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Tamir TT. Neonatal mortality rate and determinants among births of mothers at extreme ages of reproductive life in low and middle income countries. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12596. [PMID: 38824152 PMCID: PMC11144189 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Neonatal mortality, which refers to the death of neonates during the first 28 completed days of life, is a critical global public health concern. The neonatal period is widely recognized as one of the most precarious phases in human life. Research has indicated that maternal extreme ages during reproductive years significantly impact neonatal survival, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, this study aims to evaluate the neonatal mortality rate and determinants among neonates born to mothers at extreme reproductive ages within these countries. A secondary analysis of demographic and health surveys conducted between 2015 and 2022 in 43 low- and middle-income countries was performed. The study included a total sample of 151,685 live births. Researchers utilized a multilevel mixed-effects model to identify determinants of neonatal mortality. The measures of association were evaluated using the adjusted odds ratio within a 95% confidence interval. The neonatal mortality rate among neonates born to mothers at extreme ages of reproductive life in low- and middle-income countries was 28.96 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births (95% CI 28.13-29.82). Factors associated with higher rates of neonatal mortality include male gender, low and high birth weight, maternal education (no or low), home deliveries, multiple births, short preceding birth intervals, lack of postnatal checkups, and countries with high fertility and low literacy rates. This study sheds light on the neonatal mortality rates among neonates born to mothers at extreme ages of reproductive life in low- and middle-income countries. Notably, we found that neonatal mortality was significantly higher in this group compared to neonatal mortality rates reported regardless of maternal ages. Male babies, low and high birth-weighted babies, those born to mothers with no or low education, delivered at home, singletons, babies born with a small preceding birth interval, and those without postnatal checkups faced elevated risks of neonatal mortality. Additionally, neonates born in countries with high fertility and low literacy rates were also vulnerable. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions tailored to mothers at extreme ages. Policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize strategies that address specific risk factors prevalent in these vulnerable populations. By doing so, we can improve neonatal outcomes and ensure the survival of these newborns during the critical neonatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadesse Tarik Tamir
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
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Esubalew H, Messelu MA, Tarekegn BT, Admasu AT, Abrha NN, Terefe B. Time to full enteral feeding and its predictors among very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in comprehensive specialized hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:366. [PMID: 38807061 PMCID: PMC11131264 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04719-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Time to full enteral feeding is the time when neonates start to receive all of their prescribed nutrition as milk feeds. Delayed to achieve full enteral feeding had resulted in short- and long-term physical and neurological sequelae. However, there are limited studies to assess the time to full enteral feeding and its predictors among very low birth-weight neonates in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the time to full enteral feeding and its predictors among very low birth-weight neonates admitted to comprehensive specialized hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS A multi-center institutional-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 409 VLBW neonates from March 1, 2019 to February 30, 2023. A simple random sampling method was used to select study participants. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.2 and then exported into STATA version 16 for analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve together with the log-rank test was fitted to test for the presence of differences among groups. Proportional hazard assumptions were checked using a global test. Variables having a p- value < 0.25 in the bivariable Cox-proportional hazard model were candidates for multivariable analysis. An adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) was computed to report the strength of association, and variables having a P-value < 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant predictor variables. RESULT The median time to full enteral feeding was 10 (CI: 10-11) days. Very Low Birth-Weight (VLBW) neonates who received a formula feeding (AHR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.96), gestational age of 32-37 weeks (AHR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.23), without Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) (AHR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.65, 2.84), and single birth outcome (AHR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.88) were statistically significant variables with time to full enteral feeding. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS This study found that the median time to full enteral feeding was high. Type of feeding, Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), Gestational Age (GA) at birth, and birth outcome were predictor variables. Special attention and follow-up are needed for those VLBW neonates with NEC, had a GA of less than 32 weeks, and had multiple birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilena Esubalew
- Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
| | - Mengistu Abebe Messelu
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bethelihem Tigabu Tarekegn
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Aster Tefera Admasu
- College of Medicine and health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Nega Nigussie Abrha
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, Univiersity of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Bewuketu Terefe
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Nursing, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Trees IR, Saha A, Putnick DL, Clayton PK, Mendola P, Bell EM, Sundaram R, Yeung EH. Prenatal exposure to air pollutant mixtures and birthweight in the upstate KIDS cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108692. [PMID: 38677086 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-pollutant models have linked prenatal PM2.5 exposure to lower birthweight. However, analyzing air pollutant mixtures better captures pollutant interactions and total effects. Unfortunately, strong correlations between pollutants restrict traditional methods. OBJECTIVES We explored the association between exposure to a mixture of air pollutants during different gestational age windows of pregnancy and birthweight. METHODS We included 4,635 mother-infant dyads from a New York State birth cohort born 2008-2010. Air pollution data were sourced from the EPA's Community Multiscale Air Quality model and matched to the census tract centroid of each maternal home address. Birthweight and gestational age were extracted from vital records. We applied linear regression to study the association between prenatal exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, and CO and birthweight during six sensitive windows. We then utilized Bayesian kernel machine regression to examine the non-linear effects and interactions within this five-pollutant mixture. Final models adjusted for maternal socio-demographics, infant characteristics, and seasonality. RESULTS Single-pollutant linear regression models indicated that most pollutants were associated with a decrement in birthweight, specifically during the two-week window before birth. An interquartile range increase in PM2.5 exposure (IQR: 3.3 µg/m3) from the median during this window correlated with a 34 g decrement in birthweight (95 % CI: -54, -14), followed by SO2 (IQR: 2.0 ppb; β: -31), PM10 (IQR: 4.6 µg/m3; β: -29), CO (IQR: 60.8 ppb; β: -27), and NOX (IQR: 7.9 ppb; β: -26). Multi-pollutant BKMR models revealed that PM2.5, NOX, and CO exposure were negatively and non-linearly linked with birthweight. As the five-pollutant mixture increased, birthweight decreased until the median level of exposure. DISCUSSION Prenatal exposure to air pollutants, notably PM2.5, during the final two weeks of pregnancy may negatively impact birthweight. The non-linear relationships between air pollution and birthweight highlight the importance of studying pollutant mixtures and their interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R Trees
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Abhisek Saha
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Priscilla K Clayton
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Pauline Mendola
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, United States
| | - Erin M Bell
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, United States
| | - Rajeshwari Sundaram
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States.
| | - Edwina H Yeung
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States.
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Alhasoon M, Alqahtani B, Alreefi M, Homedi A, Alnami G, Alsaif S, Ali K. Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity in Preterm Singleton and Multiple Births -Single Center Experience. Glob Pediatr Health 2024; 11:2333794X241240571. [PMID: 38533296 PMCID: PMC10964436 DOI: 10.1177/2333794x241240571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective. To compare mortality and major neonatal morbidities between singleton preterm infants and preterm infants of multiple gestations born <33 weeks' gestation. Method. Case-control study of preterm multiples and singletons <33 weeks' born at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City Riyadh (KAMC-R) between January 2017 and December 2020. Out-born infants and infants with lethal congenital abnormalities were excluded from the study. Mortality and major neonatal morbidities including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis and surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were compared between preterm singletons and multiples. Results. A total of 803 preterm infants were included: 567 (70.6%) were singletons, 158 (19.6%) were twins and 36 (4.5%) infants were higher multiples. Adjusted mortality before hospital discharge was significantly higher among preterm infants of multiple gestations compared to preterm singletons (12.3% vs 7.9%; P = .003; AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7). Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) needing treatment was significantly higher among preterm infants of multiple pregnancies compared to preterm singletons (11% vs 6.5%, P = .033, AOR 1.1, 95% CI, 1.04-2.99). In addition, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) at 36 weeks post menstrual age (PMA) (29.7% vs 20.5%; P = .003; AOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.5) and culture positive sepsis (24.2% vs 17.5%; P = .044; AOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.01-2.2) were significantly higher among preterm infants of multiple pregnancy. There were no differences in mortality and adverse neonatal outcomes between twins and higher multiples. Conclusion. Preterm infants of multiple gestations suffered higher mortality and neonatal morbidities compared to preterm singleton infants despite a higher utilization of maternal antenatal steroids and better antenatal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Alhasoon
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bader Alqahtani
- Neonatal Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamad Alreefi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Homedi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghadah Alnami
- Neonatal Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saif Alsaif
- Neonatal Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kamal Ali
- Neonatal Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Chen J, Lu R, Jing B, Zhang H, Chen G, Shen D. One model, two brains: Automatic fetal brain extraction from MR images of twins. Comput Med Imaging Graph 2024; 112:102330. [PMID: 38262133 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2024.102330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Fetal brain extraction from magnetic resonance (MR) images is of great importance for both clinical applications and neuroscience studies. However, it is a challenging task, especially when dealing with twins, which are commonly existing in pregnancy. Currently, there is no brain extraction method dedicated to twins, raising significant demand to develop an effective twin fetal brain extraction method. To this end, we propose the first twin fetal brain extraction framework, which possesses three novel features. First, to narrow down the region of interest and preserve structural information between the two brains in twin fetal MR images, we take advantage of an advanced object detector to locate all the brains in twin fetal MR images at once. Second, we propose a Twin Fetal Brain Extraction Network (TFBE-Net) to further suppress insignificant features for segmenting brain regions. Finally, we propose a Two-step Training Strategy (TTS) to learn correlation features of the single fetal brain for further improving the performance of TFBE-Net. We validate the proposed framework on a twin fetal brain dataset. The experiments show that our framework achieves promising performance on both quantitative and qualitative evaluations, and outperforms state-of-the-art methods for fetal brain extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chen
- School of Electronic, Electrical Engineering and Physics, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, 350118, Fujian, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ranlin Lu
- School of Electronic, Electrical Engineering and Physics, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, 350118, Fujian, China
| | - Bin Jing
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, Beijing, 100069, China; School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Geng Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Integrated Aero-Space-Ground-Ocean Big Data Application Technology, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
| | - Dinggang Shen
- School of Biomedical Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China; Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200230, China.
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Johari M, Karimi A, Mojarad M, Heydari M. Comparative analysis of risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity in single and multiple birth neonates. Int J Retina Vitreous 2024; 10:21. [PMID: 38414089 PMCID: PMC10900704 DOI: 10.1186/s40942-024-00536-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM To conduct a comparative analysis of risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in single- and multiple-born neonates. METHODS In a retrospective evaluation of 521 premature neonates, encompassing singletons, twins, and triplets born at or before 34 weeks of gestational age with a birthweight of less than 2000 g and who completed the ROP screening program, between 2020 and 2023, in outpatient referral ROP screening clinic affiliated by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, were included. Neonates with the eligibility criteria were enrolled in the screening program from 28 days old age and followed up to discharge or treatment based on national ROP screening guideline. Data on ROP severity, outcome, treatment modality, and risk factors, including gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), sex, duration of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, oxygen supplementation, mechanical ventilation, blood transfusion, method of delivery, and maternal and neonatal comorbidities, were extracted and compared between premature neonates from singleton and multiple births. RESULTS The analysis of the ROP severity distribution revealed 238 neonates (45.7%) with low-risk (type 2 prethreshold ROP or less severe) ROP and 16 (3.1%) with high-risk (type I prethreshold ROP or more severe) ROP who underwent treatment. According to the comparative analysis of risk factors in neonates with ROP requiring treatment, multiple birth neonates exhibited significantly greater GA (27.50 ± 3.27 vs. 30.00 ± 2.00 vs. 31.14 ± 0.38 weeks, p = 0.032 for singletons, twins and triplets, respectively); greater BW (861.67 ± 274.62 vs. 1233.33 ± 347.75 vs. 1537.14 ± 208.86 g, p = 0.002); and shorter duration of NICU admission (60.17 ± 21.36 vs. 34.00 ± 12.17 vs. 12.00 ± 6.32 days, p = 0.001) and oxygen supplementation (47.33 ± 16.57 vs. 36.00 ± 8.49 vs. 4.60 ± 2.41 days, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between single-born neonates and multiple-born neonates regarding the prevalence of other risk factors. Multiple-born neonates with no ROP and low risk ROP showed significantly lower GA and BW compared to singletons (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Multiple gestation neonates may develop high-risk ROP requiring treatment at a greater gestational age and birth weight and at a lower duration of oxygen supplementation and NICU admission compared to the single birth neonates. This pattern prompts a reevaluation of screening criteria, suggesting a potential need to consider multiple birth neonates with lower traditional risk factors in screening programs. This pattern should be further evaluated in larger populations of multiple born premature neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadkarim Johari
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Afshin Karimi
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Mojarad
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Heydari
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Ye T, Xu R, Abramson MJ, Guo Y, Zhang Y, Saldiva PHN, Coelho MSZS, Li S. Maternal greenness exposure and preterm birth in Brazil: A nationwide birth cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123156. [PMID: 38142032 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
In the dynamic landscape of maternal and child health, understanding the intricate interplay between environmental factors and pregnancy outcomes is of paramount importance. This study investigates the relationship between maternal greenness exposure and preterm births in Brazil using data spanning from 2010 to 2019. Satellite-derived indices, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), were employed to assess greenness exposure during whole pregnancy in maternal residential area. Employing Cox proportional hazard models, we calculated the hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for changes in NDVI, while adjusting for individual and area-level covariates. In total, 24,010,250 live births were included. Prevalence of preterm birth was 11.5%, with a modest but statistically significant decreasing trend (p = 0.013) observed across the nation over the study period. The findings reveal a significant association between greenness exposure and a reduced risk of preterm birth. Specifically, for every 0.1 increase in NDVI, there was a 2.0% decrease in the risk of preterm birth (95%CI: 1.9%-2.2%). Stratified analyses based on maternal education and ethnicity indicated potential effect modifications, with stronger protective effects observed among younger mothers and those with less years of education. Sensitivity analyses using EVI yielded consistent results. In conclusion, this study suggests that higher maternal greenness exposure is linked to a decreased risk of preterm birth in Brazil. These findings imply that enhancing residential greenspaces could be a valuable public health strategy to promote maternal and child health in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Ye
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Rongbin Xu
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Michael J Abramson
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Yuming Guo
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Paulo H N Saldiva
- Urban Health Laboratory University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine/INSPER, São Paulo, 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Micheline S Z S Coelho
- Urban Health Laboratory University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine/INSPER, São Paulo, 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Shanshan Li
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
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Marr EE, Isenberg BC, Wong JY. Effects of polydimethylsiloxane membrane surface treatments on human uterine smooth muscle cell strain response. Bioact Mater 2024; 32:415-426. [PMID: 37954466 PMCID: PMC10632608 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In the United States, 1 in 10 infants are born preterm. The majority of neonatal deaths and nearly a third of infant deaths are linked to preterm birth. Preterm birth is initiated when the quiescent state of the uterus ends prematurely, leading to contractions and parturition beginning as early as 32 weeks, though the origins are not well understood. To enable research and discovery of therapeutics with potential to better address preterm birth, the capability to study isolated cell processes of pregnant uterine tissue in vitro is needed. Our development of an in vitro model of the myometrium utilizing human uterine smooth muscle cells (uSMCs) responsible for contractions provides a methodology to examine cellular mechanisms of late-stage pregnancy potentially involved in preterm birth. We discuss culture of uSMCs on a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate functionalized with cationic poly-l-lysine (PLL), followed by extracellular matrix (ECM) protein coating. Previous work exploring uSMC behavior on PDMS substrates have utilized collagen-I coatings, however, we demonstrated the first exploration of human uSMC response to strain on fibronectin-coated flexible membranes, importantly reflecting the significant increase of fibronectin content found in the myometrial ECM during late-stage pregnancy. Using the model we developed, we conducted proof-of-concept studies to investigate the impact of substrate strain on uSMC cell morphology and gene expression. It was found that PLL and varied ECM protein coatings (collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin) altered cell nuclei morphology and density on PDMS substrates. Additionally, varied strain rates applied to uSMC substrates significantly impacted uSMC gene expression of IL-6, a cytokine associated with instances of preterm labor. These results suggest that both surface and mechanical properties of in vitro systems impact primary human uSMC phenotype and offer uSMC culture methodologies that can be utilized to further the understanding of cellular pathways involved in the uterus under mechanical load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E. Marr
- Boston University, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, United States
- Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Bioengineering Division, United States
| | - Brett C. Isenberg
- Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Bioengineering Division, United States
| | - Joyce Y. Wong
- Boston University, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, United States
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, United States
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Vlachadis N, Stavros S, Machairiotis N, Vrachnis D, Loukas N, Antonakopoulos N, Fotiou A, Maroudias G, Drakakis P, Vrachnis N. The Contribution of Multiple Pregnancies in Stillbirths in Greece: A Time-Trend Analysis. Cureus 2024; 16:e54628. [PMID: 38523936 PMCID: PMC10959416 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multiple pregnancy is an established risk factor for fetal death. This study aimed to examine the impact of multifetal pregnancies on stillbirth rates (SBRs) in the Greek population. Methods Data on live births and stillbirths by multiplicity were derived from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, covering a 65-year period from 1957 to 2021. The SBR for multiple and single gestations, and the population attributable risk (%) (PAR (%)) stillbirth attributable to multifetal gestations were calculated, and temporal trends were assessed using joinpoint regression analysis, with annual percentage changes (APC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results In the period 1957-2021, multiple pregnancies accounted for 9.4% of total stillbirths in Greece and the overall relative risk of fetal death among multifetal gestations was 3.34, in comparison with singletons. The SBR in multiple births remained unchanged from 1957 to 1976 and showed downward trends from 1976 to 2021 (APC = -3.0, 95% CI: -3.4 to -2.7, p < 0.001). PAR (%), after two decades of stability, showed an increasing trend over the period 1975-2011 (APC = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.8 to 4.0, p < 0.001), which was reversed in the more recent decade 2011-2021 (APC = -6.1, 95% CI: -9.6 to -2.5, p = 0.001), with PAR (%) decreasing from a historical high of 19.3% in 2012 to 8.6% in 2021. Conclusion The high incidence of multiple births has a considerable impact on stillbirth rates in the Greek population. The recent downward trends of SBR and PAR (%) of multiple gestations are encouraging, however more measures and targeted interventions are needed to improve perinatal outcomes in multifetal gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Vlachadis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Messinia, Kalamata, GRC
| | - Sofoklis Stavros
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | - Nikolaos Machairiotis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | - Dionysios Vrachnis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | - Nikolaos Loukas
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | | | - Alexandros Fotiou
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | - Georgios Maroudias
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | - Petros Drakakis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | - Nikolaos Vrachnis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attiko Hospital, Athens, GRC
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Scher MS. The science of uncertainty guides fetal-neonatal neurology principles and practice: diagnostic-prognostic opportunities and challenges. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1335933. [PMID: 38352135 PMCID: PMC10861710 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1335933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Fetal-neonatal neurologists (FNNs) consider diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic decisions strengthened by interdisciplinary collaborations. Bio-social perspectives of the woman's health influence evaluations of maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) triad, neonate, and child. A dual cognitive process integrates "fast thinking-slow thinking" to reach shared decisions that minimize bias and maintain trust. Assessing the science of uncertainty with uncertainties in science improves diagnostic choices across the developmental-aging continuum. Three case vignettes highlight challenges that illustrate this approach. The first maternal-fetal dyad involved a woman who had been recommended to terminate her pregnancy based on an incorrect diagnosis of an encephalocele. A meningocele was subsequently identified when she sought a second opinion with normal outcome for her child. The second vignette involved two pregnancies during which fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma was identified, suggesting tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). One woman sought an out-of-state termination without confirmation using fetal brain MRI or postmortem examination. The second woman requested pregnancy care with postnatal evaluations. Her adult child experiences challenges associated with TSC sequelae. The third vignette involved a prenatal diagnosis of an open neural tube defect with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. The family requested prenatal surgical closure of the defect at another institution at their personal expense despite receiving a grave prognosis. The subsequent Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) would not have recommended this procedure. Their adult child requires medical care for global developmental delay, intractable epilepsy, and autism. These three evaluations involved uncertainties requiring shared clinical decisions among all stakeholders. Falsely negative or misleading positive interpretation of results reduced chances for optimal outcomes. FNN diagnostic skills require an understanding of dynamic gene-environment interactions affecting reproductive followed by pregnancy exposomes that influence the MPF triad health with fetal neuroplasticity consequences. Toxic stressor interplay can impair the neural exposome, expressed as anomalous and/or destructive fetal brain lesions. Functional improvements or permanent sequelae may be expressed across the lifespan. Equitable and compassionate healthcare for women and families require shared decisions that preserve pregnancy health, guided by person-specific racial-ethnic, religious, and bio-social perspectives. Applying developmental origins theory to neurologic principles and practice supports a brain health capital strategy for all persons across each generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Steven Scher
- Fetal/Neonatal Neurology Program, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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Ahmed B, Abushama M, Konje JC. Prevention of spontaneous preterm delivery – an update on where we are today. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2183756. [PMID: 36966809 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2183756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous preterm birth (delivery before 37 completed weeks) is the single most important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The rate is increasing world-wide with a great disparity between low, middle and high income countries. It has been estimated that the cost of neonatal care for preterm babies is more than 4 times that of a term neonate admitted into the neonatal care. Furthermore, there are high costs associated with long-term morbidity in those who survive the neonatal period. Interventions to stop delivery once preterm labor starts are largely ineffective hence the best approach to reducing the rate and consequences is prevention. This is either primary (reducing or minimizing factors associated with preterm birth prior to and during pregnancy) or secondary - identification and amelioration (if possible) of factors in pregnancy that are associated with preterm labor. In the first category are optimizing maternal weight, promoting healthy nutrition, smoking cessation, birth spacing, avoidance of adolescent pregnancies and screening for and controlling various medical disorders as well as infections prior to pregnancy. Strategies in pregnancy, include early booking for prenatal care, screening and managing medical disorders and their complications, and identifying predisposing factors to preterm labor such as shortening of the cervix and timely instituting progesterone prophylaxis or cervical cerclage where appropriate. The use of biomarkers such as oncofetal fibronectin, placental alpha-macroglobulin-1 and IGFBP-1 where cervical screening is not available or to diagnosis PPROM would identify those that require close monitoring and allow the institution of antibiotics especially where infection is considered a predisposing factor. Irrespective of the approach to prevention, timing the administration of corticosteroids and where necessary tocolysis and magnesium sulfate are associated with an improved outcome. The role of genetics, infections and probiotics and how these emerging dimensions help in the diagnosis of preterm birth and consequently prevention are exciting and hopefully may identify sub-populations for targeted strategies.
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Conde-Agudelo A, Romero R, Rehal A, Brizot ML, Serra V, Da Fonseca E, Cetingoz E, Syngelaki A, Perales A, Hassan SS, Nicolaides KH. Vaginal progesterone for preventing preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes in twin gestations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 229:599-616.e3. [PMID: 37196896 PMCID: PMC10646154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes in twin gestations. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and CINAHL (from their inception to January 31, 2023), Cochrane databases, Google Scholar, bibliographies, and conference proceedings. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials that compared vaginal progesterone to placebo or no treatment in asymptomatic women with a twin gestation. METHODS The systematic review was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The primary outcome was preterm birth <34 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes included adverse perinatal outcomes. Pooled relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. We assessed the risk of bias in each included study, heterogeneity, publication bias, and quality of evidence, and performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS Eleven studies (3401 women and 6802 fetuses/infants) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Among all twin gestations, there were no significant differences between the vaginal progesterone and placebo or no treatment groups in the risk of preterm birth <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.17; high-quality evidence), <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.06; high-quality evidence), and <28 weeks (relative risk, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-1.55; moderate-quality evidence), and spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks of gestation (relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.18; high-quality evidence). Vaginal progesterone had no significant effect on any of the perinatal outcomes evaluated. Subgroup analyses showed that there was no evidence of a different effect of vaginal progesterone on preterm birth <34 weeks of gestation related to chorionicity, type of conception, history of spontaneous preterm birth, daily dose of vaginal progesterone, and gestational age at initiation of treatment. The frequencies of preterm birth <37, <34, <32, <30, and <28 weeks of gestation and adverse perinatal outcomes did not significantly differ between the vaginal progesterone and placebo or no treatment groups in unselected twin gestations (8 studies; 3274 women and 6548 fetuses/infants). Among twin gestations with a transvaginal sonographic cervical length <30 mm (6 studies; 306 women and 612 fetuses/infants), vaginal progesterone was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of preterm birth occurring at <28 to <32 gestational weeks (relative risks, 0.48-0.65; moderate- to high-quality evidence), neonatal death (relative risk, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.92; moderate-quality evidence), and birthweight <1500 g (relative risk, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.88; high-quality evidence). Vaginal progesterone significantly reduced the risk of preterm birth occurring at <28 to <34 gestational weeks (relative risks, 0.41-0.68), composite neonatal morbidity and mortality (relative risk, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.98), and birthweight <1500 g (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.94) in twin gestations with a transvaginal sonographic cervical length ≤25 mm (6 studies; 95 women and 190 fetuses/infants). The quality of evidence was moderate for all these outcomes. CONCLUSION Vaginal progesterone does not prevent preterm birth, nor does it improve perinatal outcomes in unselected twin gestations, but it appears to reduce the risk of preterm birth occurring at early gestational ages and of neonatal morbidity and mortality in twin gestations with a sonographic short cervix. However, more evidence is needed before recommending this intervention to this subset of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Conde-Agudelo
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
| | - Anoop Rehal
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria L Brizot
- Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vicente Serra
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eduardo Da Fonseca
- Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual Francisco Morato de Oliveira and School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elcin Cetingoz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zeynep Kamil Women and Children Diseases Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Argyro Syngelaki
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Perales
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Office of Women's Health, Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Kypros H Nicolaides
- Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Melamed N, Weitzner O, Church P, Banihani R, Barrett J, Yang J, Wong J, Piedboeuf B, Shah PS. Neonatal and Early Childhood Outcomes of Twin and Singleton Infants Born Preterm. J Pediatr 2023; 262:113377. [PMID: 36871787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare neonatal and early-childhood outcomes of twins and singletons born preterm and explore the association of chorionicity with outcomes. STUDY DESIGN This was a national retrospective cohort study of singleton and twin infants admitted at 230/7-286/7 weeks to level III neonatal intensive care units in Canada (2010-2020). The primary neonatal outcome was a composite of neonatal death or severe neonatal morbidities. The primary early-childhood outcome was a composite of death or significant neurodevelopmental impairment. RESULTS The study cohort included 3554 twin and 12 815 singleton infants. Twin infants born at 230/7-256/7 weeks had a greater risk of the composite neonatal outcome (adjusted risk ratio 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07). However, these differences were limited to the subgroups of same-sex and monochorionic twin pregnancies. Twin infants of 230/7-256/7 weeks were also at an increased risk of the composite early-childhood outcome (adjusted risk ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.09-1.37). Twin infants of 260/7-286/7 weeks were not at an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes or the composite early-childhood outcome compared with singleton infants. CONCLUSIONS Among infants born at 230/7-256/7 weeks, twins have a greater risk of adverse neonatal outcomes and the composite early-childhood outcome than singleton infants. However, the increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes is mostly limited to monochorionic twins and may thus be driven by complications related to monochorionic placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nir Melamed
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Omer Weitzner
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paige Church
- Department of Newborn & Developmental Pediatrics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rudaina Banihani
- Department of Newborn & Developmental Pediatrics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jon Barrett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Junmin Yang
- Maternal-infant Care (MiCare) Research Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bruno Piedboeuf
- Department of Pediatrics, CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Prakesh S Shah
- Maternal-infant Care (MiCare) Research Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Giardini V, Grilli L, Terzaghi A, Todyrenchuk L, Zavettieri C, Mazzoni G, Cozzolino S, Casati M, Vergani P, Locatelli A. sFlt-1 Levels as a Predicting Tool in Placental Dysfunction Complications in Multiple Pregnancies. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2917. [PMID: 38001918 PMCID: PMC10669317 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND several studies have demonstrated that angiogenic markers can improve the clinical management of hypertensive disorders (HDs) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in singleton pregnancies, but few studies have evaluated the performance of these tests in multiple pregnancies. Our aim was to investigate the role of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) in predicting adverse obstetric outcomes in hospitalized multiple pregnancies with HD (preeclampsia/gestational hypertension/uncontrolled chronic hypertension) and/or FGR in one or more fetuses. METHODS A retrospective analysis of multiple pregnancies with HD/FGR occurring after the 20th gestational week. Pregnant women were divided into two groups: women with high levels of sFlt-1 and those with low levels of sFlt-1. A value of sFlt-1 greater than or equal to 15,802 pg/mL was considered arbitrarily high, as it is equivalent to two times the 90th percentile expected in an uncomplicated full-term singleton pregnancy based on data from a prospective multicenter study (7901 pg/mL). RESULTS The cohort included 39 multiple pregnancies. There were no cases of birth <34 weeks, HELLP syndrome, ICU admission, and urgent cesarean sections for HD/FGR complications reported among women with low levels of sFlt-1. CONCLUSIONS A cut-off value of sFlt-1 ≥ 15,802 pg/mL could represent a valuable tool for predicting adverse obstetric outcomes in multiple pregnancies hospitalized for HD/FGR disorders, regardless of gestational age and chorionicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Giardini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Leonora Grilli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Alessandra Terzaghi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Lyudmyla Todyrenchuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Caterina Zavettieri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Giulia Mazzoni
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Sabrina Cozzolino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Marco Casati
- Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Patrizia Vergani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
| | - Anna Locatelli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (L.G.); (A.T.); (C.Z.); (A.L.)
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Davis JW, Seeber CE, Nathan EA, Strunk T, Gill A, Sharp M. Outcomes to 5 years of outborn versus inborn infants <32 weeks in Western Australia: a cohort study of infants born between 2005 and 2018. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2023; 108:499-504. [PMID: 36804194 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We compared mortality and morbidity of inborn versus outborn very preterm infants <32 weeks' gestation in Western Australia (WA) between 2005 and 2018. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS Infants <32 weeks' gestation who were born in WA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mortality was assessed as death before discharge home from the tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Short-term morbidities included combined brain injury (intracranial haemorrhage grade ≥3 and cystic periventricular leukomalacia) and other major neonatal outcomes. Developmental assessments at age 2, 3 and 5 years were evaluated. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis of outborn status on outcomes, controlling for gestational age, birth weight z-score, sex and multiple birth. RESULTS A total of 4974 infants were born in WA between 22 and 32 weeks' gestation between 2005 and 2018 of which 4237 (89.6%) were inborn and 443 (10.4%) were outborn. Overall mortality to discharge was higher in outborn infants (20.5% (91/443) vs 7.4% (314/4237); adjusted OR (aOR) 2.44, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.70, p<0.001). Outborn infants had higher rates of combined brain injury than those inborn (10.7% (41/384) vs 6.0% (246/4115); aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.86), p<0.001). No difference in up to 5-year developmental measures was detected. Follow-up data were available for 65% of outborn and 79% of inborn infants. CONCLUSIONS Outborn preterm infants <32 weeks in WA had increased odds of mortality and combined brain injury than those inborn. Developmental outcomes up to 5 years were similar between groups. Loss to follow-up may have impacted the long-term comparison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Davis
- Newborn Emergency Transport Service of Western Australia, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Neonatal Directorate, Child and Adolescent Health Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - C E Seeber
- Neonatal Directorate, Child and Adolescent Health Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Nathan
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tobias Strunk
- Neonatal Directorate, Child and Adolescent Health Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andy Gill
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Neonatal Directorate, Child and Adolescent Health Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mary Sharp
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Neonatal Directorate, Child and Adolescent Health Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Ninan K, Gojic A, Wang Y, Asztalos EV, Beltempo M, Murphy KE, McDonald SD. The proportions of term or late preterm births after exposure to early antenatal corticosteroids, and outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis of 1.6 million infants. BMJ 2023; 382:e076035. [PMID: 37532269 PMCID: PMC10394681 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically review the proportions of infants with early exposure to antenatal corticosteroids but born at term or late preterm, and short term and long term outcomes. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analyses. DATA SOURCES Eight databases searched from 1 January 2000 to 1 February 2023, reflecting recent perinatal care, and references of screened articles. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Randomised controlled trials and population based cohort studies with data on infants with early exposure to antenatal corticosteroids (<34 weeks) but born at term (≥37 weeks), late preterm (34-36 weeks), or term/late preterm combined. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full text articles and assessed risk of bias (Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised controlled trials and Newcastle-Ottawa scale for population based studies). Reviewers extracted data on populations, exposure to antenatal corticosteroids, and outcomes. The authors analysed randomised and cohort data separately, using random effects meta-analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the proportion of infants with early exposure to antenatal corticosteroids but born at term. Secondary outcomes included the proportions of infants born late preterm or term/late preterm combined after early exposure to antenatal corticosteroids and short term and long term outcomes versus non-exposure for the three gestational time points (term, late preterm, term/late preterm combined). RESULTS Of 14 799 records, the reviewers screened 8815 non-duplicate titles and abstracts and assessed 713 full text articles. Seven randomised controlled trials and 10 population based cohort studies (1.6 million infants total) were included. In randomised controlled trials and population based data, ∼40% of infants with early exposure to antenatal corticosteroids were born at term (low or very low certainty). Among children born at term, early exposure to antenatal corticosteroids versus no exposure was associated with increased risks of admission to neonatal intensive care (adjusted odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.19 to 1.86, one study, 5330 infants, very low certainty; unadjusted relative risk 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.51 to 1.89, three studies, 1 176 022 infants, I2=58%, τ2=0.01, low certainty), intubation (unadjusted relative risk 2.59, 1.39 to 4.81, absolute effect 7 more per 1000, 95% confidence interval from 2 more to 16 more, one study, 8076 infants, very low certainty, one study, 8076 infants, very low certainty), reduced head circumference (adjusted mean difference -0.21, 95% confidence interval -0.29 to -0.13, one study, 183 325 infants, low certainty), and any long term neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorder in population based studies (eg, any neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorder in children born at term, adjusted hazard ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.36 to 1.60, one study, 641 487 children, low certainty). CONCLUSIONS About 40% of infants exposed to early antenatal corticosteroids were born at term, with associated adverse short term and long term outcomes (low or very low certainty), highlighting the need for caution when considering antenatal corticosteroids. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022360079.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Ninan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anja Gojic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Yanchen Wang
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth V Asztalos
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marc Beltempo
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kellie E Murphy
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah D McDonald
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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17
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Fontana C, Schiavolin P, Ardemani G, Amerotti DA, Pesenti N, Bonfanti C, Boggini T, Gangi S, Porro M, Squarza C, Giannì ML, Persico N, Mosca F, Fumagalli M. To be born twin: effects on long-term neurodevelopment of very preterm infants-a cohort study. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1217650. [PMID: 37528875 PMCID: PMC10389041 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1217650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine the effect of twin birth on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in a cohort of Italian preterm infants with very low birth weight. Study design We performed a retrospective cohort study on children born in a tertiary care centre. We included children born between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2013 with a gestational age (GA) of ≤32 weeks and birth weight of <1,500 g. The infants born from twin pregnancies complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and from higher-order multiple pregnancies were excluded. The children were evaluated both at 2 years corrected age and 5 years chronological age with Griffiths mental development scales revised (GMDS-R). The linear mixed effects models were used to study the effect of being a twin vs. being a singleton on GMDS-R scores, adjusting for GA, being born small for gestational age, sex, length of NICU stay, socio-economic status, and comorbidity score (CS) calculated as the sum of the weights associated with each of the major morbidities of the infants. Results A total of 301 children were included in the study, of which 189 (62.8%) were singletons and 112 (37.2%) were twins; 23 out of 112 twins were monochorionic (MC). No statistically significant differences were observed between twins and singletons in terms of mean general quotient and subscales at both 2 and 5 years. No effect of chorionicity was found when comparing scores of MC and dichorionic twins vs. singletons; however, after adjusting for the CS, the MC twins showed lower scores in the hearing and language and performance subscales at 5 years. Conclusion Overall, in our cohort of children born very preterm, twin infants were not at higher risk of neurodevelopmental impairment compared with singletons at pre-school age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Fontana
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Schiavolin
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Ardemani
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Pesenti
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Division of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonfanti
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Boggini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Gangi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Porro
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Squarza
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Lorella Giannì
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Persico
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Surgery Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Fumagalli
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Evans CR, Nieves CI, Erickson N, Borrell LN. Intersectional inequities in the birthweight gap between twin and singleton births: A random effects MAIHDA analysis of 2012-2018 New York City birth data. Soc Sci Med 2023; 331:116063. [PMID: 37467517 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Birthweight is a widely-used biomarker of infant health, with inequities patterned intersectionally by maternal age, race/ethnicity, nativity/immigration status, and socioeconomic status in the United States. However, studies of birthweight inequities almost exclusively focus on singleton births, neglecting high-risk twin births. We address this gap using a large sample (N = 753,180) of birth records, obtained from the 2012-2018 New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Vital Statistics, representing 99% of all births registered in NYC, and a novel random coefficients intersectional MAIHDA (Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy) model. Our results show evidence of intersectional inequities in birthweight outcomes for both twin and singleton births by maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, and nativity status. Twins have considerably lower predicted birthweights than singletons overall (-930 g on average), and this is especially true for babies born to mothers who are younger (11-19 years), older (40+), racial/ethnic minoritized, foreign-born, and have lower education. However, the magnitude of this birthweight 'gap' between twins and singletons varies considerably across social identity strata, ranging between 830.8 g (observed among 40+ year old Black foreign-born mothers with high school degrees) and 1013.7 g (observed among 30-39 year old Hispanic/Latina foreign-born mothers with less than high school degrees). This study underscored the needs of a high-risk population and the need for aggressive social policies to address health inequities and dismantle intersectional systems of marginalization, oppression, and socioeconomic inequality. In addition to our substantive contributions, we add to the growing methods literature on intersectional quantitative analysis by demonstrating how to apply intersectional MAIHDA with random coefficients and random slopes. We conclude with a discussion of the significant potential for this methodological extension in future research on inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare R Evans
- Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
| | - Christina I Nieves
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Luisa N Borrell
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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Grzeszczak K, Kapczuk P, Kupnicka P, Mularczyk M, Kwiatkowski S, Chlubek D, Kosik-Bogacka D. Preliminary Study of Iron Concentration in the Human Placenta in Twin Pregnancies. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050749. [PMID: 37238619 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy significantly increases the demand for iron (Fe) in the female body to facilitate maternal blood volume expansion, placental development, and fetal growth. As Fe flux in pregnancy is significantly influenced by the placenta, the aim of this study was to determine the dependencies between the Fe concentration in the placenta, the infant's morphometric parameters and the woman's morphological blood parameters in the last trimester. METHODS The study was conducted on 33 women with multiple (dichorionic-diamniotic) pregnancies from whom the placentas were drawn, and their 66 infants, including pairs of monozygotic (n = 23) and mixed-sex twins (n = 10). Fe concentrations were determined based on inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) using ICAP 7400 Duo, Thermo Scientific. RESULTS The results of the analysis showed that lower placental Fe concentrations were associated with deteriorated morphometric parameters of infants, including weight and head circumference. Although we found no statistically significant dependencies between Fe concentration in the placenta and the women's morphological blood parameters, higher Fe concentration in the placenta of mothers supplemented with Fe correlated with better morphometric parameters in infants compared to those whose mothers received no Fe supplementation. CONCLUSIONS The research adds additional knowledge for placental iron-related processes during multiple pregnancies. However, many limitations of the study do not allow detailed conclusions to be assessed, and statistical data should be assessed conservatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Grzeszczak
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Patrycja Kapczuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Patrycja Kupnicka
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Maciej Mularczyk
- Chair and Department of Human and Clinical Anatomy, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Sebastian Kwiatkowski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Dariusz Chlubek
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Danuta Kosik-Bogacka
- Independent Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Botany, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
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Integrative Review of Cobedding of Infant Twins. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2023; 52:128-138. [PMID: 36702163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To synthesize the evidence on the benefits and risks of cobedding for infant twins and to assess the perceptions and practices of parents and health care workers regarding this practice. DATA SOURCES We searched the following databases for articles published between 1997 and 2022: CINAHL, Cochrane, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION We included full-text articles published in English in which the authors addressed twin cobedding in hospital or home settings. We reviewed the abstracts of 106 articles and retained 54 for full-text review. Of these, 18 met eligibility criteria and were included in the review. DATA EXTRACTION We extracted the following data: author(s), year of publication, setting, purpose, study design, sample characteristics, methodologic details, outcomes and findings, and limitations. We appraised the quality of each study. DATA SYNTHESIS In the included articles, researchers identified no differences in apnea, heart rate, or oxygen saturation between cobedded and separately bedded infants. Compared to separately bedded infants, cobedded infants had greater weight gain and synchronization of sleep-wake states. Researchers found benefits for procedural pain relief and recovery after heel lance among cobedded infants. Researchers report that many parents are choosing to cobed their twins, but we found limited qualitative data exploring parents' perceptions or practices. In the included articles, nurses had positive perceptions of twin cobedding. Overall, the quality of evidence was low because of inconsistencies in study methods and small sample sizes that resulted in imprecise results. CONCLUSION We found potential benefits and no evidence of harm related to cobedding of twin infants. However, the evidence was insufficient to provide recommendations for practice, and additional research is warranted.
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Thatrimontrichai A, Phatigomet M, Maneenil G, Dissaneevate S, Janjindamai W. Risk Factors for Mortality or Major Morbidities of Very Preterm Infants: A Study from Thailand. Am J Perinatol 2023. [PMID: 36669757 DOI: 10.1055/a-2016-7568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Very preterm neonates have high rates of composite outcomes featuring mortality and major morbidities. If the modifiable risk factors could be identified, perhaps the rates could be decreased especially in resource-limited settings. STUDY DESIGN We performed a prospective study in a Thai neonatal intensive care unit to identify the risk factors of composite outcomes between 2014 and 2021. The inclusion criterion was neonates who were born in our hospital at a gestational age (GA) of less than 32 weeks. The exclusion criteria were neonates who died in the delivery room or had major congenital anomalies. The composite outcomes were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Over the 8-year study period, 555 very preterm inborn neonates without major birth defects were delivered. The composite outcomes were 29.4% (163/555). The medians (interquartile ranges) of GA and birth weights of the neonates were 29 (27-31) weeks and 1,180 (860-1,475) grams, respectively. By multivariable analysis, GA (aOR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.55-0.77), small for GA (aOR: 4.93; 95% CI: 1.79-13.58), multifetal gestation (aOR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.12-4.46), intubation within 24 hours (aOR: 5.39; 95% CI: 1.35-21.64), and severe respiratory distress syndrome (aOR: 5.00; 95% CI: 1.05-23.89) were significantly associated with composite outcomes. CONCLUSION Very preterm infants who had a lower GA were small for GA, twins or more, respiratory failure on the first day of life, and severe respiratory distress syndrome were associated with mortality and/or major morbidities. KEY POINTS · In very preterm neonates, the composite outcomes and mortality rate were 29.4 and 12.3%.. · Composite outcomes were associated with lower GA, SGA, multifetal gestation, intubation, and severe RDS.. · Mortality was associated with lower GA or Apgar score at 5minutes, SGA, and PPHN..
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Affiliation(s)
- Anucha Thatrimontrichai
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Manapat Phatigomet
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Gunlawadee Maneenil
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Supaporn Dissaneevate
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Waricha Janjindamai
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
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Perinatal characteristics and neonatal outcomes of singletons and twins in Chinese very preterm infants: a cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:89. [PMID: 36726075 PMCID: PMC9890855 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05409-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of preterm birth has been rising, and there is a paucity of nationwide data on the perinatal characteristics and neonatal outcomes of twin deliveries of very preterm infants (VPIs) in China. This study compared the perinatal characteristics and outcomes of singletons and twins admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in China. METHODS The study population comprised all infants born before 32 weeks in the Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) between January 2019 and December 2019. Three-level and population-average generalized estimating equation (GEE)/alternating logistic regression (ALR) models were used to determine the association of twins with neonatal morbidities and the use of NICU resources. RESULTS During the study period, there were 6634 (71.2%) singletons and 2680 (28.8%) twins, with mean birth weights of 1333.70 g and 1294.63 g, respectively. Twins were significantly more likely to be delivered by caesarean section (p < 0.01), have antenatal steroid usage (p = 0.048), have been conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) (p < 0.01), have a higher prevalence of maternal diabetes (p < 0.01) and be inborn (p < 0.01) than singletons. In addition, twins had a lower prevalence of small for gestational age, maternal hypertension, and primigravida mothers than singletons (all p < 0.01). After adjusting for potential confounders, twins had higher mortality rates (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.49), higher incidences of short-term composite outcomes (AOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09-1.50), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (AOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.50), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (AOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.21), more surfactant usage (AOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.41) and prolonged hospital stays (adjusted mean ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06), compared to singletons. CONCLUSION Our work suggests that twins have a greater risk of mortality, a higher incidence of RDS and BPD, more surfactant usage, and longer NICU stays than singletons among VPIs in China.
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Bae SP, Hahn WH, Park S, Jung YH, Park JY, Oh KJ, Choi CW. Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes in twin and singleton pregnancies: a Korean national cohort study. BMJ Paediatr Open 2023; 7:e001754. [PMID: 36690386 PMCID: PMC9872481 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes in preterm infants with very low birth weight were different by plurality. DESIGN Nationwide prospective cohort study. PATIENTS Twins and singletons with very low birth weight (<1500 g) who were born between 23+0 and 33+6 weeks of gestation and registered in the Korean Neonatal Network from January 2014 to December 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Morbidity and mortality before discharge from neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS Among a total of 9531 preterm infants with very low birth weight, there were 2364 (24.8%) twins and 7167 (75.2%) singletons. While 83.9% of singletons were exposed to at least one dose of antenatal corticosteroids, so were 87.9% of twins.Interaction analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on morbidities or mortality between twins and singletons in either gestational age group (23-28 weeks or 29-33 weeks).Antenatal corticosteroids significantly decreased the risk of surfactant use (adjusted relative risk (aRR): 0.972 (95% CI: 0.961 to 0.984)), high-grade intraventricular haemorrhage (aRR: 0.621 (95% CI: 0.487 to 0.794)), periventricular leucomalacia (aRR: 0.728 (95% CI: 0.556 to 0.954)) and mortality (aRR: 0.758 (95% CI: 0.679 to 0.846)) in the gestational age group of 23-28 weeks. In the gestational age group of 29-33 weeks, antenatal corticosteroids significantly decreased the risk of surfactant use (aRR: 0.914 (95% CI: 0.862 to 0.970)) and mortality (aRR: 0.409 (95% CI: 0.269 to 0.624)) but increased the risk of sepsis (aRR: 1.416 (95% CI: 1.018 to 1.969)). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that effect of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes of preterm infants with very low birth weight does not differ significantly by plurality (twin or singleton pregnancy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Phil Bae
- Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Korea
- Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Won-Ho Hahn
- Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Korea
- Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Suyeon Park
- Biostatistics, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Korea (the Republic of)
- Applied Statistics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Young Hwa Jung
- Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea (the Republic of)
- Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Jee Yoon Park
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea (the Republic of)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Kyung Joon Oh
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea (the Republic of)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Chang Won Choi
- Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea (the Republic of)
- Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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Islam MZ, Rahman MM, Khan MN. Effects of short birth interval on different forms of child mortality in Bangladesh: Application of propensity score matching technique with inverse probability of treatment weighting. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284776. [PMID: 37083714 PMCID: PMC10121045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of Short Birth Interval (SBI) is higher in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs), including Bangladesh. Previous studies in LMICs have estimated the effects of SBI on child mortality by comparing two unequal groups of mothers based on their socio-economic status. This approach may lead to overestimation or underestimation of the true effect of birth interval on child mortality, particularly when sample sizes are relatively small. OBJECTIVE We determined the effects of SBI on several forms of child mortality in Bangladesh by comparing two equal groups created by applying the propensity score matching technique. METHODS This study analyzed data from 5,941 mothers and 1,594 health facilities extracted from the 2017/18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey and the 2017 Bangladesh Health Facility Survey. The exposure variable was SBI (defined as the interval between two subsequent births <33 months: yes, no), while the outcome variables were neonatal mortality (defined as mortality within 28 days of birth: yes, no), infant mortality (defined as mortality within 1 year of birth: yes, no), and under-five mortality (defined as mortality within 5 years of birth: yes, no). Multilevel Poisson regression based on inverse probability treatment weights was used to determine the association between exposure and outcome variables. RESULTS The prevalence rates of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality were 48.8, 30.8, and 23.1 per 1000 live births, respectively. Newborns of SBI mothers were found to have a 63% higher likelihood of neonatal mortality (aPR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.08-2.46) compared to newborns of non-SBI mothers. Furthermore, the prevalence of infant mortality and under-five mortality was 1.45 times higher (aPR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.01-2.08) and 2.82 times higher (aPR, 2.82; 95% CI, 2.16-3.70), respectively, among babies born in a short interval of their immediately preceding sibling as compared to babies born in a normal interval of their immediately preceding sibling. CONCLUSIONS Findings of this study indicate that SBI is an important predictor of child mortality. Consequently, around 1 million children born in a short interval every year in Bangladesh are at risk of dying before reaching their fifth birthday. This indicates a challenge for Bangladesh to achieve the SDG 3 target to reduce neonatal and under-five mortality to 12 and 25 deaths per 1000 live births, respectively. Hence, awareness-building programs about the adverse effects of SBI and strengthening existing healthcare facilities are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zahidul Islam
- Department of Population Science, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
- Department of Population Science and Human Resource Development, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Department of Population Science and Human Resource Development, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Md Nuruzzaman Khan
- Department of Population Science, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
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Bacha LT, Hailu WB, Tesfaye Geta E. Clinical outcome and associated factors of respiratory distress syndrome among preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Adama Hospital and Medical College. SAGE Open Med 2022; 10:20503121221146068. [PMID: 36600978 PMCID: PMC9806403 DOI: 10.1177/20503121221146068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Aim of the study was to assess the clinical outcome and associated factors of respiratory distress syndrome among preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Adama Hospital and Medical College. Methods Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using 242 randomly selected medical records of preterm neonates admitted to Adama comprehensive specialized hospital. Clinical outcome was categorized as poor if the neonate died or left against advice and good if discharged after improvement. Data were coded, entered into Epidata v.7.4.2 and exported to SPSS v.27 for analysis. After initial bi-variable logistic regression analysis, predictor variables with p-value of <0.2 were included in multivariable analysis. Significant association of factors with clinical outcome was claimed at p-value <0.05 and calculated 95% adjusted odds ratio. Results Majority of admissions were male (63.2%), mean birth weight of 1440.3 g (+321.2 SD) and sepsis (82%), hypothermia (73%), and apnea (21.5%) were leading comorbidities. One hundred fifty-two (62.8%) of preterm neonates had poor outcomes. Neonates born singleton were 47% less likely to develop poor clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 0.53 (0.48-0.94). The odds of poor clinical outcomes were higher during the first 3 days of admission (adjusted odds ratio 3.83 (3.28-14.77). Extremely preterm neonates (adjusted odds ratio 4.16 (4.01-12.97), extremely low birth weight preterm neonates had higher odds of poor clinical outcome. Conclusion The study found higher poor clinical outcome among preterm neonates admitted with respiratory distress syndrome. Poor outcome was higher in lower gestational age, lower birth weight, twins and majority of it happened during 3 days of their life. Effective preventive care and initiation of low-cost, life-saving interventions including heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula and surfactant administration could significantly improve the clinical outcome of the neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wase Benti Hailu
- Department of Public Health, Institute
of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia,Wase Benti Hailu, Department of Public
Health, Wollega University, P.O. Box 395, East Wollega, Nekemte, Oromia 395,
Ethiopia.
| | - Edosa Tesfaye Geta
- Department of Public Health, Institute
of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia
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Progesterone Receptor Signaling in the Uterus Is Essential for Pregnancy Success. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091474. [PMID: 35563781 PMCID: PMC9104461 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The uterus plays an essential role in the reproductive health of women and controls critical processes such as embryo implantation, placental development, parturition, and menstruation. Progesterone receptor (PR) regulates key aspects of the reproductive function of several mammalian species by directing the transcriptional program in response to progesterone (P4). P4/PR signaling controls endometrial receptivity and decidualization during early pregnancy and is critical for the establishment and outcome of a successful pregnancy. PR is also essential throughout gestation and during labor, and it exerts critical roles in the myometrium, mainly by the specialized function of its two isoforms, progesterone receptor A (PR-A) and progesterone receptor B (PR-B), which display distinct and separate roles as regulators of transcription. This review summarizes recent studies related to the roles of PR function in the decidua and myometrial tissues. We discuss how PR acquired key features in placental mammals that resulted in a highly specialized and dynamic role in the decidua. We also summarize recent literature that evaluates the myometrial PR-A/PR-B ratio at parturition and discuss the efficacy of current treatment options for preterm birth.
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Meshram R, James A. Neonatal outcome of twins and singleton neonates: An experience from tertiary care teaching center of Eastern Maharashtra, India. J Clin Neonatol 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/jcn.jcn_50_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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