Studies in experimental animals and human subjects have suggested that intake of n-3 fatty acids in early life can affect cardiovascular risk factors in adult life. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fish oil (FO) supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy on ...

The effect of heavy metals at environmentally relevant concentrations on couple fecundity has received limited study despite ubiquitous exposure. In 2005-2009, couples (n=501) desiring pregnancy and discontinuing contraception were recruited and asked to complete interviews and to provide blood specimens for the quantification of cadmium (μgL(-1)), lead (μgdL(-1)) and mercury ...

Background: Monochorionic (MC) pregnancies are routinely delivered electively at various late preterm gestations with the aim of avoiding stillbirth at term. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prospective risk of late stillbirth in a large regional cohort of twin pregnancies of known chorionicity. Methods: A retrospective study ...

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are increasingly used in reflux disease treatment also among pregnant women. Hypospadias prevalence is increasing and the birth defect is diagnosed in 0.3%-0.8% of male births, but the association with maternal PPI use during pregnancy is virtually unknown. Therefore, we decided to estimate the hypospadias risk ...

To determine the institutional pregnancy complications rate associated with genetic amniocentesis and ascertain whether procedural variables or pre-existing factors may determine an increased risk of having a procedural-related fetal loss, we retrospectively evaluated all the consecutive amniocentesis, with known pregnancy outcome (n = 2990), performed between January 2001 and December ...

Objectives- We sought to determine the normal sonographically measured placental thickness in millimeters at the second-trimester scan (18 weeks to 22 weeks 6 days) and determine whether the measurement should be adjusted for gestational age and the placental site. Methods- We conducted a cross-sectional observational pilot study involving 114 consecutive ...

Prenatal multiple micronutrients (UNIMMAP) improve fetal growth only moderately compared to iron and folic acid alone (IFA). Whether this is due to insufficient amounts of UNIMMAP or to IFA being in reality an active control is unknown. We assessed the association between cumulative micronutrient intake (CMI) and fetal growth by ...

Antidepressant use during the gestational period remains a controversial issue. The objective of this study was to appraise the quality of the available clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) that includes recommendations for antidepressant use during pregnancy. We systematically searched for documents published between January 2000 and September 2010 in MEDLINE / ...

BACKGROUND: Isolated esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare congenital malformation whose etiology remains largely unknown. Nine twin pairs with EA were identified from our clinical service, prompting the performance of a systematic review of the literature and the first reported twin study of isolated EA. METHODS: A total of 330 ...

Objective: To investigate whether measurement of maternal serum placental growth factor (PLGF) can improve the performance of first-trimester combined screening for trisomy-21 by fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness and serum free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and PAPP-A. Methods: In singleton pregnancies attending for routine care, serum PLGF, free β-hCG and ...

Purpose:To determine whether maternal plasma cell-free DNA sequencing can effectively identify trisomy 18 and 13.Methods:Sixty-two pregnancies with trisomy 18 and 12 with trisomy 13 were selected from a cohort of 4,664 pregnancies along with matched euploid controls (including 212 additional Down syndrome and matched controls already reported), and their samples ...

The aim of the present study was to describe socioeconomic inequalities in low birth weight (LBW), premature birth (PM) and small size for gestational age at birth (SGA) between 2000 and 2005 in Barcelona, Spain, jointly evaluating the effect of mother's country of origin, and neighborhood of residence socioeconomic level ...

Antidepressant use during the gestational period remains a controversial issue. The objective of this study was to appraise the quality of the available clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) that includes recommendations for antidepressant use during pregnancy. We systematically searched for documents published between January 2000 and September 2010 in MEDLINE / ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of the combined use of uterine artery Doppler velocimetry (UADV) and estimation of maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) levels in early second trimester (20-22 weeks of gestation) in identifying pregnant women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study on 1104 pregnant ...

PURPOSE: To report the world's first case of live monozygotic dichorionic diamniotic (DD) twins after a single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer in a cycle during which hormone supplements were given. METHODS AND RESULTS: The patient was a 39-year-old woman with tubal factor infertility. Six oocytes were retrieved and three blastocysts were ...

We performed a matched case-control study to analyze the placental angioarchitecture, in particular the diameter of arterio-arterial (AA) anastomoses in monochorionic placentas from pregnancies with spontaneous twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) compared to a control group of uncomplicated monochorionic placentas. Placental angioarchitecture was analyzed using colored dye injection. AA anastomoses were ...

Aim:  The aim of this study was to assess the miscarriage and fetal loss rates of twin pregnancies after amniocentesis. Material and Methods:  The outcome of 140 twin pregnancies that had amniocentesis performed from 1997 to 2006 was reviewed. Results:  Among 140 twin pregnancies with amniocentesis, 35 were excluded (fetuses ...

Objective. To assess morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancy deliveries, according to chorionicity and mode of delivery. Design. Population-based retrospective cohort. Setting. 14 obstetric departments in Denmark. Population. 1 175 twin pregnancies with two live fetuses at 36 + 0 weeks of gestation. Methods. Pregnancy outcomes assessed according to chorionicity ...

Undernutrition during pregnancy is implicated in the programming of offspring for the development of obesity and diabetes. We hypothesized that maternal programming causes epigenetic changes in fetal hypothalamic pathways regulating metabolism. This study used sheep to examine the effect of moderate maternal undernutrition (60 d before to 30 d after ...

: To estimate why the live birth rate per implanted embryo is higher in twin than in singleton pregnancies. : Data from 1,159 singleton and 523 dichorionic twin pregnancies, obtained after assisted conception, were included. To account for the higher live birth rate observed in twin pregnancies, two possibilities were ...

OBJECTIVE:: To determine the optimum timing for planned delivery of uncomplicated monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies. METHODS:: Unselected twin pregnancies were recruited for this prospective cohort study (N=1,028), which was conducted in eight tertiary referral perinatal centers in Ireland. Perinatal mortality and a composite measure of perinatal morbidity (respiratory distress, ...

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity have been shown to be associated with increased adverse pregnancy outcomes. Weight reduction improves maternal health status and reduces the risk of pregnancy complications, as well as long-term consequences. Our objective was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of the same women who delivered before and after ...

Size at birth is related to adult health outcomes. Twins are born smaller than singletons; this has been assumed to be secondary to limited nutrient supply in late gestation. We hypothesised that growth trajectory in twins, and the adult consequences of being conceived a twin, are determined in early gestation. ...

OBJECTIVES: To review the experience with selective feticide with bipolar cord coagulation (BCC) in complicated monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies at a single center. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of BCC performed by 3-mm bipolar forceps under ultrasound control in cases complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, selective growth restriction, discordant anomaly or twin ...

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a private infertility centre to evaluate the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in natural-cycle IVF (nIVF) treatment. A total of 1865 first-rank nIVF cycles performed during 2009-2010 were evaluated. Low-dose, post-trigger NSAID was administered in a non-randomized way in cycles at higher ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) on the risk of preterm birth of singleton and twin pregnancies conceived by vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using 2006-2008 data from the Society for Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System (SART CORS). SETTING: SART-associated ...

Congenital complete heart block associated with transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies reactive with SSA/Ro and SSB/La is a rare disease with significant fetal, neonatal, and childhood morbidity and mortality. We present the case of dichorionic, diamniotic twins (female twin A and male twin B) exposed to maternal Ro and La ...

The availability of tests to detect genetic conditions prenatally has expanded considerably in recent decades. These advances allow women and couples choices; the choice of whether or not to undergo prenatal screening or diagnosis and therefore the choice whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy. Following prenatal testing many people ...

This is the first reported case of maternal sepsis and placental transmission of Candida kefyr to premature fraternal twins. The mother consumed organic dairy products regularly throughout her pregnancy and developed sepsis with chorioamnionitis by C. kefyr. The twins developed espiratory distress at birth. The placenta, fetal membranes and umbilical ...

Conjoined twinning occurs in 1 in 100 sets of monozygotic twins, 1 in 50,000 gestations or 1 in 250,000 live births. With the advent of ultrasound technology, prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins is possible. This article provides a comprehensive review of conjoined twins detected in the first trimester including fetal ...

The purpose of the current study was to propose a Korean-specific parameter set for calculating the risk of Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy and to determine the screening performances of triple and quadruple tests in Korean women. Using the data on triple or quadruple screening from three ...

BACKGROUNDThe risk of pre-eclampsia (PE) increases in twin pregnancies, especially when assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are used. The aim of this study was to assess angiogenic/anti-angiogenic factors in maternal serum in the first trimester of twin pregnancies and establish if the mode of conception influences angiogenic status.METHODSThis prospective study enrolled ...

Abstract Objective: To determine whether intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) of one twin of Diamnionic twins after 22 weeks gestation is associated with adverse perinatal outcome to the co-twin. Method: A retrospective case-control study (n=4070) including all twin births delivered between the years 1988-2010, was conducted. Perinatal outcome of the co-twin ...

Abstract Objective: To examine the population-based trend for cesarean births in twin pregnancies for the last 13 years in Slovenia, and to find correlates for this trend. Methods: We evaluated data from the Slovenian national perinatal information system (NPIS) of all twin pairs born at ?24 weeks during the period ...

Abstract Objective: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a severe complication of monochorionic pregnancies. Placental hydrops might be a marker for TTTS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether differences in the placental parenchyma due to TTTS can be seen with fetal MRI. Methods: In a retrospective study, 34 ...

Abstract In utero fetal lung infarction has rarely been reported. We present a case of intrauterine lung infarction in a 28 3/7ths week gestation monochorionic twin following intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) of the co-twin at 20 weeks. This case highlights the potential for thromboembolic events (TBE) associated with monochorionic gestations ...

PURPOSE: To assess the obstetric outcome of IVF triplets which are spontaneously or electively reduced to twins. METHODS: Retrospective study of trichorionic triplets (TT) and dichorionic twins (DT) conceived with IVF. RESULTS: Compared to TT without reduction, TT with spontaneous reduction (SR) (OR: 5.6, 95% CI: 1.6-19.9) or elective reduction ...

: To estimate pregnancy outcomes in twin pregnancies with excessive weight gain, according to the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. : A retrospective cohort of 170 patients from a single practice with twin pregnancies at 37 weeks or more of gestation from 2005 to 2010 were analyzed. We compared ...

Objectives- The purpose of this study was to investigate whether poor perinatal outcomes are more common in twins with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetric findings than in their siblings with normal findings. Methods- A matched-pair cohort analysis of twin pregnancies with discordant umbilical artery Doppler velocimetric findings (one normal and ...

OBJECTIVE: Using published data, we sought to determine the amniocentesis-related loss rate in twin gestations. METHODS: We searched the PUBMED database using keywords 'amniocentesis', 'twin', and 'twins' to identify articles evaluating genetic amniocentesis in twin gestations published from January 1970 to December 2010. Random effects models were used to pool ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the high-risk factors and perinatal outcome in selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) and non-selective IUGR (non-sIUGR) in twins. METHODS: In total, 336 pairs of twins were enrolled from December 2003 to 2009. According to the birth weight, 295 pairs of twins were divided into sIUGR, non-sIUGR and ...

Abstract Objective: Which physical findings and blood parameters predict postpartum hypertension remain to be studied in women with twin pregnancies. Methods: The antenatal systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively), and 16 laboratory variables were investigated in 150 normotensive women who gave birth to twins. Results: When the ...

BACKGROUNDThe incidence rates of anterior neural tube defects, anencephaly and encephalocele appear increased among twins compared with singletons. The current study aimed to evaluate whether the etiology of this phenomenon is related to twinning, assisted reproductive technology (ART), or both.METHODSThe study cohort consisted of parturient women who were referred to ...

Conjoined twins are rare, but craniopagus conjoined twins are rarer still. A pair of four-year-old craniopagus female twins with an unusual brain structure may offer new clues as to how the brain functions. This overview is followed by reviews of recent twin research on mothers of twins, twin transfusion syndrome, ...

Multiple pregnancies are thought to be associated with a high incidence of perinatal complications such as preterm labor, preeclampsia and low birth weight. But the true mechanisms of these obstetric complications are still uncertain. The components of amniotic fluid reflect the pathophysiology features of the fetus. Amniotic fluid soluble fms-like ...

: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects on the surviving twin of single fetal death comparing monochorionic to dichorionic twins to report the rates of co-twin death, preterm delivery, and neurologic morbidity in the surviving fetus. : MEDLINE (inception-December 2010), EMBASE (inception-December 2010), The Cochrane library ...

Objective: To evaluate the perinatal outcome of MC twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR). Study design: A prospective study, which included three groups of MC twins: Group A, uncomplicated MC twin pregnancies (n = 91); group B, sIUGR with normal umbilical artery Doppler (n = 19); and group C, sIUGR with ...

In this work we review the indications for late preterm and early-term birth in uncomplicated dichorionic, monochorionic, and monoamniotic twin gestations. Uncomplicated dichorionic twins have optimal outcomes when delivered at 38 weeks' gestation. Monochorionic twins, however, are at greater risk for unexpected stillbirth, and a management plan of late preterm ...

Antenatal screening is performed in the first or second trimester to determine whether a pregnant woman's baby has an increased risk of having Down syndrome (a chromosomal abnormality affecting one in 500 pregnancies), Edward syndrome (one in 3000) or open neural tube defects (one in 750). First trimester screening combines ...

The strong bond between ewe and lamb formed shortly after parturition is an important factor in lamb survival. Evidence exists that a ewe can distinguish her lamb by its unique smell, but the constituents of such a putative olfactory cue have not yet been identified. We have now identified 133 ...