Congenital defects of lower limbs and associated malformations: A population based study

As part of a detailed study of limb defects and associated patterns of congenital malformations, cases with lower limb deficiencies were analysed separately. We identified a total of 130 cases with deficiencies of the lower limbs without defects of the upper limbs. This gives an incidence of 1.07/10,000 livebirths, or 1/9,337 for this group of limb defects. Most common were femur deficiencies and deficiencies of the foot. A preponderance of males was found in the group of transverse defects of the leg (fibula/tibia deficiencies) and central axis deficiencies, while females had significantly more often longitudinal tibia defects and preaxial ray defects. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Prenatal lead exposure in relation to gestational age and birth weight: A review of epidemiologic studies

Although the adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes at high levels of lead exposure in the workplace has been recognized for years, there is uncertainty regarding the impact of exposure at the lower community exposure levels commonly encountered today. This review summarizes the epidemiologic literature and discusses pertinent methodologic issues and possible sources of interstudy variation. The authors conclude that prenatal lead exposure is unlikely to increase the risk of premature membrane rupture but does appear to increase the risk of preterm delivery. Whether prenatal lead exposure decreases gestational age in terms of infants is unclear. Prenatal lead exposure also appears to be associated with reduced birth weight, but results vary in relation to study design and degree of control for confounding. Adjustment for gestational age, a possible confounder of the birth weight-lead exposure association, did not yield clearer results.     

产程中应用杜冷丁对产程及新生儿的影响

目的　观察杜冷丁对产程及新生儿的影响。方法　将 16 0例初产妇随机分为观察组和对照组 ,各 80例 ,观察组在宫口开大 1.2cm时杜冷丁 10 0mg肌肉注射 ,对照组未用药。结果　第一产程用药组与对照组相比明显缩短 ,有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,第二、三产程无差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,对新生儿影响、产后 2小时内出血量及新生儿体重两组无差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　产程中应用杜冷丁可减轻产妇疼痛 ,缩短第一产程 ,不增加新生儿窒息 ,值得推广应用     

小剂量米非司酮用于紧急避孕临床观察

目的 观察一次性小剂量米非司酮用于紧急避孕的效果。方法征集无保护性交或避孕失败后72小时内就诊并符合条件的健康妇女100例，单次口服米非司酮10mg。结果失败1例，按照Dixon方法计算，避孕有效率为89．55％；受试的月经周期无明显改变且未出现明显副作用。结论小剂量米非司酮单次口服用于紧急避孕简单、有效、安全。     

"Endoview" project of intrapartum endoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: The change in obstetrical practices over the last decade in favor of trials of labor in patients with uterine scars has resulted in increased incidences of uterine ruptures. Although neither repeat cesarean delivery nor a trial of labor is risk free, evidence from a large multicenter study shows vaginal birth after the cesarean (VBAC) is associated with shorter hospital stays, fewer postpartum blood transfusions, and a decreased incidence of postpartum maternal fever. The uterine rupture remains the most serious complication associated with VBAC. Factors associated with uterine rupture include excessive exposure to oxytocin, dysfunctional labor, and a history of more than 1 cesarean delivery.2 Because uterine rupture may be a life-threatening event, intrapartum surveillance and the ability to perform an emergency surgery are both necessary when trial of labor is allowed. Until now, no early symptoms pathognomonic to uterine rupture had been described. We share our experiences with the novel approach to the problem - an intrapartum endoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endoscopic examination was accomplished by using the intraoperational fiberscope (Olympus and Endoview system (Costa Mesa, CA, USA). A gas-sterilized 25-cm long fiberscope is introduced into the amniotic cavity through the cervical canal after rupture of the membranes. The distance between the fiberscope and the object varies from 3 to 50 mm. The fiberscope has a separate channel for the fluid infusion (normal saline) throughout the procedure; the surgeon looks through the eyepiece directly and exhibits control over the flexible scope. The duration of endoscopy is less than 15 minutes. The inserting of the endoscopic device is very similar to that of insertion of an intrauterine pressure catheter. The IRB Committees of both participating institutions approved the study protocol. Twenty-eight patients with an unknown or poorly documented site of the uterine scar were included in the study. An ultrasound examination had been performed on all patients prior to endoscopy to assess fetal wellbeing and placental location. The ages of the patients ranged from 21 to 38 years. Eighteen women had 1 previous cesarean delivery, and 10 had 2. The performance of intrapartum endoscopy did not interfere with fetal monitoring; 21 fetuses were monitored externally, 7 internally. Indications for previous cesarean deliveries were as follows: fetal distress in 11 cases, failure to progress in labor in 8, placenta previa in 2, and unknown in 7. Twenty-one patients delivered vaginally; 7 had had repeat cesarean deliveries. All neonates were born in satisfactory condition. The Apgar scores at 1 minute varied from 7 to 9 and at 5 minutes from 8 to 10. The integrity of the uterine wall was assessed by manual postpartum uterine exploration in each case of vaginal delivery and by visualization and palpation of the scar site in each abdominal delivery. RESULTS: The lower uterine segment and contractile portion of the anterior uterine wall were visualized successfully in all patients. In 25 patients, the presumed scar site looked totally indistinguishable from the rest of the lower uterine segment and anterior uterine wall. Two scars were identified as vertical in 2 patients who were delivered by a repeat abdominal operation. A vertical scar appears as a groove running in a cephalad-caudad direction from the lower uterine segment into the contractile portion of the anterior uterine wall. The usefulness of the intrapartum endoscopy is best demonstrated by the following case reports (2 of 28 study cases).     

父母亲社会经济状况与低出生体质量儿的相关性探讨

①目的 探讨父母亲社会经济状况与低出生体质量儿发生的关系。②方法 采用病例对照研究方法，对190名低出生体质量儿和750名正常出生体质量儿的父母亲进行了相关因素调查，用Logistic回归分析进行了危险因素分析。③结果 母亲年龄大于35岁、母亲的职业为教师或农民、父亲吸烟、母亲孕期吸烟及年家庭收人低是发生低出生体质量儿的危险因素(OR=1．280～7．290)，母亲身高与低出生体质量儿的发生率呈负相关关系(OR=0．898)。④结论 父母亲的社会经济状况与低出生体质量儿的发生有关。     

Effect of mite-impermeable mattress encasings and an educational package on the development of allergies in a multinational randomized, controlled birth-cohort study – 24 months results of the Study of Prevention of Allergy in Children in Europe

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to house dust mite (HDM) is an important risk factor for the development of asthma and allergic disease in childhood. Higher levels of HDM allergen are linked to increased sensitization to HDM. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of mite-impermeable mattress encasings and an educational package on the development of allergies in a newborn cohort. METHODS: Six hundred and ninety-six newborns at high risk of developing allergies were enrolled in three European countries (Germany, Austria, UK) in a prospective, randomized, controlled birth-cohort study. Children were randomly assigned to an intervention and control group. Intervention measures included the use of mite-impermeable mattress encasings for the child's bed and a simple educational package on allergen avoidance. The control group received basic information about allergies. Children were followed up at age 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: 80.9% of the children were followed up to the age of 24 months. No difference in the prevalence of sensitization to HDM (control vs. intervention group: 8.4% vs. 6.1%, P=0.33) or the development of symptoms (recurrent wheezing 10.3% vs. 10.7%, nocturnal cough 12.5% vs. 12.5%) or allergic diseases (asthma 3.5% vs. 5.1%, eczema 20.0% vs. 19.6%, rhinitis 28.9% vs. 25.8%) could be found between the control and intervention group. CONCLUSION: In this study, HDM avoidance did not show a protective effect on the development of sensitization to HDM or symptomatic allergy in children at age 24 months.     

第1产程潜伏期指导对分娩的影响

目的 :观察规范指导对处于分娩第 1产程潜伏期孕妇的影响。方法 :为处于分娩第 1产程潜伏期的 15 0例产妇讲解分娩知识 ,训练助产动作 ,树立自然分娩信心 ,并动态观察产妇的分娩情况。以条件相同 ,未在潜伏期做指导的产妇 15 0例为对照组。结果 :观察组总产程、第 1产程活跃期及第 2产程明显短于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,新生儿窒息率、剖宫产率明显低于对照组(P <0 0 1)。第 1产程潜伏期、阴道助产率及产后出血发生率两组差异无显著性。结论 :在第 1产程潜伏期对产妇进行规范指导可以缩短产程 ,促进自然分娩 ,降低新生儿窒息发生率。     

Infant and Neonatal Mortality for Primary Cesarean and Vaginal Births to Women with “No Indicated Risk,” United States, 1998–2001 Birth Cohorts

ABSTRACT: Background: The percentage of United States’ births delivered by cesarean section has increased rapidly in recent years, even for women considered to be at low risk for a cesarean section. The purpose of this paper is to examine infant and neonatal mortality risks associated with primary cesarean section compared with vaginal delivery for singleton full‐term (37–41 weeks’ gestation) women with no indicated medical risks or complications. Methods: National linked birth and infant death data for the 1998–2001 birth cohorts (5,762,037 live births and 11,897 infant deaths) were analyzed to assess the risk of infant and neonatal mortality for women with no indicated risk by method of delivery and cause of death. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model neonatal survival probabilities as a function of delivery method, and sociodemographic and medical risk factors. Results: Neonatal mortality rates were higher among infants delivered by cesarean section (1.77 per 1,000 live births) than for those delivered vaginally (0.62). The magnitude of this difference was reduced only moderately on statistical adjustment for demographic and medical factors, and when deaths due to congenital malformations and events with Apgar scores less than 4 were excluded. The cesarean/vaginal mortality differential was widespread, and not confined to a few causes of death. Conclusions: Understanding the causes of these differentials is important, given the rapid growth in the number of primary cesareans without a reported medical indication. (BIRTH 33:3 September 2006)     

Ultrasonography in the detection of cervical incompetency

In 80 pregnancies with clinical and ultrasonic signs of cervical incompetency, the length of the cervix and the thickness of the anterior wall of a lower uterine segment have been evaluated ultrasonically. We have also measured the width of the endocervical canal and studied the prolapse of fetal membranes (with fetal parts) into the endocervical canal. We evaluated these same parameters in 80 healthy pregnancies. The length of the cervix, the thickness of the anterior wall of a lower uterine segment, and the width of the endocervical canal were followed longitudinally in the patients from the 10th to the 36th gestation week. No statistically significant differences between age groups were found. In four age groups at risk for cervical incompetency, cervical lengths and wall thickness were significantly different (p less than 0.001) from those in comparable controls. Forty-five percent of the patients in the at-risk group, with cervical cerclage, delivered at 37.3 (range: 32 to 41) weeks and 6.25% of pregnancies ended in abortion when the amniotic membrane herniated into the cervical canal, with or without some part of the fetus.