In many countries, preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation, is the primary cause of infant death and morbidity. An increasing body of research suggests that inflammation (both clinical and subclinical) plays a significant role in inducing preterm labor or developing pregnancy problems that lead to premature birth. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to determine the predictive value of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), derived Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (dNLR), Monocytes-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Platelets-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), for premature delivery. A retrospective study analyzed a total of 243 eligible pregnancies that resulted in a preterm birth during 2020 and 2021. A control group without a history of preterm birth was matched by age and trimester of laboratory analysis at a 1:1 ratio. Although the number of comorbidities was similar among study groups, the body-mass index estimated for the week of gestation was significantly higher among the patients from the prematurity group, as well as the prevalence of urinary tract infections and smoking. Laboratory data showed that patients with a preterm birth had significantly higher white blood cell count and monocytes, but significantly lower lymphocytes, platelets, and hemoglobin. The NLR, dNLR, PLR, and MLR scores showed to be significantly higher among patients from the prematurity group, but SII and SIRI were not significantly different between the study groups. It was observed that the AUC values of NLR, dNLR, PLR, and MLR were higher than 0.600, respectively NLR had the highest value among the tested scores (AUC = 0.694) and the highest sensitivity in this study (71%). The highest sensibility was achieved by dNLR, with 70%, and an AUC value of 0.655 (p-value = 0.022). PLR had the second-highest AUC value (0.682) and the best score in terms of sensitivity (70%) and sensibility (69%) (p-value = 0.015). Lastly, MLR had the lowest significant AUC score (0.607) and lowest sensitivity/sensibility. The significant cut-off values for the inflammatory scores were 9.0 for NLR, 9.8 for dNLR, 250 for PLR, and 4.07 for MLR. After evaluating the importance of these inflammatory scores, further clinical applications should be conducted to confirm the results and improve therapy and care to reduce the burden of premature deliveries.

Background and Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus, besides other agents, belong to a group named the TORCH complex. Research on the epidemiology of these agents in women is of particular interest, as primary infection during pregnancy could cause severe damage to the fetus. Women who had contracted infection before pregnancy develop IgG antibodies, so the fetus is protected in case of contact with the same agent. Our scope was to identify the childbearing women simultaneously protected or susceptible to a primary infection to two or three agents mentioned above. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 6961 fertile Caucasian women from Western Romania, to analyze the simultaneous seroprevalence to two or three of the pathogens from the TORCH complex: Toxoplasma gondii, CMV, and rubella virus. Sampling was conducted at two time points: 2008–2010 (group 1; 1461 participants) and 2015–2018 (group 2; 5500 participants). Results: The percentage of women simultaneously seropositive to IgG-anti-Toxoplasma gondii/IgG-anti-CMV, IgG-anti-Toxoplasma gondii/IgG-anti-rubella, IgG-anti-CMV/IgG-anti-rubella or IgG-anti-Toxoplasma gondii and IgG-anti-CMV/IgG-anti-rubella antibodies decreased between the two groups (2008–2010 vs. 2015–2018): 41.4% vs. 36.1%, OR = 0.79, p = 0.0002; 41.8% vs. 35.7%, OR = 0.77, p < 0.0001; 88.9% vs. 83.6%, OR = 0.63, p < 0.0001; 39.6% vs. 33.2%, OR = 0.75, p < 0.0001. When comparing women from urban and rural areas, the simultaneous seroprevalence was higher in rural areas. In women tested 2008–2010 (group 1) the simultaneous seroprevalence (urban vs. rural) was: 38.4% vs. 49.1%, OR = 1.54, p = 0.0002; 38.4% vs. 50.6%, OR = 1.64, p < 0.0001; 88.8% vs. 89.2%, OR = 1.04, NS; 36.4% vs. 47.7%, OR = 1.58, p = 0.0001. A similar trend was found in women tested in group 2. Conclusions: The rate of simultaneous seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii, CMV and rubella virus among Romanian women of reproductive age decreased significantly between 2008–2010 and 2015–2018 and the susceptibility to infections increased. It is necessary to apply increased prevention measures among susceptible pregnant women.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly evolved into a worldwide pandemic causing a serious global public health problem. The risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is still debated, and the consequences of this virus on pregnant women and their fetuses remain unknown. We report a case of pregnancy complicated with hydrops fetalis that developed 7 weeks after recovery from a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to intrauterine death of the foetus. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 placentitis was demonstrated by the presence of viral particles in the placenta identified by immunohistochemistry. As we excluded all possible etiological factors for non-immunologic hydrops fetalis, we believe that the fetal consequences of our case are related to vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second reported case in the literature of COVID-19 infection complicated with hydrops fetalis and intrauterine fetal demise.

When the first vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 emerged, pregnant women were excluded from clinical trials, so vaccine recommendations were initially adjourned, with late initiation for this populational category. The present study aims to quantify the serum and breastmilk values of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies in both the mother and her newborn after complete vaccination during pregnancy. Ninety-one vaccinated patients were included, some of whom presented COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. In the delivery room, venous blood was collected from the mother and umbilical cord blood from her offspring. All samples were processed using the ECLIA (electrochemiluminescence) method. Breastmilk was collected and tested during the third postnatal day. The highest maternal serum values were 19,523 U/mL (detection limit > 0.8 U/mL) and in breastmilk, 206.7 U/mL. Every single newborn had antibody values higher than 0, with a mean serum value (M = 5288.37, SD = 5661.49) significantly higher than 0, t(90) = 8.91, p < 0.001. Consequently, this study intents to emphasize the importance of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. This double kind of neonatal protection, attained by placental and breastmilk transfer, can be accomplished by encouraging vaccination, breastfeeding, bonding, and providing maternal empowerment to participate in her infant’s care.

Widespread COVID-19 vaccination is crucial for limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and minimizing the risk of novel variants arising in the general population, especially in pregnant women. According to the publicly available research data, vaccination intentions vary significantly by country, with Romania among the European countries with the lowest vaccination rates. Thus, we sought to determine the scale of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign among pregnant women in Romania, as well as the variables affecting their choices. A cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Timisoara Municipal Emergency Hospital in Romania, where participants were asked to complete an online survey including standardized and unstandardized questionnaires indicating their willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the reasons for their willingness. Out of the 500 women who were requested to participate, there was a total of 345 validated questionnaires, with 184 vaccinated and 161 unvaccinated pregnant women. The statistically significant determinant factors for COVID-19 vaccination acceptance were the urban area of residence (OR = 0.86), having a higher level of education (OR = 0.81), the third trimester of pregnancy (OR = 0.54), trusting the government (OR = 0.83), being a frequent traveler (OR = 0.76), fearing the severity of COVID-19 (OR = 0.68), the higher availability of COVID-19 vaccines nearby (OR = 0.87), and seeing more people getting vaccinated (OR = 0.75). As there are no increased risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 immunization in pregnant women, the variables identified in this research are crucial in determining the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines that should be addressed in this vulnerable group to increase vaccination rates.

Sepsis continues to be challenging to diagnose due to its non-specific clinical signs and symptoms, emphasizing the importance of early detection. Our study aimed to enhance the accuracy of sepsis diagnosis by integrating multimodal monitoring technologies with conventional diagnostic methods. The research included a total of 121 newborns, with 39 cases of late-onset sepsis, 35 cases of early-onset sepsis, and 47 control subjects. Continuous monitoring of biosignals, including pulse oximetry (PO), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and skin temperature (ST), was conducted. An algorithm was then developed in Python to identify early signs of sepsis. The model demonstrated the capability to detect sepsis 6 to 48 h in advance with an accuracy rate of 87.67 ± 7.42%. Sensitivity and specificity were recorded at 76% and 90%, respectively, with NIRS and ST having the most significant impact on predictive accuracy. Despite the promising results, limitations such as sample size, data variability, and potential biases were noted. These findings highlight the critical role of non-invasive biosensing methods in conjunction with conventional biomarkers and cultures, offering a strong foundation for early sepsis detection and improved neonatal care. Further research should be conducted to validate these results across different clinical settings.