[ comparison of the labor progression pattern with friedman's labor curve in nulliparous women, Fasa, Iran]

Labor refers to a chain of physiologic events that allows a fetus to undertake its journey from the uterus to the outside. Friedman [1954] described a sigmoid pattern for labor. This study was carried out to compare the pattern of labor progression in nullipara women of Fasa with the Friedman's labor curve. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 619 nulliparous women aged 18-35 who had term delivery and had no serious disease. In order to data analysis, we used one way ANOVA for comparing the means, and fixed effect of regression models in reverse method for curves drawings. In all of the subgroups, effacement rate increased by increasing the cervical dilatation. Mean of dilatation rate was significantly higher in induced group than the other groups. Duration of the active phase was longer in the group that had sedation than the other two groups. Means of the duration of active phase and second stage were significantly lower in our study than the durations in the Freidman's study [P<0.001] [3.87 hours vs. 4.9 hours; and 52 minutes vs. 57 minutes, respectively]. We did not observe the deceleration phase in our study. The pattern of labor progression differed from the Freidman's curve and had not sigmoid shape. The most important factor in latent phase was the time of admission to the labor ward

prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of dexamethasone during the follicular phase in clomiphene resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal DHEAS

In order to evaluate the effects of short course administration of dexamethasone [DEX] combined with clomiphene citrate [CC] in CC-resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] and normal DHEAS, a prospective, double blind, placebo controlled, randomized study was undertaken at referral university hospitals. Two-hundred and thirty women with PCOS and normal DHEAS who failed to ovulate with a routine protocol of CC received 200 mg of CC from day 5 to 9 and 2 mg of DEX from day 5 to 14 of the menstrual cycle. The control group received the same protocol of CC combined with placebo. Follicular development, hormonal status, ovulation rate, and pregnancy rate were evaluated. Mean follicular diameters were 18.4124 +/- 2.4314 mm and 13.8585 +/- 2.0722 mm [p<0.001] for treatment and placebo group respectively. Eighty-eight% of treatment and 20% of the control group had evidence of ovulation. The difference of cumulative pregnancy rate in treatment and control groups was statistically significant [p<0.0001]. Hormonal levels, follicular development and cumulative pregnancy rate improved with the addition of DEX to CC in CC-resistant patients with PCOS and normal DHEAS. This regimen is recommended before any gonadotropin therapy or surgical intervention