Introduction/Objectives: Patient-centered communication is essential in oncology care, where healthcare professionals often manage emotionally demanding conversations, uncertainty, complex decisions, and patient involvement in care. However, the relationship between communication knowledge, empathic listening, and practical communication skills remains insufficiently examined. This study aimed to examine the associations between communication knowledge, empathic listening, and interpersonal communication skills among healthcare professionals involved in oncology care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Croatia from May to November 2025 on a convenience sample of 138 healthcare professionals involved in oncology care. Communication knowledge was assessed using a study-specific questionnaire, empathic listening using an adapted Active Empathic Listening Scale, and interpersonal communication skills using an adapted Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory. Because the instruments were adapted to the oncology care context, their dimensions were examined using exploratory factor analysis and interpreted as sample-specific exploratory constructs. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Clear message delivery and assertiveness had the highest self-reported score, whereas emotional interaction management had the lowest. Communication knowledge was not an independent predictor of communication skills dimensions. Processing and responding positively predicted clear message delivery and assertiveness (β = 0.361; p = 0.001; R2 = 13.4%), while noticing emotional and nonverbal cues negatively predicted emotional interaction management (β = −0.234; p = 0.032; R2 = 7.6%). The explained variance of the models was low. Conclusions: The findings suggest limited but potentially relevant associations between selected dimensions of empathic listening and self-reported communication skills in oncology care. Communication knowledge, measured using a study-specific exploratory instrument, was not independently associated with communication skills. Because of the exploratory design, self-report measures, adapted instruments, and convenience sampling, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Laboratory diagnostics of iron homeostasis during pregnancy typically rely on routine parameters, which often inadequately reflect the actual maternal iron status. This study aimed to evaluate the investigative and diagnostic utility of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and ferroportin (Fpn) concentrations as key indicators of iron dysregulation in women with normal early pregnancy and those experiencing missed abortion. These primary biomarkers were assessed in conjunction with standard laboratory parameters of iron status across the study groups. Notably, Fpn concentration had not previously been determined in women with either normal or abnormal pregnancies. The study enrolled 45 women with missed abortion and 45 women with normal first-trimester pregnancies. Peripheral blood concentrations of iron (Fe), unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), transferrin, and sTfR were measured using automated analyzers, while hepcidin and Fpn were quantified using ELISA kits. Transferrin saturation (TSAT), the sTfR/log ferritin index (sTfR-F index), and the ferroportin to soluble transferrin receptor ratio (Fpn/sTfR) were calculated. In the missed abortion group, Fpn (p < 0.001), Fe (p = 0.008), TSAT (p = 0.018), and Fpn/sTfR (p < 0.001) were significantly decreased, whereas sTfR (p = 0.001) and the sTfR-F index (p = 0.003) were significantly increased compared to women with normal pregnancies. Proposed multiparameter models incorporating sTfR and Fpn, or sTfR, hepcidin, and Fpn, accurately classified over 80% of cases and demonstrated excellent area under the curve (AUC) values of approximately 0.9. These findings indicate that Fpn and sTfR may serve as valuable investigative biomarkers for identifying dysregulation of iron homeostasis in early pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with various maternal and fetal complications, including long-term cardiovascular risks for affected women. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between GDM and arterial stiffness during pregnancy and 2 months postpartum. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 pregnant women of 28–40 weeks of gestation and divided into 2 groups. The groups were divided based on oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) results: 50 women with GDM and 50 controls with normal oGTT. All participants in the GDM group had a form of GDM that was successfully managed by diet only. Arterial stiffness was assessed using a non-invasive oscillometric device, the Arteriograph® (TensioMedTM Kft, Budapest, Hungary), by measuring the right brachial artery. The results showed that during pregnancy the pulse wave velocity (PWV) was unexpectedly significantly lower in the GDM group compared to controls (8.10 m/s vs. 8.65 m/s, P T< 0.05). Central and brachial augmentation index (AIx) values showed no significant differences between the groups. No differences in PWV or AIx were observed between GDM and control groups 2 months postpartum; however, within the GDM group, central (0.50 % vs. 11.45 %) and brachial (–73.35 % vs. –51.75 %) AIx significantly increased after delivery, indicating postpartum vascular effects of GDM. These findings suggest that even diet-managed forms of GDM can induce vascular changes postpartum, underscoring the importance of early detection and management. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying these changes and their possible long-term implications for cardiovascular health in post-GDM women.

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Abstract Objectives To compare pregnancy prolongation and neonatal outcomes in women with signs of threatened preterm birth (PTB) and intact membranes by administration of low-doses of prednisone for 3 weeks compared to women who received standard protocols of tocolysis and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) prophylaxis in a pilot randomized controlled trial. Methods We randomized 26 women with signs of threatened PTB and intact membranes between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation to either continued prednisone administration for 3 weeks following the initiation of the standard protocol (intervention group) or standard therapy for threatened PTB (control group). The primary outcome was the gestational length in women with and without using low-doses of prednisone. The secondary outcome included incidence of RDS, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, the need for mechanical ventilation, and perinatal mortality in newborns from both study groups. Results Participants in the intervention group had significantly longer pregnancy prolongation than the control group (65.38 vs. 40.54 days, p=0.001). Although the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.153), the gestational age at delivery in the intervention group (38.35 weeks) was 10 days longer than in the control group (36.89 weeks). There were no significant differences between the groups in neonatal outcomes. Conclusions The first pilot randomized controlled study on low-dose prednisone in threatened PTB and intact membranes suggests it may prolong pregnancy without adverse neonatal outcomes. Due to the small sample size and single-centre design, these preliminary findings should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in larger, adequately powered trials.

Abstract Objective The objective of this prospective study was to assess the concentration and impact of maternal 25(OH)D status on neonatal vitamin D concentrations and early neonatal outcomes in the newborns of mothers who did not take vitamin D supplements during pregnancy. Methods and participants The study is a cohort prospective study of the correlation of VD concentrations in mothers and their newborns. The study included 100 pairs. Results Only 16 mothers had a VD concentration in the reference interval (75–100 nmol/L), while 84 mothers had values less than 75 nmol/L (p<0.001). A significant difference in maternal VD concentration was determined in relation to tobacco consumption habits during pregnancy and placental condition (p<0.001). 95% of the neonates (95/100) of older, obese multigravida, who had hypovitaminosis D and inadequate exposure to sunshine, had normal VD concentrations (the mean=49.27 nmol/L) on the first day of life. The majority of the mothers gave birth to full-termnewborns with normal vitality scores and CRP and bilirubin levels in the reference interval. Conclusion The conclusion of this prospective study is that 84% of the healthy pregnant women had hypovitaminosis D. However 95% of their newborns were born full term, with normal anthropometric measurements, normal vitality scores, and normal VD concentrations. This study also confirmed that there is still no cause-and-effect association between hypovitaminosis D in pregnant women and their offspring with outcome parameters for both.

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Because the maternal immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, pregnant women are a risk group for COVID-19 infection. Thus, this study investigates the pregnancy outcomes of COVID-19-infected women during childbirth.Methods: A retrospective study was performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Mostar, that included a total of 65 COVID-19-positive women who delivered between March 2020 and April 2022. The control group consisted of COVID-19-negative women with no detected SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy or labor (n=65). The data for maternal and newborn outcomes were collected from database and medical records.Main findings: The pregnancies of COVID-19-positive women were more often completed by cesarean section (35.4%), compared to the control group (26.2%). There were no significant differences in pregnancy complications such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm premature rupture of membranes, fetal growth restriction or perinatal asphyxia between the COVID-19-positive mothers and the control group. The percentage of infected newborns was 4.6% in the COVID-19-positive group.Principal conclusion: The study concludes that COVID-19-positive women experienced more adverse perinatal outcomes compared to the control group, but without statistical significance. Accordingly, the importance of perinatal surveillance of COVID-19-positive pregnancies should be emphasized. Key words: childbirth, maternal and newborn outcomes, COVID-19 infection

While clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is curable, advanced metastatic (mRCC) remains a clinical challenge. We analyzed clinical, pathohistological, and molecular data (Receptor Interacting Protein 5—RIP5 and Vestigial Like Family Member 4—VGLL4 expression) of 55 mRCC patients treated with first-line treatment with sunitinib. The trend of linear increase in the protein expression of RIP5 was observed with the progression of tumor grade. Overall, 80% of RIP5-positive cells were in the control kidneys and high-grade mRCC. On the contrary, RIP5 displayed low expression in grade 2 mRCC (5.63%). The trend of linear decrease in the expression of VGLL4 was observed with the progression of tumor grade. The highest protein expression of VGLL4 was observed in grade 2 (87.82%) in comparison to grade 3 and 4 and control. High expression of RIP5 mRNA was associated with longer first-line overall survival and longer progression-free survival in mRCC. In addition, a high VGLL4 mRNA expression showed better overall survival in patients with ccRCC. In conclusion, high mRNA expression of RIP5 and VGLL4 are important markers of better survival rates in mRCC patients.

Homocysteine is known to be associated with adverse vascular and metabolic effects, as well as pregnancy complications. Its serum levels are influenced by the function of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the dietary intake of folic acid, vitamin B12, and methionine. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association of genetic polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene with vitamin status in pregnant women during mandatory folic acid supplementation. The study included 102 pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation who were attending regular outpatient examinations at the maternity clinic. Homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B12 levels, and MTHFR gene polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C) were analyzed. Significant associations were found between vitamin B12 and folic acid levels with homocysteine (P< 0.001), with lower serum levels of these vitamins being associated with higher homocysteine levels. Surprisingly, there was no significant association between MTHFR genetic polymorphisms and serum homocysteine levels, likely attributed to the supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B12 in vitamin supplements for pregnant women, which counteracts the effect of the mutation. Remarkably, a high prevalence of MTHFR gene mutations was found, with the C677T polymorphism present in 56.9% and the A1298C polymorphism in 87.2% of pregnant women. These findings emphasize the importance of adequate folic acid and vitamin B12 intake during pregnancy to regulate homocysteine levels. Although the MTHFR gene mutations were highly prevalent, their influence on homocysteine levels in this population appears to be mitigated by vitamin supplementation. Further research is warranted to explore the impact of these mutations on other aspects of pregnancy outcomes. The trial is registered at Clinicaltrail.gov (NCT04952324).