Fetal Diaphragmatic Excursion Is Decreased in Hospitalized Pregnant Women Infected with COVID-19 during the Second and Third Trimesters.

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection effects on fetal diaphragm thickness and diaphragmatic excursion, which together show the quality of diaphragmatic contractions.

Study Design: One hundred and ninety-two pregnant women were included in this prospective case-control study. Patients were divided into four groups according to their COVID-19 infection history in their second or third trimester: hospitalized COVID-19-infected pregnant women group ( = 48), outpatient COVID-19-infected pregnant women group ( = 48), common cold (COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction negative) pregnant women group ( = 48), and noninfected healthy controls ( = 48).

Severe Intrahepatic Cholestasis Pregnancy Is Associated With Maternal Endothelial Dysfunction: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate maternal serum endocan levels, which are markers of vascular pathologies and strongly associated with vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, in pregnancies complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Methods: The study comprised 30 pregnant women with mild ICP, 30 pregnant women with severe ICP, and 30 healthy pregnant women as a control group. The inclusion criteria were women with ICP, which was diagnosed based upon the presence of pruritus associated with elevated total bile acid (TBA) levels (> 10 μm/L), elevated aminotransferases, or both, and the absence of diseases that may produce similar laboratory findings and symptoms.

The effect of steroid administration on fetal diaphragm function.

Background: Antenatal steroid administrations lead to not only accelerated lung maturation, improved blood gas measurements but also lung dynamics and lung compliance. This study aimed to investigate structural and functional changes in diaphragm after antenatal steroid administration.

Methods: The 79 volunteers were divided into 2 groups according to presence of preterm delivery.

Evaluation of maternal serum progesterone-induced blocking factor levels in pregnancies complicated with early- and late-onset preeclampsia.

The aim of present study was to evaluate maternal serum progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) levels in pregnancies complicated with early-onset (EO-PE) and late-onset (LO-PE) preeclampsia. Patients with preeclampsia were divided in two groups according to preeclampsia onset and compared to healthy control group: EO-PE and LO-PE defined as being diagnosed before 340/7 and ≥340/7 weeks, respectively. Maternal age, nulliparity, BMI at blood sampling, smoking, history of caesarean section and ethnicity were statistically similar among the groups.

First-trimester maternal serum betatrophin levels are decreased in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to compare maternal serum betatrophin levels during the first trimester from healthy pregnancies to those complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: In this prospective study, 320 pregnant women were evaluated in their first trimester, and 145 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were divided into the following two groups according to GDM screening results: GDM (n:20) and non-diabetic healthy control (n: 125). Samples of maternal serum fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin (HB)A1c, and betatrophin levels obtained from the women's blood samples between 11 -13 gestational weeks during first trimester nuchal translucency screening.

COVID-19 disease does not cause ovarian injury in women of reproductive age: an observational before-and-after COVID-19 study.

Research Question: Can the SARS-CoV-2 virus injure the ovaries?

Design: An observational before-and-after COVID-19 study at an academic medical centre. A total of 132 young women aged 18-40 were enrolled; they were tested for reproductive function in the early follicular phase, and their information was obtained from hospital data between January 2019 and June 2021. Serum FSH, LH, oestradiol, the ratio of FSH to LH and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations were measured for each patient both before and after COVID-19 disease.

Evaluation of fetal diaphragm excursion and thickness in term pregnancies complicated with pre-gestational and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Both pre-gestational (PGDM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) make pregnancy complicated. Moreover in the literature GDM and PGDM have been held responsible for respiratory morbidity in newborns. Diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) is a valuable and noninvasive method that provides an opportunity to examine the diaphragmatic morphology and function.

New ultrasonographic midtrimester scoring method for predicting spontaneous preterm birth in uncomplicated asymptomatic twin pregnancies.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new ultrasonographic scoring method that could predict spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in uncomplicated twin pregnancies during routine anomaly screening in the midtrimester.

Methods: This prospective study included women with a monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) or dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy gestational ages from 17 through 22. A new ultrasonographic score between 0 and 5 points was calculated using cervical length (CL), uterocervical angle (UCA), and cervical dilatation status during routine anomaly screening in the midtrimester.

Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of a combination of first-trimester ultrasound and maternal demographic characteristics for detecting abnormally invasive placenta.

Objective: The aim of present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of using a combination of a first-trimester ultrasound and the maternal demographic characteristics in detecting abnormally invasive placenta (AIP).

Study Design: This prospective case-control study comprised 540 women who meet the inclusion criteria and who were included in the final analysis. Patients scored points based on a range between 0 and 13 for the ultrasonographic and clinical findings within first trimester.

Assessment of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy and the effect of disease severity on transient tachypnea in the newborn in uncomplicated fetuses.

Objectives: Considering the effects of bile-acid levels on fetal lungs and pulmonary surfactants, we hypothesized that in the presence of intrahepatic pregnancy cholestasis (ICP), poor neonatal respiratory problems are observed in relation to the severity of the disease. Delivery timing with the presence of ICP is scheduled during late-preterm and early term gestational weeks. The aim of this study was to assess ICP and disease severity effects on transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) in uncomplicated fetuses.

Effect of preeclampsia and its severity on maternal serum NGAL and KIM-1 levels during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period.

Objective: The purpose of this trial was to appraise the effects of preeclampsia and its intensity on maternal serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period.

Study Design: Firstly pregnant participants (n = 156) were separated into three groups, as control, mild, and severe preeclampsia. Secondly women in post-pregnancy period (n = 368) were separated into three groups according to history of pregnancy, as healthy control, mild, and severe preeclampsia.

Evaluation of midtrimester ductus venosus diameter and peak systolic velocity to predict late onset small for gestational age fetuses.

Objective: The ductus venosus, a small blood vessel in the fetal venous system, has extraordinary physiologic significance because it connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava in the fetus circulation system and transports highly oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus' heart. Hence, assessment of ductus venosus flows is helpful in evaluating fetal hemodynamics. Considering the critical function of the ductus venosus, we hypothesized that the diameter of the midtrimester ductus venosus and its peak velocity index can be related to adequate fetal growth; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the midtrimester umbilical venous blood flow, ductus venosus diameter, and ductus venosus peak systolic velocity to help predict uncomplicated deliveries of small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses.

Umbilical cord N-terminal procollagen of type l collagen (P1NP) and beta C-terminal telopeptide (βCTX) levels in term pregnancies with vitamin D deficiency.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate umbilical cord N-terminal procollagen of type l collagen (P1NP) and beta C-terminal telopeptide (βCTX) levels in term pregnancies with vitamin D deficiency.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-two pregnant women between 19 and 35-years-old who delivered at term gestational age were included in the study and divided into deficient ( = 32), insufficient ( = 30), and normal (control) vitamin D levels ( = 30).

Results: Maternal demographic characteristics and biochemical parameters were similar among groups.

Effect of preeclampsia and preeclampsia severity on insulin, HOMA-IR, and betatrophin levels in non-diabetic pregnant women.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of preeclampsia and its severity on insulin, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and betatrophin levels in non-diabetic pregnant women.

Methods: Our study comprised 102 pregnant women who were divided into the following three groups: (1) control, (2) severe preeclampsia, and (3) mild preeclampsia. The women were screened with the single-stage 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria were used for diagnosis.

Adverse fetal outcomes in patients with IUGR are related with fetal diaphragm evaluation parameters.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between diaphragmatic thickness, during both inspiratory (DTI) and expiratory (DTE) stages; diaphragmatic excursion (DE); diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF); and adverse fetal outcomes in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Materials And Methods: A total of 77 participants were included in this case-control study. The case group was diagnosed as having both symmetric and asymmetric IUGR (n = 39).

The role of serum progesterone induced blocking factor on unexplained infertility.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) level in women with unexplained infertility differed from that in fertile women.

Study Design: Volunteers between 18 and 35 years old were included in this cross-sectional study and were divided into two groups-the unexplained-infertility group and the control group. Demographic data on all the women were collected using a detailed questionnaire.

Effect of coffee consumption on fetal renal artery blood flow and amniotic fluid volume in third trimester of pregnancy.

Objective: Coffee is frequently (one or two cups/day) consumed throughout pregnancy. Although there are a few studies evaluating caffeine effects on pregnancy; however, a diuretic effect of caffeine on fetal kidneys has not been reported. Therefore, after drinking coffee whether changing of amniotic fluid index (AFI) and fetal renal artery blood flow (FRABF, RI, Resistive index; PI, Pulsatility index) were evaluated in this study.

Evaluation of the levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in the cervical mucus of women with unexplained infertility.

Aim: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) has specific effects on the immune system. SLPI is overexpressed in inflammation triggered by immune responses, which could have significant effects on the local immune responses in cervical mucosa. This over expression may be greater in women with unexplained infertility, which would increase the immune reaction in the cervical region against sperm.

Fetal front-abdominal wall thickness in the second trimester as a predictor of abnormal fetal growth.

Objectives: Worldwide, approximately 9% of infants have a birth weight ≥4000 g, who are defined as fetal macrosomia, with wide variations between countries. Another form of abnormal fetal growth is fetal growth restriction. Infants with low birth weight (LBW) for their gestational age are primarily categorized as either small for gestational age (SGA) or fetal (intrauterine) growth restriction (FGR).

Fetal Pulmonary Artery Acceleration/Ejection Ratio for Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn in Uncomplicated Term Small for Gestational Age Fetuses.

Objective: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity in preterm deliveries and has been reported in term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses; therefore, determination of fetal lung maturity before delivery is extremely important. Our present study aimed to evaluate the ratio of fetal pulmonary artery acceleration time to ejection time (At/Et) in uncomplicated term SGA fetuses and whether this ratio changes with TTN.

Study Design: One hundred seventy-five pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies who delivered after 37 gestational weeks were included in this cross-sectional study.

The Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia Early in the Third Trimester on Small for Gestational Age and Birth Weight: A Retrospective Cohort Study on Iron Deficiency Anemia and Fetal Weight.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between iron deficiency anemia and small for gestational age (SGA) in early third trimester pregnancies.

Methods: A total of 4800 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed retrospectively. We included pregnant women who had iron deficiency anemia between 26 and 30 weeks of gestation and delivered singletons between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation.

Effect of the anterior uterocervical angle in unexplained infertility: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate an anatomical region, the anterior uterocervical angle (UCA), to determine whether it plays a role in unexplained infertility.

Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, unexplained infertile and healthy fertile (controls) women were compared. The longitudinal and transverse axes of the uterine cervix and uterine corpus were measured by transvaginal ultrasonography.