MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six pregnant women attending the Antenatal Clinic, UMMC for their first antenatal check-up consented and were recruited for this study: 28 subjects with diseased periodontium (test group) and 28 subjects with healthy periodontium (control). The test group underwent nonsurgical periodontal therapy and the control group was given oral hygiene education. Periodontal parameters and CRP levels were evaluated at baseline and 6 weeks. Pregnancy outcome data were recorded from the Antenatal Clinic, UMMC.

RESULTS: Plasma CRP levels in the test group were statistically significantly elevated compared to the control group (8.55 ± 5.28 mg/l vs 5.66 ± 2.91 mg/l). After nonsurgical periodontal therapy, a statistically significant reduction in the CRP level in the test group (2.06 mg/l) along with statistically significant improvement in periodontal status in both groups was observed. The mean birth weight for infants of both groups showed no statistically significant difference.

METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2014, we conducted a nationwide case-control study, using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Obstetric complications and perinatal outcomes in SLE patients were compared with those without SLE.

RESULTS: 2059 SLE offspring and 8236 age-matched, maternal healthy controls were enrolled. We found increased obstetric and perinatal complications in SLE population compared with healthy controls. SLE patients exhibited increased risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia (8.98% vs.1.98%, odds ratio [OR]: 3.87, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 3.08-4.87, p<0.0001). Their offspring tended to have lower Apgar scores (<7) at both 1 min (10.7% vs. 2.58%, p<0.0001) and 5 min (4.25% vs. 1.17%, p<0.0001), as well as higher rates of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR, 9.91% vs. 4.12%, OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.85-2.71, p<0.0001), preterm birth (23.70% vs 7.56%, OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 2.61-3.45, p<0.0001), and stillbirth (4.23% vs. 0.87%, OR: 3.59, 95% CI: 2.54-5.06, p<0.0001). The risks of preterm birth and stillbirth were markedly increased in SLE patients with concomitant preeclampsia/eclampsia or IUGR. Preterm birth of SLE patients was 1~4 gestational weeks earlier than that of healthy controls and the peak occurrence of stillbirth in SLE population was at 20~30 gestational weeks.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional comparative study in a Malaysian tertiary obstetric hospital involving 200 non-smoking pregnant women at term, of whom 100 were secondhand smokers and 100 were non-secondhand smokers. Those with multiple pregnancies, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30kg/m2or who delivered by Caesarean section were excluded. The participants' basic demographic details, delivery details, neonatal outcome and placental weight were recorded. Umbilical cord blood samples were obtained, and cord blood cotinine levels were measured with a Cotinine ELISA kit. The primary outcomes were baby's birth weight, length, and head circumference, Apgar score at 5min and placental weight. The secondary outcome was difference in cord blood cotinine levels between the two groups and the correlation of these differences with the neonatal outcome.

RESULTS: The secondhand smoker group had significantly lower baby weight (2.94±0.31kg vs 3.05±0.40kg), head circumference (30.87±2.35cm vs 37.13±2.36cm), length (46.58±1.95cm vs 51.53±2.05cm) and placental weight (520±73.5g vs 596±61.3g) and significantly higher cord blood cotinine levels (16.35±12.84ng/mL vs 0.56±0.22ng/mL). Cord blood cotinine levels had significant negative correlations with placental weight (r=-0.461), baby's weight (r=-0.297), baby's head circumference (r=-0.501) and baby's length (r=-0.374).

METHODS: Forty female rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 8/group) i.e. non-DM (non-diabetes), DM (diabetes), DM + Propolis (diabetes on propolis orally); DM + Insulin (diabetes on insulin subcutaneously) and DM + Combined (diabetes on propolis and insulin) groups. Propolis and insulin were given at 300 mg/kg/day orally and 5.0 IU/kg/day subcutaneously, respectively, for 4 weeks.

RESULTS: Fasting blood glucose, conception period, implantation losses, foetal blood glucose and placental oxidative stress markers such as malonaldehyde and protein carbonyl were significantly higher while maternal weight gain, foetal body weight and total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in DM group compared with non-DM group. These changes were significantly improved in rats treated with propolis or insulin alone with greater significant effects in rats treated with both propolis and insulin.

METHODS: We used data from a prospective cohort study of 799 pregnant women from health clinics of two states in east and west coasts of Malaysia. Baseline data were measured at the third trimester of pregnancy on ADS, AAS, socioeconomic condition, anthropometric status, reproductive history and intimate partner violence. Birth outcomes and mode of delivery were determined at the time of delivery. Univariate and multiple Cox's regressions were applied to assess the association between ADS and AAS and LBW, PTB and CS or instrumental delivery.

RESULTS: ADS was significantly associated with an increased risk of giving birth to LBW babies in both east coast (RR = 3.64; 95% CI 1.79-7.40) and west coast (RR = 3.82; 95% CI 1.86-7.84), but not with PTB. AAS was associated with increased risk of both LBW (RR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.39-4.38) and PTB (RR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.16-5.36) in the east coast, but not in west coast. The risk of CS or instrumental delivery was evident among women with ADS (RR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.48-4.03) in west coast only.

METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled parallel-group study, where 372 randomly selected antenatal care attendees were randomly assigned to one of either two groups after collecting baseline data. The intervention group then received a four-hour health education intervention in Hausa language, which was developed based on the IMB model, while the control group received a similarly designed health education on breastfeeding. Follow up data were then collected from the participants at a first (2 months post-intervention) and second (4 months post-intervention) follow up, and at the end of their pregnancies.

RESULTS: For both groups, reported ITN use had increased from baseline (Intervention: Often-14.0%, Almost always-9.1; Control: Often-12.4%; Almost always 16.1%) to the time of second follow up (Intervention: Often -28.10%, Almost always-24.5; Control: Often-17.2%; Almost always 19.5%). Reported IPTp uptake at second follow up was also higher for the intervention group (Intervention: Two doses-59.0%, Three doses 22.3%; Control group: Two doses-48.4%, Three doses-7.0%). The drop in the haematocrit levels was greater for the control group (32.42% to 30.63%) compared to the intervention group (33.09% to 31.93%). The Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) analysis revealed that the intervention had significantly improved reported ITN use, reported IPTp uptake, and haematocrit levels, but had no significant effect on the incidence of reported malaria diagnosis or babies' birth weights.

CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective in improving ITN use, IPTp uptake, and haematocrit levels. It is, therefore, recommended for the modules to be adopted and incorporated into the routine antenatal care programmes in health centres with predominantly Hausa speaking clients.