Objective To determine variations in cord blood gas (CBG) parameters after 3-minute delayed cord clamping (DCC) in vaginal deliveries (VDs) and caesarean deliveries (CDs) at term without fetal distress.Design Prospective observational study. Setting University hospital.Sample CBG from 97 VDs and 124 CDs without fetal distress.Methods Comparison of paired arterial-venous CBG parameters drawn at birth from the unclamped cord and after 3-minutes DCC for VDs and CDs.Main outcome measures Base excess, bicarbonate, haematocrit and haemoglobin from both arterial and venous cord blood, lactate, neonatal outcomes, partial pressure of oxygen (pO 2 ), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO 2 ), pH, and postpartum haemorrhage.Results Arterial cord blood pH, bicarbonate (HCO À 3 , mmol/l), and base excess (BE, mmol/l) decreased significantly after 3minute DCC both in VDs (pH = 7.23 versus 7.27; P < 0.001; HCO À 3 = 23.3 versus 24.3; P = 0.004; BE = À5.1 versus À2.9; P < 0.001) and CDs (pH = 7.28 versus 7.34; P < 0.001; HCO À 3 = 26.2 versus 27.2; P < 0.001; BE = À1.5 versus 0.7; P < 0.001). After 3-minute DCC, pCO 2 increased in CDs only (57 versus 51; P < 0.001), whereas lactate increased more in CDs compared with VDs (lactate, +1.1 [0.9, 1.45] versus +0.5 [À0.65, 2.35]; P = 0.01). Postpartum maternal haemorrhage, neonatal maximum bilirubin concentration, and need for phototherapy were similar between the two groups. Newborns born by CD more frequently required postnatal clinical monitoring or admission to a neonatal intensive care unit.Conclusions After 3-minute DCC, the acid-base status shifted towards mixed acidosis in CDs and prevalent metabolic acidosis in VDs. CDs were associated with a more pronounced increase in arterial lactate, compared with VDs.Tweetable abstract By 3-minute DCC, acid-base status shifts towards mixed and metabolic acidosis in caesarean and vaginal delivery, respectively. The effect of delayed umbilical cord clamping on cord blood gas analysis in vaginal and caesarean-delivered term newborns without fetal distress: a prospective observational study. BJOG 2020;127:405-413.

Introduction We investigated association between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID‐19 disease among pregnant women admitted to our unit, the largest high‐risk maternity unit in the Milan metropolitan area. Methods Between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, 896 pregnant women were admitted to our Institution and tested for COVID‐19. We collected information regarding their sociodemographic characteristics. Additional information on geographical area of residence, number of family members, number of family members tested positive for COVID‐19, and clinical data was collected for women tested positive for COVID‐19. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of developing COVID‐19 according to sociodemographic characteristics were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models. Results Among the 896 women enrolled, 50 resulted positive for COVID‐19. Pregnant women aged ≥35 years had a significantly lower risk of developing the infection (crude OR = 0.29; 95% CI:0.16–0.55). Conversely, foreign women (crude OR = 3.32; 95% CI:1.89–5.81), unemployed women (crude OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.77–5.40), and women with an unemployed partner (crude OR = 3.16; 95% CI: 1.48–6.79) showed a significantly higher risk of infection. Ethnicity was positively associated with the risk of developing COVID‐19 (mutually adjusted OR = 2.15; 95% CI:1.12–4.11) in the multivariate analysis. Foreign women with COVID‐19 were more likely to have a lower education level ( p < 0.01), to be unemployed ( p < 0.01), and to live in larger families ( p < 0.01) compared to Italian pregnant women. Conclusions The socioeconomic conditions described are characteristic of immigration patterns in our metropolitan area. These factors may increase the risk of viral transmission, reducing the effectiveness of lockdown and social distancing.

In this study we describe the management of women with gestational diabetes (GD) and an ongoing Sars-Cov-2 infection. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the COVID-19 infection can further complicate pregnancies and thus if the protocol we usually use for GDM pregnancies is also applicable to patients who have contracted a Sars-Cov-2 infection. Methods: This is a retrospective study analysing all pregnant women with gestational diabetes and a concomitant COVID-19 infection admitted to our Institution for antenatal care between March 1 st and April 30 th 2020. Results: Among pregnant women with GD and a concomitant COVID-19 infection, the mean age was 32,9 (SD 5,6) years. Two patients (33%) were of Caucasian ethnicity while four (67%) were non-Caucasian. All patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy. Two women were asymptomatic while four were symptomatic. Only two patients (33,3%) received treatment with insulin. None of the patients required intensive care or mechanical ventilation. No complications were found among the newborns. Conclusion: the COVID-19 infection was not found to worsen the prognosis of GD patients or of their offspring. Glycaemic monitoring, diet therapy and insulin, when needed, are sufficient for a good metabolic control and a favourable maternal and fetal outcome.

Introduction:The objective of the present study is to compare the sonographic measurement of subcutaneous adipose thickness and visceral adipose thickness during 1st trimester screening for aneuploidies between non-diabetic pregnant women and patients who develop 1st trimester or 2nd trimester gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Material and methods:Adipose thickness was measured by transabdominal ultrasound imaging in pregnant women attending our clinic for screening for fetal aneuploidies between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation. During the 1st trimester all patients were evaluated for fasting glycemia in accordance with the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) recommendations. Patients with confirmed fasting glycemia (FPG) ≥92 mg/dL were diagnosed as 1st trimester GDM. Patients with FPG <92 mg/dL underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. Results:The study population included 238 non-diabetic women, 29 women with

Introduction:Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent, inflammatory disease associated with pelvic pain, infertility, impaired sexual function, and psychological suffering. Therefore, tailored patient management appears of primary importance to address specific issues and identify the appropriate treatment for each woman. Over the years, abundant research has been carried out with the objective to find new therapeutic approaches for this multifaceted disease.Areas covered: This narrative review aims to present the latest advances in the pharmacological management of endometriosis. In particular, the potential role of GnRH antagonists, selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs), and selective estrogen receptors modulators (SERMs) will be discussed. We performed a literature search in PubMed and Embase, and selected the best quality evidence, giving preference to the most recent and definitive original articles and reviews.Expert opinion: Medical therapy represents the cornerstone of endometriosis management, although few advances have been made in the last decade. Most studies have focused on the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of GnRH antagonists (plus add-back therapy in cases of prolonged treatment), which should be used as second-line treatment options in selected cases (i.e. non-responders to first-line treatments). Further studies are needed to identify the ideal treatment for women with endometriosis.