Prediction of Hypotension During Neuraxial Anesthesia in Patients with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension Through Subclavian Vein Collapsibility Index

Objective:To explore and evaluate the predictive value of subclavian vein collapsibility index(SCV-CI)on hypotension during neuraxial anesthesia in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH).Methods:Pregnant women with PIH who underwent elective cesarean section in our hospital from January to July 2021 were selected as the research subjects.Patients who experienced hypotension during anesthesia were included into the hypotension group,whereas patients who had a normal blood pressure during anesthesia were included in the normotensive group.The SCV-CI was then calculated for three respiratory cycles,the average value was taken as the base value,and the patient was monitored for another 20 minutes.The blood pressure,heart rate,blood oxygen saturation,and SCV-CI of the patients were measured,and the incidence of maternal nausea and vomiting and cord blood gas were recorded.Then,a correlation analysis was conducted on the relationship between subclavian vein collapsibility index and hypotension.A receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to seek the threshold value of subclavian vein collapsibility index for post-anesthesia hypotension.Results:There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),and heart rate(HR)between the two groups before anesthesia(P>0.05).After anesthesia,the above indexes(SBP,103.25±12.48 mmHg;DBP,58.94±7.46 mmHg;and HR,52.96±6.48 beats/min)were significantly lower than those of the normal blood pressure group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).In comparison,the SCV-CI in the hypotension group was 35.82±4.93%greater than that in the normal blood pressure group(23.85±5.27%),and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in the hypotension group(40.0%)was significantly higher than that in the normotensive group(10.53%),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The area under the curve of SCV-CI prediction against hypotension in patients with PIH under neuraxial anesthesia was 0.825(95%CI:0.762-0.893,P<0.001),the cut-off value was 25.68%,the predictive sensitivity was 92.68%,and the specificity was 81.24%.Conclusion:SCV-CI has a good predictive value for the occurrence of hypotension in patients with PIH during neuraxial anesthesia.

Change of hs-CRP,sVCAM-1,NT-proBNP levels in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension after therapy with magnesium sulfate and nifudipine

Objective:To investigate the change of the hs-CRP,sVC AM-1,NT-proBNP levels of the patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) syndrome.Methods:A total of 200 patients with PIH were divided into mild,moderate and severe group,and 50 healthy pregnancy patients served as the control group.The serum sVCAM-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,hs-CRP were detected by immunity transmission turbidity,and NT-proBNP levels were determined by the colloidal gold method.Patients were treated with magnesium sulfate and nifudipine and the contrastive analysis was performed before and after treatment.And the pathological changes in placental of PIH patients were delected by hematoxylin-eosin staining at the same time.Results:The hs-CRP,sVCAM-l,NT-proBNP levels of patients in the mild, moderate and severe PHI group were significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). The hs-CKP,sVCAM-l,NT-proBNP levels in the severe group were significantly higher than the mild group and the moderate group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The hsCRP,sVCAM-l,NT-proBNP of the moderate group were significantly higher than the mild group(P<0.05).There was a positive correlation between hs-CRP,sVCAM-1,NT-proBNP expression levels and the degree of the PIH.The expression of hs-CRP,sVCAM-1,NT-proBNP levels of the moderate and the severe group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The number of placental villi and interstitial blood vessel in the moderate and severe PIH group were significantly less than the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:The increased levels of serum hs-CRP,sVCAM-1, NT-proBNP may be involved in the process of vascular endothelial cell injury of the PIH,and the hs-CRP,sVCAM-1,NT-proBNP can be used as the auxiliary index for diagnosis of PIH and determination of PIH severity.

Increased Oxidative Stress in Women With Pregnancy-induced Hypertension

Objective To investigate whether pregnancy-induced hypertension （PIH） may increase oxidative stress in women with PIH, and to explore the mechanisms by which PIH may increase oxidative stress and potential free radical damage. Methods Seventy women with PIH and seventy women with uncomplicated normotensive pregnancy （UNP） whose age, nutritional conditions, levels of hemoglobin and albumin were all matched, were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Their plasma concentrations of nitric oxide （NO）, vitamin C （VC）, vitamin E （VE）, and β-carotene （β-CAR） as well as their erythrocyte malondialdehyde （MDA）, and activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and glutathione peroxidase （GPX） were determined by spcctrophotometry. Results Compared with average values of the above experimental parameters in the women with UNP, the average value of erythrocyte MDA in the women with PIH significantly increased （P〈0.0001）, while the average values of plasma NO, VC, VE, and β-CAR as well as those of erythrocyte SOD, CAT, and GPX in the women with PIH significantly decreased （P〈0.0005-0.0001）. The findings from partial correlation analysis （controlling for age） for 70 women with PIH showed that with elevated systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP）, MDA value gradually increased （P〈0.001）, and NO, VC, VE, β-CAR, SOD, CAT, and GPX values gradually decreased （P〈0.02-0.001）. The findings from reliability analysis for NO, VC, VE, β-CAR, SOD, CAT, GPX, and MDA values used to reflect increased oxidative stress and potential free radical damage in women with PIH showed that the reliability coefficients （alpha, 8 items） = 0.7062, P〈 0.0001, and the standardized item alpha = 0.9116, P〈 0.0001. Conclusion The findings in the present research suggest that pregnancy-induced hypertension can increase oxidative stress and potential free radical damage in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Expression of TGF-β1 in Placenta of the Patients with Pregnancy-induced Hypertension and Its relationship with Serum VCAM-1

The expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in placental tissue of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and the relationship between the level of expression of TGF-β1 and the amount of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in serum was studied. Immunohistochemistry ABC was used to detect the expression and distribution of TGF-β1 in placental tissues in 40 PIH women and 20 normal pregnancy women. High resolution pathological image analysis system was used to determine the quality of TGF-β1. The VCAM-1 in serum was examined by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that TGF-β1 could be express in syncytiotrophoblast. The levels of TGF-β1 expression in placental tissues of the patients with moderate and severe PIH were significantly higher (P<0.05), while the serum VCAM-1 was significantly lower than in normal group (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of TGF-β1 in placental tissues and the serum VCAM-1 (r=0.969, P<0.01). It was concluded that the level of TGF-β1 expression in PIH was increased and was positively correlated with the amount of serum VCAM-1, indicating that they might be involved in the pathogenesis of PIH.

Second-trimester maternal β-human chorionic gonadotropin level associated with subsequent development of pregnancy-induced hypertension

Objective:To determine whether maternal β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-hCG) level in second-trimester may be associated with subsequent development of pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH).Methods:Seven hundred and sixty-two women in mid-trimester were to have maternal urine β-hCG standardized concentrations and maternal serum β-hCG measurements.Their case histories were recorded and reviewed from mid-trimester to delivery.The relation was observed between maternal urine,serum markers and subsequent development of PIH.Results:Among 762 women,504 cases were normal pregnancies,42 cases had PIH,94 cases had premature rupture of membrane (PROM),69 cases had preterm delivery (PD),53 other cases were excluded by various reasons.The levels of maternal urine,serum β-hCG in PIH were (61.75±9.78) IU/L and (304.56±54.17) ng/mg respectively,which were higher significantly than normal pregnancy group ([20.65±7.61] IU/L and [146.34±47.81] ng/mg,P<0.05).When maternal serum,urine β-hCG levels ≥2 MOM(multiple of mean),the incidences of developing PIH were increased significantly as compared with those of β-hCG <2 MOM women.The incidence of PIH increased from 5.1% in pregnancies with urine β-hCG ≥2 MOM to 11.7% in cases with urine β-hCG ≥4 MOM.Conclusion:The elevation of maternal mid-trimester urine,serum β-hCG levels is not only an early signal for dysfunction of placenta but also a dangerous signal for development of PIH.Second-trimester maternal urine β-hCG measurement proves to be superior to serum marker in clinical prediction.

Effect of nifedipine combined with Magnesium Sulfate on oxidative stress,hemorheology,platelet active substances and renal function in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension

Objective: To investigate effect of nifedipine combined with Magnesium Sulfate on levels of oxidative stress, blood rheology, platelet active substance and renal function in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Methods: A total of 99 cases of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension were selected as the study object, according to random data table, they were divided into control group (n=50) and observation group (n=49), patients in control group were treated with Magnesium Sulfate, while patients in the observation group received Magnesium Sulfate combined with nifedipine treatment, levels of blood pressure and oxidative stress, blood rheology, platelet activity and renal function index before and after treatment of both groups were compared. Results: There were no significant difference of the level of DBP, SBP, Tac, MDA, SOD, high/low shear blood viscosity, PV, HCT, CD62P, CD63, GPⅡb/Ⅲa, SCr and BUN before treatment between control group and the observation group. Compared with intragroup before treatment, the levels of DBP, SBP, MDA, high/low shear blood viscosity, PV, HCT, CD62P, CD63, GPⅡb/Ⅲa, SCr and BUN after treatment of the two groups were significantly decreased, and the levels of the observation group after treatment was significantly lower than those in the control group, the difference was statistically significant;Compared with level of SOD and Tac, after treatment, the levels of SOD and Tac of the two groups were significantly higher than those in the same group before treatment, and levels of the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group, the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Nifedipine combined with magnesium sulfate treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can effectively reduce the blood pressure level of patients, improve the levels of oxidative stress, blood rheology and platelet active substance, protect renal function, with an important clinical value.

The Expression of PLF in Placenta in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and the Relationship between the PLF and Serum VCAM-1

To study the expression of placental isoferritin (PLF) in placental tissue of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and the relationship between the level of expression of PLF and the amount of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in serum, immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of PLF in placenta tissue in 45 PIH patients (PIH group) and 15 normal pregnant women (normal group). High resolution pathological image analysis system (HPIAS-100) was employed to determine the quantity of PLF. The VCAM-1 in serum was examined by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the levels of PLF expressions in moderate and severe PIH patients were significantly lower than that of normal group (P<0. 01). The serum VCAM-1 was significantly decreased in PIH group (1310±177 ρ/ng/ml) than that of normal group (609±72 ρ/ng/ml, P<0. 01). The significant negative correlation existed between the expression of PLF in placental tissue and the serum VACM-1 (r=-0. 58, P<0. 01). It was concluded that the level of PLF expression in PIH decreases and is negatively correlated with the amount of serum VCAM-1, indicating that these may be involved in the pathogenesis of PIH.

The Activity of Plasma Platelet-activating Factor Derived from Pregnant Women before and after Delivery and lts Relation to Pregnancy-induced Hypertension

The activity of plasma platelet-activating factor(PAF) from pregnant women before and after delivery was determined. Plasma samples were taken from 74 pregnant women, among whom 24 were normotensive controls, 30 mild and moderate hypertensive and 20 severe hypertensive. Of the two hypertensive groups(pregnancy-induced hypertension, PIH), PAF activity measured by a bioassay was significantly higher than that of normotensive control at 38 weeks in gestation , indicating a possible role of this potent lipid mediator in the pathophysiological mechanism of PIH. After delivery, PAF activity was obviously increased in all three groups , showing the regulation of placenta in PAF metabolism.

A algorithm for prediction of exudative retinal detachment risk of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension

AIM:To investigate the risk of exudative retinal detachment(ERD)morbidity in patients with pregnancyinduced hypertension(PIH)by using the logistic regression combined with the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.METHODS:A total of 46 patients with ERD and 142 patients with non-ERD were diagnosed as PIH from January 2017 to February 2020.A retrospective comparison of the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests were conducted.The risk of ERD morbidity with PIH was predicted by using logistic regression combined with an ROC curve model.RESULTS:There was no significant difference in age and body mass index between the two groups before pregnancy(P>0.05).However,significant differences were found in gestational weeks,duration of hypertension,maximum and minimum systolic and diastolic blood pressure(BP),and plasma total protein(PTP)concentration between the two groups(P<0.05).Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum systolic BP(OR=1.050,95%CI:1.016-1.085)and PTP concentration(OR=0.764,95%CI:0.702-0.832)were independent prediction risks of ERD in PIH.The sensitivities of maximum systolic BP,PTP concentration and combined diagnosis were 0.717,0.870,and 0.870,respectively;the specificities were 0.617,0.837,and 0.908,respectively;the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.707(95%CI:0.622-0.792),0.917(95%CI:0.868-0.967),and 0.933(95%CI:0.890-0.975),respectively;the AUC of combined diagnosis was higher than that of single diagnosis(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Logistic regression and ROC curve model combined with maximum systolic BP and PTP can improve the early identification of high-risk PIH patients in the hospital.

Effect of low-dose aspirin and Danshen injection on hemorheology, vascular endothelial function and oxidative stress in pregnancy-induced hypertension

Objective:To investigate the effect of low dose aspirin and salvia miltiorrhiza injection on hemorrheology, endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension.Methods: One hundred and eighty pregnancy-induced hypertension patients treated in our hospital from April 2015 to November 2016 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into control group and observation group with 90 cases in each group. The control group was given routine treatment. The observation group was treated with low-dose aspirin plus Salvia miltiorrhiza in the control group. After treatment, blood rheology, vascular endothelial function and oxidative stress were measured in two groups.Results: The levels of MAP and 24 h Upro in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment. After treatment, the MAP and 24 h Upro levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. After treatment, the level of PT was significantly higher than that before treatment, while the level of DD and Fg was significantly lower than that before treatment. Comparing the two groups after treatment showed that the PT level, and the levels of DD and Fg were significantly lower than those in the control group;After treatment, NO levels in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment, ET-1 and ET-1/NO levels were significantly lower than before treatment, after treatment, ET-1, NO and ET The NO level in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while ET-1 and ET-1/NO levels were significantly lower than those in the control group;Compared with those before treatment, the levels of SOD in the two groups were significantly increased and MDA significantly decreased after treatment. The SOD and MDA levels in the two groups after treatment showed that the SOD level in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while MDA level was significantly lower than that of the control group.Conclusion: The combination of low-dose aspirin and Salvia miltiorrhiza injection has significant therapeutic effect on gestational hypertension, and can effectively improve the hemorheological parameters and endothelial function of patients and reduce the oxidative stress injury in patients. It is worth further clinical promotion.

Analysis of factors related to postpartum depression in pregnancyinduced hypertension syndrome patients and construction and evaluation of nomograms

BACKGROUND It is positive to integrate and evaluate the risk factors for postpartum depression in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome and to detect highrisk patients as early as possible,which has application value for the clinical development of personalized prevention programs and prognosis of patients.AIM To analyze factors related to postpartum depression in patients with pregnancyinduced hypertension and construct and evaluate a nomogram model.METHODS The clinical data of 276 patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension admitted to Huzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital between January 2017 and April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.We evaluated the depression incidence at 6 wk postpartum.The depression group included patients with postpartum depression,and the remainder were in the non-depression group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis and the LASSO regression model were applied to analyze the factors related to postpartum depression in patients with pregnancyinduced hypertension.After that,a risk prediction model nomogram was constructed and evaluated.RESULTS Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that vitamin A deficiency(VAD)during pregnancy and puerperium,family history of hypertension,maternal intestinal flora imbalance,eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA),and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)were independent risk factors for postpartum depression in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(P<0.05).We constructed the nomogram model based on these five risk factors.The area under the curve,specificity,and sensitivity of the model in predicting postpartum depression in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension was 0.867(95%confidence interval:0.828–0.935),0.676,and 0.889,respectively.The average absolute error was 0.037(Hosmer-Lemeshow testχ2=10.739,P=0.217).CONCLUSION VAD during pregnancy and puerperium,family history of hypertension,maternal intestinal flora imbalance,EPA,and DHA affect postpartum depression in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection on Blood Pressure and Cardiac Function in Rats with Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Objective: This study is to observe the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on blood pressure and cardiac function in rats with pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. Methodology: Syncytiotrophoblast microvilli (stbm) and l-arginine nitrosyl methyl ester were screened out via caudal vein injection. Twenty gestational hypertension-preeclampsia model SD (Sprague Dawley) rats successfully induced by L-NAME (L-arginine Nitrosyl methyl ester) were randomly divided into 2 groups (model group and Danshen injection group, n = 10). Then another 10 normal pregnant SD rats without model were selected as blank control group. The Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group was given Salvia miltiorrhiza injection (0.5 g?kg?1?d?1) through tail vein, and the control group and model group were given equal volume of normal saline through tail vein injection. All three groups were treated by tail vein injection once a day (d) for 7 days. After treatment, heart rate (HR), Systolic pressure (SP), diastolic pressure (DP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured by tail artery. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) and Left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVDs) were recorded by echocardiography. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection) fraction, LVEF) and the maximum rate of increase/decrease of left ventricular pressure during isovolemic systole (+dp/dtmax/?dp/dtmax);Endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in rat tail vein blood were detected by ELISA. Results: SP, DP, MP, HR, LVSP, LVDs and ?dp/dtmaxx were all decreased, plasma ET-1 expression was low, and LVDd, LVEDP, LVEF, and +dp/dtmax were all increased in the Salvia miltiorroot injection group, with statistical significance compared to the model group (p Conclusion: Salvia miltiorrhiza injection can improve the cardiac function and reduce blood pressure in rats with pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and the mechanism may be related to alleviating systemic arteriolar spasm by regulating ET-1 level.

Ginsenoside Rg3 Promotes the Survival and Migration of Trophoblast Cells in a Rat Model of Gestational Hypertension by Regulating miR-100a/Insulin Growth Factor-2 Axis

Objective:Preeclampsia(PE)is a common complication during pregnancy.miR-100a is expressed in the placenta and regulates the survival and development of placental cells.Insulin growth factor-2(IGF-2)may serve as its downstream target.This study investigated the protective mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg3 against PE in rat model.Materials and Methods:LPS-induced rat PE models were suitable for intravenous administration of the highly expressed miR-100a ginsenoside Rg3 lentiviral vector.Human trophoblasts were cultured in vitro for JEG-3,and PE cell models were constructed.In vivo effects on tumor growth and apoptosis were observed.Ginsenoside Rg3 was treated with different concentrations of shRNA,miR-100a analogs,inhibitors,or IGF-2.Autophagy and the expression of autophagy-related proteins were examined.Trophoblast activity and migration were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays.Both drugs strongly inhibited trophoblasts under normal conditions with some synergy between them.Double-luciferase return assay confirmed the binding affinity of miR-100a for IGF-2.Results:In response to Rg3,autophagy and the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3-I/II,Beclin1,and SQSTM1 were reduced in PE rat placental trophoblasts.Rg3 inhibited autophagy in JEG-3 cells and promoted JEG-3 survival and migration in a concentration-dependent manner.miR-100a upregulated PE expression.These results suggested that autophagy was a vital signaling system.Rg3 intervention inhibited miR-100a expression and miR-100a downregulated IGF-2 expression in placental tissues and promoted autophagy,thereby inhibiting JEG-3cell survival and migration.In rats,Rg3 inhibited PE development by regulating the activity of the miR-100a-IGF-2 signaling axis.Conclusion:Ginsenoside Rg3 positively regulates the miR-100a-IGF-2 axis and protects PE rats by inhibiting trophoblastic autophagy and promoting trophoblastic cell survival and migration.

Risk Stratification in Obstetrics: An Integrated Approach to Maternal Health

Introduction: Prenatal care is crucial for maternal and fetal health, highlighting the importance of obstetric risk stratification. This enables personalized care, avoiding unnecessary interventions and reducing costs. Conditions such as first trimester bleeding, spontaneous abortion, gestational trophoblastic disease, and ectopic pregnancy require specific approaches. Early identification of these complications is vital, especially in urgent and emergency obstetric cases, which demand immediate hospital attention. Objective: Comprehensive review of first trimester pathologies and gestational hypertension, focusing on obstetric risks and personalized prenatal management. Methods: Literature review on bleeding and gestational hypertension. Results: The study provides a detailed analysis of pathologies associated with first trimester uterine bleeding and hypertensive disorders, focusing on obstetric risk stratification. The main causes of maternal and fetal mortality are hypertensive disorders, hemorrhages, infections, childbirth complications, and abortion. Spontaneous abortion is common, with different classifications, ranging from threatened to missed abortion. Infected abortion is a severe complication. Brazil has restrictive abortion laws, but many unsafe abortions occur, resulting in high public health costs. Pharmacological treatment with misoprostol is a safe option. Other pathologies include gestational trophoblastic disease, ectopic pregnancy, and placenta previa. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are severe conditions requiring immediate treatment to avoid complications. Conclusion: Early identification and management of obstetric risk factors, such as uterine bleeding, are essential for positive maternal and fetal outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental.

Increased apoptosis in third - trimester placental tissue from gestations complicat-ed by PIH

Objective: To investigate a possible role of apoptosis in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of PIH (pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome).Methods: In this study, placental samples were obtained from 16 uncomplicated third-trimester pregnancies and from 16 cases of PIH.We used light microscopy, electron microscopy to identify apoptosis.Light microscopy was used to quantify their incidence of apoptosis.Electron microscopy was used to confirm the occurrence of apoptosis.Results: Apoptosis has been conclusively demonstrated within human third-trimester placental tissue.Medians and interquartile ranges of normal placenta (n=16) was 0.12% (0.08%-0.19%); Medians and interquartile ranges of PIH group (n=16) was 0.37% (0.15%-0.49%).Compared to normal placentas, the incidence of apoptosis was higher in placentas from gestations complicated by PIH (P<0.05, T'-test).Conclusion: Placental apoptosis increases significantly in PIH, and it may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this syndrome.

Isolated proteinuria as an initial sign of severe preeclampsia

Two pregnant women who initially developed proteinuria alone followed by serious preeclampsia are presented to emphasize that there is no adequate technical term to express the period of proteinuria alone based on the current criteria of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Case 1 exhibited a urinary protein concentration of 46 mg/dL in the absence of hypertension, and abdominal pain due to placental abruption with hypertension at gestational week (GW) 29–3/7 and 29–4/7, respectively. Case 2 exhibited a urinary protein/creatinine ratio of 2.67, developed hypertension, required cesarean section, and developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome at GW 28–1/7, 29–6/7, and 32–0/7, and on postpartum day 2, respectively. As women with proteinuria alone are not diagnosed as having preeclampsia and as a diagnosis of gestational proteinuria can be made only at 12 weeks postpartum, a prospective technical term applicable to the condition of proteinuria alone is needed to increase physicians’ attention to this condition.

COVID-19 and hemolysis,elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia syndrome in pregnant women-association or causation?

Pregnant women are among the high-risk population for severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)with unfavorable peripartum outcomes and increased incidence of preterm births.Hemolysis,the elevation of liver enzymes,and low platelet count(HELLP)syndrome and severe preeclampsia are among the leading causes of maternal mortality.Evidence supports a higher odd of pre-eclampsia in women with COVID-19,given overlapping pathophysiology.Involvement of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)for the entry to the host cells and its downregulation cause dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.The overexpression of Angiotensin II mediated via p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase pathways can cause vasoconstriction and uninhibited platelet aggregation,which may be another common link between COVID-19 and HELLP syndrome.On PubMed search from January 1,2020,to July 30,2022,we found 18 studies on of SARS-COV-2 infection with HELLP Syndrome.Most of these studies are case reports or series,did not perform histopathology analysis of the placenta,or measured biomarkers linked to pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome.Hence,the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and HELLP syndrome is inconclusive in these studies.We intend to perform a mini-review of the published literature on HELLP syndrome and COVID-19 to test the hypothesis on association vs causation,and gaps in the current evidence and propose an area of future research.

Incidence and Clinical Features of Fetal Growth Restriction in 4 451 Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Objective:To assess the clinical features of fetal growth restriction(FGR)in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in China.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study.The clinical data of 4451 women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were retrospectively collected from 11 tertiary hospitals across ten provinces in China during January 2015 to December 2015.The mean maternal age was(31.0±5.4)years old.Participants were divided into FGR group(n=670)and non-FGR group(n=3781).The incidence and clinical features of FGR,and its correlation with gestational age,previous FGR history,24-hour urinary protein excretion,and hemolysis,elevated liver enzyme and low platelet count(HELLP)syndrome were analyzed.Student’s t-test and Chi-square test were used when comparing clinical features between FGR and non-FGR groups.Results:The overall incidence of FGR was 15.1%(670/4451).The FGR incidence was 22.4%(433/1937)in women with severe preeclampsia and 18.6%(68/365)in women with chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia,respectively.FGR was more prevalent in women who had preterm births than those who had term births(22.8%(432/1898)vs.9.3%(238/2553),P<0.001).It was also more prevalent in women with early-onset preeclampsia than those with late-onset preeclampsia(18.4%(189/1025)vs.14.0%(481/3426),P=0.001).Women with a previous FGR history had a significantly higher FGR incidence than those without an FGR history(66.7%(4/6)vs.15.7%(250/1596),P=0.007).The presence of abnormal results of the umbilical artery Doppler(13%(87/670)vs.2.4%(89/3781),P<0.001)and the middle cerebral artery Doppler(3.3%(22/670)vs.0.4%(15/3781),P<0.001)was higher in the FGR group compared with the non-FGR group,while the presence of increased uterine artery resistance was not statistically different(1.5%(10/670)vs.0.8%(29/3781),P=0.072).The FGR group delivered earlier than the non-FGR group((35.3±3.0)weeks vs.(36.4±4.3)weeks,P<0.001)with lower birth weight(1731.0±574.5)g vs.(2753.9±902.1)g,P<0.001,higher fetal or neonatal death(9.4%(63/670)vs.4.2%(157/3781),P<0.001),and higher cesarean section rate(82.5%(553/670)vs.70.2%(2656/3781),P<0.001).In the FGR group,more neonates had 5-minute Apgar score≤7(7.9%(53/670)vs.3.9%(149/3780),P<0.001),with higher neonatal intensive care unit admission rate(48.1%(322/670)vs.23.3%(881/3781),P<0.001).More cases of HELLP syndrome occurred in the FGR group(6.9%(46/670)vs.3.2%(122/3781),P<0.001).Women with FGR had heavier 24-hour urinary protein excretion than those without FGR((3.9±3.7)g vs.(3.1±4.2)g,P=0.005).Conclusion:In pregnancies with hypertensive disorders,increased risks of FGR are associated with preterm birth,birth before 34 weeks,and a previous FGR history.FGR is related to higher occurrence of abnormal uterine artery Doppler and umbilical artery Doppler.When hypertensive disorders is complicated by FGR,there appears to be higher maternal morbidity including higher rate of HELLP syndrome,cesarean section,and heavier proteinuria,as well as worse neonatal outcomes.

Roles of protein tyrosine phosphatases in reproduction and related diseases

Protein tyrosine phosphatases(PTPs)remove phosphate groups from protein tyrosine residues to regulate various cell signaling processes,subsequently affecting the growth,metabolism,differentiation,immune response,and other cellular processes.Several studies have investigated the functions of PTPs in tumor and organism immunity.However,only a few studies have focused on their roles in reproductive disorders.Therefore,in this review,we summarize the roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of PTPs in infertility,spontaneous abortion,pregnancy-induced hypertension,gestational diabetes mellitus,early embryonic developmental abnormalities,and preterm birth.This review can contribute to future research on PTPs and their potential applications as targets in the treatment of reproductive diseases.