Fernando Bugatto

• MD, PhD.
• Professor at Universidad de Cádiz.

Introduction An adverse proinflammatory milieu contributes to abnormal cellular energy metabolism response. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is closely related to an altered maternal inflammatory status. However, its role on lipid metabolism regulation in human placenta has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to examine the impact o...

Simple Summary Maternal adipose tissue grows during pregnancy to secure the fetus’s nutritional supply, and too much visceral adipose tissue at the start of pregnancy can increase metabolic risk and gestational problems. The distribution of fat, and more particularly the rise in visceral fat or central obesity, has been found to be more closely lin...

Background: Body mass index (BMI) has long been used as a well-known risk factor for assessing the presence of an inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) and their potential repercussions on maternal-fetal axis during pregnancy and postpartum, especially for women with overweight and obesity. However, the potential role that the placenta plays...

Objective To analyze the effects of substituting the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria with the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) or American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria for the diagnosis of early‐onset gestational diabetes mellitus (Early‐GDM) or first trimester abnormal glucose tolerance...

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, different non-validated tests were proposed to simplify the diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM). Aim: To analyse the effects of replacing the two-step approach for Early-GDM and GDM diagnosis, with a fasting plasma glucose test. Material and methods: This is a cohort study consisting of 3200 pregna...

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). We aimed to analyze the altered inflammatory markers and angiogenic factors among women with GDM to identify pregnant women at higher risk of developing HDP. Methods: This was a prospective study of 149 women without hypertension diagnosed in the...

Alterations in ambulatory blood pressure detected by monitoring (ABPM) have been associated with perinatal complications in hypertensive pregnant women. Aim: To establish the relationships between the blood pressure (BP) profiles detected by ABPM and adverse perinatal outcomes in normotensive women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Metho...

Objectives We aimed to evaluate fetal cerebral circulation using three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) vascular indices and to study their relationships with maternal lipid and glycaemic profiles. Methods Case–control study in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at 28–32 weeks in which feto-maternal Doppler study and 3DPD c...

Introduction The majority of women admitted with threatened preterm labour (PTL) do not delivery prematurely. While those with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) represent the highest risk group, this is a condition that is not routinely ruled out since it requires amniocentesis. Identification of low-risk or high-risk cases might all...

Pregnancy-related disorders, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, are characterized by the presence of an adverse intrauterine milieu that may ultimately result in oxidative and nitrosative stress. This scenario may trigger uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O●−) and reactive nitrogen spec...

To evaluate the effectiveness of the different insulin therapies on obstetrics-fetal outcomes in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus. We enrolled 147 pregnant women with pre-existing type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical and biochemical parameters were analysed in relation to obstetric and fetal outcomes. 14.2% received treatment with Neu...

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased proinflammatory cytokines and is also associated with adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes later in life. We aim to evaluate the relationships between uterine arteries vascularization and endothelial dysfunction markers, proinflammatory cytokines, and glycemic an...

Dysregulation of NO production is implicated in pregnancy-related diseases, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The role of NO and its placental targets in GDM pregnancies has yet to be determined. S-Nitrosylation is the NO-derived posttranslational protein modification that can modulate biological functions by forming NO-derived complex...

Background: Prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity may be useful to plan delivery in complicated pregnancies. The limited predictive performance of the current diagnostic tests together with the risks of an invasive procedure, limit the use of fetal lung maturity assessment. Objective: To evaluate the performance of quantitative ultrasound...

Background Abnormal fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is associated with maternal and fetal complications during pregnancy. The contribution of maternal and fetal tissues to FAO capacity during late pregnancy is important to understand the pathophysiology of pregnancy-associated complications. The aim of this study was to determine the expression levels o...

Introduction: The influence of maternal body mass index (BMI) on respiratory quotient during pregnancy is not clear. We aim to evaluate longitudinal changes in energy expenditure, respiratory quotient and substrate oxidation rates in normal and overweight women with uncomplicated pregnancies. We hypothesized that the threshold period in switching...

To evaluate the impact of the pro-inflammatory cytokine hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the regulation of glucose and lipid placental metabolism. HGF levels were quantified in amniotic fluid and placenta from control and obese women. 2-deoxy-glucose (2-DOG) uptake, glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation (FAO), fatty acid esterification, de novo fatty a...

Placental metabolism is an important mechanism for the regulation of fetal growth and long-term health of the newborns. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal metabolic environment on human placental fatty acid and glucose metabolism. We used placental explants from uncomplicated pregnancies or pregnancies complicated with gestation...

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of both uterine and umbilical arteries Doppler pulsatility indexes and metabolic control on birthweight in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: One hundred sixty nine women with gestational diabetes were evaluated. Doppler measurements of umbilical artery and mean uterine arteries...

Placentas of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exhibit an altered lipid metabolism. The mechanism by which GDM is linked to alterations in placental lipid metabolism remains obscure. We hypothesized that high glucose levels reduce mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and increase triglyceride accumulation in human placenta. To test...

Aim/hypothesis: Placenta of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exhibits an altered lipid metabolism. The mechanism by which GDM is linked to alterations in placental lipid metabolism remains obscure. We hypothesized that high-glucose levels reduce mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and increase triglyceride accumulation in human p...

Women with a history of preterm delivery have about twice the normal risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationships between selected metabolic CVD risk factors and markers of both systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in high and low-income countries. The aetiology of preeclampsia is multifactorial and remains obscure. Some evidences suggest that altered placental fatty acid oxidation might play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. To reveal if placental fatty acid oxidation is...

a b s t r a c t Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in high and low-income countries. The aetiology of preeclampsia is multifactorial and remains obscure. Some evidences suggest that altered placental fatty acid oxidation might play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. To reveal if placental fatty ac...

Inflammation is an important component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) which could be the link between the metabolic and the cardiovascular consequences of this condition. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been recognized as a significant risk factor for MetS and an inflammation component has been described in this disease. The aim of the st...

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in high and low-income countries. The aetiology of preeclampsia is multifactorial and remains obscure. Some evidences suggest that altered placental fatty acid oxidation might play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. To reveal if placental fatty acid oxidation is...

To evaluate the usefulness of first trimester fetal head and trunk volume (FHTV) in predicting growth disturbance in twin pregnancy. We studied 46 twin pairs from 11 and 14 weeks to delivery. There were 35 dichorionic (76%) and 11 monochorionic (24%) pregnancies. FHTV was assessed by VOCALTM. An inter-twin discrepancy in FHTV, crown-rump length (CR...

To evaluate ultrasound parameters, including Doppler assessment, that may influence fetal growth and birth weight in cases of isolated single umbilical artery (SUA). Sixty pregnant women with isolated SUA were studied. Doppler measurements of umbilical artery (UA), mean uterine artery (UtA) and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility indices...

Heterotopic triplets hardly take place, but nowadays the extended use of assisted reproductive technologies is increasing the ectopic pregnancies rate and subsequently the heterotopic pregnancies, leading to a potentially dangerous condition for the woman and the intrauterine pregnancy. Fourteen cases previously reported in the literature of patien...

To estimate the relationship between different adipokines and proinflammatory mediators in amniotic fluid and maternal body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2. Seventy pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis for clinical reasons at 15-20 weeks of gestation were divided into two groups according to their BMI: a control group...

To evaluate maternal serum transformed alpha-fetoprotein (MSt-AFP) levels, a new molecular conformation of AFP was used in cases of threatened preterm labor (TPL). Prospective case-control study. Maternal serum levels of classical AFP and transformed AFP (t-AFP) were compared between 2 groups matched by gestational age: 25 women with TPL and 25 hea...

To evaluate transformed alpha-fetoprotein (t-AFP) (a new molecular conformation of alpha-fetoprotein) levels in maternal serum and fetal serum in normal pregnancy. Prospective longitudinal study. Fifty pregnant women were studied in two groups: 25 were evaluated in each trimester of pregnancy and near term (12, 20, 32 and 36 weeks) and the other 25...

Malignant tumours of the vulvar soft tissue are very uncommon. When localized in the Bartholin's gland area these tumours can be mistaken for benign lesions, leading to a delayed diagnosis. A 52-year-old woman presenting with a vulvar nodule, which was diagnosed as a Bartholin's gland cyst and was referred to the hospital for surgical excision of t...

To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in normal and complicated pregnancies. Setting: university hospital, tertiary referral centre. Subjects: 90 pregnant women in four groups: 20 women with preeclampsia, 20 women with gestational hypertension, 30 women with late-onset gestational diabetes and 20 healthy pregnant women...

To evaluate the effect of antenatal betamethasone on fetal branch pulmonary artery flow velocity waveforms. Betamethasone 12 mg i.m. in 2 injections 24 h apart was given to 25 pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery. Pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indexes were measured at the proximal, middle and distal segments of the fetal pulmonary arte...

To evaluate maternal serum transformed alpha-fetoprotein (t-AFP) levels in women with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). 60 pregnant women in two groups were studied: 30 with IUGR and 30 healthy pregnant women as a control group. t-AFP concentrations were determined by ELISA assay. Maternal serum t-AFP levels were higher in women with IUGR tha...

Occupational exposure figures are inexact, and environmental levels are even more difficult to document. Exposure usually involves chemical mixtures, and individuals may not be aware of all the chemicals with which they come into contact. Thus, the effect of individual chemicals is difficult to assess, and causeand- effect relationships are nearly...

SUMMARY Background:Strumal carcinoid is a rare ovarian germ cell tumor composed of thyroid follicles admixed with carcinoid tumor. Patients and methods: A case of a 27 year-old woman with hydronephrosis and retrouterine mass revealed by ultra- sonography is reported. An strumal carcinoid was found inci- dentally within a mature cystic teratoma. Res...