Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is likelier to develop following a first pregnancy and delivery. Although retrospective epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk from both pregnancy and vaginal delivery, few cohort studies have estimated the long-term risk of SUI. This longitudinal cohort study examined the influence of SUI, beginning in a first pregnancy or puerperal period, on the risk of SUI symptoms 12 years later in 241 primiparous women entered consecutively into the trial in 1989 when seen for their first delivery. The 12-year incidence of SUI was based on 146 women lacking SUI for at least 3 months after delivery. By 12 years after the first delivery, 201 women had had 1-5 further pregnancies, and 187 had had 1-4 additional deliveries.The prevalence of SUI 12 years after the first delivery was 42%, and about 5% of women had SUI on a daily basis. Nearly 9% of women in the study reported hygienic problems or social discomfort resulting from SUI. The 12-year incidence of SUI was 30%. Any degree of SUI at 12 years was significantly more prevalent in women whose SUI began during the first pregnancy or within 3 months after giving birth, compared to women without SUI for at least the first 3 puerperal months. More than half of women whose SUI began during or after the first pregnancy but remitted by 3 months postpartum had SUI when assessed after 12 years. The risk of SUI 12 years after the first delivery was increased in women with higher body mass indices, but decreased in women who breast fed their infants for 6 months or longer and also in those having cesarean section at the first delivery. None of the women had undergone surgery for SUI. Training of the pelvic floor muscles did not lessen its prevalence.These findings show that, when SUI begins during the first pregnancy and especially the first delivery, the risk of symptoms 12 years later is significantly increased. Women who are obese before their first pregnancy and delivery appear to be especially at risk, whereas cesarean delivery may protect again long-lasting SUI in premenopausal women. GYNECOLOGYVolume 62, Number 5 OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY

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Fetal lung underdevelopment, also known as pulmonary hypoplasia, is characterized by decreased lung growth and maturation. The most common birth defect found in babies with pulmonary hypoplasia is congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Despite research and clinical advances, babies with CDH still have high morbidity and mortality rates, which are directly related to the severity of lung underdevelopment. To date, there is no effective treatment that promotes fetal lung growth and maturation. Here, we describe a stem cell–based approach in rodents that enhances fetal lung development via the administration of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs). Using fetal rodent models of pulmonary hypoplasia (primary epithelial cells, organoids, explants, and in vivo), we demonstrated that AFSC-EV administration promoted branching morphogenesis and alveolarization, rescued tissue homeostasis, and stimulated epithelial cell and fibroblast differentiation. We confirmed this regenerative ability in in vitro models of lung injury using human material, where human AFSC-EVs obtained following good manufacturing practices restored pulmonary epithelial homeostasis. Investigating EV mechanism of action, we found that AFSC-EV beneficial effects were exerted via the release of RNA cargo. MicroRNAs regulating the expression of genes involved in lung development, such as the miR17–92 cluster and its paralogs, were highly enriched in AFSC-EVs and were increased in AFSC-EV–treated primary lung epithelial cells compared to untreated cells. Our findings suggest that AFSC-EVs hold regenerative ability for underdeveloped fetal lungs, demonstrating potential for therapeutic application in patients with pulmonary hypoplasia.

COVID-19 typically manifests as a respiratory illness, but several clinical reports have described gastrointestinal symptoms. This is particularly true in children in whom gastrointestinal symptoms are frequent and viral shedding outlasts viral clearance from the respiratory system. These observations raise the question of whether the virus can replicate within the stomach. Here we generate gastric organoids from fetal, pediatric, and adult biopsies as in vitro models of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To facilitate infection, we induce reverse polarity in the gastric organoids. We find that the pediatric and late fetal gastric organoids are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, while viral replication is significantly lower in undifferentiated organoids of early fetal and adult origin. We demonstrate that adult gastric organoids are more susceptible to infection following differentiation. We perform transcriptomic analysis to reveal a moderate innate antiviral response and a lack of differentially expressed genes belonging to the interferon family. Collectively, we show that the virus can efficiently infect the gastric epithelium, suggesting that the stomach might have an active role in fecal-oral SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Background Pregnant women have been identified as a potentially at‐risk group concerning COVID‐19 infection, but little is known regarding the susceptibility of the fetus to infection. Co‐expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 has been identified as a prerequisite for infection, and expression across different tissues is known to vary between children and adults. However, the expression of these proteins in the fetus is unknown. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a single cell data repository. The data were then validated at both gene and protein level by performing RT‐qPCR and two‐colour immunohistochemistry on a library of second‐trimester human fetal tissues. Findings TMPRSS2 is present at both gene and protein level in the predominantly epithelial fetal tissues analysed. ACE2 is present at significant levels only in the fetal intestine and kidney, and is not expressed in the fetal lung. The placenta also does not co‐express the two proteins across the second trimester or at term. Interpretation This dataset indicates that the lungs are unlikely to be a viable route of SARS‐CoV2 fetal infection. The fetal kidney, despite presenting both the proteins required for the infection, is anatomically protected from the exposure to the virus. However, the gastrointestinal tract is likely to be susceptible to infection due to its high co‐expression of both proteins, as well as its exposure to potentially infected amniotic fluid. Tweetable abstract This work provides detailed mechanistic insight into the relative protection & vulnerabilities of the fetus & placenta to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection by scRNAseq & protein expression analysis for ACE2 & TMPRSS2. The findings help to explain the low rate of vertical transmission.

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Hydrogels are biomaterials that, thanks to their unique hydrophilic and biomimetic characteristics, are used to support cell growth and attachment and promote tissue regeneration. The use of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) from different tissues or organs significantly demonstrated to be far superior to other types of hydrogel since it recapitulates the native tissue’s ECM composition and bioactivity. Different muscle injuries and malformations require the application of patches or fillers to replenish the defect and boost tissue regeneration. Herein, we develop, produce, and characterize a porcine diaphragmatic dECM-derived hydrogel for diaphragmatic applications. We obtain a tissue-specific biomaterial able to mimic the complex structure of skeletal muscle ECM; we characterize hydrogel properties in terms of biomechanical properties, biocompatibility, and adaptability for in vivo applications. Lastly, we demonstrate that dECM-derived hydrogel obtained from porcine diaphragms can represent a useful biological product for diaphragmatic muscle defect repair when used as relevant acellular stand-alone patch.

This illustrative review depicts the evolving role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and prognostication of anomalies of the fetal body (here including head and neck, thorax, abdomen and spine). A review of the current literature describing the state-of-theart in antenatal imaging for diagnosis and prognostication of congenital anomalies is coupled with illustrative cases in true radiological planes with viewable 3D video models that demonstrate the potential of post-acquisition reconstruction protocols.Within, we will discuss benefits and limitations of fetal MRI across the breadth of conditions included: from anomaly detection, classification and prognostication as well as defining the role of imaging in the decision to proceed to prenatal intervention. Reference will also be made to the current capabilities of ultrasound and we will explore potential ways in which the two may perform complimentary roles in the future of prenatal imaging.