A case-control study on the severity postpartum depression among COVID19 positive mother.

BACKGROUND: COVID19 pandemic has caused a variety of psychological problems including panic disorder, anxiety and depression. It is also associated with adverse psychological outcomes in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to compare the severity of postpartum depression in pregnant women with and without COVID-19 during the coronavirus epidemic. METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 102 pregnant women referred to the hospitals of (XXX). Using questionnaire, consisting of demographic and maternal data (age, number of pregnancies, type of delivery, history of any disease, history of drug use, breastfeeding experience, separation of mother from infant due to coronavirus) and score from Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) score data from all the participants obtained and analyzed statistically using SPSSv23. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean EPDS score in COVID-positive mothers was 26.64 and in COVID-negative mothers was 24.76, which was statistically significant, p < 0.001. The score did not vary among the two group with respect to age group and type of delivery method. The score was significantly higher among the women with 3-4 pregnancies. CONCLUSION: COVID-positive status is associated with increased postnatal depression among women. Perinatal and postnatal psychological consultancy is required in such patients along with monitoring of maternal and neonate physical and mental health.

Diagnostic value and agreement of transrectal in comparison with transvaginal sonography among women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

AIMS: Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is not applicable for evaluating the endometrium in some cases with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) such as virgin women. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of transrectal sonography (TRS), as a non-invasive alternative for TVS, among women with AUB. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 40 women over 40 years of age with AUB first underwent TRS and then TVS. Endometrial biopsy was also performed as a gold standard method to evaluate endometrial pathologies. The findings of the two endometrial ultrasound methods were compared with the biopsy results. Also, the findings of the two methods were compared in terms of the agreement on other uterine markers and adnexal findings. RESULTS: There was a high agreement between the findings of TVS and TRS for uterine size, endometrial thickness and homogeneity, endomyometrial junction, myometrial homogeneity, uterine lesions, uterine lesions size, ovarian size and ovarian echogenicity. When comparing the results of these two methods with biopsy findings, sensitivity, specificity as well as positive and negative predictive values of both methods were similar (82%, 100%, 100%, and 0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: When it is not possible to use TVS in women with AUB, TRS is a suitable, non-invasive and inexpensive alternative method for evaluating the endometrium and other genital organs.

Evaluation of clinical outcomes of neonates born to mothers with coronavirus (COVID-19) in Shahid Beheshti Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus, which is caused by acute respiratory syndrome, appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and gradually spread around the world until almost all countries became infected with the coronavirus. In Iran, the outbreak of coronavirus began on February 21, 2020, with the report of infection of two people in the city of Qom. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical findings of neonates born to pregnant women with corona disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During this case study (February 21 to November 30, 2020), out of 88 pregnant mothers who referred to the hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 44 live neonates were born from 42 pregnant women with COVID-19, who were evaluated for clinical signs by studying their files and reported as a case series, due to limited samples, No statistical analysis of the study was performed. RESULTS: In studies of clinical records of hospitalized mothers and infants, among the polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) provided for all infants, one PCR was reported positive 2 days after birth, whereas this infant 10 min after birth, immediately after routine procedures, due to positive mother's PCR was isolated from the operating room. However, all of the infant's clinical symptoms were normal during the 3-day hospital stay for routine postpartum care. Twenty-eight days after birth, the baby was reevaluated for clinical, laboratory, and chest X-ray symptoms, all of which were normal. The PCR of other neonates was negative, and five intubated neonates, two twin, and two single died, and the other neonates were discharged. In evaluating the clinical records of mothers of these infants, the mean age is 30 years, and the average gestational age is 35 weeks, 32 cases of caesarean section, and 10 cases of normal delivery. CONCLUSION: We describe epidemiological data, demographics, signs and symptoms on admission, laboratory results, comorbidities, infection COVID-19 in the mothers and neonates, chest radiography and computed tomography findings, treatment received for COVID-19, and clinical maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Due to the fact that the study population is small consist of 42 mothers with COVID-19 infection, among all PCR samples from infants born to COVID-19 positive mothers, the PCR result of one case was positive, and the rest of was negative. Therefore, vertical transmission of COVID-19 through the placenta to the fetus cannot be confirmed or denied, nor can the COVID-19 confirmed or denied the baby's postnatal complication during pregnancy.

The effect of educational intervention based on dramatic literature on parents of elementary schoolchildren skills in sex education.

BACKGROUND: Today, one of the biggest concerns of parents is protecting their children and properly educating them about sex. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational intervention on parental skills in sex education on their children in elementary schools in the northwest of Tehran-Iran in 2019 based on literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 125 parents of elementary schoolchildren in the northwestern of Tehran. The data were collected by valid and reliable questionnaire. Before the intervention, two intervention and control groups filled up the pretest questionnaire; the data were collected by valid and reliable questionnaire. Before the intervention, two intervention and control groups filled the pretest questionnaire, and then the parents participated in the educational program based on dramatic literature. Two months later, the same questionnaire was completed by the control and intervention groups. Finally, the data were analyzed by regression and one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of knowledge in the experimental and control groups in the posttest (P < 0.01). There was also a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of attitude in the experimental and control groups at the posttest stage (P < 0.01). There was also a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of performance based on group membership (experimental group and control group) in the posttest phase (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study showed that educational intervention on parental skills in sex education based on the dramatic literature to their children has significant effect on parental knowledge, attitude, and performance.

Delivery of antisense peptide nucleic acid by gold nanoparticles for the inhibition of virus replication.

Aim: We aim to use peptide nucleic acid (PNA) for antisense therapy against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a surrogate model of human hepatitis C virus, and introduce an optimal approach for delivering PNA into the cell. Materials & methods: PNA was designed for hybridization to the 5'-untranslated region of BVDV RNA in order to form a heteroduplex structure and inhibit the translation and replication of virus. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as a delivery system for PNA. Results: The cellular uptake of PNA-AuNPs and inhibition of BVDV infection in the middle stage of viral replication were found. Conclusion: Further research is warranted to develop AuNPs as a potential vehicle for delivering PNA in order to remove viruses from the infected cells.