Background and Objectives: Pneumothorax implies the presence of air in the pleural space between the visceral and parietal pleura. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics, risk factors, therapy and perinatal outcome in neonates with pneumothorax in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study based on a five-year data sample of neonates with pneumothorax was conducted in a Maternity Hospital with a tertiary NICU from 2015 to 2020. We included all neonates with pneumothorax born in our hospital and compared demographic characteristics, perinatal risk factors, anthropometric parameters, comorbidities, clinical course and method of chest drainage between term (≥37 GW) and preterm (<37 GW) neonates. Results: The study included 74 newborns with pneumothorax, of which 67.6% were male and 32.5% were female. The majority of women (59.5%) had no complications during pregnancy. Delivery was mainly performed via CS (68.9%). Delivery occurred on average in 34.62 ± 4.03 GW. Significantly more (p = 0.001) children with pneumothorax were born prematurely (n = 53; 71.6%) than at term (n = 21; 28.4%). Most of the neonates had to be treated with ATD (63.5%) and nCPAP (39.2%), but less often they were treated with surfactant (40.5%) and corticosteroids (35.1%). O₂ therapy lasted an average of 8.89 ± 4.57 days. Significantly more (p = 0.001) neonates with pneumothorax had additional complications, pneumonia, sepsis, convulsions and intraventricular hemorrhage (68.9%). However, most children had a good outcome (83.8%) and were discharged from the clinic. Fatal outcomes occurred in six cases, while another six neonates had to be transferred to referral neonatal centers for further treatment and care. Conclusion: Significantly more children with pneumothorax were born prematurely than at term. With adequate therapy, even premature newborns can successfully recover from pneumothorax.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Elderly people, people with immunodeficiency, autoimmune and malignant diseases, as well as people with chronic diseases have a higher risk of developing more severe forms of the disease. Pregnant women and children can becomesick, although more often they are only the carriers of the virus. Recent studies have indicated that infants can also be infected by SARS-CoV-2 and develop a severe form of the disease with a fatal outcome. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) ina pregnant woman can affect the supply of oxygen to the fetus and initiate the mechanism of metabolic disorders of the fetus and newborn caused by asphyxia. The initial metabolic response of the newborn to the lack of oxygen in the tissues is the activation of anaerobic glycolysis in the tissues and an increase in the concentration of lactate and ketones. Lipid peroxidation, especially in nerve cells, is catalyzed by iron released from hemoglobin, transferrin and ferritin, whose release is induced by tissue acidosis and free oxygen radicals. Ferroptosis-inducing factors can directly or indirectly affect glutathione peroxidase through various pathways, resulting in a decrease in the antioxidant capacity and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells, ultimately leading to oxidative cell stress, and finally, death. Conclusion: damage to the mitochondria as a result of lipid peroxidation caused by the COVID-19 disease can cause the death of a newborn and pregnant women as well as short time and long-time sequelae.

This study assessed factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among Serbian peri- and postmenopausal women using two menopause-specific scales. This cross-sectional study included 500 women aged 40–65 years who had a gynecologic check-up in one of two Community Health Centers in Belgrade during February 2014 to January 2015. Women completed: a questionnaire about socio-demographics, habits, and health status; a menopause-specific questionnaire, Utian’s Quality of Life Scale (UQOL); and a Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). Higher education was associated with better occupational UQOL and memory/concentration, but with lower emotional UQOL and more anxiety/fears. City center residency was associated with better occupational and sexual UQOL. Being employed was associated with better occupational UQOL and lower anxiety/fears. Higher income was associated with better emotional UQOL. Not having uterine prolapse, insomnia, or tachycardia was associated with better occupational UQOL and fewer sleep problems. Higher parity was associated with better sexual UQOL. Having regular recreation was associated with better health and sexual UQOL but with more frequent vasomotor symptoms. Leaner women felt more attractive. QOL during the menopausal transition does not entail only somatic symptoms and therefore requires a more comprehensive approach that includes psychosocial underpinnings.

Background/Objectives: The success of artificial reproductive technologies (ARTs) depends on different factors, such as patient-specific reproductive features, ovarian response to stimulation, oocyte and embryo quality, and endometrial receptivity. This study aimed to evaluate their association with oocyte yield, fertilization, endometrial thickness, and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A prospective clinical study included 128 women undergoing IVF/ICSI. Baseline hormone levels (E2, P4, FSH, LH, AMH) were assessed prior to stimulation. E2 levels were monitored during stimulation, and P4 was measured on the day of oocyte retrieval. Patients were grouped based on P4 levels (<2 ng/mL vs. ≥2 ng/mL). IVF outcomes and endometrial characteristics were statistically analyzed. Results: Lower P4 levels (<2 ng/mL) on the day of oocyte retrieval were significantly associated with higher fertilization rates (p < 0.003), more fertilized oocytes (p < 0.001), and increased pregnancy rates (p < 0.001). Elevated P4 (≥2 ng/mL) correlated with a higher frequency of thin endometrium (<7 mm, p < 0.007). E2 levels on the hCG trigger day correlated positively with the number of retrieved and mature oocytes and fertilization outcomes (p < 0.05). Patients who achieved pregnancy had lower P4 and BMI, and higher E2, AMH, and endometrial thickness. ROC identified a P4 threshold of 1.99 ng/mL with moderate predictive value. Conclusions: Elevated progesterone levels on the day of oocyte retrieval negatively impact fertilization and pregnancy outcomes, likely due to impaired endometrial receptivity. Combined assessment of P4, E2, AMH, and endometrial thickness may enhance embryo transfer planning and improve IVF success rates.

Background/Objectives: Due to the rarity and histological heterogeneity of non-epithelial ovarian cancers (NEOCs), monitoring their reproductive and oncological outcomes is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the oncological and reproductive outcomes of patients with NEOCs treated with fertility-sparing surgery over the past 10 years at our tertiary referral university clinic. Methods: This retrospective study included all the NEOC patients diagnosed and treated with fertility-sparing surgery from 2010 to 2019. The patient demographic and clinical characteristics; data regarding the treatment andthe clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings during follow-up; and disease recurrences were recorded. In this study, the recurrence-free survival and the overall survival were the oncological outcomes. The reproductive outcomes were assessed as attempting and achieving pregnancy. Results: This study included 39 patients. The most frequent NEOCs were granulosa cell tumors (53.8%). The majority of the tumors were in the IA or IC1 stage. The initial therapy was generally a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (30.8%). Adjuvant chemotherapy was received by 48.7% of the patients. An NEOC recurrence was registered in 25.6% of the patients, mostly during the first two postoperative years. The recurrence-free survival was 76.92%. A regression analysis showed that amore advanced stage of NEOC was the most important predictor of disease recurrence. The overall survival rate was 87.2%, with a mean time to an adverse outcome of 23.01 +/−10.68 months. The regression analysis showed that better survival depended mostly on not having disease recurrence. After treatment, ten patients tried to conceive and seven succeeded. All the children were in good condition upon birth. Conclusions: Fertility-sparing treatment for NEOCs was proven as a safe and successful option in terms of both oncological and reproductive outcomes.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate oncologic and obstetrical outcomes of patients conservatively treated for atypical hyperplasia (AH), endometrial intraepithelial neoplasm (EIN), and early endometrial cancer (EC), as well as factors that influence these outcomes. Methods: This study included 87 women conservatively treated due to AH/EIN and well-differentiated endometrioid EC confined only to the endometrium during past 10 years. Therapy type, course, and duration were registered. The response totherapy after 12 months (remission vs. disease persisting or progressing) was considered as the oncologic outcome. All attempted and achieved pregnancies, along with conception method, gestational week, and delivery type, were recorded. The obstetrical outcomes were classified as adverse (miscarriage) or successful (healthy child). Results: All patients received LNG-IUD along with GnRHa and, if indicated, metformin. Complete remission was achieved in 74.7% of patients. The disease was persisting in 17.2% and progressing in 3.5% of patients, while recurrence was registered in 4.6% of patients. Radical surgery during follow-up was indicated in 15% of patients due to condition deterioration. Pregnancy was attempted by 29.9% of patients, out of which nine succeeded (34.6%). There were two early miscarriages, while the remaining seven pregnancies ended in a term delivery of a healthy child, mostly by planned cesarean section. The only predictor of long-term disease remission was malignancy-free control histological findings. Better therapy response and achieving remission in shorter time were predictors of good obstetrical outcome. Conclusions: This study proved the efficacy and safety of current protocols for AH/EIN/EC conservative treatment and indicated that adequate early (6-month) response totherapy has the most importance for long-term remission and pregnancy achievement.