Occurrence of growth factors and their receptors in tubal pregnancy-affected tissue

Considering that growth factors orchestrate cell growth, differentiation and proliferation, the aim of our study was to determine the occurrence of some growth factors and their receptors in tubal pregnancy tissues. The immunohistochemical distribution of TGF beta 1, bFGF, FGFR, NGF, NGFRp75, IGF-1, IGF-1R was determined semiquantitatively. A Mann-Whitney U test for the non-parametric rank analysis was used to test for differences between the factors. Significance was assumed for a P value of < 0.05. The analysed tissues expressed more FGFR than bFGF (U = 23; P < 0.05). NGF appeared in various structures of fallopian tube and conceptus but NGFRp75 was particularly absent (U = 1; P < 0.05). IGF-1 was widely distributed in both mother and embryo tissues, but IGF-1R only in some of the material (U = 22.5; P < 0.05). It was concluded that TGF beta 1 is absent both in mother and conceptus tissues; fallopian tube tissues express more FGFR than bFGF and suggest the stimulation of compensatory adaptation of the organ and the disturbance of angiogenesis; the presence of NGF in the fallopian tube with absence of NGFRp75 indicates the failure of innervations, angiogenesis and cell interaction; the deficit of IGF-1 and the absence of IGF-1R are suggested to be a result of gestation growth restriction and impaired invasion.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Uterine rupture - clinical analysis of a case series in Riga Maternity Hospital

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Attitude and knowledge of Latvian women towards episiotomy

Background: Although episiotomy is one of the most common surgical procedures, there is still not a lot of research on patients' experience, knowledge and attitudes.Methods: A structured questionnaire was developed and carried out online to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward episiotomy among pregnant women and women who had given birth in the previous three years.Results: In this study, 1394 respondents were included. 72.6% of respondents knew what episiotomy was and why the procedure was performed, and 50.9% of those women acknowledged that before labour they did not receive an adequate amount of information. There is a correlation between the knowledge of episiotomies and refusal of the procedure (Spearman’s r=-0.133, p≤0.001). In case of insufficient information, women were more likely to refuse the procedure. 36.2% of women who experienced episiotomy were informed about the procedure and gave their consent to it and 51.9% did not, the rest could not give a concrete answer.Conclusions: Women are not provided with sufficient information about episiotomies during pregnancy. In the majority of cases, patient involvement in the decision-making is not observed. Women must be provided with choices and obtaining their consent should be an integral part of the procedure

Impact of Intraoperative Factors on the Development of Postpartum Septic Complications

Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Background and Objectives: Triclosan-coated sutures (antibacterial sutures) can reduce the risk of postoperative surgical site infection. This study aimed to investigate the effect of intraoperative factors, including antibacterial sutures, on the risk of postpartum septic complications. Materials and Methods: The prospective study included patients who underwent caesarean section. The exclusion criterion was chorioamnionitis. The investigation group patient’s (n = 67) uterus and fascial sheath of the abdominal wall were sutured with triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 sutures during surgery. The control group consisted of 98 patients using uncoated polyglactin 910 sutures only. The patients were contacted by phone after the 30th postoperative day. Results: No significant difference was found between the investigation group and the control group in the development of postpartum endometritis (11.7% in the investigation group vs. 8.4% in the control group, p = 0.401), wound infection (6.3% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.444) or patients experienced any septic complication (15.9% vs. 12%, p = 0.506). Postpartum endometritis was more common in patients who underwent instrumental uterine examination during the surgery (23.8% vs. 18%, p = 0.043). A moderately strong correlation was found for haemoglobin level on the third–fourth postoperative day with the development of postpartum septic complications, p < 0.001, Pearson coefficient −0.319. Post-caesarean delivery septic complications were not statistically more common in patients with blood loss greater than 1 L. The incidence of post-caesarean endometritis was 13.4%, and wound infection was 4.8% in this study’s hospital, having five to six thousand deliveries per year. Conclusions: Using antibacterial sutures during caesarean section does not affect the incidence of postpartum septic complications. Instrumental uterine examination during caesarean section increases the risk of post-caesarean endometritis and is, therefore, not recommended. Haemoglobin level on the 3rd–4th postoperative day, rather than the estimated blood loss during surgery, affects the development of postpartum septic complications.Peer reviewe

Expression of p63, p53 and Ki-67 in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Publisher Copyright: © 2016, Federation of Turkish Pathology Societies. All right reserved.Objective: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a dysplastic process in cervical squamous epithelium and carries a risk of progression to cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to compare expression of three biomarkers named p53, p63 and Ki-67 in patients with various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and in a control group. Material and Method: 58 patients were enrolled in the study. Each patient underwent a colposcopy-guided biopsy of the cervix. Immunostaining for markers (p53, p63 and Ki-67) was performed on tissue samples of normal cases (n=10), CIN I (n=20), CIN II (n=14), and CIN III (n=14). Results: Our study showed a significant increase of the expression of the analyzed biomarkers in most patients with CIN III compared to CIN II and CIN I. Furthermore, p53 and p63 were significantly increased in CIN I compared to the control group. Conclusion: The expression of Ki-67, p63 and p53 differed between CIN I, CIN II and CIN III. p63 and p53 were reliable biomarkers to distinguish reactive changes from CIN I, while all three biomarkers (Ki-67, p53 and p63) had a high degree of sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between CIN III, CIN II and CIN I.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Comparison of antenatal care factors and pregnancy outcome in rural and urban context

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New onset of systemic lupus erythematosus during pregnancy

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease that frequently affects young women. If SLE is first suspected during pregnancy, the diagnostic criterion is the same as for nonpregnant women and the treatment should be started as soon as the diagnosis is made. This study describes a 31-year-old pregnant woman who was hospitalized with shortness of breath, pain, and stiffness in phalangeal joints. The new onset of SLE was diagnosed. The disease was controlled by medical treatment. The patient had successful pregnancy and a healthy baby was delivered

Retrospective serological evidence of high exposure of globally relevant zoonotic parasite toxoplasma gondii in the Latvian Population

Funding Information: This study was partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund “1.1.1.2. “Post-doctoral research aid” project “One Health multidisciplinary approaches for epidemiology and prevention of selected parasitic zoonosis (OMEPPAZ)” (1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/204). Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Gunita Deksne et al., published by Sciendo 2019.Toxoplasmosis is an important infection caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is a zoonotic parasite causing widespread human and animal diseases, mostly involving the central nervous system. Humans can acquire toxoplasmosis by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing T. gondii tissue cysts, ingestion of oocysts shed by infected felids via contaminated food or water, and by vertical transmission to the fetus through the placenta from the mother during pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of specific anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using a large set of clinical diagnostic laboratory data obtained over a 14-year period. In total, 25 069 unique patients were included in the present study. The overall specific anti-T. gondii IgG prevalence were 36.3%, which was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than IgM prevalence (2.4%). Mean age for IgG antibody-positive patients was 33.7 ± 12.2 years. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.99; p < 0.01) was observed between age group and anti-T. gondii IgG antibody prevalence, which ranged from 4.2% to 66.7%. The most prevalent (69.9%; 95% CI 69.2-70.7) comorbidities of patients tested for presence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were classified as factors affecting health status which includes also monitoring of normal pregnancy.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Non-disabled and disabled women sexual health comparison

Background: Disabled women constitute approximately 16% of all women in Europe. Regardless of disability level women are interested in maintaining sexual activity. The study aim was to compare, understand if there are sexual health disparities between disabled women and non-disabled women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in non-governmental associations and the general practitioner's office in Latvia from November 2018 to January 2019. Data were collected from self-filled questionnaires of 34 DW and 34 NDW. Results: The mean age of NDW was 32 years and 43 years for DW. 73.5% of DW and 41.2% of NDW were partially satisfied with their sex life, p=0.009. 47.1% of DW and 32.4% of NDW admitted having an irregular sex life, p=0.002. 58.8% of NDW and 29.4% of DW had last sexual intercourse within 6 days period, p=0.011. 67.6% NDW and 20.6% DW thought their sex life will improve in future, p=0.001. 70.6% of DW was interested in maintaining sexual relations as well as 91.2% of NDW. 20.6% of DW was interested in maintaining sexual relationships but less than before disability. 29.4% of respondents from both groups noted that the level of disability or other health disorders had little impact on their sexual health. 8.8% of disabled women and 2.9% of non-disabled women had severe symptoms of depression. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that NDW had regular sex life and were more satisfied with it than DW. Regardless of the state of health women were interested in maintaining sexual activity.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Women's knowledge about risk factors, prevention and diagnostics of cervical precancerous changes at colposcopy clinic in Latvia

Background: The incidence of cervical cancer in Latvia is one of the highest among European countries. An organized cervical cancer screening program in Latvia was introduced in 2009. Women’s knowledge and attitude regarding cervical cancer is the key component for successful prevention of this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate women’s knowledge about the risk factors, prevention and diagnostic methods of precancerous and invasive disease of the uterine cervix in the main colposcopy clinic in Latvia and to compare women's knowledge before and after their first colposcopy visit.Methods: This was a cross sectional study where 100 women were included while attending their first colposcopy visit at Colposcopy Clinic of Riga East Clinical University Hospital. Study was performed in the period September 2017 to November 2017. Exclusion criteria were colposcopy follow-up examination and pregnancy. The most common reason for a planned colposcopy was suspected precancerous changes during cytology testing.Results: The most common information resources regarding reproductive health were gynaecologist (79%) and mass media (51%). Women knowledge about the risk factors of cervical precancerous changes were as follows: 30% marked smoking and 26% - early onset of the first sexual intercourse. 31% of women knew that vaccination against HPV is an effective prevention. 53% of women considered cervical cytology and 52% - colposcopy as a diagnostic method for precancerous changes. Higher number of women evaluated their general knowledge as sufficient after the visit (10% vs. 30%, p<0.05), but only smoking as a risk factor was recognized significantly more often (30% vs. 42%, p<0.05).Conclusions: Although current study presented specific population of women attending Colposcopy clinic because of suspected precancerous disease, less than a half of women knew risk factors, prevention and diagnostics of these changes. Overall women were satisfied with information they received during their first colposcopy visit, but afterward only knowledge about smoking as a possible risk factor improved significantly. It is important to improve women's knowledge about the meaning of prevention methods in order to increase the awareness of cervical cancer in Latvia