Characteristics and outcome of infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first three waves of COVID-19 pandemic in northern Iran: A prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the rapid increase in knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is limited data on vertical transmission, viral loads in mother-neonate pairs, and health outcomes. We aimed to describe the characteristics, viral loads, and short-and mid-term outcomes of neonates born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19 infection in northern Iran. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study, we prospectively collected and analyzed the clinical features, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results, viral loads, and outcomes of 60 neonates delivered by 58 SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women in maternity hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (northern Iran) during first three waves of the pandemic from March 1 to December 31, 2020. We assessed neonates' short and mid-term outcomes up to 24 months after the pandemic. We also described the timing of mother-to-infant transmission based on the classification presented by the World Health Organization. Results: Of the 17767 deliveries, 58 mothers had confirmed and probable COVID-19 infection. Twenty (33.3%) neonates were positive for SARS-CoV-2, two of whom had possible in utero transmission. Twenty-five (41.2%) neonates were preterm, most of whom were born during the first and second waves in which mothers were critically ill. 19 (31.7%) patients needed resuscitation in the delivery room. 34 (56.7%) neonates were isolated in the neonatal intensive care unit. We observed a significant relationship between the maternal and neonatal viral load (correlation coefficient = 0.983, P = 0.00). No neonatal death was observed and all babies had a good outcome. Conclusions: The results showed that vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is possible but rare. Regional factors and severity of mother's disease may influence the clinical course of neonates. With increasing experience, proper observance of health precautions, and rapid development of evidence-based response systems for regional and global disasters, the transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to newborn is reduced.

Clinical course, radiological findings and late outcome in preterm infant with suspected vertical transmission born to a mother with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Vertical transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from mother to newborn infant is doubtful, and very little is known about disease severity and neonatal outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a preterm Iranian infant born to a Persian mother with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The mother underwent cesarean delivery, and amniotic fluid yielded a positive result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The newborn infant showed early-onset infection with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed on pharyngeal swabs by RT-PCR assay within 24 hours after birth, suggesting vertical transmission. Unfortunately, the mother died 14 days after delivery. We describe the clinical course and outcome of the infant up to 7 months of age. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection in pregnant women may increase maternal morbidity, mortality and possibly vertical transmission in severe cases. However, it does not seem to progress to serious early or late neonatal complications.

Effect of letrozole on spermogram parameters and hormonal profile in infertile men: A clinical trial study.

OBJECTIVE: There is no reliable treatment for men with idiopathic infertility, but the relationship between severe sperm production and the ratio of estrogen to testosterone levels has been shown. Aromatase is an enzyme that plays an important role in converting testosterone to estradiol and androstenedione to estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors can increase testosterone and androgen production without increasing the amount of estrogen in circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aromatase inhibitor letrozole on the male infertility. METHOD: This pre- and post-quasi-experimental clinical trial was carried out on 41 men with an infertility diagnosis. The basic hormonal profile included FSH, LH, testosterone, and estradiol. The ratio of testosterone to serum estradiol was also calculated and recorded. The sperm analysis was performed before the treatment and the seminal parameters were evaluated and recorded. Patients were then treated with letrozole 2.5 mg daily for 4 months. At the end of 4th months, the hormonal profile was studied and seminal analysis performed and recorded. RESULTS: The levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, and estradiol, and the ratio of testosterone to estradiol increased significantly after letrozole treatment. The sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm forward motion significantly increased after letrozole treatment. Sperm morphology only lightly altered. CONCLUSION: The ratio of testosterone to estradiol levels in infertile men treated with aromatase inhibitor improved and caused changes in sperm parameters. Letrozole may be used to improve sperm parameters in infertile men with low serum testosterone to estradiol ratio.

Comparison of the effect of aspirin and heparin with or without intravenous immunoglobulin in treatment of recurrent abortion with unknown etiology: A clinical study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Abortion is the most common complication of pregnancy, defined as spontaneous expulsion of products of conception before 24 weeks of pregnancy or termination of pregnancy with a fetus weighing <500 g. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in combination regimens with aspirin and heparin versus aspirin and heparin combination alone in women with idiopathic recurrent abortion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, clinical trial was performed at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari-Iran between March 2010 and March 2013. Sixty people were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group was treated by subcutaneous enoxaparin 40 mg daily up to 24 weeks associated with aspirin 80 mg daily up to 37 weeks of gestation. The intervention group received IVIG 200 mg/kg monthly up to 24 weeks of gestation with enoxaparin and aspirin for the same therapeutic period and the same dose as the control group. RESULTS: Three patients (10%) in the intervention group had abortion and 25 (90%) had live births with mean birth weight 3.5 ± 0.9 kg. Four patients (13%) in the control group had abortions, and 28 (87%) had live births with birth weight 3.4 ± 1.2 kg (P = 0.74). The difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that employing the heparin and aspirin combination therapeutic regimen is appropriate for idiopathic abortions and avoids the high cost of IVIG use and its complications.

The comparison between Intrauterine Insemination and Fallopian Tube Sperm Perfusion Using FAST®System in Patients with Unexplained Infertility.

BACKGROUND: Controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) with intrauterine insemination (IUI) is commonly offered to infertile couples with patent fallopian tubes because it is simple, non-invasive and cost-effective technique. Another non-invasive method is fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP). This study was performed to compare the relative efficacy between FSP using fallopian sperm transfer (FAST) system and standard IUI in patients with unexplained infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted at the IVF Unit, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, from March 2011 to February 2012. A total of ninety patients with unexplained infertility underwent ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG). Patients were then randomly assigned into either group I (n=45) to undergo standard IUI or group II (n=45) to undergo FSP using FAST system. RESULTS: The patients' basic characteristics, including age, primary infertility and duration of infertility, were not significantly different between two study groups. In the group I, there were 9 pregnancies (a pregnancy rate per cycle of 20%), whereas in the group II, 8 pregnancies occurred (a pregnancy rate per cycle of 17.8%, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: FSP using FAST system offers no advantage over the standard IUI in order to increase pregnancy rate in patients with unexplained infertility.

Depression and Anxiety Disorders among Patients with Psoriasis: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study.

Background. Psoriasis is a common, genetically determined inflammatory and proliferative disease of the skin. Psychological stress can exacerbate the disease. This study sought to investigate the depression and anxiety disorders among patients with psoriasis and control group. Method. In this hospital-based case-control study, One hundred patients with psoriasis (case) referred to the dermatology department and 100 patients with otolaryngology problems and dermatological healthy volunteers (control) who referred to the Otolaryngology Department of Bouali Sina Hospital in Sari, Iran, in 2007 were studied. Demographic characteristics were recorded. Beck Depression Inventory and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale I-II were administered to the patients in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and descriptive statistical tests. Results. From One-hundred patients in each group, 44 (45%) were men. Depression score was 67% and 12% in psoriatic patients and control, respectively. The Beck depression scores of patients with psoriasis were significantly higher than scores of the control group (P < 0.05). Based on Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale, anxiety was found in 45% of patients in case group and 18% of controls. Conclusion. The results revealed that psoriatic patients reported significantly higher degrees of depression and anxiety than controls. In addition, psoriatic women were more depressed than psoriatic men.