Comparisons of the Rates of Large-for-Gestational-Age Newborns between Women with Diet-Controlled Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Those with Non-Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

(1) Objectives: The primary objective is to compare the rate of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) between women with diet-controlled gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and those with non-GDM, and to assess whether or not diet-controlled GDM is an independent factor of LGA fetuses. The secondary objectives are to compare the rates of other common adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, cesarean section rate, preterm birth, and low Apgar score, between pregnancies with diet-controlled GDM and non-GDM pregnancies. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on singleton pregnancies, diagnosed with GDM and non-GDM between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, based on a two-step screening test. The prospective database of the obstetric department was accessed to retrieve the records meeting the inclusion criteria, and full medical records were comprehensively reviewed. The patients were categorized into two groups, GDM (study group) and non-GDM (control group). The main outcome was the rate of LGA newborns, and the secondary outcomes included pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm birth, cesarean rate, low Apgar scores, etc. (3) Results: Of 1364 recruited women, 1342 met the inclusion criteria, including 1177 cases in the non-GDM group and 165 (12.3%) in the GDM group. Maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI were significantly higher in the GDM group. The rates of LGA newborns, PIH, and cesarean section were significantly higher in the GDM group (15.1% vs. 7.1%, p-value < 0.001; 7.8% vs. 2.6%, p-value = 0.004; and 54.5% vs. 41.5%, p-value = 0.002; respectively). On logistic regression analysis, GDM was not significantly associated with LGA (odds ratio 1.64, 95% CI: 0.97-2.77), while BMI and gender were still significantly associated with LGA. Likewise, GDM was not significantly associated with the rate of PIH (odds ratio: 1.7, 95% CI: 0.825-3.504), while BMI and maternal age were significantly associated with PIH, after controlling confounding factors. (4) Conclusions: The rates of LGA newborns, PIH, and cesarean section are significantly higher in women with diet-controlled GDM than those with non-GDM. Nevertheless, the rates of LGA newborns and PIH are not directly caused by GDM but mainly caused high pre-pregnancy BMI and advanced maternal age, which are more commonly encountered among women with GDM.

Cardio-STIC Based Reference Ranges of Fetal Thymus Size in Singleton Pregnancies.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the reference ranges of the fetal thymus size among Thai fetuses. METHODS: The database of spatio-temporal image correlation (cardio-STIC) was assessed to obtain the volume data sets for offline analysis. The volume data sets acquired at 16 to 38 weeks were measured for the thymus transverse diameter (TD) and the thymus/thoracic (TT) ratio at the three-vessel view. The measured values were regressed to identify the best-fitted model. RESULTS: A total of 622 volumes were successfully measured and the reference ranges of TD and TT ratio were established. Although TT was relatively constant or increased minimally with gestational age (GA), TD was significantly increased with gestational age. The predicted mean TD (mm) = -31.206 + 2.854 × GA - 0.028 × GA2 (r = 0.891; P < .001) and predicted standard deviation (SD) of TD (mm) = 0.837 + 0.073 × GA (r = 0.038; P < .001). Centile charts for predicting TD and equations for z-score calculation were also provided. Interobserver variability in TD measurement was better than that in TT ratio and thymic perimeter measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Reference ranges of fetal TD and TT ratio have been provided. These normative data may be a useful tool in the assessment of thymus-associated conditions. For clinical purposes, we recommend measurements of the TD rather than TT ratio or perimeter because of its reproducibility and simplicity.

Prenatal features of Pena-Shokeir sequence with atypical response to acoustic stimulation.

A fetal sonographic screening examination performed at 23 weeks showed polyhydramnios, micrognathia, fixed postures of all long bones, but no movement and no breathing. The fetus showed fetal heart rate acceleration but no movement when acoustic stimulation was applied with artificial larynx. All these findings persisted on serial examinations. The neonate was stillborn at 37 weeks and a final diagnosis of Pena-Shokeir sequence was made. In addition to typical sonographic features of Pena-Shokeir sequence, fetal heart rate accelerations with no movement in response to acoustic stimulation suggests that peripheral myopathy may possibly play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:459-462, 2016.

Anal papanicolaou smear in women with abnormal cytology: a thai hospital experience.

BACKGROUND: Anal intraepithelial lesions (AIL) are likely to represent a precursor for anal cancer. Women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be at higher risk of anal cancer but a screening program for AIL still is not routinely recommended. We here studied the relationship of dysplastic cells from cervical and anal cytology in HIV-infected women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in Prapokklao Hospital, Thailand during 2013-2014. Five hundred and ninety nine HIV-infected women were recruited. Participants who had cytological reports of equally or over "abnormal squamous/glandular cells of undetermined significance" (ASC-US) were classified as abnormal cervical or anal cytology. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate correlations between groups. RESULTS: HIV-infected women with abnormal cervical cytology had 3.8 times more risk (adjusted odd ratio 3.846, 95% confidence interval 1.247-11.862, p-value. 019) for abnormal anal cytology. The major problem of the anal Pap test in this study was the inadequacy of the collected specimens for evaluation (34.4%, 206/599). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of cervical and anal Pap tests were 93.9/12.0, 87.3/96.9, 39.7/21.4, 99.4/94.1 and 88.1/91.4 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal cervical cytology in HIV-infected women indicates elevated risk for abnormal anal cytology. The sensitivity of the anal Pap test for detection of AIL 2/3 in HIV-infected women was quite low while specificity was excellent. Inadequacy of specimen collection for evaluation was a major limitation. Improvement of sample collection is recommended for future investigations.

Prevalence of abnormal anal cytology in HIV-infected women: a hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND: To study the prevalence of abnormal anal cytology by Papanicolaou (Pap) technique in HIV- infected women who attended a HIV clinic at Prapokklao Hospital, Chanthaburi, Thailand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HIV-infected women who attended a HIV clinic at Prapokklao Hospital from March 2013 to February 2014 were recruited for anal Pap smears. Participants who had abnormal results of equally or over "abnormal squamous/glandular cells of undetermined significance" (ASC-US) were classified as abnormal anal cytology. RESULTS: A total of 590 anal Pap smears were performed at HIV clinic of Prapokklao Hospital during the study period. There were only 13 patients who had abnormal Pap tests, which were: 11 ASC-US and 2 HSIL (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). The prevalence of abnormal anal Pap smears in HIV-infected women who attended HIV clinic at Prapokklao Hospital was 2.2 percent. Percentage of high risk HPV in patients who had abnormal Pap test was 88.9 (8/9). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of abnormal anal Papanicolaou smears in HIV-infected women who attended the HIV clinic at Prapokklao hospital was quite low in comparison to the earlier literature.