Infant and maternal outcomes in the pregnancies of asthmatic women

In this study, 45 pregnant asthmatic women versus 33 pregnant non- asthmatic ones as a control group were examined to evaluate the relationship between infant and maternal outcomes and asthma complicating pregnancy. The adverse maternal outcomes associated with maternal asthma were preeclampsia, placenta previa, cesarean delivery and gestational diabetes. The adverse infant outcomes showed a significant difference as regard to birth weight and Sao2; but other parameters [pre-term infant, small for gestational age, post-term infant, respiratory distress and neonatal deaths] showed a nonsignificant difference

Umbilical cord blood lead levels in Cairo

The history of dealing with the toxic effects of lead is an outstanding example of how knowledge learned from research has its impact on public health. One of the measures that had the greatest impact on reducing exposure to lead, in Cairo, is the introduction of lead-free gasoline by the Egyptian Government, at the first of July, 1997. The objective of this study is to determine the cord blood lead levels and its related epidemiological risk factors in Cairo. The subject of the study was 300 women classified into 3 groups. Each group comprised 100 women. The first and second groups were from Cairo, before and after reduction of lead from gasoline, respectively. The third group [control] was from El-Aiyat and El-Wasta country sides. This study was carried out in the Departments of Obstetrics of El-Hussein University Hospital, AL-AZHAR University, El-Aiyat and El-Wasta General Hospitals. A simple questionnaire was designed to determine the different epidemiological risk factors. Cord blood samples were collected and submitted for estimation of total lead levels. None of the cord blood lead levels reached beyond the permissible value [< 10 ug/dl], even in the first group. The mean value was significantly higher in the first group [2.380 +/- 2.092 ug/dl], compared to the second and third groups [1.140 +/- 0.153 and 0.923 +/- 1.319 ug/dl], respectively, [P < 0.0001]. A scoring system was suggested to find out the women at risk and the necessity of lead analysis. In conclusion, although the cord blood lead levels were not so high, yet the utmost care of our newborns is mandatory as most of the epidemiological risk factors to lead pollution are avoidable. This was a pilot study and a further longitudinal study is recommended