Katherine Wolfe

The effect of maternal obesity on the rate of failed induction of labor.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between class of obesity and rate of failed induction of labor. STUDY DESIGN Using the Ohio Department of Healths birth certificate database from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007, we performed a population-based cohort study that compared failed induction of labor rates between obese and normal-weight women. RESULTS The rate of induction is associated with increasing body mass index from 28% in normal-weight women to 34% in class III obese women (body mass index, ≥40 kg/m2). Induction failure rates are also associated with increasing obesity class from 13% in normal-weight women to 29% in class III obese women. Women with class III obesity without a previous vaginal delivery and a macrosomic fetus had the highest rate of failed induction at 80%. CONCLUSION Obesity is associated with an increased risk of failed labor induction that appears to be related directly to increasing class of obesity.

Modulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced chorioamnionitis by Ureaplasma parvum in sheep

OBJECTIVE Ureaplasma colonization in the setting of polymicrobial flora is common in women with chorioamnionitis, and is a risk factor for preterm delivery and neonatal morbidity. We hypothesized that Ureaplasma colonization of amniotic fluid would modulate chorioamnionitis induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). STUDY DESIGN Sheep received intraamniotic (IA) injections of media (control) or live Ureaplasma either 7 or 70 days before delivery. Another group received IA LPS 2 days before delivery. To test for interactions, U parvum-exposed animals were challenged with IA LPS, and delivered 2 days later. All animals were delivered preterm at 125 ± 1 day of gestation. RESULTS Both IA Ureaplasma and LPS induced leukocyte infiltration of chorioamnion. LPS greatly increased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and myeloperoxidase in leukocytes, while Ureaplasma alone caused modest responses. Interestingly, 7-day but not 70-day Ureaplasma exposure significantly down-regulated LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines and myeloperoxidase expression in the chorioamnion. CONCLUSION Acute (7-day) U parvum exposure can suppress LPS-induced chorioamnionitis.

The influence of hospital type on induction of labor and mode of delivery

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare labor induction and cesarean delivery rates at term in community vs university hospitals. STUDY DESIGN A population-based retrospective cohort study of births was performed. Primary outcomes were term gestation at <39 weeks, labor induction, and cesarean delivery. After we adjusted for comorbidities, malpresentation, and previous cesarean delivery, logistic regression assessed the association between hospital type and primary outcomes. RESULTS Births occur less often in week 37 (n = 24390 [11%] vs 4006 [13%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-0.9) and are similar in week 38 in community vs university hospitals. Inductions occur more commonly in community vs university settings at 37 weeks (n = 6440 [27%] vs 757 [19%]; adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.8) and at 38 weeks (n = 16586 [31%] vs 1530 [21%]; adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.7-1.9). Cesarean rates are no different between hospital types. CONCLUSION Induction is 70-80% more likely at community vs university hospitals before the optimal gestational age of ≥ 39 weeks, but cesarean delivery rates do not differ at term.

Modulation of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Chorioamnionitis in Fetal Sheep by Maternal Betamethasone

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that the order of exposure to maternal betamethasone and intra-amniotic (IA) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) will differentially modulate inflammation in the chorioamnion. Study Design: Time-mated Merino ewes with singleton fetuses received saline alone, IA LPS alone, maternal betamethasone before LPS, or betamethasone after LPS. We assessed inflammatory markers in the chorioamnion and the amniotic fluid. Results: Inflammatory cell infiltration, expression of myeloperoxidase, serum amyloid A3 (acute phase reactant) in the chorioamnion, and levels of interleukin (IL)-8 in the amniotic fluid increased 7 days after LPS exposure. Betamethasone prior to LPS decreased infiltration of the inflammatory cells, CD3+ T cells, and decreased the levels of IL-1β and IL-8 in the amniotic fluid. Conclusions: Betamethasone 7 days prior to LPS exposure suppressed LPS-induced inflammation. The markers of inflammation largely had returned to the baseline 14 days after LPS exposure.

Influence of Adolescence and Obesity on the Rate of Stillbirth

BACKGROUND We hypothesise that the rate of stillbirth is increased in mothers younger than 18 years of age compared to adult mothers, and that obesity further increases the risk of stillbirth in this population. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study comparing rates of stillbirth between adolescent, defined as young women under the age of 18 and adult women. We then compared the rate of stillbirth in normal weight vs. obese adolescents. These effects were stratified according to gestational age. Log-binomial regression models were used to estimate the effect of adolescence and obesity on stillbirth risk while adjusting for important confounders. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals [CI]were calculated. RESULTS We reviewed data from 650 760 births in Missouri between 1998 and 2005. Stillbirth rates were 6.7 and 4.1 per 1000 in adolescents and adult women, respectively (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.03-1.5). A higher proportion of stillbirths occurred prior to 28 weeks in adolescents vs. adults (53% vs. 37% respectively, P = 0.002). The risk of stillbirth in obese adolescents was further increased over normal weight adolescents (adjusted RR [aRR] 1.7, 95% CI 1.02-2.9). CONCLUSION Adolescent pregnancies, particularly obese adolescents, are at an increased risk of stillbirth.

Fetal Cervical Teratoma: What Is the Role of Fetal MRI in Predicting Pulmonary Hypoplasia?

Objective: To determine whether total fetal lung volumes estimated by MRI could predict lethal pulmonary hypoplasia in a cohort of fetuses with cervical teratomas. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of fetal cervical teratomas from January 1, 2005, through April 1, 2012. The primary outcome was the ability of total lung volumes measured by MRI to predict neonatal mortality specifically due to pulmonary hypoplasia. Measured lung volumes were compared to previously reported normal values. The percent of observed-to-expected lung volume and the percent predicted lung volume were calculated. The positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each variable. Results: Fetal MRI-derived total lung volumes 1 standard deviation below the median for gestational age had a positive predictive value of 100% in predicting lethal pulmonary hypoplasia. Conversely, total lung volumes above this level were uniformly associated with pulmonary survival (100% negative predictive value). Additionally, percent predicted lung volume ≤75.7 and observed-to-expected lung volume ≤68.3 were associated with lethal pulmonary hypoplasia. Conclusion: In this small cohort, MRI-estimated lung volumes were helpful in predicting the presence of pulmonary hypoplasia complicating fetal cervical teratoma.

Neonatal morbidity by week of gestational age for twins compared to singletons: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE Quantify neonatal morbidity by week of gestation for twins compared with singletons. STUDY DESIGN We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study of all Ohio births from 2006 to 2007. Composite neonatal morbidity consisting of Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, assisted ventilation > 6 hours, neonatal transport, or seizures was compared between singletons and twins from 34 to 41 weeks. RESULTS Neonatal morbidity was the lowest in twins delivered at 37 completed weeks and 2 weeks later for singletons at 39 weeks. Twin morbidity rapidly increased after 37 weeks and reached 15.8% at 41 weeks versus the singleton morbidity rate of 3.4% at 41 weeks. Twins delivered at 39 weeks and beyond were more than twice as likely to incur neonatal morbidity compared with singletons. CONCLUSION The lowest rate of neonatal morbidity occurs at 37 weeks for twins versus 39 weeks for singleton births. The increased risk after 37 weeks for twins accelerates at a faster rate compared with that for singletons born past 39 weeks.

Contents Vol. 33, 2013

R. Achiron, Tel Hashomer N.S. Adzick, Philadelphia, Pa. L. Allan, London A.A. Baschat, Baltimore, Md. K.J. Blakemore, Baltimore, Md. T.-H. Bui, Stockholm F.A. Chervenak, New York, N.Y. T. Chiba, Tokyo R. Chmait, Los Angeles, Calif. F. Crispi, Barcelona J.E. De Lia, Milwaukee, Wisc. J.A. Deprest, Leuven G.C. Di Renzo, Perugia J.W. Dudenhausen, Berlin N.M. Fisk, Brisbane, Qld. A.W. Flake, Philadelphia, Pa. U. Gembruch, Bonn M.R. Harrison, San Francisco, Calif. J.C. Hobbins, Denver, Colo. L.K. Hornberger, San Francisco, Calif. E.R.M. Jauniaux, London M.P. Johnson, Philadelphia, Pa. C. Jorgensen, Copenhagen J.-M. Jouannic, Paris P.M. Kyle, London O. Lapaire, Basel S. Lipitz, Tel-Hashomer G. Malinger, Holon G. Mari, Detroit, Mich. M. Martinez-Ferro, Buenos Aires K.J. Moise, Houston, Tex. F. Molina, Granada K.H. Nicolaides, London D. Oepkes, Leiden L. Otaño, Buenos Aires Z. Papp, Budapest R.A. Quintero, Miami, Fla. G. Ryan, Toronto J. Rychik, Philadelphia, Pa. H. Sago, Tokyo W. Sepulveda, Santiago P. Stone, Auckland D.V. Surbek, Bern B.J. Trudinger, Westmead, N.S.W. J.M.G. van Vugt, Amsterdam Y. Ville, Paris Clinical Advances and Basic Research