Clinical presentation and echocardiographic characteristics of women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: Insights from the Italian Multicentre Registry.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening form of heart failure occurring in late pregnancy or postpartum, with variable clinical course and outcomes. We report preliminary clinical and echocardiographic findings from a national Italian registry of PPCM patients METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional Ethics Committee and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05878041).

Aims and Rationale of a National Registry Integrating Clinical, Echocardiographic, and Multi-Omics Profiling to Promote Precision Medicine in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition typically presenting as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in the last month of pregnancy or in the first five months following delivery in women without other known causes of heart failure. PPCM incidence and prevalence are highly variable in different populations and geographical areas. The etiology of PPCM is likely multifactorial, with genetic predisposition, autoimmune conditions, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal and metabolic changes, myocardial inflammation, enhanced oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and angiogenic imbalance all listed as possible contributing factors.

Single-versus double-layer uterine closure at the time of cesarean delivery and risk of uterine scar niche: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis compared single- versus double-layer uterine closure at the time of cesarean delivery.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception until May 2024.

Cerclage for Short Cervix ≤20mm before 24 weeks in Singleton Gestations without Prior Spontaneous Preterm Birth Decreases Preterm Birth: a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials using Individual Patient-level Data.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cervical cerclage in preventing preterm birth (PTB) in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies without prior spontaneous PTB and with a mid-trimester short transvaginal ultrasound cervical length (TVU CL).

Data Sources: MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for the following terms: 'cerclage,' 'cervical cerclage,' 'salvage,' 'rescue,' 'emergency,' 'ultrasound-indicated,' 'short cervix,' 'cervical length,' 'ultrasound,' and 'randomized trial,' from inception of each database until November 2024.

Early wound dressing (soft gauze/tape dressing) removal after cesarean delivery: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective: To assess whether removing the wound dressing within 24 hours after a cesarean delivery leads to any negative effects on wound healing and to recommend the best time for dressing removal.

Data Sources: Science Direct, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus as the electronic databases from their inception until December 2024.

Criteria For Study Eligibility: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were incorporated in the databases, irrespective of their publication language, sample size, publication date, use of blinding, or study setting/location.

The Role of Mifepristone in Cervical Maturation and Induction of Labor: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

The objective of this review is to demonstrate the efficacy of mifepristone as an inducing agent of labor by analyzing its impact on cervical maturation and maternal and neonatal outcomes. The research results showed that mifepristone facilitates cervical ripening and enhances uterine sensitivity. : A narrative review of the literature was conducted to descriptively summarize and compare available data.

Oocyte cryopreservation for patients with endometriosis: where are we now? A systematic review.

The ambiguity of current recommendations on the use of oocyte cryopreservation in patients with endometriosis reflects the lack of comprehensive studies evaluating its efficacy. This review seeks to summarize all available data on the outcomes of oocyte cryopreservation and subsequent IVF, while taking patient characteristics into account. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023486774).

Antenatal corticosteroids for patients at risk of late preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroid administration in the late preterm period (34 0/7-36 6/7 weeks of gestation).

Data Sources: A Medical Librarian performed a search in the following databases and grey literature sources from inception until July 15, 2024: PubMed (NLM), Embase.com (Elsevier), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane CENTRAL (Wiley), CINAHL Ultimate (EBSCOHost), ClinicalTrials.

Effectiveness of a cervical pessary in prolongation of pregnancy after an arrested episode of preterm labor: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Randomized controlled Trials (RCTs) show conflicting results on the effectiveness of a cervical pessary after an arrested episode of preterm labor (PTL) aiming to prolong pregnancy.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a cervical pessary in prolongation of pregnancy after an arrested episode of PTL by utilizing individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Databases Central, Embase, Medline, and clinical trial databases (ClinicalTrials.

The association of intrapartum IV fluid rates during labor with birth weight.

Purpose: Since discovering that intravenous (IV) fluid infusion rate of 250 mL/hr during labor decreases incidence of cesarean delivery and decreases time in labor when compared to infusion rate of 125 mL/hr, patients and midwives have expressed concern that increased fluid rates may lead to increased birth weights. Thus, our objectives were to determine the impact, if any, of increased IV fluid infusion rates on birth weight.

Methods: This was a meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of low-risk, nulliparous women with gestations ≥ 36 weeks comparing IV fluid rates of 125 vs.

Cerclage in singleton pregnancies with no prior spontaneous preterm birth and short cervix: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Preterm birth remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Cerclage for short cervical length ≤25 mm in patients with singleton pregnancies with a history of spontaneous preterm birth is associated with decreased neonatal morbidity/mortality. Both vaginal progesterone and cerclage individually have level 1 evidence supporting benefit in the prevention of preterm birth in pregnancies complicated by short cervical length.

Nitroglycerine for retained placenta: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of nitroglycerine on placenta delivery after retained placenta.

Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, PROSPERO, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.

Low-dose aspirin use in low-risk nulliparous pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of low-dose aspirin in the prevention of adverse outcomes in low-risk, nulliparous singleton pregnancies.

Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, and ScienceDirect were searched from their inception to August 5, 2023.

Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Pregnancy and Potential Benefits of Oral Supplementation.

This study aimed to evaluate prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in a cohort of Italian pregnant women, and to evaluate potential benefits of oral supplementationObservational cohort of women with singleton gestations who were referred to our institution for first trimester prenatal visit. Screening for hypovitaminosis D was performed at the time of first trimester routine scan between 11 and 13 weeks of gestations. Women were offered measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D).

Effect of Listening Music on Nulliparous Singleton Pregnancies Who Underwent Induction of Labor: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

A recent randomized clinical trial (RCT) showed that listening to music reduces the pain level and anxiety levels in women with spontaneous labor at term. The effect on pregnant women undergoing induction of labor is still unclear.This study aimed to test the hypothesis that in nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies, undergoing induction of labor at term, listening to music would reduce the pain level during labor.

Megacolon diagnosis in pregnancy: A case report and literature review.

Megacolon is a rare clinical condition consisting of an abnormally dilated colon in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Megacolon can complicate pregnancy in terms of maternal morbidity and mortality (volvulus, ileus, systemic toxicity, bowel perforation, sepsis) and obstetrical outcomes (preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, dystocia). Pregnancy, on the other hand, can exacerbate chronic constipation through hormonal and mechanical mechanisms.

Urological Challenges during Pregnancy: Current Status and Future Perspective on Ureteric Stent Encrustation.

The management of ureter hydronephrosis and urolithiasis during pregnancy has been changed by the adoption of ureteric stents. Despite their broad use for several other conditions, from emergency to elective settings, their complications cannot be ignored. Being most prevalent during pregnancy, urinary tract infections and stent encrustations are particularly common and can affect either fetal growth or maternal-fetal homeostasis, leading to obstetric complications.

Maternal Reassurance, Satisfaction, and Anxiety after First-Trimester Screening for Aneuploidies: Comparison between Contingent Screening and Universal Cell-Free DNA Testing.

Background: This study aims to evaluate maternal reassurance, satisfaction, and anxiety after two different strategies for the first-trimester screening for aneuploidies.

Methods: Patients between 11 + 3 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation attending the first-trimester screening at Department of Mother and Child, University Hospital Federico II, Naples, Italy have been recruited and randomly allocated to contingent screening or universal cell-free fetal DNA testing (cffDNA). Questionnaires to measure reassurance, satisfaction, and anxiety have been filled twice: (Q1) after randomization and (Q2) after receiving results.

Unveiling therapeutic potentials and exploring maternal-fetal health benefits of metformin in pregnancy: A scoping review.

This scoping review synthesizes evidence on metformin's use during pregnancy, encompassing diverse conditions like gestational diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and obesity. Metformin demonstrates comparable efficacy to insulin in gestational diabetes, positive outcomes in type 2 diabetes pregnancies, and potential benefits in reducing complications. The review highlights nuances in its effects across conditions, indicating advantages such as reduced risk of macrosomia and cesarean section in gestational diabetes.

Utero-cervical angle to predict the risk of spontaneous preterm birth: a review of literature.

Background: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the predictive role of the uterocervical angle (UCA) in spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed including all studies reporting the association between UCA and sPTB. Searches were performed with the use of a combination of keywords: "cervical length," "uterocervical angle," and "preterm birth" from inception of each database to March 2022.