Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: We conducted this study To find relationship between maternal glucose challenge test (GCT) levels and fetal body weight (BW).
Materials and Methods: We analyzed five hundred women with singleton pregnancy, who had GCT at 24-28 week during pregnancy. All of them had no history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus or other medical disease before pregnancy or during previous pregnancy, and all of them had weight gain appropriate with their pre pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Also nobody had history of drug abuse or smoking. In this descriptive–analytic survey, maternal age, gravidity, BMI,GCT level ,gestational age (GA) , sex of neonate, rout of delivery , newborn weight and apgar score were evaluated .The student’s T-test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. We used Pearson coefficient and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and chi-square test for determination GCT threshold.
Results: We found rate of small for gestational age (SGA) in newborns statistically was significant, who their maternal GCT level was ≤ 80mg/dl, P value: 0/018, specificity 89%, sensitivity 58% and confidence interval: 95% (0/162-0/545).
Conclusion: Low GCT level has association with SGA and can be used as a predictive test and may be an indication for dietary intervention.

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Background: Preterm labor is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Recurrence of preterm labor in future pregnancies is 6-8%. History of preterm labor is a strong risk factor for future preterm labor. Preterm labor is the leading cause of neonatal mortality in developed countries, but permanent morbidity in these premature neonates has many side effects for the newborn as well as their family members and society. For this reason we conducted a survey to identify risk factors for recurrent preterm delivery among primiparous women with previous preterm delivery.
Methods: This prospective case–control study included patients from three university hospitals, namely Imam Khomeini, Shariati and Mirza Koochakkhan Hospitals, all in Tehran, Iran. Subjects, including 539 primiparous women who delivered preterm (22–36 weeks), were divided into two groups: 47 had a second preterm delivery (study group) and 492 had first preterm delivery (control group). Exclusion criteria were induced preterm delivery due to medical indications in mother and primigravid. Data collection and analysis was performed using SPSS 10 and t-test and χ2 test were used to analyze the significance of the results.
Results: From a total of 6,537 deliveries, we found 539 cases of preterm delivery, among which 47 cases were identified as recurrent preterm delivery. The control group was composed of 492 deliveries. The recurrence of preterm delivery was 8.7%. Uterine anomaly, cardiovascular, renal and thyroid disease in mother and blood group A had a significant correlation with recurrent preterm delivery.
Conclusion: Expectant mothers with uterine anomalies, cardiovascular, renal or thyroid diseases or group A blood type should receive extra care, observation and instructions in order to limit the risk of preterm delivery and its subsequent effects.

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Background: The aim of this survey was to evaluate the prevalence of some perinatal complications in birth weight discordance (BWD) among twin pregnancies.
Methods: In a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, 490 twin neonates (245 twin pregnancies) born at Mirzakoochakkhan Hospital from 1999 to 2003 were evaluated. Maternal and neonatal data of each delivery were collected for BWD, gestational age, maternal age, parity, infant gender, neonatal death, neonatal septicemia, mode of delivery, hyperbilirubinemia, blood transfusion and duration of hospitalization.
Results: The average age of the mothers was 26±4.78 years, of which 51.8% were nullipara. The average gestational age was 35.02±2.73 weeks, with 15.9% before 32 weeks of gestation. The neonatal death rate was 7.8%, the majority of which involved male neonates and multiparas. The average duration of hospitalization was 6.07±4.45 days, 8.5 days for those twins with BWD≥20%, and longer (9.14 days) for neonates with mothers younger than 20 years old. Septicemia was most frequent (31.3%) in twins with BWD of 30-34%, as was hyperbilirubinemia requiring blood transfusion (25%). Hyperbilirubinemia was more common in neonates with mothers aged less than 20 years and more than 35 years..
Conclusions: BWD in twins is a predictive factor for septicemia and hyperbilirubinemia requiring transfusion. Therefore, healthcare workers and hospital wards dealing with twins with BWD should be especially ready and equipped to provide the additional care needed for these patients.

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Background: The aim of this study was to statistically evaluate the hypothesis that the presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is associated with postpartum maternal infection.
Methods: This prospective cohort study included 573 term pregnant women in labor, with no other medical problems, that underwent cesarean section for pregnancy termination. Women with prolonged active-phase labor, prolonged rupture of membranes, complicated cesarean section and pre-operative infections were excluded from this study.
The subjects were divided into two groups: 280 women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (M group), and 293 women with clear amniotic fluid (C group). A comparison was done regarding postpartum fever, endometritis and wound infection between the two groups. Student's t-test and chi square test were used for data analysis, along with linear regression, with p<0.05 indicating significance.
Results: Among the 573 women, a total of 82 women (14%) had fever after cesarean 42 women from the M group, and 40 women from the C group (p= 0.3). Among the 82 women who had fever, 33 women had continuous fever, 6.5% in group M and 2.7% in group C (p<0.05, RR: 1.98, 95% CI 1.3-3.1). Among the 573 women, 4% developed endometritis 5% in group M and 2% in group C (p<0.05, RR: 2.3, 95%, CI 1.3-3.4). Similarly, among the 573 women, a total of 5 women (1%) developed wound infection, 1.7% in group M and 0.68% in group C (p=0.7).
Conclusion: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is associated with increased postpartum infection independent of other risk factors for infection.

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Background: Maternal zinc deficiency during pregnancy has been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most studies in which pregnant women have been supplemented with zinc to examine its effects on the outcome of the pregnancy have been carried out in industrialized countries and the results have been inconclusive. It has been shown that women with gestational diabetes (GDM) have lower serum zinc levels than healthy pregnant women, and higher rates of macrosomia. Zinc is required for normal glucose metabolism, and strengthens the insulin-induced transportation of glucose into cells by its effect on the insulin signaling pathway. The purpose of this study was to assess the serum zinc levels of GDM patients and evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation.
Methods: In the first stage of this prospective controlled study, we enrolled 70 women who were 24-28 weeks pregnant at the Prenatal Care Center of Mirza Kochak Khan Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The serum zinc level of each subject was determined. In the second stage, among these 70 subjects, the diabetics receiving insulin were divided into two groups, only one of which received a zinc supplement and the other group was the control group. Birth weight of neonates and insulin dosages were recorded.
Results: The mean serum zinc level in the GDM group was lower than that of the control group (94.83 vs. 103.49mg/dl, respectively) and the mean birth weight of neonates from the GDM women who received the zinc supplement was lower than that of the control group (3849g vs. 4136g). The rate of macrosomia was lower in the zinc supplemented group (20% vs. 53%). The mean of increase of insulin after receiving the zinc supplement was lower (8.4u vs. 13.53).
Conclusion: Maternal insulin resistance is associated with the accumulation of maternal fat tissue during early stages of pregnancy and greater fetoplacental nutrient availability in later stages, when 70% of fetal growth occurs, resulting in macrosomia. In our study, zinc supplementation is associated with a reduction in the rate of fetal macrosomia among pregnant women with GDM.

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Background: The Biophysical Profile (BPP) is a noninvasive test that predicts the presence or absence of fetal asphyxia and, ultimately, the risk of fetal death in the antenatal period. Intervention on the basis of an abnormal biophysical profile result has been reported to yield a significant reduction in prenatal mortality, and an association exists between biophysical profile scoring and a decreased cerebral palsy rate in a given population. The BPP evaluates five characteristics: fetal movement, tone, breathing, heart reactivity, and amniotic fluid (AF) volume estimation. The purpose of study was to determine whether there are different degree of acidosis at which the biophysical activity (acute marker) are affected.

Methods: In a prospective study of 140 patients undergoing cesarean section before onset of labor, the fetal biophysical profile was performed 24h before the time of cesarean and was matched with cord arterial PH that was obtained from a cord segment (10-20cm) that was double clamped after delivery of newborn. (using cord arterial PH less than 7.20 for the diagnosis of acidosis).

Results: The fetal biophysical profile was found to have a significant relationship with umbilical blood PH. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of fetal biophysical profile score were: 88.9%, 88.6%, 50%, 98.1%.

Conclusion: The first manifestations of fetal acidosis are nonreactive nonstress testing and fetal breathing loss in advanced acidemia fetal movements and fetal tone are compromised. A protocol of antepartum fetal evaluation is suggested based upon the individual biophysical components rather than the score alone.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 B ackground: Preterm birth which is defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks was implicated in approximately two thirds of neonatal death. Also preterm labors are the most common cause of mortality and morbidity of infants in recent years and it costs high prices for health system. We evaluate the relationship between prepregnancy maternal body mass Index (BMI) and spontaneous and indicated preterm birth.
Methods: This study included 250 healthy pregnant women, without any risk factors of preterm birth, were classified into categories that were based on their body mass index. Association between BMI, weight gain and rout of delivery were examined. Rates of indicated and spontaneous preterm birth were compared.
Results: Obese women delivered at a more advanced gestational age. (38/34±1/66 weeks vs 37/61±2/44, p=0/006). Obese patients had significantly lower incidence of spontaneous preterm birth at < 37 weeks of gestation (16/8% vs 31/2% p=0/008). Obese women had larger infants (3354/95±596/75 vs 311.24±558/357 p=0/001), and had more frequent cesarean delivery (69/6% vs 52/8%, p=0/006). Weight gain during pregnancy is poorly correlated with prepregnancy BMI (14/41±7/93 kg vs 13/78±4/94kg, p=0/4) and preterm birth.
Conclusion: In this survey, there was adverse correlation between body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and preterm labor less than 37 completed weeks and we suggest more study for evaluation between spontaneous and induced preterm labor mechanism and in obese and non obese women. However according to this survey obesity before pregnancy is associated with a lower rate of spontaneous preterm birth.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Increased total plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is an accepted risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, preclampsia, recurrent abortion and diabetes type I and II. The aim of the current study was to assess serum homocysteine and its relation with serum folat, vitamine B12 and lipid profile in gestational diabetes mellitus and to compare these with those of pregnant women.
Methods: In a prospective controlled survey 80 pregnant women (24-28 weeks) with uncomplicated pregnancies were evaluated. They were assigned to one of two groups according to the results of 100g-OGTT. In the case group there were pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus according to the OGTT and in the control group women who had normal OGTT results were put. Levels of fasting glucose, homocysteine, vit B12, and folic acid, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were measured in both groups.
Results:  The mean level of homocysteine in GDM group was significantly higher than control group (p=0.000). The mean level of folic acid and vit B12 was significantly lower than the level in control group (p=0.001, p=0.004 respectively). Body mass index (BMI) in GDM group was higher (p=0.000) and HDL level was lower (p=0.006) than control group. There were no significant differences among the groups with respect to levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.
Conclusion: We found that patients with gestational diabetes have higher homocysteine level than normal pregnant women. This increased level seems to be related to an abnormal OGTT. Further investigations are needed to follow up these patients in the postpartum period and later on.

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Background: Uterine leiomyoma is one of the most common benign smooth muscle tumors occurring in 20-40% of women worldwide in their reproductive years. Recent studies revealed that estrogen plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Since glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene family are involved in the biosynthesis of estrogen, the prior probability that variants at this locus are associated with uterine leiomyoma is likely to be above the null. Therefore, this study was carried out to examine whether GSTP1 polymorphism (Ile105Val) is associated with increased risk of uterine leiomyoma in Iranian population. Methods: In this case-control study, 50 women diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma and 50 healthy controls were recruited from subjects referred to the Pasteur Institute of Iran from November 2012 to September 2013. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes using the standard phenol-chloroform method and subsequently the GSTP1 polymorphism was genotyped using amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals after age adjustment using the SPSS statistical software package, version 18.0. Results: The results showed significant differences between case and control groups in terms of genotype frequency (P<0.0001). In addition, the results indicated that the presence of the valine allele significantly increased risk of uterine leiomyoma about three times more in individuals carrying the mutant allele compared to control group (Odds Ratio: 3.34 95%CI: 1.82-6.15 P<0.0001). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study performed in Iranian population assessing the association between GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism and risk of uterine leiomyoma. However, further extensive studies with a large number of samples from different populations and ethnicities are required to validate the results obtained in this study.

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Background: Uterine myomas are benign tumors of the uterus and the most common solid pelvic tumors causing symptoms in approximately 25% of women in their reproductive years. However, its etiology and pathogenesis remain obscure there is increasing evidence that endometriosis is inherited as a complex genetic trait. Recent studies indicated the involvement of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) gene in the pathogenesis of this disease and current investigations are devoted to the other members of phase II detoxification system genes such as glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1). Therefore, current study was carried out to investigate the distribution of GSTM1 and GSTT1polymorphisms in Iranian population in order to estimate possible impact of null-alleles of each gene in development of this disease. Methods: In this study, 50 patients with endometriosis diagnosed by both pathology and laparoscopic findings according to the revised American Fertility Society classification of endometriosis were recruited from subjects referred to the Pasteur Institute of Iran between November 2012 to September 2013. Accordingly, controls (n=50) were subjects without any of aforementioned gynecologic conditions. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes using the salting out method and GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping for gene deletions were carried out using Gap-polymerase chain re-action. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess whether there was any significant risk increase between the case group with higher null genotypes compared to control group. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05 and all analyses were conducted using the SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: There was significant evidence that the distribution of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes differed between the patients and the controls with an allelic odds ratio (OR) of 3.56 (95%CI: 1.35-9.37, P=0.01) and 3.92 (95%CI: 1.4-10 P=0.009) respectively. Data analysis also revealed that individuals with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes (-/-) had higher risk to develop the disease in comparison to the people with the both present (+/+) genotype (OR:19.23, P=0.007). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms are associated with the development of endometriosis in Iranian women which is in agreement with previous results obtained in other populations. However, the ethnic variations of polymorphisms should be evaluated in detail and differences should be incorporated into investigations of susceptibility variants for this disease.

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Background: The major issue to address in endometriosis etiology is to identify the genetic changes in the disease and their occurrence in different populations. Uncovering these genetic changes may be important in developing potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of endometriosis. Among all endometriosis susceptibility genes studied before, convincing association has been found with variants in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene and this disease however, the contributions of these genetic variants in different populations and ethnic groups are not similar. Accordingly, this study was carried out to replicate the previous findings to assess whether this polymorphism is associated with endometriosis in Iranian women. Methods: A case-control study was designed to determine the possible association between ESR1-351A>G variant and occurrence of endometriosis. The study group consisted of 100 subjects diagnosed with endometriosis as case group and 100 fertile women without endometriosis as controls recruited from subjects referred to the Tehran Women’s General Hospital between January to September 2013. All subjects were genotyped for this marker using amplification refractory mutation system- polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Association of risk allele (G) with endometriosis was as-sessed using PLINK software after age adjustment. Results: The results showed that the genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) in both case (F=0.04, P:0.67) and control (F=0.02, P:0.83) groups. In addition, there were no significant differences between case and control groups in terms of genotype frequencies (P=0.17). Moreover, the results indicated that the presence of risk allele (G) did not significantly increase risk of endometriosis (OR: 1.43, 95%CI: 0.96-2.13, P=0.07). Conclusion: The results do not support the previous findings of an association between -351A>G genetic polymorphism in ESR1 gene and endometriosis. Therefore, comprehensive genetic approaches including linkage analyses and family-based tests, together with a number of replication studies with large sample size, are needed to make conclusive claims about the role of this genetic polymorphism in susceptibility to endometriosis.

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Background: Different treatment used for resolving menopausal problems. Some studies assayed effectiveness of citalopram but it had some side effects and other studies about medicinal plants in Iran, including Melissa (combination of officinalis and foeniculum vulgare) showed improvement insomnia and anxiety. This study decided to assay effectiveness of this drug and comparison with placebo and citalopram in treatment of sleep disturbance of menopausal women.

Methods: Sixty postmenopausal women suffering from sleep disturbances that referred to Yas hospital between 2011-2013 were recruited to this double blind controlled study with 8 weeks’ follow-up period. They were randomized in three groups of twenty patients each, group A: received Melissa 600 mg that made by traditional medical school, group B: received citalopram 20 mg from Arya company that increased to 30 mg after one week and group C: received placebo. The patients were evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire before and after treatment, also we checked the side effects of every drugs. Study was dissertation of one of the author with code 22263. This research has been supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Grant. This study was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with code of IRCT2013072714174N1. Results: Pittsburgh sleep quality index improved significantly in all groups, there was significant differences between Melissa group and two other group, but there wasn’t significance difference between citalopram and placebo group, there was a trend in favor of Melissa versus citalopram and placebo. All of seven field of PSQI improved significantly in all groups that showed improvement of sleep quality in all field of sleep disturbance. Conclusion: Melissa (compound of officinalis and foeniculum vulgare) may be recommended for the treatment of sleep disturbances in postmenopausal women. Although further investigation with more cases is needed to find long-term results and compare with hormone therapy.

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