Maternal passage of immunoglobulin G (IgG) is an important passive mechanism for protecting the infant while the neonatal immune system is still immature and ineffective. IgG is the only antibody class capable of crossing the histological layers of the placenta by attaching to the neonatal Fc receptor expressed at the level of syncytiotrophoblasts, and it offers protection against neonatal infectious pathogens. In pregnant women with autoimmune or alloimmune disorders, or in those requiring certain types of biological therapy, transplacental passage of abnormal antibodies may cause fetal or neonatal harm. In this review, we will discuss the physiological mechanisms and benefits of transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies as well as pathological maternal situations where this system is hijacked, potentially leading to adverse neonatal outcomes.

Meningiomas are common primary tumors of the central nervous system. The incidence at the age of fertility is low, although there are some hormonal mechanisms involved. Growth in size was observed during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which could lead to developing new symptoms during pregnancy or worsening of the already existing ones. Visual impairment is the chief complaint, followed by headache, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Diagnosis is based on neurological examination, ophthalmoscopy, imaging techniques like gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans, bearing in mind the patient’s irradiation and prejudice on the fetus together with the histopathological examination. The objective of the review is to determine the influence of meningioma on pregnancy and vice-versa and provide a strategy of follow-up for maternal-fetal specialists and not only. We performed a systematic review by searching relevant information in PubMed and Wiley databases using keywords as meningioma, pregnancy, progesterone receptors. The results showed that besides a similar incidence of meningioma in pregnant and non-pregnant women, symptoms might flare during pregnancy due to water retention, engorgement of vessels, and the presence of sex hormone receptors on tumor cells. Meningioma may impact the route of pregnancy with adverse effects on the fetus. Thus, fetal monitoring by biophysical profile and cardiotocography (CTG) is needed. The preferred treatment option is surgery, but gestational age and the woman’s status must be taken into consideration.

Urban delivering is facing some significant changes that are heading towards unsustainable scenarios. At the same time, local administrations as well as city planners are involved in promoting new solutions that can help to improve city sustainability and livability. In this context, electric micromobility could offer a valuable contribution. In fact, electric micromobility systems such as e-bikes and e-scooters, both at an individual level or as a shared service, could represent sustainable mobility options for city logistics, especially for specific classes of parcel delivery, users’ characteristics and travelled distances. Considering both the growth of e-commerce and the spreading of new options for delivering parcels (e.g., crowdshipping), electric micromobility (e-bikes and e-scooters) could support the penetration and acceptability of such new options, limiting the impacts of delivery operations. After analysis of the current e-commerce background and a review of the current delivery options to satisfy delivery demand, crowdshipping stands out. Thus, the potential shift from private transport to e-micromobility for crowdshipping is investigated, assuming that potential crowdshippers may, mainly, be commuters. The methodology is based on using probabilistic-behavioral models developed within random utility theory, which allow the potential shift towards e-micromobility for commuting to be forecasted. The models were calibrated in Rome, where more than 200 interviews with commuters were available.

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An allantoic cyst is a rare malformation with a frequency of 3 in 1,000,000 that may be seen antenatally by ultrasound assessment when the connection between the cloaca (future bladder) and the allantois fails to regress. A patent urachus that presents as a cyst (allantoic) is usually considered not to be associated with chromosomal abnormalities, but if it is not repaired after birth this leads to complications such as urinary tract infections and stone formation. We present a case of a fetus diagnosed with allantoic cyst at the first trimester ultrasound assessment at 12 weeks gestation. The follow up scans showed a decrease in size of the allantoic cyst with no other obvious major defects and, when invasive testing (amniocentesis with microarray analysis) was performed, a rare microdeletion, 1q21.1q21.2 was identified (1.82 Mb deletion).