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The subject of current work was to determine the relationship of fetal ultrasonographic biomarkers, including anogenital distance (AGD), adrenal gland volume, and penile length and width in mothers with male fetuses at 22–36 weeks of gestation for the assessment of the effect of fetal adrenal gland producing androgens on the male anogenital structures that are exposed to androgen effects as anogenital region and penis. This study is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in our hospital's outpatient perinatal care unit. One hundred and seventy pregnant women with a male fetus aged 22–36 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The fetal adrenal gland length, width, and depth for the calculation of adrenal volume, AGD, and penile length and width were measured for each participant. The Pearson coefficients were calculated to assess the correlation among these parameters. The adrenal gland volume had a meaningful, positive moderate relationship with both the AGD (r=0.60) and penile length and width (r=0.57 and r=0.59, respectively; p<0.001). The AGD had a positive, strong correlation with the penile length and width (r=0.74 and r=0.76, respectively; p<0.001). The fetal adrenal gland as one of the androgen sources of the fetus is an influencer of the development of the anogenital and penile region. The findings of the current study support that the adrenal gland considerably affects the masculinization of male fetuses, since there were remarkable correlations among the AGD, adrenal gland volume, and penile length and width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two cases of fetal hypothyroidism with goiter which were successfully diagnosed and treated in utero. In both cases, ultrasonographic examination demonstrated a bilobed solid anterior neck mass with increased vascularity compatible with enlarged thyroid gland. Fetal blood sampling revealed hypothyroidism. Intra-amniotic injection of L-thyroxin caused a reduction in thyroid gland size and enabled vaginal delivery without complication. In the first case, maternal thyroid hormone levels and autoantibodies were normal and the neonate had hypothyroidism suggesting the diagnosis of dyshormonogenesis. In the second case, the fetus had transient hypothyroidism, which resolved spontaneously after delivery. Maternal thyroid function tests and autoantibodies were normal and both the mother and neonate had normal urinary iodine, excluding the diagnosis of iodine deficiency or excess. Thus, we believe that transplacental transfer of undetermined factors might be a cause of transient congenital hypothyroidism. Also, we reviewed the literature and described controversial issues regarding the management of fetal goiter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between blood matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9 levels and disease severity in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection., Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. We measured serum MMPs-2 and-9 levels of the healthy pregnant controls and pregnant women with COVID-19 and sought to assess the status of these MMPs in pregnant women with COVID-19, especially in women with a severe form of COVID-19 as diagnosed by abnormal computed tomography (CT) findings in addition to severe clinical and laboratory findings., Results: Of the healthy pregnant controls and pregnant women with COVID-19, the serum MMP-2 levels were comparable, but the MMP-9 level was lower in the pregnant women with COVID-19. Although the serum MMP2 level was somewhat lower in the women with COVID-19 with abnormal CT findings. The serum MMP-9 level of pregnant women with COVID-19 with abnormal CT was meaningfully lower., Conclusions: In the pregnant women, COVID-19 decreases the serum MMP-9 but does not change the serum MMP-2. COVID-19 with abnormal CT findings causes minimal decrease in the serum MMP-2 but decreases the serum MMP-9 with abnormal CT findings. Considering the study variables of current study, the probability of LMWH-related MMP alterations needs to be a study topic to clarify the possible contribution of LMWH to the status of serum MMPs in pregnant women with COVİD-19 especially in the women with COVID-19 with abnormal CT findings.