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Izzet Ozgurluk,1 Burak Tastekin,2 Sila Yazkan Hira,2 Bulent Gungorer,3 Yavuz Hekimoglu,2 Huseyin Levent Keskin,1 Siddik Keskin,4 Mahmut Asirdizer5 1Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; 2Clinic of Forensic Medicine, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; 3Clinic of Emergency Medicine, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; 4Department of Biostatistics, Medical School of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey; 5Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty of Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, TurkeyCorrespondence: Burak Tastekin, Clinic of Forensic Medicine, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Tel +90 506 275 7085, Email burak.tastekin@saglik.gov.trPurpose: A significant increase in physical intimate partner violence (IPV) cases has been reported from many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly during lockdown periods. The current study’s objectives are to define the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on physical IPV against pregnant women in Ankara.Patients and Methods: During the one-year pre-pandemic and two-year pandemic, records of patients who sent by the judicial authorities to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergency Room (ER) at Ankara City Hospital were reviewed, and pregnant women who had been subjected to IPV were identified.Results: Of pregnant women 19.1% in the pre-pandemic period, 29.4% in the first year and 51.5% in the second year of the pandemic period exposed to IPV. The mean age of IPV victims was 28.8 ± 6.5 years. Most ER applications were in the evening hours (48.5%), and majority of assailants were the victim’s husband (77.9%). Vast majority of victims were multigravida women (89.7), and most of the traumas were localized in abdomen and genitalia (50%). Three of the women (4.4%) had miscarriage.Conclusion: The increase in cases of IVP against pregnant women during the pandemic was striking, according to the current study. We think that this first study from Turkey on the IPV that pregnant women are exposed to during the pandemic can lead to extensive research focused on measures against IPV during pandemics, such as dissemination of telephone applications for IPV victims, increasing home visits by marriage therapists, and intensifying of education campaigns against violence.Keywords: COVID-19, pregnancy, intimate partner violence, women

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the significance of cerebro-placento-uterine ratio CPUR, a new Doppler index, and fetal cardiac parameters (Mod MPI, EFT) in early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) and to examine whether these parameters are related to perinatal outcome., Study Design: Forty participants diagnosed with EOPE (preeclampsia cases diagnosed before 34 weeks of gestation) and 40 healthy pregnant women were included in this study. Demographic data were recorded. Doppler parameters such as middle cerebral artery (MCA), umbilical artery (UA), and uterine artery (Ut-A), and left modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) were measured. Cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) was determined by dividing MCA pulsatility index (PI) by UA PI. CPUR was calculated as the ratio of CPR to mean UtA-PI (CPUR = CPR/UtA-PI). All parameters were compared between the EOPE and control groups. Correlation tests were used to examine the relationship between Doppler parameters and perinatal outcome. p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: The pulsatility index of the middle cerebellar artery, CPUR and CPR values were statistically lower in the EOPE group than in the control group (p = 0.002; p = <0.001; p = <0.001; respectively). No statistical differences were found between groups for isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), ejection time (ET), left mod-MPI, EFT (p = 0.117; p = 0.093; p = 0.398; p = 0.882; p = 0.202, respectively). Umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index (PI), mean uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (PI), were higher in the EOPE group than in the control group (p = 0.006; and p = <0.001, respectively). The CPUR value for predicting EOPE was ≤1.3652 with 74. 4% sensitivity and 94.9% specificity. Positive correlations were found between CPUR, CPR, and some neonatal parameters., Conclusion: CPUR, a new index combining fetal and uterine Doppler indices, may add contribution to predict adverse perinatal outcome and EOPE., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Problem: In the current study we aimed to investigate Syndecan 1 (SDC1) levels in pregnant women diagnosed with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and the relationship between SDC1 levels and clinical and doppler parameters in FGR cases associated with endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis and uteroplacental insufficiency METHOD OF STUDY: A total of 90 pregnant women included in the study, (45 with FGR, 45 healthy control) matched by week of gestation and maternal age. Venous blood samples were collected and plasma concentrations of SDC1 were determined by a specific immunoassay. Doppler examination was performed to evaluate the relationship between the SDC1 levels and placental blood supply., Results: Doppler parameters; mean UtA-PI (p < .001), CPR (p = .002) and CPUR (p < .001) were different between the groups, however MCA PI, umbilical artery PI and umbilical artery S/D were not (p > .05). While gestational age at delivery, birth weight, APGAR score at 1 and 5 min were significantly lower (all, p < .001) in the study group, non-reassure fetal heart rate tracing (p = .09) and NICU admission (p = .02) were significantly higher. SDC 1 level was 2,00 ± 1,47 ng/mL and 2,34 ± 1,12 ng/mL in the FGR and control groups, respectively (p = .008). In the study group SDC 1 level was 1,69 ± 2,00 in those with gestational age below 32 weeks and 2,13 ± 1,18 in those with gestational age above 32 weeks and there was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p = .015). Plasma SDC 1 concentration of 2,1850 ng/mL or less had a sensitivity of 70%, a specificity of 72%, area under the ROC curve .65 (p < .005)., Conclusions: Low maternal plasma SDC1 level may be associated with placental insufficiency and FGR. Low levels of SDC1 may be helpful as a predictor for the development of FGR during gestation., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Evidence has been limited on the effect of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on the involution process and maternal postpartum fatigue. This study aimed to determine such effects in a randomized controlled trial conducted in a hospital in Sivas, Turkey. Seventy-five women were randomized into one of two groups. The Mother-Infant Information Form, Involution Process Evaluation Form and Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue were used to collect data between October 1, 2015 and May 1, 2016. Repeated Measures ANOVAs were used for data analyzes. In the intervention group, routine care and mother-to-infant skin-to-skin contact were provided for 30 minutes in first postnatal hour. In the control group, routine care was provided. At the postnatal second, fourth and 24th hours, fundus heights were 13.4 ± 0.3, 12.9 ± 0.3 and 11.8 ± 0.3 cm, respectively, in the intervention group, and 14.4 ± 0.4, 13.8 ± 0.3 and 12.9 ± 0.3 cm in the control group ( p < .05). At the 24th hour, women in the intervention group had higher mean energy levels (29.8 ± 10.1) than the control group (25.1 ± 10.0) ( p < .05), and fatigue score, amount of lochia and number of pads were statistically similar between the groups ( p > .05). Mothers expressed satisfaction with skin-to-skin practice. Thus, mother-to-infant skin-to-skin contact can be used as a care practice in the postpartum period.