Hearing test results of newborns born from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected mothers: A tertiary center experience in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital infections can cause newborn hearing loss. Although vertical transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is theoretically possible, this has not been proven yet. To our knowledge, there is no previous report on whether COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can cause congenital hearing loss. This paper aimed to find an answer to this question. METHOD: This retrospective, single-center study was performed between April 2020 and May 2021 at a tertiary care referral center in Turkey. A total of 422 pregnant women who had coronavirus infection during pregnancy were followed and 203 of them gave birth in our institution. Results of hearing screening tests of 199 newborns were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of patients included in the study, 23 (11.6%) had the disease in the first trimester, 62 (31.2%) in the second trimester, and 114 (57.3%) in the third trimester. In the first hearing test performed on newborns, unilateral hearing loss was observed in 21 babies (10.5%). Hearing tests of these newborns were found to be normal in the second test performed 15 days later. CONCLUSION: Considering the incidence of congenital hearing loss, the absence of hearing loss in our newborn population does not confirm the argument that coronavirus infection does not cause congenital hearing loss. This issue should be evaluated with larger patient series. In addition, it should be kept in mind that hearing loss can occur at later ages as well.

The incidence of unexpected gynaecological malignancies in hysterectomies carried out for benign indications.

The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of unexpected gynaecological malignancies in patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications and to evaluate their clinical characteristics. Data from 6448 cases who had undergone hysterectomy for benign indications between the dates of 01.01.2008-01.01.2018 were recorded retrospectively from the database of the institution. The mean age of the cases with malignancy was 59.2 ± 9.66 (45-80) and 76,31% were (29/38) postmenopausal. The mean gravidity was 3.94 ± 1.73 and parity was 3.31 ± 1.45. Their mean BMI was 29.6 ± 4.26 kg/m2 (22.4-41.9 kg/m2 range). These patients were followed for a mean duration of 60.68 ± 37.66 months and during this period death associated with malignancy occurred in 4/38 (%10.52) cases, all of whom had leiomyosarcoma. The benign indications of procedure were as follows: myoma uteri (2675, 41.48%), abnormal uterine bleeding (1508, 23.38%), uterine prolapsus (793, 12.29%), ovarian cyst (619, 9.59%), endometriosis (303, 4.69%), endometrial polyp (264, 4.09%), pelvic pain (238, 3.69%) and other benign causes (48, 0.74%). Unexpected gynaecological malignancy was found in 20 cases (0.31%) with endometrial cancer, in eight cases (0.12%) with uterine sarcoma, in seven cases (0.10%) with ovarian cancer, in one case (0.01%) with tubal cancer and in two (0.03%) with cervical cancer. Gynaecological malignancy was found in 38 of 6648 cases who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications, yielding an incidence rate of 0.58%.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Hysterectomy is the most common gynaecological surgery in the world and although most are performed for benign indications, unexpected gynaecological malignancy is possible in the final pathology results.Although there are available publications investigating unexpected gynaecological malignancy incidences after hysterectomies for benign reasons, the incidence is still not clear. We aimed to contribute to the existing literature with this study, which includes a large number of cases.What do the results of this study add? Our study adds new findings to the body of the knowledge on the incidence of unexpected gynaecological malignancies in hysterectomies for benign indications. Gynaecological malignancy was found in 38 of 6648 cases who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications, yielding an incidence rate of 0.58%.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? There is an unexpected possibility of gynaecological malignancy even in cases where it is expected to be benign with current diagnostic methods. In cases that are expected to be benign, detailed preoperative evaluation should be performed in all patients to prevent unexpected gynaecological malignancies. More sensitive screening methods should be developed especially in the preoperative differential diagnosis of leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma.

Prenatal diagnosis of complete penoscrotal transposition with normal scrotum: Two case reports and review of the literature.

Complete penoscrotal transposition is an extremely rare congenital anomaly and is usually associated with other urinary system abnormalities. Prenatal diagnosis is feasible by demonstrating perineal anatomy and its relation with scrotum and phallus. We describe two prenatal cases presenting with oligohydramniosis and megacystis due to lower urinary tract obstruction. Postnatal diagnosis was confirmed in both cases. Considering the dismal perinatal outcome, an accurate prenatal diagnosis is required for counseling the parents and preparing for postnatal care.

Body composition: A predictive factor of cycle fecundity.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of body composition on reproduction in women with unexplained infertility treated with a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted on 308 unexplained infertile women who were scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme and were grouped as pregnant and non-pregnant. Anthropometric measurements were performed using TANITA-420MA before the treatment cycle. Body composition was determined using a bioelectrical impedance analysis system. RESULTS: Body fat mass was significantly lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (15.61±3.65 vs.18.78±5.97, respectively) (p=0.01). In a multiple regression analysis, body fat mass proved to have a stronger association with fecundity than the percentage of body fat, body mass index, or the waist/hip ratio (standardized regression coefficient≥0.277, t-value≥2.537; p<0.05). The cut-off value of fat mass, which was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristics curve, was 16.65 with a sensitivity of 61.8% and a specificity of 70.2%. Below this cut-off value, the odds of the pregnancy occurrence was found to be 2.5 times more likely. CONCLUSION: Body fat mass can be predictive for pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme.