Infected Women Research Articles

Isolation and Identification of some Bacterial Species From Cervix Infected Women in Salahuddin Governorate

This study was carried out for isolating some pathogenic types of positive and negative bacteria for Gram stain, which cause the infection of the vaginitis in infected women and its diagnosis by routine laboratory methods and confirm the diagnosis using Vitek2compact system by collecting fifty samples of the swab of the cervix in the period between October 2015 till April 2016 from the in patients and out patients women in Salahuddin Hospital for the age groups between (14-50) years.The results of isolation show the percentage of bacterial growth was 78%, it reached samples in 78%.The results of the diagnosis of routine diagnostic tests, which were confirmed by using VITEK comparte2 system that there was a diversity of bacterial species including bacterial species from the source of isolation of vaginal infection, where the Escherichia coli bacteria had the highest isolation rate of isolation in 22%, followed by other bacterial species with different isolations. It was observed that there was a variation in the isolation rates and bacterial infections species of the vagina where bacterial isolates were isolated Proteus mirabilis isolates in 20.5% and as Klebsiella pneumonia showed isolations in 10.3%. For Salmonicida Aeromonas and Staphylococcus hominis Bacteria, the isolates was in 7.7%, While Pseudomonas luteola, Pantoes spp, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Ochrobactrum anthropic, Sphingomonas paucimbilis bacteria, isolations were isolated in 5.1 %.All isolates were characterized by their high resistance to ten different types of antibiotics, which represent: Gentamicin, Oxacillin, Tetracyclin, Cefotaxme, Amplicillin Novabiocin, Chloramphenicol, Rifampin, Trimethoprim and Azithromycin. The bacterial isolates gave absolute resistance to 100% of the majority of antibiotics used in our current study, while most isolates were sensitive to antagonists Gentamicin

Sero-Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women’s Attending Antenatal Clinics in Public Hospitals of Hawassa City, Southern, Ethiopia, 2021. Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is now recognized as a growing worldwide health issue. A significant global public health issue is the estimated 350 million people who have been diagnosed with chronic HBV infection and the 686,000 deaths that occur each year. Since HBV infected pregnant women are at risk of transmitting virus to their babies, knowing prevalence of HBV and its risky factors in the area is very essential. Providing area-specific hepatitis B burden data to enable health policymakers to develop suitable and cost-effective HBV infection prevention strategies. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of HBV and related factors in pregnant women attending ANC at hospitals in Hawassa City, 2021. Method: From May 20 to July 30/2021, 320 pregnant women were the subjects of a hospital-based cross-sectional research at the Public Hospital in Hawassa City. SPSS version 25.0 was used to enter and analyze the data. HBV prevalence was determined using descriptive statistics; bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to find independent predictors of HBV status at p-value <0.05. Results: Overall Sero-prevalence of HBV infection was [6.9% (95% CI (6.6%, 7.2%)]. History of transfusion, history of vulvar ulcer, and contact with patients who had jaundice were all independently predictive of HBV in the study area (AOR = 19, 95%CI, (2.1-27.1), AOR = 14.8 (95%CI, 1.12-19.4), and AOR = 12.7.6[12-13.4], respectively). Conclusion: In the studied area, intermediate endemicity of HBV prevalence was found. To decrease HBV endemicity, it is crucial to raise awareness about HBV transmission specially contact history of jaundice individual, vulvar ulcer and conduct early screenings at blood donor sites before transfusion

Effects of ABO Blood Groups on Psychological and Physical Activity Outcomes with COVID-19: A Comparative Study on Women

Background and Aim: This study compared the effects of ABO blood groups on COVID-19 and its psychological and physical activity outcomes in infected and non-infected women. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using a web-based online survey on social media platforms (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram). The sample included 409 women (206 COVID-19(+); 203 COVID-19(-)). Results: While that 65% of the participants with the blood group A were infected with COVID-19, having the blood group A increased the risk of infection 3.929 times. Conversely, the participants with the blood group O had the lowest rate of infection at 33.6% as well as the lowest risk. Considering the Rh factor, 66% of the participants with the Rh factor (Rh(+)) were infected with COVID-19, and Rh(+) increased the risk of infection 2.506 times. Those infected with COVID-19 had more psychological symptoms than those who were not, where those infected with COVID-19 had a 1.241-fold increase in somatization and a 1.354-fold increase in obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Those infected with COVID-19 had lower moderate physical activity scores than those who were not. Among only the COVID-19-infected participants, psychological symptoms were more prevalent among those with the blood group A than others. There was no difference between the physical activity levels of the infected participants according to their blood groups. Conclusions: It was concluded that the blood group A and Rh(+) increased the risk of COVID-19 infection, and psychological symptoms were more prevalent among women infected with COVID-19 and having the blood group A.

Physiological Assessment of Sex Hormones in Infected Women with Cutaneous Leishmania

The results of the clinical and laboratory examination showed 60 samples of women with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Salah Al-Din Governorate for the period from January to March 2022, during this research, the effect of skin leishmaniasis infection on the level of sex hormones (LH, Estrogen, Testosterone, FSH) was known, where the results were an increase in the level of LH, Estrogen, Testosterone, while the level of FSH hormone decreased in females compared to the control group.

Malaria and HIV Co-Infection among Pregnant Women in Africa: Prevalence, Effect on Immunity and Clinical Management: Review

Malaria and HIV are geographically in the tropics and subtropics of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the overlapping effect of both infections, especially among pregnant women, is crucial in managing pregnant women during antenatal care visits, and postpartum babies. It was realized that the prevalence of malaria among HIV-positive pregnant women ranges between 31–61%, while for non-HIV infected pregnant women the prevalence still stands between 10 and 36%. Co-infection is between 0.52 and 56.3%. Even though the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has dropped, MTCT of malaria still remains a problem. MTCT is associated with low birth-weight, anemia, and even immune dysregulation. The adoption of the Option B+ plan has proven to be effective in the fight against the MTCT of HIV. However, malaria in pregnancy still remains a problem. Concurrent administration of both antimalarial drugs and Cotrimozaxole to pregnant women is not recommended, because of the toxic effect of the interaction of both drugs. Nevertheless, studies looking at the effect of the current ART regimens on mothers and their children need to be carried out. Studies looking at exposed children over a longer period of time, to determine their susceptibility to malaria infection and also to monitor their immune response to malaria over time, are needed.

Factors influencing treatment status of syphilis among pregnant women: a retrospective cohort study in Guangzhou, China

BackgroundMany syphilis infected pregnant women do not receive treatment, representing a major missed opportunity to reduce the risk of syphilis-related adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study explored correlates of treatment among pregnant women with syphilis in Guangzhou, China.MethodsPregnant women with a diagnosis of syphilis in Guangzhou between January 2014 and December 2016 were included. Information of syphilis treatment and correlates were extracted from a comprehensive national case-reporting system. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the correlations between information on the demographic characteristics, previous history, clinical characteristics about current syphilis, information of diagnosing hospital, and receiving no treatment or inadequate treatment among syphilis-seropositive pregnant women. A causal mediation analysis was used to explore the potential mediating role of the timing of syphilis diagnosis in the correlates.ResultsAmong 1248 syphilis-seropositive pregnant women, 379 (30.4%) women received no treatment or inadequate treatment. Migrant pregnant women (adjusted OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.25–2.73), multiparous participants (adjusted OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 2.51–5.50), unmarried participants (adjusted OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.97–5.28) and unemployed participants (adjusted OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.41–4.39) were more likely to receive no treatment or inadequate treatment. Participants who with history of syphilis infection (adjusted OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42–0.82) and with high school and higher education participants (adjusted OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49–0.97) were less likely to receive untreated or inadequately treatment. And that the impact of all these factors (except for the migrants) on treatment status are fully mediated through the syphilis diagnosis time, with the direct effect of migrants that would have resulted in a higher rate of no or inadequate treatment (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.08–5.32) was partially cancelled out by the syphilis diagnosis time.ConclusionsPregnant women who were migrant without local residence and women with syphilis diagnosed at a later gestational age were more likely to slip through the cracks of the existing antenatal care system. More programs should focus on eliminating these gaps of residence-related health inequalities. This research highlights actionable elements for health services interventions that could increase syphilis treatment rates among pregnant women.

MP34-09 UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL TOXICITY OF RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN WOMEN

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP34-09 UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL TOXICITY OF RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN WOMEN Colby Souders, Sam Kusin, Alana Christie, Jessie Chen, Ramy Goueli, A. Lenore Ackerman, Maude Carmel, and Gary Lemack Colby SoudersColby Souders More articles by this author , Sam KusinSam Kusin More articles by this author , Alana ChristieAlana Christie More articles by this author , Jessie ChenJessie Chen More articles by this author , Ramy GoueliRamy Goueli More articles by this author , A. Lenore AckermanA. Lenore Ackerman More articles by this author , Maude CarmelMaude Carmel More articles by this author , and Gary LemackGary Lemack More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003268.09AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Financial toxicity had been applied in oncologic fields due to the cost of treatments and the impact on quality of life and outcomes. Given the chronic and debilitating nature of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), we sought to gain an understanding of the financial strain associated with this condition. METHODS: Following IRB approval, women with rUTIs who presented to an academic center clinic were recruited. Patients with >2 symptomatic UTIs in the last 6 months or >3 UTIs in the last 12 months were eligible. Demographic, income, and clinical data were collected. Validated tools were administered: Health literacy screener (BRIEF) (higher score, better literacy); UTI Symptom Assessment questionnaire (UTISA) (higher score, worse UTI symptoms; Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) (lower score, more sexual dysfunction); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (higher score, worse anxiety/depression); and Comprehensive Scoring for Financial Toxicity Tool (COST) (lower score, more financial toxicity). RESULTS: From 4/2021 to 6/2022, 61 women met study criteria, which provides an 80% power to detect mild correlations. Most patients were white (97%) and non-Hispanic (90%). 84% were post-menopausal with a median age of 67.5 (IQR 56.8-73.3). 70% were married and 46% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median annual household income was $90,000. 44% of patients had UTIs for >10 years. 80% of patients were currently or had taken a daily prophylactic antibiotic in the past while 13% required IV antibiotics and 9% required an inpatient admission. Most patients had mild or no financial toxicity, but 18% had moderate toxicity and 5% had severe toxicity. According to the COST summary question, 46% reported that their illness caused some degree of financial hardship on their family (Table). CONCLUSIONS: Higher financial toxicity of rUTIS is associated with lower health literacy, worse anxiety/depression, younger age, and worse UTI symptom severity. Being retired and married/partnered seem to provide a protective effect, as does Medicare insurance coverage. A barrier to patient counseling is the provider’s understanding of the direct and indirect costs and the financial toxicity of conditions. Therefore, it is critical that this information be obtained for both benign and malignant conditions. Source of Funding: STU-2021-0218 © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e462 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Colby Souders More articles by this author Sam Kusin More articles by this author Alana Christie More articles by this author Jessie Chen More articles by this author Ramy Goueli More articles by this author A. Lenore Ackerman More articles by this author Maude Carmel More articles by this author Gary Lemack More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Equity in Global Health Research.

Equity in Global Health Research.

Discordant Humoral and T-Cell Response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine and the Risk of Breakthrough Infections in Women with Breast Cancer, Receiving Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 and 6 Inhibitors.

Few data are available about the immune response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with breast cancer receiving cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i). We conducted a prospective, single-center study of patients with breast cancer treated with CDK4/6i who received mRNA-1273 vaccination, as well as a comparative group of healthcare workers. The primary endpoint was to compare the rate and magnitude of humoral and T-cell response after full vaccination. A better neutralizing antibody and anti-S IgG level was observed after vaccination in the subgroup of women receiving CDK4/6i, but a trend toward a reduced CD4 and CD8 T-cell response in the CDK4/6i group was not statistically significant. There were no differences in the rate of COVID-19 after vaccination (19% vs. 12%), but breakthrough infections were observed in those with lower levels of anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibodies after the first dose. A lower rate of CD4 T-cell response was also found in those individuals with breakthrough infections, although a non-significant and similar level of CD8 T-cell response was also observed, regardless of breakthrough infections. The rate of adverse events was higher in patients treated with CDK4/6i, without serious adverse events. In conclusion, there was a robust humoral response, but a blunted T-cell response to mRNA vaccine in women receiving CDK4/6i, suggesting a reduced trend of the adaptative immune response.

Real-Life Comparison of Fosfomycin to Nitrofurantoin for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Lower Urinary Tract Infection in Women

In this study, we compared the failure rates of fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. We used Meuhedet Health Services' large database to collect data on all female patients, older than 18 years, who were prescribed either antibiotic during 2013-2018. Treatment failure was a composite endpoint of hospitalization, emergency-room visit, IV antibiotic treatment, or prescription of a different antibiotic, within seven days of the initial prescription. Reinfection was considered when one of these endpoints appeared 8-30 days following the initial prescription. We found 33,759 eligible patients. Treatment failure was more common in the fosfomycin group than the nitrofurantoin group (8.16% vs. 6.87%, p-value < 0.0001). However, reinfection rates were higher among patients who received nitrofurantoin (9.21% vs. 7.76%, p-value < 0.001). Among patients younger than 40 years, patients treated with nitrofurantoin had more reinfections (8.68% vs. 7.47%, p value = 0.024). Treatment failure rates were mildly higher in patients treated with fosfomycin, despite having less reinfections. We suggest that this effect is related to a shorter duration of treatment (one vs. five days) and encourage clinicians to be more patient before declaring fosfomycin failure and prescribing another antibiotic.

Immunosuppression as a Hub for SARS-CoV-2 Mutational Drift.

The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is largely determined by host factors, with a wide range of outcomes. Despite an extensive vaccination campaign and high rates of infection worldwide, the pandemic persists, adapting to overcome antiviral immunity acquired through prior exposure. The source of many such major adaptations is variants of concern (VOCs), novel SARS-CoV-2 variants produced by extraordinary evolutionary leaps whose origins remain mostly unknown. In this study, we tested the influence of factors on the evolutionary course of SARS-CoV-2. Electronic health records of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 were paired to viral whole-genome sequences to assess the effects of host clinical parameters and immunity on the intra-host evolution of SARS-CoV-2. We found slight, albeit significant, differences in SARS-CoV-2 intra-host diversity, which depended on host parameters such as vaccination status and smoking. Only one viral genome had significant alterations as a result of host parameters; it was found in an immunocompromised, chronically infected woman in her 70s. We highlight the unusual viral genome obtained from this woman, which had an accelerated mutational rate and an excess of rare mutations, including near-complete truncating of the accessory protein ORF3a. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary capacity of SARS-CoV-2 during acute infection is limited and mostly unaffected by host characteristics. Significant viral evolution is seemingly exclusive to a small subset of COVID-19 cases, which typically prolong infections in immunocompromised patients. In these rare cases, SARS-CoV-2 genomes accumulate many impactful and potentially adaptive mutations; however, the transmissibility of such viruses remains unclear.

To Compare the Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of COVID-19-Affected Expectant Mothers During the First and Second COVID-19 Waves: Data From a Tertiary Care Referral Hospital in Punjab.

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection, declared pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization, paved the way for newer researchin the field of medicine. The second wave, beginning in March 2021, appeared to be more devastating. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, effects of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, and obstetric and perinatal outcomes in thefirst and second waves. This study was conducted from January 2020 to August 2021 at the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. The patients were enrolled immediately after each infected woman was identifiedas per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic details of the patients,associated comorbid conditions, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and treatment details were noted. Neonatal outcomes wererecorded. The testing of pregnant women was done as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. There were3421 obstetric admissions and 2132 deliveries during this period. Group 1 had 123 COVID-19-positive admissions, while group 2 had 101 admissions. The incidence of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy was 6.54%. In both groups, the majority of patients were between the ages of 21 and 30. About 80(66%) of the admissions in group 1and 46(46%) in group 2 were in the gestational age of 29-36 weeks.Multiparity was more common in both groups, with 58% of cases in group 1 and 79% of cases in group 2. Obstetric comorbidities werecommon in both groups, seen in 46% of cases in group 1 and 78% of cases in group 2. The majority ofpatients were asymptomatic in group 1, with an 89% incidence, whereas only33% of patients in group 2 were without symptoms. In biological data,D-dimers, prothrombin time, and platelet count were altered in 11%, 14%, and 17% of cases, respectively, in group 2, with almost normal data in group 1. Most cases in group 2 (52%) were critical cases in the moderate and severe categories requiring intensive care unit (ICU) treatment, whereas there was only single ICU admission in group 1. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) in group 2 was found to be 19.8(20/101). Delivery by cesarean section was done in 38.2% of cases in group 1, while in 33% of cases in group 2, with a significant p-value of 0.001. About 29% of cases in group 1 and 34% of cases in group 2 underwent vaginal delivery. The rate of abortion was almost similar in both groups. Only two cases in group 1 and nine cases in group 2 had intrauterine fetal death. Observations of neonatal outcomes suggested that five cases in group 2 and two cases in group 1 had severebirth asphyxia. Only one case in group 1 and four cases in group 2 had positive COVID-19 status. Maternal mortality was significantly higher in group 2 with 20 cases, while only one case was in group 1. Anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension were the chief comorbidities in this group. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may be associated withmaternal mortality while having a minimal effect on neonatal morbidity and mortality. The possibility of maternal-fetal transmission cannot be ruled out completely. The severity and characteristics of COVID-19 may vary in each wave, and we need to modify treatment strategies. More studies ormeta-analyses reports are required to authenticate this transmission.

Risks and Preventions for Pregnant Women and Their Preterm Infants in a World with COVID-19: A Narrative Review.

(1) Background and Aim: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is linked to increasing cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) around the world. COVID-19 infections have an important impact on pregnancy, preterm birth (PTB) and delivery. Although several complications have been reported in infected pregnant women, the effect of infection on PTB is controversial. The purpose of this study was to summarize the existing literature on the effects and complications of COVID-19 on the health of pregnant women and preterm babies and its impact on the incidence of PTB. We also discuss the effect of current COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. (2) Methods: We carried out a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed for studies on preterm births associated with COVID-19. (3) Results and Conclusions: We discovered contradictory results regarding the prevalence of PTB during the pandemic compared to earlier years. While most studies indicated an increase in PTBs with COVID-19, some indicated a decline in the preterm delivery rate during this time. During pregnancy, COVID-19 infection can increase the incidence of cesarean section, stillbirth, ICU admission, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and mortality rates. In the treatment of pregnant women with severe COVID-19, methylprednisolone was favored over prednisolone, and a brief course of dexamethasone is advised for pregnant women with anticipated PTB to accelerate the development of the fetal lung. Generally, vaccination for COVID-19 in pregnant and lactating women stimulates anti-SARS-CoV2 immune responses, and it does not result in any noteworthy negative reactions or outcomes for the mother or baby.

Maternal Preconception Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Risk of Congenital Heart Diseases in Offspring Among Chinese Women Aged 20 to 49 Years

Maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during early pregnancy has been related to congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in offspring. However, no study to date has evaluated the association of maternal preconception HBV infection with CHDs in offspring. To explore the association of maternal preconception HBV infection with CHDs in offspring. This retrospective cohort study used nearest-neighbor (1:4) propensity score matching of 2013 to 2019 data from the National Free Preconception Checkup Project (NFPCP), a national free health service for childbearing-aged women who plan to conceive throughout mainland China. Women aged 20 to 49 years who got pregnant within 1 year after preconception examination were included, and those with multiple births were excluded. Data were analyzed from September to December 2022. Maternal preconception HBV infection statuses, including uninfected, previous, and new infection. The main outcome was CHDs, which were prospectively collected from the birth defect registration card of the NFPCP. Logistic regression with robust error variances was used to estimate the association between maternal preconception HBV infection status and CHD risk in offspring, after adjusting for confounding variables. After matching with a 1:4 ratio, there were 3 690 427 participants included in the final analysis, where 738 945 women were infected with HBV, including 393 332 women with previous infection and 345 613 women with new infection. Approximately 0.03% (800 of 2 951 482) of women uninfected with HBV preconception and women newly infected with HBV carried an infant with CHDs, whereas 0.04% (141 of 393 332) of women with HBV infection prior to pregnancy carried an infant with CHDs. After multivariable adjustment, women with HBV infection prior to pregnancy had a higher risk of CHDs in offspring compared with women who were uninfected (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02-1.49). Moreover, compared with couples who were uninfected with HBV prior to pregnancy (680 of 2 610 968 [0.026%]), previously infected women with uninfected men (93 of 252 919 [0.037%]) or previously infected men with uninfected women (43 of 95 735 [0.045%]) had a higher incidence of CHDs in offspring and were significantly associated with a higher risk of CHDs in offspring (previously infected women with uninfected men: aRR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09-1.69; previously infected men with uninfected women: aRR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.09-2.09) with multivariable adjustment, while no significant association was observed between maternal new HBV infection and CHDs in offspring. In this matched retrospective cohort study, maternal preconception previous HBV infection was significantly associated with CHDs in offspring. Moreover, among women with HBV-uninfected husbands, significantly increased risk of CHDs was also observed in previously infected women prior to pregnancy. Consequently, HBV screening and getting HBV vaccination-induced immunity for couples prior to pregnancy are indispensable, and those with previous HBV infection prior to pregnancy should also be taken seriously to decrease the CHDs risk in offspring.

Helicobacter pylori infection increase the risk of subclinical hyperthyroidism in middle-aged and elderly women independent of dietary factors: Results from the Tianjin chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and health cohort study in China.

Prospective studies on the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and subclinical hyperthyroidism are limited. We, therefore, designed a large-scale cohort study to explore the association between H. pylori infection and the risk of subclinical hyperthyroidism in women. This prospective cohort study investigated 2,713 participants. H. pylori infection was diagnosed with the carbon 13 breath test. Subclinical hyperthyroidism was defined as serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are low or undetectable but free thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine concentrations are normal. Propensity score matching (PSM) analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between H. pylori infection and subclinical hyperthyroidism. A total of 1,025 PS-matched pairs of H. pylori infection women were generated after PSM. During 6 years of follow-up, the incidence rate of subclinical hyperthyroidism was 7.35/1,000 person-years. After adjusting potential confounding factors (including iodine intake in food and three main dietary patterns score), the multivariable hazard ratio (HR; 95% confidence intervals) of subclinical hyperthyroidism by H. pylori infection was 2.49 (1.36, 4.56). Stratified analyses suggested a potential effect modification by age, the multivariable HR (95% confidence intervals) was 2.85 (1.45, 5.61) in participants aged ≥ 40 years and 0.70 (0.08, 6.00) in participants aged < 40 years (P for interaction = 0.048). Our prospective study first indicates that H. pylori infection is significantly associated with the risk of subclinical hyperthyroidism independent of dietary factors among Chinese women, especially in middle-aged and older individuals.Clinical Trial Registration:https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000031137, identifier UMIN000027174.

Evaluation of maternal serum and umbilical cord brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in COVID-19-infected pregnancies.

COVID-19 is a disease that affects and damages the neurological system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fetal neurodevelopmental status through maternal serum and umbilical cord BDNF levels. In this prospective study, 88 pregnant women were evaluated. Demographic and peripartum characteristics of the patients were recorded. Samples were collected from pregnant women for maternal serum and the umbilical cord BDNF levels during delivery. In this study, 40 pregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19 formed the infected group and 48 pregnant women without COVID-19 formed the healthy control group. Demographic and postpartum characteristics were similar in both groups. Maternal serum BDNF values were significantly lower in the COVID-19 infected group (1597.0 ± 337.3 pg/ml) than in the healthy group (1783.2 ± 394.1 pg/ml) (p=0.019). Fetal BDNF levels were 1794.9 ± 440.3 pg/ml in the healthy group and 1691.0 ± 368.6 pg/ml in COVID-19 infected pregnant women group and statistically similar between groups (p=0.232). Results showed that while maternal serum BDNF levels decreased in the presence of COVID-19, there was no difference in umbilical cord BDNF levels. This may be an indication that the fetus is not affected and is protected.

COVID-19 infection during pregnancy: A retrospective study in a city in the Southeastern region of Turkey.

To evaluate the maternal and fetal clinical outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women during the whole period of the pandemic in a single province in the southeast of Turkey. This retrospective study included patients who were screened from the medical registration system and found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus during pregnancy. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of all the patients were obtained and compared between groups classified as severe-critical and mild-moderate disease severity. The mean age of all the cases was 29.0±5.3 years in the mild-moderate cases, and 30.1±5.5 years in the severe-critical cases. The rates of 3rd trimester, cesarean and premature birth, high body mass index (BMI), symptoms of cough and dyspnea, the presence of comorbidities, and hypothyroidism were significantly higher in the severe-critical cases than in the mild-moderate group. In the univariate analyses, BMI, dyspnea, cough, maternal complication rate, the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, the values of white blood cells, procalcitonin, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, D-dimer, ferritin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were detected as significant risk factors. In the multivariate analysis, only procalcitonin was a significant factor. In the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, obesity and hypothyroidism were found to be risk factors for severe-critical cases of COVID-19 infection, and the clinical course was more severe with a higher rate of mortality in the recent period of the pandemic.

Epidemiology, symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and future prospects of the Lassa fever outbreak: a potential study.

Epidemiology, symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and future prospects of the Lassa fever outbreak: a potential study.

The neglected spectrum of COVID-19 pandemic - postpartum depression among COVID-19 infected South-Indian women – a cohort study

The study aims to explore the burden of postpartum depression among COVID-19-infected mothers and stressor factors. A single-centre observational cohort study was conducted in South India to evaluate postpartum depression among 106 COVID-19-infected women who delivered from December 2020 to May 2021. Also, stressor factors related to COVID-19 infection were figured out to analyse their role in depression. Almost half of the COVID-19-infected mothers had a global EPDS score ≥10 and were at risk of depression during the pandemic. The depressive symptoms were not confined to the immediate postpartum period, but significantly impacted mothers until 6 months following childbirth. SYNOPSIS: COVID-19 infection not only affects the physical well-being but also adversely affects the mental health of the infected persons. Postpartum mothers who require the utmost care and support, are facing social deprivation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This triggers the already fragile mental state of postpartum women and may worsen the level of depression.

Clinical outcome in newborns of perinatally COVID-19 infected women

Objective Maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy has been associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, such as prematurity and neonatal morbidity. Those adverse events are mainly attributed to maternal factors, rather than to the neonatal infection itself. Our aim is to add our experience and present the neonatal outcome of neonates born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This is a prospective case-control study with data from two Academic Tertiary Referral Hospitals in Greece. Electronic records of all births from SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers between March 2020 and April 2021 were analyzed. Demographic data, the severity of maternal COVID-19 disease, gestational age (GA), mode of delivery, birth weight (BW), need for resuscitation and/or supplemental oxygen and duration of hospitalization were recorded. A comparison with 2:1 matched neonates according to sex, GA, and BW born to SARS-CoV-2 negative mothers during the same period was performed. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U test were used for categorical and non-categorical variables respectively. Results A total of eighty-one neonates were born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers during this period. Forty-three percent of pregnant mothers were asymptomatic. Median GA and median BW were 38 weeks (Interquantile range (IQR): 36–39 weeks) and 2940 gr (IQR: 2560–3340 gr) respectively. Prematurity was observed in 24.7% of the cases. Only 2 (2.4%) neonates were PCR positive after delivery. SARS-CoV-2 positive women were more likely to undergo Cesarean section. APGAR score at 5 min and the need for resuscitation did not differ between the two groups. In comparison with the control group, neonates born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers presented with gastrointestinal symptoms (53.6% vs 5.1%, p-value= <.001) and hospitalization was longer, mostly due to maternal factors. Conclusion In our study neonatal positivity was limited and no vertical transmission was noted. Neonatal outcomes were comparable to the control group. However, the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms in neonates born to PCR-positive women compared to controls needs further investigation.