Peripartum and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Elevated Preconceptional Body Mass Index in a Maternity Hospital (Care Level IV).

Introduction: Preconception obesity is a risk factor for pregnancy and delivery, which is why giving birth in a perinatal center (care levels I and II) is recommended. There are currently no studies which have investigated the birth outcomes of obese patients based on the care level of the maternity hospital. This study aims to assess the effect of a higher body mass index prior to conception on maternal and fetal outcomes in a maternity hospital (care level IV).

Perinatal Outcome in Pregnant Women With Isolated Oligohydramnios Diagnosed With the Single Deepest Pocket Method.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate perinatal outcome in singleton pregnancies at term with isolated oligohydramnios, diagnosed by using the single deepest pocket method.

Patients And Methods: In this historic cohort study, the perinatal outcomes of 196 women with isolated oligohydramnios at term, diagnosed by using the single deepest pocket method, were compared to 8,676 women with normal amniotic fluid volume. The primary outcome measure was the Cesarean section rate.

Genetic variants in the genes of the sex steroid hormone metabolism and depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to conduct an association analysis of depressive symptoms and polymorphisms in the ESR1, PGR, CYP19A1, and COMT genes in pregnant and postpartum women.

Methods: The Franconian Maternal Health Evaluation Study (FRAMES) recruited healthy pregnant women prospectively for assessment of maternal and fetal health. The German version of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed at three time points in this prospective cohort study.

Genetic variations in estrogen and progesterone pathway genes in preeclampsia patients and controls in Bavaria.

Purpose: Hypertensive pregnancy disorders and preeclampsia are major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many different organs are involved in the diseases' clinical phenotype. The underlying mechanism is still unknown, with a possible genetic component.

Genetic variants in the glucocorticoid pathway genes and birth weight.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that tag genetic variation in the glucocorticoid pathways (particularly in maternal genes FKBP5, NR3C1, and CRHR1) and birth weight.

Methods: The Franconian Maternal Health Evaluation Study (FRAMES) recruited healthy pregnant women prospectively for the assessment of maternal and fetal health. Germline DNA was collected from 375 pregnant women.

Amniotic-Umbilical-to-Cerebral Ratio - A Novel Ratio Combining Doppler Parameters and Amniotic Fluid Volume to Predict Adverse Perinatal Outcome in SGA Fetuses At Term.

Purpose:  Introduction of a novel ratio - the amniotic-umbilical-to-cerebral ratio (AUCR) - to predict adverse perinatal outcome in SGA fetuses at term and comparison of its predictive accuracy with established parameters.

Materials And Methods:  This retrospective cohort study included 165 singleton pregnancies with SGA fetuses (birth weight < 10 percentile) at term. Cases with planned vaginal delivery and documented pulsatility indices (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and single deepest pocket (SDP) were included.

Influence of Preeclampsia on Induction of Labor at Term: A Cohort Study.

Background/aim: Even though vaginal delivery is a feasible option in patients with preeclampsia, the cesarean section rate in those patients is high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of preeclampsia on induction of labor at term.

Patients And Methods: This historical cohort study analyzed inductions of labor in women at term having preeclampsia versus women who were induced due to other reasons.

Ultrasound Fetal Weight Estimation in Diabetic Pregnancies.

Objectives: To evaluate different formulas for estimating fetal weight in diabetic pregnancies.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the precision of ultrasound fetal weight estimation in 756 pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes between 2002 and 2016. The estimated fetal weights (EFWs) were obtained within 7 days of delivery from 10 weight estimation formulas and were compared with pair-wise matched controls from 15,701 patients.

Induction of labour with sequential double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol versus oral misoprostol alone in obese women.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of induction of labour in obese women using sequential double-balloon catheter and oral misoprostol in comparison with oral misoprostol alone.

Study Design: In this cohort study, 400 pregnant women with BMI higher than 35 kg/m2 undergoing labour induction at term were included. Induction of labour with a double-balloon catheter and, if necessary, sequential oral misoprostol (n = 216) was compared to oral misoprostol alone (n = 184).

Longitudinal Course of Short-Term Variation and Doppler Parameters in Early Onset Growth Restricted Fetuses.

Purpose:  To evaluate the longitudinal pattern of fetal heart rate short term variation (STV) and Doppler indices and their correlation to each other in severe growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses.

Materials And Methods:  In this retrospective study, pregnancies with a birth weight below the 10th percentile, born between 24 and 34 gestational weeks with serial Doppler measurements in combination with a computerized CTG (cCTG) with calculated STV were included. Longitudinal changes of both Doppler indices and STV values were evaluated with generalized additive models, adjusted for gestational age and the individual.

Correlation of short-term variation and Doppler parameters with adverse perinatal outcome in small-for-gestational age fetuses at term.

Objective: To evaluate the association of short-term variation (STV) and Doppler parameters with adverse perinatal outcome in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses at term.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study 97 patients with singleton SGA fetuses at term (≥ 37 + 0 weeks' gestation) were examined. Inclusion criteria were a birth weight < 10th centile, cephalic presentation and planned vaginal birth.

Association between breast cancer risk factors and molecular type in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

Purpose: Evidence shows that genetic and non-genetic risk factors for breast cancer (BC) differ relative to the molecular subtype. This analysis aimed to investigate associations between epidemiological risk factors and immunohistochemical subtypes in a cohort of postmenopausal, hormone receptor-positive BC patients.

Methods: The prospective, single-arm, multicenter phase IV PreFace study (Evaluation of Predictive Factors Regarding the Effectivity of Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy) included 3529 postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive early BC.

Can Sonographic Fetal Biometry Predict Adverse Perinatal Outcome?

Objective:  To evaluate the association of sonographic fetal biometry (sonographic head circumference (soHC), sonographic abdominal circumference (soAC), estimated fetal weight (EFW)) with mode of delivery and adverse perinatal outcome.

Methods:  Singleton pregnancies with a gestational age ≥ 37 weeks and an ultrasound examination with complete biometric parameters within 7 days before delivery were retrospectively included. The association between soHC, soAC, EFW and fetal (5-min Apgar < 7, pH < 7.

Prediction of pathological complete response and prognosis in patients with neoadjuvant treatment for triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: It has been reported that pathological complete response is an important surrogate marker for disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This study investigates predictors of the response to neoadjuvant platinum-based or anthracycline-based treatment, and of the prognosis, in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 121 patients with triple-negative breast cancer received neoadjuvant treatment with either platinum or anthracycline between 2008 and 2013.

Predicting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using pregnancy and birth characteristics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal, prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum parameters as risk factors for the later development of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the child.

Methods: Women who had given birth at Erlangen University Hospital between 1996 and 1999 were sent a questionnaire in 2009. The results of the questionnaire were correlated with the prospectively collected data for the births in 1996-1999.

[Induction of Labour in Nulliparous Women Beyond Term in a Low-Risk Population].

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of gestational age on induction of labour in nulliparous women.

Material And Methods: This historical cohort study analyzed inductions of labour in low-risk nulliparous women. Therefore the collective was divided into 3 groups (group 1: 40+0 to 40+6 weeks of gestation, group 2: 41+0 to 41+3 weeks of gestation, group 3:>41+3 weeks of gestation).

Influence of body mass index on induction of labor: A historical cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to determine the influence of body mass index (BMI) on induction of labor.

Methods: In this historical multicenter cohort study, 2122 labor inductions were analyzed. Women were divided into four groups according to their body mass index (BMI): BMI < 30 (normal group [NG]), 30 ≤ BMI < 35 (group 1 [G1]), 35 ≤ BMI < 40 (group 2 [G2]), and BMI ≥ 40 (group 3 [G3]).

Effect of Premature Rupture of Membranes on Induction of Labor: A Historical Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) on the induction of labor.

Material And Method: This historical cohort study analyzed 1861 inductions of labor at term using misoprostol which occurred between 2010 and 2015. Exclusion criteria included intrauterine fetal death, previous cesarean section, and fetal structural or chromosomal anomalies.