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Introduction Despite technological developments and intensified care, pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes are still considered high-risk pregnancies. The rate of adverse outcomes in pregnancies affected by diabetes in Denmark is currently unknown, and there is a limited understanding of mechanisms contributing to this elevated risk. To address these gaps, the Danish Diabetes Birth Registry 2 (DDBR2) was established. The aims of this registry are to evaluate maternal and fetal-neonatal outcomes based on 5 years cohort data, and to identify pathophysiology and risk factors associated with short-term and long-term outcomes of pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes. Methods and analysis The DDBR2 registry is a nationwide 5-year prospective cohort with an inclusion period from February 2023 to February 2028 of pregnancies in women with all types of pre-existing diabetes and includes registry, clinical and questionnaire data and biological samples of mother–partner–child trios. Eligible families (parents age ≥18 years and sufficient proficiency in Danish or English) can participate by either (1) basic level data obtained from medical records (mother and child) and questionnaires (partner) or (2) basic level data and additional data which includes questionnaires (mother and partner) and blood samples (all). The primary maternal outcome is Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at the end of pregnancy and the primary offspring endpoint is the birth weight SD score. The DDBR2 registry will be complemented by genetic, epigenetic and metabolomic data as well as a biobank for future research, and the cohort will be followed through data from national databases to illuminate possible mechanisms that link maternal diabetes and other parental factors to a possible increased risk of adverse long-term child outcomes. Ethics and dissemination Approval from the Ethical Committee is obtained (S-20220039). Findings will be sought published in international, INTRODUCTION: Despite technological developments and intensified care, pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes are still considered high-risk pregnancies. The rate of adverse outcomes in pregnancies affected by diabetes in Denmark is currently unknown, and there is a limited understanding of mechanisms contributing to this elevated risk. To address these gaps, the Danish Diabetes Birth Registry 2 (DDBR2) was established. The aims of this registry are to evaluate maternal and fetal-neonatal outcomes based on 5 years cohort data, and to identify pathophysiology and risk factors associated with short-term and long-term outcomes of pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The DDBR2 registry is a nationwide 5-year prospective cohort with an inclusion period from February 2023 to February 2028 of pregnancies in women with all types of pre-existing diabetes and includes registry, clinical and questionnaire data and biological samples of mother-partner-child trios. Eligible families (parents age ≥18 years and sufficient proficiency in Danish or English) can participate by either (1) basic level data obtained from medical records (mother and child) and questionnaires (partner) or (2) basic level data and additional data which includes questionnaires (mother and partner) and blood samples (all). The primary maternal outcome is Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at the end of pregnancy and the primary offspring endpoint is the birth weight SD score. The DDBR2 registry will be complemented by genetic, epigenetic and metabolomic data as well as a biobank for future research, and the cohort will be followed through data from national databases to illuminate possible mechanisms that link maternal diabetes and other parental factors to a possible increased risk of adverse long-term child outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval from the Ethical Committee is obtained (S-20220039). Findings will be sought published in international scientific j

Background and aims The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is based exclusively on glucose measurements, which are highly influenced by pre-analytical and analytical factors. Therefore, poor agreement across laboratories may affect the prevalence of GDM. We aimed to determine the inter-laboratory bias of glucose measurements and the impact on GDM prevalence. Material and methods A prospective cohort study of women (n = 110) referred for second-trimester GDM diagnostics using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Maternal glucose was assessed from venous plasma at fasting, 1 h and 2 h. Venous blood were collected in Fluoride Citrate tubes and frozen. Samples were analyzed at five central laboratories using four different automated glucose Hexokinase methods and GDM prevalence was evaluated according to WHO2013 diagnostic criteria. Results Maximum inter-laboratory bias was 0.19, 0.30 and 0.27 mmol/L in fasting, 1 h and 2 h samples, respectively. GDM prevalence ranged 30.0–41.1% across laboratories. Conclusion Inter-laboratory bias for mean venous glucose was low and within desirable limits. Nonetheless, the impact on GDM prevalence was considerable, which may inappropriately affect clinical practice., Background and aims: The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is based exclusively on glucose measurements, which are highly influenced by pre-analytical and analytical factors. Therefore, poor agreement across laboratories may affect the prevalence of GDM. We aimed to determine the inter-laboratory bias of glucose measurements and the impact on GDM prevalence. Material and methods: A prospective cohort study of women (n = 110) referred for second-trimester GDM diagnostics using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Maternal glucose was assessed from venous plasma at fasting, 1 h and 2 h. Venous blood were collected in Fluoride Citrate tubes and frozen. Samples were analyzed at five central laboratories using four different automated glucose Hexokinase methods and GDM prevalence was evaluated according to WHO2013 diagnostic criteria. Results: Maximum inter-laboratory bias was 0.19, 0.30 and 0.27 mmol/L in fasting, 1 h and 2 h samples, respectively. GDM prevalence ranged 30.0–41.1% across laboratories. Conclusion: Inter-laboratory bias for mean venous glucose was low and within desirable limits. Nonetheless, the impact on GDM prevalence was considerable, which may inappropriately affect clinical practice.

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicates up to 10% of pregnancies and is a well-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. Little is known about possible long-term risks of other diseases. Background The aim was to review the literature for evidence of associations with morbidity other than T2DM and cardiovascular disease and with long-term mortality. Methods A systematic review based on searches in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library until March 31, 2021, using a broad range of keywords. We extracted study characteristics and results on associations between GDM and disease occurrence at least 10 years postpartum, excluding studies on women with diabetes prior to pregnancy or only diabetes prior to outcome. The results are reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. Results We screened 3084 titles, 81 articles were assessed full-text, and 15 included in the review. The strongest evidence for an association was for kidney diseases, particularly in Black women. We found indication of an association with liver disease, possibly restricted to women with T2DM postpartum. The association between GDM and breast cancer had been studied extensively, but in most cases based on self-reported diagnosis and with conflicting results. Only sparse and inconsistent results were found for other cancers. No study on thyroid diseases was found, and no study reported on short-term or long-term mortality in women with a history of GDM. Conclusion Given the frequency of GDM, there is a need for better evidence on possible long-term health consequences, in particular, studies based on comprehensive records of diagnosis of GDM and long-term health outcomes.

Purpose: To test a non-pharmacological silicone patch for treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids with focus on usability, safety, and self-reported short-term effect. Methods: Puerperal women in a Danish maternity ward were cluster randomized to treatment with the HEMOCIN® patch (intervention) or no systematic treatment (control group). On inclusion and after 2 weeks, they completed a questionnaire regarding history and hemorrhoid symptoms scored from 0 to 10. Women in the intervention group also reported on the usability of the patch and any side effects. Results: We included 31 women in the intervention group and 33 in the control group. Twenty-eight (90.3%) women in the intervention group and 27 (81.8%) women in the control group responded to follow-up. Except from a difference in the severity of swelling at inclusion, there were no differences between the two groups for any symptoms, neither at inclusion, nor at follow-up, or in the change of symptoms during the two weeks (p > 0.05). Twenty-three women (85.2%) in the control group used medical treatment vs. one woman in the intervention group. The patch was used on an average of 9.3 days, 15.5 h/day and for 7.1 h before changing the patch. No severe side effects were reported. Conclusion: This pilot study finds that the HEMOCIN® patch is a safe and feasible treatment option for hemorrhoids. However, we did not detect any significant effect on hemorrhoid symptoms. The patch could be an option for people who seek non-pharmacological treatment for symptomatic hemorrhoids or need long-term treatment without steroid side effects.

In the majority of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), glucose tolerance normalizes shortly after pregnancy. Nevertheless, GDM is one of the strongest predictors of subsequent type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which will develop in around half of the women with previous GDM. The pathophysiological traits from pregnancies complicated by GDM, which can be found several years after birth, and how these traits may influence abnormal glucose tolerance later in life are described. GDM shares pathophysiological traits with T2DM and includes increased inflammatory response, altered incretin effect, and changes in the microbiota. Furthermore, common T2DM risk gene variants are also more common in women with GDM. In addition to diabetes and prediabetes, women with a history of GDM are at risk of cardiovascular disease including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Regular follow-up screening for hyperglycemia is recommended in women with previous GDM, but the cost - benefit of this is not fully known. A healthy lifestyle is generally recommended, based on common sense and a few long-term intervention studies.

Background: Offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have increased risk of developing metabolic disorders as they grow up. Microbial colonization of the newborn gut and environmental exposures affecting the configuration of the gut microbiota during infancy have been linked to increased risk of developing disease during childhood and adulthood. In a convenience sample, we examined whether the intestinal tract of children born to mothers with GDM is differentially colonized in early life compared to offspring of mothers with normal gestational glucose regulation. Secondly, we examined whether any such difference persists during infancy, thus potentially conferring increased risk of developing metabolic disease later in life. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from children of mothers with (n = 43) and without GDM (n = 82) during the first week of life and again at an average age of 9 months. The gut microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (V1–V2). Differences in diversity and composition according to maternal GDM status were assessed, addressing potential confounding by mode of delivery, perinatal antibiotics treatment, feeding and infant sex. Results: Children of mothers with GDM were featured by a differential composition of the gut microbiota, both during the first week of life and at 9 months, at higher taxonomic and OTU levels. Sixteen and 15 OTUs were differentially abundant after correction for multiple testing during the first week of life and at 9 months, respectively. Two OTUs remained differentially abundant after adjustment for potential confounders both during the first week of life and at 9 months. Richness (OTU) was decreased in neonates born to mothers with GDM; however, at 9 months no difference in richness was observed. There was no difference in Shannon's diversity or Pielou's evenness at any timepoint. Longitudinally, we detected differential changes in the gut microbiota composition from birth

Introduction In pregnancy after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), there is increased risk of low birthweight in the offspring. The present study examined how offspring body composition was affected by RYGB. Material and methods Mother-newborn dyads, where the mothers had undergone RYGB were included. Main outcome measure was neonatal body composition. Neonatal body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning (DXA) within 48 hours after birth. In a statistical model offspring born after RYGB were compared with a reference material of offspring and analyses were made to estimate the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain, parity, gestational age at birth and newborn sex on newborn body composition. Analyses were made to estimate the impact of maternal weight loss before pregnancy and of other effects of bariatric surgery respectively. The study was performed at a university hospital between October 2012 and December 2013. Results We included 25 mother-newborn dyads where the mothers had undergone RYGB and compared them to a reference material of 311 mother-newborn dyads with comparable pre-pregnancy BMI. Offspring born by mothers after RYGB had lower birthweight (335g, p<0.001), fat-free mass (268g, p<0.001) and fat% (2.8%, p<0.001) compared with reference material. Only 2% of the average reduction in newborn fat free mass could be attributed to maternal pre-pregnancy weight loss whereas other effects of RYGB accounted for 98%. Regarding reduction in fat mass 52% was attributed to weight loss and 47% to other effects of surgery. Conclusion Offspring born after maternal bariatric surgery, had lower birthweight, fat-free mass and fat percentage when compared with a reference material. RYGB itself and not the pre-pregnancy weight loss seems to have had the greatest impact on fetal growth.

Background: An aberrant composition of the salivary microbiota has been found in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and in pregnant women salivary microbiota composition has been associated with preeclampsia and pre-term birth. Pregnant women, who develop gestational diabetes (GDM), have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. In the present study we assessed whether GDM is linked to variation in the oral microbial community by examining the diversity and composition of the salivary microbiota. Method: In this observational study the salivary microbiota of pregnant women with GDM (n = 50) and normal glucose regulation (n = 160) in third trimester and 9 months postpartum was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the V1-V3 region. GDM was diagnosed in accordance with the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. Cross-sectional difference in alpha diversity was assessed using Student's t-test and longitudinal changes were assessed by mixed linear regression. Cross-sectional and longitudinal difference in beta diversity was assessed by permutational multivariate analyses of variance. Differentially abundant genera and OTUs were identified by negative binomial regression. Results: In the third trimester, two species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs), while eight OTUs postpartum were differentially abundant in women with GDM compared with normoglycaemic women. OTU richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness decreased from late pregnancy to 9 months after delivery regardless of glycaemic status. Conclusion: GDM is associated with a minor aberration of the salivary microbiota during late pregnancy and postpartum. For unknown reasons richness of the salivary microbiota decreased from late pregnancy to postpartum, which might be explained by the physiological changes of the immune system during human pregnancy.

Underweight, defined as BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2, is found in 4.2% of pregnancies in Denmark. Pre-pregnancy underweight is more often seen in relation to psychiatric disorders, e.g. anorexia nervosa, and diet restrictions and associates with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as antepartum haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, preterm birth, small for gestational age infants, and impaired ability to breastfeed. In this review, we recommend identification of possible underlying medical or psychiatric disorders, focus on sufficient gestational weight gain, and relevant vitamin and mineral substitution.

PURPOSE: To describe the association between quantity of blood loss, duration of the third stage of labour, retained placenta and other risk factors, and to describe the role of a retained placenta depending on the cutoff used to define postpartum haemorrhage.METHODS: Cohort study of all vaginal deliveries at two Danish maternity units between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013 (n = 43,357), univariate and multivariate linear regression statistical analyses.RESULTS: A retained placenta was shown to be a strong predictor of quantity of blood loss and duration of the third stage of labour a weak predictor of quantity of blood loss. The predictive power of the third stage of labour was further reduced in the multivariate analysis when including retained placenta in the model. There was an increase in the role of a retained placenta depending on the cutoff used to define postpartum haemorrhage, increasing from 12% in cases of blood loss ≥ 500 ml to 53% in cases of blood loss ≥ 2000 ml CONCLUSION: The predictive power of duration of the third stage of labour in regard to postpartum blood loss was diminished by the influence of a retained placenta. A retained placenta was, furthermore, present in the majority of most severe cases.

INTRODUCTION: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) are serious complications to vaginal delivery causing anal incontinence in 50% of the women in the long term. In Norway, the incidence of OASIS has been significantly reduced from 4%-5% to 1%-2% after implementation of prevention programs focusing on perineal protection. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether implementation of formal prevention programs was associated with a reduced incidence of OASIS over time.MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a historical cohort study, evaluating incidence, change of incidence and risk factors of OASIS during the years 2011-2015 at the four delivery departments in the Capital Region of Denmark. Two of the four departments implemented formal prevention programs in 2012-2013. We performed trend tests and uni- and multivariable analyses, adjusting for important risk factors and calculating interactions between risk factors.RESULTS: There were 75 173 vaginal deliveries during the study period; of those, 2670 (3.6%) were complicated by OASIS. The incidence of OASIS decreased during the study period from 4.3% (n = 636) in 2011 to 2.6% (n = 399) in 2015. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of OASIS at both the departments with formal prevention programs and those without. After adjustment for other important risk factors of OASIS, we found no significant difference in the risk reduction between departments with and without formal prevention programs.CONCLUSIONS: We found that the general focus on prevention of OASIS in Denmark was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of OASIS, but implementation of formal prevention programs did not lead to a further reduction. It is possible that more rigorous interventions at the hospitals with formal prevention programs could have resulted in a significant difference in incidence of OASIS.