ObjectiveTo evaluate liver perfusion in pregnant women with hepatitis between 13 and 41 weeks of gestation by three-dimensional color power Doppler angiography (3D-CPA) vascular indexes. MethodsThis study involved 73 pregnant women with hepatitis and 44 healthy pregnant women who had the pregnancy examination between February 2012 and June 2013. We sampled in the area which was near the right lobe of the pregnant women liver's portal vein branch, and obtained the vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) via the virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) method. Then, we compared the liver perfusion differences between the pregnant women with hepatitis and healthy pregnant women. ResultsThe hepatic flow indexes obtained by 3D-CPA were significantly different between the HBV-DNA viral load and the control groups. The cutoff values of the three vascular indexes of patients with hepatitis with HBV-DNA viral load and the healthy pregnant women were respectively VI=8.760 (P<3×10-4); FI=22.180 (P<6×10-7); and VFI=1.575 (P<3×10-5). ConclusionApplication of the 3D-CPA on liver perfusion may differentiate pregnant women with hepatitis B from normal ones, thus offer a support for clinical prevention and treatment for pregnant women with hepatitis B.
Intravitreal anti-VEGF injection have been widely used in retinal vascular diseases and achieved good efficacy. Early pregnancy is an important period for fetal organ formation and vascular development. Studies have proved that VEGF plays an important role in maintaining the fetal and placental vascular system, and its loss or decline will affect embryonic development and lead to abortion. The use of intravitreal anti-VEGF during pregnancy is controversial, which may cause systemic side effects to the mother and fetus. This paper summarizes the literature of 23 cases on the use of anti-VEGF during pregnancy. Three cases reported loss of pregnancy with concomitant exposure to intravitreal bevacizumab, which suggested that we should be careful about the use of anti-VEGF during pregnancy and explain the possibility of ocular and systemic side effects to patients in detail. When deciding whether to use anti-VEGF, we should consider the relationship between exposure time and the critical period of vascular development and the systemic exposure of different drugs. Currently, there is a lack of large sample size studies on the use of anti-VEGF in pregnancy, and its safety needs to be further observed.
ObjectiveTo perform a meta-analysis on the positive rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody among pregnant females in China from 2008 to 2018, so as to provide scientific references for the prevention and treatment of HCV infection among pregnant females.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data were electronically searched to collect observational studies on the positive rate of HCV antibody among pregnant females in China from January, 2008 to December, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 15.0 software.ResultsA total of 108 studies involving 657 765 individuals were included. Results of meta-analysis showed that the overall positive rate of HCV antibody among pregnant females in Chinese was 0.235% (95%CI 0.189% to 0.286%). Subgroup analysis showed that the positive rate of HCV antibody among pregnant females in western China to be the highest 0.291% (95%CI 0.221% to 0.378%), the northeast China to be 0.240% (95%CI 0.099% to 0.442%), the central China to be 0.235% (95%CI 0.016% to 0.319%), and the east China to be the lowest 0.193 % (95%CI 0.119% to 0.281%). The HCV antibody positive rate of pregnant females from hospital was 0.291% (95%CI 0.221% to 0.372%) and was higher than that from AIDS surveillance site which was 0.164% (95%CI 0.122% to 0.207%).ConclusionsThe prevalence of HCV antibody among pregnant females maintains at a low level in China.
Objective To formulate an evidence-based conclusion concerning ultrasound screening for fetal malformations for a pregnant woman after 12 gestational weeks. Methods Based on the clinical problem of whether pregnant women need ultrasound screening for fetal malformations after 11-14 gestational weeks, we used “ultrasound or sonography and prenatal or fetal at first trimester or 11-14 weeks; ultrasound exposure; fetal development” as the keywords and searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2008), MEDLINE (1981 to 2008), ACP Journal Club (1991 to 2008), and BMJ Clinical Evidence (1999 to 2008) for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed to identify the current best evidence. Results Three systematic reviews, two RCTs and ten cohort studies were retrieved. The results showed ultrasound screening detected different fetal malformations in the first, second and third trimester. Not all of the fetal malformations could be detected through prenatal ultrasound screening. Nuchal translucency (NT) measurement as a tool for screening chromosomally abnormal fetuses and detecting fetal malformations by ultrasound proved to be effective if performed within 11-14 gestational weeks. The routine second trimester screening, however, could not be replaced by a detailed ultrasound examination at 11-14 gestational weeks. Most of the trials concluded that the effect of ultrasound on a fetus was not harmful. Conclusion The findings of this study should reassure physicians and parents alike that ultrasound screening is an appropriate option for the pregnant women after 12 gestational weeks.
Objective To compare the central foveal thickness (CFT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia. Methods A prospective control study. Twenty normal subjects, 20 healthy pregnant women and 20 patients with pre-eclampsia were included. The difference of gestational weeks between healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia was not significant (χ2=0.012, P=0.913). The differences of age and spherical equivalent among normal subjects, healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia were not significant (χ2=1.760, 0.087; P=0.413, 0.957). All eyes underwent optical coherence tomography examination to measure the CFT and SFCT. Results The mean CFT of normal subjects, healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia were (194.40±16.17), (201.2±17.33), (199.00±15.46) μm, there was no significant difference among the three groups (χ2=0.888, P=0.641). The mean SFCT of normal subjects, healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia were (263.45±69.66), (330.00±49.20), (373.40±52.00) μm, there was significant difference among the three groups (χ2=22.818, P=0.000). The mean SFCT of healthy pregnant women was increased than that of normal subjects (Z=−2.991, P=0.002). The mean SFCT of patients with pre-eclampsia was increased than that of healthy pregnant women (Z=−2.638, P=0.007). Conclusion The mean SFCT of patients with pre-eclampsia is increased than healthy pregnant women.
ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the diet during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and analyze the effect of GDM on weight gain, outcome and complication of mother and infant. MethodsWe selected 128 GDM pregnant women and 267 non-GDM pregnant women who were investigated by semi-quantitative food frequency method during September 2009 to March 2011. Then, we collected relevant information and the data were analyzed by t-test and chi-square test. ResultsThere were statistically significant differences between the two groups in total calorie, carbohydrate, fat and protein intakes per day (P<0.05). In general, the rates of insufficient weight gain and excessive weight gain during pregnancy in the GDM group were significantly higher than the non-GDM group (P<0.05), while proper weight gain rate was significantly lower (P<0.01). The risk of hydramnion, intrahepatic cholestasis and pregnancy-induced hypertension in the GDM group was significantly higher than the non-GDM group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two groups in premature delivery, cesarean section or premature membrane ruptures (P>0.05). Apgar scores were significantly different at minute 1 and 5 between the infants in the two groups (P<0.05). The incidence of fetal death, malformation, mild neonatal asphyxia and fetal macrosomia in the GDM group was significantly higher than the non-GDM group (P<0.05). No significant differences between the two groups in low birth weight infant, cord entanglement and fetal distress were detected (P>0.05). ConclusionGDM can lead to high incidence of poor outcome and complication. It is vital to strengthen the examination and keep balanced dietary structure, in order to reduce the complication and improve the health of mother and child.
Objective To investigate the methodological characteristics of observational studies on the correlation between drug exposure during pregnancy and birth defects. Methods The PubMed database was searched from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 to identify observational studies investigating the correlation between drug use during pregnancy and birth defects. Literature screening and data extraction were conducted by two researchers and statistical analysis was performed using R 3.6.1 software. Results A total of 40 relevant articles were identified, of which 8 (20.0%) were published in the four major medical journals and their sub-journals, 21 (42.5%) were conducted in Europe and the United States, and 4 were conducted (10.0%) in China. Cohort studies (30, 75.0%) and case-control studies (10, 25%) were the most commonly used study designs. Sixteen studies (40.0%) did not specify how the databases were linked. Sixteen studies (40.0%) did not report a clear definition of exposure, while 17 studies (42.5%) defined exposure as prescribing a drug that could not be guaranteed to have been taken by the pregnant women, possibly resulting in misclassification bias. Six studies (15.0%) did not report the diagnostic criteria for birth defects and 18 studies (45.0%) did not report the types of birth defects. In addition, 33 studies (82.5%) did not control for confounding factors in the study design, while only 19 studies (47.5%) considered live birth bias. Conclusion Improvements are imperative in reporting and conducting observational studies on the correlation between drug use during pregnancy and birth defects. This includes the methods for linking data sources, definition of exposure and outcomes, and control of confounding factors. Methodological criteria are needed to improve the quality of these studies to provide higher quality evidence for policymakers and researchers.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the correlation between maternal serum selenium levels during pregnancy and premature birth.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI and CBM were searched to collect studies on correlation between maternal serum selenium levels during pregnancy with preterm birth in the offspring from inception to January, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated risk of bias of the included literature. Then, meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 12 studies involving 2 484 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with control group, the preterm group had lower serum selenium levels in pregnant females (SMD=−0.89, 95%CI −1.56 to −0.22, P=0.01). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that heterogeneity among subjects was still large when grouped accorcding to the continent to which a country belongs, the time of blood sample collection and test method in pregnant females.ConclusionsLow maternal serum selenium levels during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth. Due to the limitation of the quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by more high quality studies.
Objective To compare the economic effectiveness of universal screening, high-risk population screening, and no screening strategies for thyroid disease prevention and control among pregnant women in China through cost-effectiveness analysis, providing evidence-based support for optimizing health policy decisions on prenatal thyroid disease screening. Methods Based on the characteristics of thyroid disorders during pregnancy, a combined decision tree and Markov model was developed to conduct a lifetime cost-effectiveness analysis across three strategies: no screening, high-risk population screening, and universal screening. Sensitivity analyses were performed on key parameters. Results Base-case analysis demonstrated that universal screening was the most cost-effective strategy when the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended payment threshold of 1×gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was used, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 20636.18 yuan per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) compared to no screening, followed by high-risk population screening (ICER=21071.71 yuan/QALY). The results of the sensitivity analysis showed a strong stability of the model. Conclusions Of the 3 screening programs for thyroid disease in pregnancy, universal screening is the most cost-effective when the WHO-recommended payment threshold of 1×GDP per capita is used.
ObjectiveTo discuss clinical characteristics and nursing countermeasure of pregnant/delivery women with tuberculosis. MethodsFrom January 2012 to December 2013, 52 cases of pregnant women complicated with tuberculosis were included. We offered specific nursing according to the psychological counseling, reasonable administration, diet nursing, fever and prevention of hospital infection on the base of their clinical features, and then analyzed the effect. ResultsIn 52 patients who had undergone the tuberculosis and obsterrics and gynecology treatment, 4 puerperal patients died of severe pneumonia and multiple organ failure; in 48 gestational patients with tuberculosis, 23 early-middle term patients accept termination of pregnancy, and in 25 middle-late term patients, 3 had full-term natural labor, 4 underwent full-term cesarean section, 5 had premature labor, and 13 continued the pregnacy. Sixteen neonatus (including 4 given at the other hospitals) had normal results of physical examination without any deformity, in whom 5 had low body weight (body weight less than 2500 g), with negative results of tuberculin test and the result of 3-moth follow-up was normal. Three months after the anti-tuberculosis treatment, the lesion was obviously absorbed in 25 patients and in 23 patients within half of a year. No patients had hospital infection. ConclusionNursing care of pregnant patients with tuberculosis should strengthen the guidance on the patients health education, improve their compliance and self-protection knowledge. Also should strengthen the basic level medical personnel training and improve the ability of early diagnosis of tuberculosis and early treatment to reduce maternal mortality.