Electrocardiographic P-Wave Duration, QT Interval, T Peak to End Interval and Tp-e/QT Ratio in Pregnancy with Respect to Trimesters.

BACKGROUND: P-wave duration helps to determine the risk of atrial arrhythmia, especially atrial fibrillation. QT interval, T peak to end interval (Tp-e), and Tp-e/QT ratio are electrocardiographic indices related to ventricular repolarization which are used to determine the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. We search for any alterations in electrocardiographic indices of arrhythmia in the pregnancy period with respect to trimesters. METHODS: We enrolled 154 pregnant and 62 nonpregnant, healthy women into this cross-sectional study. Maximum and minimum P-wave durations (Pmax, Pmin), and QT intervals (QTmax, QTmin) were measured from 12 leads. QT measurements were corrected using Fridericia (QTc-Fr) and Bazett's (QTc-Bz) correction. Tp-e interval was obtained from the difference between QT interval, and QT peak interval (QTp) measured from the beginning of the QRS until the peak of the T wave. Tp-e/QT ratio was calculated using these measurements. RESULTS: Pmax were 93.0 ± 9.1, 93.9 ± 8.9, 97.9 ± 5.6, 99.0 ± 6.1 in nonpregnant women, first, second, third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively (P = 0.001); whereas Pmin values were not significantly different. QTc-Fr max were 407.4 ± 14.2, 408.5 ± 16.1, 410.1 ± 13.1, 415.1 ± 10.1 (P = 0.007); Tp-e were 72.7 ± 6.2, 73.2 ± 6.5, 77.2 ± 8.9, 87.2 ± 9.6 (P < 0.001); and Tp-e/QT were 0.17 (0.14-0.20), 0.17 (0.14-0.20), 0.18 (0.15-0.23), 0.20 (0.16-0.25) in nonpregnant women, first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy respectively (P < 0.001). None of the participants experienced any arrhythmic event. CONCLUSIONS: P-wave duration is prolonged in the second trimester, and resumes a plateau thereafter. Maximum QTc interval, Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are increased in the late pregnancy. Although these indices are altered during the course of pregnancy, they all remain in the normal ranges.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) Can Predict Spontaneous Preterm Birth?

Purpose: To investigate the role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth. Patients and Methods: Data was retrospectively collected from hospital record between February 2018 and November 2022. Pregnant women (n = 78) with a single pregnancy between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation, presented with labor pain, and had regular uterine contractions (threatened preterm labor - TPL) were included. Patients delivered within the first week after TPL were included in group 1 (n = 40) and who delivered after in group 2 (n = 38). Two groups were investigated for NLR and PLR values. Results: The median cervical length among women who gave birth within a week was significantly lower (24.5 versus 30.0 p < 0.001). The median neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio among women who gave birth within a week was significantly higher (6.4 versus 4.5 p < 0.001). The median platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio among women who gave birth within a week was significantly higher (151 versus 131 p < 0.001). The cut-off values to predict preterm birth were >5 for NLR (sensitivity: 90%, specificity: 92.1%), >139 for PLR (sensitivity: 97.5%, specificity: 100%). Conclusion: NLR and PLR values predict spontaneous preterm birth with high sensitivity and specificity. By predicting preterm birth, the pregnancy process can be managed sensitively and smoothly.

Evaluation of serum boron levels and lipid profile in pregnancies with or without gestational diabetes.

AIMS: Animal research has demonstrated that boron has effects on triglycerides and glucose and may act as a metabolic regulator in several enzymatic systems. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent obstetrical complication and the lack of data on maternal status of boron in normal/diabetic pregnancies, prompted us to undertake this study. METHODS: Maternal blood samples were collected during screening and diagnosis of GDM at 24-28 weeks. Serum lipids (total cholesterol, high-density cholesterol, low density cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein-a, apolipoprotein-A-I and apolipoprotein-B) and boron levels were determined. Fifteen non-GDM and 19 GDM women constituted the study population. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.1±5 years. The median boron levels were 15.2 µg/L (0.0152 ppm; range, 8.4-25.4 µg/L). When GDM and non-GDM cases were compared for age, gravidity, parity, lipid profiles and serum boron levels, no significant differences were found (P>0.05). No correlation was found between lipids and boron levels. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study contributes to the limited information about the metabolic aspects of boron. Considering the evidence that boron acts as a regulator of energy substrate utilization, the effect of dietary boron on glucose metabolism deserves further research.

Investigation of possible maternal and fetal factors which affect umbilical coiling index.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible maternal and fetal factors, which affect the Umbilical Coiling Index (UCI). METHODS: This prospective, observational, analytic study was conducted using the data of 380 women with term pregnancy and newborns who presented at a University Hospital. Hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, iron, and the total iron binding capacity (TIBC) of the maternal blood were measured, and transferrin saturation was estimated based on the ratio between serum iron and TIBC. Blood gases, ferritin, iron, and TIBC of the umbilical cord were also measured, and the transferrin saturation was calculated. The length and thickness of the umbilical cord, numbers of coilings, weight of placenta, neonatal weight were registered. The UCI was calculated dividing the total number of coils by the length of the umbilical cord (in cm). RESULTS: A positive, linear, and statistically significant relationship was found between the UCI scores and the umbilical cord blood transferrin saturation, umbilical cord thickness, and the first- and fifth-min APGAR scores (p = .044, p < .001, p = .008, p = .022, respectively). No statistically significant relationship was found between the maternal Hb values and the UCI scores (p = .472). In addition, there was no statistically significant relationship between the UCI scores and maternal ferritin, maternal transferrin saturation and umbilical cordon ferritin levels (p = .940, p = .681, and p = .975, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A positive correlation was found between the UCI and umbilical cord transferrin saturation and between the newborn APGAR scores. However, this finding is not sufficient to explain the relationship of the umbilical cord dynamics with the newborn wellbeing and coiling.

Correlations of maternal neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the possible correlation of hemogram parameters including neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with birth weight and gestational week. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study has been conducted with 783 patients. The maternal age, parity, gestational age, type of delivery, values of complete blood count (CBC) variables and the weight of newborn were recorded. We analyzed the statistical differences between the NLR, PLR, hemoglobin (HGB), platelet distribution width (PDW), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte and white blood cells (WBC) in terms of the birth weight. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the NLR in terms of the birth weight (p = 0.097), whereas there was a statistically significant difference in the PLR (p < 0.001). In correlation analyses, a linear, negative, weak and statistically significant correlation was detected between NLR and PLR with the birth weight of infant and gestational week (p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This prospective study is the first in the literature which investigates the correlation of NLR and PLR with the week of birth and birth weight of the infant. Our study suggested that the maternal NLR and PLR are negatively correlated with the week of birth and birth weight of the infant.

Effects of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant (Implanon®) on bone metabolism during lactation: a prospective study.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant (Implanon®) on bone metabolism in lactating women using markers for bone formation and resorption. STUDY DESIGN: This single-centre, prospective cohort study was conducted in Turgut Ozal University Medical Faculty Obstetrics and Gynecology Department with healthy lactating women aged between 24 and 38 years to compare the effect on bone metabolism of 6 months' use of either the implant or a non-hormonal contraceptive method. The study group (n=25) used an implant and the control group (n=25) used a non-hormonal contraceptive intrauterine device inserted 40 days' postpartum. Bone metabolism differences at the time of insertion and after 6 months were assessed quantitatively by biochemical analysis of serum and urine samples. RESULTS: At baseline, serum levels of bone metabolism parameters were similar for the two groups. In the implant group, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels decreased (p=0.004) and total protein levels increased (p=0.045) at 6 months. In the control group, serum levels of bone metabolism parameters did not change at 6 months compared to baseline. However, serum levels of phosphorus (p=0.013) and ALP (p=0.003) decreased at 6 months compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: Six months' postpartum use of Implanon was found to have no deleterious impact on bone turnover in healthy lactating women.

Pelvic radiotherapy does not deteriorate the quality of life of women with gynecologic cancers in long-term follow-up: A 2 years prospective single-center study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the emotional, sexual and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) concerns of the women with gynecologic malignancy treated with curative radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 100 women with diagnosis of gynecologic malignancy were prospectively enrolled. HRQoL at baseline, at the end of RT and during follow-up was assessed using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC QLQ-cervical cancer module 24, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: The appetite loss, diarrhea, fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, pain scores, and sexual activity and sexual enjoyment scores were deteriorated after RT (P = 0.02 for pain scores and P < 0.001 for all other). Body image scores were higher in patients with endometrial cancer (P < 0.01). The emotional function, nausea and vomiting, body image and symptom experience scores were higher in patients who underwent chemotherapy (P = 0.04 and P = 0.01). All the complaints of patients improved during follow-up period. The global health status scores and the level of depression deteriorated in patients with locoregional recurrent disease and distant metastasis. The anxiety (P = 0.001) and depression (P = 0.007) levels were higher in basal and after-RT visits but then decreased through the subsequent follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: Although pelvic RT deteriorated HRQoL in patients with gynecologic malignancy, HRQoL improved during the follow-up period. The progressive disease had a negative impact on HRQoL.

Problems of modern approaches to management of early pregnancy failure.

In the last 20 to 30 years, early diagnosis of pregnancy has markedly decreased ectopic pregnancy-related maternal mortality, and the necessity for surgical treatment. With modern approaches in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, surgical therapy has been replaced by medical therapy and medical treatment by spontaneous follow-up in appropriate cases. However, this current trend has led to some problems, including the maximization of ultrasonographic interpretations, misunderstandings in serial human koryonik gonadotropin hormon measurements, and complications due to inappropriate methotrexate use. The aim of the present study was to review the literature relating to the diagnosis and follow-up of early pregnancies, to underline some of the important considerations, and to help avoid possible iatrogenic errors.

The essential oils of the aerial parts of two Hypericum taxa (Hypericum triquetrifolium and Hypericum aviculariifolium subsp. depilatum var. depilatum (Clusiaceae)) from Turkey.

In this study, essential oil compositions of two Hypericum L. taxa (Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra. and Hypericum aviculariifolium Jaub. et Spach subsp. depilatum var. depilatum (Freyn et Bornm.) Robson) naturally grown in Turkey were determined using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry systems. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of plants. A total of 45 compounds were identified in the essential oils of H. triquetrifolium; 1-hexanal (18.8%), 3-methylnonane (12.5%) and α-pinene (12.3%). In this study, 41 components were identified in H. aviculariifolium subsp. depilatum var. depilatum oil; α-pinene (52.1%), germacrene D (8.5%) and ß-pinene (3.6%) were the predominant constituents. The essential oil analysis showed that monoterpene concentrations were higher than that of the sesquiterpenes in both oils. The results were discussed in the meaning of the usefulness of these plants and their chemicals as natural products and potential usage in chemotaxonomy.