Does preeclampsia involve the pancreas? A report of original research

Objective: To analyze the effect, if any, of pregnancy-related hypertension on the pancreas.

Methods: A database of pregnant women with hyperbilirubinemia was reviewed for cases with serum amylase values. These cases were linked to a computerized obstetric database, and women were analyzed according to the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Results: A total of 292 consecutive women with hyperbilirubinemia during pregnancy delivered at our institution between 2005 and 2011. Of these, 52 (18%) were diagnosed with preeclampsia, and in only nine was serum amylase abnormally elevated.

Conclusion: Using serum analytes as surrogates for organ injury, it appears preeclampsia infrequently affects the pancreas.     

The influence of psychological factors on postpartum weight retention 12 months post-birth

Background

During the first postpartum year 20% of women retain excessive weight from pregnancy (postpartum weight retention; PPWR), which predicts long-term overweight/obesity.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the associations between psychological factors (depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and body attitudes) in late gestation and at 12-months postpartum with PPWR one-year post-birth.

Methods

Pregnant women (N = 176) completed questionnaires in early–mid pregnancy (Time 1; mean (SD) = 16.97 (1.35) weeks), late pregnancy (Time 2; mean (SD) = 33.33 (2.05) weeks), and one year postpartum (Time 3; mean (SD) = 53.12 (3.34) weeks). Women provided demographic characteristics, height and pre-pregnancy weight at Time 1. At Times 2 and 3, weight, depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms and body attitudes (salience of weight and shape, attractiveness, feeling fat, and strength and fitness) were assessed in addition to physiological, socio-contextual and lifestyle factors. Gestational weight gain and PPWR were calculated. Hierarchical linear regression models were conducted to explore variance in 12-month PPWR.

Results

Overall, models explained 26–39% variance in PPWR. Gestational weight gain in late pregnancy and low attractiveness at 12 months postpartum were the only variables associated significantly with 12-month PPWR.

Conclusion

While psychological factors did not appear to be important direct contributors to PPWR at 12 months, the overall contribution of all variables suggests that such factors may be implicated in a small and incremental way. Exploration of the interactions between variables will help unpack potential mechanisms of the development of PPWR at 12 months post-birth.     

Early pregnancy angiogenic proteins levels and pregnancy related hypertensive disorders

Introduction: Normal placental vascular development depends on multiple interactions of many regulatory molecules including pro and antiangiogenic proteins. It is considered that these vascular modulators might be one of the factors responsible for development hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the early pregnancy (11–14 week of gestation) serum level of angiogenic proteins sFlt1, VEGF i PIGF between different types of pregnancy related hypertensive disorders.

Materials and methods: The study included 177 pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation, divided into four study subgroups (preeclampsia group-41, gestational hypertension group-31, chronic hypertension group-32 and miscarriage group-19) and control group-54. Blood samples (serum) were taken for measuring sFlt1, VEGF i PIGF by a quantitative ELISA technique and measuring other biochemical and hematological parameters.

Results: Significantly higher levels of sFlt1 were in the subgroups with preeclampsia and miscarriages, significantly lower level of VEGF in the all study subgroups and lover level of PIGF were in miscarriage group. In the groups with chronic and gestational hypertension there were higher level of sFlt1 and lover level of VEGF than in the control group, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion: Early pregnancy imbalance between antiangiogenic protein sFlt1 and proangiogenic molecules VEGF and PIGF could have impact on pathophysiology of placental disorders which leads to development of pregnancy related hypertensive disorders.     

Incidence of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and the puerperium: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Women during pregnancy or puerperium have a higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The reported incidence of pregnancy-associated VTE from literature varied considerably. To summarize the overall incidence of the disease, we conducted this meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBase and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) for studies that reported the incidence of VTE during pregnancy or puerperium. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale and the meta-analysis was conducted using R software and Meta analyst Beta 3.13. Sensitivity analyses were performed to analyze the robustness of the results and publication bias was assessed using Egger's test.

Results: Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The pooled incidence rate was 1.4‰ (1.0–1.8‰) for VTE, 1.1‰ (1.0–1.3‰) for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 0.3‰ (0.2–0.4‰) for pulmonary embolism (PE). The weighted proportion of VTE postpartum was 57.5% and the pooled proportion of right-sided DVT was 27.9%. We noted substantial heterogeneity among individual studies.

Conclusions: Women during pregnancy or puerperium are associated with a higher morbidity of VTE. Physicians should be of high vigilance to pregnancy-associated VTE, especially for women postpartum.     

A novel marker in pregnant with preeclampsia: renalase

Background: Preeclampsia is characterized by an increase in high blood pressure and decrease in GFR and proteinuria, however, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Renalase is a recently discovered protein implicated in regulation of blood pressure in humans.

Materials and methods: Plasma concentrations of serum renalase were measured in healthy controls, healthy pregnant and pregnant with preeclampsia matched for age, gestational age, in the third trimester of pregnancy. Serum renalase levels were compared in pregnant with and without preeclampsia and non-pregnant controls. Factors associated with serum renalase levels in pregnancies were also evaluated.

Results: In healthy pregnant serum renalase levels were significantly higher than in controls. However, pregnant with preeclampsia had lower renalase levels than healthy controls. Serum renalase levels were inversely associated with blood pressure levels and positively correlated with glomerular filtration rate.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the development of preeclampsia in pregnant is accompanied by altered serum renalase levels. High blood pressure and kidney damage that characterize this disorder are mediated at least in part by low renalase levels.     

Little beneficial effect of maternal vitamin supplement on metabolic disturbances in the offspring from the obese mother mice

Objective: To examine whether vitamin supplement before and during pregnancy alters the detrimental effect of maternal obesity on the offspring.

Methods: Obese C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into four groups and fed with the control, vitamin D, folic acid or multivitamin supplement diet before and during pregnancy. Physiologic and biochemical variables were obtained.

Results: No significant differences were observed in glucose and lipid variables among offspring from each maternal obese group.

Conclusions: Overall, vitamin D, folic acid or multivitamin supplement cannot ameliorate the detrimental effect of maternal obesity on the metabolic disturbances in the offspring.     

ß-hCG and prediction of therapeutic success in ectopic pregnancies treated with methotrexate,results from a prospective observational study

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of different beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (ß-hCG) levels measurement, for predicting success of medical treatment in cases diagnosed as tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP).

Design: Five-year prospective observational study.

Setting: Prenatal Diagnosis Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital – Barcelona.

Patients: TEP cases fulfilling criteria for medical treatment with Methotrexate.

Interventions: ß-hCG levels were measured on d 0, 4 and 7 of treatment. Results were compared by non-parametrical tests. A ROC curve was plotted to define cut-off points. Diagnostic accuracy of the different measurements was evaluated.

Main outcome measure: Failure of treatment defined as need for surgical treatment or persistence of high ß-HCG levels despite treatment.

Results: 126 women were diagnosed as TEP, eligible for medical treatment. There were no differences in parity, age, previous TEP, or adnexal mass size. Success rate was 88%. ß-HCG decreased significantly more, between days 0–7 and 4–7, in the successful cases. LR for success prediction was 6.2 and 7.8 for ß-HCG levels at days 4 and 7 respectively, 4.02 and 2.47 for decrement between days 0–7 (25%) and 4–7 (20%), respectively.

Conclusion: ß-hCG cutoff values have a potential for predicting a successful medical treatment of TEP.     

Role of ultrasound in the management of diabetes in pregnancy

The purpose of this review is to discuss the established role of ultrasound (US) in the management of pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM), as well as new developments with regard to the use of US in this situation. We choose to explore the role of US in pregnancy complicated by DM in three areas:

(1) Role of US in estimation of fetal weight.

(2) Role of US in diagnosis of congenital malformation.

(3) Role of US in monitoring diabetic pregnant patients.     

Polycystic ovary syndrome and low-grade inflammation with special reference to YKL-40

Objective: To evaluate the plasma level of YKL-40 in a Danish polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) population and to investigate whether YKL-40 is associated with CVD risk factors such as waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance (IR), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, blood lipids and CRP.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Gynecological clinics at three Danish University Hospitals.

Patients: One hundred seventy-one premenopausal women with PCOS recruited consecutively from April 2010 to February 2012. PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria.

Main outcome measures: Plasma level of YKL-40 in four phenotypes of PCOS defined by BMI and IR.

Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in the plasma level of YKL-40 across the four BMI/IR-phenotypes. Positive associations were observed between YKL-40 and BMI, total and free testosterone, triglycerides, and CRP. Total and free testosterone were independent predictors of YKL-40.

Conclusion: YKL-40, the marker of low-grade inflammation is not increased in women with PCOS.     

Prediction of preeclampsia in type 1 diabetes in early pregnancy by clinical predictors: a systematic review

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and possible clinical predictors of preeclampsia present in early pregnancy among women with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed was conducted in April 2017. Inclusion criteria were largely unselected cohort, including at least 100 women with type 1 diabetes, dealing with either the prevalence of preeclampsia or possible clinical predictors of preeclampsia identified in early pregnancy.

Results: Based on 11,518 pregnancies in 11 articles, the prevalence of preeclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes was 17%, five to six times more than in the background population. In early pregnancy, the following clinical predictors were associated with increased prevalence of preeclampsia: diabetic nephropathy (OR 3.7–23.5), microalbuminuria (OR 3.8–11.7), diabetic retinopathy (OR 1.9–2.9) and pre-existing hypertension (OR 3.8–17.1) as well as high blood pressure within the normotensive range. HbA1C, body mass index and nulliparity were positively associated with preeclampsia, but not consistently.

Conclusion: The prevalence of preeclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes was 17%. In early pregnancy pre-existing hypertension and high blood pressure within the normotensive range as well as presence of microangiopathy were predictors of preeclampsia. Poor glycaemic control, obesity and nulliparity probably also contribute to the increased risk.     

Increasing maternal percentage body fat in early second trimester: a risk factor for preeclampsia

Objective: To determine if maternal percentage body fat (PBF) or fat free mass (FFM) in the early second trimester of pregnancy influenced the development of preeclampsia.

Methods: A matched nested case-control study was conducted from a cohort study of 1668 women at Gansu provincial maternal and child care hospital from July 2007 to August 2011 in China. Maternal PBF and FFM were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis during 12th–16th gestational week. The demographic characteristics were all chart abstracted. After childbirth, 70 cases of preeclampsia were matched by race/age with 140 uncomplicated pregnancies women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the associated risk factors.

Results: Pre-pregnancy body mass index were higher in women who subsequently developed preeclampsia compared with controls (p?<?0.001). During 12th–16th gestational week, there were nearly 7-fold increase in the odds of preeclampsia (adjusted OR: 6.84, 95% CI: 4.15–41.60) among women with PBF?≥?40% versus women with PBF?<?40%. But FFM were not at further increased risk of the development of preeclampsia (adjusted OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.6–3.6).

Conclusion: Maternal PBF but not FFM is a predictor of preeclampsia in the early second trimester. Excessive adipose tissue possibly played an important role in developing of preeclampsia.     

Early pregnancy protein multiplex screening reflects circulating and urinary divergences associated with the development of preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, represents the leading cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The identification of novel and accurate biomarkers that are predictive of preeclampsia is necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with preeclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate the preeclampsia predictive value of 34 angiogenic-related proteins.

Methods: We performed a nested cohort case-control study of pregnant women. The profile of the 34 proteins was evaluated at 12, 16, and 20 gestational weeks (GWs), using urine/plasma from 16 women who developed preeclampsia and 20 normotensive pregnant controls by Bio-Plex Pro^TM Human Cancer Biomarker Panels 1 and 2.

Results: The urine concentration of soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2), endoglin (ENG), soluble fas ligand (sFASL), interleukin 6 (IL-6), placental growth factor (PLGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) at 12 GW, prolactin (PRL), ANG-2, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), and VEGF-A at 16 GW, and soluble IL-6 receptor alpha (sIL-6Rα), ANG-2 and sFASL at 20 GW, were different between groups (p < 0.05). The concentration cut-off values calculated in this study for the mentioned proteins, predicted an increased risk to developing preeclampsia in a range of 3.8–29.8 times in the study population.

Conclusion: The proteins sEGFR, HGF, ANG-2, sFASL, IL-6, PLGF, VEGF-A, PRL, TGF-α FGF-b, sHER2/Neu sIL-6Rα, ENG, uPA, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), were predictive of the development of preeclampsia and their use as markers for this disease should be considered.     

Transcervical Foley’s catheter versus Cook balloon for cervical ripening in stillbirth with a scarred uterus: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of the use of transcervical Foley’s catheter versus Cook cervical ripening balloon in pregnant women with stillbirth, unfavorable cervix and scarred uterus.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Setting: El Minia University Hospital, El Minia, Egypt.

Patients and methods: Two-hundred pregnant women with stillbirth, unfavorable cervix and scarred uterus were recruited into this study. They were randomized into two groups. In group I (n?=?100), cervical ripening was done using Foley’s catheter. In group II (n?=?100), cervical ripening was done using Cook cervical ripening balloon.

Main outcome measures: Balloon insertion to delivery interval, successful ripening rate, cesarean delivery rate, maternal adverse events and maternal satisfaction.

Results: Time from balloon insertion to expulsion and from balloon insertion to delivery was significantly shorter in Foley’s catheter group. However, the difference between the two groups regarding time from balloon insertion to active labor, time from balloon expulsion to delivery, cervical ripening, cesarean section, instrumental delivery, pain score, need for analgesia, hospital stay and maternal satisfaction was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Foley’s catheter and Cook cervical ripening balloon are comparable regarding efficacy and safety profile when used to ripen the cervix in pregnant women with stillbirth, unfavorable cervix and scarred uterus. However, Foley’s catheter has a shorter induction to delivery interval and is relatively cheaper device.     

Influence of storage time on vitrified human cleavage-stage embryos froze in open system

Background: During in vitro fertilization, rapid growth of vitrification and liquid nitrogen storage of embryos have been well characterized. However, the effect of storage time on vitrified cleavage-stage embryos in an open system is poorly understood.

Aims: To investigate the influence of storage time on the survival and pregnancy outcomes of vitrified human cleavage-stage embryos froze and stored in an open system.

Methods: A retrospective study of 786 vitrified-warmed cycles of 735 patients was performed from January 2013 to October 2013. The cycles were divided into five groups according to storage time: 1–3 months, 4–6 months, 7–12 months, 13–24 and 25–60 months. The clinical outcomes of cycles with different storage time were analyzed.

Results: There were no significant differences of the survival rate, clinical pregnancy outcomes, birth rate, gestational weeks and singleton birthweights at various storage times.

Conclusion: For vitrified embryos froze and stored in an open system, the storage time would not influence the survival rate and pregnancy outcomes by storage time up to 5 years.     

Analysis of correlation factors and pregnancy outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy – a secondary analysis of a random sampling in Beijing,China

Objective: We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for hypertensive disorders and to study the main pregnancy outcomes in the Beijing area of China.

Study design: This study randomly sampled 15 hospitals in Beijing from Jun 2013 to Nov 2013 and evaluated 15 194 deliveries. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between risk factors and hypertensive disorders. Pregnancy outcomes included preterm birth, cesarean delivery and small for gestational age (SGA).

Results: The prevalence of hypertensive disorders, preeclampsia (PE) and severe PE was 4.4, 2.7 and 1.8%, respectively. The risk factors for hypertensive disorders and severe PE were maternal body mass index before pregnancy, gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational diabetes and pre-gestational diabetes, and third trimester cholesterol (CHOL) levels. First trimester high-density lipoprotein was a protective factor for severe PE. The incidence of hypertensive disorders increased with maternal age. Preterm delivery, cesarean delivery and small infant size for gestational age were more prevalent in the severe PE group compared with the non-hypertensive group.

Conclusions: In the Beijing area of China, maternal body mass index before pregnancy, GWG, maternal complications of gestational diabetes and pre-gestational diabetes, and third trimester CHOL levels are risk factors for both hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and severe PE. First trimester high-density lipoprotein is a protective factor for severe PE. Severe preeclampsia leads to a higher incidence of preterm delivery, cesarean delivery and SGA infants.     

Spanish version of Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory: transcultural adaptation and reliability

Aim: To transcultural adapt and analyze the reliability of Spanish version of Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory (PSI) and assess the prevalence of pregnancy symptoms in Spanish pregnant women.

Materials and methods: A subsample of 120 healthy pregnant women answered the PSI twice and a sample of 280 report the prevalence and limitation of pregnancy symptoms. The reliability was examined by means of percent agreement and weighted Kappa coefficients. The prevalence of pregnancy symptoms was evaluated by the frequency of answers.

Results: Perfect and perfect-acceptable agreement was observed in 82% and 96% of the pregnant women, respectively. Weighted Kappa coefficients ranged from 0.589 to 0.889, indicating a good reliability. The most frequent symptoms perceived by Spanish pregnant women were urinary frequency, poor sleep, increased vaginal discharge and tiredness.

Conclusion: Spanish Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory is a brief, conceptually equivalent and satisfactory reliable tool that allows an early assessment of the wide range of pregnancy symptoms in the health care practices.     

The role of narrative medicine in pregnancy after liver transplantation

Narrative medicine allows professionals from all fields of medical sciences to understand the patient’s total experience of illness, and meet his/her needs in an empathetic environment. Narrative medicine helps spread holistic knowledge of a multitude of complex clinical conditions, including transplantation.

Objective: To underline the role of narrative medicine in women who become pregnant after a liver transplant by using their narrations of this very special experience.

Methods: We describe our study with narration and listening to the stories of three women expecting their first child after a liver transplant, by analysing the structure and role of narration in the context of relationships between patients and caregivers. The narrations were transcribed verbatim with the main plot analysed in order to address all the aspects of this rare clinical condition and the transition to parenthood.

Results: The women narrated this experience in three phases: transplantation, pregnancy and delivery, and post-partum. They described all phases of pregnancy as stressful but satisfying, whereas the fact of becoming a mother was perceived as a victory both as a woman and as a transplant patient.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that narrative medicine represents a significant professional tool for caring for transplant patients during pregnancy.     

Oxidative stress in preeclamptic mother – newborn dyads and its correlation with early neonatal outcome – a case control study

Background: Preeclamptic mothers are likely to have increased oxidative stress during pregnancy which can adversely affect the outcome in their neonates.

Objectives: To measure the oxidative stress in preeclamptic mother- newborn dyads and correlate it with the immediate neonatal outcome.

Methods: This case control study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital, South India included 71 preeclamptic mothers – newborn dyads (cases) and 72 normal mothers – newborn dyads (controls). Biochemical parameters including total antioxidant status (TAS), protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde levels (MDA) were measured in both maternal and cord blood. Association between these oxidative stress parameters and early neonatal outcome was studied.

Results: All oxidative stress markers were higher in the preeclampsia group compared to the controls. Cord blood protein carbonyl levels had significant correlation with maternal levels. Prematurity, low-birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), early onset sepsis (EOS) and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) were more among cases. Early neonatal outcomes like death, IUGR, EOS, and RDS had significant correlation with protein carbonyl levels among the cases.

Conclusions: Oxidative stress is increased in preeclamptic mother – newborn dyads. Increased protein carbonyl levels in preeclampsia correlate with adverse early neonatal outcome.