Background/Objectives: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in trophoblast invasion, immune tolerance, and placental angiogenesis. To delineate their diagnostic and pathological significance, we critically evaluated the evidence for correlations between circulating or placental lncRNA profiles with pregnancy complications. Methods: Five databases were searched from inception through September 2024. We included only the studies that assessed the expression of the lncRNA-complicated pregnancies versus a control group. Results: Three single-center case–control studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Eight serum lncRNAs that present <20 weeks of gestation were elevated in subsequent pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia. The three lncRNAs in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy were consistently decreased with a negative correlation with bile acids. Gestational diabetes was characterized by the elevation of MALAT1. Conclusions: Different lncRNAs showed a potential for use as non-invasive markers as well as for risk stratification for pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia, metabolic, and hepatobiliary pregnancy complications. There is a need for large-scale, multi-ethnic, prospective cohorts to include lncRNA as screening or therapeutic targeting in obstetric practice.

Background: Endometritis, maternal fever and wound infection represent the most frequent post-cesarean complications. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the incidence of post-cesarean infections after vaginal cleansing. Materials and methods: The databases analyzed were MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Clinicaltrials.gov and the Register of Controlled Trials. No language or geographical restrictions were applied. We included only randomized controlled trials that analyzed various vaginal antiseptic solutions to reduce postpartum endometritis. The terms employed were as follows: vaginal solution, cesarean section, endometritis, wound infection, chlorhexidine, povidone, metronidazole, cetrimide, and pregnancy. The PICO categorization was as follows: P—population: pregnant women; I—intervention: vaginal antiseptic; C—control: hands-off or routine care; O—outcome: post-cesarean endometritis, wound infection and postoperative fever; S—study design: randomized controlled trials. Results: A total of 32 articles, including 13,853 participants, were selected. The vaginal cleansing group showed a low incidence of endometritis. The chlorhexidine group had an OR of 0.56 (95% CI 0.45–0.70, p = 0.010). The povidone group had an OR of 0.47 (95% CI 0.37–0.59, p = 0.002). Considering maternal fever, 2598 patients from 5 studies in the chlorhexidine group were analyzed, alongside 6965 patients from 18 trials in the povidone group. The povidone group presented an Odds ratio of 0.47 (95% CI 0.38–0.57, p = 0.0001). A reduction in wound infection incidence was observed in the povidone group (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.42–0.82, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Vaginal cleansing before cesarean section, particularly with povidone solutions, reduces the incidence of postoperative endometritis and maternal fever.

Background and objective: Umbilical cord abnormalities (UCAs) such as hypercoiling, velamentous or marginal cord insertion, or reduced Wharton’s jelly are associated with umbilical thrombosis. UCAs increase the risk of vascular obstruction and impaired fetal blood flow, resulting in hypoxia or stillbirth. We examined the association between the UCAs and the umbilical cord thrombosis. Methods: According to PRISMA, five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrial.gov) were screened. Only studies that analyzed umbilical cord insertion abnormalities and abnormalities of the umbilical cord associated with thrombosis were included in this systematic review. Studies without thrombosis were excluded (PROSPERO ID: CRD420251087525). Results: Only 12 articles out of 1105 screened records satisfied the inclusion criteria, comprising 3 retrospective cohort studies, 3 case series and 6 case reports. The publication years ranged from 1983 to 2025. A total of 126 cases of umbilical vascular thromboembolism (UVTE) were identified, among which 84 cases of UCAs represented by 16 cases of stricture, 14 cases of hypercoiling, 16 cases of too-short cords (≤40 cm), 11 cases of too-long cords (≥70 cm), 5 cases of velamentous or furcate cord insertions, 12 cases of nuchal cord insertions, 13 cases of funistisis, 11 cases of true knots, and 3 cases of Wharton jelly abnormalities. Conclusions: UCAs, including true knots, abnormal coiling, and furcate or velamentous cord insertion, were highly associated with UVTE. Future studies should involve developing standardized criteria for the diagnosis and reporting of UCAs.