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Introduction: This study evaluated fetal pancreas size and echogenicity, and splenic artery (SA) waveforms in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: This prospective case-control study was performed from October 2022 to November 2023 and included 124 pregnant women (62 with GDM and 62 controls). Pancreatic circumference, pancreatic echogenicity, umbilical artery Doppler measurements (systolic/diastolic ratio [S/D] and pulsatility index [PI]), SA Doppler measurements (S/D, PI, peak systolic velocity [PSV], time-averaged maximum velocity, and pressure gradient [PG] mean and maximum) values were compared between the GDM and control groups. Results: The mean pancreatic circumference was higher and grade 2/3 echogenicity was more common in the GDM group, while grade 1 echogenicity was more common in the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). SA S/D and PI measurements were significantly higher in the GDM group than in the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Moreover, PGmax was significantly higher in the GDM group than in the control group (p = 0.038). Pancreatic circumference was positively correlated with SA PSV (p = 0.004). Additionally, pancreatic circumference was positively correlated with PGmean and PGmax (p = 0.010 and p = 0.016, respectively). The increase in pancreas echogenicity was positively correlated with SA S/D and PI measurements (p = 0.007 and p = 0.002, respectively). PGmax was also positively correlated with increased pancreas echogenicity (p = 0.023). Conclusion: This study showed that fetal pancreas size and echogenicity were significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM than in controls. SA Doppler waveforms were consistent with an increase in vascular resistance associated with elevations of both S/D and PI in the GDM group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine third‐trimester sonographic imaging of the fetal pancreas in uncomplicated pregnancies and its association with pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study including 274 pregnant women. Uncomplicated pregnancies in the third trimester (28–40 weeks) were included in the study. Maternal chronic disease, pregnancy‐related disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, cholestasis, smoking, and fetal abnormalities were determined as exclusion criteria. Sonographic fetal pancreatic measurement and echogenicity were evaluated in all participants. For intra‐observer reliability, each participant's fetal pancreatic circumference was measured two times. The echogenicity of the pancreas was compared with the liver and ribs and classified as grade 1, 2, and 3. The pregnancy outcomes of all participants were obtained from the hospital digital registration system. Results: The average fetal pancreatic circumference in the third trimester was 70.7 ± 0.6 mm (median, 70 [44–100.7]), with high intra‐observer agreement (ICC 0.996 [0.995; 0.997]). A significant positive correlation was found between pancreatic circumference, body mass index (BMI), gestational age, and birth weight. Pancreatic measurements were significantly higher in composite adverse outcomes cases that included at least one of respiratory distress syndrome, hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal pneumonia, infection, and sepsis (p < 0.001). No relationship was found between pancreatic echogenicity and perinatal outcomes. Conclusion: Fetal pancreas size was positively correlated with gestational age, BMI, and birth weight, and increased fetal pancreas size was associated with composite adverse neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate increasing cesarean delivery (CD) rates, their causes, and changes over the years in a Turkish tertiary center using the Robson Ten‐Group Classification System (RTGCS). Methods: Data of deliveries involving birth weight of ≥500 g or ≥24 weeks of gestation period from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively collected and classified from the hospital digital record system using obstetric concepts and parameters described in the RTGCS. Results: The overall CD rate for all births (69051) from 2013 to 2020 was 55.5%. Groups 3, 5, and 1 were the most represented groups (29.1%, 23.9%, and 19.4%, respectively). The major contributors to the overall CD rate were Groups 5, 2, and 10 (23.8%, 9.9%, and 5.6%, respectively). Groups 2 and 4 (nullipara, multipara, single cephalic at term) had high CD rates associated with high rates of pre‐labor CD (88.9% and 73.3%, respectively). The CD rate was 99.7% in Group 5, which showed recurrent CD, and 67.2% in Group 10. The overall CD rate was 60.8% in 2020 owing to the significant increase in the contributions by Groups 5, 8, and 10. The most common indication for CD was previous CD (46.1%), fetal distress (13.2%), and cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) (8%). Conclusion: Groups 1, 2, 5, and 10 were the major contributors to the overall CD rate at this tertiary center. To reduce overall CD rates, policies that reduce primary CD and support vaginal delivery after cesarean section should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the effect of of adding oophorectomy on patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy in the perimenopausal period on menopause, sexual function and mental status. Materials and Methods: The study was designed prospectively. Women who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy (TAH+BS) and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy (TAH+BSO) in the perimenopausal period for benign indications were included in the study. Three months after surgery, menopausal symptoms (such as vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, memory and sleep problems) were investigated. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores were investigated one day before the operation and three months after the operation. Results: 51 patients with TAH+BS and 55 patients with TAH+BSO included in study. Vasomotor symptoms and postoperative BAI scores were significantly higher in the oophorectomy group (p<0.001 and p=0.009, respectively). Vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, which adversely affect sexual function, were significantly higher in the oophorectomy group (p=0.005). Memory and sleep problems were higher in the oophorectomy group (p=0.009 and p<0.001, respectively). Postoperative BAI scores were found to be correlated with postmenopausal symptoms (vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, memory problems, sleeping disorders) in the TAH+BSO group. Conclusion: Vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, memory and sleeping problems, and anxiety levels were significantly higher in patients who underwent bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy with hysterectomy compared to patients who underwent only hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. It seems useful to inform the patients who are planned for the operation regarding these effects before the decision of oophorectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to compare the maternal and obstetric outcomes between local adolescent Turkish citizens and adolescent Syrian refugees admitted to a tertiary care center in Türkiye. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 2014 and December 2019, a total of 57,049 births were performed in our hospital. The study included a total of 6,021 patients aged 19 years or younger pregnancy who gave birth at our hospital. Of this number, 5,164 (1,792 Syrian adolescent refugee cases and 3,372 local adolescent Turkish cases) were live singleton pregnancies. Our primary aim was to compare the maternal and obstetric outcomes between the two groups. RESULTS: In the pregnant refugee women, the maternal age was younger (p<0.001). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are significantly lower in Syrian pregnant women (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Anemia was significantly higher in Syrian refugee pregnant women (p<0.001). The double screening test and triple screening test were significantly lower in Syrian pregnant women (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Preterm birth rates and late preterm delivery prevalence (34-37 gestational weeks) were significantly higher in the adolescent Syrian immigrants' compared to the adolescent Turkish locals (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The average birth weight of the Syrian refugees was lower but the number of low birth weight babies was higher Turkish locals (p=0.010 and p=0.014, respectively). The preterm birth ratio and low birth weight ratio in Syrian adolescents has decreased over the years. CONCLUSION: Syrian adolescent refugees are particularly at risk of early pregnancy, high fertility rate, preterm birth, low birth weight, and anemia. Immigrant women should be provided with fertility, family planning, and training on behavior that protects reproductive health. Syrian pregnant women should be supported to receive services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prenatal screening and diagnostic tests. We conducted a retrospective study with pregnant women attending to the perinatology department of a tertiary referral center. The pre-COVID-19 period between 11 March 2019 and 10 March 2020 and COVID-19 period between 11 March 2020 and 10 March 2021 were evaluated. Both periods were compared in terms of outpatient visits, ultrasound examinations, prenatal screening and diagnostic tests. The correlation of deaths related to COVID-19 pandemic on these parameters was also assessed. A total of 38,918 patients were examined and 28,452 ultrasound examinations, 26,672 prenatal screening tests and 1,471 prenatal diagnostic tests were performed over two years. During COVID-19 pandemic, number of outpatient visits decreased by 25.2%, ultrasound examinations decreased by 44.2%, prenatal screening tests decreased by 36.2% and prenatal diagnostic tests decreased by 30.7%. Statistically significant correlation was not observed between deaths related to COVID-19 and outpatient visits (p=0.210), ultrasound examinations (p=0.265), prenatal screening (p=0.781) and diagnostic tests (p=0.158). Among indications of prenatal diagnostic tests, maternal anxiety was significantly higher in COVID-19 period (p=0.023). There was significant decrease in the detection of fetuses with trisomy 21 (p=0.047) and a significant increase in the detection of fetuses with Turner syndrome (p=0.017) during COVID-19 period. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted antenatal care. Prenatal fetal screening and diagnosis was adversely affected by the pandemic in terms of detecting genetic and structural anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the predictive power of serum progesterone/estradiol (P/E2) level for estimating the live birth rate in patients who had a serum progesterone (P) rate ≥ 1.5 ng/mL on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration day and who received the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This retrospective cohort study included 176 cycles. The P/E2 ratio was lower in patients with a live birth (0.73 ± 0.54) than those without a live birth (1.05 ± 1.38), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = .158). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the hCG day P/E2 ratio, the area under the curve was 0.579 (95% confidence interval: 0.478 - 0.680, p = .158) for predicting live birth. In conclusion, this study suggests that a P/E2 ratio is not a significant predictor of a live birth rate in the patients with an hCG-day serum progesterone level of ≥1.5 ng/mL undergoing GnRH antagonist ICSI cycles with a fresh embryo transfer. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? As the progesterone (P) levels in the late follicular phase correlate with the estradiol (E2) levels and the increase in mature follicles, earlier studies have proposed the trigger-day progesterone/estradiol (P/E2) ratio as a potential new marker for a premature luteinisation and live birth success. Most of these studies were conducted on long agonist cycles, and found that arbitrarily defined P/E2 ratio of >1 to be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. What do the results of this study add? This study retrospectively examines the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist cycles with a trigger-day serum P value of ≥1.5 ng/mL undergoing the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis did not identify a statistically significant threshold value for the trigger-day P/E2 ratio that was beneficial in predicting a live birth. The P/E2 ratio was also lower in the cycles with a live birth than those without a live birth, although the difference was not statistically significant. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The trigger-day P/E2 ratio does not seem to be an efficient prognostic factor for a live birth in the GnRH antagonist ICSI cycles with a trigger-day serum progesterone level of ≥1.5 ng/mL. Further studies are needed to clarify the association of the trigger-day P/E2 ratio and the pregnancy outcomes in GnRH antagonist ICSI cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether urea and creatinine measurements in vaginal fluid could be used to diagnose preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and predict delivery interval after PPROM.Methods: A prospective study conducted with 100 pregnant women with PPROM and 100 healthy pregnant women between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 gestational weeks. All patients underwent sampling for urea and creatinine concentrations in vaginal fluid at the time of admission. Receiver operator curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff values for the presence of PPROM and delivery within 48 h after PPROM.Results: In multivariate logistic regression analysis, vaginal fluid urea and creatinine levels were found to be significant predictors of PPROM (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and delivery within 48 h after PPROM (p = 0.012 and p = 0.017, respectively). The optimal cutoff values for the diagnosis of PPROM were >6.7 mg/dl for urea and >0.12 mg/dl for creatinine. The optimal cutoff values for the detection of delivery within 48 h were >19.4 mg/dl for urea and >0.23 mg/dl for creatinine.Conclusion: Measurement of urea and creatinine levels in vaginal fluid is a rapid and reliable test for diagnosing and also for predicting delivery interval after PPROM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vulvar hematoma is often puerperal. A case of non-puerperal vulvovaginal hematoma is rare in the literature. There is no consensus on the management of vulvovaginal hematoma. In this study, we discussed the approach to a rare case of non-puerperal vulvar hematoma., Case: We present the case of a 14-year-old adolescent female with a severe vulvar non-obstetric hematoma that occurred after she had been illegally and voluntarily married., Conclusion: In conclusion; vulvar hematoma is the most common non-obstetric cause of perineal trauma and carries the risk of mortality by causing hypovolemic shock. The conservative approach is preferred for small and non-growing hematomas; however, surgical hematoma drainage is used for large and enlarging hematomas. Selective arterial embolization procedure is not common as the required equipment is not available in all healthcare facilities.