Adequate weight gain during pregnancy is one of the factors for its proper course. Excessive weight gain during this period of a woman’s life is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we determine the impact of excessive gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcomes. The study is based on the results of a Polish national survey performed between 2011 and 2017 on a group of 10,319 women and 6930 children. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with higher birthweight and higher prevalence and risk of birthweight over 4500 g (OR 6.92; 95% CI 3.10–15.42), cesarean section/assisted delivery (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.63–4.49), pregnancy induced hypertension (OR 5.85; 95% CI 3.24–10.57), hospitalization during pregnancy (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.12–3.04), and the Apgar score in the first minute of neonate’s life in the range of 0–7 (OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.36–5.2). We did not observe the significant difference in premature rupture of membranes and labor inductions. Our study indicates that excessive gestational weight gain is associated with higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Cadherin 12 (CDH 12) can play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of cadherin 12 in the peritoneal fluid between women with and without endometriosis. This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. Eighty-two patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures were enrolled in the study. Cadherin 12 concentrations were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. No differences in cadherin 12 concentrations between patients with and without endometriosis were observed (p = 0.4). Subgroup analyses showed that CDH 12 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with infertility or primary infertility and endometriosis in comparison with patients without endometriosis and without infertility or primary infertility (p = 0.02) and also higher in patients with stage I or II endometriosis and infertility or primary infertility than in patients without endometriosis and infertility or primary infertility (p = 0.03, p = 0.048, respectively). In total, CDH 12 levels were significantly higher in patients diagnosed with infertility or primary infertility (p = 0.0092, p = 0.009, respectively) than in fertile women. Cadherin 12 can possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of infertility, both in women with and without endometriosis.

Regular and well-planned physical activity (PA) has a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we determine the impact of the PA of pregnant women on the occurrence of certain pregnancy outcomes, such as type of labor, duration of pregnancy, and birthweight. The study is based on the results of a Polish national survey performed between 2011 and 2017 on a group of 9170 women. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) was used to estimate the PA of pregnant women. Light intensity PA accounts for the largest proportion of women’s total energy expenditure. Increase in women’s total energy expenditure was associated with an increase in the birthweight of a child. A similar relationship was observed in the case of light and moderate PA. Vaginal birth was more common among women with higher total energy expenditure. Mothers of preterm children showed lower energy expenditure for each type of PA compared to term pregnancies. There was also a correlation between moderate and vigorous PA and low birthweight. Our study indicates that PA undertaken by pregnant women has a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes.

Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) are transcription factors that regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT). The aim of this study was to compare levels of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in the peritoneal fluid and plasma between patients with and without endometriosis in order to assess their utility in the diagnostic process. Plasma and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from 50 patients with and 48 without endometriosis during planned surgical procedures in eight clinical centers. Quantitative ZEB1 and ZEB2 levels analyses were performed using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No significant differences were observed in ZEB1 levels in any of the subanalyses nor any differences regarding ZEB2 levels between patients with and without endometriosis. Plasma ZEB2 levels were significantly higher among patients with infertility compared to fertile women (16.07 ± 12.70 ng/L vs. 12.07 ± 11.92 ng/L; p < 0.04). Both ZEB1 and ZEB2 do not seem to have a significant value in the initial diagnosis of endometriosis as a single marker. The differences in ZEB2 plasma levels between patients with and without infertility indicate the possibility of EMT dysregulation in the pathogenesis of adverse fertility outcomes.

The evidence of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) association with the immune response could be coherent with the immunological theory of endometriosis and suggests the possibility of a new research direction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of PARP in plasma and peritoneal fluid of patients with and without endometriosis. It was a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Plasma and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from patients with and without endometriosis during planned laparoscopic procedures in eight clinical centers. In total, 84 samples of plasma and 84 samples of the peritoneal fluid were included in the final analyses. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed in order to assess levels of PARP in collected samples. No statistically significant differences regarding the detected levels of PARP in plasma and peritoneal fluid comparing patients with and without endometriosis were observed. Patients with a history of infertility had significantly higher plasma PARP concentrations (p = 0.04). We have not observed the potential role of PARP concentration levels in plasma nor peritoneal fluid as an endometriosis biomarker. We have determined an association between a higher plasma PARP concentration and a history of infertility.

Placenta praevia affects about 0.5% of pregnancies and due to constant increase in operative deliveries may become an important, clinical challenge throughout the next decades. Location of the plac...