BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the interrelationships between maternal serum leptin level and body mass index (BMI) at different gestational ages or during the whole pregnancy. METHODS A total of 374 blood samples were obtained from 114 pregnant women when they visited the prenatal clinic for registration, Down syndrome screening test, 50 g oral glucose challenge test, hepat...

background: although several studies have investigated the association between maternal exposure to air pollution and preterm birth, the results are inconsistent. the aim of this study was to further investigate the relation between maternal exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight (lbw) in an iranian pregnant population. materials an...

BACKGROUND Malaria in pregnancy is preventable and contributes significantly to the estimated 5.5 million stillbirths and neonatal deaths that occur annually. The contribution of malaria in pregnancy in areas of low transmission has not been quantified, and the roles of maternal anaemia, small-for-gestational-age status, and preterm birth in mediating the effect of malaria in pregnancy on still...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether introduction or withdrawal of a maternal financial incentive was associated with changes in timing of first attendance for antenatal care ('booking'), or incidence of small for gestational age. DESIGN A natural experimental evaluation using interrupted time series analysis. SETTING A hospital-based maternity unit in the north of England. PARTICIPANTS 34 589...

BACKGROUND Intrauterine growth restriction is a major neonatal health issue. Maternal factors have been found to have greater impact on IUGR. Studying these factors can help in reducing the mortality and morbidity associated with IUGR. METHODS This case-control study was conducted at the department of Paediatrics Post-graduate medical institute Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from March 2008-A...

  Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of diabetes that occurs in pregnancy. GDM, defined as glucose intolerance, first diagnosed or initiated during pregnancy affects 1-14% of pregnancies based on various studies. Screening and early diagnosis and appropriate glycemic control can improve prenatal outcomes. Telephone follow-up seems to be a reasonable way for pregnant women...

Structural changes within the placenta are observed in the course of pathological pregnancy. The aim of the study was to perform initial assessment of morphological features of placenta. The analysis was conducted by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Samples of placenta of women who delivered neonates appropriate for gestational age were characterized by a homogenous surface texture with natural co...

To recognize the highly statistically significant circadian variability of blood pressure in pregnancy is to admit that the diagnosis of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia should be based not just on whether a casual blood pressure value is too high or too low, but rather on more pertinent questions: How long is blood pressure elevated above a given time-varying threshold? What is the exc...

UNLABELLED Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is still associated with increased risk of severe maternal and foetal complications but their pathomechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVES we investigated the possible role of placental vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in foetal development in T1DM pregnancies. Sixty seven pregnant women with T1DM...

Although more than 50% of women gain weight above the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for weight gain in pregnancy and excessive weight gain is an independent risk factor for significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and offspring obesity, there is little consensus over the ideal weight gain during pregnancy. Surprisingly, the 2009 IOM guidelines varied minimally from the 1990 IOM guid...