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Background: The impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy remains a critical area of research, with growing evidence suggesting that maternal infection, particularly in the third trimester, may lead to significant complications Aims: The primary aim was to investigate the maternal and neonatal outcome of pregnant Jordanian women with COVID-19. The secondary aim included exploring demographics, obstetrics characteristics, and comorbidities among these women. Methods: A retrospective comprehensive review of the records of 300 cases of pregnant women with COVID-19, who were treated between November 2020 and April 2021 at Queen Alia Military Hospital (a main referral center for patients with COVID-19) in Jordan. All cases were confirmed by the rapid antigen test (RAT) + long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test used to detect SARS-CoV-2 by amplifying viral RNA from patient samples. Women infected with COVID-19 were categorized into four groups according to the RCOG guidelines for COVID-19 infection in pregnancy: asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe cases. All cases were managed following the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists protocol for COVID-19 in pregnancy. Data extracted from patient's records included demographic information, COVID-19 clinical manifestations, obstetric history, diagnostic findings, treatment plans, comorbidities, gestational age at diagnosis, treatment protocols, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: The mean age was 29.7 years; 98.3% were nonsmokers; 8% had previous miscarriages, and 67.3% had the infection in the third trimester. Iron deficiency anemia affected 30.3%, while 18.3% had comorbidities, mainly hypothyroidism. Most women were asymptomatic 61.7%, but 33% had respiratory symptoms, 4.7% needed intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 2.7% resulted in maternal deaths. First-trimester and second-trimester miscarriages were recorded in 2.67% and 3.67% of cases, respectively, while preterm labor occurred in 3.0% of pregnancies. Additionally, age and hospitalization duration had a positive correlation with the neonatal outcomes (r = 0.349, p < 0.01), (r = 0.376, p < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, COVID-19 presentation and treatment options demonstrated a strong positive correlation (p-value <0.01). On the other hand, maternal death had a strong negative correlation with poor neonatal outcomes (r = −0.776, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study showed that COVID-19 in pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester, is associated with significant neonatal complications, with age, hospitalization duration, and COVID-19 severity strongly impacting outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive responses to environmental heterogeneity may vary among populations. Genetic variability in reaction norms might account for population differences in the ability to respond to environmental change and may reflect local adaptation. Reaction norms for early life history traits were compared among three population crosses of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Two comprised second-generation backcrosses introgressed with either farmed or wild genes; the third comprised individuals from a second-generation, pure wild cross. Using a common-garden experimental protocol, each cross was exposed to three temperature regimes. Plasticity in embryonic development, growth, survival, and body size was measured from fertilization up to 24 weeks of exogenous feeding. Reaction norms differed markedly among crosses, irrespective of whether individuals interbred with those whose genes originated from another wild population or from a cultured population. We find that introgression involving individuals with comparatively few genetic differences can change reaction norms. If plasticity represents an adaptive response to local environments, then changes to reaction norms resulting from interbreeding between populations are unlikely to have a beneficial effect on fitness. Les reactions adaptatives a l'heterogeneite de l'environnement peuvent varier d'une population a une autre. La variabilite genetique des normes de reaction peut expliquer les differences entre les populations dans leur capacite a reagir aux changements environnementaux et peut representer une adaptation locale. Nous avons compare les normes de reaction des traits du debut du cycle biologique chez trois populations croisees de saumons atlantiques (Salmo salar). Deux des populations comprenaient des individus retrocroises de seconde generation avec introgression de genes de pisciculture ou de genes sauvages; la troisieme comprenait des individus de seconde generation issus d'un croisement sauvage pur. Dans un protocole experimental de jardin commun, chaque croisement a ete expose a trois regimes thermiques. Nous avons mesure la plasticite du developpement embryonnaire, de la croissance, de la survie et de la taille corporelle depuis la fecondation jusqu'apres 24 semaines d'alimentation exogene. Les normes de reaction varient de facon marquee d'un croisement a l'autre, independamment du fait que les individus aient ete croises avec d'autres dont les genes provenaient d'une autre population sauvage ou d'une population d'elevage. Nous observons que l'introgression, qui implique des individus avec comparativement peu de differences genetiques, peut modifier les normes de reaction. Si la plasticite represente une reaction adaptative aux environnements locaux, alors les changements de normes de reaction dus aux croisements entre les populations sont peu susceptibles d'avoir un effet benefique sur la fitness. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Phenotypic plasticity reflects the ability of individuals to respond to environmental change (Bradshaw 1965), a characteristic of presumed fundamental importance to the persistence of natural populations (Schlichting and Pigliucci [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.09.017 Byline: Tamara L. Darwish, Reehan S. Mirza, Antoine O.H.C. Leduc, Grant E. Brown Abstract: Prey can learn to recognize novel predators through the association of aversive stimuli (visual or chemical) paired with a predator cue (i.e. acquired predator recognition). Previous studies have demonstrated that a variety of prey can readily learn the identity of a single predator. In this study, we examined whether predator-naA[macron]ve glowlight tetras, Hemigrammus erythrozonus, could simultaneously acquire recognition of three novel heterospecific odours as predation threats, and whether this simultaneous learning confers a survival benefit. Tetras were conditioned to the odours of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, convict cichlids, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, and comet goldfish, Carassius auratus, simultaneously, then subsequently tested 48h later for learned recognition of each odour individually. Tetras were also tested for the recognition of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, a novel predator, to assess whether learned recognition is generalized. Tetras significantly increased antipredator behaviour when exposed to each of the conditioned predator odours and the nonpredator goldfish odour, but not to perch odour (i.e. not different from the distilled water control). These results demonstrate acquired recognition and not a generalization to novel predator odours. Subsequent staged encounters with live pumpkinseed sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus, predators showed that tetras conditioned to either sunfish odour alone or multiple odours increased survival over unconditioned tetras. These results are the first indication that prey possess the ability to learn the cues of multiple predators simultaneously, and that this multiple learning provides a survival benefit. Author Affiliation: Department of Biology, Concordia University, Canada Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: A9879

Background Cultural beliefs and ways of thinking need to be considered when interviewing Arab participants with chronic diseases. Aim To provide insights into the challenges of interviewing Arab participants. Discussion This paper taps into the first author's experiences of interviewing ten Arab participants with type 2 diabetes and coexisting depression. Issues relating to gatekeeping, gender, participants' privacy and superstitious thinking need to be taken into consideration, particularly when discussing sensitive topics that may challenge social norms. These issues can influence the building of rapport, which may affect the depth of information collected. Conclusion This paper offers insight and recommendations for other researchers conducting qualitative research with Arab participants. Implications for practice Paramount in conducting qualitative studies with Arab participants are: an early, open discussion about personal space with participants and their families; matching the genders of participants and interviewers; and involving participants in the selection of pseudonyms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is a foremost operation and is perpetually implemented in the presence of life intimidating hemorrhage during or immediately after abdominal or vaginal deliveries. The aim of this study was to review cases managed at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Jordan University Hospital (JUH)., Material and Methods: All women who underwent EPH due to any cause in the period from January 2010, to December 2017 were included in the study. Data were collected retrospectively using the patients' files namelessly. Main measures: age, gravidity, parity, number of previous cesarean sections, previous uterine surgeries, indication for hysterectomy, complications, antepartum bleeding and the need for blood transfusion., Results: In total, 74 cases of EPH were managed during the study period. The incidence of EPH ranged from 0.24 to 8.7 per 1000 deliveries. EPH was found to be more common following cesarean sections than vaginal deliveries. The prime indication was abnormal placentation, uterine atony, and uterine rupture. The risk factors included previous cesarean sections, scarred uteruses, multiparity, older age group. Maternal morbidity ranged from 26.5 to 31.5% and mortality from 0 to 12.5% with a mean of 4.8%., Conclusions: EPH is the most demanding obstetric surgery performed in very tiresome circumstances of life threatening hemorrhage. The indication for EPH in recent years has changed from outdated uterine atony to abnormal placentation. Antenatal eagerness of the risk factors, engrossment of proficient obstetricians at an early stage of management and a prompt hysterectomy after adequate resuscitation would go a long way in tumbling morbidity and mortality., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest, (Copyright © 2020 Termedia.)

Introduction: Cesarean section (CS) delivery is the most common major obstetrical surgical operation carried out in and is increasing in incidence throughout the world. The major involves some risks that might include: infection, coagulation problem, loss of blood, bowel or bladder injury, abnormalities of the placenta in subsequent pregnancies., Aim of the Study: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of postoperative CS intra-abdominal drain insertion., Material and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 245 patients in labor, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jordan University Hospital, between January 2017 and January 2018. Participants were divided into two groups: group I including those who had abdominal drains insertion during surgery and group II including women who had no abdominal drain inserted before closure. All patients on both groups were term pregnancies, underwent elective vs. emergency CS, and had no subcutaneous drains inserted., Results: Clinical and surgical parameters were comparable in both groups. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in group II, whereas specific postoperative complication rate was significantly higher in group I. Drain site infection was noted in 2 (1.6%), organ herniation in 2 (1.6%), drain avulsion in 2 (1.6%), severe pain at the site of insertion in 2 (1.6%) patients., Conclusions: Routine prophylactic intra-abdominal drain insertion post CS has no benefits and therefore should be stopped., (Copyright © 2020 Termedia.)

The Aim of the Study: To review the management approaches of ectopic pregnancy (EP) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jordan University Hospital (JUH)., Material and Methods: All patients admitted to our department with the diagnosis of EP treated during the study period extending from January 2017 to June 2019. Data were collected retrospectively using the patients' files anonymously. Main outcome measures: age, parity, ectopic site, presentation, the main risk factor/s and the management plan., Results: In total, 65 cases of EP were managed during the study period. Overall, the mean age was 30 years. EP was located in the right tube in 23 cases, and in the left tube in 14 cases. Eleven patients presented with acute abdomen due to rupture of the EP and underwent urgent laparotomy; 7 of these cases were located on the right side. Conservative surgery (laparoscopy versus laparotomy) was the main line of management with attention to preserving the tube patency, followed by medical therapy when the patient fulfilled the criteria or those with pregnancy of unknown location., Conclusions: EP is a life-threatening condition. It is time to reform the priorities in the conventional approach to management. Every effort ought to be applied to preserve the reproductivity of women who are diagnosed with EP at the JUH. We would suggest that salpingostomy needs to be considered the surgical treatment of choice for the majority of these cases., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Termedia.)