Assessment of immune status against measles,mumps, and rubella in young Kuwaitis: MMR vaccine efficacy

Seroprevalence studies on measles, mumps, and rubella immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies after the implementation of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are lacking in Kuwait. This study is an age-stratified serological study to assess the herd immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella among the young Kuwaiti population to evaluate the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. IgG antibody titers to mumps, measles, and rubella were determined with commercial immune-assay in serum samples of 1000 Kuwaitis aged 5 to 20 years. The highest level of seropositivity was to measles (94.6%), which was significantly higher in females than in males. The highest seronegativity was for mumps (29%). The percentage of the young Kuwaiti population who were serologically positive for all the components of the MMR vaccine was 47%, and 2% of the individuals were without any protective antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella. Females aged 5 to 10 years were best protected to rubella; however, seronegativity in 8.2% of 11- to 20-year-old females makes them vulnerable to rubella virus infection and congenital complications during pregnancy. The study provided insight into the effect of the MMR vaccine on seroprevalence of antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella in Kuwait, which will contribute to the global knowledge base of vaccine coverage and help to inform elimination strategies. The findings strengthen the need for a third dose of MMR vaccine and catch-up campaigns for the young Kuwaiti population to increase vaccination coverage and prevent waning immunity, especially among those who received only one dose of the vaccine during childhood.     

开放二孩政策实施后二胎妊娠期并发症的危险因素分析

目的 探讨开放二孩政策实施后二胎孕妇妊娠期并发症的危险因素,以期降低不良妊娠结局的发生率。方法 选取2016年11月~2017年4月我院收治的存在妊娠期并发症的二胎孕妇102例设为病例组,另选无妊娠期并发症的二胎孕妇108例设为对照组,收集产妇的一般资料及可能的危险因素,对有妊娠并发症的孕妇资料进行单因素分析和多因素非条件Logistic回归分析。结果 单因素分析结果显示:病例组不良妊娠史、与一胎间隔时间长、无孕前检查及孕期营养指导的发生率较对照组高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;Logistic回归分析显示:与一胎间隔时间长、无孕前检查及孕期营养指导为二胎妊娠期并发症的危险因素。结论 与一胎间隔时间、孕期营养指导及孕前检查与妊娠期并发症的发生有关。     

Perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus in Paris region

HBsAg was detected in 152 pregnant women among 6,605 (2.3%) screened in the prenatal clinics of four hospitals representative of the Paris metropolitan area. In 98% of cases, HBsAg positivity indicated chronic HBV carrier status. Among patients born out of continental France (47% of screened women, 79% of positive women) relative risk of chronic infection was 6 in Asians, 5.5 in Africans, and 4 in French women born in non-continental France. No significant difference in medical history was seen between HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative patients, in any of the birthplace groups. In women born out of continental France, number of children and crowding of the home were correlated with HBsAg-positivity; these correlations were not found in French women born in continental France. In non-African, non-Asian women, screening on the basis of medical, social and familial criteria (simulated in this study) would not be effective. Routine screening for HBsAg in pregnancy is advocated. The cost of the prevention of each case of perinatally acquired chronic HBV infection by routine screening followed by prophylactic treatment of at risk neonates was estimated at 180,000 French Francs (35,000 dollars). This approach is the only means of preventing the long-term life-threatening complications of chronic HBV infection in the 600 neonates born each year in France to HBsAg-positive mothers.     

江苏地区中孕期妇女巨细胞病毒感染率及感染状态与不良妊娠结局的关系

目的江苏省中孕期妇女的巨细胞病毒（cytomegalovirus,CMV）血清流行率,探讨母孕期感染状态与不良妊娠结局的相关性。方法根据2002-2004年江苏省12个市县17661例孕妇的新生儿结局,527例有不良妊娠结局的孕妇纳入病例组,同时随机选取496例正常妊娠结局的孕妇为正常对照。检测孕妇妊娠15～20周外周血CMV IgG、IgM和IgG亲合力指数（avidity index,AI）。结果1023例孕妇的CMV IgG阳性率为98.7％,其中病例组和对照组孕妇阳性率分别为99.4％和98.0％（P=0.039）。病例组孕妇活动感染率,即CMV IgG＋／IgM＋,明显高于正常对照组（3.8％vs.1.6％,P=0.033）。CMV IgG AI检测结果显示,对照组孕妇AI均大于30%,说明无原发感染,而病例组孕妇5例（0.9％）AI〈30％,提示原发感染（P=O.084）,这5例母亲的新生儿均出现不良妊娠结局,包括新生儿死亡、头颅畸形和化脓性脑膜炎各1例,生长发育迟缓2例。多因素回归分析表明,母孕期CMV活动性感染是不良妊娠结局的独立危险因素（aOR 8.65,95％CI 1.85～40.41,P=0.006）。此外,母亲低学历和有既往不良妊娠史亦增加妊娠不良结局的发生风险。结论CMV感染在江苏地区孕妇人群中普遍存在。尽管仅少部分孕妇在孕期发生活动性感染,但仍是造成妊娠不良结局的独立危险因素。因此,应监测孕妇CMV感染状态并正确进行胎儿或新生儿感染风险的评估。     

Associations between measles antibody levels and the protein structure of class II human leukocyte antigens

In this study, we describe associations between variation in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DP and DQ amino acid sequences and low measles antibody levels after measles immunization. We tested serum samples from 242 children for measles immunoglobulin G antibodies. We performed class II HLA typing and examined associations between DQ and DP exon 2 amino acid sequences and antibody levels. No DP amino acid variants were associated with seronegativity. However, 11 DQA and 6 DQB amino acid variants were associated with seronegativity (p<0.005). These amino acid variants were highly correlated, and the significant DQA amino acids were only found in alleles *0201, *0301, *0401, *0501, and *0601. Two of the amino acids associated with measles seronegativity were located in predicted binding pockets of the DQ molecule; one was present in the leader sequence. Among the DQB alleles, all of the amino acid variants associated with seronegativity were present only in the DQB*0201 allele. Two of the amino acids associated with seronegativity were located in predicted binding pockets of the DQ molecule; two were located in the leader sequence. Our data suggest that specific DQA and DQB amino acid variations are associated with measles seronegativity after vaccination.     

Influenza pathogenicity during pregnancy in women and animal models

Pregnant women are at the highest risk to develop severe and even fatal influenza. The high vulnerability of women against influenza A virus infections during pregnancy was repeatedly highlighted during influenza pandemics including the pandemic of this century. In 2009, mortality rates were particularly high among otherwise healthy pregnant women. However, our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in severe disease development during pregnancy is still very limited. In this review, we summarize the knowledge on the clinical observations in influenza A virus-infected pregnant women. In addition, knowledge obtained from few existing experimental infections in pregnant animal models is discussed. Since clinical data do not provide in-depth information on the pathogenesis of severe influenza during pregnancy, adequate animal models are urgently required that mimic clinical findings. Studies in pregnant animal models will allow the dissection of involved molecular disease pathways that are key to improve patient management and care.     

Changes in serum immunity during pregnancy

Pregnancy requires a host of localized immune factors that allow the mother to tolerate the fetus. Changes in the mother's serum immunity during pregnancy are less well‐known. To clarify these changes, 1,351 women from the NHANES 1999–2000 were analyzed with complex survey regression to test the effect of pregnancy on adaptive and innate immune markers. Adjusting for age and BMI, pregnant women had higher C‐reactive protein levels and white blood cell counts and lower measles antibody titer and lymphocyte counts than nonpregnant women. This dual pattern of immunological changes supports the hypothesis that mothers will reduce the ability of the adaptive immune system to respond to infection while increasing the activity of innate immunity during pregnancy, maintaining immune function homeostasis. The function of these homeostatic immune responses is unknown. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Debate: the argument against. Should all pregnant women be offered type-specific serological screening for HSV infection?

The first goal in minimizing herpes simplex virus (HSV) mortality and morbidity in infants is to reduce the risk of acquisition of new infections during pregnancy, especially in late gestation. Antenatal testing does not necessarily predict the risk of transmission to the newborn infant, since this risk is variable. In order to identify newly acquired infection in women who are HSV-seronegative, repeat testing in late pregnancy would need to be offered. In those who are HSV-seropositive, concern for transmission to the infant is likely to result in administration of antiviral drugs to the mother or in Caesarean delivery. The potential consequence is medical intervention for many pregnancies that would not have been complicated by perinatal HSV transmission. Risk - and cost-benefit analyses are needed to assess HSV type-specific serological screening of pregnant women. Practical benefit can be achieved by counselling all pregnant women against oral or unprotected sexual contact during pregnancy.     

Anti-Toxoplasma Antibody Prevalence,Primary Infection Rate,and Risk Factors in a Study of Toxoplasmosis in 4,466 Pregnant Women in Japan

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii and is prevalent worldwide under various climatic conditions. It is usually asymptomatic, but infection in pregnant women can pose serious health problems for the fetus. However, epidemiological information regarding toxoplasmosis in Japanese pregnant women is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, the primary infection rate, and the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Japanese pregnant women. We measured anti-Toxoplasma antibody titers in 4,466 pregnant women over a period of 7.5 years and simultaneously conducted interviews to identify the risk factors for toxoplasmosis. The overall prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 10.3%, and it was significantly higher in women aged above 35 years. The rate of primary Toxoplasma infection during pregnancy was estimated to be 0.25%. A possibility of infection in the later stages of pregnancy was identified for those women who were not infected in the early stages. A history of raw meat intake was identified to be a risk factor related to toxoplasmosis. Therefore, to lower the risk of toxoplasmosis, pregnant women should refrain from eating raw and undercooked meat and maintain personal hygiene.     

Pregnancy Outcomes Following Laparoscopic and Open Surgery in Pelvis during Pregnancy: a Nationwide Population-based Study in Korea

BackgroundNon-obstetric surgery during pregnancy is associated with adverse obstetric and fetal outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for women who underwent non-obstetric pelvic surgery during pregnancy compared with that of women that did not undergo surgery.MethodsStudy data from women who gave birth in Korea were collected from the Korea National Health Insurance claims database between 2006 and 2016. We identified pregnant women who underwent abdominal non-obstetric pelvic surgery by laparoscopy or laparotomy from the database. Pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), cesarean section (C/S), gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and postpartum hemorrhage were identified. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the pregnancy outcomes were estimated by multivariate regression models.ResultsData from 4,439,778 women were collected for this study. From 2006–2016, 9,417 women from the initial cohort underwent non-obstetric pelvic surgery (adnexal mass resection, appendectomy) during pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that preterm birth (HR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.81–2.23), LBW (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.46–1.79), C/S (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08–1.18), and gestational hypertension (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.18–1.55) were significantly more frequent in women who underwent non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy compared to pregnant women who did not undergo surgery. When the laparoscopic and laparotomy groups were compared for risk of fetal outcomes, the risk of LBW was significantly decreased in laparoscopic adnexal resection during pregnancy compared to laparotomy (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40–0.95).ConclusionNon-obstetric pelvic surgery during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, LBW, gestational hypertension, placenta previa, placental abruption, and C/S. Although the benefits and safety of laparoscopy during pregnancy appear similar to those of laparotomy in regard to pregnancy outcomes, laparoscopic adnexal mass resection was associated with a lower risk of LBW.     

Evolving microbiological epidemiology and high fetal mortality in 135 cases of bacteremia during pregnancy and postpartum

The outcome of bacterial bloodstream infections during pregnancy has greatly improved over the last few decades. However, there are no recent data on the characteristics of bacteremia in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and microbiological features of bacteremia and to assess maternal and fetal outcome. This retrospective study was conducted in the obstetrics departments of five teaching hospitals in Paris, France, from 2005 to 2009. The incidence of bacteremia was 0.3%. The most common sources of bacteremia were chorioamnionitis (47%) and the most common pathogen isolated was Escherichia coli. Empirical antimicrobial therapy was inappropriate in 29% of bacteremia cases, mostly (65%) when secondary to infection with an aminopenicillin-resistant microorganism. Bacteremia during pregnancy was associated with a 10% fetal mortality. Bacteremia during pregnancy is a rare occurrence, but it is associated with an unexpectedly poor fetal outcome and a high mortality rate.     

Venom immunotherapy in the Hymenoptera-allergic pregnant patient

Natural or iatrogenic causes of anaphylaxis are significant risk factors in pregnancy. A 3% to 5% risk of sting anaphylaxis in any pregnant woman with insect-sting allergy untreated with venom immunotherapy (VIT) can be calculated. Insect-sting anaphylaxis has allegedly caused severe fetal abnormalities and is a potential cause of fetal loss and severe maternal morbidity and/or mortality. Hymenoptera anaphylaxis is a highly preventable cause of anaphylaxis, but VIT may itself carry a risk potential, with an appropriate 5% reaction during buildup and 1% reaction risk during maintenance VIT. To assess the safety of VIT in pregnancy, we have gathered data from 26 women with 43 pregnancies. All the women were receiving VIT. One woman was stung early in pregnancy with anaphylaxis resulting. Outcome of pregnancy was normal. Thirty-six of the pregnancies ended normally. There were two mild adverse reactions to VIT, neither of which required treatment. One child was born with multiple congenital abnormalities of unknown cause. Since congenital malformations may occur as frequently as one in 40 live births, these data do not suggest a significant increased risk from VIT during pregnancy.     

Impact of COVID-19 on Pregnancy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is an emerging disease. There has been a rapid increase in cases and deaths since it was identified in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019, with over 4,000,000 cases of COVID-19 including at least 250,000 deaths worldwide as of May 2020. However, limited data about the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with COVID-19 have been reported. Given the maternal physiologic and immune function changes during pregnancy, pregnant women may be at a higher risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and developing more complicated clinical events. Information on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) may provide insights into the effects of COVID-19''s during pregnancy. Even though SARS and MERS have been associated with miscarriage, intrauterine death, fetal growth restriction and high case fatality rates, the clinical course of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women has been reported to be similar to that in non-pregnant women. In addition, pregnant women do not appear to be at a higher risk of catching COVID-19 or suffering from more severe disease than other adults of similar age.Moreover, there is currently no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy or during childbirth. Babies and young children are also known to only experience mild forms of COVID-19. The aims of this systematic review were to summarize the possible symptoms, treatments, and pregnancy outcomes of women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy.     

孕妇体成分的营养干预

孕妇妊娠期生理发生变化,导致体成分改变,体重增长.临床表明肥胖孕妇比一般孕妇产科并发症明显增多,且多数是由于营养过剩所造成.本文在体成分分析模型的基础上,结合代谢分析和工程控制理论,利用营养对体成分的凋节作用,提出了以孕妇体成分为控制目标,建立一个基于营养个体化定量的系统,通过测量人体代谢物消耗率和能量转换率可以确定出孕妇各种营养成分的日需要量,最终给出适当的、最为有效的营养干预方法,对孕妇体成分进行控制,使孕妇的体成分保持在理想状态,以减少畸形儿、巨大胎儿的产生,降低孕产妇的并发症.     

HPV Prevalence in cytomorphologically normal cervical scrapes of pregnant women as determined by PCR: The age-related pattern

Diverging data exist on human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in cytomorphologically normal scrapes during pregnancy. The prevalence of HPV was therefore investigated by polymerase chain reaction method (PCR) in cytomorphologically normal scrapes of 709 pregnant women and 3, 948 non-pregnant women visiting the same hospital during the same time period. The prevalence of all types of HPV among pregnant women was 9.6% (68/709) and the high risk HPV types 16 and 18 were found in 3.1% (22/709). In the non-pregnant women the prevalence of all types of HPV was 10.9% (432/3, 948) with 2.9% (116/3, 948) HPV types 16 and 18. The highest prevalence of HPV was present in women at younger ages in both groups. With increasing age the prevalence declines from about 19% (15–25 yrs) to 5% (40–49 yrs). The age-adjusted odds ratio of prevalence of all types of HPV in pregnant versus non-pregnant women was 0.73 (95% CI 0.56–;0.96, P = 0.025) and statistically significant. When HPV types 16 and 18 were considered, significant differences were not found. HPV of all types and types 16/18 prevalence was higher in the second half of pregnancy than in the first part but did not reach statistical significance. High HPV copy numbers in the scrapes were found during the first half of the pregnancy and not during the second half using a semi-quantitative HPV 16/18 PCR detection method. Since the difference in HPV prevalence between non-pregnant and pregnant women is very small, it is concluded that HPV prevalence in cytomorphologically normal smears is hardly influenced by pregnancy. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Analysis of triple test results in 27 cases of twin pregnancies

The study comprises 889 pregnant women between 14 and 21 weeks of gestation. The control group consisted of 862 pregnant women with unburdened obstetric anamnesis with an uneventful singleton pregnancy. The examined group consisted of 27 pregnant women with uncomplicated twin pregnancy. In the sera of pregnant women AFP (Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay AxSYM Abbott), total beta-hCG (Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay AxSYM Abbott) and unconjugated estriol (Radioimmunoassay Amerlex-M. 2T Johnson & Johnson Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Ltd.) were determined. The risk of fetal trisomy 21 was calculated with the use of PRISCA 3.0 software, which corrected the MoM values for twin pregnancy. Ulm Index was also calculated. In the majority of twin pregnancies increased concentrations of AFP, total beta-hCG and uE3 in the range over 1.0 MoM was noted. In the group of women below 35 years of age with singleton pregnancies using PRISCA 3.0 software it approximated to 95%. For women older than 35 optimum index for fetal trisomy 21 risk calculation was Ulm Index with the specificity 93.8%. The specificity of AFP determination in the detection of fetal open NTD in singleton pregnancy was 99%. In the group of women with twin pregnancy the obtained specificity of 77.8% for PRISCA 3.0 software is low, a more advantageous way to calculate the risk of fetal trisomy 21 is Ulm Index with the specificity of 85.2%. The specificity of AFP determination as a screening for fetal open NTD in twin pregnancy was 96.3%.     

孕期家庭暴力等因素与产后抑郁的关系

目的:调查孕期家庭暴力等因素和产后抑郁的相关关系。方法:采用回顾性调查,利用受虐评估问卷(AAS)对门诊846名孕妇进行筛查,在产后30-42天筛查产后抑郁的发生状况。结果:①孕期家庭暴力发生率为11.3%,精神暴力为主要形式;②受虐妇女产后抑郁发生率31.2%,孕期受虐者产后抑郁发生率显著高于未受虐组(66.7%%/9.7%);③孕期精神暴力、家暴认可态度、意外怀孕、丈夫饮酒、丈夫职业是工人以及担心胎儿健康等因素可能预测产后抑郁。结论:孕期精神暴力、家暴认可态度以及意外怀孕等可能是产后抑郁的风险因素。     

Vaginal colonization of the Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant woman in Tunisia: risk factors and susceptibility of isolates to antibiotics

Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the main bacterial causes of serious infections in newborns. We have evaluated prospectively GBS vaginal colonization in pregnant women and we have tried to determine the risk factors of the colonization by GBS and the particularities of the different isolated strains. We have screened 300 pregnant women with vaginal and anal sample in a same swab. Thirty nine (13%) pregnant women are colonized by SGB, 0% in the first trimester, 10.2% in the second trimester and 17% in the third trimester. Different factors are associated significantly with GBS colonization: past history of infection in newborns, genital infection during pregnancy and parity The highest rates of resistance are found in tetracycline (97.4%), erythromycin (51.3%) and lincomycin (46.2%). All the strains were susceptible to amoxicilin and pristinamycin.     

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy in Vietnam: role of husbands

Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators are often husbands. Understanding factors pertaining to women’s male partners is essential for programming interventions against IPV. The objective of the study was to describe husband-related social and behavioural risk factors and assess how they are associated with IPV during pregnancy. Cross-sectional data were collected among 1309 pregnant women with husbands in Dong Anh district, Vietnam. Information on sociodemographic characteristics of husbands, the husband’s behaviour and the husband’s involvement in pregnancy care was indirectly collected via women’s report at first antenatal care visit. Data on exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy were collected when the women returned for antenatal care in 30–34 gestational weeks. Logistic regression analyses were used to measure the relationships between IPV during pregnancy and risk factors from the husband. Pregnant women who had husbands who were younger or blue-collar worker/farmer/unemployed had more likelihood to be exposed to IPV. Women with husbands who drank alcohol before sexual intercourse and gambled were more likely to be exposed to IPV repeated times. Those with husbands who had intentions of having a child had over three times increased OR to be exposed to IPV once (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.1–9.7). If the husband had a preference for sons, the woman had 1.5 times increased OR (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.1–1.9) to be exposed to IPV repeated times during pregnancy. This study highlights significant associations between IPV and maternal perceptions of husbands’ behaviours and involvement in pregnancy. Findings may help to identify at-risk pregnant women to IPV and guide the development of targeted interventions to prevent IPV from husbands.

     

Cohort study of depressive moods in Thai women during late pregnancy and 6–8 weeks of postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Summary Objective: To identify depressive moods as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in late pregnancy and postpartum, explore associated factors and assess changes in depressive moods. Methods: A cohort study of 610 pregnant Thai women was conducted. The self-reporting EPDS was completed at 36–40 weeks and at 6–8 weeks postpartum. Result: The prevalence of depressive moods (scores of 10 or more on the EPDS) was 20.5% during pregnancy and 16.8% at postpartum. Factors related to depressive moods in late pregnancy included marital status, evidence of irritable moods before menstruation, and attitudes towards this pregnancy. Unmarried women, women having irritable moods before menstruation or women having negative attitudes towards this pregnancy had double risk. Related factors during the postpartum period included religion, evidence of irritable moods before menstruation, perception of pregnancy complications and attitudes towards this pregnancy (p < 0.01). Women who perceived of having complications during this pregnancy, those who had irritable moods before menstruation or had negative attitudes towards this pregnancy had also double risk. The depressive moods were significantly reduced postnatally. Conclusion: One-fifth of pregnant and postpartum women experienced depressive moods but the severity declined at postpartum.