OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of HBV infection on pre- and postpartum health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pregnant women. METHODS: A prospective matched cohort consisting of 70 HBV-infected and 70 healthy pregnant women was recruited from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between April 17 and September 25, 2023. HRQoL of the participants was assessed at 16-24 weeks of gestation, between 32 weeks and delivery, and 5-13 weeks postpartum. Mixed linear models were used for evaluating temporal trends of HRQoL changes, and univariate ANOVA with multiple linear regression was used to identify the predictors of HRQoL. RESULTS: Compared with healthy pregnant women, HBV-infected pregnant women had consistently lower total HRQoL scores across all the 3 intervals, with the lowest scores observed between 32 weeks of gestation and delivery, during which these women had significantly reduced mental component scores (74.27±13.43 vs 80.21±12.9, P=0.009) and postpartum mental (76.52±16.19 vs 85.02±6.51, P<0.001) and physical component scale scores (77.17±14.71 vs 83.09±10.1, P=0.009). HBV infection was identified as an independent risk factor affecting HRQoL during late pregnancy and postpartum periods. Additional independent risk factors for postpartum HRQoL reduction included self-pay medical expenses, spouse's neutral attitude toward the current pregnancy, and preexisting comorbidities (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HRQoL of pregnant women deteriorates progressively in late pregnancy, and HBV infection exacerbates reductions of physical function and role emotion in late pregnancy and after delivery, suggesting the importance of targeted interventions for financial burdens, partner support and comorbid conditions to improve HRQoL of pregnant women with HBV infection.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Quality of Life ; Prospective Studies ; Postpartum Period ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/psychology* ; Adult ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in fatigue and post-exertional malaise; however, whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is unclear. This study investigated the association between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and postpartum LUTS. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in China from November 1, 2022, to November 1, 2023. Participants were classified into infected and uninfected groups based on SARS-CoV-2 antigen results. LUTS prevalence and severity were assessed using self-reported symptoms and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7). Pelvic floor muscle activity was measured using electromyography following the Glazer protocol. Group comparisons were performed to evaluate the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with LUTS and electromyography parameters, with stratified analyses conducted using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: Among 3,652 participants (681 infected, 2,971 uninfected), no significant differences in LUTS prevalence or IIQ-7 scores were observed. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection was an independent factor influencing the electromyographic activity of the pelvic floor muscles (mean tonic contraction amplitudes), regardless of delivery mode ( P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not significantly associated with an increased risk of postpartum LUTS but independently altered pelvic floor muscle electromyographic activity, suggesting potential neuromuscular effects.
Humans ; Female ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Pregnancy ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/virology* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Electromyography ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pelvic Floor/physiopathology* ; Prevalence

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) poses a significant risk of neural damage during pregnancy. As the most prevalent intrauterine infectious agent in low- and middle-income countries, HCMV disrupts the development of neural stem cells, leading to fetal malformations and abnormal structural and physiological functions in the fetal brain. This review summarizes the current understanding of how HCMV infection dysregulates the Wnt signaling pathway to induce fetal malformations and discusses current management strategies.
Humans ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Cytomegalovirus/physiology* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; Congenital Abnormalities/virology* ; Animals

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza, Human/prevention & control* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Whooping Cough/prevention & control* ; Vaccination ; Influenza Vaccines/therapeutic use* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/prevention & control* ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Risk Factors ; Risk Assessment ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy Outcome

Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Culture Media ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective: To analyze the association between different treatment timings and adverse neonatal outcomes (premature birth, death, congenital syphilis) in syphilis-infected pregnant women. Methods: The National Management Information System for Prevention of HIV, Syphilis and HBV Mother-to-Child Transmission was used to collect information on the detection and treatment of syphilis-infected pregnant women and their newborns in Guangdong Province from October 2011 to December 2021. According to the gestational weeks of syphilis-infected pregnant women receiving penicillin treatment for the first time, they were divided into four groups: treatment in the first trimester, treatment in the second trimester, treatment in the third trimester, and no treatment during pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between different treatment timings and adverse neonatal outcomes in syphilis-infected pregnant women. Results: A total of 22 483 syphilis-infected pregnant women were included. The number of pregnant women who started treatment in the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester and did not receive treatment during pregnancy were 4 549 (20.23%), 8 719 (38.78%), 2 235 (9.94%) and 6 980 (31.05%), respectively. Compared with pregnant women who started treatment in the first trimester, pregnant women who did not receive anti-syphilis treatment during pregnancy had increased risks of neonatal preterm birth (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.24-1.62), death (OR=4.27, 95%CI: 1.64-14.69) and congenital syphilis (OR=12.26, 95%CI: 6.35-27.45). At the same time, the risk of congenital syphilis in the newborns of pregnant women who started anti-syphilis treatment in the second trimester (OR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.34-6.16) and third trimester (OR=6.27, 95%CI: 2.99-14.80) also increased. Conclusion: Early initiation of anti-syphilis treatment during pregnancy in patients with syphilis can improve neonatal outcomes.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Syphilis/diagnosis* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy* ; Syphilis, Congenital/drug therapy* ; Premature Birth ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control*

Objective: To analyze the association between different treatment timings and adverse neonatal outcomes (premature birth, death, congenital syphilis) in syphilis-infected pregnant women. Methods: The National Management Information System for Prevention of HIV, Syphilis and HBV Mother-to-Child Transmission was used to collect information on the detection and treatment of syphilis-infected pregnant women and their newborns in Guangdong Province from October 2011 to December 2021. According to the gestational weeks of syphilis-infected pregnant women receiving penicillin treatment for the first time, they were divided into four groups: treatment in the first trimester, treatment in the second trimester, treatment in the third trimester, and no treatment during pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between different treatment timings and adverse neonatal outcomes in syphilis-infected pregnant women. Results: A total of 22 483 syphilis-infected pregnant women were included. The number of pregnant women who started treatment in the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester and did not receive treatment during pregnancy were 4 549 (20.23%), 8 719 (38.78%), 2 235 (9.94%) and 6 980 (31.05%), respectively. Compared with pregnant women who started treatment in the first trimester, pregnant women who did not receive anti-syphilis treatment during pregnancy had increased risks of neonatal preterm birth (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.24-1.62), death (OR=4.27, 95%CI: 1.64-14.69) and congenital syphilis (OR=12.26, 95%CI: 6.35-27.45). At the same time, the risk of congenital syphilis in the newborns of pregnant women who started anti-syphilis treatment in the second trimester (OR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.34-6.16) and third trimester (OR=6.27, 95%CI: 2.99-14.80) also increased. Conclusion: Early initiation of anti-syphilis treatment during pregnancy in patients with syphilis can improve neonatal outcomes.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Syphilis/diagnosis* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy* ; Syphilis, Congenital/drug therapy* ; Premature Birth ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control*

Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. Pregnancy is associated with physiologic and immunological changes that may increase the risk for influenza virus infection and influenza-related complications. Influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infection. WHO and many countries have classified pregnant women as a priority population for influenza vaccination, however, there are still many challenges for promoting influenza vaccination in pregnant women in China, influenza vaccination coverage in pregnant women remains low and some influenza vaccine package inserts list pregnancy as an absolute contraindication. In this paper, we summarize the research progress in the effects of influenza infection and influenza vaccination during pregnancy both at home and abroad, then discuss the strategies to promote influenza vaccination in pregnancy for the purpose of providing reference for the related research and policy development in China.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Influenza Vaccines ; Vaccination ; Orthomyxoviridae