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Objective(s): Anthropometric indicators are considered to be the most important health indicators for evaluating the condition of newborns. In the epidemic of infectious diseases, including the Covid-19 pandemic, pregnant women and their fetuses are among the high-risk population. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the changes in the anthropometric indices of newborns at birth and the factors affecting it in 6 months before and 6 months after the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This analytical-comparative study before and after was conducted on the number of 30540 newborns in 6 months before the covid-19 pandemic and 5009 newborns in 6 months after the covid-19 pandemic. The information was obtained from the integrated system of the Ministry of Health. The data was analyzed in SPSS 22 software. Results: The average birth weight of newborns in two periods 6 months before and after the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic was 3140.94 (469.93) and 3198.04 (446.22) grams respectively, which means that the average weight of newborns increased and statistically, there was a significant difference (P<0.001). The average height of newborns increased from 49.72 (2.31) cm in 6 months before the beginning of covid-19 to 49.78 (2.19) in 6 months after it, which increased and did not show a significant difference (P=0.125). The difference in the head circumference of newborns in 6 months before the beginning of covid-19 was 34.36(1.40) cm compared to 6 months after was 34.49(1.38), showed an increase and it was significant (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis with linear test model showed that by controlling the effect of possible confounders, being in the period before or after the covid-19 pandemic has no effect on birth weight, height and head circumference. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the covid-19 pandemic and its possible complications on the health of the mother and the Newborn in a short period of 6 months compared to the previous period had no effect on the average anthropometric indices of newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Voiding Dysfunction (VD) is one of the most common disorders among women, which is characterized by a disorder in urination. Pelvic organ prolapse is one of the factors that can affect VD. In this study, the relationship between prolapse in the anterior, posterior, and apical areas and VD has been evaluated. Materials and methods: This is a cohort retrospective study. The participants in this study were women with VD, who referred to the pelvic floor disorders clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in 2018-2020. Clinical information was obtained retrospectively from the hospital's electronic data system, also symptoms (intermittent stream, incomplete voiding, poor flow, post void dribble, straining to void, stage anterior, posterior and apical) and urodynamic parameters (including EMG, PVR100, Qmax12, and pdet20) were evaluated, which included detailed questionnaires (Urinary Distress Inventory 6 (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7)), pelvic examination, and complete urodynamic evaluation. Results: There was a direct relationship between the age of the patients and the stage of prolapse (p<0.001). So that, the stage increased with age. In addition, it was found that the severity of urinary symptoms is related to the stage of prolapse in the apical area (p=0.001). Also, the results showed that intermittent stream symptoms and the symptoms of staining to void had a significant relationship with the stage of prolapse (III and IV) in the apical and anterior areas. Also, it was shown that only PVR > 100 had a significant relationship with the stage of prolapse in the apical area (p=0.001). Conclusion: Intermittent stream and straining to void were related to the stages of prolapse in the apical and anterior regions. It was also concluded that the greater the prolapse, the higher the value of PVR > 100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Prenatal invasive procedures are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The present study aimed to assess the indications and early complications of invasive diagnostic tests. Materials & Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 708 pregnant women who were referred for prenatal invasive tests in Tehran, Iran from May 2018 to April 2022. All medical records of the participants were reviewed and entered into the study. According to the implemented procedures, medical records were categorized into two chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis groups. The primary outcome was determining the frequent indications of invasive diagnostic tests and post-procedure complications. Results: Six hundred and sixty-eight medical records were included. Amniocentesis procedure was performed for 624 (93.7%) and 44 cases (6.3%) underwent CVS. The most frequent indication for invasive prenatal procedures was a history of abnormal findings related to the first trimester biomarkers followed by the abnormal findings of the second trimester biochemical markers, a history of high nuchal translucency>99th percentile, and abnormal biomarkers of sequential test. Comparing post-procedure complications, the results showed no significant difference between the CVS and amniocentesis groups (P=0.845). In the amniocentesis group, 2 cases had shown spontaneous abortion and 3 leakage of amniotic fluid, as well as two cases in the CVS group, had reported vaginal bleeding. Conclusion: Our results delineated that positive fetal aneuploidy screening tests together with increased nuchal translucency were the main indications of the invasive prenatal tests. Amniotic fluid leakage, vaginal bleeding, and spontaneous abortion should be considered as procedure-related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By increasing trend of cesarean sections (c-section) has raised the rate of health implications after c-section analogously. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the choice of cesarean birth from obstetrician' perspective. Present study was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study at three medical centers dependent on Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2022. The questionnaire included parents' demographic and economic factors, parents 'previous experiences and insistence of relatives, environmental and facilities, cultural and religious, the doctor's personal opinion, and the mother's clinical and psychological factors. In general, 67 gynecologists participated in the study. The average (SD) age and work experience of doctors was 42.95 (7.68), and 11.49 (8.35) years respectively. The most determining factors in the choice of cesarean delivery from the doctor's point of view were the maternal clinical and psychological factors. Other important factors were the culture and personal beliefs of the parents. The factor of fear of litigation and court in case of birth problems and complications was one of the other essential factors in choosing cesarean delivery. In the current study, the age and experience of the specialist doctor showed a positive correlation with the personal opinion of the gynecologists. Obstetricians and gynecologists are the final decision makers in choosing the type of delivery. To select the correct method, there is a need for a specific protocol for choosing the kind of delivery, and providing a suitable platform to resolve legal concerns and lawsuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Despite the high efficacy of the Apgar score in finding respiratory distress, a low Apgar score doesn't necessarily indicate fetal hypoxiaasphyxia. Umbilical Artery pH (UApH) is one of the best indicators of fetal hypoxia. Therefore, it's so beneficial to consider these criteria and their relationship with the Apgar score for accurate diagnosis of prenatal respiratory distress retrospectively which reduces the unnecessary cesarean section (CS) rate. Materials & Methods: 162 full-term (=259 days) neonates delivered by CS with the diagnosis of decreased fetal heart rate (FHR) were evaluated. 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores and UApH were measured. The correlation between Apgar scores with UApH and the association between UapH and Apgar with the NICU admission were evaluated. The effect of other variables including mother's age, gravidity, gestational age, birth weight, newborn sex, and causes of decreased FHR on Apgar scores and UApH were studied as well. Results: The most common cause of decreased FHR was fetal distress, boys had higher weight (P=0.033) and lower UApH (P=0.049) than girls. Other parameters were not different significantly between both sexes. There was a positive correlation between UApH and 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores (r=0.464 and r=0.370 respectively) when controlled for birth weight (P<0.0001). The RR for NICU admission in male acidemic neonates with abnormal 1-min Apgar was 14.05 (CI95%: 5.7-34.6) in comparison to females (RR=1.06, CI95%: 1-1.26). Conclusion: Mild acidemia (UApH<7.2) at least in a male fetus would be a good predictor for postnatal complications and need for NICU admission. Future studies with more samples are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Magnesium (Mg) is a vital element which plays a significant role in the human body. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is one of the most common problems in preterm neonates. The current study aimed to investigate the role of serum Mg level as a prognostic factor in neonates diagnosed with RDS. Methods: This case-control study was performed in Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran, Iran, for two years. A total of 100 preterm infants (50 cases, 50 controls) admitted to NICU were enrolled in this study. Demographic data, serum magnesium level, therapeutic interventions, and neonatal outcomes were investigated and the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of 100 neonates, 52% were male. The mean gestational age and birth weights were 33.4 ± 2.4 weeks and 2062 ± 72 gr, respectively. The findings revealed that the mean serum magnesium level in neonates with RDS was 2.02 ± 0.57 mg/dl, while it was 2.35 ± 0.67 mg/dl for neonates in the control group (P-value=0.001). Additionally, the calculated odds ratio of 2.38 indicated a correlation between reduced serum Mg levels and the occurrence of RDS. Conclusion: The serum level of Mg among neonates with RDS was significantly lower, but the lower level of Mg was not associated with adverse outcomes in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dysphagia is a frequent complication defined as difficulty in any stage of swallowing. Infants with a history of mechanical ventilation might show difficulty in coordinating pharyngeal muscles resulting in dysphagia. Objectives: The present study aimed to show the prevalence of swallowing disorders and associated symptoms among high-risk infants with a history of prolonged mechanical ventilation. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Breastfeeding Research Center, Tehran, Iran. All the neonates with a history of prolonged mechanical ventilation entered the study. Parents were asked to respond to a provided questionnaire regarding their infants' swallowing disorders. Accordingly, the infants with any symptoms were considered candidates for intervention. The parents also received simple training to perform oral sensorimotor stimulation protocol for their children. Through a follow-up visit, the questionnaire was filled up for every infant. Finally, all the data related to the responses before and after interventions were compared to show the possible effects of the interventions. Results: A total of 25 infants entered the study. The mean mechanical ventilation period was 15.95 ± 6.644 days. Concerning the frequency of swallowing complications, 24 infants (96%) had different degrees of dysphagia. After 3 - 6 months of interventions, the number of cases with symptoms of coughing (P = 0.016), spitting food out by mouth (P = 0.0001), choking (P = 0.016), humid breath (P= 0.031), poor weight gain (P= 0.002), and the need to cut food into small pieces (P = 0.004) was significantly lower than the number of cases suffering from such complications before the intervention. The results also showed that after 3 - 6 months of interventions, dysphagia symptoms in 10 out of 24 infants (41.66%) entirely and in others (38.44%) partially improved. Conclusions: The results of the present study delineated that infants with a history of prolonged mechanical ventilation were at greater risk of swallowing complications. The early diagnosis and implementation of oral sensorimotor interventions could improve different symptoms of dysphagia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectivess: This study aimed to determine the relationships between endometrial compaction and pregnancy outcome in patients receiving artificial endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed in a university-affiliated fertility clinic from March 2020 to March 2021. The eligible women undergoing their first or second FET cycle and having the top grading cleavage stage embryos were enrolled. All patients received the same endometrial preparation regime. The alteration in endometrial thickness (EMT) between the day of progesterone initiation and the day of embryo transfer (ET) was measured using consecutive transvaginal sonography. The patients were divided into three groups based on the percentage of endometrial compaction (i.e., the difference of EMT at end of the estrogen-only phase and after three days of progesterone administration (ET day) divided by the EMT on the terminal day of the estrogen-only exposure). Results: Overall, 300 eligible women were evaluated and only 27.3% (82/300) of the studied cycles showed =5% compaction, whereas 72.6% (218/300) either expanded or showed minimal compaction. The clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates in group 2 (any expansion) were significantly higher than those in groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.002 and P = 0.01, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression test indicated that the cycles with any expansion in ET were independently associated with 3.1 times improvement in clinical pregnancy rate in comparison to those with any compaction (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Gross endometrial compaction occurred in one-third of FET cycles with no significant positive effect on pregnancy outcomes after cleavage-stage ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]