A series of fetal reductions and their outcomes at a tertiary care center in North Karnataka: Fetal reduction series: A boon?

Fetal reduction is a novel method that aims to reduce a higher-order gestation to lower-order pregnancy to reduce both maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes. One of the methods of fetal reduction is by intracardiac injection of KCl under ultrasound guidance. Here, we present a case series ofeight women who had undergone fetal reduction. All of them were trichorionic triamniotic triplets at the time of reduction. In seven women, the reduction was done to twin gestation, whereas one reduction was to singleton pregnancy. Out of eight cases, only one carried to full term and underwent vaginal delivery. One case was lost to follow-up and 2 women underwent expulsion. A total of nine live births were reported with 8 babies going to the neonatal intensive care unit for low birth weight and preterm care. Fetal reduction is an important method that needs to be widely practiced and reported to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes in multifetal gestation.

Selective fetal reduction for monochorionic and dichorionic triplet / 中华围产医学杂志

Monochorionic triplet and dichorionic triplet pregnancies result in a higher risk of complications than trichorionic triplet due to its monochorionic part, and often lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We discuss the impact of different fetal reduction numbers, object and surgical methods on the outcome of monochorionic triplet and dichorionic triplet pregnancies. Compared with expectant management, several common fetal reduction strategies can reduce the risk of premature birth, prolong gestational weeks, and increase fetal birth weight. Reduction of the fetus with a separate placenta does not avoid the complications of monochorionic twins, and reducing one of the monochorionic pairs might cause the death of the remaining fetus, thereby requiring skilled surgeons. So, reduction of the monochorionic pair was preferred. More study are needed to evaluate the reduction strategy of monochorionic triplet.

Uma reflexão acerca da terceirização dos cuidados maternos em um contexto perpassado por reprodução assistida e gravidez múltipla / Reflecting on maternal care outsourcing within a context comprising assisted reproduction and multiple / Pregnancy una reflexión sobre la externalización de la atención materna en un contexto de reproducción asistida y embarazo múltiple

Este trabalho teve por objetivo compreender as razões pelas quais uma mãe decidiu terceirizar os cuidados de seus bebês. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida por meio do método Bick de observação de bebês, que ocorreu com uma mãe e seus três filhos trigêmeos. A mãe acompanhada teve sua gestação concebida mediante técnicas de reprodução assistida. As observações ocorreram quinzenalmente, durante o primeiro ano de vida dos bebês, na casa da participante. A observadora destaca ter se deparado com um contexto em que ela se via ao lado da mãe vendo as cuidadoras, babás e enfermeira cuidarem dos bebês. Com base nessa constatação, foi proposta na discussão uma reflexão acerca da terceirização dos cuidados maternos no caso acompanhado, levantando-se três hipóteses que se interligam e estão relacionadas a: reprodução assistida, maternidade trigemelar e o sentimento de vulnerabilidade descrito por Winnicott que muitas mulheres vivem ao se tornarem mães.

The purpose of the present study was to understand the reasons why a mother decided to outsource the care of her babies. This work occurred with a mother and her three children through Bick infant observation method. The subject mother conceived her pregnancy through Assisted Reproduction Techniques. The observations occurred every two weeks during the first year of the babies’ life, at the subject’s home. The observer points out to have faced a context in which she saw herself beside the mother watching the caregivers, babysitters and nurses taking care of the babies. Based on that, it was proposed a reflection on the outsourcing of maternal care in the studied case, raising three hypotheses that are interconnected and are related to: assisted reproduction, triplet maternity and the feeling of vulnerability described by Winnicott, that many women experience when become mothers.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comprender las razones por las que una madre decidió externalizar el cuidado de sus bebés. El mismo fue desarrollado a través de Método de Observación del Bebé Bick que se produjo con una madre y sus tres hijos. Esta madre concibió su embarazo a través de Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida. Las observaciones se llevaron a cabo quincenalmente durante el primer año de vida de los bebés, en la casa de la participante. El observador se encontró en un contexto en que estaba junto de la madre observando a los cuidadores y a las enfermeras cuidar a los bebés. A partir de esta observación, se propone una reflexión sobre la externalización de la atención materna acompañada en el caso, con tres hipótesis que están interconectadas y están relacionados con: la reproducción asistida, la maternidad del trío y el sentido de vulnerabilidad descrito por Winnicott.

How much have the perinatal outcomes of triplet pregnancies improved over the last two decades?

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to demonstrate the temporal trends in perinatal outcomes of triplet pregnancies over the last two decades. METHODS: The medical records of patients with triplet pregnancies at two Korean tertiary-care hospitals from 1992 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed in regard to maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study was divided into two periods for analysis: period I (1992–2001) and period II (2003–2012). RESULTS: Over a 21-year period, 65 women with triplet pregnancies and 185 neonates were analyzed. Period II, when compared with period I, was associated with improved maternal outcomes, characterized by a decreased incidence of preeclampsia (31.8% vs. 2.3%, P=0.002) and anemia (68.2% vs. 30.2%, P=0.003) during pregnancy. Regarding neonatal aspects, the composite morbidity of period II was significantly decreased compared with that of period I, as assessed with a generalized estimating equation for logistic regression (26.2% vs. 8.1%, P=0.03). Multivariable analysis revealed that the gestational age at delivery and the period were significantly associated with the composite neonatal morbidity (P<0.001 and 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION: Improved neonatal morbidity was associated with a higher gestational age at delivery and with the more recent decade.

Transmission narcissique et transmission de la différence à partir d'un cas de transmission dans une famille avec des triplés / Narcissistic transmission and transmission of difference from a case of transmission in a family with triplets

Cette recherche a été constituée par une étude de cas. Une observation des bébés a été réalisée en utilisant la Méthode Esther Bick, où une mère qui avait conçu une grossesse multiple de trois enfants par Procréation Médicalement Assisté a été accompagnée. Cette étude vise démontrer comme l'observatrice pouvait se prêter aux projections, en accueillant des angoisses de la mère et d'autres personnes qui se trouvaient dans cet environnement. Il montre notamment la possibilité d'agir de manière préventive a travers de cette méthode, car la présence de l'observateur éveille les processus d'autoréflexion, au même temps que leur rends une continence. En considérant ces points, cet article donc démontre comment, dans ce cas, s'a présenté une forme de transmission psychique fragmentée, où chacun des triplés est la cible de projections et d'identifications familiales différentes.

This research was constituted by the accomplishment of a case study. An observation of infants was performed using the Esther Bick Method, where a mother who conceived a multiple pregnancy of triplets by Assisted Reproduction Treatment was followed up. This study aims to demonstrate how the observer could lend herself to projections, welcoming the anxieties of the mother and others in that environment. This work shows in particular the possibility of preventive action through this method, because the presence of the observer awakens the processes of self-reflection, while at the same time making them continents. In considering these points, this article then demonstrates how, in this case, a form of fragmented psychic transmission has emerged, in which each triplet is the subject of projections and different family identifications.

Study of protein interaction based on the triplets combination pairs of the residue groups / 药学学报

The protein-protein interactions play an important role in life science. At present, many methods are developed with preferences of the amino acid residues, which do not offer the relative spatial information for the residue groups. However, the spatial information for the residue groups is important in the design of the protein-protein interactions. We proposed a new model, which is named ‘tri-prism’ model, by deep mining the existing protein-protein interaction patterns and refining the preference and the relative spatial information for the combination pairs of the residue groups. The model not only provided the preferences, but also offered the relative spatial information for the triplets combination pairs of the residue groups. The model was able to analyze the triplets combination pairs of the residue groups based on the preference factor, amino acid composition, and protein secondary structure. The model was applied to the interface of the PD-1/PD-L2 protein. According to the diversity characters of the composition and the spatial information between the combination pairs of the residue groups at the interface of the PD-1/PD-L2 protein and the predicted ones, we put forward the suggestions for the mutations of the residues, which offered a new view in the study of protein-protein interactions.

Triplet pregnancies: perinatal outcome evolution / Evolução dos resultados perinatais em gestações triplas

PURPOSE: To evaluate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes evolution of triplet pregnancies. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in triplet pregnancies delivered over 16 years in a tertiary obstetric center with differentiated perinatal support. Evaluation of demographic factors, obstetric complications, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, birth weight and immediate newborn outcome were done over a 16 years period. A global characterization of the sample was performed considering the listed parameters. Variables were categorized in three groups according to year of occurrence: 1996-2000, 2001-2006, 2007-2011, and all parameters were compared. RESULTS: Of the 33 triplets included, 72.7% resulted from induced pregnancies. All except one patient received prenatal corticosteroids and five received tocolytics. All women delivered prenatally and no significant differences were seen in the mean gestational age at delivery or birth weight towards time. There were three intrauterine fetal deaths. Neonatal immediate outcomes were not significantly different over the years. CONCLUSION: Despite remarkable progresses in perinatal and neonatal cares, no noticeable impact in triplet gestations' outcomes was seen, sustaining that triplets should be avoided due to their great risk of prematurity and neonatal morbidities, either by limiting the numbers of embryos transferred or by fetal reduction. .

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a evolução obstétrica e os resultados perinatais das gestações triplas. MÉTODOS: Um estudo observacional prospectivo foi realizado em gestações triplas durante 16 anos num centro obstétrico terciário com apoio perinatal diferenciado. Foram realizadas avaliações dos fatores demográficos, de complicações obstétricas, da idade gestacional ao parto, do tipo de parto, peso do recém-nascido e resultado neonatal imediato por um período de 16 anos. A caracterização global da amostra foi realizada considerando os parâmetros listados. As variáveis ​​foram divididas em três grupos de acordo com o ano de ocorrência: 1996-2000, 2001-2006, 2007-2011, e todos os parâmetros foram comparados. RESULTADOS: Das 33 gestações triplas incluídas, 72,7% resultaram de gravidezes induzidas. Exceto uma paciente, todas receberam corticosteroides pré-natal e cinco efetuaram tocolíticos. Todas as mulheres tiveram um parto pré-termo e não se observaram diferenças significativas na idade gestacional média ao parto nem no peso ao nascer ao longo do tempo. Houve três óbitos fetais. Os resultados neonatais imediatos não foram significativamente diferentes ao longo dos anos. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar dos avanços notáveis ​​em cuidados perinatais e neonatais, nenhum impacto perceptível nos resultados de gestações triplas foi verificado. Essas gestações devem ser evitadas devido ao grande risco de prematuridade e morbilidade dos recém-nascidos, tanto por limitação do número de embriões transferidos como por redução fetal. .

Birth Weight Reference for Triples in Korea

An estimation of the baseline value of birth weight depending on gestational age is helpful for reducing morbidity and mortality following the early diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine growth retardation. In Korea, there are established baseline values for singletons and twins. But no definite criteria exist for triplets yet. Given the above background, we obtained the baseline value of birth weight depending on the gestational age in triplets with a gestational age of 27-38 weeks using a raw data about birth records which had been obtained during a 10-yr period from 1998 to 2007. This baseline value was compared with those of singletons and twins. During the 10-yr period, the total number of newborns who were born between gestational age 27 and 38 was 1,330,822. Of these, the number of singletons, twins and triplets was 1,330,822, 90,245, and 840, respectively. A mean gestational age was 37.3+/-1.5 weeks, 36.0+/-2.0 weeks and 33.3+/-2.4 weeks in the corresponding order. A mean birth weight was 3,071+/-490 g, 2,414+/-455 g, and 1,836+/-454 g in the corresponding order. A comparison of the birth weight depending on the gestational age of triplets was made with the normal value of singletons and twins. According to this, in the overall gestational age ranging from weeks 27 to 38, it was relatively smaller as compared with the birth weight of twins and singletons. The current study was of significance in that it first obtained the normal value of birth weight of triplets in the overall gestational age ranging from weeks 27 to 38, whose results are expected to be helpful for studies or treatments of triplets.

Medida de energia total do leite materno de mães de trigêmeos, gêmeos e filhos únicos / Total energy supplied by the human milk from mothers of triplet, twin and single neonates

OBJETIVO: Comparar a energia total do leite materno de mães de trigêmeos, gêmeos e filhos únicos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal e controlado feito com mães usuárias do banco de leite do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Foram analisadas seis amostras de leite materno de mães de trigêmeos, 13 de gêmeos e 17 de filhos únicos, coletadas sob paramentação, conforme normas técnicas da Rede Brasileira de Bancos de Leite Humano. A análise foi realizada por meio do teste de crematócrito e os resultados submetidos à análise de variância de Kuskal-Wallis. RESULTADOS: A energia total do leite materno de mães de trigêmeos apresentou mediana de calorias maior (651kcal/L), quando comparada à do leite de mães de filhos únicos (560kcal/L) (p<0,05). O leite das mães de gêmeos e o de mães de filhos únicos não foram diferentes. Os trigêmeos apresentaram peso ao nascer menor (mediana 1344g) em relação aos filhos únicos (1975g) (p<0,01). Não foi observada diferença estatística em relação à idade gestacional e à idade materna entre os três grupos de neonatos. CONCLUSÕES: Pode-se concluir que o presente estudo, o primeiro na literatura sobre o tema, apontou para a presença de maior valor de energia total no leite de mães de recém-nascidos trigemelares. Futuros estudos são necessários para elucidar os mecanismos envolvidos nesse achado.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the total energy of the human milk of mothers of triplets, twins and single-children. METHODS: A cross-sectional and controlled study with mothers from the Human Milk Bank of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein was performed. Six samples of triplet, 13 of twin and 17 of only-child mother's milk were analyzed. The milk samples were collected according to the Brazilian Human Milk Banks Network techniques and procedures and were analyzed by creamatocrit method. The results were compared by Kruskal-Wallis variance test. RESULTS: The total milk energy from triplets mothers was statistically higher (median - 651kcal/L) than single-child mothers (560kcal/L) (p<0.05). The milk of twin mothers and of single child mothers, regarding energy content, were similar. The triplet neonates presented lower birth weight (median-1344g) when compared to single neonates (1975g) (p<0.01). There was no significant difference among the studied groups regarding maternal age and gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: The present study, the first addressing this subject in literature, indicates a higher value of total energy in milk from triplets' mothers. However, further studies are necessary to clarify the mechanisms of this finding.

Desempenho comunicativo em trigêmeos prematuros / Acquisition and development language in premature triplets

OBJETIVO: descrever habilidades do desenvolvimento de trigêmeos aos 18 meses e aos 29 meses de vida, enfocando a comunicação. MÉTODOS: irmãos trigêmeos dizigóticos do sexo masculino. Os procedimentos de avaliação englobaram: Anamnese, Observação do Comportamento Comunicativo e Escala de Desenvolvimento de Gesell e Amatruda (2000). As avaliações foram realizadas aos 18 e aos 29 meses. As crianças apresentaram atraso do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor e eram expostas a multilingüismo. RESULTADOS: foi verificada alteração nos comportamentos comunicativos nas três crianças, tanto na primeira quanto na segunda avaliação, embora tenha sido observada melhora do desempenho, após as orientações recebidas pela família. Na segunda avaliação foi observada criptofasia. Dos comportamentos motor grosseiro, delicado, adaptativo, pessoal-social e de linguagem, o último foi o mais afetado para as três crianças, apesar de todos estarem alterados considerando a idade cronológica dos trigêmeos. CONCLUSÃO: as habilidades do desenvolvimento dos trigêmeos avaliados neste estudo estavam alteradas, acometendo todas as áreas. Ressalta-se maior comprometimento da linguagem tanto aos 18 como aos 29 meses.

PURPOSE: to describe abilities of triplets' development by 18 months and the 29 months of life, focusing on communication. METHODS: dizygotic male sibling triplets. The evaluation procedures included history of disease, observing the communicative behavior and Escala de Desenvolvimento de Gesell e Amatruda (2000). The evaluations were accomplished by the 18 months and the 29 months. The children showed delay in the neuropshycomotor development and were exposed to multilingualism. RESULTS: alteration was verified in the communicative behaviors in the three children, both in the first as well as in the second evaluation, although an amelioration was shown in the performance, after the orientations received by the family. Cryptophasia was observed in the second evaluation. Of the gross motor, fine motor-adaptive, personal-social and language behaviors, the last one was the most affected as for the three children, in spite of all of them being altered considering the triplets' chronological age. CONCLUSION: the abilities of the triplets' development appraised in this study were altered, affecting all the areas. Larger commitment of the language is emphasized both by the age of 18 months as well as by 29 months.