Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two betamethasone dosage regimens on selected parameters in mothers and on the status of the preterm newborn. Methods: The analysis included 121 patients who gave birth by gestational week 35 and within 7 days after the completion of a full course of steroid treatment (24 mg). The study group consisted of 45 patients receiving six 4-mg doses of betamethasone every 8 h. The control group consisted of 76 patients receiving two 12-mg doses of betamethasone separated by 24 h. Results: After treatment, a significant increase in the leukocyte count was observed in the control group. Significant reductions in the erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin levels and hematocrit after treatment were also found in the control group. The post-natal status of newborns did not differ significantly between groups. The betamethasone dosage regimen used did not affect the incidence of moderate and severe respiratory disorders, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), retinopathy (ROP), infection, hyperbilirubinemia or anemia in neonates. Mild respiratory disorders were slightly more common in the study group. Conclusion: A reduction in the single steroid dose administered to patients at risk of premature birth may reduce maternal side-effects.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is related to many complications of pregnancy. The aim of the study was the assessment of cervical colonization in GDM patients and its correlation with inappropriate glycaemic control and gestational weight gain (GWG). The study included 483 women with GDM in a singleton pregnancy who delivered at term. Cervical smears samples were collected >35th week of gestation and cultured for aerobic and aerobic bacteria, and fungi. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of cervical culture test results: women with negative and positive cervical culture results. Gestational weight gain was estimated in both groups as inadequate, adequate or excessive based on pre-gestational body mass index (BMI) according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines. GWG and need of insulin therapy were used as an indicator of complying with dietary recommendations. Patients with positive cervical culture results more frequently had pre-pregnancy BMI >35kg/m2 (4.9% vs 9.5%, p = 0.0508) than patients who had negative cervical culture results. One third (32.1%) of patients had one, and 9.3% had at least two microorganisms in their genital tracts. The most frequent bacteria species isolated was Streptococcus agalactiae (20.1%). Fungi were present in 14.1% of the cervical cultures. Patients with GDM with inadequate GWG more often had genital tract's colonization with Enterococcus spp. (6.83% vs. 1.19% vs. 1.83%, in group with inadequate GWG vs. adequate GWG vs. excessive GWG respectively p = 0.007). Insulin therapy in GDM patients was not correlated with the presence of microorganisms in genital tracts. Inadequate GWG in GDM may be linked to genital tract colonization with Enteroccocus spp. Genital colonization during pregnancy among patients with GDM is more often among patients' with pre-pregnancy BMI >35 kg/m2.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic value of HPV testing and colposcopy in patients with abnormal cytology results. Patients and Methods: A total of 186 women with cytological abnormalities were included in the study. The patients underwent colposcopy examinations and DNA HPV testing of cervical smear with genotyping. Results: The HPV test was demonstrated to be more sensitive (79.4%) than specific (60.2%) and was more sensitive than colposcopy for detecting CIN changes (79.4% vs. 73.7%). Combined tests achieved a high sensitivity (90.9%) and negative predictive value (96.1%) in detecting patients with CIN2+ and demonstrated the highest positive predictive value (77.3%) for detecting CIN1+. Colposcopy had a very good specificity (83.5%) and positive predictive value (71.2%) in finding CIN1+ cases. Conclusion: HPV tests showed a higher sensitivity than colposcopy, but colposcopy results presented higher specificity. Combining HPV testing and colposcopy proved to be the most efficient method for detecting CIN lesions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) of the firstborn offspring at age 12 and maternal lipid levels at term and at 6 months postpartum. Design and Methods: The study included children born in the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical University of Warsaw between 1 November 1991 and 31 May 1993. The end point was BMI in the upper quartile – considered high BMI of the firstborn offspring at age 12. Results: The risk of high BMI in the offspring at age 12 significantly increased with an increase in the LDL-C level at term (OR = 2.41 per SD increase, 95% CI: 1.01–5.80; p < 0.049), a decrease in the HDL-C% at term (OR = 0.35 per SD increase, 95% CI: 0.14–0.84; p < 0.019) and a decrease in the HDL-C level at 6 months postpartum (OR = 0.25 per SD increase, 95% CI: 0.08–0.82; p < 0.022), regardless of maternal weight status before pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum, gestational weight gain, the offspring’s gender and birth weight. Conclusion: LDL and HDL cholesterol levels at term are markers of maternal adaptation to a first pregnancy and predict the future growth of firstborn offspring.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to check whether the number of fulfilled diagnostic criteria of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) had any association with patients' characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. Material and methods: A total of 756 women with single pregnancies and GDM who gave birth at the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical University of Warsaw between 01.2013-12.2016 were included in a retrospective analysis. Patients were divided into 2 groups: A - 499 patients diagnosed with GDM on the basis of one diagnostic criterion, B - 257 patients diagnosed with GDM on the basis of more than one diagnostic criterion. Results: Patients from group A had lower pre-pregnancy BMI than those from group B (median 24.9 kg/m(2) vs. 26.5 kg/m(2), p = 0.0003). Women from group A were less frequently treated with insulin than women from group B (19.1% vs. 32.7%; p = 0.00002). Group A had lower median OGTT levels than group B (85.9 mg/dL vs. 94.1 mg/dL, p = 0.0001; 160.2 mg/dL vs. 197.6 mg/dL, p = 0.0001; 144.8 mg/dL vs. 167.0 mg/dL, p = 0.0001; respectively). Moreover, in group B the average week of labor was earlier than in group A (mean 38.1 and 38.5 weeks of gestation, p = 0.0006). Conclusions: Patients who fulfilled more than one diagnostic criterion for GDM may have worse pregnancy outcome. We think that a number of fulfilled diagnostic criteria for GDM may be an important risk factor for insulin therapy during pregnancy and earlier gestational age at delivery.