Among women who have suffered loss of pregnancy, the level of grief decreases gradually. Age, mental health status and childlessness are the factors known to mostly affect women’s levels of grief. To assess the levels of grief among women who experienced perinatal loss and the changes in their ruminative thought styles over the first year after their loss. One-year follow-up study carried out in a university hospital in Turkey. The study population included 70 women who experienced loss of pregnancy in the hospital. The sample size was calculated using G*Power V3.1. Data were collected at 48 hours, at the third month, at the sixth month and at one year after pregnancy loss, between June 2018 and June 2019. A personal information form, the Perinatal Grief Scale and the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire were used for data collection. The women’s highest levels of grief and ruminative thought style were in the first 48 hours. Their tendency towards grief and ruminative thought styles decreased over the repeated measurements during the follow-up. Women aged 20-29 years had the highest levels of grief at the third month after perinatal loss. Nursing assessments regarding grief and ruminative thought style over the first 48 hours after perinatal loss should be integrated into nursing care for these women. Grief follow-up programs for these women can be developed through nursing research.

To evaluate persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) cases according to associated cardiac, extracardiac, and chromosomal anomalies in the prenatal period and to review their outcomes. The data of patients with a prenatal diagnosis of PLSVC between January 2013 and December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Data of 32 cases were reviewed. Nineteen (60%) cases were associated with cardiac defects, 5 (15%) were associated with both cardiac and extracardiac defects, and 8 (25%) had no associated anomalies. Two fetuses had karyotype anomalies. All patients with isolated PLSVC survived. Among the cases associated with extracardiac anomalies, cardiac anomalies, and with both extracardiac and cardiac anomalies, the survival rate was 40%, 40%, and 25%, respectively. Outcome was more favorable in cases with isolated PLSVC (100% vs. 40%). Prenatally diagnosed PLSVC is associated with cardiac and extracardiac anomalies in the majority of cases. The prognosis is good in isolated cases, but worsens when accompanied by cardiac or extracardiac anomalies.

Objective: To evaluate sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) cases according to associated cardiac, extracardiac, and chromosomal anomalies in the prenatal period, and to review their outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data of pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of SCT between 2009 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: One ongoing pregnancy was excluded. There were five medically terminated cases, three due to severe heart failure and the remaining two due to additional congenital defects. Two infants who had heart failure due to hyperdynamic flow died in the neonatal period. Nine infants are well and alive at the time of writing. Conclusion: When a lesion is detected in the sacrococcygeal region during fetal sonography, the differential diagnosis should be made with an appropriate evaluation with emphasis on a possible diagnosis of fetal SCT. Tumor growth and heart failure should be monitored with serial scans when SCT has been diagnosed prenatally.

Objective: Congenital pes equinovarus (PEV) is the most common congenital deformity of the foot, characterized by plantar flexion with a frequency of 0.2-0.3%. It can be diagnosed from the 12th week of pregnancy. Non-isolated cases tend to be syndromic and complex. We aimed to evaluate the results of perinatally diagnosed isolated PEV. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted between March 2015-March 2020. Women who presented for fetal anomaly screening or were referred due to any suspected fetal anomaly were subjected to detailed fetal anomaly scans and checked for the presence of PEV. Karyotype analysis was discussed for patients with PEV. Pregnancy termination was recommended for those with chromosornal/life-threatening anomalies. The diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal examination/autopsy. Postnatal diagnosis was accepted as false-positive in those with no PEV. Results: One-hundred thirty-eight patients were found to have PEV, 41 (29.7%) of which were isolated. In the isolated group, the false-positive rate in the first trimester was significantly higher compared with the second trimester, 50%/15.3%, respectively (p<0.05). Chromosomal anomalies were detected in 2 (4.8%) patients in the isolated group. Termination was performed to 1 (2.4%) patients due to trisomy 21. In the non-isolated group, chromosomal anomalies were detected in 13 (13.4%) patients, and termination was recommended. Termination was also recommended to 18 (18.5%) patients due to anomalies incompatible with life. In the postnatal evaluation, the surgical treatment rate in the isolated/non-isolated groups was 6%/39.7% (p<0.05). Conclusion: When PEV is diagnosed, detailed fetal anomaly screening must be performed, patients should be informed about the chromosomal anomaly risk. High false-positive rates in the first trimester should be kept in mind for diagnosis. Karyotype analysis should be recommended also to isolated cases. It should be remembered that some neuromuscular/skeletal system anomalies may occur for the first time in the postnatal period in isolated cases.

Candida krusei also known as Pichia kudriavzevii is a potentially multidrug-resistant yeast because it is intrinsically resistant to fluconazole and develops acquired resistance to echinocandins and polyenes. Here, we aim to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology and transmission modes of C. krusei infections by comparing invasive bloodstream (n = 35) and non-invasive vaginal (n = 20) C. krusei isolates. The genetic relatedness of the isolates was assessed using a newly described short tandem repeat (STR) analysis and their sensitivity to eight antifungal compounds was evaluated by antifungal susceptibility testing using the CLSI microbroth dilution method. All C. krusei isolates revealed unique STR genotypes, indicating the absence of clonal transmission in the study group. Furthermore, no drug-resistant or non-wild-type isolates were identified. Our findings demonstrated high resolution of STR genotyping for the detection and simultaneous genetic analysis of multiple C. krusei strains in clinical samples and excellent in vitro activity of common antifungal agents against invasive strains. To gain insight into the mode of transmission and resistance development of C. krusei, we compared invasive bloodstream C. krusei isolates with non-invasive vaginal isolates using genotyping and susceptibility testing. All isolates demonstrated unique genotypes and no antifungal resistance was found, indicating the absence of clonal transmission and a high susceptibility to antifungals.