develop metabolic alterations in adulthood. We aimed to assess whether increased hepatic fatty-acid oxidation (FAO), at early ages, by gene transfer of Cpt1am (active mutant of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a), may be a strategy for reversing metabolic disturbances associated to maternal calorie-restriction during gestation in rats. Methods: AAV-Gfp (control) and AAV-Cpt1am vectors were administered by tail vein injection in 18-day-old control-pups and the offspring of 20% calorie-restricted rats during gestation (CR). After weaning, animals were fed with normal-fat diet. At the age of 4 months, they were moved to HF-diet and sacrificed at the age of 6 months to collect tissues. Locomotive activity, energy expenditure and blood pressure were measured. Results: Under HF-diet, CR-animals showed higher HOMA-IR, adipocyte diameter and hepatic triglyceride accumulation than controls; these alterations were reverted in Cpt1am-injected animals. In liver, this treatment ameliorated inflammatory state, decreased expression of lipogenesis-related genes and partially restored the decreased expression of leptin-receptor occurring in CR-animals. Treatment also reverted the decreased energy expenditure and the increased blood pressure of CR-animals. Conclusion: Increasing hepatic FAO through AAV-Cpt1am injection at juvenile ages prevents some metabolic disorders associated to gestational maternal calorie-restriction.

BACKGROUND: Mozambique has drastically improved an array of health indicators in recent years, including maternal mortality rates which decreased 63 % from 1990-2013 but the rates still high. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia constitute the third major cause of maternal death in the country. Women in rural areas, with limited access to health facilities are at greatest risk. This study aimed to assess the current state of knowledge and the regular practices regarding pre-eclampsia and eclampsia by community health workers in southern Mozambique. METHODS: This mixed methods study was conducted from 2013 to 2014, in Maputo and Gaza Provinces, southern Mozambique. Self-administered questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with CHWs, district medical officers, community health workers' supervisors, Gynaecologists-Obstetricians and matrons. Quantitative data were entered into a database written in REDCap and subsequently analyzed using Stata 13. Qualitative data was imported into NVivo10 for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of CHW had some awareness of pregnancy complications. Forty-one percent were able to describe the signs and symptoms of hypertension. In cases of eclampsia, CHWs reported to immediately refer the women. The vast majority of the CHWs surveyed reported that they could neither measure blood pressure nor proteinuria (90 %). Fewer reported confidence in providing oral antihypertensives (14 %) or injections in pregnancy (5 %). The other community health care providers are matrons. They do not formally offer health services, but assists pregnant women in case of an emergency. Regarding pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, matrons were unable to recognise these biomedical terms. CONCLUSIONS: Although CHWs are aware of pregnancy complications, they hold limited knowledge specific to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. There is a need to promote studies to evaluate the impact of enhancing their training to include additional content related to the identification and management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Methods An analytical case-control study. Data collection took place in different primary health care centres, in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program (Badalona and Sabadell Units) of the Catalan Health Institute. Pregnant women attending the midwife clinics for prenatal care during the first trimester. The case group included pregnant women who presented positive culture for GBS at 35-37 weeks and the control group included those who had negative culture. The data collection period was from January 2013 to April 2015.

Treballs Finals de Grau de Farmàcia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, 2015, Tutora: Pelegrí i Gabaldà, Carme, La preeclàmpsia és una patologia de l’embaràs que es diagnostica quan la dona gestant presenta pressió arterial elevada i proteïnúria, habitualment després de la 20ª setmana d’embaràs. És la causa principal de mortalitat i morbiditat perinatals i maternals a nivell mundial, amb una incidència anual del 3 - 5% del total d’embarassos. Una invasió trofoblàstica incompleta de l’endometri durant la formació de la placenta, que es tradueix en anomalies en la remodelació de les artèries espirals maternes, sembla ser la causa principal de l’aparició de la malaltia. S’ha demostrat el paper d’una sèrie de factors en el desenvolupament de la preeclàmpsia, entre els quals destaquen alteracions en la via de senyalització NOTCH, en el gen STOX1, en el sistema immunitari fetal i maternal, en el sistema renina – angiotensina – aldosterona i en l’endotelina, així com un augment de l’estrès oxidatiu. Durant la passada dècada es va descobrir que el desequilibri entre una sèrie de factors proangiogènics i antiangiogènics sintetitzats per la placenta porta a la disfunció endotelial sistèmica característica de la preeclàmpsia. L’únic tractament eficaç descrit fins al moment per al tractament de la malaltia és la inducció del part. Tot i així, existeixen una sèrie de fàrmacs per pal·liar la simptomatologia i prevenir i tractar les convulsions associades a l’eclàmpsia, que és la complicació més important de la patologia descrita. Aquesta, juntament amb altres possibles complicacions, pot portar a la mort, tant de la pacient com del fetus, i és per això que es considera un problema de salut pública arreu del món.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Infection during pregnancy with falciparum or vivax malaria, as occurs in PNG, has health implications for mother and child, causing complications such as maternal anemia, low birth weight and miscarriage. This article explores knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning malaria during pregnancy and it's prevention in Madang, PNG, a high prevalence area. METHODS: As part of a qualitative study in Madang, exploring MiP, participatory techniques (free-listing and sorting) were conducted along with focus group discussions, in-depth interviews (with pregnant women, health staff and other community members) and observations in the local community and health facilities. RESULTS: The main themes explored were attitudes towards and knowledge of MiP, its risks, and prevention. Although there was a general awareness of the term "malaria", it was often conflated with general sickness or with pregnancy-related symptoms. Moreover, many preventive methods for MiP were related to practices of general healthy living. Indeed, varied messages from health staff about the risks of MiP were observed. In addition to ideas about the seriousness and risk of MiP, other factors influenced the uptake of interventions: availability and perceived comfort of sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets were important determinants of usage, and women's heavy workload influenced Chloroquine adherence. CONCLUSION: The non-specific symptoms of MiP and its resultant conflation with symptoms of pregnancy that are perceived as normal have implications for MiP prevention and control. However, in Madang, PNG, this was compounded by the inadequacy of health staff's message about MiP.

Treballs Finals de Grau de Farmàcia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, 2015, Tutora: Pelegrí i Gabaldà, Carme La preeclàmpsia és una patologia de l’embaràs que es diagnostica quan la dona gestant presenta pressió arterial elevada i proteïnúria, habitualment després de la 20ª setmana d’embaràs. És la causa principal de mortalitat i morbiditat perinatals i maternals a nivell mundial, amb una incidència anual del 3 - 5% del total d’embarassos. Una invasió trofoblàstica incompleta de l’endometri durant la formació de la placenta, que es tradueix en anomalies en la remodelació de les artèries espirals maternes, sembla ser la causa principal de l’aparició de la malaltia. S’ha demostrat el paper d’una sèrie de factors en el desenvolupament de la preeclàmpsia, entre els quals destaquen alteracions en la via de senyalització NOTCH, en el gen STOX1, en el sistema immunitari fetal i maternal, en el sistema renina – angiotensina – aldosterona i en l’endotelina, així com un augment de l’estrès oxidatiu. Durant la passada dècada es va descobrir que el desequilibri entre una sèrie de factors proangiogènics i antiangiogènics sintetitzats per la placenta porta a la disfunció endotelial sistèmica característica de la preeclàmpsia. L’únic tractament eficaç descrit fins al moment per al tractament de la malaltia és la inducció del part. Tot i així, existeixen una sèrie de fàrmacs per pal·liar la simptomatologia i prevenir i tractar les convulsions associades a l’eclàmpsia, que és la complicació més important de la patologia descrita. Aquesta, juntament amb altres possibles complicacions, pot portar a la mort, tant de la pacient com del fetus, i és per això que es considera un problema de salut pública arreu del món.

BACKGROUND: Chewing areca nut (AN), also known as betel nut, is common in Asia and the South Pacific and the habit has been linked to a number of serious health problems including oral cancer. Use of AN in pregnancy has been associated with a reduction in mean birthweight in some studies, but this association and the relationship between AN chewing and other adverse pregnancy outcomes remain poorly understood. METHODS: We assessed the impact of AN chewing on adverse outcomes including stillbirth, low birthweight (LBW

Objective To evaluate the inflammatory pattern in maternal circulation, amniotic cavity, cervix and vagina from women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) considering the occurrence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC). Methodology A prospective study was performed in 58 women with PPROM before 34+0 weeks of gestational age. Twenty-six proteins were analyzed by a multiple immunoassay in samples of amniotic fluid, serum, cervix and vagina. Association of an inflammatory response in the invasive and non-invasive samples with MIAC was investigated. Results The rate of MIAC was 36.2% (21/58). Both amniotic fluid IL-6 and cervical C-reactive protein (CRP) showed to be independent predictors of MIAC. A cut-off level of cervical CRP≥1836 pg/mL showed a detection rate of 75%, false positive rate of 19% and positive and negative predictive values to predict MIAC of 67% and 87%, respectively. There were no independent biomarkers of MIAC either in the serum or vaginal compartment. Conclusion A cervical inflammatory response mediated by CRP was observed in PPROM women with MIAC. Evaluation of serum or vaginal samples did not add valuable information regarding the outcome evaluated.

El estreptococo del grupo B (EGB) constituye la principal causa de morbimortalidad neonatal y de morbilidad materna durante el embarazo y el posparto. Coloniza el aparato digestivo y el genitourinario en un 10-30% de las gestantes, con una tasa de transmisión vertical del 50%. De entre los recién nacidos colonizados, un 1-2% desarrollará una sepsis grave precoz. Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica con el objetivo de conocer las estrategias de prevención de la infección neonatal por EGB. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que las recomendaciones para su prevención consisten en el cribado universal prenatal de colonización por EGB mediante cultivo vaginorrectal a las 35-37 semanas, y la administración de profilaxis antibiótica intraparto a todas las embarazadas portadoras.

BACKGROUND: Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) is most commonly diagnosed using physical examination; however, accurate decision making in ambiguous cases is a major challenge in current obstetric practice. As this may influence a woman's subsequent management, a number of tests designed to assist with confirming a diagnosis of PROM are commercially available. This study sought to evaluate the published data for the accuracy of two amniotic fluid-specific biomarker tests for PROM: insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1 - Actim® PROM) and placental alpha microglobulin-1 (PAMG-1 - AmniSure®). METHODS: Main analysis included all PubMed referenced studies related to Actim® PROM and AmniSure® with available data to extract performance rates. To compare accuracy, a comparison of pooled indexes of both rapid tests was performed. Studies in which both tests were used in the same clinical population were also analysed. Membrane status, whether it was known or a suspected rupture, and inclusion or not of women with bleeding, were considered. RESULTS: All the available studies published in PubMed up to April 2013 were reviewed. Data were retrieved from 17 studies; 10 for Actim® PROM (n = 1066), four for AmniSure® (n = 1081) and three studies in which both biomarker tests were compared directly. The pooled analysis found that the specificity and positive predictive value were significantly higher for AmniSure® compared with Actim® PROM. However, when 762 and 1385 women with known or suspected rupture of membranes, respectively, were evaluated, AmniSure® only remained significantly superior in the latter group. Furthermore, when the two tests were compared directly in the same study no statistically significant differences were observed. Remarkably, women with a history or evidence of bleeding were excluded in all four studies for AmniSure®, in two Actim® PROM studies and in two of the three studies reporting on both tests. CONCLUSIONS: No differences were observed in the performance of the two tests in studies where they were used under the same clinical conditions or in women with known membrane status. Although AmniSure® performed better in suspected cases of PROM, this may need further analysis as exclusion of bleeding may not be representative of the real clinical presentation of women with suspected PROM.

[spa] OBJETIVOS: La diabetes gestacional (DG) es una entidad que se ha relacionado con un mayor riesgo de complicaciones gestacionales. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: 1) determinar el impacto de la hiperglucemia leve, 2) evaluar las asociaciones entre las complicaciones gestacionales y el grado de tolerancia a la glucosa, obesidad maternal pregestacional, 3) conocer cuál es el rol del sexo fetal en el desarrollo del propio feto en relación a la presencia de DG y obesidad materna pregestacional, y 4)conocer la prevalencia de la DG según los diferentes criterios diagnósticos (criterios de la National Diabetes Data Group y de la Asociación Americana de Diabetes). MÉTODOS: Estudio poblacional prospectivo multicéntrico, que incluyó 9.270 mujeres gestantes con feto único y sin diabetes pregestacional conocida que dio lugar a 4.793 recién nacidos de sexo masculino y 4.477 de sexo femenino. Las mujeres fueron categorizadas según el grado de tolerancia a la glucosa y según IMC pregestacional. Se evaluó el riesgo de macrosomía, tasa de cesáreas y de otras 7 complicaciones gestacionales, mediante modelos de regresión logística múltiple y se calculó el riesgo atribuible en la población. RESULTADOS-CONCLUSIONES: 1) Las mujeres con hiperglucemia leve presentaron una asociación con la presencia de complicaciones similar al grupo control, por lo que no se aconseja un cambio en los criterios diagnósticos. 2) En términos de riesgo absoluto y en términos de freceuncia del riesgo atribuible en la población la contribución de la hiperglucemia leve en las complicaciones gestacionales fue inferior a la presentada por la obesidad materna. 3) Se demostró un dimorfismo sexual en la frecuencia de las complicaciones gestacionales. La presencia de DG sólo se relacionó con morbilidad fetal exclusivamente en el sexo masculino. 4) La prevalencia de DG fue del 8,8% con los criterios NDDG y del 11,6% con los criterios de Carpenter y Coustan (incremento relativo del 31.8%)., [eng] OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of adverse complications for both mother and child during pregnancy. The objectives of this study were: 1) To evaluate the potential impact of mild hyperglycemia on GDM outcomes; 2) To evaluate the associations among adverse gestational outcomes and glucose tolerance status and maternal obesity; 3) To elucidate whether the adverse gestational outcomes is influenced by maternal obesity and abnormal glucose tolerance differently in male and female fetuses. 4) To know GDM prevalence according to the different diagnostic criteria (National Diabetes Data Group and American Diabetes Association criteria). Methods: A population study in 16 general hospitals from the Spanish National Health Service -that included 9,270 consecutive women with singleton pregnancies and without a former diagnosis of diabetes mellitus delivering 4,793 male and 4,477 female newborns- was conducted. Women were categorized according to glucose tolerance status and pregestational body mass index (BMI). Fetal macrosomia, caesarean section and seven secondary outcomes were evaluated. Logistic regression analyses were performed to predict the effect of maternal BMI category and glucose tolerance on gestational outcomes. The population-attributable fractions (PAf) of predictor variables were also calculated. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: 1) The contribution of mild hyperglycemia to adverse GDM outcomes was not significantly different to that of control group. Therefore a change in diagnostic criteria was not warranted in our setting. 2) Pregestational maternal BMI (both the absolute risk and PAf) exhibited a much stronger influence on macrosomia, Caesarean section, pregnancy-induced hypertension and large-for-gestational-age newborns than glucose tolerance status. 3) There was a sexual dimorphism in the risk of abnormal birth weight attributed to maternal glucose tolerance status. A closer surveillance of fetal growth might be warranted in pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance carrying a male fetus. 4) Of 9,270 pregnant women screened for GDM, 819 (8.8%) met National Diabetes Data Group criteria. If the threshold for defining GDM had been lowered to ADA criteria, an additional 2.8% of women would have been defined as having the condition (relative increase of 31.8%).

BACKGROUND: Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Infection during pregnancy with falciparum or vivax malaria, as occurs in PNG, has health implications for mother and child, causing complications such as maternal anemia, low birth weight and miscarriage. This article explores knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning malaria during pregnancy and it's prevention in Madang, PNG, a high prevalence area. METHODS: As part of a qualitative study in Madang, exploring MiP, participatory techniques (free-listing and sorting) were conducted along with focus group discussions, in-depth interviews (with pregnant women, health staff and other community members) and observations in the local community and health facilities. RESULTS: The main themes explored were attitudes towards and knowledge of MiP, its risks, and prevention. Although there was a general awareness of the term "malaria", it was often conflated with general sickness or with pregnancy-related symptoms. Moreover, many preventive methods for MiP were related to practices of general healthy living. Indeed, varied messages from health staff about the risks of MiP were observed. In addition to ideas about the seriousness and risk of MiP, other factors influenced the uptake of interventions: availability and perceived comfort of sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets were important determinants of usage, and women's heavy workload influenced Chloroquine adherence. CONCLUSION: The non-specific symptoms of MiP and its resultant conflation with symptoms of pregnancy that are perceived as normal have implications for MiP prevention and control. However, in Madang, PNG, this was compounded by the inadequacy of health staff's message about MiP.

In Spain, the rate of colonization with GBS in pregnant women is 11%-18.2% and in Catalonia between 13-16%. The vertical transmission rate is 50%, and in the absence of avoidance manoeuvres, between 1-2% of new-borns develop GBS infection, which is the main bacterial agent in neonatal sepsis precocious.

Mitochondrial toxicity can be one of the most dreadful consequences of exposure to a wide range of external agents including pathogens, therapeutic agents, abuse drugs, toxic gases and other harmful chemical substances. However, little is known about the effects of mitochondrial toxicity on pregnant women exposed to these agents that may exert transplacental activity and condition fetal remodeling. It has been hypothesized that mitochondrial toxicity may be involved in some adverse obstetric outcomes. In the present study, we investigated the association between exposure to mitochondrial toxic agents and pathologic conditions ranging from fertility defects, detrimental fetal development and impaired newborn health due to intra-uterine exposure. We have reviewed data from studies in human subjects to propose mechanisms of mitochondrial toxicity that could be associated with the symptoms present in both exposed pregnant and fetal patients. Since some therapeutic interventions or accidental exposure cannot be avoided, further research is needed to gain insight into the molecular pathways leading to mitochondrial toxicity during pregnancy. The ultimate objective of these studies should be to reduce the mitochondrial toxicity of these agents and establish biomarkers for gestational monitoring of harmful effects.

Background Short cervical length (CL) has not been shown to be adequate as a single predictor of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in high-risk pregnancies. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the mid-trimester cervical consistency index (CCI) to predict sPTB in a cohort of high-risk pregnancies and to compare the results with those obtained with the CL. Study Design Prospective cohort study including high-risk singleton pregnancies between 19+0 and 24+6 weeks. The ratio between the anteroposterior diameter of the uterine cervix at maximum compression and at rest was calculated offline to obtain the CCI. Results Eighty-two high sPTB risk women were included. CCI (%) was significantly reduced in women who delivered Conclusion CCI performed better than sonographic CL to predict sPTB. Due to the limited predictive capacity of these two measurements, other tools are still needed to better identify women at increased risk.

Introduction Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5%–10% of all pregnancies, contributing to 30%–50% of stillbirths. Unfortunately, growth restriction often is not detected antenatally. The last weeks of pregnancy are critical for preventing stillbirth among babies with FGR because there is a pronounced increase in stillbirths among growth-restricted fetuses after 37 weeks of pregnancy. Here we present a protocol (V.1, 23 May 2016) for the RATIO37 trial, which evaluates an integrated strategy for accurately selecting at-risk fetuses for delivery at term. The protocol is based on the combination of fetal biometry and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR). The primary objective is to reduce stillbirth rates. The secondary aims are to detect low birth weights and adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods and analysis The study is designed as multicentre (Spain, Chile, Mexico,Czech Republic and Israel), open-label, randomised trial with parallel groups. Singleton pregnancies will be invited to participate after routine second-trimester ultrasound scan (19 +0 –22 +6 weeks of gestation), and participants will be randomly allocated to receive revealed or concealed CPR evaluation. Then, a routine ultrasound and Doppler scan will be performed at 36 +0 –37 +6 weeks. Sociodemographic and clinical data will be collected at enrolment. Ultrasound and Doppler variables will be recorded at 36 +0 –37 +6 weeks of pregnancy. Perinatal outcomes will be recorded after delivery. Univariate (with estimated effect size and its 95% CI) and multivariate (mixed-effects logistic regression) comparisons between groups will be performed. Ethics and dissemination The study will be conducted in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice. This study was accepted by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Hospital Clinic Barcelona on 23May 2016. Subsequent approval by individual ethical committees and competent authorities was granted. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at international conferences. Trial registration number NCT02907242; pre-results.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) on the magnitude of intra-amniotic inflammatory response in preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: A prospective cohort study was performed in 107 women with PPROM between 23.0 and 36.6 weeks of gestational age. Twenty-six proteins were assayed by multiple immunoassay in amniotic fluid. The policy for PPROM in Czech Republic is active, and 90% of the women were delivered within 96 hours of membrane rupture. Histopathological placental findings were evaluated based on the Salafia classification. Data were analyzed in four subgroups of population according to the presence of MIAC and/or HCA. Results were stratified by gestational age at PPROM (< or ≥ 34.0 weeks). The rates of MIAC and HCA were 44% and 57%, respectively. Regardless of gestational age at PPROM, intra-amniotic inflammatory response was higher when MIAC and HCA were both present. There were no differences in the intra-amniotic inflammatory response between women with MIAC or HCA alone and women without infection. CONCLUSION: A higher intra-amniotic inflammatory response was identified when both HCA and MIAC were detected.