Pilot study establishing a nomogram of yolk sac growth during the first trimester of pregnancy.

AIM: The yolk sac (YS) has been reported as a reliable predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes, however, it has always been evaluated cross-sectionally with a single ultrasound per patient. We sought to validate the use of YS dimensions in serial ultrasounds throughout the first 10 weeks of singleton and multiple gestations. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study where YS diameters were serially obtained with 2D ultrasound in singleton and multiple gestations from 5 to 11 weeks. Nonparametric test were used for comparisons with P < 0.05 indicating significance. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-three patients were included, 42 twins (3 monochorionic and 39 dichorionic), 2 triplets (monochorionic twins plus a singleton) and 148 singleton pregnancies (238 total fetuses). There was no difference in YS dimensions in singleton versus multiple pregnancies. Starting at 5 weeks' gestation, the YS increased 0.4 mm (95% CI 0.3-0.5 mm) per week until 10 weeks' gestation. Forty-five fetuses were lost in the first trimester. The risk of pregnancy loss was higher with a large YS until 8 weeks (P ≤ 0.001), while after 8 weeks it was higher with a small YS (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: We established a nomogram of YS development during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The YS reliably detected pregnancies that ended in loss as early as 6 weeks' gestation. The YS was either smaller or larger than in ongoing pregnancies. While all pregnancies with large YS were lost within 10 weeks, those with smaller YS were lost beyond the first 10 weeks.

Association of Psychosocial Factors on COVID-19 Testing among YWCA Service Recipients.

The purpose of this study was to examine how psychosocial factors affect receipt of COVID-19 testing among Black and Hispanic women. In this cross-sectional study of Black and Hispanic women who received services from the YWCAs in Atlanta, El Paso, Nashville, and Tucson between 2019 and 2021 (n = 662), we used Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) item bank 1.0 short forms to examine the impact of psychosocial factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, social isolation, instrumental support, emotional support, and companionship) on COVID-19 testing. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for receipt of a COVID-19 test associated with psychosocial factors while adjusting for confounders. There was little effect of moderate/severe depressions or anxiety on receipt of COVID-19 testing. Black (odds ratio [OR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-1.29) and Hispanic (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.96) women with high levels of emotional support were less likely to receive the COVID-19 test. While high levels of instrumental support was associated with less likely receipt of the COVID-19 test among Black women (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.34-1.66), it was associated with more likely receipt among Hispanic women (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.74-1.92). Our findings suggest that certain psychosocial factors influence one's decision to get a COVID-19 test which can be useful in encouraging preventive healthcare such as screening and vaccination.

Simple vs complex urethral diverticulum: presentation and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether complex anatomic configurations of urethral diverticula (UD), namely circumferential UD (cUD), present differently or confer a worse prognosis as compared with simple UD (sUD). METHODS: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of patients who underwent transvaginal urethral diverticulectomy at a single institution over an 8-year period was performed. A total of 43 patients were identified, of which 11 were found to have cUD. These lesions were repaired with complete division of the urethra to access the dorsally located portion of the UD, followed by end-to-end anastomosis for urethral reconstruction with a Martius flap and/or autologous fascial pubovaginal sling performed as needed. Presenting symptoms and surgical outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.9 years in the cUD vs 52.7 years in the sUD. Patients with cUD were more likely to present with stress urinary incontinence than those with sUD (90.9% vs 56.3%; P = .04). There was no statistical difference in the rate of preoperative urgency, pelvic pain and/or dyspareunia, postvoid dribbling, and urinary tract infection. Postoperatively, patients with cUD were more likely to have a urinary tract infection (27% vs 3%; P = .2); otherwise, rates of postoperative results were similar. CONCLUSION: Urethral transection and end-to-end anastomosis for the repair of complex UD is a feasible approach and results in similar clinical outcomes compared with the repair of sUD.