Maternal determinants of birthweight in normal pregnancy

Partial and multiple regression analysis was performed to find out the correlation between birthweight and maternal anthropometric variables. Pearson regression analysis revealed significant dependence of birthweight on gestation of pregnancy, maternal weight, symphysis-sternal distance and height, but not on armspan and skin thickness. However, the only maternal variable bearing significant influence on birthweight in partial regression analysis was bodyweight. The effects of maternal determinants on birthweight, though some of them were statistically significant, were clinically unimportant.     

A New South Wales Population-based Study of Stillbirths Weighing 2,500 g or More

Summary: This paper describes factors associated with singleton stillbirths weighing 2,500 g or more, born in 1987 and reported to the NSW Midwives' Data Collection (MDC), a statewide perinatal data collection system. A total of 136 singleton stillbirths in this weight range were notified to the MDC, representing one-quarter of all singleton stillbirths in NSW. MDC records on these stillbirths were linked with perinatal death registrations for 125 of the 136. The death registrations indicated that fetal death occurred during labour in 20 cases, prior to the onset of labour in 98, and at an unknown time in the remaining 7 cases. Placental complications, including haemorrhage and functional abnormalities of the placenta, were the most frequent group of conditions associated with the stillbirths, being recorded as the underlying cause of death in 42 (34%) of the 125 cases. Cord complications (such as cord compression or cord around the neck) were given as the underlying cause of death in 30 cases (24%). The death certificate diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy in only 27 of the 125 cases (22%), although autopsies may have been done on a further 45 cases (36%). An adequate explanation of the cause appeared to be lacking for many of the fetal deaths. This highlights the importance of a thorough and systematic investigation of stillbirths. A list of standard investigations to be carried out following a stillbirth is proposed.     

Reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire in European and polynesian New Zealanders

The reproducibility and validity of a self‐administered 142‐item food‐frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was assessed in a population comprising 124 European and 52 Polynesian (17 Maori and 35 Pacific Island) New Zealanders aged 40–65 years. Reproducibility correlation coefficients, determined by administration of the same questionnaire on two occasions 3 years apart, were higher in European than Maori and Pacific Island. participants, ranging from 0.47 to 0.87 in Europeans (median 0.66) and from 0.41 to 0.79 in Maori and Pacific Island people (median 0.44). In general, there were no significant differences in mean nutrient intakes calculated from the two FFQs by Europeans or Maori and Pacific Island participants despite their cultural and language differences. When the FFQ was compared with a 3‐day food diary in a sub sample of 101 Europeans, 15 Maori and 22 Pacific Islanders, the validity was good for most nutrients, with overestimation of a few nutrients in each ethnic group. Correlation coefficients between the 3‐day food diary and FFQ ranged from 0.41 to 0.81 in Europeans (median 0.48) and from 0.36 to 0.56 in Maori and Pacific Island people (median 0.55). Ratios of energy intake to resting metabolic rate suggested that Maori and Pacific Island people were more likely to underestimate their habitual energy intake by the 3‐day diet diary method compared to Europeans, but that Europeans were more likely to underestimate total energy intake by the food frequency method and Pacific Island participants to overestimate it. Obese Europeans and Maori were more likely to under‐report dietary intakes by the 3‐day diary method. We conclude that our FFQ performed better in European than Maori and Pacific Island participants.     

Birth-weight of Newborns to Chinese Women Subsequent to a Previous Abortion

The mean birth-weight of firstborns of women was significantly higher when there was a previous abortion. The increase was 73.5 and 119.4 g in newborns of women with an induced and a spontaneous abortion respectively. This trend of significant increased birth-weight among firstborns of women with either a previous induced or spontaneous abortion continued for male infants, in recent migrants, and in subjects aged 20-24 and 30-34 years. Stepwise logistic regression analyses showed that a history of an induced or a spontaneous abortion increased the birth-weight of the firstborns, while short maternal stature and female newborn were associated with decreased birth-weight. For low birth-weight, a previous abortion was not selected into the regression models but short maternal stature and female newborns continue to contribute to low birth-weight. Prematurity and mean gestation were found not to be associated with previous abortion using logistic regression analyses.     

Low Birth-weight in NSW, 1987: a Population-based Study

Summary: The New South Wales perinatal data collection was used to examine the association between low birth-weight and some of its potential risk factors. The study population comprised all recorded singleton births to residents of NSW in 1987. Low birth-weight infants were categorized as either small for gestational age (SGA) or preterm (less than 37 weeks). Risk factors were analyzed separately for these categories. The risk factors examined were primarily demographic or reproductive history variables. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the risk factors. The factors associated with SGA birth were mainly demographic (maternal age, parity, marital status, socioeconomic status, and ethnic group) while those associated with preterm birth had more reproductive history variables (maternal age, parity, marital status, prior spontaneous abortion, prior induced abortion, prior stillbirth or neonatal death, sex of infant). A first antenatal visit after 12 weeks had a statistically significant but small effect on both SGA and preterm birth.     

Three patients with carbon monoxide poisoning treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The clinical management of three patients (two children, one adult) with carbon monoxide poisoning is presented. Treatment included hyperbaric oxygen therapy with a good outcome in two of the three patients. The pathophysiology of carbon monoxide poisoning and the benefits of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy are reviewed.