The increased potential for negative pregnancy outcomes in both extremes of reproductive age is a well-debated argument. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and the outcome of pregnancies conceived at extreme maternal ages. This retrospective study considered all single consecutive pregnancies delivered in a tertiary referral center between 2001 and 2014. Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to maternal age at delivery (< 17 years; 18–28 years; 29–39 years; > 40 years). The following outcomes were considered (amongst others): pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders (PRHDs), neonatal resuscitation (NR), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, periventricular leucomalacia (PVL), and grade 3 and 4 intraventicular hemorrhage (IVH). During the considered period 22,933 single pregnancies gave birth in our unit. We observed 71 women aged < 17 years, and 1552 aged > 40 years. In each year throughout the study period, there was a significant increment in maternal age of 0.041 years (95% CI 0.024–0.058) every new year. Multivariate analysis concluded out that maternal age over 40 years was an independent risk factor for preterm delivery (OR 1.36 95% CI 1.16–1.61, p < 0.05, PRHDs (OR 2.36 95% CI 1.86–3.00, p < 0.05), GDM (OR 1.71 95% CI 1.37–2.12, p < 0.05) cesarean section (OR 1.99 95% CI 1.78–2.23, p < 0.05), abnormal fetal presentation (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.03–1.61, p < 0.05), and fetal PVL (OR 3.32 95% CI 1.17–9.44, p < 0.05). We also observed that maternal age under 17 years or over 40 years was an independent risk factor for grade 3 or 4 neonatal IVH (OR 2.97 95% CI 1.24–7.14, p < 0.05). These findings confirm a negative impact of extreme maternal ages on pregnancy. These results should be carefully taken into account by maternal care providers in order to inform women adequately, supporting them in understanding potential risks associated with their procreation choices, and to improve clinical surveillance.

To evaluate the expression of markers correlated with cellular senescence and DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), p53, p21, APE1/Ref-1 (APE1), interleukin (IL-6 and IL-8) in placentas from healthy and pathologic pregnancies. This retrospective study considered a placental tissue micro-array containing 92 controls from different gestational ages and 158 pathological cases including preeclampsia (PE), HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count), small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) occurring at different gestational ages. In this study, we demonstrated a significant influence of gestational age on the expression in the trophoblast of 8-OHdG, p53, p21, APE1, and IL-6. In placentas of cases affected by PE, HELLP, or IUGR, there was an increased expression of 8-OHdG, p53, APE1, and IL-6 compared to controls (only IL-8 was significantly decreased in cases). In both groups of pathology between 22- and 34-week gestation and after 34-week gestation, APE1 levels were higher in the trophoblast of women affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than women carrying an IUGR fetus. The cytoplasmic expression of 8-OHdG was increased in placentas in IUGR cases compared to PE or HELLP pregnancies. In cases after 34-week gestation, p21 was higher in SGA and IUGR than in controls and late PE. Moreover, p53 was increased after 34-week gestation in IUGR pregnancies. Placentas from pathological pregnancies had an altered expression of 8-OHdG, p53, p21, APE1, IL-6, and IL-8. The alterations of intracellular pathways involving these elements may be the cause or the consequence of placental dysfunction, but in any case reflect an impaired placental function, possibly due to increased aging velocity in pathologic cases.

Peritoneal metastasis from breast cancer is a serious and deadly condition only limited considered in the literature. Our aim was to study prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of breast cancer peritoneal metastasis. We retrospectively analyzed 3096 women with a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer. We took into consideration presence and localization of breast cancer distant metastasis as well as the possible risk factors and survival from the diagnosis of the breast cancer metastasis. The prevalence of breast cancer peritoneal metastases was 0.7 % (22/3096), representing the 7.6 % (22/289) of women affected by distant metastases. Moreover, independent risk factors for breast cancer peritoneal metastases resulted high grading, lobular invasive histology, and advanced T and N stage at diagnosis. Overall survival after metastasis diagnosis was shorter in women affected by peritoneal metastases or brain metastases in comparison to other metastatic women. Breast cancer peritoneal metastases were uncommon but not rare events with a poor prognosis after standard treatments.

Aim: To determine the accuracy of cervical elastography in predicting labor induction success. Materials and methods: A systematic search, review, and meta-analysis of observational studies published in English language between January 2000 and October 2014 was performed. It included studies considering cervix sonoelastography as the index test and successful labor or vaginal delivery as the reference standard. As cervix length and Bishop score were considered comparator tests, the quality of the included studies was assessed using quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) tool. Results: A total of four studies assessing 323 women before medical induction of labor were included. Cervical elastography, cervical length, and Bishop score showed a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for successful labor prediction of 3.50 (1.93–6.35), 3.35 (1.94–5.77), and 1.45 (0.33–6.41), respectively. In addition, cervical elastography, cervical length, and Bishop score showed a DOR with 95% CI for successful vaginal delivery prediction of 5.24 (3.23–8.50), 4.94 (2.72–8.98), and 4.62 (0.69–30.94), respectively. Considering the summary of receiver operating characteristic curves we show that cervical elastography or length are similarly reliable, and both are more reliable to predict successful labor than the Bishop score. Two studies were excluded because it was not possible to retrieve data for the meta-analysis. Among the excluded studies, one found no significant contribution from elastography for prediction of successful labor induction. Conclusions: Even though there is a limited number of studies included and the heterogeneity of the methods used, cervical elastography seems to be a promising tool for predicting successful labor induction and vaginal delivery in women treated by medical induction of labor.

Endometriosis is a common inflammatory disease affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue beyond the uterus. In addition to gynecological manifestations, many endometriosis patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms, indicating a potential association between gut health and the disease. Recent studies have revealed alterations in the gut microbiota of individuals with endometriosis, including reduced diversity, microbial composition imbalances, and pathogenic bacteria. These changes can disrupt immune function, increase inflammation, and contribute to the chronic inflammatory state observed in endometriosis. Moreover, dysregulation of intestinal permeability may further exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms in affected individuals. Understanding the role of the gut microbiota and intestinal permeability in endometriosis can provide valuable insights into disease pathogenesis, aid in non-invasive diagnostic approaches, and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions. Probiotics, in particular, have shown promise in improving endometriosis-associated pain symptoms and reducing endometriotic lesions in animal models. This review suggests that additional research and well-designed clinical trials are necessary to validate the potential diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of manipulating the gut microbiota in managing endometriosis and its gastrointestinal symptoms, thereby improving the quality of life for those affected.

Objective: Breech presentation represents a common indication for primary cesarean section in women presenting for parturition. This study aims to investigate the presence of new and old risk factors for breech presentation and to provide a literature review. Method: In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we collected data from 14 433 consecutive singleton deliveries occurred in a 3rd level hospital setting of northeast Italy between January 2001 and July 2009. Related risk factors and trends in breech presentation prevalence were also considered. Results: Mean maternal age was 31.78 years (±5.17) and mean gestational age at delivery 38.67 weeks (±2.54). Breech presentation prevalence in nullipara and pluripara was respectively 5.36% (415/7743) and 3.53% (236/6689; p < 0.05), and was significantly lower among Sub-Saharan-African women 2.62% (14/535) versus 4.51% (651/14432; p < 0.05). Also advanced maternal age, early gestational age at delivery, neonatal female gender and low weight at delivery resulted associated with a higher prevalence of breech presentation. By multivariate logistic regression, the breech presentation resulted independently predicted by maternal age, ethnicity, parity, gestational age and neonatal weight MoMs at delivery, and neonatal gender. Conclusions: Advanced maternal age, early gestational age, low neonatal weight MoMs at delivery and female gender resulted to be risk factors for fetal breech presentation at delivery, while multiparity and Sub-Saharan-African ethnicity resulted to be protective.