جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « وزن تولد » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

Premature birth is common worldwide and can affect the development of brain structures, such as the optic nerve. Eye diseases are very common in low birth weight children and premature children. Vision defects associated with premature birth include Retinopathy of premature babies (ROP), decreased visual acuity, strabismus, amblyopia, and various types of refractive errors. Studies have shown that the occurrence of myopia in children born prematurely is negatively correlated with gestational age and birth weight and is directly related to the severity of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP). Advances in neonatal intensive care unit services have led to a significant increase in the survival rate of premature infants and subsequent medical problems in these children. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of refractive errors in 4-6-year-old children born with a birth weight of less than 2000 grams and gestational age of less than 34 weeks and normal children admitted to the neonatal department of Bou-Ali Sina Hospital in Sari in 2016-2018.

This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study on 43 children aged 4-6 years who were born with a weight of less than 2000 grams and gestational age of less than 34 weeks, and 17 normal children who were admitted in the neonatal department of Bou-Ali Sina Hospital due to neonatal jaundice. The study subjects were in four groups: 12 subjects in group A (ROP cases without injection), 14 subjects in group B (ROP cases with injection), 17 subjects in group C (cases with birth weight less than 2000 grams and gestational age less than 34 weeks without ROP), and 17 normal subjects in group D. Uncorrected distance visual acuity was measured using E-chart. Dry and cyclo refraction (using cyclopentolate 1%) were measured using an autorefractometer. Finally, the fundus was examined using a biomicroscope and 90 diopter lens. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 26.

of the 60 studied subjects, 46.67% were females and 53.33% were males, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of the two sexes between the groups (P=0.146). In total, 12.1% of the studied subjects were myopie, 34.5% were emmetrope, and 53/4% were hypermetrope. Although the prevalence of hypermetropia was higher than other types of refractive errors in all groups, the prevalence of myopia was higher in those with ROP than in groups without ROP, and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of refractive errors in different groups (P=0.025). There was no significant difference between the prevalence of the different types of astigmatism in the studied groups (P=0.304) and with the rule astigmatism was the most common type among all groups. There was a significant and direct relationship between gestational age and birth weight with cyclo-equivalent sphere, which means that the lesser gestational age (P=0.356, r=0.006) and birth weight (P=0.002, r=0.387), the higher the probability of myopia.

Considering the higher prevalence of myopia in low birth weight children, especially in children with ROP, it is necessary to formulate a regular program to screen this category of children to prevent refractive errors, especially myopia in the future.

</span> Retinopathy of prematurity is a complex developmental disease of retinal vessels in premature infants. Improvements in preterm care services are associated with an increased risk of advanced stages of retinopathy of prematurity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of treated retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants on ocular structural outcomes.</span></span></span>

</span> This cross-sectional study was conducted on 962 infants with retinopathy of prematurity referred to Al-Zahra Ophthalmology Hospital from 2018 to 2021. Based on the severity of the disease, the patients were followed up or treated with laser and intravitreal injection. In treated retinopathy of prematurity, structural outcomes of the eye were recorded as favorable and unfavorable outcomes. The favorable outcome was considered as regression of plus and new vessels, and unfavorable outcomes were considered as lens opacity and retinal detachment. Birth weight, gender, gestational age, mechanical ventilation, duration of oxygen use, history of radiation therapy, sepsis, respiratory distress, blood transfusion, and age at diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity were recorded and analyzed for each patient. </span></span></span>

</span> The mean birth weight and gestational age at birth were 1760.65±457.90 grams and 32.37±2.39 weeks. 869 eyes were untreated and 93 eyes were treated. The incidence of adverse outcomes in those who were treated was 5.37%. Logistic regression test showed that gestational age, birth weight, stage of disease and area of retinal involvement had a significant relationship with adverse treatment outcomes (p=0.001).</span></span></span>

</span></span> Based on the results of this study, in retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment, lower gestational age, lower birth weight, more severe disease stage and more central involvement area should be considered as risk factors for adverse structural outcomes of treatment.</span></span></span></div>

Since Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness, the identification of contributed risk factors is crucial. In recent years, great attention has been paid to maternal factors. The reason is that maternal factors can directly affect fetus via intrauterine hypoxia. However, the results of this studies are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal factors on the development of ROP.

In a prospective study, 150 premature infants with the gestational age of less than 32 weeks and birth weight of less than 1500 grams were examined. They divided into two groups based on ophthalmologic examination; those with ROP and those without ROP. Variables of study including maternal age, injection of corticosteroid in the last week of pregnancy, history of maternal diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, hypertension, anemia, thyroid, renal, cardiovascular and rheumatologic diseases were compared between groups.

Forty-seven infants (31.33 %) had ROP. The mean age of gestational age was 27.89 weeks in ROP group and 29.06 weeks in non-ROP group. The mean birth weight was 1180.53 grams in ROP group and 1079.44 grams in non-ROP group. There were no statistically important differences regarding to maternal factors between two groups.

The above mentioned maternal factors have no effect on the development of ROP.

Obesity in childhood can be a predictor of a variety of disorders in adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between birth weight and breastfeeding pattern with obesity in children at the beginning of elementary school.

This case-control study was conducted with 84 obese children as control group and 84 children with normal weight as case group. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.

There was no significant relationship between obesity in childhood with birth weight and breastfeeding pattern. However, there was a significant relationship between the father’s body mass index (BMI) and the child obesity (P = 0.011).

There was no relationship between the obesity of children with birth weight and breastfeeding pattern. Since obesity has a very complex relationship with environmental, genetic, cultural, and lifestyle factors including nutritional habits and physical activity in the years after birth, birth weight and type of feeding pattern in the first year of life cannot be a strong predictor for assessing the incidence and prevalence of obesity during this period. Therefore, further studies are recommended to identify the factors influencing childrenchr('39')s obesity.

Inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) may increase risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. To prevent these risks, determining optimal weight gain is a priority in prenatal care. The objective of this study was to determine the GWG of women referring to health centers for their prenatal care visits in Tehran in 2016.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran, Iran. The study population included all pregnant women receiving prenatal care visits from April 2016 to March 2017 in 12 health centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti and Iran Universities of Medical Sciences. The sampling method was census and a total of 232 people were surveyed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 23 using statistics of frequency, mean and standard deviation. To investigate the relationship between variables, correlation method was used by using Pearson's correlation coefficient at a significance level of 0.05.

The mean (SD) of age of women was 28.6 (5.4) with a range of 18 to 40 years. According to the pre-pregnancy body mass index, among 220 pregnant women, 6 (2.7%) were underweight, 112 (50.9%) were normal, 78 (35.4%) were overweight, and 24 (11%) people were obese. The mean (SD) of GWG was 11.7 (4.3) kilograms and among 177 pregnant women, 76 (42.9%) had GWG within, 55 (31.1%) had GWG below and 46 (26) had GWG above guidelines.

The prevalence of GWG above guidelines was higher in overweight and obese women than underweight and normal women in this study. Therefore, achieving the appropriate weight before pregnancy and close monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy is recommended.

The birth weight of a newborn is one of the important indicators of growth, survival, and development of the child. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the birth weight of the newborn and the maternal weight and maternal weight gain during pregnancy.

This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 92 pregnant women in Vali-e-Asr hospital in Fasa, Iran, during the second half of the year 2016. Samples were selected by systematic random sampling. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that its validity and reliability were checked and approved. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression.

The mean weight of newborns at birth was 3181.20±589.29 g. The mean BMI of mothers before and at the end of pregnancy was 23.97±5.54 and 29.61±7.55 g, respectively. The findings indicated that there was a linear relationship between the weight of newborns and maternal weight at the beginning (r=0.23, P-Value<0.05) and at the end (r=0.24, P-Value<0.05) of pregnancy. There was no significant relationship between the birth weight and mother’s job, number of previous deliveries, type of delivery, pregnancy age, taking supplements, and sex of the baby (p>0.05). But a significant relationship was observed between the parental raltionship and time of the delivery (premature and timely) and weight of newborns (P-Value<0.05).

The findings of this study indicates the influence of pre-pregnancy weight and maternal weight gain during pregnancy on the birth weight of the newborn. Therefore, healthcare providers should pay special attention to fitting and regulating the weight of pregnant women.

Physical activity during pregnancy is one of the factors that have beneficial effects on the health of the mother and fetus. This study aimed to determine the pattern of physical activity in nulliparous pregnant women referred to Shaheed Mostafa Khomeini hospital.

This study was an analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted on 268 healthy nulliparous women in Mostafa Khomeini hospital. The survey tool was a standard questionnaire of physical activity during pregnancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16).

Only 36.2% of cases had walking pattern in accordance to the guidelines. A significant percentage of the daily activities of the subjects involved house work, mainly in the form of sitting activities (7.34 ± 2.60). The average time spent on sports activities was their least daily activity (0.14 ± 0.08 day/hour). Major activities of mothers were light and inactive. Generally, normal delivery was 30.6% of all deliveries. In 58.6% of subjects, weight gain during pregnancy was greater than recommended rate. There was a significant relationship between the type of delivery and physical activity and sport, so that those who had more walking had a higher probability of normal delivery (p= 0.03).

The results of this study support the positive effects of physical activity during pregnancy. However, due to its low popularity in the pregnant women, the appropriate approach is required from relevant institutions including universities and pregnancy care centers.

Developmental and behavioral disorders are the most prevalent problems in children after infection and trauma. Growth and development are influenced by genetic, social and environmental factors that incept of the early life of the fetal and neonatal periods. Due to the importance of the development in children, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between growth indices at birth and developmental status in infancy.
This case-control study investigated 6 to 18 months old infants, who referred to comprehensive health centers affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from August to December 2017. The sample size in this study was 200 infants and the participants were evaluated in two groups of 100 subjects (developmental delay and normal development). Anthropometric indices at birth were collected from healthcare records, and developmental status was measured using the ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ). The developmental status of the children was measured in five domains, i.e., motor (gross and fine motor skills), problem-solving, personal-social skills and communication. A significance level was considered statistically The mean age of the infants in the developmental delay group was 12.63±1.72 months and the mean age of the infants in control group was 12.68±1.69 months and 45.6% of children in the developmental delay group were female and 54.4% of children in the developmental delay group were male. The most prevalence developmental delay in case group was in the area of personal-social domain (26.9%) and the lowest prevalence developmental delay in the area of the gross motor (12.7%). No correlation was found between head circumference (P= 0.32) and height at birth (P= 0.11) and developmental status. However, there was a significant relationship between developmental delay in the area of the communication (P= 0.04) and gross motor (P= 0.02) with birth weight. Pearson correlation indicate a correlation between developmental delay in the area of the gross motor and birth weight (P= 0.01).
It seems that birth weight was a factor that is associated with developmental delay. In this study low birth weight correlated with developmental delay in communication and gross motor aspects of ASQ.

Since birth weight is one of the most important health indicators, we decided to investigate the factors related to the low birth weight (LBW) of the infants in the south of Kerman Province.
Material and This case-control study included 300 cases of neonates in Jiroft City. 150 neonates with low birth weight (less than 2500 g) were placed in the case group and our control group included 150 neonates with normal birth weights. Data were extracted from the health documents of the neonates and categorized into four groups including demographic data of the parents, pregnancy data, parental risk behaviors and infant characteristics. Using SPSS software version 20, data were analyzed by single and multivariate logistic regression.
Single-variable regression analysis showed the possibility of having LBW neonate was higher in the mothers over 35 years of age, or with a history of illness, smoking and drug abuse compared to the neonates in other groups. Also, poor care, old age of fathers and high maternal weight were associated with an increased rate of LBW. Multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant difference between all the above - mentioned variables except the age of the fathers, in relation to LBW of the neonates. In addition, low birth weight was more likely in the babies born through cesarean section and neonates born to the mothers with high school diploma compared to the neonates in other groups.
Prevention of pregnancy at an older age, mother's education about avoiding drug use and smoking, as well as prenatal care are suitable measures for prevention of LBW.

Some changes in newborns growth indices are related to several risk factors; though, a distinct etiology is unknown. Due to the available evidence about highly concentrated levels of lead in our province particularly in comparison to non-contaminated regions, this study was designed to evaluate the relationship between lead levels of umbilical cord blood and newborns birth weight variations in Zanjan, Iran.
300 newborns were enrolled in this case-control study in Zanjan province. Cord blood samples were obtained from 150 low birth weight (LBW) infants (birth weight lower than 2500 gr) as the case group, and 150 normal weight infants (weight= 2500-4000 gr.) as the control group. The blood lead level was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The collected data were analyzed using independent t-test.
Umbilical cord blood lead level was significantly high in LBW newborns (79.17±37.10 mg/L) in comparison with the control group (73.4±42.9 mg/L). there was not this type of relationship(raised mean level of umbilical cord blood lead in LBW newborns compared to normal weight newborns)in newborn groups who distributed based on mother’s age and education level variables but there was significant statistical differences in mean level of lead in both these groups in according with gender variable.
High blood level of lead in cord blood samples can potentially be considered as one of the reasons for LBW.

Background and Obstetricians and neonatologists have a major challenge in determining the viability of preterm newborns that has an important role in choosing the mode of delivery and evaluation of post-natal care. This study, evaluated the viability of preterm infants born in Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad. This descriptive–analytical study was performed between 2009 2013 in 1471 premature infants in Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad. The study population included all preterm infants born in delivery room and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Neonatal data were collected for two groups (deceased and discharged alive as case and control group) including age, weight, Apgar scores at first and fifth minutes after birth, gestational age, mode of delivery, final diagnosis, blood cultures and type of congenital anomaly. In our study approximately ten percent of neonates born at less than 25 weeks survived. While this rate was 69% in thirty- two weeks old. A high risk of neonatal death (85%) was observed in infants weighing 400-700 gr while this risk was 12.4% in newborns weighing 1500-1251 gr. The most common risk factors of death in premature infants were respiratory problems (35%), asphyxia (24%), congenital anomalies (16%), and infections (15%). This study showed that neonates with gestational age ≥27.5 weeks weighing ≥920 gr survived in our center. Respiratory problems, asphyxia, congenital anomalies, and infection were amongst the main predisposing causes of death in premature infants.

In many countries، pregnant women’s breastfeeding of the older baby is common and may lead to oxytocin release، uterine contraction and increased maternal energy need. The probable consequences of lactation during pregnancy on the pregnancy outcome and newborn are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the breastfeeding the older baby during the pregnancy on the pregnancy outcome and newborns’ birth sizes. In this case-control study، during 9 months in maternity units of Birjand، of 2308 multiparous pregnant mothers، 320 were selected through sequential sampling method. The case group consisted of 80 mothers who were breastfeeding the older child during their current pregnancy. Control group included 240 mothers homogenized with the case group، who stopped breastfeeding to the old baby at least 3 months before pregnancy. Two clinical trained nurses gathered newborns birth weight، height، head circumference and pregnancy outcome of two groups. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 software، student T، Pearson correlation، chi square، Mann-Whitney، and Fisher’s exact tests. There was no significant difference between the pregnancy outcome in the case and control groups (p=0. 36)، and between the pregnancy outcome and mothers’ breastfeeding behaviors in case group (p=0. 69). The mean of newborns’ birth weight (p=0. 45)، height (p=0. 15)، and head circumference (p=0. 31) in two groups had no significant difference. Breastfeeding of healthy pregnant mothers to their older child has no remarkable effect on the pregnancy outcome، newborn’s birth weight، height and head circumference.

Outcomes of unintended pregnancies may endanger reproductive health. Studies have shown that women with unintended pregnancies are less likely to care for their health promotion activities, adequate nutrition and their fetus’ health.The objective of this cross sectional study was to compare unintended and intended pregnancy outcomes.A descriptive design was used for this study. A sample of 225 women attended to Tehran hospitals in 2007 were included in the study. Participants of the study were selected by stratified sampling method. An information form was used to collect data. Its validity and reliability were achieved by content and test-retest methods, respectively. Pregnancy outcomes including birth weight, height, head and chest circumference and Apgar score were investigated. Data analysis was done using SPSS 15 and t test, 2 and factor analysis. The mean age of participants was 25.86 (SD=4.6) years and 28% of participants reported their pregnancy as unintended. There was a significant association between unintended pregnancy and head circumference, p<0.05. Although, there were no significant association between unintended pregnancy and the other outcomes, these outcomes were poorer in the unintended pregnancy group as compared to the intended pregnancy group. With regard to these results, it was hoped that the results of this study could emphasis on the efficiency of our data as a robust basis for future interventions regarding preventive strategies to decrease unintended pregnancy

Birth-weight is affected by many factors. Some studies have shown that season of birth may be affected on birth-weight. However، there is less information about this effete mechanisms underlying. This study was carried out to define the relationship among birth weight and season of birth and some related factors. This analytical cross-sectional study was held on 808 children under one year old who were attended to health centers of west of Ahvaz in 2008. Samples were randomly selected in two stages. Data were gathered through questionnaire and were analyzed by the means of statistical SPSS software version 17، Chi-Square and Pearson correlation tests، ANOVA، and linear regression. P value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Mean birth-weight was 3273. 5±525. 4، 3251. 6±421. 3، 3280. 5±547. 6 and 3192. 9 ±518. 4 gram in spring، summer، autumn and winter respectively. Although there was no significant correlation between these variables، a seasonal rhythm in mean birth-weight was observed. The rates of low birth weight were 4. 9% with highest rate (6. 5%) in winter. The relationship between birth-weight and other variables such as sex، birth rank، maternal age، and weight gain in pregnancy were significantly positive (p<0. 05). In regards to the findings، improvement of proper and efficient prenatal care، educational and interventional programs focusing on gestational weight-gain and special care of nuliparous women can play an important role in increasing birth weight.

Recent studies have reported that high and low maternal pre-pregnancy weight is accompanied with adverse pregnancy outcome including preterm labor and low birth weight or macrosomia. The purpose of the present study is to find the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and spontaneous preterm labor and birth weight. This cohort study was performed on 576 pregnant women who referred to Shahid Akbarabadi hospital in Tehran in year 2008. 396 women finally finished the study. Maternal BMI was determined at the first prenatal visit (between 8-12 weeks of pregnancy) then the women were followed up to delivery. Gestational age at the time of delivery and neonatal weight were recorded and their results were investigated in four groups: underweight (BMI<20 kg/m2)، normal weight (BMI=20-24. 9 kg/m2)، over weight (BMI=25-29. 9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI=30-40 kg/m2). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 15)، T-test، ANOVA، Chi-square and Pearson correlation tests and linear regression model. P less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. The women in all BMI groups had no significant differences according to age، height، history of abortion and occupation. 21 women (5. 3%) were underweight، 198 women (50%) had normal weight، 117 women (29. 5%) were overweight and 60 (15. 2%) were obese. No case of morbidly obese was seen. Obesity had positive correlation with higher gestational age at the time of delivery (r=0. 213، p=0. 015) and more birth weight (r=0. 361، p=0. 008). In contrast، low birth weight had correlation with low maternal weight (r=0. 157، p=0. 041). Macrosomia was more in obese women (p=0. 022) and BMI had positive correlation with macrosomia (r=0. 224، p=0. 034). Preterm labor showed a negative correlation with BMI (r=-0. 124، p=0. 004) and preterm labor was seen more in women with lower BMI (p=0. 035). Overweight women was more high risk for macrosomia، while، low birth weight (LBW) and spontaneous preterm labor were seen more in underweight mothers.

High blood pressure in children, especially in developing countries is growing. Birth weight, age and anthropometric parameters such as current height and weight as factors in childhood hypertension and adolescents have been considered. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in children school and it's correlation with birth weight and current height and weight.

In a cross-sectional study, between 2006-2008 among 1195924 students in Tehran's schools, 2040 individuals were selected by multistage random sampling method. Inclusion criteria were age 6 to 19 years, physical health and having health card. The twins, students with hypertensive and smoker mothers were excluded. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS software version 16. The multiple regression analysis equation was used to determine the predictors of blood pressure levels.

69 students(3.4%), including 4.84% of girls and 3.5% of boys had high blood pressure(p=0.14). Significant direct correlation between age, current weight, current height, and body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found. However, birth weight has a weak reverse linear correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure(respectively=-0.152 and r=-0.111, p<0.001).

Attention to Current size, especially Current weight with consideration to birth weight can be helpful to predict blood pressure in adulthood. This is important in monitoring the weight and blood pressure in children, especially child with an abnormal birth weight and overweight children.

Plasma ascorbic acid level is a reasonable index of reports which suggest that decreased maternal ascorbic acid level is associated with certain complications such as prematurity,preeclampsia, low birth weight and increased prenatal mortality. Our objective was to determine the pattern of ascorbic acid levels in mothers and their newborns and its relationship with birth weight. The current research studied 101 mothers, who were administrated for childbirth in 5 different hospitals in Shiraz, and their newborns..Their anthropometric characteristics were recorded, blood sample were collected from mothers before the delivery, and cord blood was collected after the delivery. Plasma ascorbic acid was measured by colorimetric method. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Mean of birth weight was 3233.871 ± 411.43 grams. Moreover the mean of maternal age was 23.604 ± 9.97 years. Mean maternal plasma ascorbic acid was 1.22 mg/dl and significantly lower than in the cord blood, which was 1.97 mg/dl (p < 0.001). Plasma ascorbic acid was correlated to birth weight, and showed a significant difference in birth weight groups of lower than 3215 grams (P = 0.0006). The higher level of ascorbic acid in the cord blood is in agreement with the "Selective Retention" hypothesis. On the other hand, it seems necessary to consider vitamin C as an important part of the maternal diet for maintaining optimal plasma level, which supports the newborn for optimal health and birth weight, especially during pregnancy.

Recently, this hypothesis suggests that increased consumption of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (unsaturated fatty acids with long-chain omega-3) a notable effects on the outcome of pregnancy, but evidence about the effects of this acid on the duration of pregnancy and birth weight is limit and contradictory.Therefore the present study aimed to examine the effect of supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid on the gestational length and birth weight. In this clinical trial study, 120 healthy pregnant women were randomly divided into two groups of 60 persons. Prenatal care, while the same for both groups was performed, only the intervention group, from 16 weeks to the end of pregnancy, a daily fish oil capsules 1000 mg Salm Containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 129 mg docosahexaenoic acid was given. Samples until delivery for the gestational length and birth weight were followed. Birth weight and gestational length, by geram and week day was recorded in list. Then data using the software SPS, with T Test and Mann-Whitney test analysis, parametric tests were analyzed in comparison. In 48 control samples and 44 intervention samples group, the average gestational length in the control group, 39.13±1.20 weeks and days, in the intervention group was 39.12±0.93. T test showed no significant difference between the two groups. Average birth weight infants in the control group 3367.08±441.07 g and intervention group 3083.64±452.43 g. T-test showed significant differences between the two groups (P=0.003). So average weight of infants in the intervention group, 284 g less of controls. The results of this study showed that adding supplements docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the diet of pregnant mothers was associated with reduce birth weight and has not effect on the gestational length.

Considering the iron supplementation during pregnancy and the problems due to over using of this supplementation, almostall women take iron supplementation during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the iron supplementation prophylactic on outcome and the problems of pregnancies. In this double- blind randomized clinical trial study 129 women with Hb > 110 g/l, serum ferritin > 20 µg/l and gestational age less than 20 weeks were randomly divided to receive either of ferrous sulfate tablets (n=62), 1 table / day (60 mg) or placebo (n=67). Hemoglobin and ferritin were also measured in the 24-28th weeks and at the end of pregnancy. In addition, weight and length were recorded at the beginning and during the pregnancy in both groups. Data were analyzed using independent-t test, ANOVA, and Chi square tests. Iron deficiency prevalence in Fe and placebo groups was found 5.8 and 24.8 percent in the 24-28th weeks (P=0.002) and 9.5 and 28.2 percent at the end of the study respectively. No significant differences were found in hemoglobin and ferritin indices during the study in both groups. Average birth weight was 3.30±0.49 Kg and 3.27±0.47 Kg in Fe and placebo groups, respectively. Average length birth was 49.1±3.9 cm in Fe group versus 49.3±4.4 cm in placebo group. Duration of gestation in Fe and placebo groups were 38.9±1.7 weeks and 38.8±2.2 weeks, respectively (P>0.05). The results of this study showed that iron supplementation during pregnancy may have no effect on pregnancy outcome. It is obvious that because of more iron deficiency prevalence in placebo group, absolute conclusion about whether iron supplementation prophylactic during pregnancy is useful or not, more studies are needed in the future.

Preterm delivery accounts for preterm labor or birth before 37th weeks of gestation that is the cause of two third of prenatal mortality and one of the problems in obstetrics and hormonal factors are reported to be effective. Progesterone is a placental hormone and effective in maintaining pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in preterm delivery prevention.

This interventional clinical trial was performed on 100 pregnant women who referred to obstetrics clinic of Ghaem hospital affiliated to mashhad university of medical sciences during 2007 to 2008. They were randomly divided into two groups of 50 cases and 50 controls. The case group received intramuscular 250 mg 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection weekly at 16th up to 37th week of gestational. In control group, routine prenatal cares was performed and then pregnancy outcomes were compared in two groups. Data was analyzed using student t-test and chi square test by SPSS 11 software.

Mean gestational age was 36 weeks in case group and 32 weeks in control group. Mean birth weight was 2299 grams in case group and 2695 grams in control group. Ggestational age and birth weight had significant difference in two groups (p<0.05).

Weekly administration of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in pregnant women with history of preterm delivery decrease preterm labor and induced improvement of birth weight.