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Background: Various studies have come to contradictory results regarding the relationship between maternal hemoglobin (Hb) level and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the birth outcomes among pregnant women who had normal hemoglobin levels in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, 108 healthy pregnant women with gestational age of 10-14 weeks and Hb≥11g/dl were selected through cluster random sampling and were followed up until delivery. Mothers’ Hb concentration was measured at the end of the first, second, and third trimesters. Then, the relationship between maternal Hb concentration and infants’ birth weight and Apgar score was investigated. Results: The incidence rates of anemia in the second and third trimesters were 12.8% and 27.9%, respectively. Moreover, 16.27% of the newborns had low birth weight and 17.4% had Apgar scores of less than 8. The results revealed a significant relationship between birth weight and maternal Hb level in the second (P=0.02), and the third trimester (P=0.03). Also, the rate of birth of infants with Apgar scores<8 significantly increased among women with Hb<10.5g/dl or Hb>13.2g/dl in the second trimester (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the present study’s findings, maternal Hb level is suggested to be controlled during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in addition to the first trimester. In this way, necessary care and treatment measures can be taken based on the women’s hemodynamic status which might reduce the low birth weight and low Apgar score among infants. Key words: Hemoglobin, birth outcomes, pregnancy.

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ackground: Despite extensive research in leukemia, intracellular events leading to prolongation of cell cycle and resistance to pro-apoptotic factors are still not clearly defined. In recent years, the search for such events led to focusing on an anti-apoptotic factor, PIM-2 (Proviral integration of Moloney virus-2). The aim of the present study was to assess the expression of PIM2 gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) through quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and to correlate the results with clinical and laboratory findings of the patients as well as their response to the treatment. Methods: 80 patients with AML and control group were enrolled in the present study. QRT-PCR was used to study PIM2 gene expression.
Results: The mean expression level of PIM2 gene was significantly higher in AML patients (3.5941±7.7736) compared with the control group (0.5303±0.4014) (P=0.034). Its expression level was not different in terms of achieving remission. A positive correlation was observed between PIM2 gene expression and total leucocytic count (R=0.059, P=0.719), while there was a negative correlation between the gene expression and platelet count (R=-0.118, P=0.470). No significant correlation was found between PIM2 gene and patients’ response to treatment as (P=0.883) although it’s level was higher in patients who did not achieve complete remission (6.1±11.9) than patients who achieved complete remission (3.1±5.3).
Conclusion: The present study showed higher PIM2 expression level in AML patients than normal population. Also, its level was higher in patients who did not achieve complete remission.

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a significant medical and public health problem in the world. It is believed that it can worsen in extreme conditions. Also, it is suggested that blood disorders such as sickle cell disease (SCD) may increase the risk of COVID-19 symptoms. The present study reports a family facing COVID-19, in which one of two members with SCD presented with fever, repeated cough and dizziness followed by acute chest syndrome leading to death. The remained members that had sickle cell trait manifested mild symptoms based on our findings. Although COVID-19 in individuals with SCD showed an increased risk for COVID19 compared with individuals with sickle cell trait, it seems that SCD cannot lead to worse condition in our patients.

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Background: The role of anticoagulant medications in preventing placental mediated pregnancy complications in patients with and without thrombophilia has not been investigated well. One underlying cause is associated with adverse effects of anticoagulants in pregnancy including teratogenicity, complexities in dosing and management of anticoagulants during pregnancy and labor. We aimed to assess effects of prophylactic anticoagulant medications in pregnant women with history of the PMPCs who were tested for hereditary thrombophilia.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was done in obstetric clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences on medical records of 148 pregnant women with history of poor obstetric outcome due to placental complications. Pregnant women with both positive and negative thrombophilia test results were included in the study. They were divided into two group according to receiving anticoagulants. 
Results: 148 patients were analyzed over 1.5 years. Among them, 85 women received anticoagulant medications and 63 did not receive these treatments for the next pregnancy. Moreover, 58 out of 148 pregnant women were thrombophilic according to positive tests. Successful pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher in treated groups. The risk of abortion and unsuccessful pregnancy was significantly reduced in the treated groups. The occurrence of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and preeclampsia were not reduced. The use of anticoagulant during pregnancy did not have any adverse effects. The results in thrombophilia group and non-thrombophilia group demonstrated the benefit of anticoagulant therapy in improvement of pregnancy outcomes.
Conclusion: Testing for inherited thrombophilia in women who have experienced placental mediated pregnancy complications is not recommended. Anticoagulant therapy can be useful in women without thrombophilia and with poor obstetric history because of placental mediated pregnancy complications.