Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio as an Indicator of Diet Quality in Healthy Pregnant Women.

This study aimed to investigate diet quality in healthy pregnant women based on the Na-to-K ratio from 24 h urine sample and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), to compare dietary micro- and macronutrient intake with current nutritional recommendations (RDA), and to investigate whether gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with Na-to-K ratio and diet quality during pregnancy in general. Sixty-four healthy pregnant women between 37 and 40 weeks of gestation participated in the study. Participants' GWG, body composition, molar 24 h urine Na-to-K ratio, and FFQ data on average daily total energy, food groups, and micro-/macronutrient intake were obtained. A Na-to-K ratio of 2.68 (1.11-5.24) does not meet nutrition quality and is higher than the WHO recommendations due to excessive sodium and insufficient potassium intake. FFQ Na-to-K ratio was associated with a higher daily intake of soups, sauces, cereals, fats, and oils and a low intake of fruit and non-alcoholic beverages. A total of 49% of pregnant women exhibited excessive GWG, which was attributed to the increase in adipose tissue mass. GWG was not associated with total energy but may be the result of insufficient physical activity during pregnancy. Daily intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, niacin, riboflavin, calcium, iron, and zinc was suboptimal compared to RDA.

ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS OF MACROSOMIA AMONG WOMEN WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.

Pregnancies burdened with gestational diabetes (GDM) are more likely to end in birth of a macrosomic child, where the frequency of operative termination of pregnancy is more common, accompanied with more complications and injuries of both mother and child in comparison to the general population. The need to calculate fetal weight right before delivery has led to the development of numerous methods for greater estimation accuracy. We reviewed the related literature from 1980 to 2020, using the terms macrosomia, ultrasound assessment, gestational diabetes, and relevant articles were considered in preparation of this article. The most frequently used methods are based on two-dimensional ultrasound measurements of individual fetal biometric parameters and their combination in a mathematical regression model. Some methods involve the addition of other mother and child conditions to increase reliability of the method in recognizing macrosomia. In daily work, especially with pregnant women suffering from GDM, it is necessary to have reliable data on the estimated fetal weight before making the correct clinical decision on how to terminate the pregnancy. In this regard, we bring a review of the literature related to the assessment of fetal macrosomia, especially in women with GDM.

Progesterone receptor genetic variants in pregnant women and fetuses as possible predictors of spontaneous premature birth: A preliminary case-control study.

AIM: To evaluate the roles of four selected genetic variations in fetal and maternal progesterone receptor gene (PGR) and to identify women who may have higher or lower odds for spontaneous premature birth compared to the general population. METHODS: A preliminary case-control study with two groups of pregnant women (with term and premature delivery, 218 in total) and two groups of newborns (term and preterm, 218 in total) was performed. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the progesterone receptor gene (rs1042838, rs1042839, rs10895068, and rs1942836) were genotyped. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference between cases and controls in the distribution of newborns' allele frequency of minor C allele of the PGR SNP rs1942836 (p = 0.03, Fishers' exact test) in favor of premature birth. A statistically significant difference between the frequency of the mothers' minor T allele of rs1042838 (p = 0.005; chi-squared test) and the mothers' minor T allele of rs1042839 (p = 0.005; chi-squared test) in favor of extremely premature birth has been found. There was a statistically significant difference between the frequency of the newborns' minor C allele of rs1942836 (p = 0.03; chi-squared test) and newborns' heterozygotes CT genotype of rs1942836 (p = 0.03; Fishers' exact test) when comparing the group of term births and the group of early premature birth. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that patients with selected genetic variants of the progesterone receptor gene could have greater odds for premature birth compared to term birth. Replication studies with a larger population and different ethnicity are needed in order to confirm these findings.

Diagnostic accuracy of modified Hadlock formula for fetal macrosomia in women with gestational diabetes and pregnancy weight gain above recommended.

OBJECTIVES: Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and weight gain during pregnancy above recommended more often give birth to macrosomic children. The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the modified formula for ultrasound assessment of fetal weight created in a pilot study using a similar specimen in comparison to the Hadlock-2 formula. METHODS: This is a prospective, cohort, applicative, observational, quantitative, and analytical study, which included 213 pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy, GDM, and pregnancy weight gain above recommended. Participants were consecutively followed in the time period between July 1st, 2016, and August 31st, 2020. Ultrasound estimations were made within three days before the delivery. Fetal weights estimated using both formulas were compared to the newborns' weights. RESULTS: A total of 133 fetal weight estimations were made. In comparison to the newborns' weight modified formula had significantly smaller deviation in weight estimation compared to the Hadlock-2 formula, higher frequency of deviation within 5% of newborns weights (78.2% [95% CI=0.74-0.83] vs. 60.2%), smaller frequency of deviations from 5 to 10% (19.5 vs. 33.8%) and above 10%, which was even more significant among macrosomic children. There were 36/50 (72%) correctly diagnosed cases of macrosomia by modified and 33/50 (66%) by Hadlock-2 formula. Area under the curve (AUC) for the modified formula was 0.854 (95% CI=0.776-0.932), and for the Hadlock-2 formula 0.824 (95% CI=0.740-0.908). The positive predictive value of the modified formula was 81.81%, the negative 97.91%. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of greater fetal weights, the modified formula showed greater precision.

Requirement for oxytocin augmentation in spontaneous parturition is associated with the maternal serum steroid hormones assessed by liquid chromatography coupled to the tandem mass spectrometry.

AIM: The aim of research was to evaluate the maternal serum concentration of selected endogenous steroid hormones during spontaneous parturition at term and to determinate their association with the need for oxytocin augmentation. METHODS: Blood of 108 healthy pregnant women whose parturition started with the regular spontaneous uterine contractions was drawn at the beginning of the labor. Liquid chromatography coupled to the tandem mass spectrometry device was utilized for measurement of sex hormone binding globulin, aldosterone, androstenedione, cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosteron sulphate, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, and testosterone. Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: Reference ranges of the selected hormones assessed by liquid chromatography coupled to the tandem mass spectrometry in maternal serum were established. Statistically significant differences in the serum concentration of corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and androstenedione between mothers requiring oxytocin augmentation and the rest of women having spontaneous parturition were found (p = 0.002, p = 0.008, and p = 0.04, respectively). Concentrations were lower in the group of mothers who required oxytocin infusion for progression of labor. ROC analysis showed that all the mothers with dehydroepiandrosterone serum concentration above 21.6 nmol/L have lower chance to use oxytocin infusion for the labor progression ( area under the curve (AUC)  = 0.649, sensitivity = 71.7%, specificity = 59.6%, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: This research provided reference ranges for the selected maternal serum steroid hormones at the beginning of parturition. Association of corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and androstenedione with the need for the oxytocin infusion usage has been established. Dehydroepiandrosterone could be potential predictor of oxytocin infusion augmentation for progression of the parturition.

Prognostic SIGNIFICANCE of Cytoreductive Therapy of Ovarian Cancer - eastern Croatia experience.

The aim of this retrospective study was to present the impact of successful optimal cytoreductive therapy on the overall prognosis of ovarian cancer treatment. Several factors were analyzed, including clinical (stage, age and parity), histopathologic/cytological (histologic type and grade of tumors, cytological findings of ascites or peritoneal washout), and therapeutic (surgery performed with the degree of cytoreduction, adjuvant chemotherapy and response to therapy). The study included 126 patients treated during a 5-year period at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Osijek University Hospital Centre in Osijek. Patient age ranged from 29 to 82, total 5-year survival was 55.5% and median survival was 76.2 months. Optimal cytoreduction (residual tumor <1 cm) was performed in 49.2% of patients. On data analysis, the life chart method, χ2-test and Cox regression analysis were used. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Parity, histologic tumor grade, presence of malignant cells in ascites and peritoneal washout, as well as clinical stage yielded statistical significance on univariate analysis. Cytoreductive ovarian cancer therapy turned out to be a significant prognostic factor and on multivariate analysis proven to be an independent prognostic factor. Optimal cytoreduction, besides direct effect on survival, improved the quality of therapeutic response of the tumor to chemotherapy.

FEMALE SEXUAL FUNCTION OF HEALTHY WOMEN IN EASTERN CROATIA.

The aim was to evaluate sexual function of healthy women in Croatia and the possible impact of depression, anxiety, and sociodemographic factors. A total of 204 healthy women filled in a basic sociodemographic questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Anxiety Disorder-7, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Almost half of study subjects (47.1%) reported at least some degree of sexual dysfunction defined as an FSFI score lower than 26.55. Study results suggest sexual dysfunction of women in Croatia as a still unrecognized problem. More room in research and in the public must be given to this issue.

Secondary abdominal appendicular pregnancy: case report.

INTRODUCTION: The case report describes a 29-year-old nulliparous woman that was admitted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Clinical Hospital Osijek complaining of mild abdominal pain without vaginal discharge. CASE OUTLINE: The patient's menstrual cycle was irregular, from 30-45 days. An ultrasound examination showed suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy with a betaHCG level of 1358 IU/L. Due to the presence of liquid in the pouch of Douglas the patient underwent emergency laparoscopy, which showed the presence of tumor mass between the right Fallopian tube and the appendix. These two structures associated with adhesions corresponded to secondary implantation after spontaneous tubal abortion which was confirmed by histopathologic analysis. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy has emerged as the"gold standard"in the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy, in this case the secondary abdominal pregnancy. From the diagnostic point of view, all women of reproductive age should be considered pregnant until proven otherwise, also keeping in mind that ectopic pregnancies can have different locations and many clinical features.

Primary serous papillary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube.

Fallopian tube cancer is least common of all gynecologic tumors, with the mean age at onset between 54 and 63 years. This case report presents a 67-year-old female, gravida 1, para 1, with primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube, detected and diagnosed preoperatively in clinical stage IIIc. The patient was asymptomatic, with only mild vaginal discharge of amber color and normal measured value of CA 125. The diagnosis was based on routine clinical and ultrasound examination, followed by surgery, surgical-pathological staging of the disease, and finally paclitaxel and platinum based chemotherapy. The patient has been in remission for nine years now.

Management of cervical ectopic pregnancy after unsuccesful methotrexate treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cervical pregnancy is rare and dangerous form of ectopic pregnancy which can be treated surgically or conservatively. Methotrexate is reasonable conservative option with high efficiency and acceptable level of side effects. Aim of this paper is to present possible treatment option in case of methotrexate failure, still keeping the postulates of minimal invasive surgery. CASE: We describe a case of cervical ectopic pregnancy in nulliparous female that was unsuccessfully treated with single dose, local, ultrasound guided intraamniotic methotrexate. Due to vaginal bleeding caused by remaining products of conception a hysteroscopic resection was performed. CONCLUSION: Despite the problems that can occur in methotrexate treatment, it is still by far, cheapest and most effective treatment of cervical pregnancies. If necessary, procedure can be combined with other minimal invasive surgical procedures leading to satisfactory results. Hysteroscopic resection has enabled us to remove the product of conception from cervix making the minimal damage to the local tissue, thus preserving fertility.

Role of laparoscopic surgery in treatment of infertility.

The role of laparoscopy in assisted reproduction is disputed by many. A rising problem of infertility is battled by an increasing number of centres for reproductive medicine in the region. Nevertheless, there is a large number of indications and conditions where laparoscopic surgery should not be avoided as a therapeutic choice or an aid in assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The number of centres where laparoscopic surgery is performed is significantly higher than the number of reproductive centres; a number of gynaecologists educated in laparoscopic gynaecology is growing, making it more available for patients.

Intermittent hepatic porphyria in pregnancy with good perinatal outcome.

Porphyrias are rare metabolic diseases caused by enzymatic defects of the haeme biosynthesis. Association of pregnancy and acute porphyria is rare, but mortality rate among pregnant women from acute attack has been reported up to 42%. This paper presents a patient with pregnancy complicated by intermittent hepatic porphyria with good perinatal outcome. The pattern of the attack in pregnancy varies individually and it makes porphyric pregnancies a challenge. Previously diagnosed porphyria patients should be closely monitored during pregnancy and diagnosis of acute porphyria must be also considered in all pregnant women with unexplained abdominal pain.

Surgical treatment of large smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential during pregnancy.

This paper presents a case of a 37-year old pregnant woman with a large tumor extending from pelvis to xyphoid, diagnosed at 14 weeks of pregnancy. At 18 weeks myomectomy was performed and the tumor weighing 4250 g was removed. Hystopathological findings showed a uterine smooth muscle tumour of uncertain malignant potential. Due to preeclampsia an urgent caesarean section was performed at 34 weeks of gestational age. A live and healthy female neonate was delivered. According to hystopathological findings and in agreement with the patient hysterectomy without adnexectomy was performed in the same act.

Prevalence and significance of vaginal group B streptococcus colonization in pregnant women from Osijek, Croatia.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of vaginal group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women from Osijek area, the possible effect of GBS colonization on pregnancy outcome and neonatal complications and the role of intrapartum prophylaxis in this context. This retrospective case-control study took place at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Osijek University Hospital Center from December 2003 to June 2006. A total of 118 pregnant women was enrolled in study and divided into two groups: 59 women in 35th-37th week of gestation, free from risk factors for infection (control group); and 59 women in 25th-41st week of gestation with risk factors for infection. Low vaginal swab for GBS isolation and identification on selective and enriched medium was obtained from each woman. GBS colonization was recorded in 29 (24.6%) women: 12 (20.3%) control and 17 (28.8%) women at risk of infection, yielding a statistically non-significant difference (Chi2 = 1.480489; p < 0.48). Early neonatal infection was observed in six (20.7%) neonates born to 29 mothers with GBS colonization, pointing to a correlation between vaginal GBS colonization and early neonatal infection (r(s) = 0.99). Early perinatal infection was found in 22 (18.6%) neonates, including 17 (28.8%) pregnancies with risk factors, pointing to a significant correlation between vaginal GBS colonization, risk factors and early perinatal infection (Chi2 = 88.68; p < 0.001); however, gestational age and pregnancy outcome were not influenced by GBS colonization. In eight (36.4%) newborns, early neonatal infection developed in spite of intrapartum administration of antibiotics; three of these children were born to GBS positive mothers, and perinatal GBS infection was demonstrated in one (0.84%) child. Study results revealed a relatively high rate of GBS colonization in the population of pregnant women in Croatia, occasionally leading to early neonatal infection. Large studies are needed to develop national strategy for the prevention of GBS infection in Croatia.

Methotrexate in local treatment of cervical heterotopic pregnancy with successful perinatal outcome: case report.

This case report describes a case of heterotopic cervical ectopic pregnancy in a nulliparous woman that was successfully treated with single-dose local, intra-amniotic methotrexate injection in the gestational sac. Pregnancy was achieved spontaneously. The patient had previously undergone hysteroscopic myomectomy. By using local, single-dose treatment we avoided the continued effects of the drug on the intrauterine pregnancy and the possible adverse effect of systemically applied methotrexate. The treatment resulted in the term vaginal delivery of a healthy child and preserved the patient's fertility for future pregnancies.

Placenta previa percreta with bladder invasion.

A 43- year old woman, with ten previous deliveries and history of two cesarean sections was admitted to our Department at 32 weeks of gestation with massive vaginal hemorrhage from an ultrasound diagnosed placenta previa. An emergency cesarean section with vertical abdominal incision was performed. A healthy 2300 g female infant was delivered. Attempts to manually remove the placenta caused massive hemorrhage. The lower uterine segment was widened due to placenta previa with suspicious placental invasion of the posterior wall of the bladder. Persistent hemorrhage demanded bilateral anterior internal iliac artery ligation and suture ligation of the bleeding vessels with supracervical hysterectomy done.

The effects of benzodiazepines in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of anxiolytic use in pregnancy, the rate of congenital malformations in neonates at in utero exposure to these agents, and the possible association of congenital malformations with the use of these drugs in pregnancy. METHOD: The study was conducted as cross-sectional study. The study was performed at university departments of gynecology and obstetrics in four Zagreb hospitals and included 893 pregnant women. Main outcome measures were pathological defects and congenital malformations. RESULTS: The main anatomic group N drugs (nervous system) was predominated by the use of the benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam (FDA group D), which increased with gestational age. Diazepam was used by 74 (8.3%), 127 (14.2%) and 212 (23.7%) women in the first, second and third trimester respectively. Diazepam ranked second among twenty most frequently prescribed drugs in pregnancy. It was taken by 303 (33.9%) pregnant women, while congenital cardiovascular malformations were recorded in three children and genitourinary malformations in three children too. CONCLUSIONS: The high utilization of diazepam in pregnancy that is not supported by professional guidelines is an issue of serious concern. In spite of some study limitations, its results pointed to inappropriate and even potentially harmful use of drugs in pregnant women from Zagreb, thus calling for upgrading the quality of therapy in this vulnerable period of life. In our opinion, other measures appear to be a more appropriate therapeutic modality than medicamentous therapy in many cases.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and intratumoral microvessel density as prognostic factors in endometrial cancer.

The aim of this research was to determine the VEGF A expression in tumor cells and the intratumoral microvessel density and their prognostic significance in the survival of the subjects. 87 subjects were monitored retrospectively for a period of 60 to 132 months. The subjects were treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Osijek University Hospital Center, Croatia. We analysed standard clinical, pathohistological and therapeutical prognostic factors, intratumoral microvessel density and expression of VEGF A. Five-year survival was calculated by the life chart method and presented graphically by Kaplan-Meier curves. Reaching conclusions on statistical hypotheses in this paper was done with a reliability level p < 0.05. Of the analyzed clinical prognostic factors, those which proved to be statistically significant and independent prognostic factors were age and clinical stage of the disease, and of pathohistologic ones it was the depth of myometrial invasion and VEGF expression. An elevated VEGF expression is associated with deep myometrial invasion, poorly differentiated tumors, histologic type and intratumoral microvessel density to a statistically significant degree. Elevated VEGF expression, age, FIGO stage and depth of myometrial invasion play a significant prognostic role in patients with endometrial cancer. VEGF receptors could be a target for adjuvant therapy in VEGF positive endometrial cancer.

A case of intra-amniotic maternal hemorrhage in term pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-amniotic maternal hemorrhage is a rare condition, hard to differentiate from some other conditions in pregnancy. We report an unusual case of intra-amniotic maternal hemorrhage in term pregnancy ending in urgent cesarean section, identified on ultrasound examination. CASE REPORT: A 24-year-old female (gravida 3, para 2, abortion 0) was admitted to hospital at 40 weeks' gestation for collapse and general weakness. Her blood pressure was 90/60 mm Hg, pulse 112 bpm, temperature 36 degrees C. The fetal heart race tracings were stable and reactive. The cervix was opened 3 cm. Further examination revealed no vaginal bleeding and normal amnioscopic findings. An ultrasound examination confirmed singleton, head-presenting gestation without any visible congenital anomalies, amniotic fluid index was at the 50th percentile, anterior placenta without evidence of previa, abruption or retroplacental hematoma. An inhomogeneous echogenic mass, measuring 12 x 8 cm, was noted within the amniotic cavity, there was no evidence of pathological flow through the mass on color Doppler. After admittance to the hospital, the patient complained of regular pains, weakness and collapsed with signs of hemorrhagic shock. Repeated ultrasound evaluation showed no change in acoustic texture and size, but the amniotic fluid now had a hyperechoic appearance which revealed increasing intra-amniotic hemorrhage. Because of clinical signs of maternal hemorrhagic shock confirmed by laboratory findings of decreasing red blood parameters, an urgent cesarean section was performed. A female infant weighing 3,070 g, Apgar score 5/7, was delivered. After removal of the placenta there was no sign of abruption, which was confirmed at histopathology. Hemoglobin A was detected in the amniotic fluid by Abt's test. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course. The infant developed normally. CONCLUSION: When there are signs of fetal distress or maternal hemorrhagic shock, an urgent cesarean section should be performed.

Assessment of reliability endometrial brush cytology in detection etiology of late postmenopausal bleedings.

We evaluated the possibility of discovering bleeding causes in late postmenopausal period with cytological examination of material received by endometrial brush in comparison with Pap test and fractionated curettage. Sixty-two women in late postmenopausal period with cervical canal bleeding, treated in gynecological department of clinical hospital in Osijek, were cytological and histological processed. Final diagnosis in 29 from 62 (46.8%) women with late postmenopausal bleeding was cancer. 25 (40.3%) women had endometrial adenocarcinoma and 4 (6.5%) of them had squamous endocervical carcinoma. Two women had endometrial precancerous (3.2%). With Pap test accurate diagnosis was set up in 13 from 25 (52.0%) women with endometrial adenocarcinoma and in all of them with squamous endocervical carcinoma. With endometrial brush accurate diagnosis was set up in 14 from 25 (56.0%) women with endometrial adenocarcinoma and in 3 from 4 (75.0%) women with squamous endocervical carcinoma. With fractional curettage the diagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma was accurately correct in 21 from 25 (84.0%) women and in all of them with squamous endocervical carcinoma. Cytological examination of material derived with endometrial brush, alike vaginal cytology, is not enough reliable method in our conditions for discovering bleeding causes in late postmenopausal period. Diagnostic exactness of procedure could be increased by histopathological examination of material from endometrial brush procedure and with ultrasound evaluation of endometrium thickness.