Liver damage parameters and peripheral blood parameters for prediction and diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) manifests in late pregnancy. Elevated serum bile acid is a diagnostic criterion: however, its measurement is troublesome. Prediction of ICP by blood markers is not established. Serum bile acid level is associated with liver damage and inflammation. We hypothesized that the following markers could predict the occurrence of ICP and have diagnostic value for it: Liver damage-indicating scores (albumin-bilirubin [ALBI], Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD], aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio [APRI]) and inflammatory markers (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR] and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]). METHODS: Eighty ICP patients and 200 controls were studied. The values of MELD, APRI, ALBI, PLR, and NLR were measured in the 1st trimester and at the time of diagnosis. RESULTS: Patients with ICP had significantly higher ALBI, MELD, and APRI scores both in the first trimester and at diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) showed that age, ALBI, MELD, and APRI scores were statistically significant (p < 0.05). By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the sensitivity of MELD, ALBI, APRI, and NLR in the first trimester was 62%, 73%, 58%, and 29%, respectively, and MELD, ALBI, APRI, and PLR at diagnosis was 28%, 38%, 57%, and 8%, respectively, with a fixed false-positive rate of 10%. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated the usability of the MELD, ALBI, and APRI scores in predicting and diagnosing ICP. They are easy to obtain and might be used in routine practice.

Factors Affecting Obstetric Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Cold-Knife and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure Conization Due to CIN 2 or CIN 3.

Objective: To determine factors affecting obstetric outcomes in pregnancies after conization by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cold-knife conization (CKC) due to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Material and Methods: The maternal and clinical characteristics and obstetric outcomes of CKC, LEEP and control groups were evaluated and compared. Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The incidence of preterm delivery, PPROM, low APGAR scores, fetal mortality, and late-period spontaneous abortus was highest in patients who underwent CKC (p<0.05). Cone depth of CKC was longer than LEEP (p=0.025). Cervical length (CL) at pregnancy was CKC

Does the Presence of Extended Jugular Lymphatic Sacs Add More Risk to Nuchal Thickness for Genetic and Structural Abnormality?

Background: The risks added by extended jugular lymphatic sacs (EJLS) to increased nuchal translucency (NT) including genetic and structural abnormalities and pregnancy outcomes have not been previously investigated, which this study aims to investigate. Methods: The data of 155 singleton pregnancies with increased fetal NT (≥95th percentile) of these 20 with fetal EJLS were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were stratified according to NT thickness such that ≥95th percentile - 3.5 mm, 3.6-4.4 mm, 4.5-5.4 mm, 5.5-6.4 mm, ≥6.5 mm, and grouped according to the presence of EJLS. Pregnancy outcomes, genetic and structural abnormalities were assessed by comparing EJLS with non-EJSL cases (n-EJLS). Results: Associated with NT, the incidence of the presence of EJLS increased with NT, from 4.5% at the ≥95th percentile - 3.5 mm to 30.8% when NT ≥5.5 mm. In the n-EJLS group, the proportion of fetuses with structural and genetic abnormalities increased as the measurement of NT increased. This correlation was not observed in the EJLS group. Compared to n-EJLS, cases with EJLS had a higher rate of fetal structural (38.5% vs. 75%, P = 0.003) and genetic (18.5% vs. 45%, P = 0.005) anomalies and a lower term live birth rate (59.3% vs. 15%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The increasing rate of EJLS was seen as NT increased. Compared to n-EJLS, the EJLS cases had a higher rate poor pregnancy outcomes and fetal genetic and structural abnormalities.

Pregnancy outcomes and prenatal traditional karyotype analysis with fetal omphalocele.

BACKGROUND: Omphalocele is associated with many aneuploidies, deletions and congenital anomalies. This study evaluates pregnancies diagnosed with omphalocele and its relevance to concomitant genetic disorders. METHODS: The data of patients with the intrauterine diagnosis of omphalocele who had invasive diagnostic testing performed between January 2017 and January 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. The traditional karyotype analysis was performed to prenatal diagnosis for all fetuses. During the study period, all patients were scanned via ultrasonography by an experienced perinatologist, prenatally. RESULTS: We evaluated 22 cases of omphalocele whose genetic testing results were available. The mean maternal age was 25 (18-41) years. The median gestational week at diagnosis was 13 (11-22). Invasive genetic testing revealed aneuploidy in 7 patients (31.8%), 2 with trisomy 13 (9.1%), and 5 with trisomy 18 (22.8%). There were 5 fetuses (22.7%) that had extracorporeal liver: 1 had trisomy 18 (20%), 1 had trisomy 13 (20%), and the other 3 fetuses had a normal karyotype (60%). Further, 14 (63.6%) pregnancies were terminated: 4 had trisomy 18 (28.6%), 1 had trisomy 13 (7.1%), and 9 of the terminated pregnancies (64.3%) had additional congenital anomalies. There were 4 infants who died (50%) born from 8 patients who decided to continue with their pregnancy. The omphalocele sac of 1 infant spontaneously regressed in the ensuing weeks of pregnancy who is now 1 year old. CONCLUSIONS: The chromosomal abnormalities presented in up to 31.8% of cases diagnosed with omphalocele. Moreover, for cases with normal genetic testing results, the propensity for additional structural defects was high and the prognosis remains poor. Counseling parents to consider their option of terminating the pregnancy is appropriate.

Cysts of the fetal abdomen: Antenatal and postnatal comparison.

Background: To evaluate cases diagnosed with fetal abdominal cyst diagnosed in prenatal period. Methods: We retrieved the cases diagnosed with fetal abdominal cyst between the years 2018 and 2020 from hospital's database. The localization, origin, dimensions, properties (simple or complex), and characteristics (solid, cystic, vascularity) were noted both in prenatal and postnatal period. We also tested the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography according to endpoint diagnosis revealed postnatally. Results: During the study period, a total of 29 cases diagnosed as fetal abdominal cyst. Of them, there were 11 (37.9%) gastrointestinal, 9 (31%) ovarian, 6 (20.6%) genitourinary, 3 (10.3%) hepatobiliary system cysts. In our study, we were able to identify 5 (45%) of 11 fetuses with postnatally confirmed gastrointestinal system cysts, 1 (33%) of 3 fetuses with hepatobiliary system cysts, 3 (50%) of 6 fetuses with urinary system cysts and 6 (66%) of 9 fetuses with ovarian cysts. Conclusion: In this study, the most common abdominal cyst was ovarian cysts. The most difficult to diagnose cysts are those that originated from gastrointestinal system and hepatobiliary system.

Systemic immune-inflammation index to predict placenta accreta spectrum and its histological subtypes.

AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and other inflammatory parameters in the diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) and its histological subtypes. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included patients who underwent surgery for placenta previa (PP). Case group (patients with PAS) included pregnant women diagnosed with histologically confirmed PAS, whereas control group (patients with PP) included pregnant women who underwent cesarean section with a PP diagnosis, required no additional intervention during the operation. Both groups were compared with respect to their demographic data, clinical characteristics, SII, and other laboratory parameters. Cut-off values that can predict PAS were calculated. The PAS group was separated into subgroups based on histology findings, and inflammatory parameters were compared between subgroups. RESULTS: In this study, data of 273 patients were analyzed. Of these, 68 (24.9%) were included in the PAS group and 205 (75.1%) patients were included in the PP group. Significant differences were observed in SII, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.000, p = 0.006, p = 0.002, p = 0.000, and p = 0.000, respectively). The best SII cut-off value was 985.02109/L (57.4% sensitivity and 72.2% specificity). There was no significant association between the histologic subtypes of PAS and inflammatory parameters. CONCLUSION: SII can be used to predict PAS in pregnant women with PP. The relationship between the histologic subtypes of PAS and inflammatory parameters should be investigated in more comprehensive studies.

Predictor Factors in the Success of Slow-Release Dinoprostone Used for Cervical Ripening in Pregnancies with Premature Rupture of Membranes.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting successful vaginal delivery in induction with slow-release dinoprostone at term pregnancy with premature rupture of membranes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnancies between 370/7 and 416/7 gestation weeks with premature rupture of membranes in which slow-release dinoprostone was used for cervical ripening were sought for inclusion in the study. Pregnancies with previous uterine surgery, multiple fetal gestations, chorioamnionitis, non-cephalic presentation, fetal distress at the time of admission, HIV positivity, and estimated fetal weight >4500 on ultrasonographic evaluation were excluded. The primary outcome of measures were factors affecting the success of vaginal delivery including maternal age, gestational weeks at delivery, initial Bishop score, parity, induction time, and induction-delivery time interval. To reduce the risk of overfitting in the study, penalized maximum likelihood estimation was performed instead of traditional logistic regression in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1266 participants who met the study criteria were included in the study. Among the parameters evaluated for the prediction of successful vaginal delivery in cases with premature rupture of membranes, maternal age (P < .001), Bishop score (P < .001), parity (P=.01), induction time (P < .001), and induction-delivery time interval (P < .001) had an impact on success. The mean gestational week of the participants who had cesarean deliveries was lower than in those who had vaginal deliveries (P=.03); however, this was not a predictor factor of penalized maximum likelihood estimation (P=.70). CONCLUSION: Basic parameters such as maternal age, induction time, parity, and Bishop score can be used to predict successful vaginal birth following dinoprostone slow-release vaginal insert administration.

Double Foley catheter for labor induction: An alternative method.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a new handmade device, the double Foley catheter (DFC), and compare it with the Foley catheter (FC) and Cook cervical ripening balloon for its effectiveness in labor induction. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 222 patients with unfavorable cervices. The patients were randomly allocated to the DFC, FC, and Cook cervical ripening balloon groups (n = 74 patients per group). The outcomes were evaluated using SPSS v. 23. RESULTS: Bishop scores successfully increased with all three methods (P = 0.000 for all groups), and the rates of vaginal delivery within 24 and 48 h were similar (P = 0.101 and P = 0.390, respectively). The pain scores of the DFC and Cook cervical ripening balloon groups were similar, but were lower than those of the FC group (P = 0.011). The overall maternal satisfaction scores of the DFC and Cook cervical ripening balloon groups were not significantly different but were higher than those of the FC group (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The maternal safety and success rate of labor induction were comparable between groups. However, the FC group had a higher pain score during catheter insertion and a lower maternal satisfaction rate. Moreover, considering the high cost of the Cook cervical ripening balloon, the DFC has an advantage, especially in low-resource countries.

A prospective cohort study of shock index as a reliable marker to predict the patient's need for blood transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to compare the shock index (SI) values between patients who required blood transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and patients who received no blood transfusion. METHODS: We conducted this cross-sectional study at a tertiary center between January 2019 and June 2019. A total of 2534 patients who underwent vaginal delivery were included in this study. We measured SI values upon admission, 30 minutes, 1-hour, and 2-hours after delivery. We identified women who required blood transfusion as the study group. Control patients who delivered in the same period and received no blood transfusion were identified in the medical record system and randomly selected. Age, parity, BMI, and SI values at each one prepartum and three postpartum periods of the groups were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2534 patients were included in the study. A varying amount of blood transfusion was performed in 54 patients (2.13%). When we compared with patients who did not receive blood transfusion after delivery, patients who received any amount of blood transfusion after vaginal delivery had significantly higher SI values 30 minutes after delivery (0.99±0.20, and 085±0.11, p=0.0001), at 1-hour (1.00±0.18, and 0.85±0.11, p=0.0001), and 2-hours (1.09±0.16, and 0.87±0.11, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: SI value could be a reliable and consistent marker to predict the requirement for any amount of blood transfusion due to PPH.

Outcomes of pregnancies diagnosed with circumvallate placenta, and use of uterine artery pulsatility index and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein for prediction of adverse outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes, and predictive value of uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) for adverse obstetric outcomes in cases with morphologically confirmed circumvallate placenta by comparison with normal pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. During the study period, 77 patients with a circumvallate placenta and 77 patients without any placental or feto-maternal diseases or abnormalities were evaluated. The final diagnosis was made based on macroscopic examination of the placenta soon after birth. Demographic characteristics, MSAFP, obstetric complications, haemoglobin after delivery, gestational week of birth, fetal sex, 1- and 5-min Apgar scores, postnatal complications and type of delivery were retrieved from hospital records. Bilateral mean transabdominal UtA-PI and MSAFP were evaluated for the prediction of adverse outcomes. SPSS Version 21.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for the prediction model of adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Smoking rate, MSAFP, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were higher in the patients with a circumvallate placenta (p = 0.005, 0.00, 0.025 and 0.027, respectively). The cut-off value of MSAFP was 1.41 (0.60-3.32) and the cut-off value of UtA-PI was 1.2 using the ROC curves, and had sensitivity of 73.7 % and specificity of 71.9 %, and sensitivity of 73.7 % and specificity of 76.3 %, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Circumvallate placenta was associated with a higher rate of IUGR, preterm birth and bleeding at the time of delivery. In patients with a circumvallate placenta, UtA-PI and MSAFP may be valuable as predictors of IUGR.

Comparison of the Quality of Life and Female Sexual Function Following Laparoscopic Pectopexy and Laparoscopic Sacrohysteropexy in Apical Prolapse Patients.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare the surgical outcomes, safety, effectiveness, and mid-term outcomes in patients who had undergone laparoscopic hysterosacropexy and laparoscopic pectopexy due to apical prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted on a total of 62 women who underwent apical prolapse surgery (32 undergoing a pectopexy and 30 undergoing a sacrohysteropexy) between June 2015 and June 2017. Patients with symptomatic uterine or vaginal vault prolapse with stage 2 or worse were included in the sudy. Before and after the operation, we used the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) and questionnaires, which are the Prolapse Quality of Life Questionnaire (P-QOL) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), to evaluated cases. Baseline characteristics, perioperative and postoperative complications, and follow-up results at 12 months were also evaluated. RESULTS: All domains of POP-Q, P-QOL, and FSFI scores improved significantly after surgery both in pectopexy and sacrohysteropexy group. The postoperative complications of both procedures were similar except for constipation after surgery (3.2% in the pectopexy group and 20% in the hysterosacropexy group [P = 0.036]). CONCLUSION: Both sacrohysteropexy and pectopexy are effective surgical options for apical prolapse patients. The pectopexy is an acceptable alternative to laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy because of its less complexity and not reducing pelvic space for the rectum to exist. We suggest that the laparoscopic pectopexy may be widely used in clinical routine.

PALM-COEIN classification system of FIGO vs the classic terminology in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the FIGO's novel classification system versus the classic terminology in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out between August 2015 and September 2019 in the Health Sciences University Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital. The pathology reports of the patients were classified according to the PALM-COEIN method and were compared with classical terminology. The operated patients with fibroids reported in the pathology results were classified as subgroups of fibroids. RESULTS: Evaluation was made of a total of 515 women with abnormal uterine bleeding. According to the classical terminology, 137 (26.6%) patients were defined with hypermenorrhea, 74 (14.4%) with menorrhagia, 57 (11.1%) with metrorrhagia, and 246 (47.8%) with menometrorrhagia. In the PALM-COEIN classification system, polyps were determined in 84 (16.3%) cases, adenomyosis in 228 [diffuse adenomyosis: 196 (38.1%), local adenomyosis: 32 (6.2%)], leiomyoma in 386 [submu-cous: 161 (31.1%), other types: 225 (43.9%)], and malignancy and hyperplasia in 47 (9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The classical terminology for abnormal uterine bleeding is insufficient in terms of etiological pathologies in non-pregnant women of reproductive age. The widespread use of this novel system for the abnormal uterine bleeding classification will provide a more useful communication between physicians and researchers.

Maternal near-miss patients and maternal mortality cases in a Turkish tertiary referral hospital.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the incidence of maternal near-miss (MNM) morbidity in a tertiary hospital setting in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we concluded 125 MNM patients who delivered between January 2017 and December 2017 and fulfilled the WHO management-based criteria and severe pre-eclamptic and HELLP patients which is the top three highest mortality rates due to pregnancy. Two maternal death cases were also included. The indicators to monitor the quality of obstetric care using MNM patients and maternal deaths were calculated. Demographic characteristics of the patients, the primary diagnoses causing MNM and maternal deaths, clinical and surgical interventions in MNM patients, shock index (SI) value of the patients with obstetric hemorrhage and maternal death cases were evaluated. RESULTS: The MNM ratio was 5.06 patients per 1000 live births. Maternal mortality (MM) ratio was 8.1 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. SMOR was 5.14 per 1000 live births. The MI was 1.57%, and the MNM/maternal death ratio was 62.4:1. The SI of MNM patients with obstetric hemorrhage was 1.36 ± 0.43, and the SI of the patient who died due to PPH was 1.74. CONCLUSION: The MNM rates and MM rates in our hospital were higher than high-income countries but were lower than in low- and middle-income countries. Hypertensive disorders and obstetric hemorrhage were the leading conditions related to MNM and MM. However, the MIs for these causes were low, reflecting the good quality of maternal care and well-resourced units. Adopting the MNM concept into the health system and use as an indicator for evaluating maternal health facilities is crucial to prevent MM.

Expression of ADAMTS13 and PCNA in the placentas of gestational diabetic mothers / Expresión de ADAMTS13 y PCNA en las placentas de madres diabéticas gestacionales

SUMMARY: GDM is linked with overexpression of inflammatory cytokines and increased oxidative stress, leading to endothelial dysfunction and vascular disorder. Weaimed to examine the expression of ADAMTS13 and PCNA in the placentas of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients to investigate the effects of hypoxia, induced by GDM, on proliferation and extracellular matrix formation in the maternal and fetal placenta cells. A total of 60 placentas were collected from pregnant women admitted to the obstetrics clinic. Thirty of them were diagnosed with GDM, and 30 of them were diagnosed with non-GDM patients. Samples were fixed in 10 % formaldehyde, after routine follow-up, embedded in paraffin wax. Sections of 5 µm were cut stained with Mayer Hematoxylin-Eosin, examined under a light microscope. Sections for immunohistochemical analysis were cut and processed for antigen retrievalin citrate solution. Sections were incubated with ADAMTS13 and PCNA primary antibodies, counterstained with hematoxylin, and evaluate under a light microscope. In histopathological examination, the non-diabetic placentas showed that decidua cells in the maternal region were polygonal with oval nuclei and organized in groups. In the GDM group, there were pyknosis and apoptotic changes in decidua cell nuclei. Vacuolar areas were observed in large cavities in maternal connective tissue. Inflammation and dilatation with congestion were observed in the blood vessels of the villus. In the GDM group, positive ADAMTS13 expression was observed in the decidua cells vascular endothelial cells, and surrounding connective tissue fibroblast cells. In the GDM group, a significant increase in PCNA expression was observed in decidua cells, connective tissue cells and endothelial cells. Functional changes in ADAMTS13 proteases and PCNA were thought to induce maternal and fetal complications by stimulating extracellular matrix development.

RESUMEN: La diabetes gestacional está relacionada con la sobreexpresión de citocinas inflamatorias y aumento del estrés oxidativo, lo que lleva a una disfunción endotelial y un trastorno vascular. Nuestro objetivo fue examinar la expresión de ADAMTS13 y PCNA en las placentas con diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) para investigar los efectos de la hipoxia inducida por DMG sobre la proliferación y formación de matriz extracelular en células placentarias maternas y fetales. Se recolectaron un total de 60 placentas de mujeres embarazadas ingresadas a la consulta de obstetricia. Treinta de ellas fueron diagnosticadas con DMG y 30 diagnosticadas sin DMG. Las muestras se fijaron en formaldehído al 10 %, y luego de un seguimiento de rutina, fueron embebidas en parafina. Se cortaron secciones de 5 µm teñidas con hematoxilina-eosina de Mayer, las que fueron examinadas bajo un microscopio óptico. Se cortaron y procesaron las secciones para el análisis inmunohistoquímico para la recuperación de antígeno en solución de citrato. Las secciones se incubaron con anticuerpos primarios ADAMTS13 y PCNA, se contratiñeron con hematoxilina y se evalua- ron con un microscopio óptico. En el examen histopatológico, las placentas no diabéticas mostraron que las células de la decidua en la región materna eran poligonales con núcleos ovalados y organizadas en grupos. En el grupo de DMG, se observó picnosis y cambios apoptóticos en los núcleos de las células de la decidua. Se observaron áreas vacuolares en el tejido conectivo materno. En los vasos sanguíneos de las vellosidades se observó inflamación y dilatación con congestión. En el grupo de DMG, se observó expresión positiva de ADAMTS13 en las células de la decidua, en las células endoteliales vasculares y en los fibroblastos del tejido conectivo circundante. En el grupo de DMG se observó un aumento significativo de la expresión de PCNA en células de la decidua, células de tejido conectivo y en las células endoteliales. Se considera que los cambios funcionales en las proteasas ADAMTS13 y PCNA inducen a complicaciones maternas y fetales al estimular el desarrollo de la matriz extracelular.

Explanatory variables and nomogram of a clinical prediction model to estimate the risk of caesarean section after term induction.

The aims of this study were to identify the explanatory variables associated with failure of induction of labour (IOL) and to designate nomograms that predict probability. This retrospective study included 1328 singleton term pregnant women (37-42 weeks). The penalised maximum likelihood estimation (PMLE) method was used instead of traditional logistic regression. Of the 25,678 deliveries that occurred during the study period, 1328 (5.1%) women underwent term delivery. Of those, 1125 (84.7%) had successful vaginal deliveries and 203 (15.3%) had failed vaginal deliveries following use of a dinoprostone slow-release vaginal insert. Explanatory variables were discovered that were associated with delivery failure in term pregnancy undergoing induction of labour with an unfavourable cervix, and a nomogram that predicted probability was developed.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The caesarean rate has continued to climb worldwide over the past decade. Most caesarean sections are performed because of suspected foetal distress or failure to progress. In absolute numbers, most caesarean deliveries are performed in women with a term pregnancy with a foetus in cephalic presentation. Despite these numbers, predicting the mode of delivery by which these women will deliver remains a challenge.What do the results of this study add? Five explanatory variables were strongly associated with failure of dinoprostone delivery of term pregnancies: nulliparity, induction time, premature rupture of membranes, Bishop score and foetal genderWhat are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and further research? The developed nomograms enable fast and easy implementation in clinical practice. After external validation and proof of generalisability, the present model could be used in obstetric clinical management.

Can placental elasticity predict the time of delivery in cases of threatened preterm labor?

AIM: We aimed to evaluate placental elasticity for the short-time prediction of delivery in cases of threatened preterm labor (TPL). METHODS: We performed a prospective study with consented pregnant women diagnosed with TPL (24th to 34th gestational week). According to the birth time, the patients were grouped into two groups, whether the delivery happened in the following first week or not. We compared the placental strain ratio (PSR) values between these two groups. RESULTS: A total of 108 pregnant women divided into two groups according to the delivery time were enrolled in our study. The pregnant women who had a delivery in 1 week after hospitalization have increased PSR values when compared to those who have not delivered within 1 week (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cervical length and PSR were significantly associated with delivery in 1 week after hospitalization. When the cervical length was entered as a covariate (control) variable, PSR was significantly associated with delivery time (B = 0.504, odds ratio: 1.655, 95% confidence interval: 1.339-2.045, P < 0.001). A PSR value of 4.04 had a sensitivity of 77.78% and a specificity of 87.04% in terms of short-time prediction of the delivery time, in the receiver-operator curves analysis to determine the cut-off point PSR value. CONCLUSION: Elastography may contribute to predict the delivery time in high-risk pregnants with TPL.

The effect of vaginal disinfection on reducing post-caesarean endometritis: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of vaginal disinfection using 10 % povidone-iodine on rates of endometritis from post-caesarean infectious diseases before elective caesarean section (CS). METHODS: A total of 270 pregnant women who chose to undergo elective CS were recruited for this prospective randomised controlled study. The experimental group comprised 130 patients who had preoperatively undergone vaginal disinfection with 10 % povidone-iodine for 30 s. The control group consisted of 140 patients who had not undergone any vaginal implication before CS. The primary outcome measure was the rate of postpartum endometritis for each group. Intraoperatively, all patients who had closed uterine cervical canals underwent a digital opening of the internal and external cervical canal to equalise the groups. All of the participants were checked for endometritis one week after CS at the hospital. Additionally, for the week before and after surgery, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) values were assessed for both groups. Ethics committee approval number: 339. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 3.5.1 (R statistical Software, Institute for Statistics and Mathematics, Vienna, Austria). RESULTS: The groups were balanced in terms of the patients' demographic characteristics. There were no significant differences between the two groups according to endometritis rates: 4.6 % in the study group versus 6.4 % in the control group (p > 0.05). The CRP and WBC values before CS were similar in both groups. In the study group, the CRPand WBC values after CS were lower, whereas they were higher in the control group after CS; these differences were significant (p = 0.01 for CRP and p = 0.001 for WBC). CONCLUSION: Vaginal disinfection with povidone-iodine solution 10 % before elective CS does not significantly reduce post-caesarean endometritis rates; however, it does significantly reduce inflammatory markers such as CRP and WBC.

First-trimester aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in predicting intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy and its relationship with bile acids: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of the first-trimester aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/platelet count ratio [AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) score] for intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy (ICP). METHODS: This study consisted of a patient group diagnosed with ICP (n = 37) and a control group (n = 66) who presented to the hospital perinatology clinic between 2018 and 2020. Laboratory tests of both groups were analysed retrospectively. Age, gravida, parity, body mass index, third-trimester laboratory tests and first-trimester APRI scores were compared between the two groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the study was performed to determine the cut-off value for APRI score that is predictive of ICP. RESULTS: Patients with ICP had significantly higher first-trimester APRI scores compared with controls (p < 0.001). In the ROC analysis, the cut-off value for APRI score was 0.57, with 86.5 % sensitivity and 77.3 % specificity. Spearman's correlation indicated that there was a significant positive association between first-trimester APRI score and third-trimester fasting bile acid level (r = 0.641, p < 0.001). The demographic characteristics of patients in the third trimester did not differ, except for AST and alanine transferase values. CONCLUSIONS: The APRI score calculated in the first trimester of pregnancy seems to be predictive of the development of ICP in the third trimester.

Expression of CD44 and IL-10 in normotensive and preeclamptic placental tissue.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to demonstrate cell-cell adhesion and apoptotic changes in preeclamptic placentas by examining the expression of CD44 and IL-10. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Placenta samples of 15 preeclamptic and 15 healthy 35-38th week-pregnant women were involved in the study. Tissue samples were taken only from the maternal side of the placenta and fixed in 10% formaldehyde, then blocked in paraffin wax and 5 µm-thick sections were cut and stained with Masson Trichrome. Antigen retrieval was performed for sections, incubated with CD44 antibody and anti-IL-10 antibody. After the application of streptavidin peroxidase followed by AEC chromogen solution, sections were counterstained with Mayer hematoxylin. RESULTS: In the preeclampsia group, increased CD44 positive expression was observed in maternal decidua cells and fibroblast cells close to root villi. CD44 was positively expressed in muscle cells around the blood vessels, mucosal connective tissue areas, syncytial nodes, and syncytial bridges. In the preeclampsia group, significant increased IL-10 expression was seen in subendothelial layers of the medium-sized vessels in the maternal region. IL-10 was also positively expressed in decidua cells outside the vessels, and inflamed connective tissue areas, chorionic villus cells with intense inflammation in intervillous spaces. CONCLUSIONS: CD44 was found to be an essential molecule in the regulation of vascular permeability, inflammatory response, activation of the cells, cell-to-cell interaction, and the signaling pathways to which they are associated. Since IL-10 regulates appropriate pregnancy outcomes and contributes to the balance of anti-inflammatory signals via both paracrine and autocrine regulators of trophoblast activity, we proposed that it might be a key to elucidate the etiology of preeclampsia with CD44 receptor.

Predictor variables in the success of slow-release dinoprostone used for cervical ripening in intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the consequences of a trigger by vaginal Dinoprotone on outcome of pregnancies with Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 161 induced IUGR fetuses (35-39 weeks). Consecutive patients who were evaluated formed the basis of the clinical outcomes. The penalized maximum likelihood estimation (PMLE) method was used instead of traditional logistic regression in order to reduce the risk of overfitting. RESULTS: Of the 25,678 deliveries that occurred during the study period, 161 (0.6%) women underwent IUGR delivery; of these, 117 (73%) succeeded and 44 (27%) failed to achieve cervical ripening using the dinoprostone slow-release vaginal insert. Two predictors were associated with dinoprostone vaginal delivery success: Parity (OR:1.4([0.89-2.3]), and Bishop score (OR:1.54[1.23-1.94]). The PMLE model correctly classified 78% participants (c-index: 0.78). CONCLUSION: Basic parameters such as parity and Bishop score can be used to predict successful vaginal birth following dinoprostone slow-release vaginal insert administration.