Showing 3 results for Preterm Labor
Hantoushzadeh S, Shariat M, Azamati F, Abdolmotallebi F,
Volume 65, Issue 7 (10-2007)
Abstract
Background: Over the past two decades we have seen a marked increase in the survival of very low birth weight infants. This increase in survival has been attributed to increased use of corticosteroids, regionalization of perinatal care, improved methods of mechanical ventilation, availability of exogenous surfactant, and improved nutritional therapy. However, the reduction in mortality has not been accompanied by a reduction in neonatal morbidity or long-term handicaps. Preterm labor is a major issue in Iran. Besides various etiologies, preterm labor may be due to a biochemical alteration, such as magnesium. It is known that magnesium plasma levels fall during pregnancy. Since magnesium has an inhibitory role on myometrial contractions attention has been paid to the role of magnesium deficiency in preterm labor. Hypomagnesemia leads to neuromuscular hyperexcitability resulting in muscle cramps and uterine hyperactivity. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum magnesium levels and preterm delivery in order to circumvent the high morbidity of preterm delivery by early diagnosis of this deficiency.
Methods: Serum magnesium was measured in 42 cases of preterm labor of idiopathic etiology (28-37 weeks) and 42 normal pregnancies at the same gestational age.
Results: Hypomagnesemia was variable in preterm labor cases, with only slightly low values in normal pregnant women.
Conclusion: Our study indicates that serum magnesium levels during pregnancy can be a valuable predictive tool for preterm labor. Hypomagnesemia must be considered in all pregnant women with preterm labor and supplementation must be provided effectively.
Khezerdost S, Bahadori F, Shafaat M, Yahyazadeh H, Yahyazadeh N, Amini E,
Volume 66, Issue 10 (1-2009)
Abstract
Background: Tumor cells need food and oxygen supply for growth and division. Therefore one of the most promising areas of cancer therapy focuses on using agents that inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Inhibition of angiogenesis prevents cell growth, division and metastasis. Previous studies showed that plasminogen related Protein-B has an anti-tumor activity in mice. This protein has a high level of homology with preactivation Peptide (PAP) of human plasminogen. According to this high homology, antiangiogeneic activity of PAP was investigated in an in vitro angiogenesis model.
Methods: PAP encoding region of human plasminogen gene was isolated by Polymerase Chain Reaction and cloned in pGEX-2T vector. This plasmid was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein (GST-PAP). GST-PAP was expressed as inclusion body and purified by affinity chromatography on GSH-sepharose resin after refolding. antiangiogenic effects of purified protein were surveyed with Matrigel assay.
Results: The GST-PAP was expressed and purified and its accuracy was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis and immunoblotting. Microscopic studies showed that GST-PAP inhibited angiogenesis in Matrigel system which is shown by shrinking the length of capillary like structures and a decrease in the number of tubule. While applying concentarations of 25μg/ml of GST-PAP and concentrations above that, antiangiogenic activity of GST-PAP was significant comparing to the controls.
Conclusion: Finding shows that GST-PAP can inhibit network formation in Matrigel system. This findings support the theory that PAP is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor.
Abootaleb Beigi , Nima Taheri , Hamid Reza Norouzi ,
Volume 71, Issue 3 (6-2013)
Abstract
Background: Very preterm birth (26-32 weeks) has an important effect on infant morta-lity and disability of infancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of very preterm delivery and early neonatal morbidity (the first 28 days after birth).
Methods: In this cross-sectional retrospective study, among 4393 delivery in Arash Women's Hospital in Tehran, 59 deliveries were very preterm that resulted in 79 very preterm neonate births. We assessed maternal risk factors and neonatal complications in women who were admitted for delivery from March 2009 to March 2010.
Results: Among 59 pregnant women, 17 (12/27%) had multiple pregnancies and 17 (12/27%) had premature rupture of fetal membranes. Caesarean section method was more common than normal vaginal delivery (46 cases- 97/77%). Women aged 18 to 35 had the highest rate of preterm delivery (45/86%). Among 79 very preterm neonates about half of them were very low birth weight, 74 neonates (93/67%) suffered from respiratory distress syndrome and 13 deaths were reported.
Conclusion: Premature birth is a multi-factorial phenomenon. Identifying maternal risk factors and increasing knowledge about it can decrease the rate of preterm labor. The prevention of premature labor is better than cure. Further prospective studies with large number of patients and long-term follow-up are recommended for better understanding of the phenomenon.
