1. Association between regular physical activity during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes : a population-based cohort studyŠejla Heljezović, Miha Lučovnik, Ivan Verdenik, Darija Šćepanović, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction: Regular physical activity during pregnancy is associated with several maternal and neonatal health benefits. However, most studies focus on specific forms of exercise in low-risk populations, limiting generalizability. Objective: To investigate associations between regular physical activity during singleton pregnancy and perinatal outcomes using a national perinatal registry. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted using data from the Slovenian National Perinatal Information System (2013–2022), which included 190,331 singleton pregnancies. Regular physical activity was defined as any form of physical activity at least twice weekly throughout pregnancy. The outcomes analyzed included preterm birth (<37 and <32 weeks), preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pelvic girdle pain, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates, cesarean delivery, urinary incontinence postpartum, and Apgar scores < 7 at 5 minutes. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for parity, maternal age, BMI, prepregnancy hypertension and diabetes, and gestational weight gain. Results: Regular physical activity during pregnancy was reported by 69 % of the women. It was significantly associated with reduced odds of preterm birth (<37 weeks, aOR 0.658; <32 weeks, aOR 0.393), preeclampsia (aOR 0.719), gestational hypertension (aOR 0.708), pelvic girdle pain (aOR 0.808), SGA (aOR 0.903), LGA (aOR 0.902) and low Apgar scores (aOR 0.638). Physically active women with GDM were less likely to require insulin (aOR 0.768). No significant associations were found with cesarean delivery or urinary incontinence. Conclusion: Regular physical activity during pregnancy, regardless of specific type, was associated with improved perinatal outcomes without safety concerns. These findings highlight the potential benefits of encouraging physical activity during pregnancy in diverse populations. Ključne besede: pregnancy, physical activity, perinatal outcome Objavljeno v DiRROS: 27.02.2026; Ogledov: 127; Prenosov: 44
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2. Perineal trauma during vaginal birth in Slovenia : analysis of national data for the period from 2013 to 2015Petra Petročnik, Ana Polona Mivšek, Teja Zakšek, Ivan Verdenik, Anita Jug Došler, 2018, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: perineum, trauma, tears, incidence, childbirth Objavljeno v DiRROS: 28.01.2026; Ogledov: 219; Prenosov: 118
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3. A comparison of frequency of medical interventions and birth outcomes between the midwife led unit and the obstetric unit in low-risk primiparous womenAnita Prelec, Ivan Verdenik, Angela Poat, 2014, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction: The purpose of this national research was to compare birth, maternal and newborn outcomes in the midwife led unit and the obstetric unit to ascertain whether a midwife led unit reduced medicalisation of childbirth. Methods: A prospective observational case-control study was carried out in Ljubljana Maternity Hospital in the period May - August 2013. The sample comprised 497 labouring women; 154 who attended the midwife led and 343 who attended in the obstetric unit, both matching the same inclusion criteria: low risk primiparous; singleton term pregnancies, normal foetal heart beat, cephalic presentation; spontaneous onset of labour. The primary outcome was the caesarean section rate. Chi-square test was used to compare medical interventions and birth outcomes. Results: Women in the midwife led unit had statistically significant higher spontaneous vaginal births (p < 0.001), less augmentation with oxytocin (p < 0.001), less use of analgesia (p < 0.001), less operative vaginal deliveries (p < 0.001) and less caesarean sections (p < 0.001), lower rates of episiotomy (p < 0.001) and more exclusively breastfed (p = 0.002). Discussion and conclusion: These significant findings showed that in the midwife led unit fewer medical interventions were used. For generalisation of the findings more similar studies in Slovenia are needed. Ključne besede: low risk, labour, medical interventions, perinatal outcomes Objavljeno v DiRROS: 28.01.2026; Ogledov: 190; Prenosov: 65
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5. Uncovering early predictors of cerebral palsy through the application of machine learning : a case–control studySara Rapuc, Blaž Stres, Ivan Verdenik, Miha Lučovnik, Damjan Osredkar, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Objective Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders with profound implications for children’s development. The identification of perinatal risk factors for CP may lead to improved preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to identify the early predictors of CP using machine learning (ML). Design This is a retrospective case–control study, using data from the two population-based databases, the Slovenian National Perinatal Information System and the Slovenian Registry of Cerebral Palsy. Multiple ML algorithms were evaluated to identify the best model for predicting CP. Setting This is a population-based study of CP and control subjects born into one of Slovenia’s 14 maternity wards. Participants A total of 382CP cases, born between 2002 and 2017, were identified. Controls were selected at a control-to-case ratio of 3:1, with matched gestational age and birth multiplicity. CP cases with congenital anomalies (n=44) were excluded from the analysis. A total of 338CP cases and 1014 controls were included in the study. Exposure 135 variables relating to perinatal and maternal factors. Main outcome measures Receiver operating characteristic (ROC), sensitivity and specificity. Results The stochastic gradient boosting ML model (271 cases and 812 controls) demonstrated the highest mean ROC value of 0.81 (mean sensitivity=0.46 and mean specificity=0.95). Using this model with the validation dataset (67 cases and 202 controls) resulted in an area under the ROC curve of 0.77 (mean sensitivity=0.27 and mean specificity=0.94). Conclusions Our final ML model using early perinatal factors could not reliably predict CP in our cohort. Future studies should evaluate models with additional factors, such as genetic and neuroimaging data Ključne besede: early predictors, cerebral palsy Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.12.2025; Ogledov: 358; Prenosov: 150
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6. Bisphenol A in the urine : association with urinary creatinine, impaired kidney function, use of plastic food and beverage storage products but not with serum anti-müllerian hormone in ovarian malignanciesMateja Sladič, Špela Smrkolj, Gorazd Kavšek, Senka Imamović-Kumalić, Ivan Verdenik, Irma Virant-Klun, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume industrial chemical and component of commonly used plastic products. However, it is also an endocrine-disrupting chemical that can negatively affect human health. It is not yet known whether it is associated with the development of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a severe and highly fatal human disease. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of BPA in the urine of women with EOC or epithelial borderline ovarian tumors (EBOTs) using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and find their possible associations with kidney function at the molecular level, urine and blood biochemical parameters related to metabolism, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) (a marker of ovarian reserve/fertility), and lifestyle habits determined via a questionnaire in comparison to healthy controls. The results suggest that the unadjusted or urine-specific-gravity-adjusted BPA levels were significantly increased in women with EOC/EBOT. The unadjusted BPA was significantly positively associated with urinary creatinine (p = 0.007) in all women with EOC/EBOT after adjustment for age, body mass index, and pregnancy using multiple linear regression analysis. This may be related to kidney injury. However, no association was found between urinary BPA and serum AMH levels in women. Women with ovarian malignancies were more exposed to plastic products for storing foods and drinks. Some lifestyle habits, including refilling plastic bottles, correlate with higher urinary BPA levels across the entire cohort of women. When considering EOC or EBOT, it is necessary to consider the potential higher exposure of women to BPA, as reflected in their urine and lifestyle habits. Ključne besede: anti-Müllerian hormone, kidney function, lifestyle habits, ovarian cancer, thrombocytes, urine, female exposure Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.12.2025; Ogledov: 904; Prenosov: 150
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7. Effect of anesthetic modality on decision-to-delivery interval and maternal-neonatal outcomes in category 2 and 3 cesarean deliveriesPolona Pečlin, Maja Pavlica, Mirjam Druškovič, Gorazd Kavšek, Ivan Verdenik, Tatjana Stopar Pintarič, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background/Objectives: The optimal anesthetic technique for category 2 and 3 cesarean deliveries remains debated, with concerns about impacts on decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) and perinatal outcomes. This study examined the influence of epidural, spinal, and general anesthesia on DDI, surgical and postoperative complications, and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This prospective cohort study at a tertiary perinatology center enrolled parturient women undergoing category 2 and 3 cesarean deliveries. Three DDI phases were assessed for each anesthetic modality: transfer time (decision for cesarean section to admission in the operation room), anesthetic time (admission to incision), and delivery time (incision to delivery of the neonate). The surgical procedure time (incision to closure), neonatal (5 min Apgar score, umbilical artery pH/base excess, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission) and maternal (blood loss, surgical and postoperative complications) outcomes were also analyzed for each group. Results: There were 215 women (122 category 2 and 93 category 3) included. The use of epidural and general anesthesia was associated with significantly shortened DDI compared to spinal anesthesia (p < 0.001). This difference was due prolonged transfer (p < 0.05) and anesthetic times (p < 0.001), respectively. No cases of umbilical artery pH below 7 were observed in any group. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of umbilical artery pH between 7 and 7.10 or in base excess below -12 nmol/L (p = 0.416 and p = 0.865, respectively). NICU admission was higher with both general and spinal anesthesia (p = 0.021), but mainly due to a higher proportion of preterm births, both before the 32nd week (p = 0.033) and between the 32nd and 37th week of pregnancy (p < 0.001). General anesthesia was associated with higher maternal blood loss (p = 0.026) and a higher rate of postoperative complications (p = 0.006). Conclusions: In category 2 and 3 cesarean deliveries, general and epidural anesthesia were associated with shorter DDI compared to spinal anesthesia with no differences in neonatal outcomes. General anesthesia was associated with a higher risk of maternal complications compared to neuraxial anesthetic techniques. Ključne besede: cesarean delivery anesthesia, decision-to-delivery interval, epidural anesthesia, general anesthesia, maternal outcomes, neonatal outcomes, spinal anesthesia Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.12.2025; Ogledov: 396; Prenosov: 150
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8. Evaluating the effect of bile acid levels on maternal and perinatal outcomes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy : a retrospective studyPetra Gregorc, Ivan Verdenik, Polona Pečlin, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Evaluating the Effect of Bile Acid Levels on Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy: A Retrospective Study by Petra Gregorc 1,Ivan Verdenik 1ORCID andPolona Pečlin 1,2,*ORCID 1 Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Perinatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia 2 Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Diagnostics 2025, 15(17), 2185; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15172185 (registering DOI) Submission received: 14 July 2025 / Revised: 21 August 2025 / Accepted: 22 August 2025 / Published: 28 August 2025 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Prognosis of Gynecological and Obstetric Diseases) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common reversible liver disorder linked to pregnancy, characterised by pruritus and elevated serum bile acids (BAs). Condition severity correlates with increased maternal and neonatal complications, and recent evidence highlights a significantly elevated risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth, when BA > 100 µmol/L. Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at a tertiary perinatology centre between 2019 and 2023, was performed in two phases. In the first phase, baseline group characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were compared between ICP and non-ICP (control) groups. In the second phase, outcomes were analysed across three ICP severity subgroups: mild (BA < 40 µmol/L), moderate (BA 40–99 µmol/L), and severe (BA ≥ 100 µmol/L). Results: A total of 210 patients diagnosed with ICP and 24,177 controls were included in the analysis. After multivariable regression, the results indicated that patients with severe ICP (BA ≥ 100 µmol/L) experienced significantly worse perinatal outcomes compared to those with mild or moderate disease: spontaneous preterm birth occurred in 26.7% of cases (p = 0.002), iatrogenic preterm birth in 36.7% (p < 0.001), meconium-stained amniotic fluid in 43.3% (p = 0.001), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission in 23.3% (p = 0.006). This subgroup also had the lowest mean birth weight (2830 g, p < 0.001). Notably, no stillbirths were recorded in any of the subgroups. Compared to controls, no major differences in maternal characteristics were noted, except in pregnancies conceived via in vitro fertilisation (IVF, p = 0.012) and those complicated by gestational diabetes (p = 0.040), both showing elevated risk for ICP development. Conclusions: This study confirms an association between ICP and increased perinatal complications, with severity of disease correlating with poorer outcomes. The findings highlight the need for standardised BA testing and improved strategies for perinatal management. Ključne besede: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, peak bile acid, adverse perinatal outcomes, stillbirth Objavljeno v DiRROS: 26.11.2025; Ogledov: 455; Prenosov: 137
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9. Clinical and structural features of sperm head vacuoles in men included in the in vitro fertilization programmeNina Fekonja, Jasna Štrus, Magda Tušek-Žnidarič, Katja Knez, Eda Vrtačnik-Bokal, Ivan Verdenik, Irma Virant-Klun, 2014, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The human sperm head vacuoles and their role in male infertility are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and ultrastructural features of human sperm head vacuoles in men included in the in vitro fertilization programme: men with normal (normozoospermia) and impaired sperm morphology (teratozoospermia). The sperm samples were observed under 6000-time magnification using motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME). The proportion of sperm with head vacuoles was evaluated and related to the outcome of in vitro fertilization. The sperm of men with impaired sperm morphology was characterized by a higher proportion of sperm head vacuoles. The sperm head vacuoles were related to impaired semen quality (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology) but were not influenced by male factors (semen volume, height, age, weight, or body mass index). Moreover, sperm head vacuoles were related to impaired fertilization rate merely after classical in vitro fertilization (IVF), while there was no relation to pregnancy. In a subgroup of men, the sperm was fixed and observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrastructural study revealed that sperm head vacuoles are large nuclear indentations of various sizes and positions, packed with membranous material organized in membrane whorls (MW).
Ključne besede: human sperm head vacuoles, male infertility Objavljeno v DiRROS: 04.03.2025; Ogledov: 696; Prenosov: 775
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10. Three-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of tongue posture and its impact on articulation disorders in preschool children with anterior open biteSanda Lah Kravanja, Irena Hočevar-Boltežar, Maja Marolt-Mušič, Ana Jarc, Ivan Verdenik, Maja Ovsenik, 2018, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background. Tongue posture plays an important role in the etiology of anterior open bite (AOB) and articulation disorders, and is crucial for AOB treatment planning and posttreatment stability. Clinical assessment of tongue posture in children is unreliable due to anatomical limitations. The aim of the study was to present functional diagnostics using three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) assessment of resting tongue posture in comparison to clinical assessment, and the associations between the improper tongue posture, otorhinolaryngological characteristics, and articulation disorders in preschool children with AOB. Patients and methods. A cross-sectional study included 446 children, aged 3-7 years, 236 boys and 210 girls, ex- amined by an orthodontist to detect the prevalence of AOB. The AOB was present in 32 children. The control group consisted of 43 children randomly selected from the participants with normocclusion. An orthodontist, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist and a speech therapist assessed orofacial and ENT conditions, oral habits, and articulation disorders in the AOB group and control group. Tongue posture was also assessed by an experienced radiologist, us- ing 3DUS. The 3DUS assessment of tongue posture was compared to the clinical assessment of orthodontist and ENT specialist. Results. The prevalence of AOB was 7.2%. The AOB group and the control group significantly differed regarding improper tongue posture (p < 0.001), and articulation disorders (p < 0.001). In children without articulation disorders from both groups, the improper tongue posture occured less frequently than in children with articulation disorders (p < 0.001). After age adjustment, a statistical regression model showed that the children with the improper tongue posture had higher odds ratios for the presence of AOB (OR 14.63; p < 0.001) than the others. When articulation disor- ders were included in the model, these odds ratios for the AOB became insignificant (p = 0.177). There was a strong association between the improper tongue posture and articulation disorders (p = 0.002). The 3DUS detected the high- est number of children with improper resting tongue posture, though there was no significant difference between the 3DUS and clinical assessments done by orthodontist and ENT specialist. Conclusions. The 3DUS has proved to be an objective, non-invasive, radiation free method for the assessment of tongue posture and could become an important tool in functional diagnostics and early rehabilitation in preschool children with speech irregularities and irregular tongue posture and malocclusion in order to enable optimal condi- tions for articulation development. Ključne besede: anterior open bite, tongue posture, three-dimensional ultrasound Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.07.2024; Ogledov: 1112; Prenosov: 571
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