Background: An early form of preeclampsia is rare. Abnormal placentation, placental perfusion disorders, and inflammatory cytokine release will have an effect on the fetus and newborn. Material and methods: The study group consisted of preterm newborns whose mothers had a history of preeclampsia and a gestational age of between 30 weeks and 34 weeks + 6 days. The control group consists of neonates matched for gestational age with the case group, whose mothers had normal blood pressure. The incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage, hypoglycemia, pH gas changes, and hematological parameters were analyzed in the two groups. Results: The study group of preterm neonates had a lower birth weight than the control group (p < 0.001). Most of the deliveries in the group of newborns exposed to preeclampsia were performed by cesarean section. Severe forms of RDS were two times more frequent in the group of newborns exposed to preeclampsia compared to those in the control group. Even though we expected to see a lower incidence, owing to the high number of deliveries by cesarean section, we still observed a higher rate of intraventricular hemorrhage in the preeclampsia group (16 cases in the study group vs. 7 in the control, p = 0.085). Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were more frequent in preterm newborns exposed to preeclampsia. Conclusions: The study shows that early preeclampsia increases the risk of complications in preterm neonates. RDS was more frequent in the exposed group than in the control group. The severity of preeclampsia correlates with hematological changes.

The present study provides our clinical experience regarding the imaging diagnosis, management and postnatal outcome of neonates prenatally suspected of having developed ovarian cysts. This multicenter observational study included patients diagnosed prenatally with fetal ovarian cysts and follow-up in the postnatal period. Descriptive statistics were used to render the information regarding the prenatal imaging aspect of the fetal pelvic masses using ultrasound and/or MRI, prenatal surveillance and postnatal neonate’s immediate outcome, indications leading to surgery and pathologic aspect. The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 21 patients. The mean gestational age at the time of initial diagnosis was 31.28 weeks of gestation (WG). Only five out of 21 cysts regressed completely during pregnancy without postnatal complications. In addition, 11 out of 21 infant’s required surgical treatment in the first two weeks after birth, mainly for ovarian torsion. Five out of 21 neonates were referred to postnatal follow-up clinically and by ultrasound, but three out of five cases required emergency surgical treatment for acute complications. Ultrasound plays a major role in the diagnostic of fetal ovarian cyst. From our experience, MRI does not bring supplementary data or change the management. Spontaneous resolution of fetal ovarian cysts is to be expected but the ovarian mass could lead to serious complications, if resolution does not occur in due time.

Introduction: We evaluated the association of the mutated genotypes Met235Thr-AGT, Thr174Met-AGT, I/D-ACE, A2350G-ACE, A1166C-AT2R1, C3123A-AT2R2, ⁸³A/G-REN with the risk and outcome of pre-eclampsia; we also investigated whether genes in newborns increase maternal risk of pre-eclampsia. Materials and methods: Thirty-six pairs of pre-eclamptic women and their newborns were genotyped, along with 71 pairs of controls (mothers/newborns) using PCR-RFLP analysis. Results: The Thr235/Thr235 (OR 3.44, p = 0.01), DD (OR 2.66, p = 0.039), CC1166 (OR 5.56, p = 0.04), AA3123 (OR 3.77, p = 0.03) and GG⁸³ (OR 8.32, p = 0.006) genotypes are significantly associated with pre-eclampsia. Women with pre-eclampsia positive for Met235Thr (34.64 ± 3.92 weeks vs. 38 ± 2 weeks), Thr174Met (32.58 ± 3.92 weeks vs. 36.38 ± 3.25 weeks), I/D (34.47 ± 3.67 weeks vs. 38.33 ± 3.5 weeks) delivered at a significant lower gestational age compared with pre-eclamptic women with a normal genotype. Newborns from women with pre-eclampsia positive for Thr174Met (2190 ± 820.21 g vs. 2702.08 ± 967.23 g), I/D (2399.33 ± 938.38 g vs. 3191.66 ± 684.40 g) had a significant lower birth weight compared with newborns from women with normal pregnancies. When both the mother and the newborn were positive for Met235Thr, I/D, A2350G, A1166C or ⁸³A/G polymorphisms, the risk for pre-eclampsia was significantly increased at 6.67 ( p < 0.01), 5 ( p < 0.01), 3.33 ( p = 0.006), 2.72 ( p = 0.04) and 7.8 ( p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: The results of our study confirm that, in pre-eclampsia, both maternal and newborn genetic variations implicated in blood pressure regulation are important.

Aim: To asses the cardiac morphology and functional changes specific for newborns from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) pregnancies.Material and method: A cohort of IUGR infants were evaluated by serial echocardiographies at delivery and at the first and six months follow-ups. IUGR newborn delivery status was compared to that of newborns in the control group according to gestational age (AGA).Results: Left heart measurements were significantly lower in IUGR newborns compared to AGA babies. Left ventricular size increased at follow-up inthe IUGR group (p 0.47) was identified in 40% of the neonates in the IUGR group (16/40), respectively 4.76% in the control group. IUGR neonates had a significantly increased proportion of systolic malfunction (p=0.004).Conclusion: IUGR patients had reduced left ventricle dimensions compared to AGA babies. The MPI stands out as a marker of leftheart function in newborns. Systolic dysfunction was a hallmark of the cardiac adaptation in IUGR neonates.

Background and objectives: Premature newborns have a number of oxidative stress-inducing disorders. Antioxidant defense is deficient in premature newborns. Hydrogen donors can be used to evaluate the non-enzymatic antioxidant defense. By measuring hydrogen donors, a group of antioxidants can be assessed: tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and glutathione. These represent the most relevant group of non-enzymatic antioxidants. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the non-enzymatic antioxidant defense capacity of premature newborns by measuring hydrogen donors. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity by hydrogen donor measurement in 24 premature newborns with various oxidative stress-inducing disorders and in 14 premature newborns without oxidative stress-inducing conditions. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica program (v. 8, StatSoft, Round Rock, TX, USA). Differences between groups were tested with Wilcoxon matched test for quantitative paired data or Mann–Whitney test for quantitative independent data. The Z test for proportions was used to compare qualitative data among subgroups. Results: Hydrogen donors in the study group had a significantly lower value on the first day of life compared to the value of the control group. Also, the hydrogen donor value in the study group was significantly lower on the first day compared to the third day of life (p < 0.05). Neonates with mild respiratory distress (14 cases) had increased hydrogen donor values on their third day of life compared to the first day of life. Conclusions: The antioxidant capacity is influenced by oxidative stress-inducing disorders. Respiratory distress influenced the hydrogen donor value and antioxidant defense. Antioxidant defense gradually improves after birth according to gestational age.

Background: The interplay between vitamin K (vitK) (as carboxylation cofactor, partially produced by the gut microbiota) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the end-product of fiber fermentation in the gut, has never been assessed in mother–newborn pairs, although newborns are considered vitK deficient and with sterile gut. Methods: We collected venous blood from 45 healthy mothers with uncomplicated term pregnancies and umbilical cord blood from their newborns at birth. The concentrations of total SCFAs and hepatic/extra-hepatic vitK-dependent proteins (VKDPs), as proxies of vitK status were assayed: undercarboxylated and total matrix Gla protein (ucMGP and tMGP), undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), undercarboxylated Gla-rich protein (ucGRP), and protein induced by vitK absence II (PIVKA-II). Results: We found significantly higher ucOC (18.6-fold), ucMGP (9.2-fold), and PIVKA-II (5.6-fold) levels in newborns, while tMGP (5.1-fold) and SCFAs (2.4-fold) were higher in mothers, and ucGRP was insignificantly modified. In mother–newborn pairs, only ucGRP (r = 0.746, p < 0.01) and SCFAs (r = 0.428, p = 0.01) levels were correlated. Conclusions: We report for the first time the presence of SCFAs in humans at birth, probably transferred through the placenta to the fetus. The increased circulating undercarboxylated VKDPSs in newborns revealed a higher vitamin K deficiency at the extrahepatic level compared to liver VKDPs.