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  1. Azzeri A, Ching GH, Jaafar H, Mohd Noor MI, Razi NA, Then AY, et al.
    PMID: 32120949 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051533
    Several of the coastal zones in Sabah, Malaysia, are isolated and inaccessible. This study aimed to review the published literature on the health status of the coastal communities in Sabah. The following four main health issues were found: (i) malaria, (ii) tuberculosis (TB), (iii) seafood poisoning, and (iv) antenatal problems. Factors associated with the risk of acquiring malarial infection in the studied coastal area were advanced age, male sex, farming as an occupation, history of travel outside the village, and rainy seasons. TB infection was primarily observed in adult men. Seafood poisoning was significantly common in Sabah. Studies have reported that tetrodotoxin and paralytic shellfish poisoning were commonly reported (30-60 cases annually). Several pregnant women in the coastal community had insufficient knowledge of the national antenatal care programme. Nonetheless, 99% of them received antenatal care at public healthcare facilities with 92% of them undergoing safe delivery. Nevertheless, a majority of the pregnant women had iodine deficiency due to low iodised salt intake. Findings from this review highlighted that the coastal communities in Sabah are experiencing significant health problems. Specific attention is required to significantly enhance the health and well-being of the individuals living in the coastal communities in Sabah.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  2. Bettinelli ME, Smith JP, Haider R, Sulaiman Z, Stehel E, Young M, et al.
    Breastfeed Med, 2024 Mar;19(3):141-151.
    PMID: 38489526 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2024.29266.meb
    Background: Paid maternity leave benefits all of society, reducing infant mortality and providing economic gains. It is endorsed by international treaties. Paid maternity leave is important for breastfeeding, bonding, and recovery from childbirth. Not all mothers have access to adequate paid maternity leave. Key Information: Paid leave helps meet several of the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10), including fostering economic growth. A family's expenses will rise with the arrival of an infant. Paid leave is often granted with partial pay. Many low-wage workers earn barely enough to meet their needs and are unable to take advantage of paid leave. Undocumented immigrants and self-employed persons, including those engaging in informal work, are often omitted from maternity leave programs. Recommendations: Six months of paid leave at 100% pay, or cash equivalent, should be available to mothers regardless of income, employment, or immigration status. At the very minimum, 18 weeks of fully paid leave should be granted. Partial pay for low-wage workers is insufficient. Leave and work arrangements should be flexible whenever possible. Longer flexible leave for parents of sick and preterm infants is essential. Providing adequate paid leave for partners has multiple benefits. Increasing minimum wages can help more families utilize paid leave. Cash benefits per birth can help informal workers and undocumented mothers afford to take leave. Equitable paid maternity leave must be primarily provided by governments and cannot be accomplished by employers alone.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  3. Hong J, Raghavan S, Siti Nordiana A, Saaid R, Vallikkannu N, Tan PC
    Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2024 Apr;165(1):265-274.
    PMID: 37846154 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15199
    OBJECTIVES: To evaluate expectant compared to immediate return to hospital upon outpatient Foley catheter expulsion predicated on maternal satisfaction and amniotomy-titrated oxytocin infusion to delivery interval.

    METHODS: This randomized trial was conducted in a tertiary university hospital in Malaysia from September 2020 to February 2022. A total of 330 nulliparous women at term with unripe cervices (Bishop score ≤5), singleton viable fetus in cephalic presentation, reassuring preinduction fetal heart rate tracing and intact membranes who underwent planned outpatient Foley catheter induction of labor (IOL) were included. Women were randomized to expectant or immediate return to hospital if the Foley was spontaneously expelled at home before their scheduled hospital admission the following day. Primary outcomes were amniotomy-titrated oxytocin infusion to delivery interval and maternal satisfaction on the induction process (assessed by 0-10 visual numerical rating scale [VNRS]).

    RESULTS: Amniotomy-titrated oxytocin infusion to delivery interval was 8.7 ± 4.1 versus 8.9 ± 3.9 h, P = 0.605 (mean difference - 0.228 95% CI: -1.1 to +0.6 h) and maternal satisfaction VNRS score was median (interquartile range) 8 (7-9) versus 8 (7-9), P = 0.782. Early return to hospital rates were 37/165 (22.4%) versus 72/165 (43.6%), RR 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.72), P ≤ 0.001, Cesarean delivery rates were 80/165 (48.5%) versus 80/165 (48.5%), RR 1.00 (95% CI: 0.80-1.25), P = 1.00 and duration of hospital stay was 54.4 ± 22.9 versus 56.7 ± 22.8 h, P = 0.364 for the expectant versus immediate return groups respectively.

    CONCLUSION: In outpatient Foley catheter IOL, expectant compared to immediate return to hospital following Foley dislodgement results in similarly high maternal satisfaction. The amniotomy-titrated oxytocin to delivery duration is non-inferior with expectant management.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  4. Shahbuddin HMA, Hussin SA, W Isa WYH, Mamat AZ, Marzuki A, Yusof Z
    BMJ Case Rep, 2024 Mar 07;17(3).
    PMID: 38453227 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2024-259675
    Diagnosing atrial myxoma in pregnancy is challenging because patients may present with non-specific symptoms that might be overlooked. The timing of non-obstetric operation usually depends on the nature of the disease, after careful consideration of feto-maternal safety, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and placental transfer of anaesthetic drug. A woman in her 30s at 18 weeks of pregnancy presented with recurring dizziness. She underwent successful myxoma excision at 20 weeks under general anaesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass. The 6×5 cm myxoma was histologically confirmed as myxoma. Early detection of atrial myxoma in pregnancy is crucial, and a clinician has to consider the diagnosis of left atrial myxoma with mitral valve obstruction as a cause of severe dizziness. Optimal outcomes require multidisciplinary management. In this case, surgery during the second trimester of pregnancy enabled a full-term pregnancy with the patient's and foetal well-being and normal postprocedural echocardiography.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  5. Lujan-Barroso L, Botteri E, Caini S, Ljungberg B, Roswall N, Tjønneland A, et al.
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2020 Aug;29(8):1654-1664.
    PMID: 32467345 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0184
    BACKGROUND: Urothelial carcinoma is the predominant (95%) bladder cancer subtype in industrialized nations. Animal and epidemiologic human studies suggest that hormonal factors may influence urothelial carcinoma risk.

    METHODS: We used an analytic cohort of 333,919 women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Cohort. Associations between hormonal factors and incident urothelial carcinoma (overall and by tumor grade, tumor aggressiveness, and non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma) risk were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.

    RESULTS: During a mean of 15 years of follow-up, 529 women developed urothelial carcinoma. In a model including number of full-term pregnancies (FTP), menopausal status, and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), number of FTP was inversely associated with urothelial carcinoma risk (HR≥5vs1 = 0.48; 0.25-0.90; P trend in parous women = 0.010) and MHT use (compared with nonuse) was positively associated with urothelial carcinoma risk (HR = 1.27; 1.03-1.57), but no dose response by years of MHT use was observed. No modification of HRs by smoking status was observed. Finally, sensitivity analyses in never smokers showed similar HR patterns for the number of FTP, while no association between MHT use and urothelial carcinoma risk was observed. Association between MHT use and urothelial carcinoma risk remained significant only in current smokers. No heterogeneity of the risk estimations in the final model was observed by tumor aggressiveness or by tumor grade. A positive association between MTH use and non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma risk was observed.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that increasing the number of FTP may reduce urothelial carcinoma risk.

    IMPACT: More detailed studies on parity are needed to understand the possible effects of perinatal hormone changes in urothelial cells.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  6. Wafriy CI, Kamsani YS, Nor-Ashikin MNK
    Cells Dev, 2023 Sep;175:203864.
    PMID: 37321350 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2023.203864
    The incidence of allergic asthma has been increasing worldwide in recent decades. Also, an increasing number of women are suffering from poor pregnancy outcome. However, the causal relationship between allergic asthma and embryonic growth in terms of cell morphogenesis has not been well elucidated. Here, we investigated the impact of allergic asthma on the morphogenesis of preimplantation embryos. Twenty-four female BALB/c were randomly divided into control (PBS), 50-μg (OVA1), 100-μg (OVA2) and 150-μg (OVA3). On Days-0 and -14, mice were induced intraperitoneally (i.p) with ovalbumin (OVA). On Days-21 until -23, mice were challenged with OVA via intranasal instillation (i.n). Control animals were sensitized and challenged with PBS. At the end of treatment (Day-25), 2-cell embryos were retrieved and cultured in vitro until the blastocysts hatched. Results showed reduced number of preimplantation embryos at all developing stages in all treated groups (p ≤ 0.0001). Uneven blastomere size, partial compaction- and cavitation-activity, low formation of trophectoderm (TE), as well as cell fragmentation were noted in all the treated groups. Maternal serum interleukin (IL)-4, immunoglobulin (Ig)-E and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were notably high (p ≤ 0.0001, p ≤ 0.01) in contrast with low total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) (p ≤ 0.0001). Our findings indicated that OVA-induced allergic asthma had compromised cell morphogenesis through reduced blastomere cleavage division, partial compaction and cavitation-activity, impairment of TE production, and cell fragmentation leading to embryonic cell death via OS mechanism.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  7. Kazeminia M, Abdi A, Vaisi-Raygani A, Jalali R, Shohaimi S, Daneshkhah A, et al.
    PMID: 33224252 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4384350
    Background: Labor pain is one of the most severe pains, which most of women experience. By using novel supportive methods, the labor pain can be reduced, which makes this event pleasant and delightful. Several original studies have been conducted in regard to the effect of lavender on reducing labor pain, whose results are controversial. One of the applications of meta-analysis studies is to respond to these hypotheses and remove controversies; therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of lavender on labor pain in Iran by using meta-analysis.

    Methods: In this study, to find published articles electronically from 2006 to 2019, the published articles in national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI) were used. Heterogenic index between studies was determined by Cochrane test (Q)c and I2. Due to heterogeneity, the random effects model was used to estimate standardize difference of the mean score of lavender test in order to assess the labor pain between intervention and control group.

    Results: In this meta-analysis and systematic review, finally 13 eligible articles met the inclusion criteria of the study. The sample size from original studies enrolled in the meta-analysis entered in the intervention group was 794 individuals and in the control group was 795 individuals. Mean score for pain in the control group was 7.2 ± 0.42 and in the intervention group was 5.4 ± 0.58 and this difference was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001).

    Conclusion: The results of this study showed that lavender can reduce labor pain, which can be considered by health policy makers and gynecologists.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  8. Ab Wahab SZ, Abdul Kadir A, Nik Hussain NH, Omar J, Yunus R, Baie S, et al.
    PMID: 26101537 DOI: 10.1155/2015/849647
    Channa striatus has been consumed for decades as a remedy to promote wound healing by women during postpartum period. The objectives of this study were to compare postoperative pain, wound healing based on wound evaluation scale (WES), wound cosmetic appearance based on visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and patient satisfaction score (PSS), and safety profiles between C. striatus group and placebo group after six weeks of lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) delivery. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. Subjects were randomised in a ratio of 1 : 1 into either the C. striatus group (500 mg daily) or placebo group (500 mg of maltodextrin daily). 76 subjects were successfully randomised, with 38 in the C. striatus group and 35 in the placebo group. There were no significant differences in postoperative pain (p = 0.814) and WES (p = 0.160) between the C. striatus and placebo groups. However, VAS and PSS in the C. striatus group were significantly better compared with the placebo group (p = 0.014 and p < 0.001, resp.). The safety profiles showed no significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, six-week supplementation of 500 mg of C. striatus extract showed marked differences in wound cosmetic appearance and patient's satisfaction and is safe for human consumption.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  9. Khaing A, Swe AT, Aung CL, Thwin MM, Sein MT
    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet, 2022 Feb;44(2):125-132.
    PMID: 35213910 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742317
    OBJECTIVE:  To investigate the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) in normal and preeclamptic (PE) placentae.

    METHODS:  The present cross-sectional analytical study was performed in normal and PE primigravidae (n = 10 in each group) who were admitted to the North Okkalapa General and Teaching Hospital from February 2019 to February 2020. Serum samples were collected immediately before delivery, and placental tissues were collected immediately after emergency or elective cesarean section. The expression of placental eNOS was measured by western blot, and the levels of ET-1 in placental tissue homogenates and in the serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

    RESULTS:  The PE group had significantly higher serum levels of ET-1 (median: 116.56 pg/mL; IQR: 89.14-159.62 pg/mL) than the normal group (median: 60.02 pg/mL; IQR: 50.89-94.37 pg/mL) (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  10. Mustafa ZU, Bashir S, Shahid A, Raees I, Salman M, Merchant HA, et al.
    Viruses, 2022 Oct 25;14(11).
    PMID: 36366442 DOI: 10.3390/v14112344
    This study aimed to assess the vaccination status and factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in the largest province of Pakistan. A multicentric, prospective, survey-based study using an interviewer-administered tool was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics between 1 December 2021 through 30 January 2022 across seven hospitals in Pakistan. The healthcare professionals providing care at the participating hospitals administered the survey. Four hundred and five pregnant women fully consented and completed the study. The majority of the study participants (70.6%, n = 286) were aged between 25 and 34 and had a previous successful pregnancy history. More than half of the study participants (56.0%, n = 227) did not receive COVID-19 vaccination at the time of data collection despite their family members (93.9%, n = 372) had already received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Among those who received COVID-19 vaccination (n = 173), vaccine efficacy, protection for the foetus, and risk of COVID-19-associated hospitalisation were the main driving factors for vaccine hesitancy. The majority of the unvaccinated women (77.8%, n = 182) had no intention of receiving the vaccine. However, more than two-thirds (85.7%, n = 342) consulted the doctor about COVID-19 vaccines, and most were recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines by the doctors (80.7%, n = 280). Women were significantly more likely to be vaccinated if they had employment (odds ratio [OR] 4.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.31-8.64) compared with their counterparts who were homemakers, consulted their doctors (OR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04-0.35), and if they did not have pregnancy-related issues (OR 6.02, 95% CI: 2.36-15.33). In this study, vaccine hesitancy was prevalent, and vaccine uptake was low among pregnant women. Education and employment did impact COVID vaccination uptake, emphasising the need for more targeted efforts to enhance the trust in vaccines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  11. Ngim CF, Lai NM, Ibrahim H, Ratnasingam V
    J Community Genet, 2013 Apr;4(2):215-21.
    PMID: 23296641 DOI: 10.1007/s12687-012-0133-x
    Thalassaemia is a public health problem in multi-ethnic Malaysia which mainly affects the Malays, Kadazan-Dusuns and Chinese. This study, the first in Malaysia, aims to evaluate the acceptability of prenatal diagnosis and abortion among Malaysian parents who have a child or children with thalassaemia major and the socio-demographic factors affecting their decision-making. A pre-structured questionnaire was distributed to parents of children with thalassaemia major. Response rate for completed surveys was 99.1 %. Out of 116 respondents, the majority (83/71.6 %) were agreeable for prenatal diagnosis, but only 33 (28.4 %) agreed to both prenatal diagnosis followed by termination of affected foetuses. Of parents who declined abortion, 77.6 % cited religious restriction as the main reason, and their religious background was a significant factor (p = 0.001), with 73.4 % of Muslim participants against termination compared to 25 % of Christians and 13.3 % of Buddhists. Gender, age, highest education level and number of children affected with thalassaemia were non-significant predictors in decision-making regarding abortion. The acceptance rate for termination of foetuses with thalassaemia major in Malaysia is low especially among the Muslims due to religious non-permissibility. Therefore, scholarly deliberations among the Malaysian Muslim religious authorities that result in a supportive stance in this issue may contribute to a more successful prevention programme.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  12. Wong LP, George E, Tan JA
    J Community Genet, 2011 Jun;2(2):71-9.
    PMID: 22109791 DOI: 10.1007/s12687-011-0039-z
    Hemoglobin disorders which include thalassemias are the most common heritable disorders. Effective treatment is available, and these disorders can be avoided as identification of carriers is achievable using simple hematological tests. An in-depth understanding of the awareness, attitudes, perceptions, and screening reservations towards thalassemia is necessary, as Malaysia has a multi-ethnic population with different religious beliefs. A total of 13 focus group discussions (70 participants) with members of the general lay public were conducted between November 2008 and January 2009. Lack of knowledge and understanding about thalassemia leads to general confusions over differences between thalassemia carriers and thalassemia major, inheritance patterns, and the physical and psychologically impact of the disorder in affected individuals and their families. Although most of the participants have not been tested for thalassemia, a large majority expressed willingness to be screened. Views on prenatal diagnosis and termination of fetuses with thalassemia major received mixed opinions from participants with different religions and practices. Perceived stigma and discrimination attached to being a carrier emerged as a vital topic in some group discussions where disparity in the answers exhibited differences in levels of participants' literacy and ethnic origins. The two most common needs identified from the discussion were information and screening facilities. Participants' interest in knowing the severity of the disease and assessing their risk of getting the disorder may imply the health belief model as a possible means of predicting thalassemia public screening services. Findings provide valuable insights for the development of more effective educational, screening, and prenatal diagnostic services in the multi-ethnic Asian society.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  13. Byrd KA, Thilsted SH, Fiorella KJ
    Public Health Nutr, 2021 Feb;24(3):476-486.
    PMID: 33308365 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020003857
    OBJECTIVE: Our understanding of the nutrient contribution of fish and other aquatic species to human diets relies on nutrient composition data for a limited number of species. Yet particularly for nutritionally vulnerable aquatic food consumers, consumption includes a wide diversity of species whose nutrient composition data are disparate, poorly compiled or unknown.

    DESIGN: To address the gap in understanding fish and other aquatic species' nutrient composition data, we reviewed the literature with an emphasis on species of fish that are under-represented in global databases. We reviewed 164 articles containing 1370 entries of all available nutrient composition data (e.g. macronutrients, micronutrients and fatty acids) and heavy metals (e.g. Pb and Hg) for 515 species, including both inland and marine species of fish, as well as other aquatic species (e.g. crustaceans, molluscs, etc.) when those species were returned by our searches.

    RESULTS: We highlight aquatic species that are particularly high in nutrients of global importance, including Fe, Zn, Ca, vitamin A and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and demonstrate that, in many cases, a serving can fill critical nutrient needs for pregnant and lactating women and young children.

    CONCLUSIONS: By collating the available nutrient composition data on species of fish and other aquatic species, we provide a resource for fisheries and nutrition researchers, experts and practitioners to better understand these critical species and include them in fishery management as well as food-based programmes and policies.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  14. Lumbiganon P, Martis R, Laopaiboon M, Festin MR, Ho JJ, Hakimi M
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016 Dec 06;12(12):CD006425.
    PMID: 27922724 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006425.pub4
    BACKGROUND: Breast milk is well recognised as the best food source for infants. The impact of antenatal breastfeeding (BF) education on the duration of BF has not been evaluated.

    OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of antenatal breastfeeding (BF) education for increasing BF initiation and duration.

    SEARCH METHODS: We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register on 1 March 2016, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library, 2016, Issue 3), MEDLINE (1966 to 1 March 2016) and Scopus (January 1985 to 1 March 2016). We contacted experts and searched reference lists of retrieved articles.

    SELECTION CRITERIA: All identified published, unpublished and ongoing randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of formal antenatal BF education or comparing two different methods of formal antenatal BF education, on the duration of BF. We included RCTs that only included antenatal interventions and excluded those that combined antenatal and intrapartum or postpartum BF education components. Cluster-randomised trials were included in this review. Quasi-randomised trials were not eligible for inclusion.

    DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We assessed all potential studies identified as a result of the search strategy. Two review authors extracted data from each included study using the agreed form and assessed risk of bias. We resolved discrepancies through discussion. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

    MAIN RESULTS: This review update includes 24 studies (10,056 women). Twenty studies (9789 women) contribute data to analyses. Most studies took place in high-income countries such as the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. In the first five comparisons, we display the included trials according to type of intervention without pooling data. For the 'Summary of findings' we pooled data for a summary effect.Five included studies were cluster-randomised trials: all of these adjusted data and reported adjustments as odds ratios (OR). We have analysed the data using the generic inverse variance method and presented results as odds ratios, because we were unable to derive a cluster-adjusted risk ratio from the published cluster-trial. We acknowledge that the use of odds ratio prevents the pooling of these cluster trials in our main analyses. One method of BF education with standard (routine) careThere were no group differences for duration of any BF in days or weeks. There was no evidence that interventions improved the proportion of women with any BF or exclusive BF at three or six months. Single trials of different interventions were unable to show that education improved initiation of BF, apart from one small trial at high risk of attrition bias. Many trial results marginally favoured the intervention but had wide confidence intervals crossing the line of no effect. BF complications such as mastitis and other BF problems were similar in treatment arms in single trials reporting these outcomes. Multiple methods of BF education versus standard careFor all trials included in this comparison we have presented the cluster-adjusted odds ratios as reported in trial publications. One three-arm study found the intervention of BF booklet plus video plus Lactation Consultant versus standard care improved the proportion of women exclusively BF at three months (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.25 to 5.40; women = 159) and marginally at six months (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.76; women = 175). For the same trial, an intervention arm without a lactation consultant but with the BF booklet and video did not have the same effect on proportion of women exclusively BF at three months (OR 1.80, 95% CI 0.80 to 4.05; women = 159) or six months (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.30 to 2.70; women = 184). One study compared monthly BF sessions and weekly cell phone message versus standard care and reported improvements in the proportion of women exclusively BF at both three and six months (three months OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.95; women = 390; six months OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.40 to 4.11; women = 390). One study found monthly BF sessions and weekly cell phone messages improved initiation of BF over standard care (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.61 to 4.24; women = 380). BF education session versus standard care, pooled analyses for 'Summary of findings' (SoF)This comparison does not include cluster-randomised trials reporting adjusted odds ratios. We did not downgrade any evidence for trials' lack of blinding; no trial had adequate blinding of staff and participants. The SoF table presents risk ratios for all outcomes analysed. For proportion of women exclusively BF there is no evidence that antenatal BF education improved BF at three months (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.25; women = 822; studies = 3; moderate quality evidence) or at six months (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.30; women = 2161; studies = 4; moderate quality evidence). For proportion of women with any BF there were no group differences in BF at three (average RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.18; women = 654; studies = 2; I² = 60%; low-quality evidence) or six months (average RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.23; women = 1636; studies = 4; I² = 61%; high-quality evidence). There was no evidence that antenatal BF education could improve initiation of BF (average RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.09; women = 3505; studies = 8; I² = 69%; high-quality evidence). Where we downgraded evidence this was due to small sample size or wide confidence intervals crossing the line of no effect, or both.There was insufficient data for subgroup analysis of mother's occupation or education.

    AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was no conclusive evidence supporting any antenatal BF education for improving initiation of BF, proportion of women giving any BF or exclusively BF at three or six months or the duration of BF. There is an urgent need to conduct a high-quality, randomised controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse effects of antenatal BF education, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence in this review is primarily relevant to high-income settings.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  15. Tharwani ZH, Bilal W, Khan HA, Kumar P, Butt MS, Hamdana AH, et al.
    Inquiry, 2023;60:469580231167024.
    PMID: 37085986 DOI: 10.1177/00469580231167024
    Over the years, several developing countries have been suffering from high infant and child mortality rates, however, according to the recent statistics, Pakistan falls high on the list. Our narrative review of copious research on this topic highlights that several factors, such as complications associated with premature births, high prevalence of birth defects, lack of vaccination, unsafe deliveries, poor breastfeeding practices, complications during delivery, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), poor socioeconomic conditions, and a struggling healthcare system, have influenced these rates. Bearing in mind the urgency of addressing the increased infant and child mortality rate in Pakistan, multiple steps must be taken in order to prevent unnecessary deaths. An effective initiative could be spreading awareness and education among women, as a lack of education among women has been indirectly linked to increased child mortality in Pakistan across many researches conducted on the issue. Furthermore, the government should invest in healthcare by hiring more physicians and providing better supplies and improving infrastructure, especially in underdeveloped areas, to decrease child mortality due to lack of clean water and poor hygiene. Lastly, telemedicine should be made common in order to provide easy access to women who cannot visit the hospital.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  16. Hong J, Kumar S
    Clin Sci (Lond), 2023 Apr 26;137(8):579-595.
    PMID: 37075762 DOI: 10.1042/CS20220300
    Fetal growth restriction (FGR) leading to low birth weight (LBW) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Normal placental development involves a series of highly regulated processes involving a multitude of hormones, transcription factors, and cell lineages. Failure to achieve this leads to placental dysfunction and related placental diseases such as pre-clampsia and FGR. Early recognition of at-risk pregnancies is important because careful maternal and fetal surveillance can potentially prevent adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes by judicious pregnancy surveillance and careful timing of birth. Given the association between a variety of circulating maternal biomarkers, adverse pregnancy, and perinatal outcomes, screening tests based on these biomarkers, incorporating maternal characteristics, fetal biophysical or circulatory variables have been developed. However, their clinical utility has yet to be proven. Of the current biomarkers, placental growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 appear to have the most promise for placental dysfunction and predictive utility for FGR.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  17. Siti Norashikin MT, Ghosh S, Chatterjee R, Rajikin MH, Chatterjee A
    Reprod Med Biol, 2014 Jul;13(3):135-141.
    PMID: 29699157 DOI: 10.1007/s12522-013-0174-9
    Purpose: The present study aims to investigate the effects of nicotine on the endometrial decidual growth and levels of estrogen and progesterone in pseudopregnant rats.

    Methods: Pseudopregnancy (pc) was induced in cyclic Sprague-Dawley rats by sterile mating. Subcutaneous injection of nicotine tartrate (7.5 mg/kg/day) was scheduled from day 1 through day 5, day 5 through day 9 or day 1 through day 9 of pc. In another group of pseudopregnant rats, concomitant treatment of nicotine tartrate concurrently with progesterone (2 mg/day) was scheduled from day 1 through day 9 pc. Control groups received subcutaneous injections of vehicle only. Endometrial decidualization was induced on day 5 pc. On day 10 pc, animals were sacrificed.The degree of decidual growth and circulating levels of estrogen and progesterone were measured.

    Results: The decidual growth in all the first three nicotine-treated groups of animals was significantly reduced, particularly in the animals treated with nicotine from day 1 through day 9 pc. Plasma estrogen levels were significantly elevated in animals treated with nicotine from day 1 through day 9 pc. Conversely, levels of plasma progesterone were found to be significantly attenuated in the same group of nicotine-treated animals compared to controls. Exogenous replacement of progesterone, however, caused a higher degree of endometrial decidualization compared to the nicotine-treated group but it was slightly less than when compared to control.

    Conclusions: In conclusion, nicotine-induced progesterone deficiency with a corresponding elevation of estrogen may possibly attenuate the degree of endometrial decidualization in pseudopregnant rats.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy; Pseudopregnancy
  18. Ajit Singh V, Jia TY, Devi Santharalinggam R, Gunasagaran J
    PLoS One, 2023;18(1):e0279210.
    PMID: 36662743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279210
    BACKGROUND: Ulna styloid fracture occurs approximately about 55% of all distal end of radius fractures. However, the clinical and functional outcome of these fractures remains indefinite.

    RESULTS: Only 56 patients with distal radius fractures had concomitant ulna styloid fractures. The mean age was 32 years (range: 18-69; SD: ± 12.7). The majority were men. The mean time from injury was 18.7 months (range: 6-84; SD: ± 13.3). The most common was Frykman 2, followed by 6, type 8, and type 4. All were closed fractures; 60.7% were base, and 39.3% were tip fractures. 50% were treated with casting, 48.3% plating, and 1.8% external fixation. The mean period of casting was 7.67 weeks (range: 4-16; SD ± 3.1). The ulna styloid was united in 35.7%. There is no significant difference in the range of movement between those with ulna styloid union and non-union. The Ballottement test and Piano key sign was statistically insignificant between both groups. All the displacements were dorsal except in 1 case. The mean displacement of ulna styloid is 1.88mm (SD±1.08, Range: 0.20-4.60mm). The mean VAS score at rest and work is not statistically significant. The mean grip strength and functional score (DASH) are similar in both groups.

    CONCLUSION: Ulna styloid fractures do not contribute to the DRUJ instability and the status of the union of the ulna styloid and the site of the ulna styloid fracture (tip or base) did not have a bearing on the range of movement and functional status of the affected wrist. Temporary DRUJ immobilization might allow TFCC recovery.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  19. Norhapifah H, Isa MR, Abdullah B, Mohamed S
    Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery, 2024 Oct;12(4):243-253.
    PMID: 39411571 DOI: 10.30476/ijcbnm.2024.101509.2432
    BACKGROUND: Labour pain experienced by women during childbirth can significantly affect the mother's psychological condition and birthing process. This study aimed to determine the effect of shiatsu massage on pain and anxiety during labour.

    METHOD: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 nulliparous pregnant women who gave birth in four low-risk maternity clinics in Samarinda, Indonesia, from February to May 2022. The women were randomized into intervention (N=40) and control (N=40) groups based on random allocation. Certified midwives performed shiatsu massages following standard protocols. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, and anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Score at three times including before the intervention (T0), the latent phase (T1), and at transition phase (T2). The impact of the intervention was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance by SPSS 26. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    RESULTS: The intervention group showed a significant reduction in labour pain scores from 6.85±1.00 (T0) to 6.13±0.88 (T1) and 4.78±0.83 (T2) (P<0.001), while the control group showed an increase from 6.85±1.00 (T0) to 8.05±0.64 (T1) and 8.85±0.48 (T2) (P<0.001). Anxiety scores in the intervention group decreased from 28.53±4.41 (T0) to 26.15±3.59 (T1) and 20.65±2.69 (T2) (P<0.001), whereas the control group experienced an increase from 25.55±3.16 (T0) to 27.05±3.36 (T1) and 31.73±3.27 (T2) (P<0.001). The between-subject effects in time levels for labour pain and anxiety in the two study groups had a significant impact (P<0.001).

    CONCLUSION: Findings showed that shiatsu massage was effective and safe for relieving pain and reducing anxiety during childbirth of nulliparous women. This research suggests that shiatsu massage can be used as an effective alternative method to relieve pain and anxiety during labour in low risk pregnancies, particularly in settings with limited access to pharmaceutical analgesics.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20220317054316N1.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
  20. Hanafiah AN, Aagaard-Hansen J, Ch Cheah J, Norris SA, Karim ZB, Skau JK, et al.
    J Glob Health, 2022 Aug 17;12:04053.
    PMID: 35972832 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.04053
    BACKGROUND: Pre-conception interventions have the potential to lower non-communicable disease risk in prospective parents and reduce transmission of risk factors such as obesity to the next generation. The Jom Mama project in Malaysia investigated the effectiveness of a combined behaviour change communication and e-health intervention in young married couples prior to first pregnancy. This paper reports the evaluation of the effectiveness of this trial.

    METHODS: Jom Mama was a non-blinded, randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Seremban, Malaysia, over a period of 33 weeks, covering six contact points between trained community health workers and newly married couples before the conception of a first child. Out of 2075 eligible nulliparous women, 549 participated and 305 completed the intervention, with 145 women in the intervention and 160 in the control group. The intervention group received a complex behavioural change intervention, combining behaviour change communication provided by community health promoters and access to a habit formation mobile application, while the control group received the standard care provided by public health clinics in Malaysia. The primary outcome was a change in the woman's waist circumference. Secondary outcomes were anthropometric and metabolic measures, dietary intake (Food Frequency Questionnaire, FFQ), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ) and mental health (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, DASS 21). An extensive process evaluation was conducted alongside the trial in order to aid the interpretation of the main findings.

    RESULTS: There were no significant differences of change in the woman's waist circumference between intervention and control groups at the start and end of the intervention. While the weight, waist circumference and Body Mass Index (BMI) of women in both groups increased, there was a significantly lower increase in the intervention vs the control group over the period of the trial among women who are obese (0.1 kg vs 1.7 kg; P = 0.023, in the intervention and control group respectively). In terms of BMI, the obese intervention subgroup showed a slight reduction (0.01) compared to the obese control subgroup whose BMI increased by 0.7 (P = 0.015). There were no changes in the other secondary outcomes.

    CONCLUSIONS: The Jom Mama pre-conception intervention did not lead to a reduction in waist circumference or significant changes in other secondary outcomes over the eight months prior to conception. However, there was a significantly smaller weight gain in the intervention vs the control group, predominantly in women with pre-existing obesity.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy
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