Tehran University Medical Journal

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Objective: To compare the obstetric and neonatal outcome in women with and without a history of infertility. Study design: A case-control study at four hospitals of Tehran (Selected Randomly) between October 1st 1993 and February 20th 1994. Subjects: 212 women with a history of infertility who reached 20 weeks gestation with a singleton live fetus and 212 control women matched for age and parity. Main outcome measured: frequency of some antepartum complications. Obstetric and neonatal outcome. Variables: Demographic variables, systemic diseases, history of last and present pregnancy. Type and duration of infertility and kind of infertility treatment. Results: Sixty-one percent of study group were primery infertility patients and fifty-two percent of them had been pregnant after being treated. The incidence of the most complications was similar to that among controls. As compared with controls there was an increased incidence among study group of cesarian births (P<0.005), previous history of abortion (P<0.05), and history of vaginal bleeding in first and second trimesters of present pregnancy (P<0.005), and among primery infertility an increased incidence of preeclampsia (P<0.05)

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Sixty pregnant women with the gestational age of 6-14 weeks who met the following criteria were selected: 1) Presence of nausea and vomiting. 2) Absence of other medical conditions that cause nausea and vomiting. 3) Negative history of medical treatment for at last three days prior to admission. 4) Negative for threatened abortion, molar and twin pregnancy. Cases were randomly divided into two groups. Mean age of the cases was 25.16 y (range: 16-37 y) and not significantly different in the two groups. The two groups were also similar in gestational age, severity of nausea and vomiting, number of previous pregnancies and abortions, profession, working inside or outside the house, family income and education of patients and their spouses. In one group, Pe6 point of acupuncture was stimulated by TENS (once every 2 hours, 10 minutes each time, from the time of awakening). The other group received placebo. Both groups were hospitalized for 48 hours, and were evaluated for severity of nausea and vomiting, apetite, frequency of vomiting and VAS at their worst day, 24 hours prior to admission and 24 and 48 hours after admission. The two groups were similar in frequency of vomiting, VAS, appetite, and severity of nausea 24 hours prior to admission, and the worst degree of nausea and vomiting. However, a significant difference was observed in the severity of nausea and vomiting 24 and 48 hours after the adminission between TENS and placebo (P=0.000). In the group who received TENS, 24 cases (86.7%) reported improvement (compared to 23.3% in the control group). Of all the cases, 81.6% had received prior medication, only 18.3% of the latter reported improvement with medication. Level of VAS in the groups with severe and mild to moderate nausea and vomiting was not significantly different in the first and second days of admission. Fifteen percent of the cases reported a transient cutaneous rash. Five cases were hospitalized more than once. Of the cases who reported improvement with TENS, 5% had improved after two stimulations, and 47% reported a relapse of symptoms in less than 24 hours after cessation of TENS. In one of the cases who were re-admitted, TENS did not result in alleviation of nausea and vomiting, and 56.6% of all the cases suggested to use TENS at home, 45% were attracted to TENS by commercial advertisements. Disscusion: Stimulation of Pe6 (Neiguan) point alleviates the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

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Between 270 patients complaining of symptoms of vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 68 women (%25) based on at least three of four criteria: 1. Homogenous vaginal discharge 2. Positive amine test 3. pH more than 4.5 4. Clue cell in wet smear. The results were compared to 55 normal controls.
Clue cell with more than %20 of epithelial cells was seen in %87 of cases and %5.5 of controls. A pH more than 4.5 showed the greatest sensitivity (%100) and the smallest specificity (%47). The most frequent complaints included increased discharge, bad odor, and sensing bad odor after coitus.

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Post partum haemorrhage (PPH) and retained placenta are the most common serious abnormalities encountered during the third stage of labour. PPH is one of the most common causes of mortality in childbirth, particularly in developing countries. The incidences of PPH and retained placenta have decreased with the use of synthetic oxytocin and controlled cord traction (CCT). Weather such treatment is valuable is open to question because of the lack of clinical and physiological studies. Unfortunately, oxytocic drugs are not available to about half the women of developing countries, who do not deliver under the care of a trained midwife. We know that sucking stimulates uterine contractions in lactating women. This effect is probably mediated by the high plasma oxytocin levels that occur during preparations for breast-feeding and again within 3 min of the start of sucking. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) do not have the skill to administer injectable oxytoxics. It has become the practice in some TBA training programmes to teach that the risk of PPH can be reduced if the mother puts her baby to the breast immediately after delivery. Objective: To determine the effect of sucking immediately after childbirth on the length of 3rh stage and amount of bleeding in the first day. This is a semi-experimental study. It was done in Tehran'e Mirzakochak hospital. 100 women received oxytocin intramuscularly and 120 women were placed in sucking group. Then the lenghth of 3rd stage and amount of bleeding in the first day was compared between two groups. Results: The duration of the third stage and number of pads different between oxytocin group and sucking group (4.42 vs 6.08 min) and (10.58 vs 11.72 number). As for the, parity, gestational age, maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressure, infant weight and hight, the results showed no significant difference between the groups. As for the, maternal age, the results showed differed significantly between the groups. As for the gestational age, the results of the research showed that between the gestational age and the duration of the third stage, there was a reverse correlation in multipare women. So when gestational age decreases the duration of third stage will be longer. As for the maternal age, parity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, infant weight, infant hight, infant sex, the results showed that there was no correlation between these and the duration of the third stage.

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In a period of 5 years (1371-1375), 87 cases of septic abortion were analyzed in Mirza Koochak-Khan Hospital. Most cases were in 21-25 years old group (28.7%) and most of them were in 5 or more gravidity group (48.2%). Fever was the most important symptom in these patients (80.4%). In this 5 years, period patients have paid 45900000 RLS for septic abortion. Treatment for most patients was antimicrobial treatment and curettage

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The present research is a quasi-experimental prospective study to determine usefulness of stripping the fetal memberanes at term for preventing of postterm pregnancy. 212 pregnant women with firm gestational dates entered the study, 112 underwent stripping of the membranes and 100 controls did not. The difference between the number of patients who advanced beyond term (>290 days) was statistically significant between groups (P<0.01). The mode of delivery and neonatal APGAR score were similar in both groups.

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There are now several tests available that can assess fetal status. A series of 164 cases of high risk pregnancies were studied in order to assess predictive value of a nonstress test. The majority (36%) of patients complained about postdate pregnancy. A nonreactive test was identified in 24 of the patients (14.6%). Fetal distress, low Apgar score in 1 and 10 minutes after birth and mean of Apgar score in 5 minutes, cesarean section due to fetal distress, congenital anomalies, need of neonatal care, IUGR, abnormal presentation and perinatal death were much more common in the group of pregnancies with a nonreactive NST than in the group with reactive test. The difference was statistically significant. A reactive test was found to be a good predictor of the healthy fetus. Negative predictive value and specifity of the test were found 80% and 91.9%, respectively. The nonreactive test could identify a population at risk but it was not helpful as a stand alone modality in decision making, because of the low sensitivity and positive predictive value rates (33.3% and 58%).

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Zinc is one of the elements necessary for growth and health in human. Some evidences indicate that zinc deficiency is one of real difficulties for the public health in both developed and developing countries. Since the pregnant women are more at risk of zinc deficiency, the objective of this study was to determine the rate of zinc deficiency in pregnant women in the 3 trimesters and to compare these data with that of the healthy controls.
Methods:  This research was an analytic- descriptive study which was done on 677 pregnant women in 3 Trimesters and 140 non pregnant groups who referred to clinic of Tehran University. Blood sample were taken And serum zinc was assessed By Enzymatic technique.
Results:  The prevalence of zinc deficiency is 16% in pregnancy and 0% in non pregnant women with a significant difference between two groups (p<0.001). Zinc deficiency had no relation to mother's age, gestational age, Iron supplementation, Parity and mothers BMI. Hemoglobin level showed a direct relation to zinc deficiency and was grossly found to be more prevalent in Hb levels less than 12 (CI: 1/36-4/26, OR=2/4).
Conclusion: Acording to the finding of presented study, zinc deficiency is more prevalent in Hb<12 inspite of iron supplementation. Iron and zinc supplements in pregnancy period seem to be more effective for Hb repair in each case.

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Background: Uterine contractions and an appropriate cervix are two important factors in labor contributing to good pregnancy outcomes. Oxytocin and prostaglandins, such as misoprostol, are used for the induction of labor. Misoprostol is used for cervical ripening and labor induction. The aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of titrated oral misoprostol solution with oxytocin for labor induction in pregnant women with an unfavorable cervix.

Methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 140 women with a gestational age of 34-42 weeks and an unfavorable cervix were recruited. The participants had an indication for labor induction and had been referred to the Women's Hospital in Tehran, Iran between January 2010 and January 2011. The participants were randomly assigned to receive 20 µg/hour titrated oral misoprostol plus intravenous placebo or 6 mU/min oxytocin plus oral placebo. In case contractions were inadequate, the drug doses were gradually increased. Pharmacological complications, the mean interval from the start of induction till vaginal delivery and delivery type were monitored and analyzed in both groups.

Results: The mean interval from the start of induction till vaginal delivery in misoprostol group was shorter than the oxytocin group (11.07±3.42 vs. 14.87±3.21 hours, P=0.001). The frequency of pharmacological complications and vaginal or cesarean deliveries were similar between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Use of titrated oral misoprostol is a safe and effective method for labor induction in pregnant women with unfavorable cervix. Misoprostol is associated with a shorter interval from induction to vaginal delivery than oxytocin.