Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are increasingly prescribed during pregnancy. The purpose of the present paper is to summarize and evaluate the current evidence for the risk/benefit analysis of SSRI use in human pregnancy. The literature has been inconsistent. Although most studies have not shown an increase in the overall ...

This prospective cohort study of infertility patients compared testosterone concentrations in early pregnancy in infertility patients who conceived naturally or after treatment. Although all groups demonstrated some increase in pregnancy testosterone from baseline concentrations, subjects who conceived following ovulation induction showed a significantly increased rise in testosterone as compared with ...

Abstract We present a case of a giant lymphatic malformation of the chest and abdominal wall that was diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy. It was treated by one stage excision with good functional and cosmetic outcomes.

In most epidemilogical studies, the problem of confounding adds to the uncertainty in conclusions drawn. This is also true for studies on the effect of maternal drug use on birth defect risks. This paper describes various types of such confounders and discusses methods to identify and adjust for them. Such ...

BACKGROUND: Treatment of asthma symptoms during pregnancy is crucial for maternal and fetal health. Short-acting beta(2) -agonists (SABA) are frequently used as rescue medications and long-acting beta(2) -agonists (LABA) are used as add-on controller therapy for asthma during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association ...

Background: Cloacal malformation is extremely rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 25 000 births. It frequently has associated Müllerian anomalies that require surgical correction. Case: We describe here a patient with cloacal malformation, solitary kidney, bilateral fallopian tube obstruction, and didelphic uterus who required in vitro fertilization to conceive. Conclusion: ...

Myelomeningocele (MMC), one of the most common congenital malformations, can result in severe lifelong disabilities, including paraplegia, hydrocephalus, Chiari II malformation (CM-II), incontinence, sexual dysfunction, skeletal deformations and mental impairment. MMC was the first nonlethal anomaly to be treated by fetal surgery. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that the primary ...

OBJECTIVE: this study investigated the feelings of women regarding end-of-life decision making after ultrasound diagnosis of a lethal fetal malformation. The aim of this study was to present the decision making process of women that chose for pregnancy termination and to present selected speeches of women about their feelings. DESIGN: ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prenatal management and to define the criteria of gravity for accurate assessment of the renal and overall prognosis of fetuses presenting malformations of the urinary tract. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study of 127 cases of urinary tract malformation. We carried out descriptive statistical and univariate ...

Myelomeningocele (MMC), one of the most common congenital malformations, can result in severe lifelong disabilities, including paraplegia, hydrocephalus, Chiari II malformation, bowel and bladder dysfunction, skeletal deformations, and neurocognitive impairment. Experimental studies provide compelling evidence that the neurological deficits associated with MMC are not simply caused by incomplete neurulation but ...

Genetic factors influence adverse pregnancy outcome in both humans and animal models. Animal research reveals that both the maternal and fetal genetic profiles are important for determining the risk of physical birth defects and prenatal mortality. Using a reciprocal-cross breeding design, we investigated whether the mother's genes may be more ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and kind of congenital malformations in assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies. This study included pregnancies conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), evaluated in a referral center for prenatal diagnosis between January 2008 and December 2009. ...

Multiple pregnancies present a special obstetric condition whose importance has increased due to the spread of assisted reproductive techniques. We have processed the fetopathological data of 43 abortions induced in mid-term gemini pregnancies, owing to malformations affecting one or both fetuses. 67.4% of the gemini pregnancies were conceived naturally and ...

Although maternal haematopoiesis is characterised by rapid proliferation and immunological adjustment, leukaemia seldom occurs in pregnant women. In this case-control study we investigated pregnancy and risk of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). 785 women with AML diagnosed in ages 15 to 50, were compared to 1576 age and sex matched controls. ...

Two experiments at 2 Nebraska locations evaluated effects of heifer development system on growth and pregnancy rate. In Exp. 1, heifers (n = 270, 225 ± 2 kg) grazed winter Sandhills range (WR) or west central Nebraska corn residue (CR) with a supplement (0.45 kg/animal; 31% CP; 80 mg·animal(-1)·d(-1) monensin). ...

During spermiogenesis, human sperm undergo a dramatic reorganization of the chromatin in which canonical histones are replaced by two types of protamines, protamine 1 (P1) and protamine (P2). P1 and P2 are expressed approximately at a 1:1 ratio in healthy men. Alteration of this ratio is associated with male infertility. ...

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can improve survival in selected patients with primary or secondary peritoneal malignancies. With the opportunity for long-term survival, questions about the impact of those procedures in fertility in women of childbearing age can be raised. An international survey was performed among all ...

Our finding that creatine phosphokinase level was significantly higher in women successfully treated for ectopic pregnancy with only a single injection of methotrexate suggests that this indicator predicts this outcome.

It is well established that children exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in utero have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including foetal growth retardation, major congenital malformations and impaired postnatal cognitive development. However, due to the significant maternal and foetal risks associated with uncontrolled epileptic seizures, AED treatment is ...

First-lactation Holstein (HH), Jersey (JJ), and crossbred cows (HJ and JH, with sire breed listed first, followed by dam breed) were observed for cumulative energy intake (CEI15) and energy used for milk production (CEL15) at wk 15 of lactation in addition to recordings of health problems and pregnancy. Cumulative energy ...

For premenopausal patients with receptor-positive early breast cancer, administration of tamoxifen for 5 years constitutes the main adjuvant endocrine therapy. During pregnancy, tamoxifen and its metabolites interact with rapidly growing and developing embryonic or fetal tissues. Information about tamoxifen and pregnancy was gathered by searching PubMed. In addition, we had ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate alterations in the concentrations of osteoprotegerin (OPG), RANKL and the OPG/RANKL ratio in pre-eclamptic women during the puerperium. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was performed in the maternity ward of Aretaieio Hospital in Athens, Greece. Fifteen pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia and 15 matched controls with premature ...

The substantial increase in high order multiple pregnancies in the last two decades as a result of assisted reproductive techniques has necessitated the development of multifetal pregnancy reduction as a management tool to decrease fetal number and improve perinatal survival. The evidence in favour of reduction in pregnancies with more ...

Monochorionic pregnancies present unique challenges for selective fetal reduction, as vaso-occlusive procedures are required to ablate blood flow, usually in the umbilical cord, to achieve asystole in the selected fetus. We describe a case series of 35 monochorionic pregnancies (27 twins and eight triplets) undergoing selective fetal reduction using radiofrequency ...

To test whether 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) will reduce neonatal morbidity by increasing gestational age at delivery in triplet pregnancies. Double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Mothers carrying trichorionic-triamniotic triplets were randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) to weekly injections of 250 mg of 17P or placebo, starting at 16-22 weeks and ...

Clonidine, a centrally acting antihypertensive agent, has been used successfully in pregnancy. We sought to describe the pharmacodynamic effects of clonidine in pregnancy and the associated impact on fetal growth. A retrospective cohort study was performed. Maternal hemodynamics were measured before and after treatment. Responses to clonidine were categorized by ...

Developments in assisted reproductive technology have allowed us to decrease the numbers of transferred embryos and thereby reduce the risk of multifetal pregnancies. However, even when the numbers of transferred embryos are restricted, the incidence of monozygotic multiple pregnancies is not reduced, and can be significantly higher than normal. We ...

To describe a unique case of MZ dichorionic twins and MZ monochorionic triplets in a quintuplet gestation after intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) and blastocyst transfer. Case report. A 24-year-old woman underwent ICSI and received two blastocysts transferred. A quintuplet gestation was established .Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed sequentially during early pregnancy. ...

To determine the prevalence and the relative benefits conferred by selective and spontaneous reduction of one or more fetuses in trichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancies on time to delivery. Retrospective cohort study. Academic medical center. IVF patients with trichorionic triamniotic triplets between January 1998 and December 2007. None. Gestational length at ...

Multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) was developed over 20 years ago to rescue higher-order multifetal pregnancies and has become a major component of improving the outcomes in infertility therapies. By definition, MFPR will always be controversial, but opinions do not follow the traditional "pro-life/pro-choice" dichotomy that has sabotaged the more generalized ...

In this retrospective cohort of IVF-conceived triplets complicated by a monochorionic pair (n = 21), selective reduction of the pair to a singleton pregnancy was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of delivery at ≥34 weeks. On average, reduction of the pair was associated with 52 days longer gestation.

Objective. To compare the maternal and perinatal outcome of triplet pregnancies delivered by cesarean section with those delivered vaginally and to assess whether a vaginal delivery of triplets is still acceptable among women who are interested in further births. Study design. A retrospective analysis of 73 triplet pregnancies delivered at ≥28 week ...

This article discusses the issue of multifetal pregnancy as a result of fertility treatments. Pregnancies with multiple gestations are associated with serious infant and maternal health risks as well as psychological distress and significant financial consequences, and are a far too common consequence of infertility treatments such as assisted reproductive ...

This article concerns the issue of multifetal reduction performed in some cases of higher order multiple gestation in order to decrease the possibility of adverse pregnancy outcomes and increase the chances of survival in the remaining fetuses. If multifetal pregnancy reduction is considered as a treatment option, it is usually ...

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess outcomes of triplets with feto-fetal transfusion syndrome (FFTS) treated with selective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels (SLPCV). STUDY DESIGN: All twins and triplets with FFTS treated with SLPCV were analyzed. Triplets were classified as dichorionic-triamniotic (D/T) or monochorionic-triamniotic (M/T). In M/T triplets, SLPCV between FFTS ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in incidence rates and outcomes of triplets over 40 years with a particular focus on the influence of assisted reproductive technology (ART). DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: The Medical Birth Registry of Norway. POPULATION: 2.18 million pregnancies, including 448 sets of triplets and 27,575 twin pairs, ...

BACKGROUND: Monozygotic monochorionic triplet pregnancies in which triplets share an amniotic cavity (di- or monoamniotic) are very rare. In addition to the other risks of high-order multiple pregnancy, such triplets are at risk for cord entanglement and therefore cord accident and intrauterine demise. CASE: A 32-year-old primigravid woman was found ...

Assisted reproductive technology has made great progress during the last three decades. After the initial enthusiasm, many ethical, legal and social issues related to the application of these procedures began to evolve. Multifetal pregnancy and fetal reduction, embryo cryopreservation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, risks of birth defects and other adverse outcome ...

Uterine malformations and spontaneous triplet pregnancy are rare situations separately, and both are related to worse perinatal outcomes. In the 3 cases of combined triplet pregnancy and uterus didelphys previously published, at least 2 of the 3 fetuses died. Morbidity rates are also high. We report the case of a ...

The primate placenta produces a wide variety of hormones throughout gestation that regulate placental function and fetal growth. One such hormone is insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), a peptide implicated in cell division, differentiation, and amino acid transport. IGF-II concentrations were measured in 23 common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) term placentas from ...

OBJECTIVE: To report a dichorionic quadramniotic quadruple gestation with monochorionic triamniotic triplets after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment and transfer of two embryos. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Academic reproductive medicine center. PATIENT(S): A 28-year-old nulligravida who underwent first ICSI cycle. INTERVENTION(S): After 4 years of primary infertility for andrologic subfertility, ...

Long-term genetic selection of cattle for fraternal twins has increased the frequency of twin and triplet ovulations. In contrast, the ratio of fetal numbers to ovulation sites in pregnant females with twin (0.83) or triplet (0.73) ovulations is <1.0 and the number of calves per parturition is 1.6 and 2.0, ...

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with the management of triplet pregnancies complicated by an acardiac fetus. METHODS: During the 5-year period from 2003 to 2008, five cases were identified. The prenatal sonographic findings, antepartum course, antenatal intervention if performed, and perinatal outcome of each case were reviewed. RESULTS: Four pregnancies ...

AIM: There were two aims to the study: (1) to provide local outcome data that would be useful in counselling prospective parents of triplets; and (2) to address the deficit in accurate contemporary data on neurodevelopmental outcome and neonatal morbidity for those infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth. ...

Information on feto-fetal transfusion syndrome (FFTS) in higher-order multifetal gestation is limited. We report outcomes of 10 triplet pregnancies treated by fetoscopic laser occlusion of the chorioangiopagous vessels (FLOC). The study period was August 1992 to August 2008. Inclusion criteria were gestational age < or =25 weeks and ultrasound confirmation ...

OBJECTIVE: To report an unusual case of congenital cervical atresia and tubal factor infertility, achieving triplet pregnancy through transmyometrial embryo transfer (ET) resulting in the delivery of healthy twins after multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR). DESIGN: Case report and literature review. SETTING: University hospital. INTERVENTION(S): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, oocyte retrieval, in ...

Delayed interval delivery in twin pregnancies is an unusual occurrence, even more so in triplet pregnancies. We report on a delayed interval delivery in a dichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Because of severe twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), two fetuses demised at 22 weeks of ...

To assess whether 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces the rate of preterm birth in women carrying triplets. We performed this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 14 centers. Healthy women with triplets were randomly assigned to weekly intramuscular injections of either 250 mg of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate or matching placebo, starting at ...

ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION (AVM) OCCURRING IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOFT TISSUE AND SKELETAL HYPERTROPHY FORMS THE BASIS OF THE PARKES WEBER SYNDROME: a rare congenital angio-osteohypertrophy condition with no obvious racial, gender or geographic preference. Usually in the lower limbs, the AVM can result in a dilated cardiomyopathy due to a high ...

OBJECTIVE: To report on a patient with a quintuplet pregnancy consisting of a monochorionic triamnionic triplet pregnancy and one case of monoamniotic twins after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), laser-assisted hatching, and day 4 embryo transfer. CASE REPORT: A 34-year-old woman who underwent ICSI due to male infertility. She underwent standard ...