Although Turkey is located in a sunny region, vitamin D deficiency is still a serious health problem in pregnant women and their infants, especially among the low socio-economic status Turkish population. This study was carried out in order to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] concentrations of the pregnant women in the last trimester and in their neonates at delivery and to determine the factors associated with maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Among the patients visiting the Ege Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in the period March to May 2008, 258 healthy pregnant women ≥37 weeks of gestation were included in this study. The information on different characteristics such as the number of pregnancies and births, nutritional status, vitamin and mineral support during gestation, educational status, clothing style and the economic level of the family was collected from women. Blood samples from the mothers and umbilical cord of the newborns were taken to measure 25(OH)D. The mean 25(OH)D concentrations of the mothers and their infants were 11.5 ± 5.4 ng/mL and 11.5 ± 6.8 ng/mL, respectively. We found a strong positive correlation between maternal serum and umbilical cord blood 25(OH)D concentrations (r = 0.651, P < 0.001). The concentration of 25(OH)D was ≤20 ng/mL in 233 mothers (90.3%) and ≤10 ng/mL in 130 mothers (50.4%). Maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations related strongly to factors such as uncovered dressing style, sufficient consumption of dairy products and multivitamin use during gestation (P < 0.05). About half (52.7%) of these women had a covered dressing style. 25(OH)D concentrations of these covered dressing mothers and their infants were 9.7 ± 5.1 ng/mL and 9.7 ± 5.6 ng/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower compared with those of uncovered mothers and their babies (P < 0.001). This study showed that, despite a sunny environment, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among the mothers and their neonates. This is generally due to the life style and nutritional status of the mothers. These findings suggest that much more effective vitamin D prophylaxis programmes should be implemented for pregnant women as well as for their babies.

The differences of UA blood velocities between the fetal and PEs may be a useful marker for UC length prediction during antenatal period.

Objectives: To clarify the effects of laparoscopic cystectomy of endometriomas on intrauterine insemination with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH + IUI) success in women with the disease. Material and methods:We performed a retrospective study with endometrioma patients having at least one patent fallopian tube. The study group consisted of 57 infertile patients with a history of laparoscopic cystectomy who underwent 83 COH + IUI cycles. The control group consisted of 88 patients with endometrioma who underwent 161 COH + IUI cycles without surgery. Results:The total number of antral follicles was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (10.1 ± 5.1 vs 11.9 ± 5.0; p = 0.008). No significant difference was observed in the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates per cycle [(9.6% vs 7.6%; p=0.7175 OR: 1.195% CI: 0.6-2.1) and (7.2% vs 6.2%; p = 0.9544 OR: 1.1 95% CI: 0.5-2.1], respectively) between the operated and non-operated groups. Conclusions:The results of the study show that the presence of an endometrioma with at least one patent fallopian tube does not require any cystectomy before COH+IUI treatment because no improvement was observed in the treatment outcomes of the patients who underwent preceding surgery. We conclude that an operation may be taken into consideration when malignancy cannot be ruled out or severe pelvic pain related to endometrioma cannot be relieved.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to compare Syrian immigrants and local Turkish women in terms of pregnancy characteristics and its outcomes. Methods: In a large cohort, multicenter, retrospective study, we obtained data from births that occurred in three hospitals in the Metropolitan Municipality of Izmir and Aydin Province between October 1, 2009 and June 1, 2019. We compared 11036 Syrian immigrants and local Turkish women in terms of their demographic features, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes. Results: Pregnant women were significantly younger, and the number of adolescent pregnancies (maternal age<19) was significantly higher in the Syrian immigrant group (p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively). The number of previous pregnancies was higher among Syrian immigrant pregnant women (p<0.01). Cesarean Section (C/S) and interventional delivery rates were higher in Turkish pregnant women, and C/S delivery indications were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05, and p<0.01, respectively). Preterm birth rates (<37 gestational weeks) were higher in the Syrian immigrants, whereas the rates of low birth weight (LBW) (<2500 gr) were higher in the Turkish women (p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively). Also, the mean newborn birth weight and head circumference of the newborns were higher in the Turkish women, whereas the birth length of newborns was higher in the Syrian immigrants (p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion: In the present study, compared to local Turkish pregnant women, pregnancy characteristics and the perinatal outcomes of the Syrian immigrant women and their neonates had different characteristics. Moreover, the types and indications of delivery of Syrian immigrants differed from those of Turkish pregnant women. The findings of our large cohort study can contribute to the improvement of health policies in Turkey and other countries hosting Syrian immigrants.

Results:The Doppler parameters of fetal cardiac and peripheral circulation did not significantly differ between the two groups. S/D ratio readings in the ICP group were significantly above 2 SD before 35 weeks of gestation. Women with ICP had increased risks of preterm delivery, neonatal unit admission, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid compared with those in the controls. Keywords: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, fetal Doppler, fetal cardiac circulation Received: 14 October, 2014 Accepted: 18 January, 2015 The impact of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy on fetal cardiac and peripheral circulation Conclusion: