pregnancy at 15 weeks

Pregnancy At 15 Weeks Free Interesting Guide
It's difficult to provide accurate pregnancy at 15 weeks information, but we have gone through the rigor of putting together as much pregnancy at 15 weeks related information as possible. Even if you are searching for other information somehow related to hcg in child birth, child birth stretch, cramps after ovulation, child birth facts, how early can i take a child birth test or baby bottles this article should help a great deal. How pregnancy at 15 weeks Work Being pregnant is one of those points in your life when you need to follow your practitioner's advice, take extra special care of yourself, keep healthy and put you and your baby first. Check out these parturiency tips to help you enjoy this special period of your life. Prenatal care is the most important part of the parturiency period. Make it sure that you don't skip any prenatal appointments because if there is any problem it can be detected as soon as possible. If you're a smoker then you stop smoking before you get pregnant. Smoking is a bad thing for the baby's health, and you should even avoid smoky environment and tell people not to smoke around you. Stop drinking. No level of alcohol during parturiency has been proven safe so stay off the alcohol throughout your parturiency and while nursing. Always check with your health care practitioner to make sure you get the amount of exercise which is right for you (in some circumstances exercise is not advisable) but as a general rule exercise is beneficial. It has been shown that exercising while you are pregnant can help reduce the time you spend in labor, aid your recovery following the birth, reduce the need for cesarean, help you return to your pre-parturiency weight quicker and improve your overall health. Change your eating habits when you find out that you are pregnant, and you have to support your baby also. You should take food high in fiber, plenty of vegetables, proteins, calcium etc. INTERVAL -- Did you notice so far that this article is indeed related to pregnancy at 15 weeks? If not, go ahead and read on. You will find more information that can help you as regards pregnancy at 15 weeks or other related human child birth, 15 weeks pregnant, child birth hemorrhoids, pregnant teens, clear blue easy child birth test and mother and baby. Limit your caffeine intake (tea, coffee, chocolate and soft drinks. Drinking a lot of water in a single day will definitely help you in improving your health conditions during parturiency period. Attending prenatal classes will greatly help you during this period. Baby proofing your home in advance will assist you in the future. If you haven't got any life insurance earlier then this is the right time to buy one. Maybe

A case of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.
Page: 218DOI: 10.1097/01.TME.0000334373.59776.daAuthors: Shea, Sheila Sanning MSN, RN, NP, CEN (Source: Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal)
Really?: the claim: morning sickness means a girl is more likely
Old wives? tales about predicting a baby?s sex are usually more fantasy than fact. (Source: NYT > Health)
Neonatal tetanus in turkey; what has changed in the last decade?
Background: Neonatal tetanus (NT)is still considered as one of the major causes of neonatal death in many developing countries. The aim of the present study was to assess the characteristics of sixty-seven infants with the diagnosis of neonatal tetanus followed-up in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Ward of Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbakir, between 1991 and 2006, and to draw to factors that may contribute (or may have contributed) to the elimination of the disease in Diyarbakir. Methods: The data of sixty-seven infants whose epidemiological and clinical findings were compatible with neonatal tetanus were reviewed. Patients were stratified into two groups according to whether they survived or not to assess the effect of certain factors in the prognosis. Factors having a contribution to the higher rate of tetanus among newborn infants were discussed. Results: A total of 55 cases of NT had been hospitalized between 1991 and 1996 whereas only 12 patients admitted in the last decade. All of the infants had been delivered at home by untrained traditional birth attendants (TBA), and none of the mothers had been immunized with tetanus toxoid during her pregnancy. Twenty-eight (41.8%) of the infants died during their follow-up. Lower birth weight, younger age at onset of symptoms and at the time admission, the presence of opisthotonus, risus sardonicus and were associated with a higher mortality rate. Conclusions: Although the number of neonatal tetanus cases admitted to our clinic in recent years is lower than in the last decade efforts including appropriate health education of the masses, ensurement of access to antenatal sevices and increasing the rate of tetanus immunization among mothers still should be made in our region to achieve the goal of neonatal tetanus elimination. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Predicting outcomes in pregnancies of unknown location
Women's Health , September 2008, Vol. 4, No. 5, Pages 491-499. A pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) is a descriptive term used to classify a woman when she has a positive pregnancy test but no intra- or extra-uterine pregnancy is visualized on transvaginal sonography. Expectant management has been shown to be safe ... (Source: Future Medicine: Women's Health)
Considerations for the antiretroviral management of women in 2008
Women's Health , September 2008, Vol. 4, No. 5, Pages 465-477. Clinicians should be familiar with sex-specific considerations when managing antiretroviral (ARV) treatment among women. Pregnancy is a critical influence on when to start treatment and what ARVs should be included in a regimen. Sex, pregnancy and ... (Source: Future Medicine: Women's Health)
Abortion not a risk factor for mental health problems
BOSTON (MedPage Today) -- A single elective abortion to end an unwanted pregnancy does not increase a woman's risk of mental health problems, according to the American Psychological Association. (Source: MedPage Today Psychiatry)
Nigeria: lawmakers, ngo collaborate on maternal welfare
Abia State House of Assembly has entered into collaboration with the Child Rights Network (CHRIN), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), with bias for children, for the purpose of enacting a law to extend maternity leave from three to six months. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)
Ghana: abortion - high number of adolescents undergoing unsafe procedures
4.5 million adolescent women worldwide undergo unsafe abortion each year, causing danger to their reproductive health, a research by Pathfinder International (PI), an international Non-Governmental Organisation, has revealed. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)
Nigeria: unfpa vows to tackle maternal, child mortality maternal, child mortality
The United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA) has stated that it is determined to assist Nigeria in realising the Millennium Development Goals, especially in the area of reducing incidences of maternal and child mortality, insisting that there was no justification for women to lose their lives during child birth. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)
The hcg ratio can predict the ultimate viability of the intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability in the pregnancy of unknown location population
BACKGROUND To determine whether hCG ratio at 48 h can predict ultimate viability of intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability (IPUVs) in the pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) population. METHODS Prospective observational study from June 2001 to October 2004. All women classified with PUL had serum hCG levels measured at 0 and 48 h to calculate hCG ratio (hCG 48/hCG 0 h). All women were followed up until final diagnosis: failing PUL, viable and non-viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), ectopic pregnancy. Those PULs found to have an IPUV at follow-up transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS) were included in final analysis. RESULTS During the study period, 12 572 consecutive first trimester women were scanned. One thousand and three (8%) women were classified PULs. Three hundred and seventy-nine (37.8%) PULs were confirmed IPUVs at follow-up scan. Complete data from 334 IPUVs were analyzed: 82.6% (276/334) viable IUPs and 17.4% (58/334) non-viable IUPs. Median hCG ratio was greater in viable IUPs [2.32, inter-quartile range (IQR) 1.16–4.77] compared with non-viable IUPs 1.83 (IQR 0.97–4.60). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, positive and negative likelihood ratios of an hCG ratio >2.00 for the prediction of a viable IUP are 77.2%, 95.8%, 86.6%, 90.9%, 15.5, 0.24, respectively. In our population, an hCG ratio >2.00 increases the odds for a viable IUP from 0.42 to 6.46 post-test. CONCLUSIONS The hCG ratio is significantly higher in those IPUVs which become viable IUPs compared with non-viable IUPs. New cut-offs for the hCG ratio need to be evaluated for the prediction of viability in the IPUV group of PULs. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency, fetal heart rate, free {beta}-hcg and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-a
BACKGROUND A beneficial consequence of screening for trisomy 21 is the early diagnosis of trisomies 18 and 13. Our objective was to examine the performance of first-trimester screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness, fetal heart rate (FHR) and maternal serum-free β-hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). METHODS Prospective screening for trisomy 21 by maternal age, fetal NT, free β-hCG and PAPP-A at 11+0–13+6 weeks in singleton pregnancies, including 56 376 normal cases, 395 with trisomy 21, 122 with trisomy 18 and 61 with trisomy 13. Risk algorithms were developed for the calculation of patient-specific risks for each of the three trisomies based on maternal age, NT, FHR, free β-hCG and PAPP-A. Detection (DR) and false positive rates (FPR) were calculated and adjusted according to the maternal age distribution of pregnancies in England and Wales in 2000–2002. RESULTS The DR and FPR were 90% and 3%, respectively, for trisomy 21, 91% and 0.2% for trisomy 18 and 87% and 0.2% for trisomy 13. When screen positivity was defined by an FPR of 3% on the risk for trisomy 21 in conjunction with an FPR of 0.2% on the maximum of the risks for trisomies 13 and 18, the overall FPR was 3.1% and the DRs of trisomies 21, 18 and 13 were 91%, 97% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS As a side effect of first-trimester screening for trisomy 21, ~95% of trisomy 13 and 18 fetuses can be detected with an 0.1% increase in the FPR. (Source: Human Reproduction)
A randomized controlled study of human day 3 embryo cryopreservation by slow freezing or vitrification: vitrification is associated with higher survival, metabolism and blastocyst formation
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare two methods of cryopreservation for the cleavage-stage human embryo: slow freezing and vitrification. METHODS A total of 466 Day 3 embryos, donated with consent, underwent cryopreservation by either slow freezing in straws or vitrification using the cryoloop. The vitrification procedure did not include dimethyl sulfoxide, but rather employed ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol as the cryoprotectants. Survival, embryonic metabolism and subsequent development to the blastocyst were used to determine the efficacy of the two procedures. RESULTS Significantly, more embryos survived the vitrification procedure (222/234, 94.8%) than slow freezing (206/232, 88.7%; P < 0.05). Consistent with this observation, pyruvate uptake was significantly greater in the vitrification group, reflecting a higher metabolic rate. Development to the blastocyst was also higher following vitrification (134/222, 60.3%) than following freezing (106/206, 49.5%; P < 0.05). In a separate cohort of 73 patients who had their supernumerary embryos cyropreserved with vitrification, the resulting implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 30 and 49%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of metabolism revealed that vitrification had less impact on the metabolic rate of the embryo than freezing, which was reflected in higher survival rate and subsequent development in vitro. Excellent pregnancy outcomes followed the warming and transfer of vitrified cleavage-stage embryos. These data provide further evidence that vitrification imparts less trauma to cells and is, therefore, a more effective means of cryopreserving the human embryo than conventional slow freezing. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00608010. (Source: Human Reproduction)
A 38 h interval between hcg priming and oocyte retrieval increases in vivo and in vitro oocyte maturation rate in programmed ivm cycles
BACKGROUND Our aim was to evaluate whether extending the interval between human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) priming and immature oocyte retrieval increases the oocyte maturation rate following in vitro maturation (IVM). METHODS This study was performed retrospectively. IVM was performed on 113 polycystic ovary syndrome patients (n = 120 cycles). Oocyte collection was performed either 35 h (Group 1; n = 76) or 38 h (Group 2; n = 44) after 10 000 IU of hCG priming. Following oocyte retrieval, oocyte maturity was assessed and the remaining immature oocytes were cultured in IVM medium up to Day 2. RESULTS The number of in vivo matured oocytes collected was significantly higher in Group 2 (13.6%, 114/840 versus 7.3%, 96/1312 in Group 1) (P < 0.01); the oocyte maturation rate after Day 1 was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Group 2 (46.3 versus 36.0% in Group 1); and clinical pregnancy (40.9 versus 25%) and implantation rates (15.6 versus 9.6%) were better in Group 2 than those in Group 1. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that extending the period of hCG priming time from 35 to 38 h for immature oocyte retrieval promotes oocyte maturation in vivo and increases the IVM rate of immature oocytes. Therefore, oocyte retrieval after 38 h of hCG priming may improve subsequent pregnancy outcome in cycles programmed for IVM treatment. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Twin pregnancies with diploid hydatidiform mole and co-existing normal fetus may originate from one oocyte
BACKGROUND In twin pregnancies comprising a hydatidiform mole and a normal co-fetus, the ploidy of the mole is almost exclusively reported as diploid and very rarely as triploid. We aimed at understanding this unbalanced distribution of diploid and triploid moles in twin pregnancies by investigating the number of gametes involved. METHODS Using polymorphic DNA markers, we compared the alleles of seven moles with those of the normal co-fetuses and deduced the number of oocytes and spermatozoa represented in each twin pregnancy. RESULTS The genomes of all seven moles were androgenetic diploid; six moles were homozygous in all loci analyzed and one mole was heterozygous in several loci. In one homozygous mole, the paternal alleles were identical to those of the normal co-fetus in 13 non-linked informative microsatellite loci, indicating the involvement of one spermatozoon only, and thus of one oocyte only. Duplications of the paternal genome followed by abnormal cell division can explain this observation. In six moles, the paternal alleles were different from those of the normal co-fetus suggesting involvement of two (or more) spermatozoa. Overfertilization of one oocyte followed by abnormal cell division is a possibility. CONCLUSIONS It is possible that twin pregnancies comprising a diploid mole and a normal co-fetus most often derive from one single oocyte fertilized with one or more spermatozoa. This can explain why diploid moles are far more frequent than triploid moles in twin pregnancies. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Why don't we perform elective single embryo transfer? a qualitative study among ivf patients and professionals
BACKGROUND Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) enables the prevention of multiple pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, in Europe, the multiple pregnancy rate after IVF remains stable at ~23%, with SET occurring in 15% of all IVF cycles. In most European clinics, the decision for the number of embryos transferred is established through a form of shared decision-making between patients and professionals. The aim of this study is to explore factors influencing this decision, in particular factors preventing eSET use. METHODS We performed explorative, semi-structured, in-depth interviews, based on two theoretical models. The interviews were performed among 19 Dutch IVF professionals and 20 patients who had just undergone IVF or were on the waiting list for IVF. The interviews were fully transcribed and two researchers independently scored the factors according to the models. RESULTS We identified a wide variety of factors, potentially influencing eSET use: 37 with the professionals and 26 among the patients. Examples of factors mentioned by both patients and professionals were: uncertainty about the eSET technique, couples' lack of knowledge about essential eSET aspects, absence of a reimbursement system which favours eSET, inadequate options to select couples suitable for eSET and inferior cryopreservation success rates. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that both IVF professionals and patients identify numerous factors preventing eSET use in clinical practice. To estimate the impact of these factors identified, a quantitative confirmation and assessment of the magnitude of the effect is necessary. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Why do couples drop-out from ivf treatment? a prospective cohort study
BACKGROUND Cumulative IVF pregnancy rates are compromised by the large number of couples who drop-out of treatment before achieving pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify the role of the treatment strategy applied, and potential other factors that influence the decision of couples to discontinue treatment. METHODS The incidence of drop-out from IVF treatment and factors related to drop-out were studied in a cohort of IVF patients aged <38 years embarking on IVF treatment either with a mild or a standard treatment strategy for a planned maximum number of treatment cycles. RESULTS Of the 384 couples studied, 17% dropped out of IVF treatment. The physical or psychological burden of treatment was the most frequent cause of drop-out (28%). The application of a mild treatment strategy (mild ovarian stimulation along with the transfer of a single embryo) significantly reduced the chance of drop-out (hazard ratio (HR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31–0.96). When a mild IVF strategy was employed, the association between the baseline anxiety score and drop-out was reduced by >50%. The presence of severe male subfertility (HR 4.80; 95% CI, 1.63–14.13) and the failure to achieve embryo transfer (odds ratio 0.41; 95% CI, 0.24–0.72) were also related to drop-out. CONCLUSIONS Reducing drop-out rate is crucial to further improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of IVF treatment. An important factor determining the risk of drop-out is the burden of the treatment strategy. The application of a mild treatment strategy and managing patient’s expectations might reduce drop-out rates. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Psychological implications of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
BACKGROUND In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the main features is chronic anovulation associated with lower pregnancy rates. Little is known regarding the psychological aspects associated with infertility in these patients. Therefore, we examined the influence of an unfulfilled wish to conceive on various aspects of psychological functioning in PCOS women. METHODS Standardized questionnaires assessing quality-of-life (36-item short-form health survey, SF-36), depressiveness (Beck Depression Inventory), emotional distress (Symptom Check List 90, SCL-90-R), sexual satisfaction and self-worth (visual analogue scales), and a questionnaire on the desire for a child (FKW) were administered at the outpatient endocrine clinic to consecutive PCOS patients. RESULTS Questionnaires from 115 PCOS patients were analysed. The majority (76.1%) worried about remaining childless in the future, and 51.3% reported a current wish to conceive. 23.9% of patients had scores indicating mild to moderate depression, and 25.2% had scores indicating clinically relevant depression. Furthermore, all quality-of-life scores were significantly lower compared with normative data (P < 0.001). Unexpectedly, comparisons of patients with a current unfulfilled desire to conceive to those with no present wish for a child revealed no discernable impact on depressive symptoms, quality-of-life or emotional distress. Reduced sexual satisfaction and self-worth were largely determined by partnership status and not infertility. However for PCOS patients who wished to conceive, the wish for a child was a significantly greater priority when compared with normative data from infertile patients. CONCLUSIONS PCOS represents a major risk factor for psychosocial and emotional problems, but at least in this sample of PCOS patients, infertility does not appear to constitute a primary determinant of psychological problems. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Fecundability and spontaneous abortions in women with self-reported oligo-amenorrhea and/or hirsutism: northern finland birth cohort 1966 study
BACKGROUND Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suffer from anovulatory infertility and hospital-based studies suggest that they have an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Our aim was to investigate the proportion of women, with self-reported oligo-amenorrhea and/or hirsutism in a general population, who had suffered from infertility, the percentage of them managing to conceive and their rate of spontaneous abortion. METHODS At age 31, a postal questionnaire including questions about hirsutism and oligo-amenorrhea was sent to all women from the population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (total n = 5889). Of these, 4535 (79.5%) answered the questionnaire, 1103 reported hirsutism and/or oligo/amenorrhea (symptomatic women) and 3420 were non-symptomatic. The fecundability ratio (FR) was defined as the probability of conception of a clinically detectable pregnancy within 12 months. RESULTS The overall pregnancy (77.7% versus 75.6%) and spontaneous abortion (19.3% versus 18.6%) rates did not differ between the two groups and the risk of spontaneous abortion was not associated with body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist circumference. Symptomatic women had suffered more often from infertility than non-symptomatic women (19.4% versus 11.1%, P < 0.01). Oligo-amenorrhea and/or hirsutism (FR = 0.74, P < 0.001) and obesity (FR = 0.68, P = 0.002) were both independently associated with decreased fecundability, but symptomatic women had become pregnant and had one or two successful deliveries as often as non-symptomatic women. CONCLUSIONS Women with self-reported oligo-amenorrhea and/or hirsutism had lower fecundability and suffered more often from infertility, but had at least one delivery as often as non-symptomatic women, and did not exhibit an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Reproductive experience of hiv-infected women living in europe
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to describe the experience of pregnant and non-pregnant HIV-infected women regarding fertility and childbearing, with a view to inform policies and practices to improve reproductive outcome. METHODS A cross-sectional survey collected information on socio-demographic and basic reproductive characteristics of HIV-infected women in Europe. A total of 403 women participated; 121 were pregnant. RESULTS The median age was 29 years and 84% (228) of women were born in Europe. Overall 68% (275 of 403) had been pregnant at some time. At the time of the survey, 59% (n = 160) of women had no HIV symptoms; severe symptoms were more frequent among non-pregnant than pregnant respondents (36% (65 of 181) versus 5% (4 of 88)). Of the women, 80% reported being in a long-standing relationship; 39% (74 of 190) reported that they became infected by their current partner and, overall, heterosexual infection was reported as the mode of acquisition in 55% (190 of 344). Maternal well-being, no previous live birth and having an uninfected partner were strongly associated with the likelihood of being pregnant. To assess the problems relating to fertility, pregnant and non-pregnant women were considered separately. Overall, 46% of pregnant women reported not using condoms to protect against infection during pregnancy. Of the 60 pregnant women who planned their pregnancies, 10 reported the need for assistance in conceiving: five monitored their ovulation period and five became pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Of 34 non-pregnant women currently trying for a baby, 15 (44%) had done so for more than 18 months. Overall 25 (27%) of 94 women who planned to become pregnant needed reproductive care. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that these days knowledge of HIV infection neither influences the desire for children nor the decisions regarding pregnancy in HIV-infected women living in Europe. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies in women of advanced age
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of twin pregnancies in women of advanced age (≥35 years) compared with women aged 25–29 years old. METHODS This population-based retrospective study compared perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies in primiparae aged 35 or older (N = 240) to that of twin pregnancies in primiparae aged 25–29 years (N = 940). Observed outcomes are adjusted for intermediate (mode of conception and hypertension during pregnancy) and confounding variables (level of education). The possible effect of zygosity and chorionicity was tested in a subset of this database, recorded in the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (EFPTS). RESULTS In twin pregnancies, maternal age of 35 or over is associated with a lower incidence of preterm birth [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–0.79] and low birthweight (AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58–0.98) compared with younger women. Differences in zygosity and chorionicity between both cohorts do not seem to affect the result. CONCLUSIONS In comparison with primiparae aged 25–29 years, perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies is more favourable in primiparae aged 35 or over. (Source: Human Reproduction)
Markers of oxidative stress and systemic vasoconstriction in pregnant women drinking ≥48 g of alcohol per day
Background: The precise pathway by which alcohol causes the characteristic features of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is unknown. Proposed mechanisms for fetal injury from maternal alcohol use include cellular damage from oxidative stress and impaired fetal oxygenation related to maternal systemic vasoconstriction. Our objective was to compare the levels of urinary markers of oxidative stress and systemic vasoconstriction between women consuming large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy and women who did not drink alcohol during pregnancy.Methods: Pregnant women consuming [ge]48 g alcohol per day (n = 29) on average and pregnant women who abstained from alcohol use (n = 39) were identified using detailed interviews and home visits. Random maternal urine specimens were collected. Urinary levels of the oxidative stress marker, 8-isoprostane F2[alpha], and of the vasoactive prostaglandin metabolites, 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F1[alpha] (a vasodilator) and 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (a vasoconstrictor), were measured using mass spectrometric methods. All analyte levels were corrected for urinary creatinine.Results: In crude analyses, there was no significant difference in 8-isoprostane F2[alpha] between pregnant drinkers and nondrinkers (2.16 vs. 2.08 ng/mg creatinine, respectively, p = 0.87). There were no significant differences between the drinking and nondrinking groups in levels of 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F1[alpha] (1.03 vs. 1.17 ng/mg creatinine, repectively, p = 0.50), 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (0.72 vs. 0.59 ng/mg creatinine, respectively, p = 0.21), or the ratio of vasodilatory metabolite to vasoconstrictive metabolite (1.73 vs. 2.72, respectively, p = 0.14). Adjusting for maternal age, marital status, smoking, and gestational age at sampling did not substantially alter the results.Conclusion: Our results show no difference in levels of urinary eicosanoid markers of oxidative stress and systemic vasoconstriction between pregnant women who drink heavily and pregnant women who abstain. These findings speak against a role for maternal oxidative stress or systemic vasoconstriction in the pathogenesis of alcohol damage to the fetus. (Source: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research)
[gastrointestinal imaging] localization of the appendix at mr imaging during pregnancy: utility of the cecal tilt angle
Purpose: To determine whether the cecal tilt angle on sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) images in pregnant patients correlates with the location of the appendix and gestational age and whether the cecal tilt angle can help predict the location of the appendix. Materials and Methods: This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Informed consent was waived. Of 146 consecutive pregnant patients suspected of having appendicitis (mean age, 29 years) who underwent MR imaging, 143 had MR images in which the appendix and cecum were identifiable in the sagittal plane. Two observers reviewed the MR images; findings were agreed upon by consensus. With use of sagittal single-shot fast spin-echo MR images, the cecal tilt angle was calculated as the angle between the imaging table and a line drawn between the cecal tip and the luminal center of the most proximal inflection point in the ascending colon. The location of the appendiceal base relative to the lumbosacral spine was recorded. Statistical analyses were performed by using Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients to evaluate the relationship among gestational age, appendiceal base location, and cecal tilt angle. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the ability of the cecal tilt angle to help differentiate between a high and low appendiceal base level. Results: Cecal tilt angles showed moderate correlation with appendiceal base levels (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.44; P < .001) and poor correlation with gestational age (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.25; P = .002). Regardless of gestational age, cecal tilt angles of at least 90° were predictive of a high appendiceal base level with a specificity of 98% (95% confidence interval: 92%, 100%). Conclusion: The cecal tilt angle is useful for localizing the appendix in pregnant patients at MR imaging and helps predict the location of the appendix within the right upper quadrant of the abdomen with high specificity, irrespective of gestational age. © RSNA, 2008 (Source: Continuous Publishing articles)
Smoking 'carry-over effect' on subsequent pregnancies revealed
Women who smoke during their first pregnancy but then quit for their second are still more than twice as likely as never smokers to give birth to a low birthweight baby, research suggests. (Source: MedWire News - Ob/Gyn)
Dietary folate intake during pregnancy and birth weight in japan
Abstract Background  Inadequate folate status has been associated with many negative reproductive outcomes, such as neural tube defects (NTD), low birth weight and placental abruption. Aim of the study  The objectives of this study were to evaluate the levels of dietary folate intake during pregnancy in Japanese women and the subsequent birth weight of their babies. Methods  A longitudinal prospective study was conducted with 197 women with a singleton pregnancy in 2005. Dietary folate was investigated 3 times: in the first trimester at 12 weeks, in the second trimester at 20 weeks and in third trimester at 32 weeks using a diet history questionnaire (DHQ). Non fasting blood samples were collected from the women for measurement of homocysteine, hemoglobin, ferritin, unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Results  Energy intake increased as pregnancy advanced, but not significantly. The daily intake of folate increased from 248.5 ± 113.1 µg/d in the first trimester to 275.4 ± 100.2 µg/d in the third trimester (P = 0.04). This was well below the recommended level of 440 µg/d and only 10% of mothers were above the levels. In the third trimester, plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly higher in the low folate group of less than 250 µg/d (P = 0.02), but not the first and second trimesters. Dietary folate intake and plasma homocysteine concentrations were not likely to be predictors of birth weight in our subjects. Conclusions  Our study shows that Japanese women?s energy and folate intakes do not meet their energy needs during pregnancy and are at an extremely low recommended dietary allowance level throughout pregnancy. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONDOI 10.1007/s00394-008-0733-8Authors Hiroko Watanabe, Kyoto University Human Health Science, Graduate school of Medicine 53 Kawaramachi, Shougoin, Sakyou-ku, Kyoto-chi Kyoto 606-8507 JapanHideoki Fukuoka, Waseda University Comprehensive Research Organization Tokyo JapanTakashi Sugiyama, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Mie JapanYasushi Nagai, Nagai Clinic Saitama JapanKayoko Ogasawara, Nagai Clinic Saitama JapanNobuo Yoshiike, National Institute of Health and Nutrition Tokyo Japan Journal European Journal of NutritionOnline ISSN 1436-6215Print ISSN 1436-6207 (Source: European Journal of Nutrition)
[treatment of smoking cessation during pregnancy.]