Down syndrome screening methods in Iranian pregnant women

Trisomy 21 as a Risk Factor for Severe Illness in COVID-19: Report of two Cases

COVID-19 leads to mild symptoms within the majority of infected patients, but can cause severe multiple organ failure and death. There is only limited information regarding the consequences of this new emerging infection with congenital disorders. According to the previous studies, many people with Down syndrome are considered high risk for complications related to respiratory diseases. We report two trisomy 21 patients who suffered from COVID-19 and summarize the early experience with COVID-19 and Down syndrome. The course of the disease was severe in these two cases, and our concern is close monitoring of the patients with Down syndrome for early signs of COVID-19.

Comparing the effect of standardized patient-based education and feedback lecture on midwives' knowledge and practice in counseling screening for fetal malformations

INTRODUCTION

Midwifery screening is one of the duties of midwives according to national guidelines. It is possible to increase midwives' knowledge and practice through effective education. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of standardized patient-based education and feedback lecture on midwives' knowledge and practice in screening counseling for fetal malformations.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental, two-group study (standardized patient-based training and feedback lecture) was performed on 67 midwives (licensed by the office) in Mashhad in 2018. Midwives' knowledge and practice before and 2 weeks after training (a 4-h training program) were assessed by the Objective Structured Clinical Examination and a questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 16 using Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Wilcoxon and independent t-test while P < 0.05 considered as a significant level.

RESULTS

Before intervention, the total score of knowledge and practice showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After intervention, knowledge score in feedback lecture group was statistically significantly higher than that of standard patient group (P < 0.001). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in performance scores between the two groups after intervention (P = 0.761).

CONCLUSION

Both educational methods can increase midwives' knowledge and practice in fetal screening counseling. However, in raising midwives' awareness, feedback lecture group was more effective than standard patient group.

Double Trisomy 48,XXY,+21 in a Neonate with Congenital Heart Disease

Double trisomy 48, XXY, +21 or Down-Klinefelter syndrome is a rare occurrence and presents clinical manifestation of trisomy 21 in early life and of Klinefelter syndrome after 10 months of age. The phenotypic and karyotyping characteristics of a 2-month-old boy were reported. He had mild clinical feature of Down syndrome and echocardiographic features of atrioventricular (AV) septal defects with severe pulmonary valve stenosis.