Is postpartum depression related to total weight gain during pregnancy and maternal anemia?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of weight gain and maternal anemia on postpartum depression. METHODS: This is a prospective, single-center, case-control study. We recorded the demographic characteristics, blood ferritin level, and weight gain during the pregnancy. This study was planned between April 2023 and June 2023 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Ankara Etlik City Hospital. A total of 109 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Weight gain, nutritional education, educational level, mode of delivery, and pregnancy history were asked in person. Ferritin levels at the onset of labor were determined to detect anemia. Twin births, births due to fetal anomalies or intrauterine stillbirths, patients with systemic infections, and patients diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in the past 6 months whose records were not accessible were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Pregnancy weight gain and percentage of pregnancy weight gain were higher. Serum ferritin levels and nutritional education during pregnancy were lower in the postpartum depression group (p<0.001). These parameters with statistical significance were identified as risk factors in the regression analysis for postpartum depression (p<0.05). In receiver operating characteristics analysis, >15 kg for weight gain, >28.8 for percentage of weight gain in pregnancy, and <19 ng/dL for serum ferritin level were identified as cutoff values (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Nutritional education and vitamin supplementation should be recommended to pregnant women during routine examinations.

The role of inflammation in cases with gestational diabetes mellitus: Systemic immune inflammatory index according to trimesters.

PROBLEM: This study aims to investigate the role of the systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) in inflammation by analyzing SII values by trimester in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHOD OF STUDY: Between May 2019 and June 2020, we retrospectively enrolled 467 pregnant women who were followed from the first trimester to delivery in our hospital. We evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics, laboratory test results, SII values, Apgar scores, and newborn birth weights of pregnant women diagnosed with GDM. We also compared the SII values of GDM for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters with the control group. RESULTS: When examining the SII values of the GDM group in these three trimesters, without including the control group, we found that the SII value of the GDM group in the 3rd trimester was significantly higher than in the 1st trimester, with a gradual increase with each trimester (p = .007). Additionally, the SII value was higher in the GDM group compared to the control group (p = .008). We conducted a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of the SII value between the groups by trimester. The diagnostic significance of SII between the GDM and control groups was observed in the 3rd trimester, as the area under the curve (AUC) was close to 0.5 and not associated with a specific cutoff value. When examining the relationship between 3rd-trimester SII and study parameters, we found it had a positive and low correlation with the length of prepartum hospitalization, 50 g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), and maximal vertical pocket. CONCLUSION: SII levels were significantly higher in third-trimester GDM patients; however, despite elevated levels of inflammation, fetuses did not experience harm.

Is postpartum depression related to total weight gain during pregnancy and maternal anemia?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of weight gain and maternal anemia on postpartum depression. METHODS: This is a prospective, single-center, case-control study. We recorded the demographic characteristics, blood ferritin level, and weight gain during the pregnancy. This study was planned between April 2023 and June 2023 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Ankara Etlik City Hospital. A total of 109 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Weight gain, nutritional education, educational level, mode of delivery, and pregnancy history were asked in person. Ferritin levels at the onset of labor were determined to detect anemia. Twin births, births due to fetal anomalies or intrauterine stillbirths, patients with systemic infections, and patients diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in the past 6 months whose records were not accessible were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Pregnancy weight gain and percentage of pregnancy weight gain were higher. Serum ferritin levels and nutritional education during pregnancy were lower in the postpartum depression group (p<0.001). These parameters with statistical significance were identified as risk factors in the regression analysis for postpartum depression (p<0.05). In receiver operating characteristics analysis, >15 kg for weight gain, >28.8 for percentage of weight gain in pregnancy, and <19 ng/dL for serum ferritin level were identified as cutoff values (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Nutritional education and vitamin supplementation should be recommended to pregnant women during routine examinations.

Management of Borderline Ovarian Tumours: Tertiary Centre Experience from Turkey.

This study aimed to analyse the management protocols, surgical approaches, and outcomes of the women with Borderline ovarian tumours (BOT) at Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. One hundred and seventy-seven patients diagnosed with serous and mucinous BOT were enrolled in the study. Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were reviewed retrospectively from the medical records. The patients were divided into two groups according to surgical interventions: Laparoscopy group (n=50) and Laparotomy group (n=127). Treatment was conservative in 107 (60.5%) patients. Mean age at diagnosis (48.69 ± 12.52 vs. 41.1±11.66 years, p<0.001), tumour size (84.13 ± 51.85 mm vs. 67.1 ± 34.78 mm, p = 0.013), and number of postmenopausal patients (n = 55 vs. 9, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the Laparotomy group. There were no significant differences in the rates of intraoperative cyst rupture (22% vs. 18%, p = 0.120) and recurrence (2.25% vs. 5.05%, p = 0.760). There was no difference between radical vs. conservative surgery and laparotomy vs. laparoscopy in terms of recurrences. In appropriate cases, the conservative treatment and laparoscopy may be preferred. Key Words: Borderline ovarian tumour, Laparoscopy, Laparotomy.

The role of systemic immune inflammation index in predicting treatment success in tuboovarian abscesses.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the predictability of the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) on the response to medical treatment in tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA). METHODS: 296 patients with TOA in a tertiary center were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: Group1 (n = 165) included patients in whom medical treatment was successful, and Group2 (n = 131) included patients in whom surgery was required. Demographic, sonographic and laboratory findings were compared between groups. SII was calculated using peripheral blood parameters [SII = (platelets ∗ neutrophils)/lymphocytes]. RESULTS: Age, BMI, gravida, parity, smoking and menopausal status, CRP levels of patients were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Mass size (4.398 ± 0.306 vs 7.683 ± 0.689, p < 0.001), white blood cell (WBC) (8685.08 ± 3981.98 vs 9994.35 ± 4468.024, p = 0.008), Hb (12.18 ± 1.65 vs 11.68 ± 1.65, p = 0.010), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (151.26 ± 74.83 vs 230.77 ± 140.25, p < 0.001), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (4.21 ± 3.27 vs 6.07 ± 6.6, p = 0.003), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) (0.300 ± 0.177 vs 0.346 ± 0.203, p = 0.041) and SII (1014.18 ± 781.71 vs 2094.088 ± 2117.58, p < 0.001) were statistically higher in group 2. ROC Analysis was used to determine the predictability of the variables and PLR (AUC = 0.718, p < 0.001), NLR (AUC = 0.593, p = 0.593), MLR (AUC = 0.576, p = 0.024), SII (AUC = 0.723, p < 0.001) and size of mass (AUC = 0.670, p < 0.001) were found to be significant. The SII, size of mass and bilateral involvement of adnexa were found to be the strongest prognostic factors for surgical intervention (OR:1.004 (1.002-1.005), OR:1.018 (1.010-1.027), OR:3.397 (1.338-8.627); p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.010 resspectively). CONCLUSION: SII, size of mass and bilaterality can be used to predict medical treatment success in patients with TOA.

A New Antioxidant Marker in Cord Blood of Fetuses with Late Fetal Growth Restriction: Humanin.

Purpose: This study investigated the Humanin levels in the umbilical cord blood of fetuses with late fetal growth restriction (FGR) and -evaluated their association with perinatal outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 95 single pregnancies between 32-41 wk (45 with late FGR and 50 controls) were included. Doppler parameters, birth weight and the need for neonatal intensive care unit admission (NICU) were assessed. Correlations between Humanin levels and these parameters were analyzed. Results: Higher Humanin levels were found in fetuses with late FGR compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant correlation was observed between Humanin levels and Doppler parameters. Elevated Humanin levels were associated with an increased need for NICU (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The statistically higher levels of Humanin in fetuses with late FGR may suggest the potential of Humanin as an indicator of late FGR. Further research is needed to explore the clinical utility of Humanin.

Controlling Nutritional Status score and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between CONUT score and postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: Postmenopausal women who were seen at an outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital for routine gynecologic examination between January 2017 and June 2022 were included in the study. Based on their T-scores, a total of 423 women were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 216 women with osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5 SD), and group 2 included 207 women with normal bone mineral density (T-score > -1 SD). The formula for the CONUT score corresponds to collection of scores from albumin, total cholesterol, and total lymphocyte count. Higher scores indicate poorer nutritional control. RESULTS: Mean age and mean age at menopause were similar in both groups. The duration of menopause, however, was higher in the women with osteoporosis (11.55 ± 6.82 vs 9.202 ± 6.14 y, P < 0.001). The 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was low in both groups. Body mass index of women with normal bone mineral density was higher than that of women with osteoporosis (31.54 ± 4.19 vs 28.52 ± 4.43 kg/m 2 , P < 0.001). The CONUT scores of the two groups were calculated and found to be higher in women with osteoporosis (3.180 ± 1.804 vs 0.391 ± 0.687, P < 0.001). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the CONUT score for predicting osteoporosis, the area under the curve was calculated as 0.932, with a sensitivity of 86.6% and a specificity of 91.1% ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Diet plays an important role in the development of osteoporosis. In this study, it was shown that there is a relationship between CONUT score and osteoporosis.

Is hemoglobin A1c valuable for predicting concurrent endometrial cancer in diabetic women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia?

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) level for endometrial cancer in diabetic women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six hundred patients with EIN were retrospectively studied in a tertiary referral center in Turkey between January 2014 and December 2021. One hundred and thirteen diabetic patients with EIN who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and divided into three groups according to the final pathological results: Group 1 with benign findings (n = 29), Group 2 with EIN (n = 34) and Group 3 with endometrial cancer (n = 50). Demographic, clinical and biochemical characteristics were compared among the three groups. Receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of HgA1c for concurrent endometrial cancer in EIN. RESULTS: Mean preoperative HgA1c levels were different among three groups (5.41 ± 0.64, 6.01 ± 0.72, 6.65 ± 1.15, p < 0.001, respectively). The highest value of HgA1c level was found in cancer group and difference within pairs was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Age and duration of menopause were also different among groups (p < 0.005). After adjustment of HgA1c level for age and duration of menopause differences were maintained (p < 0.001), the cutoff value was detected as ≥6.05% for HgA1c and sensitivity, specificity was 60%, 70%, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HgA1c could be used in prediction of endometrial cancer. The optimal cutoff value determined in our study could be considered in predicting endometrial cancer in diabetic women with EIN.

Maternal plasma levels of vitamin D in postterm pregnancy.

This study was conducted to examine the levels of vitamin D in postterm pregnancy. The study consisted of two groups: Group 1: women with postterm pregnancy in whom labour has not started (n = 40). Group 2: pregnant women with spontaneous labour between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation (n = 40). Demographic characteristics of individuals, age, body mass index, gravida, parity, living child, number of abortions and birth characteristics were recorded. Prepartum and postpartum haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) values ​​and vitamin D levels of pregnant women were measured. We found no significant differences in vitamin D levels, smoking, mode of delivery, induction of labour, methods of cervical ripening and maternal and perinatal complications between the groups (p > .05). D vitamin in the model had a statistically significant effect on prepartum Hb (p < .05). Vitamin D levels seem not to be associated with postterm pregnancy. Vitamin D had a statistically significant effect on prepartum Hb.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The aetiology of post term pregnancy is not clearly known, factors such as foetal anencephaly, foetal sex, placental sulfatase deficiency, genetic factors, and high pre-pregnancy body mass index play a role.What do the results of this study add? Vitamin D levels seem not to be associated with postterm pregnancy. Vitamin D had a statistically significant effect on prepartum Hb.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between vitamin D levels and postterm pregnancy.

The effect of hysteroscopic metroplasty on fertility in T-shaped and Y-shaped dysmorphic uterus.

OBJECTIVE: T/Y-shaped dysmorphic uterus is frequently associated with subfertility, abortion, preterm delivery, and recurrent implantation failure. In this study, the impact of hysteroscopic metroplasty for a T/Y-shaped uterus on obstetric outcomes was investigated in patients with infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and compared the uterine anomaly subgroups. METHOD: Cases with infertility and/or RPL diagnosed with T/Y-shaped uterus by hysterosalpingography (HSG) and 3D transvaginal ultrasonography (3D TVUSG) with no other male or female pathology have recruited the study. Medical history and the obstetric outcome after two years of follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Out of the 92 cases recruited, T-shaped uteri (Group-1) were observed in 30, while 62 (67.3%) patients had Y-shaped uteri. Pregnancy was achieved in 50 (54.3%) of the cases, 28 (56%) of the pregnancies occurred spontaneously, and in 22 (44%) pregnancy was achieved through assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Term delivery occurred in 29 (76.3%) of the pregnancies while 9 (23.6%) had preterm deliveries and a total of 38 (76%) resulted in a live birth. Out of the 31 patients with previous RPL history, 13 (41.9%) achieved pregnancy and 11 out of 13 (84.6%) had a term pregnancy followed by live birth. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous pregnancy, and term pregnancy rates after surgery were found to be promising in these uterine anomalies. The pregnancy outcome of the primary infertile patients was found the same in two groups (50%-46.1%), but the results of the RPL patients were found to be better in the T-shaped group than in the Y-shaped group (70%-28.5%).

A prospective study of myeloperoxidase levels in water immersion.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare myeloperoxidase levels in cord blood samples of mothers undergoing water immersion or conventional labor. METHOD: We enrolled 52 pregnant women to this case control study meeting the following criteria: uneventful gestational follow-ups, no history of known chronic or pregnancy-associated diseases, cesarean section or uterine operation, BMI <29.9 kg/m2, single vertex presentation, normal fetal heart rate pattern, 37-41 weeks of gestation, estimated fetal weight of 2500-4000 g. The subjects were either undergoing immersion in water (n = 26) or conventional labor (n = 26) and their myeloperoxidase levels were measured from cord blood samples. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 24.55 ± 4.9 years. The mean BMI and weight gain during pregnancy were 26.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2 and 11.6 ± 5.3 kg, respectively. The mean age of gestation at birth was 39.6 ± 1.1 weeks, with a mean birth weight of 3205.5 ± 433.2 g. The subjects in water immersion and conventional labor groups showed no difference in terms of age, gestational age, BMI, and birth weight. The mean myeloperoxidase level was significantly lower in the water immersion group (759.8 ± 391.5 U/L) compared to that in the conventional labor group (1832.2 ± 1011.9 U/L, p = 0.004). DISCUSSION: Immersion in water during the first stage of labor seems to be associated with low myeloperoxidase levels, suggesting reduced oxidative stress in this delivery method.

The effect of anterior uterocervical angle and cervical length on the development of pelvic inflammatory disease.

This study aims to compare the uterine body longitudinal axis, uterine body transverse axis, uterine cervix longitudinal axis and anterior cervical axis angle measured ultrasonographically between women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and healthy controls. Women aged 18-45 years with PID and healthy controls were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, uterine body long axis, uterine body transverse axis, uterine cervix long axis and anterior cervical axis angle of PID patients and healthy controls were evaluated. Gravida, parity, history of smoking were significantly higher in the PID group (n = 75) than the control group (n = 74). The uterine body longitudinal axis (p = 0.001) and transverse axis (p = 0.005) were significantly lower, and the cervix longitudinal axis (p < 0.001) and the anterior uterocervical angle (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the PID group than the control group. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that uterine body (UTX) longitudinal axis (p = 0.005), uterine cervix longitudinal axis (p < 0.001) and UCA (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of PID. Uterine body longitudinal axis, uterine cervix longitudinal axis, and UCA can be associated to PID.

A prospective study: the effect of fetal hypoxia on myeloperoxidase levels in cord blood.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in cord blood samples of mothers with and without perinatal hypoxia, since fetal hypoxia results in decreased pH, base excess, and an increase in pCO2 and lactate levels. STUDY DESIGN: We enrolled 42 pregnant women to this cross-sectional analytic study if they had met following criteria: uneventful gestational follow-ups, no known chronic or pregnancy-associated diseases, a BMI of <29.9, a singleton pregnancy, those with pregnancy over 34 weeks. The exclusion criteria for the study and control groups were as follows: presence of multiple pregnancies, fetal abnormality, any disease diagnosed before or during antenatal follow-up (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, uncontrolled endocrine disease or abnormal kidney function, autoimmune disease, chronic inflammatory diseases, IUGR, preeclampsia), maternal age below 18 or above 35, intrauterine exitus, pregnancy with assisted reproductive technique, alcohol or smoking addiction, and any chronic drug use. The subjects were 1:1 randomized to either hypoxic newborns (n=21) and those in the control group (n=21) and their myeloperoxidase levels were measured from cord blood samples. Results were expressed as U/L. Patient data regarding age, gestation, parity, birth weight, birth length, APGAR scores, and neonatal complications were collected. All the women signed written informed consent forms and accepted verbal consent before being included in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 26,9 ±5,3 years. The mean BMI was28,3 ± 3,5 kg/m2. For the hypoxic group, 21 newborns with cord blood below 7.25 were included in the study group. The bloods with pH above 7.25 formed the control group. Mean pH and five (5) minute APGAR scores were found to be significantly lower in the study group, while Base Excess (BE) was found to be significantly higher. In this study, we compared the MPO levels of hypoxic newborns and those in the control group, and we did not find a significant difference between the two groups(p=0.147). Pearson Correlation Analysis is at -0.566 with p value (0.008) showing significant negative correlation between MPO and pH in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: We found that MPO values are negatively correlated with cord blood pH among newborns diagnosed with fetal hypoxia.

Reproductive Outcome of the Patients with Uterus Unicornis: Five Year Experience in a Tertiary Center.

Aim: The aim is to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of patients with uterus unicornis for 5-year experience in a tertiary center. Material and Method: Twenty patients with uterus unicornis who were diagnosed with hysterosalpingography and/or 3D TVUSG between 2017 and 2021 and then confirmed with laparoscopy and simultaneous hysteroscopy were recruited into this retrospective study. The reproductive outcome and obstetric complications of the patients were followed up for two years postoperative period. Results: Overall 20 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criterion were recruited for the study. The mean age was 28.65±5.03 years. Thirteen patients (65%) had primary infertility while the remaining seven had secondary infertility with two of them having a previous ectopic pregnancy. Rudimentary communicating uterine horn was observed in 7 (35%) of the patients. The horns were excised during laparoscopy. Overall, 14 (70%) pregnancies were achieved during the 2 years follow-up period. Twelve (85.7%) patients had a live birth (71.4% term delivery, 21.4% preterm delivery), and two (15.3%) had a first-trimester spontaneous abortion. Six (50%) of 12 patients who had a live birth received tocolytics for preterm labor. Conclusion: Unicorn uterus is a rare anomaly diagnosed mostly during infertility work-up and might be related to the poor obstetric outcome, but early diagnosis is important for successful pregnancy results for preterm delivery especially in the secondary infertile group. In addition, rudimentary horn excision is recommended due to the high risk of obstetric complications.