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Purpose of study: To assess and compare glaucoma knowledge between Jordanian patients with glaucoma and non-glaucoma ophthalmic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was developed after an extensive literature search to investigate glaucoma-related knowledge among participants with glaucoma visiting the Jordan University Hospital clinics from October 2021 to February 2022. Responses were compared to a sample of ophthalmic participants with eye conditions other than glaucoma visiting the ophthalmology clinics at the same time frame. Results: A total of 256 participants filled out the survey, of which 53.1% were diagnosed with glaucoma while 46.9% had ophthalmic conditions other than glaucoma. Our sample of participants is characterized by a mean age of 52.2 ± 17.8 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.04:1. Overall, participants with glaucoma were more aware of their disease than participants with other ophthalmic conditions. Compared to their ophthalmic non-glaucoma counterparts, those diagnosed with glaucoma face significantly more daily life difficulties due to their ophthalmic disease (p <0.001). Results of the independent sample t-test demonstrate that participants with glaucoma have significantly higher knowledge scores (p <0.001) and were able to recognize more glaucoma symptoms than their non-glaucoma counterparts (p = 0.002). Similarly, those with a positive family history of glaucoma displayed higher knowledge (p = 0.005). Multivariate linear regression demonstrates that family history of glaucoma, higher symptom recognition score, reliance on ophthalmologists, and the internet for glaucoma-related information are positive predictors of higher knowledge scores. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that both glaucoma and non-glaucoma ophthalmic patients display average levels of glaucoma knowledge. Raising awareness through various interventions may improve the lifestyles of patients with glaucoma and alleviate the economic burden associated with treating the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Antenatal suspicion of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) currently relies on ultrasonographic findings, color doppler, and MRI, which have rendered it operator and expertise‐dependent. No serum markers for PAS have been integrated into clinical practice yet. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to identify potential serum markers for PAS by investigating third‐trimester serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEFG), placental growth factor (PIGF), and soluble Fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) among PAS‐cases and controls. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, and CNKI databases were systematically searched for relevant articles. Random‐effects model was applied to calculate the overall standardized mean difference (SMD) for each marker. Subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were performed to assess for potential covariates. Results: Eight studies involving 366 PAS‐cases and 518 controls were included. Third trimester sFlt‐1 levels were significantly lower in PAS‐cases when compared to controls (SMD = −7.76, 95%CI = −10.42 to −5.10). This was, to a certain extent, consistent among studies though they differed in their extent of significance. Levels of VEGF (SMD = 1.59, 95%CI = −0.07 to 3.25) and PlGF (SMD = −0.49, 95%CI = −1.66 to 0.67) were not significantly different between PAS cases and controls, in which studies demonstrated conflicting results. Conclusions: Third trimester sFlt‐1 levels may be useful to predict PAS. Nonetheless, further studies are recommended to better understand conflicting results before adopting either VEGF or PlGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of endometrial polyp resection by office hysteroscopy during in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) treatment cycle on pregnancy rate. Setting and Design: A retrospective observational study (case series). Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients from a total of 346 patients that started IVF/ICSI treatment due to different causes of infertility over the period from January 2018 to December 2019 underwent an office hysteroscopy during ovarian stimulation (day 7–8) due to suspected endometrial polyp by transvaginal ultrasound and confirmed at day 7 of ovarian stimulation were retrospectively investigated. Results: Eighteen patients from the 25 patients that started IVF/ICSI treatment; endometrial polyp was confirmed by office hysteroscopy and resected, egg collection performed after 4–5 days after the hysteroscopy, embryo transfer done Double ET) at Day 3 and 5, the clinical Pregnancy rate was 56% (10 from the 18). No hysteroscopy-related adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Office hysteroscopy during ovarian stimulation in the IVF/ICSI treatment cycle may be useful in confirming the diagnosis and resection of endometrial polyp suspected by transvaginal ultrasound and is safe on the endometrium in terms of receptivity and improvement of the pregnancy rate. As the sample size of our study is relatively small, a well-designed large RCT is required to confirm our results before clinical advice is released. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]