Diagnostic performance of two ultrasound techniques for the detection of cleft palate without cleft lip: axial-transverse and equal sign.

OBJECTIVE: There is no study that compares the diagnostic performance of ATV and ESV techniques in detecting cleft palate. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of two ultrasound techniques: axial-transverse (ATV) and "equal sign" view (ESV), in detecting fetal cleft palate without cleft lip. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted from March 2019 to January 2022 in a tertiary referral hospital. Secondary palates were assessed with ATV and ESV by two experienced fetal medicine specialists who were blinded to each other's ultrasound findings. Final diagnosis was done according to postnatal physical examination. The sensitivity and specificity of the two techniques were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 311 pregnancies which met the study criteria were evaluated. Postnatal physical examination showed that 13 (0.4%) neonates had cleft palate only (CPO). According to final diagnosis the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for ATV were 100%, 98.7%, 76.4%, 100% and 100% for ESV were 76.9%, 97.8%, 58.9% and 99%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ATV in 2D ultrasound provides higher sensitivity and specificity than ESV in detecting CPO.

Pregnancy outcomes in female cancer survivors after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to retrospectively investigate the pregnancy outcomes of patients who underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT). We also aimed at determining the reasons for avoiding pregnancy despite prolonged remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of patients who became pregnant after autologous or allogeneic SCT at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Oncology Hospital between 2009 and 2020 for hematologic diseases. Data from 83 patients who had undergone allogeneic or autologous SCT were available for analysis. A total of 18 pregnancies occurred in 14 of these patients. To compare pregnancy outcomes, pregnant patients who received care at Etlik Zübeyde Hanim Maternity Hospital were selected as the control group. RESULTS: No pregnancy occurred in 69 of the patients whose data were analyzed. Of these 69 patients, 48 (69.6%) did not want to become pregnant. The most common reason for not wanting a pregnancy was due to the fact that the patient was not married [21 patients (30.4%)]. The pregnancy rate was higher in the HL group than in other hematologic malignancies [8 patients (57.1%)]. Twelve (85.7%) of the patients who became pregnant did so after autologous SCT and 2 (14.3%) after allogeneic SCT. The cumulative incidence of obstetric complications was higher in pregnancies after SCT than in the control group, and the prevalence of low birth weight was observed more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who became pregnant after SCT have a higher rate of pregnancy complications. However, these patients achieve similar live birth rates as the healthy population. Many patients have concerns about pregnancy and should be counseled appropriately.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios in pregnant women with familial mediterranean fever.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between maternal serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) and pregnancy outcomes in women with familial mediterranean fever (FMF). BACKGROUND: FMF exists worldwide, it primarily affects Mediterranean countries METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 269 pregnant women, who underwent a routine prenatal follow-up and delivery in our hospital from 2016 to 2020. Clinical and demographic data, including age, gravida, parity, abortus, proteinuria in the first trimester, NLR, obstetrical complications, gestational age at delivery, birthweight were retrieved from the patients' medical records. Data from 67 pregnant women with FMF and 202 healthy pregnant women were compared. RESULTS: Patients with FMF showed higher rates of preeclampsia and primary caesarean delivery; however, there were no differences between the groups in terms of other obstetric complications or adverse neonatal outcomes. In both the FMF and control groups, NLRs in the third trimester were significantly higher than those in the first trimester. Additionally, patients in the FMF group demonstrated higher NLRs than patients in the control group in the third trimester. CONCLUSIONS: The NLRs are a haematological parameter that can be used to predict subclinical inflammation and the effects of ongoing subclinical inflammation on the pregnancy outcomes in women with FMF (Tab. 4, Ref. 39).

Association between basal proteinuria levels and pregnancy outcomes in familial Mediterranean fever.

We aimed to investigate whether proteinuria in the first trimester of pregnancy in Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients has an impact on pregnancy outcome and perinatal and neonatal outcome of pregnancies. A total of 66 pregnant with FMF were compared with healthy controls at the same gestational weeks. Patients with FMF had a higher antenatal hospitalisation rate (34.8% vs. 6.1%, respectively, p < .01) and higher rate of 2 or more miscarriages. FMF patients with or without obstetric complications also had a similar amount of 24-h urine proteinuria in the first trimester. Patients on colchicine therapy during pregnancy had more frequent attacks in pregnancy (59.3% vs. 18.2%, respectively, p: .012). The rates of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, foetal anomalies, small for gestation age neonates and primary caesarean rate were similar between groups. In conclusion; FMF had no significant impact on pregnancy. Neither attacks in pregnancy nor basal proteinuria were associated with adverse outcomes.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterised by inflammation of the serosal, synovial and cutaneous tissues with recurrent attacks. One of the most serious complications of FMF is amyloidosis that can cause end-stage renal disease. Outcomes of FMF on pregnancy have been analysed by only few studies. Amyloidosis based on the initial renal function may adversely affect pregnancies. It has been reported that FMF patients with renal amyloidosis may suffer pregnancy complications to a greater extent.What do the results of this study add? There have been few studies on the correlation between FMF, proteinuria and pregnancy outcomes. In our study we found that FMF had no significant impact on pregnancy. Neither attacks in pregnancy nor basal proteinuria were associated with adverse outcomes.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our study suggested that FMF had no relationship between pregnancy outcomes. However, our study population is relatively small. It will contribute to comprehensive studies involving a larger population. Future studies should be performed to investigate the effects of basal proteinuria in pregnancy with FMF.

Villitis of unknown aetiology: Clinical implications in preterm population.

Villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is a chronic inflammatory process of chorionic villi which is reported to occur in up to 15% of term placentas. The present study aimed to investigate the association between VUE and perinatal complications in a population who delivered before term. Patients with VUE had a significantly higher rate of intrauterine growth restriction than the control group (47.1% vs. 20.6%, p < 0.01). In addition patients with VUE had a higher rate of deliveries due to absent diastolic flow on umbilical artery doppler than the control group (17.6% vs. 4.4%, p: 0.03). The rate of spontaneous preterm birth or pre-eclampsia was similar in patients with VUE and control groups. The present study provides some evidence that VUE is associated with abnormal perinatal outcomes in pregnant women who give birth before term.

Retrospective evaluation of risk factors and perinatal outcome of umbilical cord prolapse during labor.

OBJECTIVE: Umbilical cord prolapse has a reported prevalence of 0.1-0.6%. In previous studies, risk factors for umbilical prolapse have been identified as multiparity, preterm delivery, non-vertex presentation, and obstetric manipulation for labor induction. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for umbilical cord prolapse and to determine the factors that may relate to neonatal morbidity in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study consisted of recorded cases of umbilical cord prolapse at Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Research and Training Hospital between January 2008 and May 2013. Clinical and demographic data were obtained by reviewing the patients' medical records. Student's t test was performed for parametric variables between groups, and a Chi-square test was performed for nonparametric variables between groups. A logistic regression was performed to investigate the effects of clinical parameters such as gestational age, diagnosis to delivery interval, and fetal presentation on neonatal morbidity. RESULTS: The patients with umbilical cord prolapse during labor had higher rates of preterm deliveries, low-birth-weight infants, and non-vertex presentations than the control group did. Preterm delivery, non-vertex presentation, presence of polyhydramnios, and spontaneous membrane rupture increased the risk of umbilical cord prolapse significantly. In the regression analysis, gestational age and diagnosis to delivery interval greater than 10 minutes predicted adverse neonatal outcomes independently. CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical cord prolapse is more common in cases of preterm delivery, non-vertex fetal presentation, and spontaneous rupture of membranes. A diagnosis to delivery interval greater than ten minutes is independently associated with an adverse neonatal outcome.

Operative hysteroscopy preserving virginity: a new technique.

OBJECTIVE: To present a new technique of virginity-preserving operative hysteroscopy in the treatment of intrauterine pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The details of operative hysteroscopy in which the hymenal orifice was left intact to preserve virginity are presented. The technique briefly involved the following steps: holding the cervix with a tenaculum and its traction to the immediate posterior hymenal opening with use of office hysteroscopy, which was then followed by operative conventional hysteroscopy. RESULTS: The technique was performed successfully in all patients with an annular hymenal morphology. The technique enabled complete resection of intrauterine pathologies in all cases. There was no case of inadvertent hymenal injury during the procedure. CONCLUSION: The presented technique, makes it possible to easily treat intrauterine pathologies while preserving the hymen. It can be preferred in groups of patients in whom it is necessary to preserve virginity.

Treatment approaches in tubo-ovarian abscesses according to scoring system.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to define treatment modalities in tubo-ovarian abscesses (TOA) using a scoring system. As there is no scoring system for TAO there is still a controversy on the management. In our opinion, as there is no evidence based TAO management strategy, a scoring system is needed in the management of these patients. For this purpose we prospectively tried to define that may be useful for favoring a treatment modality and the effects of the parameters on the outcome. METHODS: The study group comprised of hundred and eighty-four patients hospitalized between May 2001 and June 2008. Patients were divided in three groups according to the treatment modality--laparotomy (group 1, n: 122), medical treatment, (group 2, n: 34), and laparoscopic surgery (group 3, n: 28). Antibiotic regimens or other means of treatment strategies were directed according to our scoring system. RESULTS: Of the patients, 122 underwent laparatomy, 34 received medical treatment and 28 had operative laparoscopy. Intraoperative complications in the group of 122 patients who underwent laparatomy were bowel injury in 8 patients (6.5%) and ureteral injury in six (4.9 %). Fourteen patients (11.4 %) in the laparatomy group suffered from morbidity related to abdominal incision. In the laparoscopy group two patients (7.1 %) had bowel injury. CONCLUSION: With this study, we propose a scoring system in TOA cases and define treatment strategies accordingly. According to the results of our study, laparoscopy serves the best treatment option. Medical treatment, despite longer follow up, may be suitable in well-selected cases (Tab. 3, Ref. 39). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.