Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that has harmful effects on mothers, infants, family and relationships. Acute decrease of progesterone after delivery has been proposed as a cause for postpartum depression. This hormone can affect neurotransmitters' function. Zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) as trace elements exert their antidepressant effects through neurotransmitter pathways. On the other hand, thiamin (Vit B1) deficiency leads to depression in animal models. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of combination of zinc, magnesium and thiamine on postpartum depression and role of nitrergic system.

Methods: One hundred ten female mice in five groups were used. Postpartum depression was conducted using progesterone injections. Combinations of Zinc chloride, magnesium chloride and thiamine HCL were administered 30 minutes before open field and forced swimming test (FST). In order to investigate role of nitrergic system, L-arginine and LNAME were administered.

Results: All treatment groups spent less immobility time than the control group (p< 0.05). Combined administration of Zn+ Mg+ Vit B1 caused the most reduction in immobility time. Administration of L-NAME in Zn+ Mg+ Vit B1 group caused reduction in immobility time while administration of L-arginine caused increase in immobility time in the same group.

Conclusion: Zinc, magnesium and thiamine can improve depressive symptoms by nitrergic pathway. These elements as supplement compounds could be alternatives for antidepressants in postpartum period.

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Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major depressive disorder and one of the most common complications of childbearing. PPD has a serious impact on the quality of life of all family members. Oxidative stress is one of the contributing factors in pathophysiology of major depression. Thus, drugs with potential antioxidant action could be an attractive target for treatment of depressive disorders. Matricaria Chamomilla and Selenium are natural sources of antioxidant. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of oral administration of Matricaria Chamomilla aqueous extract and Selenium on experimental model of progesterone-induced postpartum depression and plasma oxidant-antioxidant system in mice. Methods: Seventy adult female mice in seven groups were used in this study. All animals received daily injections of progesterone 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally for five days after which progesterone was withdrawn for three days. After modelling postpartum depression with progesterone withdrawal, Matricaria Chamomilla 300 mg/kg and Selenium 0.1 mg/kg and their combination were administered via gavage and imipramine 15 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally one hour before open field and forced swimming test (FST). In order to investigate the role of oxidant-antioxidant system, PAB and MDA were meatured. Results: All the treatment groups and the standard group spent less immobility time than the control group (P<0.05). Significant changes in the oxidative parameter (PAB and MDA) were not observed in all treatment groups and the standard group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the potential antidepressant activity of Matricaria chamomilla and Selenium in the experimental model of progesterone-induced postpartum depression in mice. These elements as supplement compounds could be alternatives for antidepressants in postpartum period. It seems that the antidepresent effects of this compounds do not induced by effects on oxidant-antioxidant system and may exert through any other pathway.

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cBackground: Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant form of gestational trophoblastic disease. It is characterized by metastatic potential, rapid growth and deeply invasion into blood vessel and then widespread dissemination metastasis. However, the most common sites of metastatic choriocarcinoma are lung, vagina, liver, and brain. But, metastatic choriocarcinomas rarely is extended to gastrointestinal system. It is im-portant to keep in mind that despite extensive metastasis, choriocarcinoma is very curable disease. Due to high responsibility of this disease, early diagnosis of choriocarcinoma and treatment with chemotherapy can prevent mortality and morbidity of these patients. In this case report, we present a rare case of metastatic choriocarcinoma in the small bowel after normal term pregnancy. Case Presentation: A 34-years-old woman G4, P4, L4 presented with abnormal postpar-tum vaginal bleeding (45 days) and unresponsive to usual medical and surgical therapy (oxytocine, metergene, antibiotic, and double curettage). The patient was admitted in the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in April 2013. She suf-fered from rectal hemorrhage and severe weakness. Because of unsuitable condition (shock), laparotomy was performed and small bowel involvement was observed. Seg-mental resection of small bowel detected metastatic choriocarcinoma of the lesion. We couldn’t rescue our patient due to unresponsive to combination chemotherapy (actino-mycine, methotrexate, cyclophosfamide, vincrystine, etopuside). Conclusion: In abnormal postpartum hemorrhage, we should consider the possibility of choriocarcinoma. Although, it is important to note rare manifestations of metastatic choriocarcinoma of small bowel in massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

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Background: Maternal mortality is one of the most important indicators of women health standard in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of risk factors and etiology of maternal mortality in a geographic region of Iran. Methods: This descriptive- analytic cross sectional study included all pregnant women who died during pregnancy and six weeks after delivery due to pregnancy related fac-tor. The study was done in Sistan region in the north of Sistan and Baluchestan Prov-ince of Iran from April 2002 to March 2014. The immigrant women were excluded. Data were collected using 3 parts questionnaire. The validity and reliability of ques-tioner were approved by experts in this field. Data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS version 18, Chi-square test and ANOVA analysis were performed. Results: The total number of deliveries during this time period was 60496. The total number of maternal mortality was 57 patients which means 94.2 out of 100.000 live births. Most of the dead mothers had more than 35 years old (46.9%), gestational age was more than 22 weeks (77.2%), gravidity more than 4 (21.1%), pregnancy interval lower than two years (46.9%) and 75.4% of death was in post-partum. The main cause of mortality was post-partum hemorrhage (19.3%). Conclusion: Based on our findings, some factors including multiparity, pregnancy his-tory more than 4 times, short interval between pregnancies lower than 2 years and ma-ternal age more than 35 years were some risk factors for maternal death. Maternal mortality in the postpartum period was more than pre-delivery period. Bleeding was the main cause of maternal mortality. Therefore monitoring of vital signs in the post-partum period and the proper management of bleeding are very important. It is sug-gested that risk assessment should be done for pregnant women in delivery ward for detecting high risk pregnant women. Suitable management for these women especially for patients with postpartum hemorrhage plays an important role to decrease the ma-ternal mortality.

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Background: Approximately 50% to 80% of women experience varying degrees of postpartum depression. Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, including depression. Common production of lipid peroxidation by oxidative stress is malondialdehyde (MDA). The endocannabinoid system is a nervous regulator and convoy the impression that the circulatory levels of endocannabinoid is significantly reduced in depressed women. The major purpose of this paper was to evaluate activity of the major antioxidant and endocannabinoid index in postpartum depression. Methods: A total of 130 women were entered in a case-control study in 12 Bahman Health Center from April 2011 to August 2011. In 4th to 6th week after delivery, women were equally divided into 2 groups based on Edinburg questionnaire (normal and postpartum depressive women). Serum MDA, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and RBC catalase levels were determined to investigate the oxidative status. In addition, Mass spectrometry was applied for the analysis of serum anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Results: Based on Edinburg questionnaire, however, women age, husband age, husband marital number, gravidity, children number, salary and house size have no significant effect on postpartum depression, marital period was significantly increased postpartum depression (P< 0.05). In addition, women education, husband education, wanted or unwanted pregnancy from women, neonatal sex, satisfaction of neonatal sex from women and husbands, breast feeding and delivery have no significant effect on postpartum depression, and women Job (P< 0.001), husband job (P< 0.001), wanted or unwanted pregnancy from husbands (P< 0.05) were significantly changed postpartum depression. Serum MDA and RBC catalase levels were not significantly higher in depress compared with the normal group. TAC was significantly decreased in patients having postpartum depression (P< 0.05). Serum AEA and 2-AG levels were significantly lower in depress compared with the normal group (P< 0.01). Conclusion: Women’s Job, husband’s job, wanted or unwanted pregnancy from husbands and marital period are associated to postpartum depression. In postpartum depression, TAC, AEA and 2-AG are reduced. So it can be concluded that both antioxidant system and endocannabinoid concentration involved in the development of postpartum depression.

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Background: The most common symptom of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Despite repeated visits of patients with postpartum choriocarcinoma and abnormal postpartum hemorrhage, delayed diagnosis leads to advanced disease with widespread metastasis. Therefore, occurrence of choriocarcinoma with variable patterns in different diagnosis of late onset postpartum hemorrhage should be considered. Early diagnosis of choriocarcinoma after term pregnancy is important that resulted in decrease of maternal morbidity. Therefor late onset postpartum hemorrhage should have an awareness. The aim of this study was to report a case of choriocarcinoma after caesarian section. Case Presentation: A 33-years-old woman one month after antecedent caesarian section in her second pregnancy admitted with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Based on raised titer concentration of β-hCG was 187000 u, with clinical suspicious of choriocarcinoma she was referred to oncology department of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2016. Vaginal exam revealed an enlarged uterus about 10 weeks of pregnancy. Transvaginal sonography showed an intracavitary heterogeneous mass with irregular surface in fundus without myometrium invasion. Extra pelvic metastasis excluded via vaginal exam, pulmonary X-ray and, ultrasonography and computed tomography scan. Due to early stage of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and diagnosis of this condition, single agent chemotherapy (methotrexate) was recommended, but because of unresponsive disease, subsequently, she was treated with combination chemotherapy (etoposide, methotrexate, and actinomycin, followed by cyclophosphamide and vincristine) that led to remarkable response. After three courses of therapy, normal level of β-hCG was observed and now the patient is free of disease and under-serial follow-up visit for choriocarcinoma. Conclusion: Diagnosis of choriocarcinoma should be considered in any postpartum woman with abnormal vaginal bleeding.

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Background: Late postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is defined as uterine bleeding between 24 hours until 12 weeks after delivery. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare cause of life-threatening late postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Emergency uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an appropriate method for control of hemorrhage. The aim of this report was to present a case of uterine artery embolization in late postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine artery pseudoaneurysm.

Case Presentation: A 25-year-old woman with the history of three previous cesarean sections was admitted 35 days after the last cesarean. She had severe vaginal bleeding for 35 days after cesarean section. Because of severe vaginal bleeding 35 days after cesarean section, the patient was at nearly shock state (BP=90.60 mmHg, positive tilt test, tachycardia PR=120/m). In speculum examination, she had severe vaginal bleeding, but there was no lesion in vagina or cervix, also, bimanual examination of the uterus and adnexal area were normal. She reanimated by two liters of normal saline and uterotonic agents (oxytocin and methergine) were administered.

Laboratory data showed severe anemia (Hb=6.5 gr/dl), but coagulation tests were normal. Ultrasonography didn’t show any abnormality. Because of continuation of vaginal bleeding after stabilization of the patient, UAE was planned. During pelvic angiography, a pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed and then it was treated by successful UAE.

Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization is a conservative management for control of late postpartum hemorrhage. It can be a useful and alternative method for uterine and hypogastric artery ligation and hysterectomy, therefore it has an important role in treatment and fertility preservation for young women.

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Background: Lochia is the slight vaginal bleeding between 24 hour to 12 week after delivery. There isn't any standard definition for difference between normal and abnormal lochia in post-partum period. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ultrasonic findings of the postpartum uterus after normal vaginal delivery with the duration of lochia discharge.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study was done in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from 2014 to 2015. In this study 160 women with non-complicated vaginal delivery were entered. Inclusion criteria were: Term pregnancy with gestational age > 37, singleton fetus with cephalic presentation. Exclusion criteria were pre-term pregnancies, previous Cesarean section or other uterine surgeries and twin fetuses. Transvaginal ultrasound was done in first 48 hours after delivery, endometrial thickness echogenicity and uterine size was evaluated. Maternal age, parity, duration of labor and neonatal weight were evaluated. Then the mothers were followed for 6 weeks. The quality and the quantity of lochia discharge were asked by the phone.

Results: Lochial discharge last more than 6 weeks in 96 out of 160 (60%). One had less than 4 weeks. The uterus length, thickness, height and endometrial length did not show any relationship with the duration of lochial discharge, but endometrial strip thickness significantly correlated with the duration of lochial discharge period (P=0.04). None of clinical variables like the number of gravidity, parity, live birth or child birth weight, were correlated to the duration of lochia discharge period, but the labor time was correlated to the duration of lochia discharge period (P=0.04). Although both endometrial thickness and labor time in univariate analysis were correlated to the lochia duration time but this was true just for endometrial thickness in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: The endometrial thickness in first 48 hours after normal vaginal delivery could predict the duration of lochia discharge, there wasn’t any correlation between lochia discharge period and other ultrasound parameters.

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Results: Sublingual misoprostol in combination with oxytocin infusion during cesarean section led to a significant decrease in postoperative blood loss for six hours after the surgery (P<0.001). The decline in the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and the amount of intraoperative hemorrhage were the same in both groups. Less additional uterotonic agents were needed in the misoprostol group. The frequency of fever and other side effects were similar in the two groups. Conclusion: It seems that adding sublingual misoprostol to oxytocin infusion among high-risk women for postpartum hemorrhage is more effective for reducing blood loss during and after cesarean section.

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