Novel Memories of Motherhood: Childbirth Lived Experiences of Mothers with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Introduction: The critical coronavirus pandemic presents a global challenge with dimensions yet unknown, underscoring the essential need to comprehend the lived experiences, especially for vulnerable groups. This study delves into the childbirth experiences of mothers dealing with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Employing hermeneutic phenomenology, this qualitative research was conducted at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran). Purposeful sampling involved 16 mothers with maximum variation. Unstructured telephone interviews collected data, analyzed using the Diekelman approach. Results: Unveiling the theme "Novel Memories of Motherhood," four central themes emerged: "The Missing Link in Quality Care," "Coronavirus Stigma," "A lonely mother in quarantine," and "Cascade of Psychological Trauma." Conclusion: COVID-19 acts as an intervening factor, distorting routine care and delivery programs. The focus for service providers attending to mothers in labor should extend beyond physical care, encompassing the elimination of coronavirus-related stigma and prioritizing psychological attention. This holistic approach is crucial for maintaining quality care standards.

The effect of low-molecular-weight heparin on live birth rate of patients with unexplained early recurrent pregnancy loss: A two-arm randomized clinical trial.

Background: The effect of anticoagulant medication in unexplained early recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients is controversial. This clinical trial evaluated the effect of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on pregnancy outcomes in these patients. Materials and Methods: The study was performed as a single-blind randomized clinical trial between 2016 and 2018. Samples were selected from patients who were referred to Avicenna RPL clinic with a history of at least two previously happened early unexplained miscarriages. The eligibility was defined strictly to select unexplained RPL patients homogenously. One hundred and seventy-three patients who got pregnant recently were allocated randomly into two groups LMWH plus low-dose aspirin treatment (Group A = 85) and low-dose aspirin treatment only (Group B = 88)) and were followed up till their pregnancy termination (delivery/abortion). A per-protocol analysis was carried out and all statistical tests were two-sided with a P < 0.05 significance level. Results: The live birth rates (LBRs) in Groups A and B were 78% and 77.1%, respectively, which did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups, neither in rates nor in time of abortion. In subgroup analysis for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, the odds ratio for study outcome (intervention/control) was 2.25 (95% confidence interval: 0.65-7.73). There was no major adverse event whereas minor bleeding was observed in 18% of patients in Group A. Conclusion: LMWH does not improve the LBR in unexplained RPL patients, however, it is recommended to evaluate its effect separately in PCOS patients.

Comparison of Triggering Final Oocyte Maturation with Follicle Stimulating Hormone Plus Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, versus Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Alonein Normoresponder Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have so far been done about the role of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in final oocyte
maturation. However, none of these studies have been performed solely on normoresponder patients. This study aimed
to determine whether oocyte maturation, as well as fertilization and pregnancy rates, could be improved in normoresponder women with concomitant FSH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger compared to those with the hCG trigger alone.
Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 117 normoresponder women, aged 19-40 years
who were candidates for the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol at Avicenna Infertility
treatment Center, were enrolled and claasified in two groups. Final oocyte maturation was triggered using 10000 IU of
hCG plus 450 IU of FSH in the first group (59 subjects) and 10000 IU of hCG alone in the second group (58 subjects).
The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 33.21 ± 4.41 years. There was no difference in clinical pregnancy among the
two groups (30.9% vs. 25.5%, P=0.525). There was no statistically significant difference in fertilization rate (80.0%
vs. 74.1%, P=0.106), implantation rates (18.9% vs. 16.7%, P=0.352), and chemical pregnancy rates (38.2% vs. 32.7%,
P=0.550). Oocyte maturation rate (84.2% vs. 73.6%, P<0.001), 2 pronuclei (2PNs) (6.53 ± 2.54 vs. 5.36 ± 2.85,
P=0.021) and total embryos (5.85 ± 2.43 vs. 4.91 ± 2.58, P=0.046) were significantly higher in the first group.
Conclusion: Adding FSH to hCG for oocyte triggering, significantly improved oocyte maturation rates and total embryos.
While there was no significant difference in the clinical and chemical pregnancy rates, between these two groups
(registration number: IRCT20190108042285N1).

High-risk pregnant women's experiences of the receiving prenatal care in COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Women with high-risk pregnancies are among the most vulnerable groups that require additional precautionary measures against the spread of COVID-19 plus receiving prenatal care. Yet, there is limited information on the status of prenatal care in women with high-risk pregnancies. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of women with high-risk pregnancies who were receiving prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The present qualitative study was conducted on mothers with high-risk pregnancies from September 2020 to March 2021. Purposeful sampling continued until achieving data saturation. Ghaem, Ommolbanin, and Imam Reza in Mashhad, Iran served as the research environment. Face-to-face and semi-structured interviews were effective data collection methods. Each interview lasted between 20 to 45 min (on average 30). The total number of participants was 31. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection using the qualitative content analysis method developed by Granheim and Landman (2004). RESULTS: Following the reduction and analysis of data from women in high-risk pregnancies, as well as their perceptions and experiences with health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, eight subcategories and three main categories were identified, including 1) "Negative psychology responses," 2) "Adoption behavior," and 3) "Adjustment of health services in mutual protection." Fear, anxiety, stress, feelings of loneliness, sadness, depression, guilt, doubt and conflict in receiving services were examples of negative psychological responses. The adaptive behaviors' category reflected the behaviors of women with high-risk pregnancies in the context of the COVID COVID-19 pandemic. The Adjustment of health services in mutual protection indicated that health workers took preventive and protective measures against COVID-19, which, in addition to protecting themselves and their clients against COVID-19, gave women a sense of security. CONCLUSION: Receiving prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for women with high-risk pregnancies, negatively impacting their psychological state and health-seeking behavior. Supportive and preventive care can ensure that women with high-risk pregnancies receive optimal prenatal care that focuses on COVID-19 prevention. We recommend implementing screening, psychological counseling, and education for women with high-risk pregnancies, as well as ensuring that they have access to women-centered health care services.

Placental infection with SARS-CoV-2, analysis of 16 cases and literature review.

PURPOSE: Since December 2019, the whole world has been affected by coronavirus [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)]. However, the effects of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy and fetal transmission are still unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate placenta samples regarding detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in women affected with COVID-19. METHOD: This study was a part of a cohort study carried out on pregnant women with a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection who had been admitted to the Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, from March 20 to August 5, 2020. Clinical and laboratory information of all the patients was collected and chest computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed. Totally, 16 placental tissue were prepared for real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. All samples were tested by PowerChek PCR real-time kit (South Korea) with 2 target genes (E gene and Rd Rp gene), and Pishtaz Teb kit, (Iran) with 2 target genes (N gene and RdRp gene). RESULT: In the first RT-PCR kit by PowerChek kit, 6 samples were positive for a single gene (E gene) and 2 samples were positive for both genes (E gene and Rd Rp gene). In the second RT-PCR kit by Pishtaz Teb kit, 3 samples were positive for two genes (N gene and RdRp gene). CONCLUSION: This present study showed that infection of placenta with SARS-CoV-2 may occur in pregnancy. However, whether this infection leads to neonatal infection and serious complication in pregnancy remains unclear.

The performance of micro-meso-pore HY zeolite for supporting Mo toward oxidation of dibenzothiophene.

A uniformly distribution of 3 wt.% Mo (with tetrahedral coordination) on a commercial HY zeolite having both micro- and meso-pores, provided a new active catalyst which resulted 100% removal of DBT in this work. Respectively, H2O2 and acetonitrile were used as the oxidant and extraction solvent for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) at a mild condition. The structure of three-dimensional meso-pores, despite major micro-pores, was proved to be intriguing for the use of acidic HY zeolite as a support material in this process. The catalyst samples were characterized by different analyses of XRPD, XRF, FTIR, SEM, EDX, TEM, N2 adsorption desorption, BET, BJH, UV-vis, and NH3-TPD. High amounts of Mo were not in favor of the catalytic performance because of increasing non-framework polymolybdate formation, which led to decreasing meso-pore volume. Acid sites strength also decreased by increasing Mo content. The Mo active sites at a low loading of 3 wt.% reached the best performance for the complete removal of DBT (t = 90 min, T = 60 °C, catalyst/fuel = 8 g/L, O/S = 2, VSolvent/VOil = 1/2, DBT = 1000 ppm), mainly due to the presence of isolated Mo species in the framework of HY. The efficiency still reached to 90% after recycling the catalyst three times. The reusability of catalyst revealed the adsorption of the aqueous phase by this hydrophilic catalyst during the process being as a major deactivation factor. This was significantly diminished via a subsequent washing by acetonitrile.

Development and Characterization of Nanoliposomal Hydroxyurea Against BT-474 Breast Cancer Cells.

Purpose: Hydroxyurea (HU) is a well-known chemotherapy drug with several side effects which limit its clinical application. This study was conducted to improve its therapeutic efficiency against breast cancer using liposomes as FDA-approved drug carriers. Methods: PEGylated nanoliposomes-containing HU (NL-HU) were made via a thin-film hydration method, and assessed in terms of zeta potential, size, morphology, release, stability, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity. The particle size and zeta potential of NL-HU were specified by zeta-sizer. The drug release from liposomes was assessed by dialysis diffusion method. Cellular uptake was evaluated by flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity was designated by methyl thiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Results: The size and zeta value of NL-HU were gotten as 85 nm and -27 mV, respectively. NL-HU were spherical.NL-HU vesicles were detected to be stable for two months. The slow drug release and Weibull kinetic model were obtained. Liposomes considerably enhanced the uptake of HU into BT-474 human breast cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of NL-HU on BT-474 cells was found to be significantly more than that of free HU. Conclusion: The results confirmed these PEGylated nanoliposomes containing drug are potentially suitable against in vitro model of breast cancer.

Preparation, characterization, and cytotoxic effects of liposomal nanoparticles containing cisplatin: an in vitro study.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent used for treating various malignancies. The study aimed to prepare pegylated liposomal cisplatin and evaluate its efficacy against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Drug-loaded nanoparticles were synthesized by reverse phase evaporation technique. The study is highlighted by extensive characterization of nanoparticles in terms of nanoparticle morphology, type of drug entrapment, cisplatin retention capability, and cytotoxicity effects. The size, size distribution, and zeta potential of nanodrug were estimated 142 nm, 0.33, and -22 mV, respectively. Drug-loading efficiency was equal to 48% that occurred physically. Furthermore, high retention capability (39% of drug was released after 72 h) with significantly enhanced cytotoxicity of nanodrug (1.75 times more than the standard drug) confirmed the potency of liposomal nanoparticles as proper cisplatin carrier.

A Novel Label-Free microRNA-155 Detection on the Basis of Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters.

In this paper, a new approach for microRNA-155 (miRNA-155) detection was described based on the fluorescence quenching of oligonucleotide-templated silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs). The specific DNA scaffold with two different nucleotides fragments were used: one was enriched with a cytosine sequence fragment (C12) that could result in DNA-AgNCs with a high quantum yield via a chemical reduction method, and the other was the probe fragment (5- CUGUUAAUGCUAAUCGUG-3) which could selectively bind to the miRNA-155. Thus, the as-prepared AgNCs could exhibit quenched fluorescence when binding to the target miRNA-155. The fluorescence ratio of the DNA-AgNCs was quenched in a linearly proportional manner to the concentration of the target in the range of 0.2 nM to 30 nM with a detection limit of 0.1 nM.

Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate preservatives in food stuffs in Iran.

A high-performance liquid chromatography method was applied for the determination of the levels of benzoate and sorbate in 400 food samples, including pickled cucumbers, canned tomato pastes, sour cherry jams, soft drinks, fruit juices and dairy products (UF-Feta cheeses, Lighvan cheeses, lactic cheeses, yogurts and doogh). The results showed that 270 (67.5%) of all samples contained benzoate ranging from 11.9 to 288.5 mg kg(-1) in lactic cheese and fruit juice, respectively. The levels of sorbate in 98 (24.5%) of the samples were 20.1 to 284.3 mg kg(-1) in doogh and fruit juice, respectively. Moreover, benzoate was detected in all dairy products ranging from 11.9 mg kg(-1) in lactic cheese to 91.2 mg kg(-1) in UF-Feta cheese. A low concentration of benzoate could originate naturally, due to specific biochemical mechanisms during cheese, yogurt and doogh maturation. In conclusion, a minimum level for benzoate in dairy products should be defined in the legislation.

Facilitated and selective oxidation of thiophenic sulfur compounds using MoOx/Al2O3-H2O2 system under ultrasonic irradiation.

Oxidative desulfurization of thiophenic sulfur compounds of benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) with MoOx/Al2O3 catalyst and H2O2 oxidant has been facilitated and more selective under ultrasonic irradiation. The catalyst with the optimum 10% of Mo loading consisted of isolated tetrahedral molybdenum oxide species based on FTIR analysis. The increase of Mo loading to 15% and 20% caused to generation of polymolybdate and MoO3 crystals which decreased desulfurization activity. Sonication enhanced the apparent reaction rate constants in oxidation of all three sulfur compounds. An increase in the Arrhenius factor (A0), which is the total number of collisions per second, could explain the acceleration in the rate constants by sonication. The apparent activated energy (Ea) of BT oxidation was reduced from 96.6 to 75.3 kJ/mol by using ultrasound. This indicated that ultrasound had also a chemical effect, like a catalytic influence, in the acceleration of BT removal. DBT oxidation was reduced when investigated in the presence of tetralin, naphthalene and 2-methyl naphthalene as the model aromatic compounds of actual light oils. A higher selectivity toward DBT elimination in the presence of aromatics was obtained by sonication when compared with the silent treatment. Ultrasound cleaned the catalyst surface from adsorbed aromatics. On the basis of the obtained results, a mechanistic proposal for this desulfurization was explained. Oxidation was performed by nucleophilic attack of sulfur atom to the molybdenum peroxide species of tetrahedral molybdates, which was more advanced by sonication.

Investigation of process variables and intensification effects of ultrasound applied in oxidative desulfurization of model diesel over MoO3/Al2O3 catalyst.

A new heterogeneous sonocatalytic system consisting of a MoO3/Al2O3 catalyst and H2O2 combined with ultrasonication was studied to improve and accelerate the oxidation of model sulfur compounds of diesel, resulting in a significant enhancement in the process efficiency. The influence of ultrasound on properties, activity and stability of the catalyst was studied in detail by means of GC-FID, PSD, SEM and BET techniques. Above 98% conversion of DBT in model diesel containing 1000 µg/g sulfur was obtained by new ultrasound-assisted desulfurization at H2O2/sulfur molar ratio of 3, temperature of 318 K and catalyst dosage of 30 g/L after 30 min reaction, contrary to the 55% conversion obtained during the silent process. This improvement was considerably affected by operation parameters and catalyst properties. The effects of main process variables were investigated using response surface methodology in silent process compared to ultrasonication. Ultrasound provided a good dispersion of catalyst and oxidant by breakage of hydrogen bonding and deagglomeration of them in the oil phase. Deposition of impurities on the catalyst surface caused a quick deactivation in silent experiments resulting only 5% of DBT oxidation after 6 cycles of silent reaction by recycled catalyst. Above 95% of DBT was oxidized after 6 ultrasound-assisted cycles showing a great improvement in stability by cleaning the surface during ultrasonication. A considerable particle size reduction was also observed after 3 h sonication that could provide more dispersion of catalyst in model fuel.

Views of patients undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on their basic needs.

BACKGROUND: Today, hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) has been accepted as a therapeutic approach and is widely applied in many patients with disorders of hematopoietic systems or patients with malignancies. Concomitant use of this therapeutic approach with long term chemotherapeutic procedures and hospitalization requires special care. This study was conducted to examine basic needs of patients after HSCT. METHODS: In this study, 171 hospitalized patients were selected after transplantation, using convenience sampling method. They completed a questionnaire formulated on the basis of Yura and Walsh Theory of Basic Needs. RESULTS: Most of the needs reported in the areas of vital functions, functional health status, and reaction to functional health status were chills (76.8%), insomnia (68.5%), and dissatisfaction with changes of lifestyle/habits (53.6%), respectively. Furthermore, 94.1% of the patients were aware of their disease. CONCLUSION: This study identified a broad spectrum of the needs in HSCT patients. Given the importance of determining needs to reach thorough nursing care, paying attention to the provided list can facilitate the achievement of the goals of the care program for these patients.