Intravitreal anti-VEGF injection have been widely used in retinal vascular diseases and achieved good efficacy. Early pregnancy is an important period for fetal organ formation and vascular development. Studies have proved that VEGF plays an important role in maintaining the fetal and placental vascular system, and its loss or decline will affect embryonic development and lead to abortion. The use of intravitreal anti-VEGF during pregnancy is controversial, which may cause systemic side effects to the mother and fetus. This paper summarizes the literature of 23 cases on the use of anti-VEGF during pregnancy. Three cases reported loss of pregnancy with concomitant exposure to intravitreal bevacizumab, which suggested that we should be careful about the use of anti-VEGF during pregnancy and explain the possibility of ocular and systemic side effects to patients in detail. When deciding whether to use anti-VEGF, we should consider the relationship between exposure time and the critical period of vascular development and the systemic exposure of different drugs. Currently, there is a lack of large sample size studies on the use of anti-VEGF in pregnancy, and its safety needs to be further observed.
Objective To investigate the methodological characteristics of observational studies on the correlation between drug exposure during pregnancy and birth defects. Methods The PubMed database was searched from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 to identify observational studies investigating the correlation between drug use during pregnancy and birth defects. Literature screening and data extraction were conducted by two researchers and statistical analysis was performed using R 3.6.1 software. Results A total of 40 relevant articles were identified, of which 8 (20.0%) were published in the four major medical journals and their sub-journals, 21 (42.5%) were conducted in Europe and the United States, and 4 were conducted (10.0%) in China. Cohort studies (30, 75.0%) and case-control studies (10, 25%) were the most commonly used study designs. Sixteen studies (40.0%) did not specify how the databases were linked. Sixteen studies (40.0%) did not report a clear definition of exposure, while 17 studies (42.5%) defined exposure as prescribing a drug that could not be guaranteed to have been taken by the pregnant women, possibly resulting in misclassification bias. Six studies (15.0%) did not report the diagnostic criteria for birth defects and 18 studies (45.0%) did not report the types of birth defects. In addition, 33 studies (82.5%) did not control for confounding factors in the study design, while only 19 studies (47.5%) considered live birth bias. Conclusion Improvements are imperative in reporting and conducting observational studies on the correlation between drug use during pregnancy and birth defects. This includes the methods for linking data sources, definition of exposure and outcomes, and control of confounding factors. Methodological criteria are needed to improve the quality of these studies to provide higher quality evidence for policymakers and researchers.
ObjectiveTo evaluate liver perfusion in pregnant women with hepatitis between 13 and 41 weeks of gestation by three-dimensional color power Doppler angiography (3D-CPA) vascular indexes. MethodsThis study involved 73 pregnant women with hepatitis and 44 healthy pregnant women who had the pregnancy examination between February 2012 and June 2013. We sampled in the area which was near the right lobe of the pregnant women liver's portal vein branch, and obtained the vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) via the virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) method. Then, we compared the liver perfusion differences between the pregnant women with hepatitis and healthy pregnant women. ResultsThe hepatic flow indexes obtained by 3D-CPA were significantly different between the HBV-DNA viral load and the control groups. The cutoff values of the three vascular indexes of patients with hepatitis with HBV-DNA viral load and the healthy pregnant women were respectively VI=8.760 (P<3×10-4); FI=22.180 (P<6×10-7); and VFI=1.575 (P<3×10-5). ConclusionApplication of the 3D-CPA on liver perfusion may differentiate pregnant women with hepatitis B from normal ones, thus offer a support for clinical prevention and treatment for pregnant women with hepatitis B.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the clinical characteristics of pregnant females, newborns, children and adolescents with SARS infection.MethodsThe clinical characteristics of patients with SARS infection were searched using PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases. Descriptive analysis was performed to analyze the clinical characteristics of the patients, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis.ResultsA total of 13 studies including 19 pregnant females, 14 newborns, and 81 children and adolescents were identified. The ratio of male to female was 1 to 1.2 in children and adolescents patients aged 56 days to 17.5 years. Children under 12 years old accounted for 58.3% (28/48). Of the child patients, 34.0% (16/47) had close contact with patients with SARS. Fever (93.8%, 76/81) and cough (49.4%, 40/81) were the most common symptoms in children and adolescents with SARS infection, and 17.5% (11/63) occurred with shortness of breath or dyspnea. The positive ratio of nucleic acid detection for SARS-CoV was 9.2% (14/48), and the positive ratio of serum antibody was 92.9% (13/14). Peripheral blood lymphocyte reduction was approximately 65.7% (44/67). Approximately 70.8% (51/72) unilateral and 29.2% (21/72) bilateral lesions were found by thoracic X-ray or CT scan. No child fatalities were reported. As of maternal patients, aged 23 to 44 years, 10 cases (52.6%) were infected during early and middle pregnancy, and 9 cases (47.4%) during late pregnancy. Fever (100.0%, 19/19) and cough (78.9%, 15/19) were the main clinical symptoms, and shortness of breath/dyspnea occurred in 36.8% (7/19) of infected pregnant females. The positive ratio of nucleic acid detection for SARS-CoV was 50.0% (8/16), whereas the positive ratio of serum antibody was 93.3% (14/15). The ratios of thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and liver enzymes abnormalities were 38.9% (7/18), 61.1% (11/18) and 50.0% (3/6). All patients were identified for lesions by thoracic X-ray or CT scan examination. Seven cases were severe (36.8%). Five patients were treated with mechanical ventilation (26.3%). Three patients died (15.8%). Four patients were spontaneous abortion (40.0%, 4/10). Nine patients were cesarean sectioned (75.0%, 9/12). Six fetuses (46.2%, 6/13) with fetal distress, 7 cases (53.8%, 7/13) with premature delivery were identified. Three fetuses (23.1%) had intrauterine growth retardation. None of the fourteen newborns was diagnosed as SARS infection.ConclusionsThe clinical symptoms such as fever and cough in children and adolescents with SARS infection are similar to that of adult patients. However, children and adolescents are usually manifested as mild infection without reported death. There is no evidence to support that SARS-CoV could transmit vertically from infected mother to their fetuses.
ObjectiveTo compare and observe the changes in choroidal thickness between healthy pregnant women and healthy non-pregnant women.MethodsA prospective clinical study. From January 2019 to August 2019, healthy pregnant women (pregnant women group) and healthy non-pregnant women age-matched were enrolled during the same period (the normal group) in the obstetrics of Zhuji People's Hospital. All patients were enrolled with their right eyes. Frequency-domain OCT-enhanced depth imaging technology was used to measure the subfoveal macular and 1000 μm above, below, nasal, and temporal choroidal thickness and foveal retinal thickness (CMT). The choroidal thickness and CMT of the pregnant women group and the normal group were compared by t test, and the choroidal thickness and CMT of the normal group and the eyes of different gestational weeks were compared by one-way analysis of variance.ResultsThe pregnant women group and the normal group included 161 patients (161 eyes) and 40 patients (40 eyes). According to the different gestational weeks, the pregnant women were divided into the first trimester group, the second trimester group, and the third trimester group, with 47 patients (47 eyes), 66 patients (66 eyes), and 48 patients (48 eyes) respectively. There was no significant difference in age, axial length, intraocular pressure, and CMT between the different gestational week groups and the normal group (F=1.433, 1.558, 0.416, 2.288; P＞0.05). The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) of the pregnant women group and normal group were 317.7±73.9 μm and 279.7±44.1 μm, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.113, P=0.002). Compared with the normal group, the choroid at the upper, lower, nasal, and temporal sides of the pregnant group 1000 μm from the fovea was thickened. The difference between the upper, nasal and temporal sides was statistically significant (t=2.699, 3.474, 2.595; P＜0.05). The SFCT of the eyes in the first trimester group, the middle group, and the late group were 305.8±72.3, 327.7±69.8, 315.8±80.5 μm, respectively. Compared with the normal group, the difference was statistically significant (F=4.180, P=0.007). Pairwise comparison between the two groups, the second trimester group was significantly different from the normal group (P=0.003). There was no significant difference among the first trimester group、the third trimester group and the other groups (P＞0.05).ConclusionThe choroidal thickness of pregnant women is thicker than normal, and the choroidal thickness in the second trimester reaches the maximum value; while the macular CMT during pregnancy has no significant change.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the correlation between maternal serum selenium levels during pregnancy and premature birth.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI and CBM were searched to collect studies on correlation between maternal serum selenium levels during pregnancy with preterm birth in the offspring from inception to January, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated risk of bias of the included literature. Then, meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 12 studies involving 2 484 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with control group, the preterm group had lower serum selenium levels in pregnant females (SMD=?0.89, 95%CI ?1.56 to ?0.22, P=0.01). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that heterogeneity among subjects was still large when grouped accorcding to the continent to which a country belongs, the time of blood sample collection and test method in pregnant females.ConclusionsLow maternal serum selenium levels during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth. Due to the limitation of the quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by more high quality studies.
ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the diet during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and analyze the effect of GDM on weight gain, outcome and complication of mother and infant. MethodsWe selected 128 GDM pregnant women and 267 non-GDM pregnant women who were investigated by semi-quantitative food frequency method during September 2009 to March 2011. Then, we collected relevant information and the data were analyzed by t-test and chi-square test. ResultsThere were statistically significant differences between the two groups in total calorie, carbohydrate, fat and protein intakes per day (P<0.05). In general, the rates of insufficient weight gain and excessive weight gain during pregnancy in the GDM group were significantly higher than the non-GDM group (P<0.05), while proper weight gain rate was significantly lower (P<0.01). The risk of hydramnion, intrahepatic cholestasis and pregnancy-induced hypertension in the GDM group was significantly higher than the non-GDM group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two groups in premature delivery, cesarean section or premature membrane ruptures (P>0.05). Apgar scores were significantly different at minute 1 and 5 between the infants in the two groups (P<0.05). The incidence of fetal death, malformation, mild neonatal asphyxia and fetal macrosomia in the GDM group was significantly higher than the non-GDM group (P<0.05). No significant differences between the two groups in low birth weight infant, cord entanglement and fetal distress were detected (P>0.05). ConclusionGDM can lead to high incidence of poor outcome and complication. It is vital to strengthen the examination and keep balanced dietary structure, in order to reduce the complication and improve the health of mother and child.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the infection and colonization of Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg) in the reproductive tract of pregnant females in China. MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect cross-sectional studies on Mg infection in pregnant females in China from inception to October 10, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies; then, meta-analysis was performed by using R1.1.463 software. ResultsA total of 23 cross-sectional studies were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the prevalence rate of Mg infection in pregnant females was 4.86% (95%CI 2.84% to 7.38%). The prevalence rates of Mg infection in females with ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, induced abortions and PROM were 13.01% (95%CI 6.90% to 20.69%), 11.81% (95%CI 3.30% to 24.59%), 6.11% (95%CI 2.70% to 10.77%), and 12.63% (95%CI 9.56% to 16.06%), respectively. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that the prevalence rate of Mg infection in females with ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion and premature rupture of membranes are higher than those in other pregnant females. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To compare the central foveal thickness (CFT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia. Methods A prospective control study. Twenty normal subjects, 20 healthy pregnant women and 20 patients with pre-eclampsia were included. The difference of gestational weeks between healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia was not significant (χ2=0.012, P=0.913). The differences of age and spherical equivalent among normal subjects, healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia were not significant (χ2=1.760, 0.087; P=0.413, 0.957). All eyes underwent optical coherence tomography examination to measure the CFT and SFCT. Results The mean CFT of normal subjects, healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia were (194.40±16.17), (201.2±17.33), (199.00±15.46) μm, there was no significant difference among the three groups (χ2=0.888, P=0.641). The mean SFCT of normal subjects, healthy pregnant women and patients with pre-eclampsia were (263.45±69.66), (330.00±49.20), (373.40±52.00) μm, there was significant difference among the three groups (χ2=22.818, P=0.000). The mean SFCT of healthy pregnant women was increased than that of normal subjects (Z=?2.991, P=0.002). The mean SFCT of patients with pre-eclampsia was increased than that of healthy pregnant women (Z=?2.638, P=0.007). Conclusion The mean SFCT of patients with pre-eclampsia is increased than healthy pregnant women.
Objective To assess and report on the current situation of the families of students, who were involved in the Wenchuan earthquake, to provide data for the government to make decisions that should help with recovery from the earthquake. Methods We selected 2 towns and 4 villages using stratified sampling to take account of different levels of destruction. We performed on-site surveys and secondary research. Results The psychological problems of the parents of the students were serious. These families’ economic situations were not good. Conclusion We should build ‘Mutual Aid’ organization and take the advantage of rural hospitals to promote the long-acting mechanism of the psychological intervention.