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The association between the amount of fetal fraction in cell-free DNA testing and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A cohort study
No full textBackground: Noninvasive perinatal testing is a new method of screening for aneuploidy called cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Fetal fraction (FF) plays a crucial role in assessing the reliability of aneuploidy detection through noninvasive perinatal testing.
Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between the amount of FF in cfDNA testing and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Materials and Methods: This cohort study was conducted on 619 singleton pregnant women who were candidates for cfDNA testing and were referred to the perinatology clinics of Shariati hospital and Arash Women’s hospital, both affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran from March 2019 to June 2020. The FF was extracted from the cfDNA test results, and the participants were followed until delivery.
Results: A total of 619 singleton pregnant women with a mean ± SD age and FF of 34.4 ± 4.85 and 8.39 ± 3.95, respectively, participated in the study. A significant association between maternal age and FF was not found (p = 0.12). A lower FF was associated with a rise in the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02) and a higher FF was associated with a rise in the incidence of fetal growth restriction (p < 0.001). However, high or low FF was not associated with pre-eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, birth weight, or delivery time. No significant association was found between FF and multiple of the median of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and free β-human chorionic gonadotropin.
Conclusion: The amount of FF may be considered a predictor of certain adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, maternity care should be performed more carefully for women with high or low FF
Decreased expression of miR-200a and miR-223-3p in endometriosis during the secretory phase of menstrual cycle: Insights from a case-control study on molecular biomarkers and disease-related infertility
No full textBackground: Endometriosis (EM) is a condition that causes infertility with decreasing uterine receptivity. It is reported that it affects about 20–25% of all infertile women. Some genetic markers play a crucial role in pathogenesis and infertility.
Objective: This study investigates the role of miR-200a and miR-223-3p in embryo implantation and their association with EM-related infertility.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 36 women who referred to the Center for Research on Reproductive Health and Infertility of Babol University of Medical Sciences and Fatemeh Al-Zahra Infertility Specialized Treatment Center in Babol, Iran between June 2022 and July 2023 were evaluated. Participants were divided into 2 EM and control groups (n = 18/each). Endometrial samples were collected from participants between 17th and 24th days of their menstrual cycle. Histopathological examination (hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid schiff) was performed to confirm the secretory stage, and miR-200a and miR-223-3p expressions were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Histological analysis confirmed that both groups were in the secretory stage. Additionally, miRNA expression results showed a significant decrease in the miR-200a and miR-223-3p expression levels in EM group compared to control group. The expression level of miR-223-3p and miR-200a in the eutopic endometrial tissue of women with EM was notably lower than those in the control group.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that miR-200a and miR-223-3p are involved in the EM pathogenesis, while other genes and signaling pathways are probably involved in the implantation failure
Assessment of Tacrolimus Adherence in Kidney Transplant Patients at Ahmed Gasim Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan (2022–2023)
No full textBackground: Adherence to the immunosuppressant agents is essential for reducing graft rejection. Several tools have been investigated to determine the adherence level of different medications, and the simplified medication adherence questionnaire (SMAQ) is considered one such tool, especially for tacrolimus. This study assesses adherence levels toward tacrolimus use in kidney transplant patients (KTPs).
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic of Nephrology, Ahmed-Gasim Hospital, Sudan, where a total of 166 KTPs responded to the questionnaire in the follow-up clinic, and those participants were treated with the immunosuppressant agent (tacrolimus). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS, version 27.0).
Results: Out of the 166 responders, 157 (94.6%) exerted a high level of adherence, and 9 (5.4%) were nonadherent. Among different factors related to the low adherence level, forgetfulness (n = 22; 13.3%) was a significant factor. Patient’s age (years), time since transplant (months), and the number of co-medications represented significant differences between the nonadherents and adherents (49.80 ± [10.592] vs 36.22 ± [11.434] P < 0.05), (9.80 ± [5.263] vs 4.27 ± [2.910] P < 0.05) ( 9(5.4%) vs 157 [94.6%] P < 0.05), respectively.
Conclusion: The adherence level of the studied participants was high. The nonadherence level was strongly associated with the patient’s age, time since transplants, daily dose, and number of co-medications administered
Association of maternal dietary patterns in early pregnancy with gestational weight gain: Yazd Birth Cohort
No full textBackground: Abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) can carry risks for both the mother and the baby. Diet imbalances are the determining factor in the weight gain of pregnant women.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between nutritional patterns and the weight of pregnant mothers living in Yazd, Iran from 2021–2022.
Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, data from 1497 pregnant women aged 18–45 yr with singleton pregnancy who completed the food frequency questionnaire in the Yazd Birth Cohort Study were extracted. This data included demographic variables, GWG (difference between initial weight at 13–15 wk and 1 wk before the expected delivery date), and food intake information before the 13th wk of pregnancy. The women were categorized into 3 groups based on GWG: inadequate, normal, and excessive. Dietary patterns were extracted from the food frequency questionnaire using principal component analysis, and multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and GWG categories.
Results: According to the frequency of food consumption, 3 dietary patterns were obtained: the traditional pattern (cabbage vegetables, fruits, and dried fruits), the unhealthy pattern (processed meats and sweetened drinks), and the vegetable/fruit/olive pattern. The analysis results showed that pregnant women who followed the fruit/vegetable/olive pattern had a lower chance of insufficient weight gain during pregnancy (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45–0.98).
Conclusion: Consuming various fruits and vegetables can help regulate GWG in the population of pregnant women lived in Yazd, Iran. Diet can be considered one of the most effective and safe interventions
Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection versus in vitro fertilization in fresh cycles of women with advanced maternal age and nonmale factor infertility: A cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was originally developed to facilitate fertilization in situations of severe male infertility. However, it is now frequently used for nonmale factor infertility, such as advanced maternal age or low oocyte count, despite the clinical advantages of this method has not been proven for these situations.
Objective: This study aims to compare pregnancy and neonatal outcomes between ICSI and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in women with advanced maternal age and nonmale factor infertility.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 1090 women with nonmale factor infertility, who underwent fresh embryo transfer cycles of IVF or ICSI at the Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Yazd, Iran between April 2018 and June 2023. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and neonatal outcomes were analyzed from electronic medical records.
Results: Women undergoing IVF demonstrated significantly higher outcomes in fertilization, implantation, and chemical pregnancy rate (p < 0.05). Neonatal outcomes showed significantly higher twin birth weights and lower prematurity rates in the IVF group compared to the ICSI group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively).
Conclusion: This study suggests that IVF may yield better maternal outcomes and more favorable neonatal results than ICSI for older women with nonmale factor infertility. These results emphasize the significance of tailored treatment plans and the necessity for continued research to enhance assisted reproductive technologies techniques
Foundations and Principles of Islamic Economics in the Holy Quran: An Objective Study
No full textIslam organized the lives of societies in such a way as to achieve the mission of succession and servitude to God, and it did not leave any area of life without providing the provisions that man needs to achieve his earthly and hereafter interests. This includes economic matters. The Qur’an has laid the foundations for this economic system, and it is left to individuals to strive, under the umbrella of these principles, to create economic systems in light of these foundations. These principles scattered in the Holy Qur’an cannot be limited, but rather they are basic building blocks that we collected through this research. The research includes an introduction, three sections, a conclusion, and indexes. The first section discusses the concept of Islamic economics including its two requirements: the definition of the Islamic economy and the emergence of the Islamic economy. The second topic discusses the foundations and principles of the Islamic economy as presented in the Qur’an, including its nine requirements: the construction of the land (succession), ownership, work, not restricting wealth to a specific group, prohibiting usury, mutual consent, good choice of the worker, facilitation for the insolvent, and prohibition of acts harmful to the economy, such as bribery, extravagance, and gambling. In the third section, the characteristics of the Islamic economy are explained, including four requirements: that it is a divine economy and moral economy, realism, and comprehensiveness
Jurisprudential Issues with Five Opinions According to the Shafi’i School in the Book “Al-Bayan” by Al-Imrani (d. 558 AH) in the Section on Purification: A Comparative Study
No full textPraise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and the best prayers and perfect peace be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and companions. This research encompasses a study of the jurisprudential issues that have five opinions according to the Shafi’i school in the book “Al-Bayan” by Imam Al-Imrani, specifically in the section on purification. The study consists of two parts. In the first part, I discussed the personal and scholarly life of Imam Al-Imrani, detailing his birth, name, nickname, upbringing, and family. I also highlighted his pursuit of knowledge, mentioning some of his teachers and students, as well as his death. In the second part, I examined the issues that have five opinions, including the issue of performing ablution with heated water, the ablution of a person in a state of janabah during bathing, the visibility of water during the voluntary prayer, and the impurity from a dog’s licking. I conducted a comparative jurisprudential study on these issues and presented the most significant conclusions I reached
The Development of a Stimulation Guidebook for Children With Special Needs
No full textParents of children with special needs must be actively involved in their child’s developmental process by providing stimulation at home. A lack of stimulation can hamper the child’s brain development and impact the development of their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, language, and social skills. To help parents, the author designed a stimulation guidebook for the parents of children with special needs. However, it is necessary to review the process of this book regarding the suitability of activities with the basic theory designed to stimulate each particular aspect and perform a validation test. This research was R&D to validate the contents of this guidebook. The research results showed that of the 18 activities with 48 assessment items, 33 items were in the quite valid category and 15 in the very valid category. The activities in this book obtained an average Aiken’s V coefficient of 0.8, which was declared very valid. As for the benefits of this research, it can become a reference source supporting the field of education. Meanwhile, this book can be used by parents, teachers, therapists, and psychologists as a medium for stimulation when providing care and therapy to children with special needs
Unravelling Fathers’ Involvement in the Lives of Children With Special Needs: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textThe role of fathers in raising children with special needs is a crucial dimension that is often overlooked in family dynamics while fathers play a crucial role in providing emotional and practical support to their children, especially children with special needs. Fathers’ engagement in caring for children with special needs can strengthen family relationships, enhance the child’s well-being, and offer a model of resilience and positive adaptation. This research aims to understand fathers’ contributions, impact, and involvement in the care and development of children with special needs. It uses a literature review method with the search engines Science Direct, Research Gate, Sage Publications, Google Scholar, and Publish or Perish. The criteria used are articles in English or Indonesian that discuss the same topics and research subjects and were published from 2015 to 2024. In the ten studies, selected articles stated that there are four fathers involved in children with special needs: direct caregiving, education support, emotional support and advocacy, and engagement with external courses
Community Socio-Cognitive Characteristics and Perceptions of Inclusive Education
No full textThis study investigates the correlation between the socio-cognitive characteristics of a community and their understanding of inclusive education. The community’s comprehension of special needs and their awareness of the importance of inclusive education are positively correlated with their inclusive perspectives. This study uses a quantitative methodology, with a sample drawn from diverse social groups (age groups, educational backgrounds, socioeconomic levels) as well as community members involved in educational contexts (parents, teachers, school administrators). Data were collected through surveys, interviews, observations, and relevant document analysis and were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques to identify relevant patterns, trends, and findings. The results indicate that the socio-cognitive characteristics of a community play a significant role in understanding and implementing inclusive concepts in education. Various social groups within the community contribute diverse perspectives to the understanding and support of inclusive education. These findings highlight the importance of engaging all levels of society in efforts to create inclusive educational environments. This study offers valuable insights for educational stakeholders, including teachers, school staff, educational policymakers, and the broader community