Comparison of laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgical treatments for isthmocele: A prospective cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgical approaches for treating symptomatic isthmocele and identify their associated factors. Materials and Methods: Forty-six patients with symptomatic isthmocele diagnosed using transvaginal saline infusion sonohysterography were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Patients underwent either laparoscopic or hysteroscopic isthmoplasty based on their residual myometrial thicknesses and fertility desires and were subsequently followed by clinical and ultrasonographic examinations. Results: Twenty-two patients underwent laparoscopy and 24 underwent hysteroscopic surgery. At baseline, there was no significant difference in the mean age and years since the last cesarean section between the two groups. However, the hysteroscopy group had a higher mean parity and previous cesarean sections (p=0.00, 0.03). The most common symptoms were abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, and dysmenorrhea. The mean baseline residual myometrial thickness was significantly higher in the laparoscopy group (p=0.00), and only laparoscopic surgery led to a significant increase in residual myometrial thickness in patients (p=0.00). Both procedures significantly reduced abnormal uterine bleeding (p=0.00), but only laparoscopy reduced infertility (p=0.00) and hysteroscopy reduced dysmenorrhea (p=0.03). Hysteroscopy showed better symptom resolution in younger patients (p=0.01), whereas age did not affect laparoscopy outcomes. Conclusion: Both approaches showed similar effectiveness in resolving abnormal uterine bleeding, with laparoscopy excelling in infertility resolution and hysteroscopy excelling in dysmenorrhea resolution.

Prediction of post-delivery hemoglobin levels with machine learning algorithms.

Predicting postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) before delivery is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes, enabling timely transfer and implementation of prophylactic therapies. We attempted to utilize machine learning (ML) using basic pre-labor clinical data and laboratory measurements to predict postpartum Hemoglobin (Hb) in non-complicated singleton pregnancies. The local databases of two academic care centers on patient delivery were incorporated into the current study. Patients with preexisting coagulopathy, traumatic cases, and allogenic blood transfusion were excluded from all analyses. The association of pre-delivery variables with 24-h post-delivery hemoglobin level was evaluated using feature selection with Elastic Net regression and Random Forest algorithms. A suite of ML algorithms was employed to predict post-delivery Hb levels. Out of 2051 pregnant women, 1974 were included in the final analysis. After data pre-processing and redundant variable removal, the top predictors selected via feature selection for predicting post-delivery Hb were parity (B: 0.09 [0.05-0.12]), gestational age, pre-delivery hemoglobin (B:0.83 [0.80-0.85]) and fibrinogen levels (B:0.01 [0.01-0.01]), and pre-labor platelet count (B*1000: 0.77 [0.30-1.23]). Among the trained algorithms, artificial neural network provided the most accurate model (Root mean squared error: 0.62), which was subsequently deployed as a web-based calculator: https://predictivecalculators.shinyapps.io/ANN-HB . The current study shows that ML models could be utilized as accurate predictors of indirect measures of PPH and can be readily incorporated into healthcare systems. Further studies with heterogenous population-based samples may further improve the generalizability of these models.

Nutritional vitamin D supplementation in chronic hemodialysis: An uncontrolled open-label trial.

The present study was evaluated by the incidence of vitamin D deficiency and management of hemodialysis (HD) patients with low doses of vitamin D over 6 months. This uncontrolled open-label trial was fulfilled in descriptive and then analytical phases from 2008 to 2010 recruiting chronic HD patients in our province. For this purpose, 169 patients undergoing regular HD were randomly selected and their vitamin D level was measured. Then, 54 patients with vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL entered the second phase. This group received 50,000 IU vitamin D3 monthly for 6 months. The mean vitamin D level in 169 patients was 21.73 ± 20.27 ng/mL. As well, 62.7% had vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL. Following the six-month intervention, mean vitamin D levels elevated significantly from 17.03 ± 7.4 to 42.8 ± 16.9 ng/mL (P < .0001). In this study, the incidence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 62.7%, lower than that in previous research in patients undergoing chronic HD. Vitamin D3 administration at lower doses than healthy people could significantly increase vitamin D level.

Epidemiology of candidemia in Shiraz, southern Iran: A prospective multicenter study (2016-2018).

Systematic candidemia studies, especially in southern Iran, are scarce. In the current prospective study, we investigated candidemia in three major healthcare centers of Shiraz, the largest city in southern Iran. Yeast isolates from blood and other sterile body fluids were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) using the broth microdilution method. Clinical data were retrieved from patients' medical records. In total, 113 yeast isolates were recovered from 109 patients, over 60% of whom received fluconazole. Antifungal drugs were prescribed without considering species identification or AFST. The all-cause mortality rate was 28%. Almost 30% of the patients were from intensive care units (ICUs). Candida albicans (56/113; 49.5%) was the most prevalent species followed by C. glabrata (26/113; 23%), C. parapsilosis (13/113; 11.5%), C. tropicalis (7/113; 6.2%), and C. dubliniensis (5/113; 4.4%). Only five isolates showed antifungal resistance or decreased susceptibility to fluconazole: one C. orthopsilosis isolate from an azole-naïve patient and two C. glabrata, one C. albicans, and one C. dubliniensis isolates from patients treated with azoles, who developed therapeutic failure against azoles later. Our results revealed a low level of antifungal resistance but a notable rate of azole therapeutic failure among patients with candidemia due to non-albicans Candida species, which threaten the efficacy of fluconazole, the most widely used antifungal in southern regions of Iran. Candidemia studies should not be confined to ICUs and treatment should be administered based on species identification and AFST results.

Landscape of candidemia is blurred in Iran, and only two studies from Tehran have extensively explored the epidemiology of candidemia. However, candidemia data from the other regions are notoriously scarce, which precludes from reaching a consensus regarding species distribution, the burden of antifungal resistance, and the clinical features of infected patients. Therefore, we conducted the current prospective candidemia study in Shiraz, one of the largest cities located in the south of Iran, from April 2016 to April 2018. More than 63% of the candidemia infections were treated by fluconazole and species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing were not used for decision making regarding the choice of antifungal treatment. Approximately 70% of the candidemia cases occurred in the wards outside of the ICUs. Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. dubliniensis were the five leading causative agents of candidemia. Antifungal resistance was rare and fluconazole resistance and/or non-wild type phenotypes were noticed in five isolates, only one was C. albicans and the rest were non-albicans Candida (NAC) species, including C. glabrata, C. dubliniensis, and C. orthopsilosis. Except for C. orthopsilosis, which was isolated from an azole-naïve patient, the rest of isolates were recovered from patients treated with azoles and all showed therapeutic failure to azoles. Collectively, our data will complete the candidemia picture in Iran and show that, although the level of resistance was rare, the therapeutic failure was notable among NAC species, which threatens the efficacy of fluconazole, the most widely used antifungal in Southern regions of Iran. Moreover, we showed that candidemia is poorly managed in Iran since species identification tools along with antifungal susceptibility testing were not used to select appropriate antifungal treatment.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes and determinants of iodine deficiency in third trimester of pregnancy in an iodine sufficient area.

BACKGROUND: Mild to moderate iodine deficiency in pregnant women may expose them to the increased risk of the development of goiter and thyroid disorder. There is a relationship between low maternal UIC (Urinary iodine concentration) in pregnancy and diminished placental weight and neonatal head circumference. The current study was an attempt to assess iodine nutritional status, its determinants and relationship with maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: In this population based cross-sectional study, which was conducted from April 2017 to September 2018, information was collected from 884 women of 20-45 years old who referred for periodic pregnancy visits. UIC was measured in random urine samples by applying a manual method which was based on the Sandell-Kolthoff technique. Information related to neonatal and maternal complications was collected from the individuals enrolled in the study through systematic follow-ups of the research team in each hospitals and the referral of trained midwives to the place of delivery and the retrieval of the case files. RESULTS: The results showed that out of 884 participants 838 (94.8%) had a urinary iodine concentration of more than 150 micrograms/litre and 46 (5.2%) showed urinary iodine concentrations less than 150 micrograms/litre. The median (IQR) urinary iodine concentration in the third trimester was 176 (165-196) µg/l. According to the WHO criteria 46 of the participants (5.2%) had insufficient urinary iodine concentrations, 805 (91.06%) had adequate urinary iodine concentrations while 33 (3.73%) showed more than adequate levels. There were no participants with urinary iodine concentrations higher than 500 micrograms/litre. The main influencing factors on maternal iodine deficiency in this study were weight gain during pregnancy (Odds Ratio (OR) =0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95), number of previous pregnancy (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.89) the interval between the most recent pregnancies (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.95), whether or not the pregnancy has been Planned (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.29-6.58) and nutritional complement consumption (OR = 3.64, 95% CI: 1.44-9.1). The need for a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (OR = 4.64, 95% CI: 1.81-11.9) and preterm birth (OR = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.51-7.1) were significantly related with maternal iodine deficiency before delivery. Also there is no significant differences regarding the mean maternal urinary iodine concentration between the normal and different maternal complications groups (p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can be improved by appreciate planning for pregnancy, proper inter-pregnancy time interval (> 12 months to < 5 years), appropriate nutrition during pregnancy. Besides, controlling maternal urinary iodine concentrations is important to prevent neonatal complications such as preterm delivery and NICU admission.

First fungemia case due to environmental yeast Wickerhamomyces myanmarensis: detection by multiplex qPCR and antifungal susceptibility.

AIM: Presenting the first clinical case of Wickerhamomyces myanmarensis. PATIENTS & METHODS: Yeast cells were isolated from blood and central venous catheter of a 5.5-year-old male subject. API 20C AUX, MALDI-TOF MS, ITS and LSU rDNA sequencing, and our qPCR assay were used for identification and the MIC values were determined by CLSI M27-A3. RESULTS: ITS and LSU rDNA sequencing identified both isolates as W. myanmarensis, while API 20C AUX and MALDI-TOF MS did not identify them correctly. Our qPCR specifically distinguished W. myanmarensis from W. anomalus. Isolate obtained from blood showed a higher MIC value for fluconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole. CONCLUSION: Utilization of reliable identification tools might reveal the genuine spectrum of opportunistic yeast species.

Unequivocal identification of an underestimated opportunistic yeast species, Cyberlindnera fabianii, and its close relatives using a dual-function PCR and literature review of published cases.

Although Cyberlindnera fabinaii is a rare opportunist yeast species, its ability to cause septicemia, produce biofilm, and rapid acquisition of resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole, reinforced the urge for its identification from its closely related species. Widely used biochemical assays mainly identify Cyberlindnera fabinaii as Cyberlindnera jadinii and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, resulting in underestimation of this yeast in clinical settings. Moreover, the urge for a reliable molecular means of identification remains unsolved for 28 years. In order to unequivocally differentiate Cy. fabianii, Cy. mississipiensis, Cy. jadinii, and W. anomalus, we designed a dual-function multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Challenging our dual-function multiplex PCR assay with 30 most clinically important yeast species, proved its specificity. Although conventional PCR could differentiate four target species, the real-time PCR counterpart due to Tm overlap misidentified Cy. mississipiensis as Cy. jadinii. Alongside of presenting a comprehensive literature review of published cases of Cy. fabianii from 1990 to 2018, we collected various clinical isolates from Tehran, Shiraz, and Fasa (July 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017) to find a passive relative distribution of these closely-related species in Iran. Subjecting our Iranian collection of yeast isolates to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS and LSU and ITS rDNA sequencing revealed six isolates of Cy. fabianii (central venous catheter n = 2 and vaginal swabs n = 4) and one isolate of Cy. jadinii (vaginal swabs). Due to the use of biochemical assays in global ARTEMIS study, we encourage reidentification of clinical isolates of Cy. jadinii and Cy. jadinii using MALDI-TOF or Sanger sequencing that might lead to correcting the distribution of this fungus.