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A multicenter cross-sectional survey study involving four Italian University Hospitals was performed to test the hypothesis that negative affect and positive affect (affective dimensions) mediate the association between risk perception (perceived risk of infection and death; cognitive dimensions) and the feeling of work exhaustion (WE) among obstetrics healthcare providers (HCPs) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Totally, 570 obstetrics HCPs were invited to complete the 104-item IPSICO survey in May 2020. A theoretical model built on the tested hypothesis was investigated by structural equation modelling. The model explained 32.2% of the WE variance. Only negative affect mediated the association between cognitive dimensions and WE and also the association between WE and psychological well-being before the pandemic, experiences of stressful events, female gender, and dysfunctional coping. Non-mediated associations with WE were observed for work perceived as a duty, experience of stressful events, support received by colleagues, and the shift strategy. Only previous psychological well-being, support by colleagues, and shift strategies were inversely associated with WE. Based on study results, monitoring negative than positive affect appears superior in predicting WE, with practical implications for planning psychological interventions in HCPs at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels.

Mitochondrial dysfunction was observed in acute systemic inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and might be involved in sepsis-induced multi-organ failure. Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 2 (CHCHD2), also known as Mitochondrial Nuclear Retrograde Regulator 1 (MNRR1), a bi-organellar protein located in the mitochondria and the nucleus, is implicated in cell respiration, survival, and response to tissue hypoxia. Recently, the reduction of the cellular CHCHD2/MNRR1 protein, as part of mitochondrial dysfunction, has been shown to play a role in the amplification of inflammatory cytokines in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine whether the plasma concentration of CHCHD2/MNRR1 changed during human normal pregnancy, spontaneous labor at term, and clinical chorioamnionitis at term. We conducted a cross-sectional study that included the following groups: 1) non-pregnant women (n = 17); 2) normal pregnant women at various gestational ages from the first trimester until term (n = 110); 3) women at term with spontaneous labor (n = 50); and 4) women with clinical chorioamnionitis at term in labor (n = 25). Plasma concentrations of CHCHD2/MNRR1 were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 1) Pregnant women at term in labor with clinical chorioamnionitis had a significantly higher plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 concentration than those in labor without chorioamnionitis (p =.003); 2) CHCHD2/MNRR1 is present in the plasma of healthy non-pregnant and normal pregnant women without significant differences in its plasma concentrations between the two groups; 3) there was no correlation between maternal plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 concentration and gestational age at venipuncture; and 4) plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 concentration was not significantly different in women at term in spontaneous labor compared to those not in labor. CHCHD2/MNRR1 is physiologically present in the plasma of healthy non-pregnant and normal pregnant women, and its concentration does not change with gestational age and parturition at term. However, plasma CHCHD2/MNRR1 is elevated in women at term with clinical chorioamnionitis. CHCHD2/MNRR1, a novel bi-organellar protein located in the mitochondria and the nucleus, is released into maternal plasma during systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effects on oncologic outcomes of intrauterine manipulator use during laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. A systematic literature search was performed by an expert librarian in multiple electronic databases from inception to January 31, 2023. We included all studies in the English language that compared oncologic outcomes (recurrence-free, cause-specific, or overall survival) between endometrial cancer patients who underwent total laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer with vs without the use of an intrauterine manipulator. Studies comparing only peritoneal cytology status or lymphovascular space invasion were summarized for completeness. No selection criteria were applied to the study design. Four reviewers independently reviewed studies for inclusion, assessed their risk of bias, and extracted data. Pooled hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated for oncologic outcomes using the random effect model. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 tests. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plot and Egger test. Out of 350 identified references, we included 2 randomized controlled trials and 12 observational studies for a total of 14 studies and 5,019 patients. The use of an intrauterine manipulator during hysterectomy for endometrial cancer was associated with a pooled hazard ratio for recurrence of 1.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.99–2.33; P =.05; I 2=31%; chi square P value=.22). Pooled hazard ratio for recurrence was 1.48 (95% confidence interval, 0.25–8.76; P =.62; I 2=67%; chi square P value=.08) when only randomized controlled trials were considered. Pooled hazard ratio for overall survival was 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 0.65–1.76; P =0.79; I 2=44%; chi square P value=.17). The rate of positive peritoneal cytology or lymphovascular space invasion did not differ using an intrauterine manipulator. Intrauterine manipulator use during hysterectomy for endometrial cancer was neither significantly associated with recurrence-free and overall survival nor with positive peritoneal cytology or lymphovascular space invasion, but further prospective studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To demonstrate a laparoscopic technique to remove a scar pregnancy. Stepwise demonstration of the surgical technique. Santa Croce and Carle Hospital, Cuneo. Patient B.B. is a woman referred to our center for a suspected cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) at 9 weeks gestation. CSP occurs approximately in 6% of all ectopic pregnancies. The estimated incidence is reported to be 1:1800 to 1:2500 in cesarean deliveries. Depending on its location, CSP can be categorized as either type 1, if the growth is in the uterine cavity, or type 2, if it expands toward the bladder and the abdominal cavity. If inadequately managed, it can lead to severe complications; most of them are hemorrhagic and can threaten the woman's life. There are several therapeutic approaches: local excision seems to be the most effective choice in type 2 CSP. In expert hands, the laparoscopic approach is perhaps the best surgical choice as tissue dissection, electrosurgical hemostasis, and vascular control can be effectively managed with minimal invasive access. Because severe intraoperative bleeding can occur, retroperitoneal vascular control is mandatory in this surgery. In type 1 CSP curettage, aspiration or hysteroscopic approach can be considered if the CSP is of small dimensions. A hysteroscopic approach can also be helpful in type 2 CSP during the laparoscopic removal, as intrauterine guidance. A potassium chloride local injection can be considered in a preoperative stage in the presence of a fetal heart rate. The systemic administration of methotrexate is usually ineffective as single agent, but it can be useful if administered as adjuvant therapy. Uterine artery embolization can be useful in an emergency setting to manage severe bleeding, but it can lead to complications in subsequent pregnancies and, more rarely, to premature ovarian failure. Considering poor bleeding at presentation, feasible dimensions, and the woman's desire for future pregnancy, ultrasound-guided aspiration and curettage was attempted. Because endouterine removal was incomplete, methotrexate injection was proposed as adjuvant therapy, but the administration was postponed as the patient tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019. A month later, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level dropped from over 16 000 to 271 mU/mL, so an ultrasound and biochemical follow-up was performed. A month later, despite a low beta-human chorionic gonadotropin value, an increase in dimensions was observed at ultrasound, so surgical laparoscopic removal was offered. In this video article, laparoscopic removal of scar pregnancy is discussed in the following surgical steps: (1) Temporary closure of uterine arteries at the origin, using removable clips. (2) Retroperitoneal dissection to safely manage the scar pregnancy. (3) Dissection of the myometrial–pregnancy interface. (4) Double layer suture on the anterior uterine wall. Laparoscopic surgical management is a very effective surgical approach to remove CSP. Knowledge of retroperitoneal dissection and vascular control is necessary to carry out this surgical intervention safely and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent evidence has shown that water delivery is safe for the mother, but high-quality evidence is not available for the newborn. Therefore, obstetric guidelines do not support it. This retrospective study aimed to contribute to the available evidence on maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with water delivery., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study from prospectively collected birth registry data from 2015 to 2019. A total of 144 consecutive water deliveries and 265 land deliveries eligible for waterbirth were identified. The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was applied to address for confounders., Results: We identified 144 women who delivered in water (water group) and 265 women who delivered on land (land group). One (0.7%) neonatal death was observed in the water delivery group. After IPTW adjustment, water delivery was significantly associated with a higher risk of maternal fever in puerperium (odds ratio [OR]: 4.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86-17.02; p  = 0.004), of neonatal cord avulsion (OR: 20.73; 95% CI: 2.63-2,674; p  = 0.001), and of positive neonatal C-reactive protein (CRP > 5 mg/L; OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.05-7.24; p  = 0.039); delivering in water was associated with lower maternal blood loss (mean difference: 110.40 mL; 95% CI: 191.01-29.78; p  = 0.007), a lower risk of major (≥1,000 mL) postpartum hemorrhage (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99; p  = 0.016), lower risk of manual placenta delivery (OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.03-0.67; p  = 0.008) and curettage (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.60; p  = 0.002), lower use of episiotomy (OR: 0.02; 95% CI: 0-0.12; p  < 0.001), and lower risk of neonatal ward admission (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.25-0.48; p  < 0.001)., Conclusion: The present study showed that differences are present between water and land delivery, and among them is the risk of cord avulsion, a severe and potentially fatal event. In women choosing to deliver in water, a trained staffmust be present and immediate recognition of cord avulsion is key for a prompt management to avoid possible serious complications., Key Points: · High-quality evidence is not available for neonatal safety of waterbirth; therefore, retrospective studies still represent the main body of evidence.. · Differences are present between water and land delivery, and among them, the increased risk of cord avulsion is a potentially fatal event.. · A trained staff must assist women who chose to deliver in water and cord avulsion must be promptly recognized and managed to avoid severe neonatal complications.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)