High-risk pregnancies (HRPs) constitute a significant global health issue due to their strong association with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although pregnancy is generally characterized by positive expectations, the presence of maternal comorbidities, gestational complications, or adverse socioeconomic and environmental conditions can markedly elevate the probability of unfavorable outcomes. HRPs contribute disproportionately to complications such as preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies, which are key determinants of neonatal mortality and long-term developmental and health challenges. A broad spectrum of risk factors as well as insufficient prenatal care, underscores the complex nature of HRPs. These conditions necessitate a multidisciplinary management approach encompassing early risk identification, continuous monitoring, and individualized interventions. The neonatal prognosis in such contexts is strongly influenced by gestational age at delivery, birth weight, the standard of neonatal care, and the underlying etiological factors driving preterm or complicated deliveries. Preventive strategies including comprehensive prenatal screening, systematic antenatal follow-up, and timely referral to specialized perinatal care centers are essential for reducing the burden of HRPs. Furthermore, addressing social determinants of health—such as low socioeconomic status and limited access to healthcare—is critical for optimizing maternal and neonatal outcomes. This review consolidates current evidence on the epidemiology, etiological factors, and clinical implications of high-risk pregnancies, emphasizing the necessity of an integrative, preventive, and multidisciplinary framework to mitigate adverse neonatal outcomes and improve long-term health trajectories.

Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough, an acute and highly contagious respiratory infection that can have serious and fatal complications such as pneumonia, encephalopathy, and seizures, especially for newborns. The disease is endemic not only in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) but also globally. Larger outbreaks are anticipated every three to five years, even in countries where vaccination rates are high. Despite the high pertussis vaccination coverage in developed countries and a low rate of pertussis incidence for many years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of pertussis has been on the rise again, with outbreaks in some places, which is referred to as “re-emergence of pertussis”. The aim of this review is to underscore the critical importance of achieving high vaccination coverage, particularly among pregnant women, to safeguard vulnerable neonates from pertussis during their early months, before they are eligible for vaccination. This aligns with the need to address diagnostic challenges, mitigate disease severity, and strengthen public health strategies in light of the ongoing 2024 Bordetella pertussis resurgence.

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the cause of both mild and invasive infections in humans with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The transmission of disease usually occurs via droplets, so the implementation of infection mitigation strategies (IMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic altered the incidence of GAS infection. This review aims to provide an overview of the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of GAS infection in children (invasive or non-invasive). A surge in the incidence of invasive GAS infection was noted in December 2022 after the reversal of IMS. A global uprise in GAS infection (invasive and non-invasive) was noted, especially concerning the pediatric population. Children younger than 5 years old were mostly affected, with complicated pneumonia being the leading clinical manifestation, causing many deaths worldwide. Emm1, specifically M1UK, was recognized as the dominant lineage in Europe and correlated with invasive disease. Healthcare professionals need to be alert about the severity of GAS-related infections, leading to early identification and treatment.

Background: Perioperative care is an integral part of the procedure of a surgical operation, with strictly defined rules. The need to upgrade and improve some individual long-term processes aims at optimal patient care and the provision of high-level health services. Therefore, preoperative care is drawn up with new data resulting from the evolution of technology to upgrade the procedures that need improvement. According to the international literature, a factor considered to be of major importance is high preoperative anxiety and its effects on the patient’s postoperative course. High preoperative anxiety is postoperatively responsible for prolonged hospital stays, increased postoperative pain, decreased effect of anesthetic agents, increased amounts of analgesics, delayed healing of surgical wounds, and increased risk of infections. The use of Virtual Reality technology appears as a new method of managing preoperative anxiety. Objective: This study investigates the effect and effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in managing preoperative anxiety in adult patients. Methods: A literature review was performed on 193 articles, published between 2017 and 2024, sourced from the scientific databases PubMed and Cochrane, as well as the trial registry ClinicalTrials, with a screening and exclusion process to meet the criterion of investigating VR technology’s effectiveness in managing preoperative anxiety in adult patients. This systematic review was conducted under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Results: Out of the 193 articles, 29 were selected. All articles examined the efficacy of VR in adult patients (≥18) undergoing various types of surgery. The studies represent a total of 2.354 participants from 15 countries. There are two types of VR applications: distraction therapy and patient education. From the studies, 14 (48%) used the distraction VR intervention, 14 (48%) used the training VR intervention, and 1 (4%) used both VR interventions, using a range of validated anxiety scales such as the STAI, VAS-A, APAIS, and HADS. Among the 29 studies reviewed, 25 (86%) demonstrated statistically significant reductions in preoperative anxiety levels following the implementation of VR interventions. VR technology appears to manage preoperative anxiety effectively. It is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention with minimal side effects. Conclusions: Based on the review, the management of preoperative anxiety with VR technology shows good levels of effectiveness. Further investigation of the efficacy by more studies and randomized controlled trials, with a larger patient population, is recommended to establish and universally apply VR technology in the preoperative care process as an effective method of managing preoperative anxiety.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the most prevalent congenital infection, affecting approximately 0.5–2% of newborns, and is the leading non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss and neurological impairment. The most severe outcome occurs following primary maternal infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, and up to 40–50% of affected fetuses sustain permanent damage. Diagnosis relies on early prenatal screening through maternal serum testing, optimally performed in the first trimester, followed by confirmatory amniocentesis after 17 weeks’ gestation. Prenatal imaging with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a critical role in the identification of fetal brain abnormalities. Prevention strategies emphasize hygiene measures aimed at reducing maternal exposure to bodily fluids of young children, particularly prior to conception and during early pregnancy. Despite progress in vaccine development, currently available ones demonstrate modest efficacy. This review presents a comprehensive summary of congenital CMV infection, addressing its epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, clinical presentation, and preventive measures, with a focus on recent advances in vaccine research.

Background: Galactagogues are substances that promote lactation, although data on their effects on humans remain limited. We investigated the efficacy of Silitidil to increase milk supply and duration of breastfeeding of a specific subgroup of mothers in need of lactation support. Methods: 161 mothers from November 2018 until January 2021 were the study subjects in this retrospective study; during their hospitalization, due to neonatal or maternal factors that inhibited lactation, they were prescribed galactagogues. Mothers were surveyed by telephone interview via a 13-item questionnaire. Results: 73.91%, were primigravidas, 78.26% gave birth by cesarean section (CS) and 72.05% continued to take galactagogues after hospital discharge. Of the neonates, 24.22% were preterm ≤37 weeks of gestation, and 55.9% had birth weight (BW) between 2500 and 3500 g. With respect to breastfeeding rates, 100% were breastfed during their first week, 98.8% breastfed during the first month, 87% during the first 4 months, dropping to 56.5% at 6 months, 41% at 1 year and 19.3% over 1 year of age. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that administration of a galactagogue containing Silitidil (Piulatte-Humana) improves breastfeeding rates at from 1 until 12 months of life in mothers with low milk supply during their hospital stay. Further studies are needed to generate evidence-based strategies to improve breastfeeding outcomes.